Holidays
Christmas Darien Scouting holiday bazaar 2019

Annual Holiday Bazaar Takes Place Sunday, Nov 24 at the Scout Cabin

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The community is invited to the 4th Annual Holiday Bazaar at the Scout Cabin, 145 West Ave, this Sunday, Nov. 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Support Darien Scouting while finding new and gently used holiday items for yourself, your home, or gifts, including new and gently used holiday decor, trimmings, dishware, teachers gifts, antique, unique and rare retro items and more to make your holidays bright! Cocoa and candy canes will be provided for the kids too! Stop by to learn more about our Scouting programs for youth grades K-12, or visit www.darienscouts.org

Charity Events and Opportunities

‘Frozen II’ — Darien Community-Wide Movie, Coming Dec 2

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Attention movie lovers: Mark your calendars — on Monday, Dec. 2, Frozen II, the annual “Community-Wide Movie” benefiting the Darien Human Services Holiday gift drive will again take place at the Darien Playhouse. — an announcement from the Darien Youth Commission
Sponsored by the Darien Youth Commission, the Darien Human Services Department, and the movie theater, Frozen II runs 1 hour 49 minutes. (This movie premieres in theaters on Friday, Nov. 22.

Churches
Christian Science Church Darien First Church of Christ Scientist 11-15-17

All Invited to Thanksgiving Day Service at Christian Science Church in Darien

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The Christian Science church in Darien will again be hosting its annual Thanksgiving Day service on Thursday, Nov. 28, at 10:30 a.m.  This event is open to the public, and no collection will be taken. — an announcement from the First Church of Christ Scientist in Darien

This service, in the church auditorium, at 2331 Post Road, at the corner of Salt Box Lane,  is held in Christian Science churches worldwide, continues an annual tradition that began in 1902. It includes the singing of hymns, the reading of the Thanksgiving Proclamation of the President of the United States or the governor of the state, or both, readings from the “Pastor” of the church — The Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy — a solo, and testimonies by Christian Scientists appropriate for the occasion. The public is also welcome to attend the regular church services, which are held weekly throughout the year on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. and Wednesday evenings at 7:30 p.m.

Another option available to the public is the Christian Science Reading Room, which is a spiritual resource center and a quiet place for study and prayer.

Healthy Living
Dementia Friends Blum McGuire

Learn How to Help People With Dementia in Small Ways: Info Session at 4 PM Monday at Darien Library

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Being a Dementia Friend simply means learning more about dementia, putting yourself in the shoes of someone living with the condition, and helping in small ways. An information session organized by At Home in Darien for people interested in becoming Dementia Friends will take place from 4 to 5 p.m., Monday at Darien Libraries. Small gestures, such as spreading the word about Dementia Friends, or visiting someone living with the illness, can help make our community Dementia Friendly. Anyone can be a Dementia Friend! Each Information Session lasts about one hour and will teach you how to make Darien a dementia friendly community.

Consumer and Finances
Turkey driving Thanksgiving

AAA: Don’t Let a Cold Snap Make You a Non-Starter — Prepare Your Car for Winter

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Cars, like humans, need seasonal checkups; in cold winter weather such as this week’s anticipated cold snap, it’s important to maximize fuel efficiency, maintain safety, and ensure your vehicle can start for the worst winter has in store for us. So now is the time to get cranking on car maintenance, says AAA Northeast. — an announcement from AAA Northeast
“No one wants to be stranded in the cold,” said Fran Mayko, AAA Northeast spokeswoman. “So properly preparing your vehicle for cold weather is essential – before your vehicle breaks down. You’ll save time, money and aggravation when the mercury dives into the teens or single digits.”
To prepare, AAA Northeast offers drivers these cold weather car tips:
 Batteries: If your battery is more than three years old, have it and the charging system tested.  Even a good battery can lose up to 50% of its capacity when temperatures drop to zero.  At 32 degrees, it takes up to 30% more power to start a cold engine.

Classes
Dance Class Darien Arts Center Winter-Spring registration 2019-2020

You Can Register Now for Darien Arts Center Winter and Spring Classes for Adults and Kids

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Registration is open for classes for all ages in dance, visual arts, martial arts, music and theatre at the Darien Arts Center. Winter/spring classes begin in January. — an announcement from Darien Arts Center

To register for classes, visit the Darien Arts Center website or call (203) 655-8683. The DAC is located at 2 Renshaw Road, behind the Town Hall. DANCE:
The DAC dance program offers students from the age of 3 through adults, the opportunity to train in one of the finest dance spaces in Fairfield County and to participate in multiple performances throughout the year.

Holidays
Gunsmoke band members November 2019

Gunsmoke ‘Home for the Holidays’ Benefit Concert on Dec 7 at the Piedmont Club

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Gunsmoke, the award-winning, Nashville-recording country western band formed in Darien, will perform its latest Music for Hope benefit concert, Home for the Holidays at the Piedmont Club on Saturday, Dec. 7. — an announcement from Gunsmoke

Admission is $15. Proceeds from the concert will be donated to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.

