Living

If You Use a Medicare Card, You’ll Need the New Replacement Card Beginning in January

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

You Can Register Now for Rowayton Arts Center Winter Art Classes That Begin Jan 6

Stamford EMS Contributes to Salvation Army Christmas Aid Program

Let the Depot Elves Help You Wrap Christmas Presents This Friday Through Monday

Count Down to Noon at New Year’s Eve Celebration for Families at Maritime Aquarium

Marc Thorne Passes Away, Weeks After Ending His Term as a Selectman

The Maritime Aquarium Will Babysit Your Kids for 3 Hours Saturday Afternoon, Dec 21

‘An Old Fashioned Holiday’ Event Postponed a Day to Sunday, Dec 15

How to Avoid Problems With Buying Gift Cards: Tips From the FTC

Holiday Stroll in Downtown Stores from 5 to 9 PM, Wednesday — With Refreshments, Special Promotions

What Happens When You Put Money in the Salvation Army Kettle in Darien

Santa, Animal Rides, Caroling and Hot Cocoa at ‘Holiday Magic’ Christmas Season Event Downtown

Wreath-Making Workshop at Darien Arts Center

Rowayton Gardeners Christmas Market Coming Saturday, Dec 7

Events Calendar

Seniors

By DARIENITE.COM | December 23, 2019

Healthy Living

By DARIENITE.COM | December 21, 2019

Classes

By DARIENITE.COM | December 20, 2019

Charity Events and Opportunities

By David Gurliacci | December 20, 2019

Darien Depot

By DARIENITE.COM | December 19, 2019

Holidays

By DARIENITE.COM | December 17, 2019

Darienites

By David Gurliacci | December 17, 2019

Holidays

By DARIENITE.COM | December 14, 2019

Holidays

By DARIENITE.COM | December 14, 2019

Consumer and Finances

By CRISTINA MIRANDA | December 11, 2019

Business

By DARIENITE.COM | December 10, 2019

Charity Events and Opportunities

By DARIENITE.COM | December 4, 2019

Holidays

By DARIENITE.COM | December 3, 2019

Darien Arts Center

By DARIENITE.COM | December 2, 2019

Charity Events and Opportunities

By David Gurliacci | December 2, 2019

Features on Darienites and living in Darien

square thumbnail part of medicare new card

In 2019, the U.S. government, in an effort to reduce fraud, issued new Medicare cards without Social Security numbers on them. The cards must be used at all health care providers beginning in January. — an announcement from the Darien Department of Human Services

These health care providers include physicians, hospitals, and pharmacies such as Grieb’s, Walgreens, and CVS. If you have any questions about your Medicare card, please contact Darien Human Services at 203-656-7328. The office is located in Town Hall Room 109 and is open Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Candle mountainside gift suggestion 2019

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.

Looking for an art class? Rowayton Arts Center’s Winter Session begins Jan. 6 with class sign ups going on now for both adult and children. — an announcement from Rowayton Arts Center
Weekly offerings include Oil Painting Methods, Figure Drawing, Wonders and Spontaneity of Watercolors, Still Life and the Modern Masters, Painting with the Palette Knife plus much more! Check out the schedule at rowaytonarts.org/education and for more information, call RAC at (203) 866-2744.

Stamford EMS recently bought new clothing and toys to the Salvation Army’s Be An Angel Tree program and delivered them on Monday, Dec. 9. The donation will support 10 families in need. — an announcement from Stamford Emergency Medical Services
“We are happy to participate in this worthy holiday giving effort,” said Patricia Squires, chief and CEO of Stamford EMS. “As a nonprofit ourselves, it’s one way we can give back to the community that has supported us for over 25 years.”
Stamford EMS has paramedics based in Darien who go to the scenes of more serious medical emergencies, along with Darien EMS-Post 53 ambulances. Participation in the program eliminates the cost of these gifts that would normally be part of the Salvation Army’s holiday expenses.

Have time to shop but no time to wrap? The Darien Depot Youth Center’s elves are back to wrap presents for residents just before the holidays. Drop off unwrapped and labeled presents at the Depot and we will handle the wrapping. A minimum $20 charge is required, but keep in mind that it helps the Depot run programs.

The “Holiday Wrap-Up” runs from:

3 to 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 20, and 10 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, Dec.

On Dec. 31, count down to 12 o’clock — 12 o’clock noon — in a special “Noon Year’s Eve” celebration geared for families at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. — an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium

The aquarium’s “Noon Year’s Eve” party offers fun midday activities for families with younger children who want to celebrate the end of 2019 together, but not at the stroke of midnight. Guests also can “string” in the new year on New Year’s Day during a performance by a string quartet from the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra. “‘Noon Year’s Eve’ is a fun way for parents and children to count down to 2020 together, but without the kids needing to stay up way past their bedtimes,” said aquarium spokesman Dave Sigworth.

Marc Thorne, who just ended his term as a member of the Board of Selectmen, passed away Monday morning, a day after suffering a severe stroke. His obituary: Marc Thorne, 81, Selectman, Volunteer, Brought ‘Enthusiasm, Kindness and a Gentle Spirit’ (Dec. 17)
“We are all still shocked at the news of Marc’s passing,” First Selectman Jayme Stevenson said. “There are certain people whose warm presence you can always count on and Marc and Barbara Thorne are two of those people. “They care so deeply for our community and each other and have been an inspiration and role model for so many.

