Community Organizations

How Four Area People with Disabilities Work and Live on Their Own, With Help

Abilis Expands Special Needs Services in Darien With Four Programs This Year, More Expected

Kesti Aysseh Becomes New Darien Chamber of Commerce Executive Director

Your Kid’s Summer Camp Could Visit Sheffield Island Lighthouse

A New Museum, The Norwalk Art Space, Opens With a Celebration This Weekend

‘Lessons Learned: Tales From the Campaign Trail’ Topic of Darien League of Women Voters Online Talk

Two New Members Named to Community Fund of Darien’s Thriving Youth Task Force

Six Darien Residents Honored for ‘Outstanding Volunteer Advocacy’ for Children

Darien Land Trust Invites You to a ‘Trails Challenge’ by Going on Three Walking Trails This Summer

David Genovese to Talk About Future Transformation of Downtown at DCA Annual Meeting

A New Museum, Norwalk Art Space, Opens June 5 With Exhibit Tours, Outdoor Music, Sculpture Garden, Cafe

Event May 19 for Kids 10 to 14 With a Sibling Who Has a Disability

Food Needed Now, Says Person-to-Person: Food Drive Saturday Morning, May 8 at P2P HQ

Domestic Violence Crisis Center Hosts Online Spring Luncheon on May 20

Darien Scouts’ Rolling Auctions Fundraiser Continues, With Some Closing Thursday, Friday

By DARIENITE.COM | July 11, 2021

Community Organizations

By DARIENITE.COM | July 9, 2021

Business

By DARIENITE.COM | July 2, 2021

Community Organizations

By DARIENITE.COM | June 19, 2021

Weekend Events

By DARIENITE.COM | June 3, 2021

Community Organizations

By DARIENITE.COM | May 25, 2021

Community Organizations

By DARIENITE.COM | May 24, 2021

By DARIENITE.COM | May 18, 2021

Outdoors

By DARIENITE.COM | May 16, 2021

Business

By David Gurliacci | May 13, 2021

Art Exhibits

By DARIENITE.COM | May 9, 2021

Healthy Living

By DARIENITE.COM | May 7, 2021

Charity Events and Opportunities

By DARIENITE.COM | May 6, 2021

Charity Events and Opportunities

By DARIENITE.COM | May 1, 2021

Charity Events and Opportunities

By DARIENITE.COM | April 29, 2021

How many of us have dreamed of having our own home? How many want that home located in our home town, where we know people, we know the shopkeepers and the street signs, and where people know our name? — an announcement from STAR, Inc., Lighting the Way

For many adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), that’s not only their dream, it’s their reality, thanks to a program from the state Department of Developmental Disabilities called Individualized Home Supports. Here’s how several people in Darien and nearby communities were helped by the program:
Charlie, at Whole Foods in Darien
There is hardly a customer at Whole Foods in Darien who is an unfamiliar face to Charlie, who has worked there for over six years. In a job that makes him beam with pride, he says: “Everybody knows me […] I get to be outside on my own helping and greeting people, not a lot of bosses, and I just do what I gotta do!”

To get to work each day, Charlie walks from his apartment in his hometown of Norwalk to the East Norwalk Metro North station, where he boards the local train to Darien.

Abilis, a nonprofit that serves people with special needs and their families, will be expanding programs and services in Darien, starting with four programs in the areas of job training, life skills, employment and housing. — an announcement from Abilis

Abilis is now accepting applications for two programs: Abilis LEAP Transitions Program, which helps people acquire life skills, as well as Project SEARCH, a 10-month internship at the Darien YMCA to provide job training. Two other programs are still in the works: Sometime later this year Abilis will open Darien Library Café. Later this summer and early fall, the organization will run the supportive living program for 12 new, large studio apartments on East Lane, as part of the Corbin District project. “Having these four initial Abilis programs, and more to come, in the Darien community, will only strengthen our ability to help more individuals with disabilities or special needs,” said Amy Montimurro, CEO and president of Abilis.

