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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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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.

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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.

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Slogan contest 2019

CONTEST: Submit a Slogan for the Town of Darien, Win Glory and Gift Certificates

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Come up with a winning slogan for Darien, and the Darien Board of Realtors in the group’s slogan contest during the month of June and you can win both bragging rights and gift certificates for town businesses. “The winning slogan will be forever immortalized on the Darien Board of Realtors website [and] all Darien Board of Realtors social media — and the winner will have bragging rights that they created the catchphrase for our treasured town!” the board says in an announcement. The Darien Board of Realtors’s new website launched earlier this month. Whether you want to call it a slogan, a tag line or a catch phrase, your short and snappy phrase or sentence can be submitted starting June 1, with the winner selected on June 30.

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Darien Police to Observe Autism Awareness Month with Vehicle Magnet, Training Seminar, Even Goodie Bags

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The Darien Police Department is a proud supporter of Autism Awareness Month.  Throughout the month of April, we will be joining hundreds of other agencies across the country in displaying a special Autism Awareness magnet on our police vehicles as part of the “Autism Patch Challenge.”

— an announcement from Darien Police Department
The Autism Patch Challenge began in 2017, and originated in New Rochelle, New York by New Rochelle Police Detective Chris Greco in honor of his son, Christopher, who is non-verbal. Greco has created a charitable foundation, “Christopher’s Voice,” which provides various support options for families with autism, and focuses on emergency responders. Spearheaded by Officer Rich Flood, the Darien Police Department will now be participating in the Autism Patch Challenge as well.  Officer Flood has coordinated this effort and saw to it that the police car magnets and uniform shoulder patches were designed and created. With the financial assistance of the Darien Police Association, the magnets and patches have been manufactured and will be soon seen prominently displayed on our vehicles. Research shows that persons with autism and other developmental disabilities are approximately seven times more likely to come in contact with law enforcement than the general population.

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Wreaths Across America wreath laying fundraising

Volunteers Needed for Removing Wreaths at Spring Grove Veterans Cemetery

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Darien’s Wreaths Across America group and Darien Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #6933 sincerely appreciate all the help received in placing the wreaths on Dec. 15. It is now time to remove them. Volunteers are needed for Wreath Removal at 8 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019 at the cemetery on Hecker Avenue. All interested volunteers should meet by the Karl Lang monument in the center of the veterans cemetery.

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Letter: Revival of Thursday Morning Coffee Meetups at the Sugar Bowl

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To the Editor,

For many years the Darien Times has hosted a Thursday morning coffee. The “Coffee”in large part centered around, although not limited to, local, state, and national politics. Congressman Jim Himes made it a point to attend, engage, and take the temperature of what was going on in Darien. Thank you to all of the papers editors and staff over the years for taking the time and understanding the importance of this lively engagement. Recently as many of you are aware the Darien Times was  purchased and has undergone some restructuring.

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Have You Heard …? Christmas Wreaths Readied, Cop Honored, Pumpkins Painted, 4 Million Visits

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Here’s the lowdown on what’s up around town:

Organizers are readying the Christmas Season wreaths that go on town lampposts from Sedgwick Avenue to Noroton Avenue, in Tilley Pond and the lights in the trees on Tokeneke Road. “Last week, the wreaths were checked and put into working order by volunteers from the Men’s Association of Darien,” according to an email from the Darien Chamber of Commerce. “They replaced 389 lightbulbs! During the spruce up though, we have discovered that soon we will have to replace a good number of these wreaths.” Darien taxpayers don’t pay for those wreaths — the money is donated to the Chamber of Commerce, which is now asking its members for more.

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Freshmen field hockey wears pink for Allison Haupt

Have You Heard …? Grand Openings, Tribute in Pink, Firefighter Thanked and More

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Here’s the low-down on what’s up around town:

Darien Grille holds its grand opening at 22 Center Street, from 3:30 p.m. to midnight on Wednesday, and on Thursday, Oct. 25, Hollow Tree Self Storage at 131 Hollow Tree Ridge Road holds its grand opening from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Both grand openings have free food, but we suspect there’ll be more at the restaurant. ***

***

NewCanaanite.com reports:

New Canaan High School senior Will Hetherington jumped into action on Sept. 25, and rescued two young girls caught in a submerged vehicle during the heavy rain storm and flash flooding that took place that day throughout the area. Hetherington, who’s been a volunteer fireman for the Darien Fire Department since he was 17, was on duty when, at approximately 4:30 p.m. that Tuesday, the DFD got a call for a car and water rescue. A Jeep Cherokee with three young girls, aged 6, 8 and 12, and their grandmother, was submerged under the Tokeneke Railroad Bridge in Darien, with flooding waters reaching half way up the car windows. Hetherington was on the rescue truck that was dispatched, and he volunteered to suit-up, donning a yellow waterproof rescue outfit, known as a “mustang suit.”

