Public Safety
Buckle Up safety belt campaign 2018

Darien Police Join Other Police in Two-Week Ticketing Campaign for No Seatbelt Use

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With the Memorial Day Weekend approaching, Connecticut’s law enforcement agencies intend to promote safe driving and increase the protection of all motorists. From May 21, 2018 to June 3, 2018 — the week before and the week after Memorial Day — law enforcement officials will be out on Connecticut’s roads enforcing the State Occupant Protection laws and issuing citations to those who are unbuckled. 
During this campaign, anyone found breaking this law will face fines between $92 and $120. — an announcement from Darien Police Department
Failing to buckle up puts you and other vehicle passengers in a potentially deadly situation. It’s also against the law — plain and simple. There’s never an excuse to not wear your seat belt.
The Click It or Ticket campaign combines increased awareness with increased patrolling to reach as many Americans as possible with one key message: Wearing a seat belt is the single most effective way to save your life and the lives of your loved ones while on the road this Thanksgiving.

Obituaries
Louis Buccieri obituary

Louis Buccieri, 79, Grew Up in Darien, Business Owner in Stamford

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It is with tremendous sadness that we inform you of the passing of Louis F. Buccieri of New Canaan from complications associated with heart failure and lung cancer. Born May 29, 1938 in Greenwich, Louis was raised in Darien and spent most of his adult life in Stamford, where he raised his children. Dearly loved by his family and friends, Lou was a loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle and very well respected in the Stamford business community. Unofficially dubbed by many the “Mayor of Stamford’s Eastside,” there was never a face Lou didn’t seem to know and warmly greet. Generous to all with his wisdom, time and resources he was always tenderhearted to those most in need.

Business
Health Department Inspection Ratings Restaurants 11-17-17

In Latest Health Inspections, One Darien Restaurant Gets Lowest Rating — ‘C’

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One Darien restaurant received a “C” rating, the worst in the town A-B-C ratings system, in in the five most recently released town Health Department inspection reports, including three schools. The other four establishments were rated “A.”

The reports, all released Thursday, were based on inspectors’ visits from May 3 to 9. Most Recent Inspection Results

Here’s an alphabetical list of the most recently released health inspection results (an explanation for each part of the list, including links, is just below the list). Keep in mind that a food-serving establishment with a history of good ratings may occasionally get a poor inspection rating, occasionally the best do, and every restaurant normally gets a few things wrong (an explanation of how this list is put together is immediately below it):

SCHOOLS

—Darien High School — High School Lane — May 9 — Town Rating: A — State Score: 98 — Inspector’s Remarks: “Door covering in floor grease trap rotting and in disrepair; walls in ware-wash area unclean.” — Inspector’s Comments: “No hot-holding at time of inspection.

Darien Library
Darien Library General 10-13-17

This Coming Week, Darien Library Helps You Learn About: Opioids in Darien, Knitting, Writing, Tweeting, Computer Basics

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Here’s a sampling of what you can do at Darien Library in the coming week: learn about opioids in Darien, a financial literacy roundtable, how to explain the birds and the bees to your kids, and kids can learn about the royal wedding. — This announcement is from the Darien Library weekly events newsletter. You can browse Darien Library events here. We are delighted to celebrate the nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with a Royal Wedding Tea on Thursday, May 17 at 4 p.m. Learn about royal wedding history, participate in some parlor games, and nibble on some traditional treats from afternoon tea. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to snap a selfie with the Queen herself!

Community Organizations

HURRY: Leave a Bag of Groceries at Your Mailbox for Saturday’s ‘Stamp Out Hunger’ Food Drive

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Darien residents are being asked to leave a bag of groceries — not needing refrigeration or freezing, obviously — at their mailbox on Saturday morning, May 12, Person-to-Person announced. Here’s the announcement:
Since 1992, Person-to-Person (P2P) has been the designated recipient of grocery donations collected in Darien during the annual National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive. “Stamp Out Hunger” is the largest food drive for Person-to-Person each year. With 9 percent of Fairfield County households living below the poverty level and another 23 percent struggling to afford the basic needs of food, clothing and shelter, hunger and food insecurity is an issue for many of our neighbors. The number of people living in poverty plus those who earn less than the basic cost-of-living is significant in the communities served by the P2P Food Pantry in Darien:

14 percent of New Canaan households,
16 percent of Darien households and
35 percent of Stamford households

[Source: United Way ALICE Project]
During the summer months, Food Pantry demand increases because many families are providing three meals a day to children who qualify for free and reduced-price meals during the school year.

