Talking Transportation
Jim Cameron

Metro-North Just Won’t Enforce the Railroad’s Own Mask-Wearing Rule

By |
Download PDF

Why is Metro-North shooting itself in the foot? While adding more trains and encouraging (no, praying!) that commuters will come back to the rails, the railroad is still refusing to make those passengers feel safe by enforcing the federal and state mask rules. Sure, they’ve been passing out masks on trains, but what good are they if they’re not worn? I hate to keep harping on this issue, but we’re talking about a serious public health threat. Unmasked passengers, even if they’re vaccinated, can be asymptomatic and spread the COVID-19 virus to hundreds of fellow riders in a matter of minutes, let alone the hour-plus ride to NYC in a sealed tube.

Darien Obituaries 2021
Mary Cohee obituary

Mary Cohee, 63, DHS Class of ’75, Loved Creating Art, Worked at Greenwich Library

By |
Download PDF

Mary Elizabeth Cohee, a resident of Regalcare Greenwich, passed peacefully in her sleep after a prolonged battle with cancer on Sept. 16, 2021. She was born on July 30, 1958, in Cleveland, Ohio. From the time she could speak, she declared herself an artist, a love in which she indulged her entire life. After several moves to Hopkins, Minnesota and Wyncote, Pennsylvania, the family finally settled in Darien in the late 1960s, where Mary spent the bulk of her childhood.

Education
Maritime Aquarium programs for home schooled students drop-off

Programs for Home-Schooled Kids on Oct 1 at Maritime Aquarium

By |
Download PDF

Home-schooled kids can take an educational “dive” into the marine world through discounted admission and grade-appropriate programs Friday, Oct. 1 at  The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. — an announcement from The Maritime Aquarium

“Homeschool Day” makes available to homeschool students many of the educational classroom programs regularly presented to traditional school groups by Aquarium educators. Options on Oct. 1 include story times for preschoolers and a selection of classroom programs for kids in all grades, from K-12.

Education
First Day of School New Canaan Country School

Tips for Easing the Transition Back to School

By |
Download PDF

The new school year is upon us, and understandably, for some it can be an exciting but anxious time. New Canaan Country School psychologists Rebecca Comizio and
Jackie Britt-Friedman offer the following tips to help reduce stress around the
transition. — This article is from New Canaan Country School
1. Open up space for dialogue
Children benefit from knowing the adults close to them are there to listen. There will be a myriad of feelings as the first day of school approaches: excitement, apprehension, anticipation, worry.

Education
National Merit Semifinalists 2021 Darien High School seven

Seven Darien High School Students Named as Semifinalists in National Merit Scholarship Program

By |
Download PDF

Seven Darien High School seniors have been named semifinalists in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program. “We are so proud of this exceptional group of students and wish them well as the process moves forward,” DHS Principal Ellen Dunn said. The seven Darien semifinalists are Quinlan Daly, Andrew Lin, Tam-Hao Nguyen, Margaret Russell, Lucas Smith, Alexander Sutanto and Preston Yao. They are in a group of 16,000 high school students nationwide have been recognized as National Merit semi-finalists. These academically talented students have an opportunity to continue in the program for National Merit Scholarships that will be offered next spring.

Community Organizations
Maggie McIntire Margaret McIntire Museum of Darien

Museum of Darien Executive Director to Leave Post in October

By |
Download PDF

After four years as executive director of the Museum of Darien, Maggie McIntire has announced she will be leaving the job in October. A new director is expected to be named in January and start work early next year, the museum announced. The museum’s former name is the Darien Historical Society. “We are eternally grateful for all of the amazing work that Maggie has done for our organization and the community at large,” said Board President Robert J. Pascal Jr., adding that the non-profit’s board is putting a transition plan in motion and is expected to name a new leader in the coming months. Before taking on the leadership role at the Museum in 2017, McIntire directed adult programs at the Mark Twain Library in Redding and previously worked in communications at The Ferguson Library in Stamford.

Darien Obituaries 2021
Charlene Vanderslice obit square

Charlene Vanderslice, 75, Former Darien Real Estate Agent, Traveled and Taught Around the World

By |
Download PDF

On Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, Charlene Ann “Sea” Vanderslice passed away peacefully at the age of 75. Charlene was born on July 11, 1946 in Haverhill, Massachusetts to Alvin and Charlotte (Fuller) Dyes. She attended Pentuket High School, UMass, the Academy Modern, and studied Hatha and Raja yoga in Boston, meditation in Tibet and feng shui in Hong Kong. She is a graduate of the Feng Shui Institute of America and a professional member of Feng Shui International.

