Education
STEAM Fest 2018 two

For Those Interested in STEAM Careers, Housatonic Community College Holds STEAM Fest 2018

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Housatonic Community College (HCC) invites the community to STEAM Fest 2018 — a celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics on Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 7 and 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the HCC campus. — an announcement from Housatonic Community College
This event, now in its second year, provides an opportunity for engagement and exchange with STEAM professionals and will feature a lecture, a panel discussion, presentations, and numerous exhibitors providing hands-on activities and interactive demonstrations. Attendees will also have the chance to meet representatives from colleges and universities offering STEAM programming, and to visit the University of Bridgeport – Discovery Museum STEM on Wheels bus – a mobile laboratory offering hands-on experiences. “STEAM Fest will inform and inspire those interested in STEAM careers, and provide a chance to learn about the educational programs available to help reach their career goals,” said Rachel Cain, STEAM Initiatives coordinator for HCC.

Teens

Theatre 308: Our Upcoming Production of ‘Our Town’ Will Be ‘Entirely Different’ From Your Expectations

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Darien High School Theatre 308 would like to invite you to their production of Our Town by Thornton Wilder on Nov. 15 to 17. Andrew Rejan directs the show, and here is what he notes:
“Sometimes regarded as the quintessential high school play, Our Town is often staged as a bland, nostalgic museum piece, obscuring the essence of one of the most experimental, radical, and provocative works in the American theatrical canon,” said Andrew Rejan, director of the show. “While the absence of a traditional set initially may make the play appear simple, Thornton Wilder’s masterpiece — still shocking 80 years after it premiered — is layered, complex, disturbing, and sometimes beautiful,” Rejan said. — an announcement from Theatre 308
The show is entirely different from any traditional view of Our Town you may have, and you do not want to miss it.

Film
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‘Lives Well Lived’ Documentary About Seniors Living to the Fullest, Shown Thursday Evening in Greenwich

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“Lives well Lived” Celebrating the Secrets, Wit and Wisdom of Age, a documentary that celebrates the incredible wit and wisdom of adults 75 to 100 years old who are living their lives to the fullest, will be presented Thursday night at Greenwich Library. After the film is shown, there will be a question-and-answer period with the film’s director, Sky Bergman. Bergman has said his film grew out of love and passion. “I started filming my grandmother cooking about five years ago, when she was 99 years old,” Bergman said. “I filmed her at the gym because I thought, no one will believe that my grandmother is still working out.

Government & Politics
Voting Stations John Visi Susan Gray Registrars Elections

What Will Be a Bit Different About Voting in This Election

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Voters will find something different when they go to vote on Tuesday: Darien has bought 18 new voting stations for its six polling locations, at a cost of $839 a piece. Voting starts at 6 a.m. across Connecticut and polling places won’t accept more voters past 8 p.m. If you’re not yet registered to vote, you can go to Town Hall (bring identification). If you’re not sure where to vote, look at the links below. The new polling stations look different but should do the job better, said Republican Registrar John Visi. For one thing, the “desk” part can be set low enough that a person in a wheelchair could roll up to them and use them (see the picture — Visi’s hand is on a lower “desk” part, Registrar Susan Gray’s hand is on a higher one).

Public Safety
Darien Police Department

UPDATED: Woman Reports Wallet Missing After She Walked Away From It at Library — Then It’s Found

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A woman in a Darien Library private studying room at about 1:50 p.m., Saturday went to her car to get something, leaving a wallet in her purse in the room. When she returned, the wallet was missing. She reported the matter to police at 4:49 p.m., police said. By that evening, however, someone found it at the library, with nothing apparently missing, according to Mallory Arents, associate director of programs and services at the library. The following information from Darien Police is from the original story, back when it was a bad news story:

She had put her purse next to her seat. When she returned, she collected her belongings and moved to a different private study room, where she stayed until 4:20 p.m.

As she was leaving the library, she realized her wallet wasn’t in the purse, and she couldn’t find it.

Public Safety
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Police: Man With 4X Legal Alcohol Limit in Him Found Passed Out, Behind Wheel, Engine Running

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When Darien police answered a call from Sedgwick Avenue about a car parked at the end of a resident’s driveway for 20 minutes, its engine running, they found a man slumped behind the wheel, unconscious, with four times the legal limit for blood-alcohol content, police said. Police gave this account of what happened, including accusations not proven in court:

At 8:24 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 1, police were called to the driveway of a home on Sedgewick Avenue, not far from Tilley Pond Park. A vehicle had been parked at the end of the driveway for 20 minutes, a resident said. Police found the vehicle was still running when they arrived.

Community Organizations
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Here’s Why These Eight People Are Being Honored at the Darien Old Timers Annual Dinner

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The Darien Old Timers Athletic Association on Monday, Nov. 12 will recognize the accomplishments of Darien athletes, coaches, and other individuals “who support the opportunity for athletics to be part of the educational and community experience in Darien.” — an announcement from the Darien Old Timers Athletic Association

The 57th Annual Sports Award Dinner will be held starting at 6:15 p.m., Monday, Nov. 12 at The Water’s Edge at Giovanni’s, 2748 Post Road, Darien. This year’s honorees include:

Dick Costello is a Local Honoree who was a former star Darien High School athlete, earning Varsity Letters in Football, Basketball, and Baseball: he also earned FCIAC Honors in Football and Baseball.

