Holidays

Get Mom a Personalized Lawn Sign from Darien Arts Center for Mother’s Day

Rowayton Gift Stroll Coming Right After Thanksgiving with Shops, Vendors, Art Gallery

No Parade, But Memorial Day To Be Observed in Darien

Looking for a Mother’s Day Gift? You Can Still Shop Local at These Stores

Celebrate Earth Day: Eversource Has Tips on Saving Energy, Planting Trees

Groups Marching in Memorial Day Parade Asked to Update Contact Info

St Luke’s Episcopal Clergy to Mark Commuters with Ashes at Noroton Heights Station on Ash Wednesday

Heartbreaker: Thief Steals Mail — Get’s Holiday Greetings

Affection Meets Confections on Saturday at Darien’s Third ‘Something Sweet’ Dessert Contest and Boutique

Darien Youth Hockey Association Supports Wreaths Across America This Winter

Nothing Says ‘I Love You’ Like Feeding a Cownose Ray at the Maritime Aquarium

Darien Christmas Tree Pickups Start Thursday, Jan 2

Kids and New Year’s: ‘NOON Year’s Eve’ Event Tuesday at Library and Check Out These Old Postcards

PHOTOS: Oh What Sheer Joy — Abilis Holiday Dance Heats Up the Dance Floor

Last Minute Gift Suggestions to Lift the Spirit — for Those in Recovery or, Really, Anyone

Darien Arts Center

By DARIENITE.COM | April 4, 2021

Business

By DARIENITE.COM | November 18, 2020

Holidays

By DARIENITE.COM | May 23, 2020

Business

By DARIENITE.COM | May 6, 2020

Environment

By David Gurliacci | April 22, 2020

Holidays

By DARIENITE.COM | March 11, 2020

Holidays

By DARIENITE.COM | February 23, 2020

Holidays

By David Gurliacci | February 10, 2020

Food & Drink, Restaurants & Bars

By DARIENITE.COM | February 5, 2020

Community Organizations

By DARIENITE.COM | February 4, 2020

Holidays

By DARIENITE.COM | January 27, 2020

Government & Politics

By DARIENITE.COM | December 30, 2019

Holidays

By David Gurliacci | December 30, 2019

Community Organizations

By DARIENITE.COM | December 26, 2019

Healthy Living

By DARIENITE.COM | December 21, 2019

Holiday-related articles

Mother's Day sign 2021 Thank You for Bee-ing an Amazzzzing Mom

Personalized lawn signs for moms may be ordered through the Darien Arts Center website until April 25, and will be hand-delivered on Saturday, May 8 – just in time for Mother’s Day. — an announcement from Darien Arts Center

The Darien Arts Center is pleased to announce its spring fundraiser, “Sign of My Love,” which celebrates loved ones by gifting them with a customized lawn sign and message. The lawn signs (Delivery to Darien addresses only) are a perfect and unique way to show your love for Mother’s Day, or recognize a special person, while supporting the Darien Arts Center. Signs are $30 each and there are 3 designs from which to choose. Signs may also be picked up at the Darien Arts Center office (2 Renshaw Road, Darien) on Thursday, May 6th and Friday, May 7th, between 10AM-3PM.

This year the Rowayton Gift Stroll will transform the village into a delightful walkable shopping experience from Pinkney Park to the Rowayton Arts Center at 145 Rowayton Ave. Beginning the day after Thanksgiving on Friday, Nov. 27 to Christmas Eve on Thursday, Dec. 24, there will be plenty of ideas for everyone on your list — including something to gift yourself! — an announcement from Rowayton Arts Center
Wednesday, Dec.

Although Darien’s Memorial Day Parade has been cancelled due to COVID-19, this year’s Grand Marshall, Vietnam veteran Allan Bixler, and Darien First Selectman Jayme Stevenson, will be placing memorial wreaths in Spring Grove Veterans Cemetery on Monday morning to acknowledge and honor those who gave their lives in service to our country. — an announcement from the Darien Monuments and Ceremonies Commission
DAF Media will live-stream broadcast the placement of the wreaths (see link below.)
The Monuments and Ceremonies Commission encourages all to watch the broadcast from the safety and security of their homes. We ask anyone who may choose to attend, out of consideration for your neighbors’ health, to wear a mask, and ensure they, and any family members they may bring, observe strict social-distancing protocol.

The Darien Chamber of Commerce has published a list of stores with some combination of delivery services, curbside pickup, online purchasing and shipping for Mother’s Day, which is this Sunday, May 10 — and for shopping later. Here’s the list:

In recognition of Earth Day, Eversource is suggesting activities for customers to celebrate while maintaining social distancing. The theme for this year’s Earth Day is climate action, and Eversource’s sustainability experts and licensed arborists are offering several ways that people can safely join the 50th annual celebration from home. — an announcement from Eversource

“The 50th annual celebration of Earth Day is a unique opportunity for our customers to join people around the world in taking action to promote environmental stewardship,” Catherine Finneran, the utility’s vice president of sustainability and environmental affairs. “With an industry-leading goal to be carbon neutral by 2030, we’re committed year-round at Eversource to sustainability and clean energy leadership.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there are many ways that customers can celebrate from home while being mindful of social distancing, including:

Plant a tree: Eversource’s expert arborists cultivate a list of 30 recommended trees under 30 feet tall that can be safely planted near overhead utility lines and encourage everyone to “Plan Before You Plant.” Trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it, with a single hardwood tree able to remove up to one ton of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere over 40 years. Reduce energy use and save money with energy efficiency: The energy company offers a library of energy-saving tips and innovative solutions for customers to save on their electric bill while reducing their impact on the environment, including many particularly impactful steps customers can take to mark Earth Day, such as switching to a low-flow showerhead to save a significant amount of water.

