Outdoors

Credible Report of Mountain Lion About a Mile from Darien Border, New Canaan Police Say

Earth Day Party on Saturday, April 21 at Darien Nature Center

Greenwich Boat Show This Weekend: Saturday and Sunday, April 7 to 8

Stamford St Patrick’s Day Parade Begins at 12 Noon Saturday

Eversource Ranks 20 Among 500 in Newsweek’s Green Ranking List of U.S. Companies

Tree Conservancy of Darien Has Now Planted 600 Trees in Town, Gets New Board Members

Bobcats Spotted Just North of Darien: Potential Danger to Cats But Not Humans

Police: Man in Waveny Incident Identifies Himself, Will Be Charged

Darien DPW Announces: Gorham’s Pond Tide Gates to Open Nov 6 to 15

‘Norwalk Islands History, Secrets, Stories, Navigation’ Subject of Talk Wednesday Morning

Parks & Rec Commission Holding Off on Votes About Parks Master Plan, Ox Ridge Celebration

It Isn’t Just the Swap Shop That’s Giving Stuff Away for Free at the Darien Recycling Center

Free, Guided Nature Walk in Selleck’s Woods on Saturday, Oct 14 — Registration Required

Coming to a Park Near You? What Consultants Propose for Darien Parks

Changes for Both Darien Beaches Proposed by Consultants in Draft Parks Master Plan

Animals

By MICHAEL DINAN | April 27, 2018

Holidays

By David Gurliacci | April 19, 2018

Outdoors

By GREENWICH FREE PRESS | April 6, 2018

Food & Drink, Restaurants & Bars

By David Gurliacci | March 3, 2018

Business

By David Gurliacci | January 20, 2018

Community Organizations

By David Gurliacci | December 21, 2017

Animals

By MICHAEL DINAN | November 29, 2017

Beyond Darien

By MICHAEL DINAN | November 3, 2017

Government & Politics

By David Gurliacci | October 30, 2017

Outdoors

By David Gurliacci | October 29, 2017

Government & Politics

By David Gurliacci | October 18, 2017

Darien Reycycling Center

By David Gurliacci | October 13, 2017

Community Organizations

By David Gurliacci | September 29, 2017

Government & Politics

By David Gurliacci | September 25, 2017

Government & Politics

By David Gurliacci | September 24, 2017

Mountain Lion via Wikimedia Commons via Flickr https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Radio-collared_Mountain_Lion.jpg

New Canaan police say they received a credible report Thursday of a mountain lion sighting on Marvin Ridge Road, which is about a mile northeast of the northeast corner of Darien. The 7:30 a.m. sighting of the cougar crossing a backyard comes about three months after the last one and just a few houses away, according to Officer Allyson Halm, head of the New Canaan Police Department’s Animal Control section. ___________

— This article originally was published by NewCanaanite.com. The sidebar below has been added by Darienite.com. ___________

Halm is calling for all homeowners in the area of 250 Marvin Ridge Road above Nursery Road to check surveillance cameras so that police can get at least one visual confirmation.

The Darien Nature Center and Darien Parks & Recreation Department have teamed up to host a family fun Earth Day Party at the Nature Center on Saturday, April 21 from noon to 2 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. The celebration includes a family scavenger hunt around Cherry Lawn Park, local environmental groups hosting activity tables, animal encounters, an Instagram photo contest, Uncle’s Deli hot dog cart, campfire s’mores, Ben’s Ice Cream Truck, and more! Scavenger hunt prizes include tree saplings donated by Almstead Trees. “Every smile and joyful moment spent in the park at the afternoon celebration is another bright memory made possible compliments of nature. It’s going to be a really fun day for all ages, and every plastic bottle and bag picked up during the morning cleanup is a step forward,” said Nature Center Executive Director Leila Wetmore.

Dutch Lekker Boat at Greenwich Boat Show 2018

The Greenwich Boat Show is celebrating its 10th year. The boutique in-water show has built a reputation by offering a diverse selection of new power boats and yachts. The event, which is free and open to the public, runs Saturday, April 7 and Sunday, April 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 49 River Road. About 1,000 people are expected to attend each day. The show features sea trials on Long Island Sound for boaters, anglers and families.

St Patrick's Day Parade Stamford past picture

Stamford’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade kicks off at noon downtown, starting near the intersection of Hoyt Street and Summer Street, winding downtown and ending up at Latham Park on Bedford Street (see map). U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy is the parade marshal. This is the 23rd annual parade, according to the official website (although the official website also says it’s the 22nd annual parade). The parade steps off and keeps on stepping, rain or shine.

Eversource Energy is once again being nationally recognized for its leadership in corporate sustainability and environmental performance, placing 20th among 500 U.S. companies in Newsweek Magazine’s annual Green Rankings list. ______________

— an announcement from Eversource. To learn more about sustainability in action at Eversource, view the company’s 2017 Sustainability Report. ______________
Eversource has been a consistent high performer in the annual survey. The 2017 list represents Eversource’s best overall performance to date among U.S companies, and it also placed fourth among U.S. utilities. “It’s very rewarding to see our commitment to environmental sustainability be recognized in this way,” said Eversource Chairman, President and CEO Jim Judge.

