Darienite (https://darienite.com/category/news/talks-panel-discussions-presentations-workshops)
Darien Library is pleased to welcome back Chaya Milchtein of Mechanic Shop Femme for an event that will boost car owners’ confidence in maintaining their vehicles. This virtual event will take place at 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 8. You’ll need to register first. — an announcement from the library
For some drivers, car maintenance can be a daunting task. Learn how to perform tune-ups, change transmission fluid, clean your car to protect your investment, and more.
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.
It’s time you start making time for yourself! Take a break from your busy schedule and endless to-do lists and join Mountainside Treatment Centers Saturday, May 22 for three hours of wellness, fun, and community. This free event, while created for individuals in recovery, is appropriate and open to everyone. — an announcement from Mountainside Treatment Centers
Mountainside addiction treatment centers, which has an office in Wilton, rounded up a team of experts to help you discover new passions, let go of whatever is holding you back, and gain practical and tangible ways to change your life. The series of workshops from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. are designed to help you learn how to save money to make that dream vacation happen or find new ways to manage stress.
Starting the divorce process brings up a number of questions: what are the steps that you will need to take? Should you choose litigation, mediation, or collaboration? What professionals will best serve you in this process? Darien Library presents an online event Wednesday, May 12, with experts who will share their knowledge on navigating these questions and more. — an announcement from Darien Library
“Divorce, Now What?” will delve into the common mistakes and misconceptions that parties have about divorce.
Darien Health Department issued advice Tuesday morning to anyone who took the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine, after reports of rare blood-clotting from others who have taken it. “People who have received the J&J vaccine who develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination should contact their health care provider.” In another COVID-19 related announcement, three Stamford Hospital physicians will answer questions from the public about the coronavirus in an online event Wednesday evening sponsored by Darien Library. Federal officials have suggested a pause in using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Darien Health Department does not use it, the department said in the announcement (full text, below).
Ken Reiss, a Museum of Darien historian, will discuss how Darien sought its independence, the forces blocking its path, and the hero who persisted to give the town its name in an online lecture Thursday evening. — an announcement from Darien Library
Discover what life was like 200 years ago in “History Close to Home with Ken Reiss,” a Museum of Darien Historian and the author of Darien, 1820: New Town, New Times. This event will take place virtually on Wednesday, April 15 from 7 to 8 p.m. You can register here on Darien Library’s website. About Ken Reiss
Ken Reiss’ lifelong pursuit of history has in recent years been sharply focused on the story of Darien, Connecticut, where he has made his home for the past 32 years. In addition to his most recent work to commemorate the town’s bicentennial, Darien 1820: New Town, New Times, Ken is the author of The Story of Darien, Connecticut, a definitive history of the town.
The League of Women Voters of Darien has scheduled several programs of interest to the community this Spring:
A further discussion about the future of Darien within Fairfield County; a discussion about voter access and the security of the voting system with the secretary of the state; and a discussion with leaders of several town government boards. — an announcement from the League of Women Voters of Darien
All will be held online and are free and open to the public. In addition to these three programs, the Darien League’s annual meeting at 7 p.m., June 2 will feature as its keynote speaker Patti Russo, executive director of the Campaign School at Yale University. The League doesn’t have much information yet on the discussion with leaders of various town boards. The date and time will be announced later.
Aspiring actors and actresses will love this theatre workshop! In a playful environment, tweens and teens will create fantastic improvisations under the guidance of drama teacher Ingrid Schaeffer. Together, the theatre group will perform an inspired version of “The Wizard of Oz” after reading through the script. All you need to participate is an active imagination! This free workshop, meant for teens and tweens from ages 11 to 18, takes place from 1 to 2:15 p.m., Saturday, April 10.
Learn the basics of how best to honor your loved one with an obituary in this hour-long class with Jamie Passaro, who runs dear person obits based in Eugene, Oregon. — an announcement from Darien Library
Writing an obituary is an important task. Obituaries are history, journalism, and poetry. They are often the last word. All participants will receive Jamie’s 25-page booklet “Writing an Obituary in Four Easy Steps.”
