Three Males Grab Items from Gas Station Convenience Store and Flee

Darien Library Named a ‘Star Library’ by Library Journal for 14th Time (and the Only Star Library in CT)

Thieves Gift Themselves With Two Darien SUVs on Christmas Night

Efficient Bank Robber Says Nothing, Leaves No Note, Takes More Than $6K in Roughly 3 Minutes

DCA Academic (and Online) Lecture Series: ‘The Arctic — From Deep Freeze to Hot Spot’ Starts Jan 6

YWCA Darien-Norwalk Helps Charity Group Get 75 Coats to Person-to-Person in Norwalk

Darien Library Is Looking for a Full-Time Custodian. The Job Pays at Least $52.5K

Metro-North Announces Discounts

Two Darien Businesses Burglarized the Weekend Before Christmas

Stamford Symphony Launches Program to Engage and Educate Kids About Music

Latest Slew of Unlocked Vehicles Entered, Some Pricey Loot Lifted

These DCA Bridge Classes and ‘Boot Camps’ Start in January

McNally: Darien Has More COVID-19 Cases, More Booster Clinics Coming

Superintendent: School District Might Return to Remote Learning as Omicron Variant Spreads More COVID-19 in Darien

Police: DUI for Driver Taken to a Hospital After His Car Struck Another and Rolled Onto Its Side

Public Safety

By David Gurliacci | December 29, 2021

Darien Library

By David Gurliacci | December 28, 2021

Darien Motor Vehicle Burglaries 2021

By David Gurliacci | December 28, 2021

Bank Robbery 2021

By David Gurliacci | December 28, 2021

Darien Community Association

By DARIENITE.COM | December 27, 2021

Community Organizations

By DARIENITE.COM | December 27, 2021

Darien Library

By DARIENITE.COM | December 26, 2021

Metro-North Fares

By DARIENITE.COM | December 26, 2021

Burglary of a Business 2021

By David Gurliacci | December 26, 2021

Education

By DARIENITE.COM | December 24, 2021

Unlocked in Darien 2021

By David Gurliacci | December 23, 2021

Darien Community Association

By DARIENITE.COM | December 23, 2021

By DARIENITE.COM | December 22, 2021

Coronavirus 2021

By DARIENITE.COM | December 22, 2021

Darien Driving While Intoxicated 2021

By David Gurliacci | December 21, 2021

Three males grabbed various items from the convenience store at the gas station at 1358 Post Road early in the evening of Christmas Eve, then grabbed the items and fled in a GMC sport utility vehicle, Darien police were told. The black GMC had earlier pulled up to the pumps to get gas when three males got out of it and entered the store at about 5:45 p.m., Friday, Dec. 24. The gas station, which has a wooden bear in front of it, sits between Shake Shack and The Gardener’s Center. The males tried to dicker down the price of some items in the store, but the clerk told them the prices weren’t negotiable.

For the 14th year in a row, Darien Library has been recognized by Library Journal as a Star Library in its annual review of U.S. public libraries. The winning streak doesn’t get any longer than that — the magazine has only been naming libraries “Star Library” for 14 years. A total of 262 libraries were named “Star Library” by the magazine this year. Libraries were scored based on statistics in various areas, and the comparisons were adjusted on a per capita basis to account for differences in the populations each library served. The areas that were compared included circulation of library materials, electronic materials circulated, attendance at library programs, visits to the library, wifi sessions and numbers of computer users.

Police Darien Police Lock Your Car Every Time

Two owners of sport utility vehicles each told police that their SUVs had been stolen on the night after Santa came to town. In each case, the victim said the cars were unlocked and keys were left inside. The thieves came overnight from Dec. 25 to 26, between Christmas Day and Sunday morning. Driftway Lane
A purse was also in one of the SUVs, at Driftway Lane, and the owner was notified by a bank at 2:12 a.m. that a purchase had been made in Waterbury from a bank card that had been in the purse.

At about 12:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve, it wasn’t out of the ordinary for a masked male to enter People’s Bank at Goodwives Shopping Center. Not during the pandemic. What was out of the ordinary was when he jumped over the counter and began taking cash from the bank drawers — and committing what is so far at least a successful bank robbery — without saying anything or even passing a note. Darien police describe the robber as white, wearing a black mask, black hooded sweatshirt, neon orange hat and cargo pants. He entered the bank through the front door.

DCA Academic Lecture Series 2022 The Arctic: From Deep Freeze to Hot Spot

The Darien Community Association’s 2022 Academic Lecture Series, “The Arctic — from Deep Freeze to Hot Spot, ” will start Thursday, Jan. 6, online. The series has been presented annually, without interruption, since 1956. While the format this year will be virtual, the series will continue to feature respected foreign policy experts at four Thursday morning lectures at 10 a.m., and a final lecture in the evening of Feb. 3 (also a Thursday).

YWCA Darien/Norwalk in partnership with Wilton-based Riverbrook Regional YMCA served as “coat drive ambassadors” for One Warm Coat, a nonprofit that distributes coats nationwide to organizations that serve people in need. — an announcement from the YWCA Darien/Norwalk

The two local groups identified Person-To-Person in Norwalk as an organization in need of coats. Jarred Barnes, YMCA’s chief operations officer, picked up 50 coats, and YWCA Board Chair Aidan Welsh, picked up another 25, then delivered them to Person-To-Person in Norwalk. The coats are all either gently worn or new. The need was especially urgent this year.