Holidays
Window Decorating Halloween 2019 Youth Commish

Winners of Youth Commission 2019 Halloween Window Painting Contest Announced

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Here’s who won the Darien Youth Commission’s  22nd Annual Halloween Window Painting Contest this year. Town Youth Director Alicia Sillars announced the winners Thursday and described this year’s contest with this statement:
Fortunately, the weather was absolutely perfect — a bright, crisp, sunny fall day. With 30 teams of middle & high school aged students painting storefronts throughout the community, it was hard not to get caught up in the fun! Like many special events, these activities are made possible as a result of the unique partnership the Darien Youth Commission forges with the public and private sectors. Special thanks to Beth Cherico, owner of Pie in the Sky, LLC (a mobile art education service) for lending her expertise to the judging portion of this event.

Charity Events and Opportunities
Spring Grove Veterans Cemetery Winter

Remember the Fallen: Annual Fundraiser Started for Wreaths Across America

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The Darien VFW Post will be hosting its first annual fundraiser for Wreaths Across America – Spring Grove Veteran’s Cemetery from 7 to 9 p.m. 15 Nov. 15 The mission of Wreaths Across America is: Remember, Honor, and Teach. — an announcement for Wreaths Across America-Spring Grove Cemetery

Remember the fallen. Honor those who serve and their families. Teach the future generations about the sacrifices made to preserve our freedoms. This is accomplished through several events, but primarily the annual laying of wreaths on the graves of veterans during the holiday season.

Darienites

The Late Navy Veteran Richard Costello to be Honored With Street Sign at 12 Noon, Sunday

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The Monuments and Ceremonies Commission of Darien invites the public to a street sign unveiling to honor World War II and Korean War veteran Richard F. Costello at 12 noon on Sunday Nov. 3, 2019 at the corner of West Avenue and Moore Street. “People of all ages are welcome to celebrate our hometown wartime veteran and the Costello Family,” the commission said in a news release. “Consider a carpool, walk or ride to help with parking space.” “Darien is proud to honor the Costello family for their involvement in the town of Darien and for their service to country,” the Monuments and Ceremonies Commission said in an announcement.

Seniors

Groundbreaking Ceremony Celebrates the Royle at Darien Senior Housing, Due in Summer 2020

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U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal joined the Housing Authority of the Town of Darien, JHM Financial Group and other local officials to celebrate the groundbreaking for the $20 million senior housing development known as the Royle at Darien. — an announcement from JHM Group

Sen. Blumenthal gave opening remarks at the Oct. 25 event, held onsite at 719 Post Road and was attended by local residents and community supporters. This new senior living community, designed for independent seniors age 55 and over, will provide 55 new, affordable one-bedroom apartment rentals that add to the housing balance of Darien. The three-story building, which is expected to be completed during the summer of 2020, replaces the outdated and obsolete Old Town Hall Homes housing complex, which consisted of six buildings and only 30 studio and one-bedroom apartments.

Seniors
Carla Gambescia speaks Nov 6 2019 at Darien Men's Association

A Talk About That ‘Special Alchemy of Italy’ Wednesday Morning at the Darien Men’s Association

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What is it about Italy? Cultural Superpower yet merely a mountainous Mediterranean peninsula, Italy has exerted an outsized force on the world, Western civilization and the popular imagination over the course of millennia. Carla Gambescia, an author and lecturer on all things Italian, will speak Wednesday, Nov. 6, at the Darien Men’s Association’s morning meeting. — an announcement from the Darien Men’s Association

Explore the special alchemy of Italy and the “cultural DNA” that has made Italy not only so influential, but also so beloved.

Consumer and Finances
Family Emergency Scams

How to Protect the Elderly from Scams: Tips from the Federal Trade Commission

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The FTC just sent a report to Congress called Protecting Older Consumers 2018-2019. The report suggests steps to take to help protect older consumers from fraud. But the evidence also shows a thing or two everyone else can learn from them. Check out the sometimes surprising findings in this year’s report. — This article is from the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Information blog.

Healthy Living
To Whom It May Concern play dementia At Home In Darien Nov 2019

Interactive Theater Program Performed by People With Dementia Comes to Darien on Nov 7

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At Home In Darien is delighted to bring to Darien To Whom I May Concern, an interactive theater program performed by people who have been diagnosed with a progressive brain illness such as Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. — an announcement from At Home In Darien

Using their own words, these individuals share their stories and experiences with live audiences. If You’re Going … The program (TWIMC) will be shown at 6 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 7.

Seniors
Steve Mandel head shot Darien Men's Association

Talk on Teach for America by a Former Chairman of the TFA Board at Darien Men’s Association

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Steve Mandel, recent Teach for America board chair, on Wednesday will give a talk discussing the organization’s unique approach to educating children from urban and rural low income communities. Mandel will speak at a meeting of the Darien Men’s Association from about 10:45 a.m. to 12 noon at the Darien Community Association. — an announcement from the Darien Men’s Association

Teach for America

Teach For America is a nonprofit organization whose stated mission is to “enlist, develop, and mobilize as many as possible of our nation’s most promising future leaders to grow and strengthen the movement for educational equity and excellence.”

The organization aims to accomplish this by recruiting and selecting college graduates from top universities around the United States to serve as teachers. The selected members, known as “corps members,” commit to teaching for at least two years in a public or public charter K–12 school in one of the 52 low-income communities that the organization serves. TFA was founded by Wendy Kopp based on her 1989 Princeton University undergraduate thesis.