ARPA Committee 2022
Lectern Auditorium Town Seal

Ad Hoc Committee to Recommend How Darien Will Spend $6.4 Million in Federal COVID-19 Aid

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Darien, like other local governments around the country, is getting a sudden infusion of federal aid this year to make up for extra money spent on COVID-19. Darien’s slice of the $130 billion pie amounts to $6.4 million. An ad hoc committee has been appointed to suggest where the town should spend the money. First Selectman Monica McNally mentioned the committee as part of her roundup of updates to the Board of Selectmen at its meeting Monday night. What the town decides to spend the money on is restricted, but the federal government will allow the spending to go toward “public health expenditures, address the negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency, replace lost public sector revenue, provide premium pay for essential workers, invest in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure,” said Selectman Jon Zagrodzky, who’s been appointed to head the panel.

Coronavirus 2022
COVID-19 Coronavirus

Total of 195 COVID-19 Cases Reported to Darien Schools Over Holiday Break, 5 Days of Self Isolation for Each

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There were 195 Darien school district employees and students who tested positive for COVID-19 during the holiday break, school district officials said in an announcement Monday night. The district now has a five-day mandatory self-isolation policy, and about a fourth of the total, 55 people, whose positive-test results were reported to the district on Monday, have been told not to come to school within that period. Of those 55, a total of 39 who tested positive were already vaccinated, the announcement said. “Without doubt, the Omicron variant of COVID is affecting our school community,” said the announcement from Schools Superintendent Alan Addley and School Nursing Director Alicia Casucci. On Monday, the district was informed of 31 Darien High School students or employees who been tested positive, and 22 of them (more than two thirds) had been vaccinated, the announcement said.

Coronavirus 2022
Darien Public Schools

Superintendent: This New Explanation of Revised Protocol for COVID-19 Cases ‘Essentially Reflects’ Last Week’s

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On Sunday afternoon, Schools Superintendent Alan Addley sent parents and staff a description in chart form of the state’s latest policy on school protocols for students or staff who test positive for COVID-19. “This is just a brief update to the communication sent to families on Thursday, Dec. 30 [on] Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) and Department of Public Health (DPH), testing, and contact tracing policies for schools,” Addley said. The superintendent said the district’s “revised policies,” which follow state education and health department policies, “essentially reflect” what the District Medical Team devised and told families about on Thursday, Dec. 30.

Healthy Living
You Should Leave Now Brie Doyle book and author

Author Discusses New Book About Going on Transformational Personal Retreats

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Discover the advantages of going on a personal retreat with author Brie Doyle, speaking online from 7 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Jan 6 in an event sponsored by Darien Library. In a world where speed, outcomes and achievement rule, and where health means fitting into your skinny jeans, You Should Leave Now: Going on Retreat to Find Your Way Back to Yourself poses a revolutionary wellness solution – transformational personal retreats. — an announcement from Darien Library

Taken once or multiple times a year, a solo retreat is an opportunity to rest, reboot and cultivate the most valuable relationship in one’s life – the relationship with yourself. Brie Doyle, founder of She Glows Retreats, LLC and a mindfulness teacher of over 20 years, shares her vibrant wit and wisdom to take the reader on this ultimate journey to wellness. About the Book
In this time of extraordinary change and transition, You Should Leave Now offers the perfect restorative for emotional well-being.

COVID-19 Test Kits

First Selectman: Limited COVID-19 Test Kits Available Starting at Noon, Sunday at DHS

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A “limited number” of free COVID-19 test kits are available to Darien residents who can prove they live in town in a drive-thru distribution event starting at noon, Sunday, Jan. 2, at the Darien High School campus, First Selectman Monica McNally said. McNally also said: “This current supply of at-home tests is very limited and intended for residents that are symptomatic or that have a known exposure to someone who tested positive.” The tests, two per household, will be given out until they run out, McNally told the town late Saturday afternoon in a Code Red message. The tests have already been given to the town government, McNally said, but the number of them is “substantially less than originally expected.”