Tree Conservancy of Darien celebrated the significant milestone of installing over 600 trees in town at its year-end Board of Directors meeting on Dec. 5. In addition to reviewing agenda and budget items for the coming year, the local nonprofit also welcomed two new members to its board: Jimmy Ma and Sara Zagrodzky, both of Darien

________

— an announcement from the Tree Conservancy of Darien

________

Since its inception in 2010, TCD has planted trees at Interstate 95 Exits 11 and 13, the Darien train station, along Ledge Road, Darien town beaches, Spring Grove and Veterans cemeteries and Town Hall. It has donated trees to all of Darien’s public schools, Post 53, Darien Community Association, the Bird Sanctuary at the DCA, First Congregational Church, Darien Nature Center, Selleck’s Woods, Olsen Woods, Beautification Commission, Tilley Pond Park and Center Street north and south parking lots. Its most recent installments in the fall of 2017 include 138 trees and shrubs at Tilley Pond Park, Weed Beach, Veterans Cemetery, the Darien Police Station, Center Street north parking lot and the Darien Community Association.

A bobcat crossed in front of a jogger at Waveny Park, just north of Darien, on Monday, Nov. 20, and one was spotted there on Nov. 8 as well, according to a New Canaan official, who said that they don’t hurt humans. Nevertheless, Officer Allyson Halm, the head of the New Canaan Police Department’s Animal Control unit, suggested Waveny Park visitors bring a hazing tool with them after the two reported bobcat sightings in the park this month. _________

— This article originally was published in slightly different form by NewCanaanite.com.

Police said Thursday that the man suspected of approaching a female jogger at Waveny one evening this week and making “inappropriate remarks” to her came to department headquarters to admit his involvement in the incident. The man “provided specific details as to what took place, confirming he was in fact the suspect,” according to a news release issued by New Canaan Police Department. ________

— This article previously was published by NewCanaanite.com. ________

“This investigation is still ongoing in terms of determining appropriate charges and completing the appropriate paperwork to make an arrest,” the news release said. “However at this time we feel this was an isolated incident and that the person responsible has been identified.

The Town of Darien Department of Public Works will open the Gorham’s Pond tide gates from Monday, Nov. 6, 2017 with scheduled closing on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017 for periodic flushing and cleaning of the pond. It is not possible to open the gates after extensive rain storms or a series of very high tides because of the large volume of water flowing over the dam. Therefore, the opening or closing of gates may be delayed dependent on weather.

Rick Delfosse, Coast Guard captain and certified boating instructor, will talk about “The formation of the Norwalk Islands: Their history, secrets, stories and navigation” at the Darien Men’s Association (DMA) on Wednesday, Nov. 1. “The Ice Age, the creation of Long Island Sound by the retreating glaciers, the Indians and the early settlers shaped the Norwalk Islands,” said Rick. “So did the oystermen, hotels, bordellos and Prohibition speakeasies. “Today, the 25 Norwalk islands include public lands, private sanctuaries and posh retreats,” he said.

Word cloud parks and recreation survey 09-19-17

The Darien Parks and Recreation Commission is postponing decisions related to the parks master plan, originally scheduled for its meeting Wednesday night, and instead will just hold another public hearing at Town Hall. Also being postponed is the opening celebration for the Ox Ridge fields. Instead, the celebration will be held next spring, Parks and Recreation Director Pamela Gery announced. Here’s the entire announcement:

The Parks & Recreation Commission and Department have received a groundswell of response to the concepts being considered as part of our Master Park Plan. This groundswell has resulted in considerable emotion and misinformation related to a number of the amenities being proposed.

Fall is the perfect time to seed your lawn and install new plantings. Compost, with its abundance of nutrients, feeds your plants and reduces the need to water them. Did you know that leaf compost is available for the taking at the Darien Recycling Center? — an announcement from Darien Recycling Center on Facebook

Tree Conservancy of Darien, along with local non-profits Darien Nature Center, Darien Land Trust and Friends of Selleck’s Woods are co-hosting a Shinrin-Yoku walk, open to the community, with Certified Nature and Forest Therapy guide, Jeffrey Wyant. The Oct. 14 walk is complimentary and fulfills one of Tree Conservancy’s goals to educate the community about the value of trees and their care. The walk is limited to 18 people, and reservations are required a tthe Tree Conservancy of Darien website. Shinrin-yoku, which developed in the 1980s in Japan, is translated into English as “forest bathing”.

Stony Brook Park view 09-24-17 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DarienCTStonyBrookParkLookingWest11172007.JPG

Consultants hired by the town have made these recommendations for each of Darien’s public parks for a “master parks plan” meant to guide the town in making any improvements or changes to them. Town officials are asking the public for opinions about the recommendations. In this third article in a series, here’s what the consultants said about each park. Proposals for some other parks were covered in previous articles. All quotes are from Daniel Biggs, team leader for Weston & Sampson, who presented the recommendations at a public hearing on Sept.

« August 2022 »

An amphitheater or an outdoor pool (or both) at Weed Beach, a fishing pier at Pear Tree Point Beach (either pointed south or west) and an expanded concession/comfort station there are among the ideas consultants have for improving the town’s two public beaches. The ideas came at a public hearing Wednesday by consultants working on a draft master parks plan for the Darien Parks and Recreation Commission. Not even the draft is finalized yet, but when the process is done, town officials hope to have guidelines for how to improve parks across Darien in years to come. The consultants — Daniel Biggs, team leader for Weston & Sampson, and Art Thatcher, principal-in-charge for GreenPlay LLC — said they were looking for feedback from the public in this and an upcoming public hearing, and they could change the proposals based on that and on ideas from the commission. Editor’s note: This article summarizes part of the presentation (concentrating on only some of the many proposals) and some of the reactions to it at the public hearing.