Give yourself the gift of some solo holiday shopping on Saturday, Dec. 21 while your kids spend a fun afternoon hanging out with sharks, seals and sea turtles during the “Drop ’n’ Shop” program at the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. From 1 to 4 p.m., the Maritime Aquarium has an ocean of age-appropriate hands-on activities and explorations planned for ages 4 to 10, giving parents three solo hours for shopping, wrapping or other holiday prep.

— an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium

“With the new SoNo Collection mall just a five-minute walk from the Maritime Aquarium, the ‘Drop ’n’ Shop’ program offers a convenient way for everyone in the family to have a winning afternoon,” said Aquarium spokesman Dave Sigworth. Kids will learn from Aquarium staff about the expert care given to the sea turtles, sharks, seals and other animals. They’ll meet and touch live creatures, and also make a holiday ornament to take home.

Due to inclement weather Saturday, the “An Old Fashioned Holiday” event at Tilley Pond Park, originally scheduled for Saturday, instead will take place Sunday, Dec. 15, the town Parks and Recreation Department announced. — an announcement from the Darien Parks and Recreation Department

The free event will still take place from 3 to 5 p.m. and still include decorative lights covering the warming hut (already up!), candles surrounding the sidewalk pathways lighting your exit, two roaring fires to warm your chill and holiday music playing. Also: festive treats for purchase (hot cider, hot cocoa, chocolate covered marshmallow Santas, apple cider doughnuts, gingerbread men, ribbon candy, peppermint lollipops), FREE activity stations for the kids (ornament creating, cookie decorating, writing letters to Santa and visits from a couple special guests) and even some holiday caroling! Caroling will be led and begin at 3:30 p.m. We hope to see you Sunday and get you in the holiday spirit!

Gift Cards Jan Mayen Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:D%C3%A1rkov%C3%A9_karty.jpg

Gift cards are one quick way to get through your last-minute holiday shopping list. But before you give (and get) gift cards, here are a few things you need to know. — This article is from the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Information blog. Cristina Miranda works in the FTC Division of Consumer and Business Education. Inspect gift cards before you buy. A gift card should have all its protective stickers in place.

Darien will have a holiday stroll on Wednesday with the theme of “Darien Does Holidays!” Enjoy the many unique boutiques and shops in Darien on Wednesday, Dec. 11 from 5 to 9 p.m.

— an announcement from the Darien Chamber of Commerce

Stroll from shop to shop with your list of gifts you need to find for your family, friends, co-workers and neighbors. Each participating store will have refreshments to enjoy, lite bites and special promotions offered that night! Share the event with you all you know! The participating stores are:

A Little Something White Bridal Couture, Aquarius, Barrett Bookstore, Brown & Co., Chocolate Works, Coco and Lala, Darien Toy Box, David Harvey Jewelers, The Dock Shop, EGG New York, Everything is Rosey, Flowers and Flowers, Good Goods, Helen Ainson, J.McLaughlin, Kirby and Company, Kirby Girl, Mandarine Home, Morley, Runner’s Roost, Shoes ‘N’ More, Sipstirs, and Sokayri.

The Salvation Army bell ringing season runs through Christmas Eve when the red kettles are packed away for the season. When you give at the red kettle outside of Palmer’s Market, 90% of the money dropped in the kettle goes right back to our community! — an announcement from Darien Department of Human Services

Did you know that the volunteers outside of Palmer’s Market collects on average about $500 in donations? The volunteers are your friends and neighbors. Groups such as the Boy Scouts, the Masons, Darien Men’s Group and others spend their weekends in December ringing the bells to benefit our community.

On Saturday, Dec. 7, Santa will arrive at Grove Street Plaza and come down the Chimney to visit with children, who get to ride on animals, sip hot cocoa and listen to carolers from Darien High School. — an announcement from the Darien Chamber of Commerce

Families can be entertained while waiting for his arrival with Rides on the Giant Animals — Lucy the Polar Bear and Rudy the Reindeer, Carolers from Darien High School will entertain all, and there will be hot cocoa. This is one local event you won’t want to miss and is great way to spread the cheer. Holiday Magic is a joint effort and is put together by Bill Jensen of Darien Toy Box, the Darien Chamber of Commerce, PG Properties and The Melting Pot.

Enjoy a cup of coffee at the Darien Arts Center and have a relaxing morning of creativity at their Saturday morning Wreath Making Workshop on Dec. 7 at 10 a.m.

Get in the holiday spirit & bring a friend. Wreaths & supplies are provided. $60 per person. Sign up online, here, or find out more at darienarts.org.

From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, the Rowayton Community Center transforms into a stunning showcase of holiday decorations with the annual Rowayton Gardeners’ Annual Christmas Market. — an announcement from Rowayton Gardeners

The Market, which takes place at the Rowayton Community Center, 22 Highland Ave., features designer-quality wreaths and center pieces, one-of-a-kind gifts, boxwood trees and ornaments — all reasonably priced. A range of fabulous items are on offer at the silent auction, and Santa is also on hand to welcome children and grandchildren. Come support the Garden Club’s mission of spreading the word about conservation, maintaining most of our public spaces, introducing children to the joy of growing living things, and raising community awareness about the environment.

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