Letters to the Editor
Letter to the Editor Washington 1932

Terrie Wood Listens, Understands, Collaborates to Get Important Things Done

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To the editor:

While media headlines focus on the extraordinary challenges of these times, we might easily inadvertently overlook the distinctive challenges we share as Connecticut residents. Working to engineer a promising path for Connecticut at large, while delivering our voice in Hartford is hard work — addressed effectively — by Terrie Wood, our state representative. A commonsense, collaborative leader who is recognized for her interest in listening and understanding, Terrie brings promise relative to the interests we share in legislation and policy devised in Hartford. Below the current headlines, Terrie brings an undaunted sense of purpose in forging a course that will restore an affordable outlook for our residents and for our businesses. Terrie’s focus on tax policy, behavioral health, education, and our environment, paired with protecting local control of our schools and public planning are vital to protecting the attributes we relish.

Healthy Living
Letter to the Editor Farming

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

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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.

Letters to the Editor
Letter to the Editor Battle of Braddock's Field

Thanks to All Who Helped Celebrate Darien’s Parades and Commemorations Over the Years

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To the editor:

After 12 years for David and 28 years of volunteer service for me, we could not leave Darien’s Monuments and Ceremonies Commission without giving special thanks to so many people who made our years so rewarding and our ceremonies so successful. It was certainly an honor we enjoyed and a pleasure and privilege to serve the Darien community. All the Selectmen we have served under including First Selectman, Jayme Stevenson have always been extremely supportive. Special thanks and eternal gratitude to Darien Times editor, Susan Schultz, for the tribute she paid us in dedicating the 2020 Memorial Day Veterans Section of The Darien Times to us, for our community service, especially toward veterans. Thanks to Sandra Fox whose articles and interviews were always spot on.

Letters to the Editor
Letter to the Editor Swords WWII

Former Board of Ed Members Say Caucusing Reduces Public Understanding of Issues

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To the editor:
As former Darien Board of Education (BoE) members, it was disappointing to hear that five Republican members of the BoE (a majority of the board), met, privately, calling their meeting a “caucus,” to discuss the BoE budget. Here’s why we care and why we all should care. Members of the BoE are elected by Darien voters to represent us as residents, taxpayers and to advocate on behalf of our children. When a majority of one party meets, in private, to make decisions on how money is spent on educating our children, those decisions have an end result of setting education policy for the district, thus impacting the quality of the education our children receive. Typically, these budget discussions are held in public with all nine BoE members.

Letters to the Editor

Thank You, Sgt. James Palmieri, For Your Dedication to the Youth of This Town

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To the editor,
On behalf of the Thriving Youth Task Force, we give thanks to Darien Police Sgt. James Palmieri for serving as our co-chair this year. For many years, Sgt. Palmieri has been dedicated to helping the youth of Darien, as a school resource officer at Darien High School, the creator of the Juvenile Review Board and most recently, as the co-chair of the Thriving Youth Task Force.  His dedication to the youth of Darien is unparalleled. We are grateful to James for the insight and guidance he provided to our work and his continued dedication to serving, despite his demanding schedule as a sergeant in the Darien Police Department.

Government & Politics
Terrie Wood reelection 2020

Terrie Wood Announces Re-Election Campaign for State Representative

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To the editor,

I’m pleased to announce that I will be running again for state representative in the 141st district — Darien, Norwalk and Rowayton. I am truly honored to have served these past years and look again to bring my legislative experience in Hartford to bear on solving the challenges we now all face right here. We live in very different and challenging times. Many of us have adapted with a compassionate understanding of the many complexities brought on by the coronavirus. While witnessing such widespread negative impact, I see positives, as well, with our citizens genuinely working together like I’ve not seen in many years.

Letters to the Editor
Letter to the Editor Pilgrim

Darien Human Services Dept Is Available If You Need Help (and It Accepts Donations)

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To the editor:

During these challenging times, Darien Human Services would like to reassure residents that we are available to assist those in need. Please call 203-656-7328 or email Ali Ramsteck, director, aramsteck@darienct.gov.

We continue to maintain contact with vulnerable or frail seniors on our Emergency Call List. If you would like to be added or would like to add someone to the list, please call 203-656-7328 or email aramsteck@darienct.gov.

Many members of our community are asking how they can help during this crisis. We have an unprecedented number of people who are struggling financially. To support your neighbors in need, we gladly accept donations of gift cards (Palmer’s Market, Stop & Shop, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens) or you can mail a check (payable to Darien Human Services) to Human Services, 2 Renshaw Road.

Letters to the Editor
Letter to the Editor Farming

Board of Ed Chair: Thank You, District Teachers, Administrators and Staff

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To the editor:

As a community Darien has proudly committed to the education of our children time and time again. We debate issues, we research new initiatives and techniques, and we talk about metrics, outcomes and mental health, all with the guiding principle that our children are best served to participate in our society when they are healthy, and have a strong educational framework. In this moment in time, when traditional education models have been re-invented, flipped and reimagined, with an immediacy that no one ever imagined, what has become most clear is that it is our human touch — our teachers, administrators, and support staff who truly play a vital and important role in our children’s education. The importance of their daily interactions with our children, can not be underestimated. And the way in which our staff has stepped up to work to meet the needs of our children is to be commended.