Healthy Living
group session group discussion group therapy support therapy

Support Groups on Divorce, Grieving and for Those Who Need Healing From Hurt Start Jan 5 in Darien

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Three different, small support groups are starting up on Wednesday night — for those going through divorce, grieving or those who “are seeking healing from hurts and negative habits.” Each of the groups will start meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 5, at Noroton Presbyterian Church, 2011 Post Road. The groups meet Wednesday nights from 8 to 9:30 p.m. through March 2. GriefShare is for those dealing with the grief of loss.

Coronavirus 2021
COVID-19 CDC website

Superintendent: All Schools Back in Session in a Delayed Opening on Monday

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Darien schools reopen this Monday, Jan. 3, although on a two-hour delayed opening, Superintendent Alan Addley announced late Thursday in a message to parents and school staff. Addley also said that five days of remote learning will be available to students tested positive for COVID-19 or who have symptoms of it or who have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19 or who have been in contact with a household with a COVID-19 positive resident. The two-hour delay, Addley said, would “provide teachers with the opportunity to prepare remote and in-person learning for their students.” A total of 78 students and/or staff have tested positive for COVID-19 in the eight days since Addley’s previous message to parents and staff, he said.

Code Red Messages 2021

POSTPONED! Free COVID-19 Test Kits NOT Available Thursday

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UPDATE, 7 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 29:

The test kit distribution event planned for Thursday afternoon at Darien High School will NOT take place, First Selectman Monica McNally announced in an early evening CodeRed message to town residents. “I am sorry to share with you that we received notice late this afternoon from the Governor’s Office that the expected supply of at-home COVID test kits being provided by the State to Darien has not yet arrived in Connecticut,” McNally said. “Upon confirmation from the Governor’s Office that the test kits are in Connecticut, I will advise everyone of the new distribution plan via this notification system,” she said. Full Text of First Selectman’s Wednesday Message
From a 6:30 p.m. email:

Hello,This is your First Selectman Monica McNally.I am sorry to share with you that we received notice late this afternoon from the Governor’s Office that the expected supply of at-home COVID test kits being provided by the State to Darien has not yet arrived in Connecticut.

COVID-19 CDC website

As Darien School COVID-19 Cases Ramp Up, Officials Plead to Parents: Keep Kids With Symptoms at Home

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Faced with a flood of new COVID-19 cases, Darien school district officials are sending general messages to entire classrooms of students when they may have been exposed to someone with COVID, the district’s nursing director and superintendent said in an announcement to parents and others in the school system. The nursing director, Alicia Casucci, and Superintendent Alan Adley pleaded with parents to keep their children home if they show signs of COVID-19:

We cannot emphasize enough the importance of keeping any individual who is exhibiting symptoms of COVID AT HOME. These symptoms may be very mild and  include a sore throat, headache, cough, congestion, mild runny nose, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.  Anyone experiencing symptoms, regardless of vaccination status, should seek the advice of their primary care provider and testing as soon as possible. (Boldface and italics in original announcement.)

The state Department of Education and other state authorities are reviewing the state’s contact tracing procedures. If the procedures are then changed, Casucci and Adley said, employees and families of those in the school system will be told.

McNally: Darien Has More COVID-19 Cases, More Booster Clinics Coming

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In the past 13 days, 168 Darien residents have acquired COVID-19 cases, as far as authorities know, and with holiday gatherings, more is expected, First Selectman Monica McNally told the town in a late Wednesday afternoon Code Red message. “COVID cases are on the rise,” she said. Meanwhile, McNally said, some town residents are concerned about the availability of testing, the cost and heavy traffic at the sites. “I am working with the director of health to possibly add a second testing site in Darien,” she said. “If you are 16 or older and it has been at least six months since your second dose, you are strongly encouraged to get a booster,” the first selectman said.