Need to upgrade your technology skills? The Darien Library and SCORE present a 5-part webinar series to bring you up to speed on the tools you need to succeed both in and outside your office. Is technology taking control of your life and home? In this webinar, parents will learn tips, tricks, resources and strategies for managing technology in your family. — an announcement from Darien Library
Register for the ‘The Tech Workshop Your Kids Don’t Want You To Attend.’
The plot of “Pippin” presents the audience with an exceedingly abstract and “meta” story. In fact, at points in the musical, one gets the feeling that one is watching a show within a show. During this online program, Professor Gil Harel will discuss this unique musical, calling attention to its genesis and evolution, its unusual and somewhat complex plot, and its infectious score. — an announcement from Darien Library
Having been conceived during Stephen Schwartz’s days as a student at Carnegie Mellon, and having made its debut on Broadway in 1972, the show was reimagined in an award-winning revival in 2013. In the nearly 50 years since its premiere, and in various stagings and incarnations, “Pippin” has enchanted audiences with its compelling story and stellar score.
Greg Tang will be presenting a virtual parenting workshop, “Mathematics Everywhere, for Everyone” on Wednesday, March 31, at 7 p.m. at the The Children’s School in Stamford. — an announcement from The Children’s School (with a note from Darienite.com in italics)
In his talk for The Children’s School, Greg will present an approach to math that makes working with numbers more intuitive and enjoyable, for children and parents alike. Many of the traditional problem-solving algorithms taught in school, Greg argues, are cumbersome and tedious to apply, and as a consequence many children begin to dread math. To get children off on the right foot with arithmetic, he teaches techniques — such as grouping numbers and using visualizations — that make problems easier and much more satisfying to solve. Children become more confident about their skills when they realize they can use reasoning, rather than blindly applying an algorithm, to find solutions.
Family therapist Moira Rizzo will lead an interactive discussion on Thursday, April 8 at 10 a.m. on “Pandemic Parenting: Strategies to Keep You and Your Kids Sane Through Challenging Times.”
Her presentation includes how to effectively talk with teens about:
—mental health
—social connectedness and
—substance use. The discussion is the fourth in a series of The Community Fund of Darien’s “Our Darien” events this year designed to educate parents about the dangers of substance use, youth mental health and how they can best support their teens. If You’re Attending … Registration for this Zoom webinar, sponsored by The Depot Youth Center and YWCA Parent Awareness, is free and required at www.communityfunddarien.org
Conducting genealogical research for relatives who are still alive poses unique and interesting challenges. Join us to discuss your experiences “finding the living” in a small group, online discussion with Sara Zagrodzky. The discussion, “Finding the Living,” takes place from 10 to 11:30 a.m., this Wednesday, March 24. — an announcement fromDarien Library, which is sponsoring this event
Be prepared to hear and share success stories, search strategies, and things that didn’t quite work. This is a follow-up discussion to the Finding The Living lecture on March 13th, but attendance at the lecture is not required for participation in this discussion.
The League of Women Voters of Darien is pleased to join the Darien Library and the Fairfield County Community Foundation in cosponsoring the first in a series of civic conversations on “The Future of Fairfield County: Darien.” — an announcement from the Darien League of Women Voters, Darien Library and the Fairfield County Foundation
The online series via Zoom will begin on Monday April 5, from 7 to 8 p.m.
Each discussion or conversation will focus on the future of Darien as part of Fairfield County and will include expert, forward-looking analysis of demographics and statistics in each of several areas. Most importantly, the series will focus on what the community envisions for their hometown during the next 10 years and beyond. The April 5 program will focus on the long-range economic outlook in the area, as well as the impact on environmental sustainability, and equity. During the discussion, attendees will identify key issues to examine in a follow-up session at 7 p.m. on April 22.
The Rowayton Arts Center is offering a new workshop, “Learn to Draw Flowers in a Variety of Media,” with Nancy McTague-Stock in the studio on four Friday mornings, starting Feb. 19. — an announcement from Rowayton Arts Center
The classes run from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon. A new medium will be introduced each week, giving students the ability to experiment with different rendering methods. The fee for the workshop is $135.