Darien Swap Shop

Swap Shop To Be Shut Saturday: There’s a Lack of Volunteers

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The Swap Shop will be closed this Saturday, June 8, due to a lack of volunteer staffing. Additional volunteers are always welcome and needed. Please email swapshop@darienct.gov if you have an interest. — an announcement in the June 7 Town of Darien Newsletter

The revised Darien Swap Shop hours are typically 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday through Saturday. Please follow @DarienSwapShop on Instagram for daily updates as the hours may change.

Elizabeth Malthus executive director of Darien Land Trust

Darien Land Trust Appoints Elizabeth Mathus New Executive Director

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After an extensive search, the Darien Land Trust announced the appointment of Elizabeth Mathus as its new executive director. A resident of Darien for nine years, Mathus brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to the land trust’s mission. — an announcement from the Darien Land Trust

Having served on the Board of Trustees since 2018 and as president since 2022, Mathus has consistently provided thoughtful guidance and dedication to the organization’s goals. “Elizabeth’s passion for conservation and proven leadership skills set her apart during our selection process,” said Amy Sarbinowski, newly appointed president of the organization and member of the Search Committee. Mathus holds a Bachelor of Science degree in design and environmental analysis from Cornell University.

Aerial view

Potential Buyer of Most of Thorndal Circle Office Park Proposes Building 175 Homes There

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Most of the office park at Thorndal Circle is close to being sold to TC Northeast Metro Development Inc., which is proposing to demolish five office buildings and construct five residential buildings with 175 homes, according to filings with the Darien Planning and Zoning Department. The proposal will be the subject of a public hearing by the town Environmental Review Commission at 7 p.m., today, Wednesday, May 22 in Darien Town Hall, Room 119. If approved and built, the 11-acre development will be one of the biggest in town, comparable to the Corbin District downtown as well as Darien Commons and Heights Crossing in Noroton Heights. Cushman & Wakefield Capital Markets, a large commercial real estate firm that represents the owners, says on its website that the Thorndal Circle property is “under contract,” a real estate term meaning “the seller has accepted an offer, but there are still conditions to clear before closing,” according to Opendoor, a San Francisco-based real estate company. Although the reasons for the buyer to have conditions before actually acquiring the property are unclear, the decisions town land use boards make on whether to approve the project and under what conditions could potentially make the buyer cancel the deal, likely putting the property back on the market.

Landscaping for Beauty and Resilience

Designer Shows Examples of Beautiful, Practical, Environmentally Sound Landscaping

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Landscape design is an investment. The right selection and balance of plants can enhance our enjoyment of our homes and neighborhoods, increase property values, and build resilience during erratic weather like floods and drought. — an announcement from New Canaan Library

On Sunday, May 19, at New Canaan Library, landscape designer Pennington Grey will share images and interventions from distinctive landscapes in our area to show interesting, innovative solutions that are as practical as they are refined and beautiful. Pennington Grey’s firm does business in the Northeast. He is on the board of the Ecological Landscape Alliance, and is known for the judicious use of native plantings and minimal chemical inputs for maximum visual and environmental benefit.

Household Hazardous Waste Dropoff in Greenwich on Saturday, May 4, and in Darien on June 1

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Household Hazardous Waste Day is this Saturday, May 4 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Island Beach Parking lot on Arch Street. Residents of Darien and other nearby towns are invited. You can also wait for Darien’s Household Hazardous Waste Day on June 1 (or see this year’s schedule of HHWDs below, which allows you to procrastinate longer). No commercial loads accepted. For information call the Greenwich Department of Health at 203-622-7838 or Greenwich Departmentt of Public Works at 203-618-3001.

The power of trees event poster 2024

Presentation on ‘The Power of Trees’ Thursday Evening, May 9 at Darien Library

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Juliet Cain and Meaghan Hetherington of the Darien Nature Center will talk about the “Power of Trees,” on Thursday evening, May 9, at Darien Library, discussing how much trees contribute to our lives, including how they help the environment and provide mental health benefits. — an announcement from Darien Library

Do you know how much trees contribute to your daily life? Any elementary student can tell you that through a chemical reaction known as photosynthesis trees produce and release oxygen, an essential element for all living things. However, trees do much more than produce oxygen and beautify our landscapes. They also remove tons of climate-warming carbon dioxide and other harmful gases from the air we breathe, they cool the earth’s air and surface temperatures, and they provide food and habitats for thousands of animal species and other wildlife.

Aquarion

Aquarion Water Company Seeks Nominations for Environmental Champion Awards by May 1

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Aquarion Water Company has announced the opening of nominations for the 2024 Aquarion Environmental Champion Awards. — an announcement from Aquarion Water Company

Now in its 14th year, this program continues to honor the remarkable efforts of individuals, businesses, and organizations across Connecticut who are committed to preserving the environment. “This year marks the 14th anniversary of the Environmental Champion Awards, a testament to the strong public support for environmental stewardship,” said Donald Morrissey, President of Aquarion Water Company. “We are thrilled to recognize the extraordinary achievements of those who go above and beyond in their efforts to protect Connecticut’s natural resources.” Since its inception in 2010, the Aquarion Environmental Champion Awards have shone a spotlight on the dedication and hard work of Connecticut’s environmental volunteers.