Animals
New Canaan Police Department patrol car in Darien

Police: Darien Dog Poop Perp Brought to Justice in New Canaan With Video

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Police on Wednesday fined a Darien man $136 after he was caught on video flinging his dog’s poop under a set of bleachers at Waveny Park. At about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, the man could be seen walking his leashed Springer spaniel at Waveny on the large soccer and softball fields, according to police. ____________

— This article originally was published by NewCanaanite.com. ____________

He was carrying what looked like a child’s snow shovel and could be seen scooping up after his dog and then tossing the waste under a set of bleachers alongside one of the fields, according to Officer Allyson Halm, head of the New Canaan Police Department’s Animal Control section. The videographer — a local woman — caught the man’s license plate, and when police tracked down and confronted him, he was apologetic and confessed, Halm said.

Public Safety
Darien High School fields building

DHS Freshman Lacrosse Coach Arrested on Narcotics Charges [UPDATES]

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Updated 10:42 p.m., Thursday, 4:40 p.m., Friday: Raul Bourgeois, A freshman lacrosse coach at Darien High School was arrested on narcotics charges by Waterbury police detectives after Darien police took the man into custody at about 2:30 p.m. on the high school campus. A spokesman for Waterbury police said Bourgeois was arrested on a charge of possession of narcotics in connection with a motor vehicle stop by police in that city, Hearst newspapers reported late Thursday night. The timing may have been related to the end of the school day at 2:20 p.m., 10 minutes before. Darien police said they acted at the request of the Waterbury Police Department and immediately turned over Raul Bourgeois to the Waterbury detectives at Darien Police Headquarters. Update 4:40 p.m., Friday: Bourgeois’ attorney, Mark Sherman of Stamford said in an email that it would be premature to comment on case specifics, but he added that “at no point in time were any students or athletes in danger or at risk.”

Sherman said he expects his client to enter a not-guilty plea.

Real Estate
30 Devon Road

Darien & Rowayton Real Estate Report: May 3 to 10

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Here’s Deirdre McGovern’s report on Darien and Rowayton real estate for May 3 to 10, 2018:

This week’s Darien highlights:

 19 New to Market Listings in Darien
 23 Price Reductions in Darien
 11 Accepted Offers in Darien
  6 Closed Sales in Darien
24 Open Houses in Darien

 This week’s Rowayton highlights:

  5  New to Market Listings in Rowayton
  2  Price Reductions in Rowayton
  2  Accepted Offers in Rowayton
  0  Closed Sales in Rowayton
  2  Open Houses in Rowayton

