Healthy Living

COVID-19 in Darien: Latest Updates from First Selectman, Superintendent, Other Leaders

For Details on Vaccine Availability in Darien and Other Urgent Info, Sign Up for Code Red Alerts

Get Help If You're Struggling: Town, Community Fund Mail Out Links to Mental Health Resources — and Here's More

Darien Health Director Describes State's New, Looser Guidelines for Those Exposed to COVID-19

Town, School Officials' Update on Recent Spread of COVID-19 in Darien and Tips for Stopping It

Darien Health Department Announces Additional Flu Shot Day — Nov 5 — Appointment Needed

Forty More Darien High School Students Quarantined, as Is Holmes Principal [UPDATE 2]

Travelers Coming to CT Can Get Tested Instead of Quarantining: — If They Do It the Right Way

Two Darien Restaurants Get Worst Grade, ‘C,’ in Latest Health Inspection Reports

Abilis Launches ‘Sibshops’ for 10- to 14-Year-Old Siblings of Those with Disabilities

Superintendent to Parents: Schools Being Made Safer for Reopening on Tuesday

COVID-19 Case of Someone at Middle School Results in 12 Being Told to Self Isolate

Worst Health Inspection Rating — ‘C’ — for Two Darien Establishments in Latest Reports

AAA Says More Infant Car Seats in CT Face Rear, But More Would Be Better

Metro-North Reminder: Masks Are Mandatory, With State Fines in Both CT and NY

YWCA Online Webinar Tuesday to Help Parents With Family Tensions During the Pandemic

‘C’ Rating for One Darien Restaurant in Latest Health Inspection Reports

Darien Human Services Can Provide Support and Referrals for Those at Risk of Suicide

Latest Health Inspection Reports for Darien Food Serving Establishments

Registration Ongoing for Darien YMCA Fall Fitness, Wellness Programs

By DARIENITE.COM | January 22, 2021

Healthy Living

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Coronavirus 2020

By David Gurliacci | October 22, 2020

Connecticut Travel Form

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Coronavirus 2020

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Education

By DARIENITE.COM | September 25, 2020

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By David Gurliacci | September 25, 2020

AAA Northeast 2020

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Coronavirus 2020

By DARIENITE.COM | September 19, 2020

Healthy Living

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Business

By David Gurliacci | September 11, 2020

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Darien YMCA

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Exercise, outdoor activities and everything related to keeping healthy

A total of 629 Darien households have had at least one resident with COVID-19 since the pandemic began, and there are a total of 921 in town who tested positive, First Selectman Jayme Stevenson said in her latest pandemic update. Schools Superintendent Alan Addley also released a message to teachers and parents to update them on pandemic developments for the school district. In addition, a recording of a public, hourlong discussion Thursday about the state’s vaccine rollout has been posted. It features the Stamford Hospital CEO, the state director of economic development and an area business leader. Here are both Darien messages, along with a description of the video and link to it:
First Selectman’s Announcement
Stevenson sent out the announcement on CodeRed alert system (which you can sign up for here) and on the town government website.

Community Fund of Darien COVID-19 Coronavirus Mental Health

Flu Shots Influenza Vaccine nurse needle

If you didn’t get your flu shot yet, you can make an appointment for one on Thursday, Nov. 5, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Town Hall Gymnasium, Darien Health Department announced Tuesday. Click here to book your appointment. The vaccine used by the department is preservative free and available to those over 3 years old. A high dose is available to those over the age of 65.

Update, 8:54 p.m. — Forty people at Darien High School are considered “close contacts” of one person who tested positive for COVID-19 and was last at Darien High School on Wednesday, Superintendent Alan Addley and Nurse Alicia Casucci said in an announcement to parents at about 6:30 p.m., Thursday. The emailed announcement said in part:
“The affected person has been instructed to remain home in self-isolation for 10 days and have been provided with additional instructions to follow prior to returning to school. Family members have also been instructed to self-quarantine and get tested. “It was also determined 40 individuals are considered close contacts and require to be quarantined. All individuals have been notified and given further instructions regarding quarantine and further evaluation. The high school building also received additional cleaning.”

If you do it the right way — take the approved COVID-19 tests, fill out the right forms and send them to the right state authorities — you can come to Connecticut (or come back if you’re returning) without having to quarantine. Darien Health Director David Knauf sent out this news release to help people understand the rules:

We are receiving a number of questions regarding traveling to and returning from states that are on the restricted list issued by the Governor’s Office. Please refer to the following guidance:
1. Returning travelers need to … …

Health Department Inspection Ratings Restaurants 11-17-17

Two Darien restaurants received a “C” rating, the worst grade in the town’s A/B/C ratings system, in the inspection reports released Thursday by the Darien Health Department. The department released health inspection reports for 10 food-serving establishments on Thursday for inspections that took place from Sept. 21 to 30. In addition to the two “C” ratings, five inspections resulted in an “A,” another three received a “B.” 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.

Abilis is launching “Sibshops” for children ages 10-to-14 who are brothers and sisters of someone who has a disability. Sibshops are high-spirited and fun workshops and events that combine recreation, discussion and information for siblings who endure the good (and sometimes not-so good) parts of having a sibling with a disability. — an announcement from Abilis

Sibshops provide a safe space for siblings to share their thoughts and feelings while also meeting others in similar circumstances and provides a place to enjoy themselves through different recreation activities and through playing games while also learning about the services their brother(s) or sister(s) receive. Sibshops will hold monthly meetings or events, beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 30, and running through Dec.