Kesti Aysseh has been named the new executive director of the Darien Chamber of Commerce, and a new business manager, Reedie Karl, has been named the new business manager, the chamber announced. Most recently, Aysseh was executive development director of The Depot Youth Center. Karl was recently community relations associate for Maplewood Senior Living. Aysseh succeeds Susan Cator, who left the job in December after more than six and a half years. Karl succeeds Masako Sparks as business manager.

New this summer, the Norwalk Seaport Association is now welcoming regional organizations that offer summer camps for children to come and visit Sheffield Island and Sheffield Island Lighthouse for an unparalleled maritime excursion. — an announcement from the Norwalk Seaport Association

Preservation of the island and lighthouse as well as offering educational opportunities for children are two of the founding principles that the Norwalk Seaport Association has been founded on. If organizations and summer camps are looking for a new camp activity that will delight and engage kids of all ages, they should consider renting the Norwalk Seaport Association’s vessel the C.J. Toth for an excursion. The Norwalk Seaport Association has developed two options for camp educators to choose from, both offer an educational and rewarding experience at affordable price points. A two-hour harbor cruise is scenic, educational, and fun.

The Norwalk Art Space, the area’s newest museum, will open its doors to the public with a weekend-long celebration featuring a group exhibition, an outdoor live music festival, and the opening of the Art Space Cafe by celebrated Chef Bill Taibe. — an announcement from The Norwalk Art Space

The museum, just north of the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum in central Norwalk (off Exit 14), features a gallery, resident artists, classes, a sculpture garden and cafe, and musical performances. Live music will be presented in our sculpture garden by a wide variety of musicians. SEE ALSO: A New Museum, Norwalk Art Space, Opens June 5 With Exhibit Tours, Outdoor Music, Sculpture Garden, Cafe (May 9)
On Opening Weekend
The opening weekend will feature:

A group exhibition by our Resident Artists and Korry Fellows, curated by Artistic Director Duvian Montoya, and Curatorial and Policy Advisor Nicole Sansone Ruiz, PhD. The opening of our Sculpture Garden, curated by sculptural curator Yvonne Shortt.

The League of Women Voters of Darien invites the community to its Annual Meeting to be held online on June 2 at 7 p.m.

Patricia Russo , executive director of the Campaign School at Yale will address the topic “Lessons Learned: Tales from the Campaign Trail.” — an announcement from the Darien League of Women Voters

The program will be hosted by the Darien Library and is free and open to the public. You can register here through the Darien Library website. Russo is a nationally respected leader focused on achieving political parity in the United States and the world. For over 30 years she has held numerous leadership positions in the public, private and not for profit organizations centered on gender equality.

Allegra Erickson and Christina Passaretti Thriving Youth Task Force TYTF

The Thriving Youth Task Force announced Monday that Allegra Erickson and Christina Passaretti will join its executive board for the 2021/22 school year. — an announcement from The Community Fund of Darien
Erickson will assume the role of Executive Board co-chair. She will succeed Shelly Skoglund, who will complete her term as co-chair this year. Christina Passaretti will serve as vice chair, succeeding Susan Marks, who will also complete her term this year. Erickson brings a wealth of experience to the Thriving Youth Task Force. She has served our community on the PTO executive boards of Hindley Elementary, Middlesex Middle School and Darien High School and was a board member, Youth Asset Team adult advisor, and Community Investment executive board member for The Community Fund of Darien.

Six Darienites who have taken on the task of advocating for vulnerable children have been honored for their services by Child Advocates of Southwest Connecticut, the organization announced. — an announcement from Child Advocates of SW Connecticut

The Darien residents recognized for “outstanding volunteer advocacy” are Amy Harned, Robert Noonan, Megan Pryor, Maureen Roach, Ruthie Strother and Jody Truwit. Child Advocates of SW Connecticut (CAC) is a Fairfield County-based non-profit organization that trains and supervises volunteer advocates for vulnerable children. “CAC is thrilled to honor our incredible volunteers,” said Stacey Sobel, executive director of CAC. “Vulnerable children have suffered disproportionately during the COVID pandemic, and our volunteers have done a tremendous job ensuring needs are being met.”

CAC volunteers are a consistent, caring presence in a child’s life and advocate for the child’s best interests in the community, school and courtroom.