Visit our new Raveis Escapes web site: http://www.raveisescapes.com

To sign up for my monthly Local Housing Data Newsletter, click here

New Listings

Address
Town
Sq Feet
Price

26 Old Farm Road
Darien
NA
$9,000,000

5 Rowayton Avenue
Rowayton
6000
$6,250,000

25 Brush Island Road
Darien
6600
$5,995,000

21 Point Road
Wilson Point
10157
$4,490,000

170 Ridge Acres Road
Darien
7549
$3,650,000

16 Seagate Road
Darien
5532
$2,950,000

50 Sunset Road
Darien
5300
$2,850,000

40 Pear Tree Point Road
Darien
5067
$2,795,000

17 Lake Drive
Darien
3800
$1,995,000

26-3 Old Farm Road
Darien
NA
$1,875,000

14 Homewood Lane
Darien
NA
$1,850,000

12 Homewood Lane
Darien
NA
$1,825,000

26-2 Old Farm Road
Darien
NA
$1,775,000

19 Briar Brae
Darien
3393
$1,768,000

30 Birch Road
Darien
4080
$1,755,000

19 Canoe Trail
Darien
3908
$1,695,000

14 Richmond Drive
Darien
3451
$1,680,000

26F Old Farm Road
Darien
NA
$1,675,000

51 Pine Point Road
Rowayton
2759
$1,499,000

12 Phillips Lane
Darien
2064
$1,295,000

8 South Trail
Darien
2466
$1,250,000

20 Juniper Lane
Rowayton
2148
$1,199,000

24 Harstrom Place
Rowayton
2200
$1,050,000

26 Park Lane
Darien
1698
$999,000

4 Roton Avenue
Rowayton
1500
$919,000

Price Changes

Address
Town
Original Price
Previous Price
Current Price

42 Contentment Island Road
Darien
$11,200,000
$9,850,000
$8,850,000

18 Wee Burn Lane
Darien
$4,150,000
$4,150,000
$3,995,000

49 Greenleaf Avenue
Darien
$3,950,000
$3,750,000
$3,550,000

455 Mansfield Avenue
Darien
$3,775,000
$3,500,000
$3,399,000

1 Wheat Lane
Darien
3,450,000
3,450,000
$3,295,000

27 Pasture Lane
Darien
$3,395,000
$3,395,000
$3,275,000

2 Gracie Lane
Darien
$3,095,000
$2,895,000
$2,849,000

50.5 Roton Avenue
Rowayton
$2,995,000
$2,995,000
$2,799,000

154 Christie Hill Road
Darien
$2,975,000
$2,975,000
$2,675,000

1 Petticoat Lane
Darien
$2,950,000
$2,795,000
$2,595,000

85 Christie Hill Road
Darien
$2,395,000
$2,395,000
$2,295,000

4 Nolen Lane
Darien
$2,299,000
$2,299,000
$2,225,000

46 Delafield Island Road
Darien
$1,995,000
$1,995,000
$1,798,000

398 West Avenue
Darien
$1,599,000
$1,439,000
$1,420,000

30 Devon Road

 — PICTURED
Darien
$1,279,000
$1,279,000
$1,225,000

3 Lillian Terrace
Darien
$1,250,000
$1,225,000
$1,200,000

24 Noroton Avenue
Darien
$1,215,000
$1,215,000
$1,195,000

23 Birch Road
Darien
$1,175,000
$1,175,000
$1,129,000

7 Briar Brae Road
Darien
$1,135,000
$1,085,000
$1,070,000

8 Bayberry Lane
Darien
$1,050,000
$1,010,000
$999,000

81 Crooked Trail Road
Rowayton
$1,070,000
$1,049,000
$995,000

8 Webster Valley Road
Darien
$1,049,000
$995,000
$949,000

19 Darien Close
Darien
$805,000
$775,000
$760,000

3 Norman Lane
Darien
$787,000
$787,000
$748,000

16 Fairfield Avenue
Darien
$759,900
$732,900
$722,900

Accepted Offers

Address
Town
Latest Asking Price

90 Pear Tree Point Road
Darien
$10,000,000

71 Greenleaf Avenue
Darien
$3,575,000

59 Holly Lane
Darien
$3,500,000

5 Canoe Trail
Darien
$2,750,000

2 Eddy Lane
Darien
$2,395,000

61 Horseshoe Road
Darien
$1,695,000

72 Kensett Lane
Darien
$1,495,000

52 Dubois Street
Darien
$1,329,500

97 Gardiner Street
Darien
$1,249,000

101 Holmes Avenue
Darien
$929,000

322 Noroton Avenue
Darien
$829,000

6 Roton Avenue
Rowayton
$760,000

401 Highland Avenue
Rowayton
$699,000

Title Passed

Address
Town
Latest Asking Price
Sold Price

7 South Trail
Darien
$2,495,000
$2,375,000

10 Bates Farm Lane
Darien
$1,795,000
$1,692,500

7 Outlook Drive
Darien
$1,725,000
$1,635,000

74 Kensett Lane
Darien
$1,695,000
$1,610,000

20 Hillcrest Road
Darien
$1,575,000
$1,551,000

27 Tulip Tree Lane
Darien
$1,495,000
$1,440,000

Open Houses

Address
Town
Price
Date & Time

16 Shennamere Road
Darien
$14,500,000
Saturday, 1:00-3:00PM

42 Contentment Island Road
Darien
$8,850,000
Sunday, 2:00-4:00PM

100 Stephen Mather Road
Darien
$3,375,000
Saturday, 1:00-3:00PM

95 Half Mile Road
Darien
$2,250,000
Saturday, 1:00-3:00PM

29 Birch Road
Darien
$2,195,000
Saturday, 1:00-3:00PM

25 Five Mile River Road
Darien
$2,095,000
Sat, 1-4PM & Sun, 1-3PM

11 Pondfield Lane
Darien
$2,050,000
Sunday, 2:00-4:00PM

10 Top Sail Road
Rowayton
$1,898,000
Saturday, 12:00-3:00PM

6 Tory Hole Road
