Darienite (https://darienite.com/author/darienite-com-staff/page/50)
Alberta “Birdie” DeRosa, of Shelton died Tuesday, Jan. 9, after a difficult battle with ALS. She was 77. Birdie was born in Stamford on Feb. 23, 1946, daughter of the late Anthony and Anna Vieter Carriera.
Want to create a more peaceful home life and better relationship with your child? Meet Jacqueline Telgheder, author and certified parent coach, who is leading a three-session workshop for practical tips and a safe place to learn. The workshop is for parents of children under 10. — an announcement from The Darien Community Association
Any parent can relate to feeling angry towards their child. We’ve all felt it and most of us feel guilty when we act on it.
Theresa “Terry” (Benedetto) Chiappetta, 80, of Durham passed away peacefully on Monday, Dec. 25, 2023 with family and friends by her side. Born in Norwalk and raised in Darien, she treasured her childhood growing up on the family farm. Terry was the daughter of the late Anthony “Ben” Benedetto and Mary (Cerulli) Benedetto. She was predeceased by her twin sister Marie Grace.
Save the Sound, a 51-year-old environmental action organization based in Connecticut and New York, and its president, Leah Lopez Schmalz, have been honored as a 2024 National Medalist by The Garden Club of America. It is the highest honor bestowed upon individuals and organizations by the GCA for distinguished achievements in areas related to its purpose. — a compilation of announcements from Save the Sound and the GCA
Save the Sound will receive the Cynthia Pratt Laughlin Medal, awarded for outstanding achievement in environmental protection and the maintenance of quality of life. “The breadth and depth of its toolkit sets Save the Sound apart from other regional nonprofits. It successfully uses a combination of legislative advocacy, legal action, engineering, and scientific environmental monitoring as well as hands-on volunteer and educational efforts to protect this important region,” the GCA announcement said.
Are you paying too much for auto insurance? You’re not alone as rates in Connecticut went up 8% last year and 20% since 2018 thanks to inflation, higher repair costs and riskier driving by too many drivers. But now there’s a way to lower your rates significantly — if you are willing to let Big Brother monitor your driving habits online via Telematics. All of the major insurance companies are now employing this technology to better understand their customers’ driving style and reward good drivers. When first launched almost 20 years ago this meant you’d have to plug a fob into your car’s OBD (on board diagnostics) connection which would monitor how you drive for a few months.
Darien author Laurence Jurdem will discusses his new book, “The Rough Rider and the Professor,” about Theodore Roosevelt and U.S. Sen. Henry Cabot Lodge on Sunday, Jan. 21 at The Mather Homestead. — an announcement from The Mather Homestead
The book evokes the political intrigue of the Gilded Age and chronicles the extraordinary 35-year friendship between Roosevelt and Lodge. Roosevelt was a uniquely gifted figure. A man of great intellect and physicality, the New York patrician captured the imagination of the American people with his engaging personality and determination to give all citizens regardless of race, color or creed the opportunity to achieve the American dream.
Marie-Jeanne Moore, known as “Mary Jane,” passed away after a brief illness on Jan. 4, 2024 at Stamford Hospital, with her entire family beside her. She was 89. Mary Jane was born to George and Eva Letourneau Breault on Dec. 18, 1934 in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
Bollywood-themed dance and Zumba-themed exercise are combined in a class being offered at Darien Library. — an announcement from Darien Library
Bollyfitness as it suggests is a mix of dance & fitness like Zumba that makes you groove to Bollywood music. The class offers an hour of nonstop dancing for all the fitness lovers and a great high energy workout. So put on your dancing shoes and get ready to sweat it out! (Please wear clothes that you can easily move around in and sneakers.