News
Kristallnacht Sacred Heart University

Annual Kristallnacht Commemoration at Sacred Heart U on Wednesday, Nov 7

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Join Sacred Heart University for its annual Kristallnacht Commemoration and listen to the story of Holocaust survivor Judith Altmann. Altmann was arrested and transported to the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1944. She will tell her story of survival and hope. — an announcement from Sacred Heart University

Kristallnacht, or the “Night of Broken Glass,” took place in Germany 80 years ago and was the violent event during which Nazis broke the windows of Jewish businesses, schools and synagogues, resulting in death, arrests and the beginning stages of the Holocaust. The commemoration takes place at the Chapel of the Holy Spirit at Sacred Heart University, 5151 Park Avenue, Fairfield on Wednesday, Nov.

Community Organizations
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Rachel Dewy of Darien Named Director of Youth Services Organization in Stamford

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Longtime Darien resident Rachel Dewey is the new executive director at Future 5, a Stamford-based organization that helps connect highly motivated low-income high school students to their full potential. — an announcement from Future 5

Rachel was most recently executive director at Horizons at Norwalk Community College, a summer academic and enrichment program for low-income students in Norwalk. In addition to her development and financial responsibilities at Horizons, Rachel also managed the staff of 30, developed and implemented expanded programming and transitioned the program to an independent 501(c)(3) organization. A graduate of Georgetown University, Rachel received her MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. She is a former board member and Board of Governors member of Horizons at New Canaan Country School and current board member and events chair of the Georgetown University Fairfield County Alumni Association.

Charity Events and Opportunities
Operation Gratitude care package and soldier

United Church of Rowayton Joins Operation Gratitude in Sending Letters, Care Packages to Troops

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The United Church of Rowayton is launching a local Operation Gratitude campaign, sending letters and care packages to veterans and deployed U.S. troops. — an announcement from Rowayton Community Church
“It gives everyone an opportunity to take a personal role in honoring members of our military services on Veterans Day, Nov. 11,” said Bill Peltz, chairman of the UCR Board of Christian Outreach. “Adults and children are welcome to join in,” Peltz said. Letters can start out by simply saying, “I am writing to thank you for your service.” Letters can be handwritten or typed.

Government & Politics
Metro-North Train

Public Invited to Comment on Regional, 25-Year Transportation Plan on Wednesday at Darien Library

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The Western Connecticut Council of Governments (WestCOG) is seeking public input for the region’s Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) update. Residents are encouraged to attend a “community listening session” at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at Darien Library. — an announcement from the Western Connecticut Council of Governments

WestCOG consists of 18 member municipalities. It is dedicated to preserving and improving the quality of life and economic vitality in western Connecticut.

Sports
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Darien Old Timers Athletic Association to Honor Eight at Awards Dinner

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The Darien Old Timers Athletic Association will honor eight people at the group’s 57th annual Sports Award Dinner on Nov. 12. The dinner recognizes athletic accomplishments and raises money for both a scholarship and donation to the Darien Human Services Department. The eight announced honorees and award recipients are:

Local Honorees: Mac Budd, Jim Case, Dick Costello, Doug Lawrence
37th Annual Community Civic Award: Susan Warren
Special Jim Carlson Achievement Award: Meredith E. Koch
Outstanding Female Achievement Award: Kimberly Lynn Martini Karas
Outstanding Male Achievement Award: Mike Baldwin

The association’s Sports Award Dinner will be held starting at 6:15 p.m. on Nov. 12, a Monday, at The Water’s Edge at Giovanni’s, 2748 Post Road.

Seniors
Richard Frisch DMA speaker square

Talk on History of Human Communication at Darien Men’s Association, Wednesday, Nov 7

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Richard Frisch will speak to the Darien Men’s Association on Wednesday about why speech arose and why Homo sapiens is the only species to develop language. His talk, “From Grunts to Tweets, the History of Human Communication,” will focus on four topics: development of spoken language, development of written language, electric/electronic communication, and neural communication in the present and future. — an announcement from the Darien Men’s Association

Richard has been entertaining and informing groups about technology topics for over a decade. Recent presentations have been “Is Privacy Dead?” “The History of Recorded Sound,” and “How Big Data, Neuroscience and Psychology Are Used to Manipulate Us.”

Richard runs RHFtech, providing technology guidance and support to small businesses. He was an executive in the financial services sector for 30 years.

Education
JM Wright auto mechanics program

JM Wright Technical School Holds Open House for Prospective Students Nov 8

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JM Wright Technical High School, part of the state’s CTECS technical high school system, is hosting an open house for prospective students and their families from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 8. Wright Tech is accepting applications for students entering Grades 9 and 10 in fall 2019. — This announcement from JM Wright Technical School and the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System previously was published by GreenwichFreePress.com. Wright Tech offers students from eight towns in Grades 9 to 12 a full-day high school program that focuses on core academics while preparing graduates for immediate employment, entry into apprenticeship programs or admission into a two- or four-year college.