Darien
$1,829,000
Sunday, 2:00-4:00PM

46 Delafield Island Road
Darien
$1,798,000
Saturday, 1:00-3:00PM

19 Briar Brae Road
Darien
$1,768,000
Saturday, 2:00-4:00PM

19 Highland Avenue
Rowayton
$1,749,000
Saturday, 12:00-3:00PM

27 Arrowhead Way
Darien
$1,699,000
Saturday, 1:00-3:00PM

19 Canoe Trail
Darien
$1,695,000
Saturday, 1:00-3:00PM

25 Huckleberry Lane
Darien
$1,595,000
Sunday, 1:00-3:00PM

4 Partridge Lane
Darien
$1,595,000
Sunday, 2:00-4:00PM

55 Kensett Lane
Darien
$1,585,000
Saturday, 2:00-4:00PM

26 Thomasina Lane
Darien
$1,575,000
Saturday, 1:00-3:00PM

123 West Avenue
Darien
$1,349,000
Saturday, 12:00-2:00PM

12 Phillips Lane
Darien
$1,295,000
Saturday, 1:00-3:00PM

30 Devon Road
Darien
$1,225,000
Saturday, 1:00-3:00PM

24 Noroton Avenue
Darien
$1,195,000
Saturday, 1:00-3:00PM

11 Cherry Street
Darien
$1,099,000
Saturday, 1:00-3:00PM

281 West Avenue
Darien
$749,000
Sunday, 1:00-3:00PM

81 Linden Avenue
Darien
$649,000
Sunday, 2:00-4:00PM

37 Camp Avenue
Darien
$599,000
Saturday, 1:00-3:00PM

Deirdre McGovern is a real estate agent who has called Darien home for almost 25 years. She has been involved in many local organizations. She can be reached at 203-554-0897or deirdre.mcgovern@raveis.com 

More about Deirdre McGovern here. ___________
See also:
Darien & Rowayton Real Estate Reports:

Darien & Rowayton Real Estate Report: April 12 to 19 (April 19)
Darien & Rowayton Real Estate Report: April 5 to 12 (April 12)
Darien & Rowayton Real Estate Report: March 29 to April 5 (April 5)

Farrell on Real Estate:

Parks Make Darien a Nicer Place To Live and Can Help Property Values (April 26)
First Quarter of 2018 Shows Buyers’ Market in Darien Home Sales: Farrell on Real Estate (April 19)
To Stage or Not to Stage: That Is NOT the Question in 2018 (April 5)

Darien home sales:

Lynn Court Home Sells for $1,935,000 and Other Darien Home Sales (May 3)
Leeuwarden Road Home Sells for $3,550,000 and Other Darien House Sales (April 19)
Middlesex Road Home Goes for $1,475,000 and Other Darien House Sales (April 12)

Real Estate
27 Tulip Tree Ln, Darien

Tulip Tree Lane Home Goes for $1,440,000 and Other Darien Home Sales

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These properties recently were sold in Darien, according to records in the Town Clerk’s Office:

 

—74 Kensett Lane — Sun Homes Darien II LLC of 100 Kensett Lane to Steven Anderson and Kathryn Hammell, sold April 26, filed May 4, $1,610,000

—6 Outlook Dr. — Ronald Heinbaugh and R. Edward Heinbaugh to No. 6 Outlook LLC of 7 Woodland Dr., Darien, sold May 3, filed May 7, $1,050,000

—7 Outlook Dr. — Kip Koslow and Catherine Koslow to Turner Jackson LLC of the same address, sold May 3, filed May 7, $1,635,000

—27 Tulip Tree Lane — Debra Randall to Adam Artiano and Whitney Artiano, sold May 4, filed same day, $1,440,000 — PICTURED

—73 Kensett Lane — Sun Homes Darien II LLC of 100 Kensett Lane to Sterling Westport Associates LLC of 50 East Mount Pleasant Ave., Livingston, NJ, sold April 26, filed May 8, $1,945,000

—100 Goodwives River Road — John Foster and Kimberly Foster to William Bonner and Karen Bonner, sold May 6, filed May 8, $2,475,000

___________
See also:

Natural Gas Expansion Into Darien Could Have Direct and Indirect Benefits — If You’re Along the Route (April 23)
Family Away, Real Estate Agents Take People Through Home, $11K Watch in Dresser Missing (April 11)

Darien & Rowayton Real Estate Reports:

Darien & Rowayton Real Estate Report: April 19 to 26 (April26)
Darien & Rowayton Real Estate Report: April 12 to 19 (April 19)
Darien & Rowayton Real Estate Report: April 5 to 12 (April 12)

Farrell on Real Estate:

Parks Make Darien a Nicer Place To Live and Can Help Property Values (April 26)
First Quarter of 2018 Shows Buyers’ Market in Darien Home Sales: Farrell on Real Estate (April 19)
To Stage or Not to Stage: That Is NOT the Question in 2018 (April 5)

Darien home sales:

Lynn Court Home Sells for $1,935,000 and Other Darien Home Sales (May 4)
Maple St Home Goes for $1.4 Million and Other Darien House Sales (April 26)
Leeuwarden Road Home Sells for $3,550,000 and Other Darien House Sales (April 19)

