With Darien Senior Center having ended its food pickup service in the Town Hall parking lot on Monday, a new, expanded program called “Corbin Cares” has been launched in town to have deliveries of breakfasts, boxed lunches and dinners to seniors and others in need during the COVID-19 epidemic. The effort, expected to begin this week, is a collaboration between nonprofits, local businesses and town government departments. Darien seniors and others identified by the town Human Services Department will be eligible for it as well as others in need in surrounding communities. The project is funded privately and is seeking donations from the public. The project, which has the support of Darien’s Department of Public Health and the First Selectman’s Office, is expected to begin this week.
Just because you’re not putting miles on your car now as you routinely do, doesn’t mean you should ignore simple maintenance during a time when many of us are working from home, says AAA Northeast. — an announcement from AAA Northeast
Like most of us nowadays, your car probably isn’t moving as much; and depending upon how long your vehicle sits, things can happen: dead batteries, stale fuel, rusty brakes, even critters nesting in vehicle nooks and crannies, says Fran Mayko, AAA Northeast spokeswoman. “For those of us who have time to catch up on things we’ve overlooked or ignored in the past, now is a good time to get ‘cranking’ on car maintenance,” said Mayko. AAA Northeast offers these simple tips to keep your vehicle running properly during extended off-road periods:
Fill your tank and add a gasoline stabilizer to help extend the life of fuel and prevent the buildup of condensation. Inflate the tires to manufacturer recommendation to prevent flat spots.
Sharon K. (Edwards) Kells a 40-year resident of Darien, passed away on March 22 at age 73. Born Sept. 10, 1946 at home in Irwin, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late Robert Edwards and Hazel Ruth Edwards both of Irwin. Sharon was a fraternal twin who was raised in rural Ohio with her four siblings (two sets of twins). Sharon loved and cherished eight of her beautiful grandchildren: Adrienne Ross, David ‘Trey’ Maloney, Carys Gallo, Mia Gallo, Charlie Gallo, Addison D’Acunto, Copper D’Acunto, and Collins D’Acunto.
The St. Luke’s Church vestry on Monday announced that a new rector has been named for the Darien Episcopal church: He is currently a vicar at St. James’ Church on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The Rev. Ryan Fleenor is a “gifted spiritual leader, as is abundantly clear in both his preaching and teaching,” said an announcement from the church’s vestry (lay members elected by the parish to run it with the rector). The gay, married clergyman has “an impressive track record of bringing young families into the church” and for organizing, the announcement added.
Eight vehicles, all but one unlocked, were entered overnight from Saturday to Sunday, March 21 to 22 on two streets near downtown — on Highland and Lakeside avenues — and on McLaren Road South, about a half mile north, police said. One SUV on Lakeside Avenue was locked, but it was stolen anyway, apparently after it was entered by someone breaking a window, police said. The 2017 Subaru Forester was involved in an accident at about 3 a.m. in Westport, after a short police chase there. Darien police contacted the owner, who told them that the vehicle had been locked, with both set of keys in the home — but a valet key had been in the glove box. The spot where the SUV was parked had broken glass on the ground.
Cheryl Sue Bergem, 77, died at her residence in Stamford, Connecticut, on March 18, 2020. Sue, as she was known, was born in Detroit on Nov. 30 1942, the daughter of Charles Edwin Davisson and Clara Myers Davisson. In 1982, she married Colonel Pierre Bergem who was second in command of the Luxembourg Army following World War II. Completing all her education in her home state of Michigan, Sue received a Bachelor of Science degree in business education from Eastern Michigan University and a Master of Science degree in the same field from the University of Michigan.
Days after the town announced that it was canceling its plan to have drive-thru COVID-19 testing at Town Hall, town officials announced a new outdoor testing site will open this Monday, March 23, at the Darien High School campus. The testing, still by Murphy Medical Associates, will only be done on Mondays from 1 to 4 p.m., the new announcement said, and those tested will need to fill out an online application and make an appointment first. If demand is high enough, more testing time may be added. First Selectman Jayme Stevenson said in an interview that the original testing site at Town Hall wasn’t as good for traffic or logistics in general. Residents living near Town Hall had vociferously complained about expected traffic.
The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is offering special online ways for guests and educators to still connect and learn during the current COVID-19 time of closure, including live Q&As with staff as well as streaming IMAX movies. — an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium
On March 17, the Maritime Aquarium began offering live Q&As with members of its Animal-Husbandry team at 3 p.m. each day on the Aquarium’s Facebook page. Each session will mainly focus on an animal or topic shown via recorded video, but questions can be about any related Aquarium subject. Questions can be submitted any time between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. via the Aquarium’s social-media pages – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – and then live on Facebook during the 3 p.m. “Watch Party” webcast. “We very strongly feel the need to make our resources available to our guests, members and schools, even though we are required to be apart,” said Aquarium spokesman Dave Sigworth.
