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With New Federal Disaster Declaration for Storm Ida, You Can Apply for Assistance Thru Town Website

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With President Biden approving Gov. Ned Lamont’s request for a federal disaster declaration for Tropical Storm Ida on Oct. 30, Darien residents can apply for disaster assistance. A Storm Ida FEMA information page has been added to the town government website, First Selectman Jayme Stevenson announced. “We have accumulated available information from both FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration, including the application process and associated deadlines,” the announcement said. “This page will be updated as new information becomes available.”

Around Town
Luminary Night Oct 24 2021 YWCA

Light the Night Oct 24: Participate in YWCA Annual Townwide Luminary Night

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The YWCA Darien/Norwalk will hold its annual luminary lighting on Sunday Oct. 24 to raise awareness about Domestic Violence against women and girls. Luminary kits are $30 each and can be purchased starting Friday, Oct. 1 at Barrett Bookstore, Palmers Market and www.ywcadn.org. The kits will include a registration link to receive seven days of emails addressing the types of domestic violence, prevention information and resources.

Government & Politics
Cecil Wade CTO Darien TV79

It Just Got Easier to Watch Darien TV79: Try the New Website

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It should be easier to find and watch programs on Darien TV79, the town government’s cable TV channel, now that it’s started its own stand-alone website, DarienTV79.com, the cable station announced. “We’ve put everything in one easy-to-access location,” said Jim Cameron, program director and co-founder of the station. “After almost 14 years of operation, airing thousands of meetings and community events, our new Internet home offers seamless access to all our offerings.”

The new website offers:

—Key-word search of videos by committee name and date

—Access to over 2,500 meeting videos stored on Vimeo

—One-click access to the week’s most recent shows

—a link to TV79’s live feed in prime time

—a complete playlist of all meetings by committee name

—the ability to toggle between the meeting video and the meeting agenda

—timestamps for the Planning & Zoning Commission and the Board of Finance

—an easy signup for the weekly TV79 Program Guide by email

Designed by TV79’s Chief Technology Officer Cecil Wade, the new website was funded by the town government, Optimum subscribers and grants from The Darien Foundation. In a meeting of the Darien TV79 Advisory Council back in January, Wade said the new website would make it easier and faster for the volunteers running the channel to get video recordings posted on the Internet. That should also make the process more reliable, he said.

9/11 Ceremony 2021
9/11 20th anniversary roses at memorial 2021

Solidarity and Gratitude Emphasized at Darien’s Twentieth Anniversary Observance of 9/11

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The feeling of solidarity among Americans in the days and weeks after Sept. 11, 2001 is something to remember and cultivate, both speakers said Saturday morning at Darien’s 20th anniversary commemoration of the 9/11 terrorist attack. “Something miraculous grew from those dark days,” First Selectman Jayme Stevenson said to the crowd of just over 100 people gathered by the memorial behind Middlesex Middle School. “We came together as one community — united by caring and compassion for one another and this great nation,” she said. “The sense of love and pride for America was palpable — hope began to rise from the ashes that our nation would emerge stronger than ever.”

Around Town
9/11 Sept. 11 monument Darien

First Selectman Jayme Stevenson’s Speech at Darien’s 9/11 Memorial Ceremony

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First Selectman Jayme Stevenson made these brief comments Saturday morning at Darien’s 9/11 ceremony. Here’s her speech, as prepared:

Good morning. Thank you for coming together today as one community to remember. We’ve felt the anxiety leading up to this day, haven’t we? How is it possible 20 years have passed since that tragic morning?

9/11 Ceremony 2021
9/11 Memorial Darien

Darien’s Sept. 11 Ceremony Takes Place on a Saturday, and Darien, Illinois Will Also Honor Our Dead

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The town’s 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attack will be observed, Saturday, Sept. 11, starting at 8:25 a.m. at the Darien 9/11 Monument behind Middlesex Middle School. This year, a 20th anniversary ceremony in Darien, Illinois will honor those from Darien, Connecticut who died in the attack. The state of Connecticut is holding a ceremony at Sherwood Island State Park on Thursday, Sept.

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DHS logo Darien High School 5-24-16

DHS Class of ’80 or ’81 — Your Reunion Is Coming Up on Saturday, Oct 2

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Attention all members of Darien High School classes of 1980 and 1981! We are having a joint 40th high school reunion on Oct. 2, 2021 at the Tokeneke Club. Please pass this information on to your classmates who may be hard to find. We are including those who didn’t graduate with us but did attend Middlesex, Mather, and Darien High School.

Around Town
Tattered Flag photo from Pixabay

You Can Drop Off Your Worn American Flags at a Darien Drive-Thru Event Saturday, May 29

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State Rep. Terrie Wood is again hosting flag drop-off services for residents of Darien and Rowayton who want to retire their worn American flags with honor and dignity. But this time the dropoffs will be drive-through events to make them safer for people who haven’t been fully vaccinated. — an announcement from State Rep. Terrie Wood

The flag collection will be a  drive-through event so that residents can dispose of their flags in a safe way while restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic are gradually easing, Wood’s announcement said. “It is important that we provide local residents to retire their old American flags with honor, respect, and dignity with a proper ceremony,” said Wood, a Republican whose district covers Rowayton and much of Darien. The first event will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 29 at Darien Town Hall with First Selectwoman Jayme Stevenson.