For all organizations who have participated in Memorial Day parades in the past and those wishing to participate in the 2020 Darien Memorial Day Parade, the Darien Monuments and Ceremonies Commission requires you to update your contact information. — an announcement from the Monuments and Ceremonies Commission

Specifically, we need your organization name, name of the contact person who will handle communications for your organization, this person’s email, mailing address and phone number. Please send this information to 06820mayparade@gmail.com by April 10, 2020. M&C Commission Vice Chairman Terry Gaffney is the 2020 parade chairman and point of contact for all communications related to the 2020 Memorial Day Parade. The commission is looking forward to another successful Parade, and Memorial Day ceremony.

Wednesday Feb. 26 is Ash Wednesday and clergy from St. Luke’s Parish will be at the Noroton Heights Ttrain Station from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. to offer commuters “Ashes to Go.”

This is an opportunity for commuters to observe this solemn holy day and still keep to their busy schedules. St. Luke’s will also offer Ash Wednesday services at the church and chapel at 1864 Post Road at 9:30 a.m., 12 noon, 5 and 7 p.m. All are welcome.

https://pixabay.com/photos/valentine-s-day-red-mailbox-1182248/

A Hickory Lane woman saw a gray four-door vehicle stop in front of her driveway, then saw a man get out and remove something from her mailbox and drive away in one of two mailbox thefts reported to police on Friday. The flag had been in the upright position because the woman had just mailed three envelopes with the mailbox and put the mailbox flag upright. The cold-hearted thief didn’t get anything he can sell: The contents of the envelopes were three Valentine’s cards and nothing else. The woman reported the theft to police just after 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7 — still enough time to get three more cards out.

Something Sweet 2019 Dessert War competition winners Diane Browne & Co

“Something Sweet,” a Valentine’s Day-themed event, comes back this Saturday for a third year, with a “Dessert War” competition between Darien eateries for the best confections, boutique gifts for sale and free activities for kids. — This article is based on an announcement from Darien Parks & Recreation Department. “Find your new favorite dessert in town!!” says the Darien Parks and Recreation Department, which runs the event. “The Something Sweet Dessert War features some of your local favorites to fulfill your weakness for some sweet indulgence.”

Darien Youth Hockey Association Wreaths Across America 2019 2020

The Darien Youth Hockey Association directly supported Wreaths Across America this winter, with over 60 players volunteering to help place wreaths at graves in the Veterans Cemetery at Spring Grove Cemetery. — an announcement from the Darien Chapter of Wreaths Across America

The group also donated more than 250 wreaths to be placed at the cemetery as a local fundraising group. The experience taught the players that their success as a team can translate beyond the ice. “It was an amazing event, and the players directly saw the impact of their efforts in raising wreath donations at the wreath laying ceremony which promotes remembering our veterans, honoring our active duty, and teaching our youth about the value of freedom,” said Michelle Woodward, the DYHA sponsorship and fundraising director. Wreaths Across America began in the early 1990s, when Worcester Wreath in Maine had extra wreaths at the end of the holiday season.

Nothing says “I love you” like giving your sweetheart the chance to hand-feed a cownose ray, and the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is making that romantic gesture possible for 10 lucky couples on Sunday, Feb. 9. — an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium

On the Sunday before Valentine’s Day, the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is putting a special twist on its behind-the-scenes “Feeding Time” program by offering it only to couples age 18 and older. Participating couples will make the morning feeding rounds with staff — and sometimes help serve the food — prior to the Aquarium’s opening. All couples also will go home with a box of specialty chocolates.

The Darien Department of Public Works will conduct its annual Christmas tree pickup in various parts of town in two two-day sweeps, with the first starting Jan. 2 and the final one concluding Jan. 30. If you miss the first sweep past your home (assuming you live on a public road) then the second one should come by about two weeks later. — an announcement from the Darien Department of Public Works

Mark your calendar: Here’s the schedule (and here’s a map of town if you need it):

Some Important Reminders
—Christmas trees must be at the curb by the first morning of the scheduled pickup.

Families are welcome to join Darien librarians in the Children’s Library for a fun countdown to “noon” as we get ready for the new year! Kids and New Year’s celebrations have been celebrated for a long time. We’ve added a small, online exhibition here of early 20th century postcards

Decorate a craft and have a snack as we celebrate together. Say farewell to 2019 and hello to 2020! No registration required.

holiday dance for Abilis. Dec. 18, 2019 photo by Leslie Yager

The Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich recently hosted a holiday dance for Abilis. The DJ kept the dance floor packed. That is, until the cake was cut. Abilis, based in Greenwich, helps people with disabilities in lower Fairfield County, including Darien. These pictures, taken by Leslie Yager for GreenwichFreePress.com, show joy and give an idea of how good a time was had by all:

Candle mountainside gift suggestion 2019

« August 2022 »

In an effort to make shopping a little bit easier, Mountainside treatment center polled more than 100 people in all stages of recovery and asked them about the most meaningful gift they received. — an announcement from Mountainside treatment center, slightly edited

The holidays are a perfect time to show support for a loved one on their journey to sobriety. But scrambling for the perfect last-minute gift doesn’t have to be a chore. Below are some of the gifts that our respondents enjoyed getting, but whether or not your intended recipient is in recovery, you might find a good gift idea here:

Gifts of Positive Affirmation:

Often, the most memorable gifts contain a powerful message of encouragement. The people in recovery we surveyed were especially fond of intention bracelets, which are not only fashionable but can also help them stay focused on their personal goals.