Darien Library seeks a full-time custodian. This individual covers all public and staff spaces, ensuring the highest standards of cleanliness and organization. Reporting to the Building Engineer, the Custodian is self-motivated and has the ability to work with a team of outsourced cleaners and Library staff members on a frequent basis. — an announcement from Darien Library
Duties & Responsibilities
· Sanitization of all public and staff spaces throughout the day. · Clean, restock, and sanitize all bathrooms hourly while the Library is open.

Metro-North Ticket Machine East Norwalk station.

Metro-North’s off-peak fares for all trains will continue through Feb. 28, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has announced. Also, the railroad announced some discounts, including a new 20-trip eTicket is being introduced on Feb. 25 for travel to and from Manhattan at a 20% discount from peak one-way tickets. For Monthly Ticket Holders
“If you’re a monthly ticket holder, beginning on March 1, 2022, you’ll be getting an additional 10% off your ticket cost,” the announcement said.

Darien police received reports of burglaries Saturday afternoon, Dec. 18 from two different businesses in town. One, on the Post Road, was missing some petty cash; at the other, on Old Kings Highway South, a safe was found on its side in a hallway. Police didn’t say how much petty cash was taken, or whether anything was stolen from the Old Kings Highway South location, nor did they name either business or even give its exact address. Police detectives went to each location and processed the scene for evidence.

Kids playing instruments Play, Sing, Listen!

Stamford Symphony is launching Play, Sing, Listen! The Education Fund of Stamford Symphony, a new initiative focusing on education and youth engagement across Fairfield County.
The program is meant to ensure that all youth in local communities have access to high-quality music education opportunities encouraging them to explore, appreciate, perform, and create music. At the same time the program should nurture important life skills, including creativity, listening, problem-solving, and self-esteem. — an announcement from Stamford Symphony

One of the program’s goals within the next five years is to “have at least one educational program (instrument bootcamps, chamber performances, masterclasses, etc.) in every town across Fairfield County.” Stamford Symphony is continuing to raise money for the project.

The bizarre suburban tradition of leaving cars, SUVs and other vehicles unlocked, outside in driveways overnight resulted in some thefts of pricey items last week, although most victims told police nothing was taken. Vehicles were entered on Hillcrest Avenue (at three addresses); Clock Avenue (one); Harbor Road (three); and Driftway Lane (one). Here’s the latest rundown, all but the last one from the night of Sunday to Monday, Dec. 12 to 13. That last one, which took place the next night, is a doozy:

(Editor’s note: Darienite.com has given up on listing the exact addresses of people who’ve left their cars unlocked overnight.

The Darien Community Association (DCA) is offering new bridge classes and boot camps starting in January. — an announcement from the DCA
Instructors
Joan Bergen is a longtime local resident and Bridge Life Master who, after studying bridge intently for eight years, is driven to teach others. Students will benefit from her enthusiasm and love for the game that she describes as both a great way to meet people, and a wonderful activity to keep the mind sharp. Meredith Dunne is a longtime local resident and Bridge Life Master, who says it’s fun watching her students get hooked on the game of bridge. Meredith’s students enjoy continuing their instruction with her, appreciating her patient and personable teaching style.

In the past 13 days, 168 Darien residents have acquired COVID-19 cases, as far as authorities know, and with holiday gatherings, more is expected, First Selectman Monica McNally told the town in a late Wednesday afternoon Code Red message. “COVID cases are on the rise,” she said. Meanwhile, McNally said, some town residents are concerned about the availability of testing, the cost and heavy traffic at the sites. “I am working with the director of health to possibly add a second testing site in Darien,” she said. “If you are 16 or older and it has been at least six months since your second dose, you are strongly encouraged to get a booster,” the first selectman said.

While there’s been no decision made, Darien schools may again change from in-school teaching to remote learning because of the “significant increase in COVID-19 cases” in Darien and the region, schools Superintendent Alan Addley said Tuesday — but he added that doing so is “unlikely.” “Over the next few days, as prudent planning, the District will make any necessary preparations in the unlikely event the District needs to transition to remote learning after the break,” Addley wrote in a message sent to school district staff and parents of students. “This will include students taking home their devices and any potential remote learning materials on Thursday as they leave for break.” The winter break is scheduled to end on Monday, Jan. 3, the earliest day that the district might switch to remote learning, largely conducted over the Internet.

Night Police Lights CT State Police on Facebook March 30-17 uploaded 06-20-17

« August 2022 »

A car driven by a 53-year-old man late Friday night hit a parked vehicle on Park Place, causing his own car to roll onto its side. The driver was taken to a hospital, and police charged him with driving while under the influence of alcohol. Darien police described what happened with this account, including accusations not proven in court:

Joseph Lasko III of Stamford made a turn onto Park Place from Fitch Avenue shortly before police were called at 11:53 p.m. that night. He told police he didn’t notice the parked vehicle on the side of the road. When police arrived at the scene, Lasko was trapped in his car.