Community Organizations
Ribbon Cutting for Parkview North run by Pacific House

Pacific House Homeless Shelter Opens Renovated Norwalk Home to House 12

By |
Download PDF

Pacific House, a homeless shelter that provides services to homeless men, including any from Darien, held a ribbon-cutting event on Friday, April 16 for its latest residence, a newly  renovated home in Norwalk that will house 12 formerly homeless individuals. — an announcement from Pacific House
Named ‘Parkview North,’ the property expands the Pacific House portfolio to a total of 14 homes that the organization owns and operates, providing a total of 140 units of permanent supportive housing across Stamford and Norwalk. Each resident contributes one-third of their monthly income, and in return, receives a safe place to live and case management services to help keep them on track. “We’re committed to our mission, and we take a lot of pride in basically two things,” said Rafael Pagan, executive director of Pacific House. “One is our emergency shelter services, which we’ve been involved with for over 35 years.

Public Safety
Darien Police Department

Two Domestic Incidents Last Weekend

By |
Download PDF

In two unrelated domestic violence incidents this past weekend, misdemeanor summonses were issued for people to appear in court, Darien police said. Police gave these further details, including accusations not proven in court:

At 3:48 p.m., Friday, police were called to the area of the Post Road and Noroton Avenue on the report of a physical altercation between two people. Police were given a description of the people and located them. The victim had “observable minor injuries” that police did not specify. Police determined that a 53-year-old Darien woman had caused them, so she was charged with breach of peace and was given a summons to appear in state Superior Court in Stamford.

Public Safety
Darien Police Night 03-01-17

Police: Two Burglars Smash Front Glass Door to Eyeglasses Shop, Seize Merchandise

By |
Download PDF

Called to Specs eyeglasses store after a burglar alarm was set off, police found the glass front door had been smashed, along with some display cases. Police gave these additional details:

Police were alerted at 11:45 p.m., Tuesday, April 13. Inside the store at 1 Tokeneke Road (at its corner with the Post Road), officers saw that some merchandise appeared to be missing. Video surveillance records, reviewed later, showed two suspects break the front door to get in. Police provided no description of the two.

Criminal Impersonation Charge 2021
Banetta Grant mug shot

Police: Crime Unravels When Woman Tries to Cash Check With Fake ID — of a Man

By |
Download PDF

One of the things that gave her away, according to police, was the phony I.D. that the 53-year-old woman was trying to use to withdraw $2,300 from a bank. That I.D., like the account she was trying to withdraw the money from, had a man’s name on it. Darien police gave this account of what happened, including accusations not proven in court:

Sometime before 4:24 p.m., on Wednesday, April 14, Banetta Grant, 53, of the Bronx entered TD Bank at 55 Post Road and tried to withdraw money from an account. A bank employee became suspicious because Grant, a female, was trying to withdraw money under the name of the account holder, a male. Suspicions were only heightened when the ID that Grant provided had the account-holder’s name on it— and especially when Grant couldn’t answer basic questions from the employee.

Charity Events and Opportunities
Spring for Abilis 2021 wide for social media

Packed With Entertainers, ‘Spring for Abilis’ Online Gala on May 1 Is Free to Attend

By |
Download PDF

The “Spring for Abilis” virtual gala, organizers promise, will be packed with comedy, entertainment, singing, dancing, the Abilis’ Giving Garden and a live auction appeal. Special guests at the May 1 gala include: actors Brendan and Afton Fraser, musician Rob Mathes, singers Loren Allred and Sharon Catherine Brown, and dancers/choreographers Billy Blanks Jr. and Michael Dameski. — an announcement from Abilis

While the Spring for Abilis gala is free to attend, registration is required at SpringForAbilis.GiveSmart.com. Hosted by entertainer and comedian Brett Walkow, the event is meant to be fun for the whole family. Spring for Abilis is a major fundraiser for the Fairfield County-based nonprofit, which is celebrating its 70th year.

Cameron on Transportation
Jim Cameron Jim Cameron 8-2-16

Biden’s Infrastructure Proposals Have a Months-Long ‘Journey’ Ahead: Cameron on Transportation

By |
Download PDF

Hurrah! It’s finally “infrastructure week” in Washington. In his first 100 days as President, Joe Biden has delivered a plan that his predecessor just kept teasing us with for four years: a complete rehabilitation and expansion of the nation’s infrastructure. Of course, Biden’s “American Jobs Act” goes way beyond just rebuilding roads, bridges and rails. It also covers our water supply, electrical grid, internet, sea and airports, our housing stock and our very jobs.

COVID-19 2021

DHS Seniors Can Register for COVID-19 Vaccinations; One Fully Vaccinated Darienite Caught COVID

By |
Download PDF

Darien High School seniors can now register to get the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on May 1, and the second dose on May 22 at the parking lot of the former Lord & Taylor store in Stamford, Darien officials announced. “We anticipate opening the registration link to all students over 16 years of age or older by next week,” the announcement from schools Nursing Director Alicia Casucci and town Health Director David Knauf said. In a separate announcement, First Selectman Jayme Stevenson said Darien has had 58 new cases during the two-week period since April 2. “We are tracking information about folks who are fully vaccinated who then contract COVID,” Stevenson said in her regular, weekly COVID-19 update. “Only one such case has occurred in Darien so far.”