Coronavirus 2021
Darien Public Schools

Superintendent: School District Might Return to Remote Learning as Omicron Variant Spreads More COVID-19 in Darien

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While there’s been no decision made, Darien schools may again change from in-school teaching to remote learning because of the “significant increase in COVID-19 cases” in Darien and the region, schools Superintendent Alan Addley said Tuesday — but he added that doing so is “unlikely.” “Over the next few days, as prudent planning, the District will make any necessary preparations in the unlikely event the District needs to transition to remote learning after the break,” Addley wrote in a message sent to school district staff and parents of students. “This will include students taking home their devices and any potential remote learning materials on Thursday as they leave for break.” The winter break is scheduled to end on Monday, Jan. 3, the earliest day that the district might switch to remote learning, largely conducted over the Internet.

CodeRed 2021
COVID-19 CDC website

McNally: 43 New COVID-19 Cases This Week, Half of Town Kids Aged 5-11 Get 2nd Dose Saturday

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The Delta variant continues to roll through town, with 43 more cases found this week, First Selectman Monica McNally told the town in a CodeRed statement late Thursday afternoon. Half of all Darien children ages 5 to 11 are scheduled to get their second vaccination shot on Saturday at a special town clinic, and the vaccine should be fully potent by Christmas Day, McNally said. Although the town’s Moderna booster shot clinic is fully booked on this coming Tuesday, the first selectman urged residents to try to get the shot elsewhere, and she asked for volunteers to help staff the Tuesday clinic. McNally’s full statement is below, and below that, the COVID-19 cases report from the Darien Public Schools Nursing Director Alicia Casucci and Superintendent Alan Addley:

 
Full Text of the First Selectman’s Message
Good evening. This is First Selectman Monica McNally with a COVID-19 update for Thursday, Dec.

Healthy Living
COVID-19 Coronavirus

Continued Steady Pace in New COVID Cases in Darien Schools Through Thanksgiving Break

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During Thanksgiving break, the number of new COVID-19 cases reported among students, teachers and others in Darien schools remained steady, according to reports from school district officials to parents and staff. A total of 21 people tested positive for COVID-19 In the five days from Wednesday (when students were released early, just before Thanksgiving) through early Sunday evening. Although that number is higher than in previous updates to parents and staff, it represents a total of five days instead of the single-day reports that had been given out in each of the five days before Thanksgiving break. A comparison with those numbers shows no increase in the rate of new reported cases: 21 in each five-day period. There was a jump in the number of people told to self-quarantine (21 in the earlier five-day period, 33 in the latest report) but far fewer told to get tested for COVID and be careful (“Screen & Stay” in the reports: 43 in the earlier period, 23 in the later period).

First Selectman Code Red Message 2021

‘Noteworthy Uptick’ in COVID-19 in Darien as Booster Shots and Kids’ Vaccinations Continue

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First Selectman Monica McNally provided a short update on “a noteworthy uptick” of COVID-19 cases in town, discussed how they seem to be spreading, asked people to be careful during Thanksgiving gatherings and gave information on when booster shots and flu shots are available in Town Hall. She said 742 Darien school children received their first vaccine shots already and are due to receive their second shots the first two Saturdays of December. “There have been 47 new cases and no hospitalizations since my last Code Red update on Nov. 16,” McNally said. “[W]e are seeing a noteworthy uptick in local COVID cases, in spite of Darien’s very high vaccination rate.”

Food & Drink, Restaurants & Bars
Cooking advice for Thanksgiving turkeys

Celebrate Thanksgiving Safely — Advice from Darien Health Department

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Some advice on keeping your Thanksgiving food healthy — information passed on by Mindy Chambrelli, a registered sanitarian at Darien Health Department:
Last year, more than 46 million turkeys were carved and eaten at Thanksgiving. Turkey is typically accompanied by a host of side dishes and desserts, making the Thanksgiving meal by far one of the largest meals most people will cook all year.  Please do so safely and remember NO need to wash the bird, place it directly into the roasting pan! Fresh or Frozen? Fresh Turkeys

Allow 1 pound of turkey per person. Buy your turkey only 1 to 2 days before you plan to cook it.