Darien Veteran Street Sign
Frank Valente Darien Veteran Street Sign

Street Sign for the Late Frank Valente, a D-Day Veteran, To Be Unveiled Sunday

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The late Frank Valente, a rifleman who landed on Normandy Beach and a recipient of two Purple Hearts and several Distinguished Service medals, will be honored in a ceremony Sunday by the Darien Monuments and Ceremonies Commission. Valente will be the latest recipient of the Darien Veteran Street Sign program, in which a town road receives an extra street sign and is given the honorary name of a town veteran who also served Darien as a civilian. The new street sign with Valente’s name will be unveiled on William Street during a 12 noon ceremony on Sunday May 23. Frank Valente bravely served as a Private, First Class in the United States Army during World War II, joining the Army in July 1943. Frank served in the 175th Infantry as a rifleman.

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Bell Ringing logo

Darien Bell Ringing Thank-You Goes from Event to Series: Scheduled for Next Five Saturdays

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This past Saturday’s bell-ringing event in Darien is being repeated, the First Selectman’s Office just announced, for the next five Saturdays, through May 16. “Ring Your Bells, Loud and Proud,” the announcement says, during the repeats of Saturday’s five-minute event, where people around town were encouraged to ring a bell, bang a pot or otherwise make a noise for several minutes to give a loud “Thank you!” to healthcare workers and first responders on the frontlines of the COVID-19 battle. As with the event last Saturday, the noise-making is scheduled for five minutes, starting at 7 p.m. The ringing, gonging, honking and yelling takes place rain or shine, right from your own window, door or, as the announcement suggests, “your front lawn or front steps.” “From 7 to 7:05, come stand on your front lawn or front steps and ring cowbells, shake holiday bells, bang a pot and pan or simply clap hands,” the announcement says.

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Stop and Shop

Goodbye Stop and Shop Noroton Heights: An Appreciation

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Goodbye Stop & Shop Noroton Heights

I guess the best way to express how much you mean to me and countless others is to simply say this: Thank you. We had nearly 19 really good years. I remember when I first moved to town I thought you paled in comparison to the Super Stop & Shops I frequented in Westchester and Boston but I soon became enamored of your charm. — This article originally was published as a Facebook post by Jenny Murphy on Dec. 8.

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Info Session About Darien Bicentennial Plans: 11 AM Thursday at Darien Library

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The town’s 2020 Bicentennial Committee is hoping to spread the news about the town’s 200th Birthday next year and will share information about the plans during a forum at 11 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 21 at Darien Library. — an announcement from the Darien 2020 Bicentennial Committee

“These outreach efforts are intended to inform and get folks excited for the town’s 200th birthday year,” said First Selectman Jayme Stevenson. “We want to encourage both residents and businesses alike to support Darien’s official events and to discover ways that town organizations can participate and promote their own Bicentennial celebrations.”

In addition to holding public forums, a brochure detailing town-wide events will be mailed to all Darien addresses in late December. The colorful brochure, which features current and historic photos from around town, was designed by Jaymie Pavolonis, a graphic designer who worked with the official logo and color scheme created by Darien High School students Charlie Callery, Will Henry Harmon and Kelly Niederreither.

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Darien 200 Bicentennial Logo

Town-Wide Mailing, Community Forums Share Plans for Darien’s 200th Birthday

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Through a town-wide mailing and community forums, the town’s 2020 Bicentennial Committee is hoping to spread the news and promote plans to celebrate the town’s 200th birthday next year. — an announcement from the Darien 2020 Bicentennial Committee

“These outreach efforts are intended to inform and get folks excited for the town’s 200th birthday year,” said First Selectman Jayme Stevenson. “We want to encourage both residents and businesses alike to support Darien’s official events and to discover ways that town organizations can participate and promote their own Bicentennial celebrations.”

A “Save the Year” postcard, to be mailed to all Darien addresses in early October, includes the dates and locations of official town bicentennial events and features the official Bicentennial Logo and 068200 designs. The colorful postcard, which features current and historic photos from around town, was designed by Jaymie Pavolonis, a graphic designer who worked with the official logo and color scheme created by Darien High School students Charlie Callery, Will Henry Harmon and Kelly Niederreither. “We are hoping this postcard will prompt people to not only reserve these special town events on their 2020 calendars, but also encourage residents to learn more about contributing to these events so that Darien can celebrate its birthday in style,” said Al Miller, chairman of the 2020 Bicentennial Committee.

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9/11 Memorial Darien

Darien 9/11 Ceremony Starts at 8:30 AM on Wednesday

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The Monuments & Ceremonies Commission of the Town of Darien invites the public, first responders, Town Selectmen, local officials and Middlesex Middle School students, their teachers and administrators to attend the town’s annual 9/11 remembrance ceremony. — an announcement from the Monuments & Ceremonies Commission

Beginning at 8:30 a.m., sharp on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at the 9/11 Memorial located on the grassy area behind Middlesex Middle School on Hollow Tree Ridge Road, Darien’s Monuments and Ceremonies Commission will follow tradition and observe 9/11 with a brief ceremony. Carved into the memorial’s 36- by 75-inch granite stone is the inscription: “May We Never Forget” with the date: “September 11, 2001.” The memorial is flanked by two tall trees symbolizing the twin towers. An Eagle Scout project, the 9/11 Memorial was conceived, funded and installed by then DHS freshman, Josh Doying, who belonged to Boy Scout Troop 53.

Around Town
Aquarion Logo

Water Main Cleaning Runs Thru July 19, Don’t Do Laundry If Water Is Discolored

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Aquarion Water Company today announced a water main cleaning project in Darien from Monday, June 24 to Friday, July 19.  The project is being undertaken to ensure that customers continue to receive the highest quality water. The Darien water main cleaning project is estimated to last approximately four weeks. During that time, customers may notice some discoloration in their water. This discoloration results from the temporary disturbance of the water flow, which stirs up naturally occurring minerals that settle in water mains. Aquarion recommends customers store tap water in their refrigerators for drinking and cooking.