With DFD safety officer Andy Malowitz, Hetherington approached the trapped family’s vehicle.

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Darien Road Race Runners

Darien Road Race on Sunday, Sept 16: Traffic Advisory Issued, Don’t Wait to Register

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The 39th annual Darien Road Race, with about 500 racers, will be held on Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, starting at 9 a.m.

Drivers and area residents are advised to expect short-term delays and detours along the route. Darien Police personnel will be positioned along the route to facilitate the flow of traffic and the safety of the runners. The race will start at Pear Tree Point Beach. Impacted roads will be Pear Tree Point Road, Long Neck Point Road, Goodwives River Road, Sunswyck Road, Tory Hole Road, Delafield Island Road, Red Coat Pass, Old Kings Highway S., Locust Hill Road and Andrews Drive.

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Leone Stevenson wreath 9/11 ceremony

Commemoration of 9/11: ‘May We Never Forget: September 11, 2001’

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A brief ceremony was held at Darien’s 9/11 Memorial Tuesday morning, the 17th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center and other massacre sites, resulting in the deaths of thousands, including some from Darien. About 50 people, including numerous firefighters and police officers, attended the event at the memorial site, an engraved stone flanked by two trees (symbolizing the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers). A moment of silence was observed at 8:46, the minute that the first plane struck the World Trade Center. Phil Kraft, former chairman of the town Monuments and Ceremonies Commission, was the master of ceremonies.

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Reminder: Restrictions on Darien Lawn Watering Are Mandatory — Twice a Week, No More

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Because reservoirs are expected to remain low at certain points of every year (especially this time of year) for the foreseeable future, there are mandatory water restrictions on all Darien property. First Selectman Jayme Stevenson recently described the restrictions and reminded residents that Aquarion Water Co. will be watching for violations more vigilantly especially now, when reservoir levels tend to drop. “At this time of year, we are trending toward the drought triggers, as Aquarion and the state drinking water department have outlined them,” Stevenson said at last Tuesday’s Board of Selectman meeting. “So remember, it’s only twice a week that you’re allowed to water,” she continued.

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Town Bicentennial Committee Formed, Applications for More Members Welcome

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With the 200th anniversary of Darien officially becoming a town in 1820, the town has established a Bicentennial committee to organize celebrations, First Selectman Jayme Stevenson announced at a Board of Selectmen meeting last week. If you have an interest, you’re welcome to volunteer. Just contact the First Selectman’s Office. “A committee has been formed, and we welcome any additional committee members to begin the planning for the town’s bicentennial, which will happen in the year 2020,” Stevenson said. The first selectman said she asked others if they would volunteer for the committee, and David Pollet and Tracey Root both joined up and are organizing the effort through the town Monuments and Ceremonies Commission.

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Expect Some Discolored Water As Aquarion Cleans Water Mains Around Town for Next Six Weeks

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Aquarion Water Company today announced a water main cleaning project in Darien starting Sunday, June 10 and continuing for six weeks between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.
The water main cleaning project is being undertaken to ensure that customers continue to receive the highest quality water. — an announcement from Aquarion
The Darien water main cleaning project is estimated to last until Friday, July 20. 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 water in their refrigerators for drinking and cooking.  Customers should also refrain from washing laundry if water is discolored.  Before resuming use, customers should run their cold-water faucets until the water appears clear.

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Weed Beach Fest Coming June 2: Must Buy Tix for Clam Bake, But Admission and Puns Are Free

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On Saturday, June 2 Darien Parks & Recreation Department will once again be SHELLABRATING with live music, food and games everyone is SHORE to enjoy! The event runs from 2 to 8 p.m.

__________

— This is an announcement from the Darien Parks and Recreation Department, with additional details from the department’s Web pages. Darienite.com takes no responsibility for the puns — this time. Direct your groans to Park & Rec. __________

Three bands will take the stage through most of the event, providing awesome TUNAS from 3 to 8 p.m.

New this year, Capt’n John’s will be providing a mouthWATERing fresh clam bake right on the beach that will leave you feeling GILLTY if you don’t partake!