Community Organizations
Week Without Violence campaign square image 2025

YWCA Darien/Norwalk Launches ‘Week Without Violence’ — Events Marking Domestic Violence Awareness Month

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October marks the beginning of Domestic Violence Awareness Month,  a time to honor survivors, remember those lost, and recommit to building safer communities. — an announcement from the YWCA of Darien/Norwalk
As we embark on this month of reflection and action, YWCA Darien/Norwalk is proud to stand with YWCAs across the nation and around the world in launching this year’s Week Without Violence, taking place Oct. 20 to 25. Through a week of empowering programs, this initiative calls on our community to raise awareness, center survivor voices, and work together toward a future free from gender-based violence. “Domestic violence touches families in every community, including our own,” said Jennifer Buchholz, CEO of YWCA Darien/Norwalk.

Talking Transportation 2025
Engineer

Tips for Riding NextGen Acela: Amtrak’s Already-Running Train of the Future

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I finally had a chance to ride the new NextGen Acela and I have to admit, I was wrong: this really is Amtrak’s train of the future. But here are a few tips for making your next ride frictionless. These tips are mostly about riding Acela, but many hold true for slower Northeast Corridor trains. WHAT’S A NEXTGEN ACELA? These are the new trains built by Alstom, previously known as Avelia Liberty.

Education
safety course bikes etc depot 2025

Blue Wave Golf’s Winning Streak, Soccer Glory, Safety Guides — All in the School Superintendent’s Newsletter

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Interim Schools Superintendent Eric Byrnes’ Friday newsletter highlighted the student Unified Soccer Team, the recent concert by the DHS Band, Chorus and Orchestra and the 12 straight wins by the Blue Wave Boys Golf Team. “This very impressive start is our best since 2016,” Byrnes said of the golf team’s success. Byrnes also included reminders about emergency information guides, particularly for parents; reminded students and parents about e-bike and scooter safety rules and a 90-minute safety course for middle schoolers “including safety skills for pedestrians, bikers, e-bikers, and e-scooters.” He said a survey about the superintendent search has a deadline of Oct. 3 (next Friday) and more information about the search is available on the district website.

Darien Police Department 2025
Officer Katrina Cook first in class in the Nov 2024 Police Academy

Darien Police Officer Katrina Cook Honored for Graduating First in Her Police Academy Class

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Darien Police Officer Katrina Cook was honored this week by the Police Commissioners Association of Connecticut for graduating first in her police academy class late last year. Cook received the Samuel J. Luciano Award from the association, given to the recruit in each police academy class who achieves the highest cumulative grade point average during basic training. “Congratulations to Officer Cook on a job well done!” a Darien Police announcement said Friday on Facebook.  

Education
DHS commended scholars class of 2026 National Merit Darien High School

National Merit Scholarship Program Names 22 Darien High School Students ‘Commended Scholars’

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Twenty-two Darien High School seniors have been named commended students in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program, the school recently announced. — an announcement from Darien High School

Principal, Ellen Dunn and Director of School Counseling Cathy Oster presented each of these scholastically talented seniors with a letter of commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise. These are the 22 students:

Jacob Abraham, Ian Bozzuto, Claire Chan, James Coe, Matthew DelVecchio, Brady Eldredge, Tristha Fernandes, Christopher Finnegan, Joseph Hill, James Hoffman, Nathan Hu, Brandon Kuo, Kellan Leonard, Michael Lin, Katharine Massey, Rithik Melwani, Anna Qin, Sean Roberts, Madeline Smaldon, Flynn Sullivan, Ryan Xing and Selen Yasanliel.

Absentee Ballots 2025
Absentee Ballot mail-in ballot election

UPDATE: How to Get an Absentee Ballot for the November 4 Election

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You can now apply online for an absentee ballot if you’re unable to get to a polling location on Election Day, Nov. 4. On Saturday, Sept. 20, the state government opened an online portal allowing Connecticut residents to apply online.You’ll need to provide your driver’s license number or non-driver identification number to complete the application. The Darien Town Clerk’s Office has more information, here, on getting and using absentee ballots for the upcoming election.

Education
Fairfield University aerial view building

US News Ranks Fairfield U One of Top 25 in Undergraduate Teaching, Among Other High Rankings

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U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Colleges rankings once again highlight Fairfield University among the nation’s top schools. Among nationally ranked private institutions, Fairfield placed in the Top 75. — an announcement from Fairfield University

The University also earned a spot in the Top 25 for Undergraduate Teaching – National Universities. The University was ranked No. 139 (tied with another university) overall in the National University category.