Deirdre McGovern, a realtor with Compass in Darien, has earned the nationally recognized Seniors Real Estate Specialist designation from the SRES Council of the National Association of Realtors. — an announcement from the SRES Council of the National Association of Realtors
To get the SRES designation, McGovern was required to successfully complete a comprehensive course in understanding the needs, considerations, and goals of real estate buyers and sellers ages 55 and older. The SRES designation has been earned by more than 15,000 real estate professionals in North America. “Working with seniors to meet their housing needs requires an expert understanding of their lifestyle and financial needs, and the SRES designation means that a Realtor has that understanding,” said Jennifer Rzeszewski, vice president and executive director of the Center for Realtor Development. The SRES Council, founded in 2007, is the world’s largest association of real estate professionals focusing specifically on representing senior clients in real estate transactions.
UPDATE: Shortly before 5 p.m., Darien Police Department posted on Facebook (4:52 p.m.) and Twitter (4:55 p.m.) that the regular phone line is now working, after being out of service for about 10 hours. As of Friday morning, the phone line for regular calls to Darien Police were out of service — but emergency (911) calls can still get through — the department announced. On Twitter (now calling itself “X”), the department announced:
“Currently routine phone lines at Darien PD are out of service and Town IT is working on achieving restoration. 911 is fully functional for all emergency calls. We will advise when routine phone service is restored.”
Arlene Himics Brady, 80, of Darien died on Jan. 7 after a short illness. She was the beloved wife of the late John J. Brady Jr., to whom she was married for 31 years. Born in Yonkers, New York on Feb. 3, 1943, she was the daughter of the late Rudolph and Anna (Soltis) Himics and sister to the late Richard Himics.
Carole Cullen Keating a resident of Darien, passed away on Sunday Jan. 7, after a brief illness. She was 84. Born on April 12, 1939, in New York City, she was the daughter of the late Col. William Joseph Cullen and Alice Cunningham Cullen.
The Museum of Darien is hosting two Sip & Create Workshops in the new year. — an announcement from The Museum of Darien
Both workshops are from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the museum at 45 Old King’s Highway (next to Goodwive’s Shopping Center) and include a glass of wine or champagne:
—The Victorian Terrarium Workshop ($95) led by Melissa Kelley on Jan. 25, uses traditional plants such as ferns and gravel. The class includes a hand-blown glass container, plants, flowers, succulents and gravel, and all materials needed to create a beautiful terrarium. —The New England Needlepoint Workshop ($65) This hands-on class will show you the basics on how to create your own needlepoint creation and includes a needlepoint kit.
Here’s Realtor Deirdre McGovern’s report on Darien and Rowayton-area real estate from Jan. 4 to 11, 2024:
EDITOR’S NOTE: If you are selling your Darien house and have a real estate agent, tell the agent to send a photo of the outside of the house to Dave@Darienite.com to get it featured here for free. New Listings
2 Red Barn Road, Darien — $1,825,000
86 Greenleaf Ave., Darien — $3,150,000
Price Changes
Address — current price / previous price
75 Witch Lane, Norwalk — $2,100,000 / $2,199,900
77 Witch Lane, Norwalk — $2,250,000 / $2,349,900
Pending Sales
29 Arnold Lane, Norwalk — $724,000
3 Crest Road, Norwalk — $1,495,000
Sold
Address — original listing price / final listing price / selling price
10 Whaling Road, Darien — $3,575,000 / $3,575,000 / $3,450,000
2 Rocky Point Road, Norwalk — $2,495,000 / $2,495,000 / $2,250,000
Open Houses
Address — last price listed — day, date and time
41 Herman Ave., Darien — $3,650,000 — Sunday, Jan. 14, 2 to 4 p.m. [PICTURED]
2 Turnabout Lane, Darien — $2,495,000 — Saturday, Jan. 13, 1 to 3 p.m.
______________________
Deirdre McGovern is a real estate agent with Compass who loves sharing all the best Darien has to offer.
The intersection of technology and geopolitics is the theme of five speakers in Darien Community Association’s latest Global Issues Speaker Series, starting today, Thursday. Two of the speakers will focus on China’s use of technology to influence the world. The series begins Thursday, Jan. 11 with a talk by Josephine Wolff, a professor of cybersecurity policy. — an announcement from Darien Community Association
Ticket buyers may attend in person at the DCA or virtually, online. All lectures are followed by a Q&A session with the expert.