Healthy Living
Letter to the Editor 2 cents Parcel Post

Letter: How Your Letter Carrier Works With You at Your Doorstep, Mailbox — at a Distance

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The new normal for how your Post Office letter carrier is supposed to interact with you: No signatures, you’ll just give your name; the carrier will leave the package rather than hand it to you; don’t approach the letter carrier; you’ll get a door knock, not a doorbell ring. One more thing: “there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 is being spread through the mail.” Here’s a letter to the editor from a state U.S. Postal Service official with more information:

To the editor:

During these challenging times, postal employees are working hard to ensure residents stay connected with their world through the mail. Whether it’s medications, a package, a paycheck, benefits or pension check, a bill or letter from a family member, postal workers understand that every piece of mail is important. While service like this is nothing new to us, we need help in the communities with social distancing.

Darien Depot
The Depot

Thank You, Darien Police Officer Chris Jimenez, for Helping Those Shaken College Basketball Players

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Dear Chief Anderson,

This past Friday was a normal Friday night at the Depot; lots of kids, lots of noise. Officer Chris Jimenez walked in the door and  came straight over to me and said there had been a bus accident on the thruway; would it be possible to bring the people on the bus to the Depot as it was bitter cold, and the wind was relentless. Within 15 minutes Officer Jimenez returned with the entire Merrimack College girls basketball team, state troopers, Post 53 and a host of responders. There are no words that can truly explain the faces of the girls that walked into the Depot Friday night. Every outlet in the building was being used to call parents.

Government & Politics
Letter to the Editor Battle of Braddock's Field

Letter: A State Police Division to Fight Far Right Hate Crimes? Any Hate Crime Is a Hate Crime

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To the editor:

Late last month, our Senator Bob Duff and Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney announced “A Just Connecticut,” one of four legislative agendas for the 2020 General Assembly session. One item within this particular agenda “Combatting Hate Crimes & Violent Right-Wing Extremism” would have Connecticut finance and create a new state police division specializing in “investigating FAR RIGHT extremist groups and individuals.”

Pardon me?  Isn’t hate just hate, regardless of whom that hate is directed towards?  Of course it is.  Shouldn’t we be fighting ALL hate and especially ALL hate crimes?  Of course. Are we intending, as this agenda item seems to suggest, to give a pass to hate crimes committed by “left wing” extremists?  Of course not. I am sure that in their hearts, Senators Duff and Looney know all of this, but in a misguided attempt to incite partisan fervor, they choose to use dangerously polarizing language in connection with a very serious, emotionally charged issue.  It shows incredibly poor judgement at best, but why should we be surprised? Our state has been run financially into the ground for decades by our General Assembly and now two of its leaders would have us spend even more money we don’t have to score cheap political points.

Letters to the Editor
1909 Christmas postcard

Thanks to All Who Participated in Darien Human Services Holiday Gift Giving Program

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To the editor:

On behalf of Darien Human Services, I would like to thank everyone who participated in our Holiday Gift Giving Program. Individuals, book groups, church groups, clubs, and families donated gifts of toys, clothing, and gift cards to help make the holiday wishes of 51 families and 52 seniors come true. A big thanks goes to Joe Marzano, the Darien YMCA, and participants in the House Basketball Program as well as employees of The Pi Group who donated hundreds of household goods items to help stock the shelves of our Household Supply closet with much-needed cleaning supplies, paper goods, and personal grooming products. Janet Keeler, Sophie Long, the DHS Advisory Council, and Darien High School staff, students, and families donated hundreds of dollars of gift cards to local stores and restaurants. For the fourth consecutive year, Vineyard Vines generously donated hundreds of items of clothing for our gift giving program.

Letters to the Editor
Committee 2019 wine and food benefit

When We Collaborate, We Succeed — Thanks to All Who Supported Wine & Food Tasting

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To the editor:

On behalf of the Darien Chamber of Commerce, Darien Chamber Charitable Foundation, Depot Youth Center and Darien Arts Center, we would like to thank all those involved in making the 15th Annual Wine & Food Tasting and Charity Benefit held on Oct. 17 a success. Our volunteers quickly turned the BMW showroom into an elegant venue for tasting wine, eating gourmet food and enjoying a silent auction. This event is a true example of the generosity of many that makes one event so special! Thanks to the Callari family at BMW of Darien and their team of employees who host the event.

Charity Events and Opportunities
Ali Ramsteck and Steve Fritsch

Darien Lions Club Thanked for Supporting Darien Human Services Holiday Gift Giving Program

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Mr. Steve Fritsch
Darien Lions Club

Dear Steve,

On behalf of the Darien Department of Human Services, I would like to thank you and your fellow Lions Club members for your generous support of our annual Holiday Gift Giving Program. The $1,000 in Shop Rite gift cards which you provided will help our families and seniors enjoy a nice holiday meal and will continue to benefit our clients during the year. Your ongoing support over the years means so much to our department. We rely on local organizations such as yours to help us provide our clients with the vital services they need. Thanks, again, for helping us help others.

Letters to the Editor
What NOT to Teach Your Teen facebook dimensions

Parents: You Don’t Have to Be Perfect, But You Can Find Alternatives to Alcohol and Drugs to Relieve Stress

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To the editor:

Do we have to be perfect as parents? Absolutely not. We do have to be self-aware and remain conscious of what we’re modeling for our children. And along the way, when as a result of our imperfections we misstep, we should take time to recognize our mistakes and show our kids that we can accept responsibility and grow. Yes, parents are still learning to.