Save the Sound beach cleanup?

Save the Sound Gets One of Garden Club of America’s Highest Awards

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Save the Sound, a 51-year-old environmental action organization based in Connecticut and New York, and its president, Leah Lopez Schmalz, have been honored as a 2024 National Medalist by The Garden Club of America. It is the highest honor bestowed upon individuals and organizations by the GCA for distinguished achievements in areas related to its purpose. — a compilation of announcements from Save the Sound and the GCA

Save the Sound will receive the Cynthia Pratt Laughlin Medal, awarded for outstanding achievement in environmental protection and the maintenance of quality of life. “The breadth and depth of its toolkit sets Save the Sound apart from other regional nonprofits. It successfully uses a combination of legislative advocacy, legal action, engineering, and scientific environmental monitoring as well as hands-on volunteer and educational efforts to protect this important region,” the GCA announcement said.

Gardening

Three Events for Gardeners This April at Darien Library

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With spring in full swing, it’s time to start planning your garden! You can learn new techniques and draw inspiration from renowned designers and nature at Darien Library in April. The library will host three events designed to help gardeners of all ages, those with green thumbs and new planters, alike. — an announcement from Darien Library

Make healthy changes to your backyard this spring in two programs sharing sustainable gardening practices that will keep your space — and the environment around it — healthy and happy. No-Till Gardening: April 4
Educator and farmer Mark Gostkiewics will share the magic of no-till gardening and other sustainable organic practices in “Learn About No Till Gardening” on Tuesday, April 4 at 7 p.m. in the Conference Room.

Sustainable Fashion Show part of poster 2022 DCA Thrift Shop

New Date for DCA’s Sustainable Designer Fashion Show and Sale: Sept 14

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With the environmental toll of the apparel industry becoming an increasing concern as a key contributor to the rise in global warming, the hottest trend in fashion is not skirt length or the color of the season. It’s sustainability and resale, with vintage, consignment and online services like The Real Real and Poshmark booming. In Darien, the DCA Thrift Shop on the Post Road has been in on that trend for over 90 years and has become a local hub for in-the-know fashionistas to scoop up premium and contemporary designer goods at thrift shop prices. — an announcement from The Darien Community Association

To focus on the need for more eco-friendly shopping, the Darien Community Association will present a Sustainable Fashion Show on Wednesday, Sept. 14 (which is a new date) featuring designer fashions that sell at its DCA Thrift Shop.

Solar Panels on Maritime Aquarium

Maritime Aquarium Among Two Dozen Aquariums Pledging to Continue Work to Achieve Carbon Neutrality

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The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk and 23 other leading U.S. aquariums, as members of the Aquarium Conservation Partnership (ACP) , on Friday announced the first steps in achieving their long-term goal of carbon neutrality. — an announcement from The Maritime Aquarium

Fittingly on Earth Day, the aquariums are pledging to evaluate and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, a major cause of a warming planet and global climate change. “We have no choice but to undertake fast and drastic action on a global scale to reduce CO2 emissions into the atmosphere if we want to enjoy the planet as we have known it for thousands of years,,” said Jason Patlis, president and CEO of The Maritime Aquarium, “and it is the responsibility of The Maritime Aquarium, as one of the foremost aquariums in the nation, to lead by example and join the nation’s other top aquariums in committing to a path that will lead us to a carbon neutral future.”

Within a year, with a long-term goal of achieving climate neutrality, the 24 aquariums will assess the amount of CO2 emissions that their operations create, either directly from on-site, owned sources, or indirectly from – for example – the electricity, heating or cooling that they purchase. They’ll also determine additional priority reductions from such emission sources as purchased goods and services, business travel, employee commuting and waste disposal. By April 2024, the aquariums will develop individual emissions-reduction plans, with timelines for completion.

Letter to the Editor Horse brown

Friends of Animals President: ‘Trees are the Planet’s Lungs’ With Multiple Benefits for the Environment

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To the editor:

I’m unnerved when I hear that morbid sound of trees being dismembered, limb by limb until they’re pulverized into saw dust. It’s a racket outside my office window in Darien this morning. In the backyard of a home that abuts our parking lot, I can see a red band tied around the trunk of the huge tree, which a tree cutter in a cherry picker kills, branch by branch, without ceremony. I don’t know why people so easily kill trees, but it’s done with reckless abandon, and watching each limb cut and remain suspended in the air for a while incenses me. Last weekend, I heard the same jarring, tree-killing sound of a chainsaw in a neighbor’s yard on McKinley Street in Rowayton, and the weekend earlier, it interrupted a visit to a friend’s home in Hilton Head, South Carolina.