Schools should be ready to welcome students full-time (as previously planned) on Tuesday, Sept. 29, with more spacing created for lunch and other safety measures prepared for them, Superintendent Alan Addley wrote in an email to parents Friday afternoon. “In preparing for all students to return, schools have increased physical spacing practices for lunch,” Addley said. “While the plans vary for each school, students are distanced further apart and/or alternative mitigating strategies are in place. Principals have shared these details with you along with practices for remote learners and other information related to the full reopening.”

Middlesex Middle School wikipedia 5-25-16

Someone — either a student, teacher or other staff member — at Middlesex Middle School recently tested positive for COVID-19, according to an email from schools Superintendent Alan Addley. School nurses have told that person and 11 others who are considered to have been in close contact with him or her (apparently at the school and possibly also in a school bus, since family members are mentioned separately) to quarantine for 14 days, Addley said in the Wednesday evening email. Family members “have also been instructed to self-quarantine and get tested,” Addley wrote in the email, sent out as a letter through the email account of Alicia Casucci, director of nursing for the schools (but stating that it was from Addley). The individual who tested positive was last at Middlesex Middle School on Thursday, Sept. 17.

A restaurant and a retirement home in Darien received “C” ratings, the worst grade in town Health Department’s A/B/C ratings system, in the inspection reports released Thursday by the Darien Health Department. Meanwhile, a retirement home that previously received a “C” rating has now received an “A” and a perfect 100 score in its latest inspection. The department released health inspection reports for 11 food-serving establishments on Thursday for inspections that took place from Sept. 4 to 9. In addition to the two “C” rating, five inspections resulted in an “A,” another four establishments each received a “B.”

More parents and guardians are following Connecticut’s Child Passenger Safety (CPS) seat law for infants since the state strengthened the original mandate in 2017, says AAA Northeast. — an announcement from AAA Northeast

Currently, infants must ride rear facing until they turn 2 years old and weigh at least 30 pounds, an upgrade from the earlier requirement of 1 year and 20 pounds. To highlight National CPS Week (Sept. 20 – 26), AAA Northeast analyzed data from the UConn Crash Data Repository and found more children under age two have been riding rear facing in recent years. In fact, the percentage of children under 2 who are riding rear facing increased from 45% in 2015 — before the law was upgraded — to 61% last year.

Metro-North train passenger mask on 2020

Following the executive order issued in New York state on Monday establishing fines for individuals who are not wearing face covering on all Metro-North property, the State of Connecticut issued a similar order on Tuesday, Sept. 15. — an announcement from Metro-North

And although many of our customers are protecting themselves and others by wearing masks, now those who are not may receive a fine of $100 while traveling in Connecticut. The new Connecticut State Executive order means if you aren’t wearing a mask, or if your face covering doesn’t properly cover both your nose and your mouth, you may be barred from entering or from remaining on Metro-North property, including being removed from trains and stations by MTA or Connecticut Police. You can also be subject to a $100 fine.

YWCA online webinar family tensions in pandemic

The YWCA Darien/Norwalk Parent Awareness is hosting an upcoming webinar entitled “The Way Things Used to Be: How parents can find meaning and hope as they navigate the grief and uncertainty the pandemic has created for their families and themselves.” Chelsea McGee, LCSW from Center of Hope and Julianne Green, LMSW, from The Den of Grieving Kids will have an open discussion about how to acknowledge, understand and normalize these feelings of lost events, and routines so parents can support and encourage children in this “new” normal. The Zoom meeting will take place at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept 22. The event is free and open to members and non-members. Registration is required here, on the YW website.

One restaurant in Darien received a “C” rating, the worst grade in town Health Department’s A/B/C ratings system, in the inspection reports released Thursday by the Darien Health Department. The department released health inspection reports for four food-serving establishments on Thursday for inspections that took place from Sept. 4 to 9. In addition to the “C” rating, two inspections resulted in an “A,” another received a “B.” 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.

To the Editor:

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and there has never been a more critical time to focus on depression and our mental health. Our lives have been disrupted by COVID-19, social distancing, and unprecedented economic challenges. Many of us may be experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression for the first time. Suicidal thoughts, like other mental health conditions, can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or background. Although common, they should not be considered normal and often indicate more serious issues.

Here’s how Darien restaurants and other food-serving places fared in the latest inspection reports, released Thursday by the Darien Health Department. The department on Thursday released five reports of inspection visits from Aug. 28 to Sept. 2. Of those, three inspections resulted in a “B” rating and two more received an “A.”

« February 2021 »

This year the Darien YMCA is offering two Fall sessions, and registration is ongoing for programs that help keep youth and adults keep active, stay healthy, and maintain higher spirits through the tough times brought on by the pandemic. The Y’s programs include ways to practice wellness, offerings for children and youths that help keep them fit, and classes tailored for people with special needs. Session dates for Fall Session 1: Aug. 31 to Oct. 12 and for Fall Session 2: Oct.