Government & Politics
Cecil Wade CTO Darien TV79

It Just Got Easier to Watch Darien TV79: Try the New Website

By |
Download PDF

It should be easier to find and watch programs on Darien TV79, the town government’s cable TV channel, now that it’s started its own stand-alone website, DarienTV79.com, the cable station announced. “We’ve put everything in one easy-to-access location,” said Jim Cameron, program director and co-founder of the station. “After almost 14 years of operation, airing thousands of meetings and community events, our new Internet home offers seamless access to all our offerings.”

The new website offers:

—Key-word search of videos by committee name and date

—Access to over 2,500 meeting videos stored on Vimeo

—One-click access to the week’s most recent shows

—a link to TV79’s live feed in prime time

—a complete playlist of all meetings by committee name

—the ability to toggle between the meeting video and the meeting agenda

—timestamps for the Planning & Zoning Commission and the Board of Finance

—an easy signup for the weekly TV79 Program Guide by email

Designed by TV79’s Chief Technology Officer Cecil Wade, the new website was funded by the town government, Optimum subscribers and grants from The Darien Foundation. In a meeting of the Darien TV79 Advisory Council back in January, Wade said the new website would make it easier and faster for the volunteers running the channel to get video recordings posted on the Internet. That should also make the process more reliable, he said.

Darien Obituaries 2021
Harrington Oberlander Jr. obit

Harrington Oberlander Jr., 89, DHS Class of ’50, Master Plumber, Active in His Retirement Home

By |
Download PDF

It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of our beloved father, Harrington John Oberlander Jr., aka Sam and Harry. He passed away peacefully on June 22 at the age of 89. He was born Oct. 31, 1931 in Bridgeport and died 47 years and 3 days after the death of his late wife, Elizabeth Ann Ruddy, aka Sis. Harry was born to Harrington John Oberlander Sr., aka Harry, and Marjorie Josephine Ayers O. Bondi, (Frank).

Darien Obituaries 2021
Geraldine McGovern obit square

Geraldine Friend McGovern, 91, Secretary for Doctors, Loved Cats and Broadway Musicals

By |
Download PDF

Geraldine McGovern, 91, beloved wife of the late George C. McGovern, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021, at Heritage Hall Nursing Home in Agawam, Massachusetts. Her maiden name of “Friend” truly exemplified her kind, loving nature. “Gerry” grew up in Darien and attended Tufts University, where she met her future husband. Afterwards, she attended Katherine Gibbs Business College and worked as secretary for several doctors in the Darien area.

9/11 Ceremony 2021
9/11 20th anniversary roses at memorial 2021

Solidarity and Gratitude Emphasized at Darien’s Twentieth Anniversary Observance of 9/11

By |
Download PDF

The feeling of solidarity among Americans in the days and weeks after Sept. 11, 2001 is something to remember and cultivate, both speakers said Saturday morning at Darien’s 20th anniversary commemoration of the 9/11 terrorist attack. “Something miraculous grew from those dark days,” First Selectman Jayme Stevenson said to the crowd of just over 100 people gathered by the memorial behind Middlesex Middle School. “We came together as one community — united by caring and compassion for one another and this great nation,” she said. “The sense of love and pride for America was palpable — hope began to rise from the ashes that our nation would emerge stronger than ever.”

Darien Obituaries 2021
Elvira McKiernan obit

Elvira McKiernan Loved Cooking, Travel; Learned Carpentry, Masonry Skills and Passed Them to Her Children

By |
Download PDF

Elvira Maria McKiernan ‘Vera’ to her friends, family, and all those she knew and loved, passed from this world Sunday, Sept. 5, 2021 in the company of her beloved three sons, Robert Jr., Christopher and Mark. She joins her devoted husband Robert Joseph McKiernan, ‘Bob’, amid family and friends in God’s loving embrace. Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1932 to Michael and Rosalie Ignelzi (nee Lagana), she grew up in Flushing Queens. Like her father who, at the age of 13, came to America on his own, from the Province of Avellino in the Apennines Mountains of the Campania region of Italy to pursue a dream; Vera was known for her independent streak.

Around Town
9/11 Sept. 11 monument Darien

First Selectman Jayme Stevenson’s Speech at Darien’s 9/11 Memorial Ceremony

By |
Download PDF

First Selectman Jayme Stevenson made these brief comments Saturday morning at Darien’s 9/11 ceremony. Here’s her speech, as prepared:

Good morning. Thank you for coming together today as one community to remember. We’ve felt the anxiety leading up to this day, haven’t we? How is it possible 20 years have passed since that tragic morning?