Members of the Darien community announced today the formation of Darien Junior Field Hockey (DJFH), a new youth field hockey program beginning in the Fall of 2020. Registration is open now. — an announcement from Darien Junior Field Hockey
The all-new program will be developed and directed by former Darien High School Freshman Coach Wynne Lennon. “My motto has always been ‘If you’re not having fun, then why do it?’,” Lennon said. “I am eager to bring this philosophy, along with my passion for the game, to Darien’s youth.”
DJFH will also be supported by celebrated Darien High School Varsity Coach Mo Minicus, and Junior Varsity Coach Kari Johns.
Please don’t drop off unused prescription medications at the Police Department during the COVID-19 epidemic, or apply for a tag sale or solicitor permit from the department, and don’t drop off gifts of food there either, Police Chief Donald Anderson said in an announcement Thursday. That’s because, like everyone else, police are trying to keep as much social distance as possible during the epidemic, he said. Police have stopped non-criminal fingerprint services for the same reason. And for the same reason, some policing may even be done on the phone rather than face-to-face. Please call the department’s non-emergency number for anything you need from police that isn’t an emergency.
94 Old Kings Hwy S
Darien
$579,000
Sunday, 1-3:00 PM
______________________
Deirdre McGovern is a real estate agent who has called Darien home for more than 25 years. She has been involved in many local organizations. She can be reached at 203-554-0897 or deirdre.mcgovern@raveis.com
Back in February, students at Tokeneke School held a book drive for Darien Book Aid Plan collected 5,836 books that the organization is sending to Peace Corps volunteers and literacy programs in the U.S. and worldwide. Here’s Darien Book Aid Plan’s announcement about the project:
If you entered Tokeneke School during the month of February, you would have noticed signs around the school promoting a book drive organized by the Tokeneke Student Council to benefit local non-profit Darien Book Aid. Darien Book Aid distributes free books to Peace Corps volunteers and literacy programs around the globe as well as to underserved schools and other programs in the United States. Thanks to the students and families of Tokeneke School, the book drive was a huge success and yielded a record-number 5,836 gently-used books for the non-profit. Some of these books are already on their way around the world.
This page will feature shorter news on the COVID-19 situation, as they come in, including links to coverage and advice, from Wednesday to Saturday, March 18 to 21. If this web page proves useful, we’ll publish a similar page on Sunday with that week’s dates:
Items will be added to this page as they come in, with the latest on top (email announcements or tips to Dave@Darienite.Com):
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18
COVID-19 Articles for Wednesday
—If You Need Social Services During the COVID-19 Epidemic: What’s the Same, What’s Changed
—Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing at Darien Town Hall Starts Thursday Afternoon; UPDATE: CANCELED: Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing at Darien Town Hall Won’t Be Happening
—Suddenly Need Health Insurance After COVID-19 Dislocations? New ‘Exceptional Enrollment Period’ Announced
—Grieb’s Pharmacy Says Store Now Closed to Customers — Instead: Outside Pickups and Deliveries
—How Darien Supermarkets Are Helping Vulnerable Shoppers During the COVID-19 Epidemic
—Eateries Allowed Banners and Sandwich Board Signs in the COVID-19 Era
Does This Make You Feel More Safe? Only twice a day? A “thorough cleaning” only once every third day?
In order to help out the town’s restaurants, whose business is expected to suffer when indoor restaurant seating was banned by the governor in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Darien is easing town regulations on banners and “sandwich board” signs. Here’s the announcement late Wednesday afternoon from Jeremy Ginsberg, town planning & zoning director:
In accordance with state and local temporary mandates, restaurants and food service establishments are now prohibited from allowing patrons to gather at their establishments. Recognizing that such businesses still provide valuable services to the public by providing food and beverage on a take-out or delivery basis, the Darien Planning and Zoning Department has authorized the temporary suspension of the restrictions of the Darien Zoning Regulations which only allow temporary banners for seven days and which prohibit sandwich board or A-frame type signs. It is the intent of this action to allow restaurants and food service establishments that are open for take-out and delivery to have a single temporary sandwich board or A-frame type sign on the walkway near the entrance door. The display area cannot exceed 6 (six) square feet per side.
Stop and Shop announced days ago that its stores would be open solely to seniors in the very early hours of each day. Palmer’s Market in Darien also announced curbside and delivery service for people who need it. On Wednesday, Whole Foods Market announced its stores were also taking steps to keep their stores safer for shoppers. Trader Joe’s has stopped all food sampling in its stores and changed its hours to give staff more time to make sure stores are well-sanitized. Here’s a rundown:
Whole Foods Market: 8 to 9 AM for 60+ Seniors
“Starting on Wednesday, March 18, all Whole Foods Market stores in the U.S. and Canada will service customers who are 60 and older one hour before opening to the general public, under the new adjusted hours posted on the store’s web page,” the company announced on its website.