The Darien Land Trust is inviting the town to come participate in two challenges to mark the trust’s 65th anniversary year — walks in three of the trust’s preserves, now through the end of July and a running event in October. — an announcement from the Darien Land Trust
Trails Challenge
First, the Trails Challenge takes visitors to three of its preserves with walking trails: Olson Woods, (at 31-1 Heather Lane) the Trails at Cherry Lawn (at 120 Brookside Ave.) and Dunlap Woods (near the end of Parklands Drive). (This Web page shows where each of the land trust’s preserves are located, although it doesn’t give addresses of the entrances.)

The Trails Challenge, which started this weekend and runs to July 31, is to visit all three sites. Participants must register through a QR code posted at each property to be entered into a prize drawing. Winners will be announced on our website and social media on Aug.

The Darien Community Association invites the public to the organization’s Annual Meeting at 10 a.m., Thursday, May 20, to hear David Genovese, founder of Baywater Properties, discuss “The Transformation of Downtown Darien, a Look into the Future. ”

— an announcement from the DCA

This will be a virtual event. Registrants will receive an email with an access link the day before the event. David Genovese and his partner, Penny Glassmeyer, have developed several of
Darien’s now iconic properties, including Grove Street Plaza and 1020 Boston Post
Road, among others. After nearly 16 years of effort acquiring and assembling a total of over seven acres in downtown, and working with Darien’s boards and commissions in achieving zoning approvals, Baywater’s next project, The Corbin District, is about to begin construction.

A new art museum is opening Saturday, June 5 in central Norwalk with a free weekend celebratory party. The museum will include an exhibition gallery, a sculpture garden with regular live music on weekends, a cafe, studios for artists, a classroom and workspaces for students. — an announcement from The Norwalk Art Space

The Norwalk Art Space is located at 455 West Ave., next to Mathews Park (the location of the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum). The museum building is the former Norwalk First Church of Christ Scientist. “Our goals are to promote local artists, offer free art classes to high school students, and provide the public a welcoming space to enjoy art and music,” the museum says on its website.

Kids from 10-to-14 years old who are brothers and sisters of someone who has a disability are invited to attend an online “Sibshops” workshop from 5 to 6:30 Wednesday, May 19. Sibshops are high-spirited and fun workshops combining recreation, discussion and information. Note that registration fills up fast, according to the organizer. — an announcement from Abilis

The event is organized by Greenwich-based Abilis, which serves those with disabilities in Darien and other towns, primarily in southwest Fairfield County. It will take place on Zoom.

Most needed food items Person to Person May 2021

A food drive is taking place from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, Saturday, May 8 at the headquarters of Person-to-Person. During the pandemic, the organization has had a 71% increase in its food assistance programs for the people it helps in Darien and the surrounding area, and it hasn’t been able to use one of its biggest food donation programs, the Postal Food Drive, the organization said. “We need your help to fill our pantries,” P2P said in an announcement. “Please contribute to our Spring Food Drive this Saturday, start a virtual food drive, or donate to our food program. Thank you!”

Donna Ferrato, an award-winning photojournalist, author, domestic violence prevention activist, and feminist will be the keynote speaker at the Domestic Violence Crisis Center Spring Luncheon on Thursday, May 20. — an announcement from the Domestic Violence Crisis Center

Donna’s work was selected as one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential Images of All Time.” Her powerful images and the stories behind them have helped to bring domestic violence out of the shadows and into the light. Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase a special “Voices of Courage” boxed lunch from Aux Delice, available for pick up at the Darien or Westport locations on the day of the event. Aux Delice will donate a percentage of the sales from the lunch to DVCC. The fundraising event will also feature an online silent auction which opens May 14.

Agile buyers wanted for fragile items Darien Scouts Online Mega-Auction.

« August 2022 »

Darien Scouts has taken its annual tag sale online this year, with a series of auctions running in April and May. New auctions are online now. All auctions feature a mix of furniture, art, décor, antiques, bikes, sporting equipment, toys, and more, with bidding starting as low as $1. — an announcement from Darien Scouts

Visit soon and visit often! Next auctions close Thursday, April 29 and Friday, April 30, and more will be added regularly until at least May 6.