Community Organizations
Jon Zagrodzky 2025 Wave Strong luncheon

First Selectman’s Newsletter: 1. The Wave Strong Mental Health Organization, 2. Spending on Three Town Properties

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In his latest First Selectman’s edition of the Town of Darien Newsletter on Friday, Sept. 19, Jon Zagrodzky discusses what he heard and saw about a tragic suicide case described at the annual Wave Strong luncheon; he also discusses proposals to spend millions on three town recreational properties:
Suicide Prevention Described at Wave Strong Lunch
Yesterday, I attended, along with State Rep. Tracy Marra and Superintendent Dr. Eric Byrne, the second annual Wave Strong luncheon at Country Club of Darien. Founded in 2022 following tragic deaths by suicide of several people, including students, this organization is focused on “breaking down the stigmas of mental health for the betterment of Darien.” A worthy mission we should all support. You can learn more about Wave Strong here. The lunch speakers included Steve and Gina Meyer, a California couple who lost their daughter, a Stanford University senior, to suicide.

Community Organizations
Douglas Campbell III obit obituary

Darien Land Trust Remembers the Late Doug Campbell’s Efforts to Protect Land in Town

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“Former Darien Land Trust (DLT) Board member Doug Campbell passed away recently, and we are deeply saddened by his loss,” the DLT said in an announcement emailed Monday. Here’s what the organization said about his contributions:

Doug was passionate about the DLT and believed strongly in our potential to protect land for future generations. Jay Shutts, former DLT president, recalls their tenure together. “Doug served on our Board in the late 1990s, a pivotal moment in our history. At the time, DLT had not yet engaged in major fundraising efforts.

Angry drivers mad irritated arguing

AAA: 96 Percent of Drivers Admit to Aggressive Road Behavior in All Sorts of Ways

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A staggering 96% of drivers in a new AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study admitted to engaging in aggressive driving behaviors over the past year. From speeding and tailgating to cutting off other vehicles, aggressive driving and road rage have become a near universal experience — and they appear to be contagious. — an announcement from AAA Northeast
The study included a nationwide survey of over 3,000 drivers and several focus groups. Key findings included:
Red light running and passing on the right top the list of aggressive driving behaviors. The five most prevalent aggressive behaviors were:

Speeding up when a traffic light is changing from yellow to red; 82% admitted to engaging in the behavior.

Public Safety
Stuart Schwengerer Darien Police lieutenant

Darien Police Sgt Schengerer Gets Promotion to Lieutenant

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Stuart Schwengerer, previously a sergeant in the Darien Police Department, has been promoted to lieutenant, Chief Jeremiah P. Marron Jr. announced Friday on Facebook. — an announcement from Darien Police Department

A formal promotion ceremony will take place but hasn’t been scheduled yet, said Marron. Schwengerer has been on the police force for 22 years and is currently a supervisor in the Patrol Division. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, he previously held positions on the Southwest Regional Emergency Response Team, the Darien Police Honor Guard, and the Marine Division. “He has training in crisis intervention, is a long standing firearms and patrol rifle instructor, use of force instructor, and also is an instructor for the department in blood borne pathogen incidents.

Education

What’s Happening in Darien School’s: Superintendent’s Weekly Report

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Three things students and parents should consider signing up for online: Aspen, personal results of state standardized tests and a survey on the search for a new superintendent. Interim Superintendent Eric Byrne touched on all those topics in his newsletter last Friday, along with: driving carefully near school vans and cars used to transport students; a DHS concert is coming; the Middlesex Open House again had a strong turnout from Darien parents. Oh, and Byrne met Riptide. The superintendent reports the DHS mascot is “an absolute mush.” Weekend events mentioned in the newsletter are now past, so we’ve cut them from this article.

Talking Transportation 2025
Teenage driver

If Jim Cameron Ruled the World: Drivers Would Stop Distracting Themselves, and Trains Would Get Quiet Cars

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How many of you remember “Car Talk”, the wildly popular NPR show with Tom and Ray Magliozzi, also known as “Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers”? Not only were they brothers, but both graduated from MIT. They were walking encyclopedias of automotive wisdom. And common sense. To them, car safety meant more than just mechanics.

Charity Events and Opportunities
Darien Road Race Runners

Police: Here’s Where Drivers Need to Wait or Detour Around for the Darien Road Race on Sunday

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Drivers can expect delays on the roads used by the annual Darien Road Race Sunday morning, Sept. 21, starting at around 9 a.m., Darien police say. The race, with about 500 participants, 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 South, Locust Hill Road and Andrews Drive. Motorists and residents of the area are advised to expect short-term delays and detours along the race route.