Public Safety
Police

Phone Stolen During Scout Cabin Tag Sale on Sunday

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A 29-year-old Norwalk man volunteering at the annual Darien Boy Scout Tag Sale told police that he left his cell phone attached to a charger in the main room of the Scout Cabin, where it was stolen last Sunday. Sometime between 3:45 and 4 p.m., someone took both the Motorola Nexus cell phone and the charger while hundreds of tag sale patrons were in the area and the building at 140 West Ave. There was no video surveillance in the area, and police have no suspects. The theft of the missing phone, valued at $180, was reported to police at 7:48 p.m.

Arts & Entertainment
Childe Hassam Celia Thaxter's Garden

Impressionist Artists in CT and Local WPA Artists: Lecture Thursday at Historical Society

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Hear about Impressionist artists who made Connecticut their home, and also local artists from the Works Progress Administration, during an art history lecture on Thursday, May 10 at 7 p.m. at the Darien Historical Society. Presented by ArtScapades, an art appreciation series co-founded by New Canaan residents Robin Hoffman and Jodi Stiffelman, the talk will begin with an overview of how the Impressionism movement arrived in America and the formation of art colonies here. _______________

— an announcement from the Darien Historical Society

_______________

The work of three American Impressionists will be discussed: J. Alden Weir, Childe Hassam and John H. Twachtman. The talk will also focus on the period during the Great Depression and the five Works Progress Administration artists whose works are installed in the area, including: Aruthur G. Hull, Robert Pallesen, John Steuart Curry, George Avison and Alexander J. Rummler. Founded in 2010, Hoffman and Stiffelman co-founded ArtScapades after teaching art appreciation in the New Canaan public school system for over a decade.

Real Estate

A Look at the Darien Rental Market: For Those Not Looking to Buy, Limited Choices: Farrell on Real Estate

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While there are 389 single-family homes for sale in Darien currently, there are only 35 rental opportunities for those not willing or ready to buy. At the low end, there are apartments renting for $2,600 per month on the Post Road, while at the high end, there are much more luxurious homes asking as much as $45,000 per month in rental fees. For those looking for apartment life, choices on the Post Road range from one-bedroom units in the downtown area ($2,600), to a three-bedroom apartment above Chipotle ($3,500) to new one bedroom construction above retail space in the Noroton area ($3,250 to $3,400). Other apartment rentals include several new two-bedroom units (for those 62 and older) at the Pemberton 16 condominiums on Leroy Avenue ($3,950 to $4,700). These rentals include a ground-floor gated garage with assigned parking. The 22 single-family rental homes on the market range from $3,500 per month for a 1,368-square-foot, three-bedroom home on Tokeneke Road and $3,750 for a 1,538-square-foot, three-bedroom home on Hoyt Street, to the 9,000-square-foot, six-bedroom home on Brookside Road for $22,000 per month and the 6,870-square-foot, six-bedroom waterfront home on Nickerson Lane at the top of the rental market, going for $45,000.

Darienites
YWCA of Darien/Norwalk Women of Distinction Logo

Meet the Six ‘Women of Distinction’ To Be Honored Thursday by YWCA of Darien-Norwalk

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These six Darien and Norwalk women will be celebrated Thursday by YWCA Darien/Norwalk and a crowd of well-wishers at the 2018 Women of Distinction Awards and Luncheon at Woodway Country Club. This year’s distinguished honorees at the annual event are Carrie Bernier, Tina Duryea, Scarlett Lewis, Allison Molkenthin and Wendy Ward, along with Emma Dahlquist, named this year’s Young Woman of Distinction, an award recognizing outstanding accomplishments of a woman under 21. The Women of Distinction Award is bestowed in recognition of the outstanding achievements of a select group of women. Local residents and business owners nominate women who live or work in Darien and Norwalk whose significant and unique contributions have made a difference in our community. The YWCA website is no longer accepting registrations for the lunch.

Education
Darien High School DHS 9-13-16

Darien High School Ranked 9th Best School in CT by US News

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Darien High School is the ninth best in the state, according to U.S. News, which calls the school a winner of one of its “gold medals.” Nationwide, Darien ranks 410th best, overall. U.S. News says it comes up with its rankings “based on their performance on state-required tests and how well they prepare students for college.” The magazine’s 2018 “Best High Schools” survey covers 20,500 public high schools across the country, with rankings for 5,948 of them. DHS ranks 22nd best nationwide in STEM — science, technology, engineering and math subjects.