Darien Obituaries 2021
Matthew Walker obit

Matthew Walker, 38, Founded 2Brosandatruck, DHS Class of ’01, Coached Ice Hockey, Loved Hiking

By |
Download PDF

Matthew Lee Walker died on April 13, 2021 at his apartment in Branford, CT, at the age of 38. Matthew is the son of Rev. Robert and Donna Walker of Darien, and the brother of Brandon Walker of San Clemente, California. Matthew, known by his friends as Matt, was born on March 20, 1983 in Dallas. After living in Dallas for less than two years, the Walker family moved to Darien, in 1984. He graduated from Darien High School in 2001 and then entered Green Mountain College for one year.

Abilis 2021
Abilis

Abilis, Which Serves People With Special Needs, Holds a Job Fair May 1

By |
Download PDF

Abilis is hiring! On Saturday, May 1, 2021, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Abilis is holding a job fair for prospective employees. The job fair is open for drop-ins, and no registrations are required. — an announcement from Abilis

Those interested in working for Abilis are encouraged to review open positions in advance on the Abilis website. Interviews will be conducted on-site, outdoors with COVID safety precautions in place at the Abilis headquarters, 50 Glenville St., Greenwich.

Healthy Living
The birds and the bees presentations at Darien Library

Darien Library Presents Online Discussions for Parents on Talking About ‘The Birds and the Bees’

By |
Download PDF

Unsure of how to start a conversation about reproduction or sexual health with your children? Join Amanda D. Romaniello, a licensed professional counselor, in Darien Library’s “Birds and the Bees” programs to learn how to discuss topics in an informational yet developmentally appropriate way. Romaniello has over a decade of experience in the mental health field. She holds a B.A. in psychology from the State University of New York at Geneseo and an M.A. in forensic psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She is currently in private practice in Fairfield.

Parents & Kids
Phone Internet Web

Internet Safety Webinar for Parents Thursday Night, April 22

By |
Download PDF

In a 90-minute webinar Thursday night, April 22, Scott Driscoll of Internet Safety Concepts will present the positives and pitfalls of today’s most popular programs to help parents decide what’s right for their families. — an announcement from Darien Library, The Depot Youth Center and the Darien Police Association
Topics covered include:
•        Social Networking: Concerns parents should have
•        Cyberbullying: How to talk to your children about getting involved
•        Texting and Sexting
•        Popular/Trending Apps
•        Picture Sharing
•        Privacy Settings: Understanding the importance
•        Digital Footprints: Positive and negative impacts
•        Apps / programs that help parents monitor their families
•        Parental controls and available resources
69– Percentage of teens who regularly receive personal messages from people they have never met.      11 – Average age of children when they are first exposed to Internet pornography.      33 – Percentage of teens who admit they have been the victim of cyberbullying.     365+ – Connecticut schools and organizations who have hosted Internet Safety Concepts for stunts and parents.

Public Safety
Mailbox

Darien Man’s Check Stolen, Apparently from Mailbox — Then Changed, Cashed for More Money

By |
Download PDF

A man who put a check in the mail, using his mailbox on Coachlamp Lane, later found it had been cashed for a different amount and to a different person. Darien police gave these additional details:

On Feb. 22, the man put the check in his mailbox at about 8 a.m. On March 22, he saw on his bank statement that the check had been cashed, but for a much bigger amount of money. When the man looked at an image of the check, he saw it was made out to someone he didn’t know. He reported the theft to police on April 8.

Arzhang Fallahi
Doctor Health Medicine Darien Library

Doctors Answer Darien’s COVID-19 Qs Online; Town Health Dept Has Advice If You Took J&J Vaccine

By |
Download PDF

Darien Health Department issued advice Tuesday morning to anyone who took the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine, after reports of rare blood-clotting from others who have taken it. “People who have received the J&J vaccine who develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination should contact their health care provider.” In another COVID-19 related announcement, three Stamford Hospital physicians will answer questions from the public about the coronavirus in an online event Wednesday evening sponsored by Darien Library. Federal officials have suggested a pause in using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Darien Health Department does not use it, the department said in the announcement (full text, below).

Darien Obituaries 2021
Louis Sepe obit

Louis Sepe, 88, Loved Singing, Avid Reader, Longtime Usher at St John, in Same House for 60 Years

By |
Download PDF

Louis Paul Sepe of Darien died suddenly on Dec. 17, 2020. He was 88. Born to Vincent Sepe and Laurina Nardone Sepe on April 17, 1932, he was known as “Lou” by friends and neighbors, “Sep” by his wife, Cynthia, and “Gigi” or “Uncle Gigi” by his family. In Millbrook, New York, he was born, grew up, played basketball for and graduated from Millbrook High School.