COVID-19 2021

DHS Seniors Can Register for COVID-19 Vaccinations; One Fully Vaccinated Darienite Caught COVID

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Darien High School seniors can now register to get the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on May 1, and the second dose on May 22 at the parking lot of the former Lord & Taylor store in Stamford, Darien officials announced. “We anticipate opening the registration link to all students over 16 years of age or older by next week,” the announcement from schools Nursing Director Alicia Casucci and town Health Director David Knauf said. In a separate announcement, First Selectman Jayme Stevenson said Darien has had 58 new cases during the two-week period since April 2. “We are tracking information about folks who are fully vaccinated who then contract COVID,” Stevenson said in her regular, weekly COVID-19 update. “Only one such case has occurred in Darien so far.”

Community Organizations
YWCA Darien/Norwalk Stand Against Racism

YWCA Darien/Norwalk Launches ‘Stand Against Racism’ Essay, Poster, Poetry Contest for Grades 6 to 12

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The YWCA Darien/Norwalk is launching an Essay + Poster Art + Poetry Youth Contest to provide Darien and Norwalk students in Grades 6 to 12 an outlet to explore racism in a safe, accessible manner. — an announcement from the YWCA Darien/Norwalk

The contest invites students from Norwalk and Darien to use their creativity as a tool to Stand Against Racism. All students in Grades 6 through 12 are eligible and encouraged to participate by responding to the prompt: #How I Take A Stand Against Racism. It is the hope of the YWCA Darien/Norwalk that within the context of local and national events students take some time and reflect on what they are seeing in the world around them and demonstrate through their creativity how they can have an impact. The contest’s goal is to highlight how students take action when faced with challenges resulting from racism, and to encourage students to share their experiences and ideas with the community.

Healthy Living
If They Had Known documentary poster

Online Documentary for Teens, Parents on Combining Prescriptions, Alcohol: Online Wednesday

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“If They Had Known,” a 35-minute documentary about an accidental death that shouldn’t have happened, will be presented online, for free,, by New Canaan Cares and Silver Hill Hospital. The documentary, recommended for teens age 13 and up and their parents, will be available online starting at 7 p.m., Wednesday, April 14. A discussion will follow with Dr. Frank Bartolomeo, Silver Hill Hospital director of adolescent services. Partying in high school and college is nothing new, but how kids party these days has changed. To attend this virtual program, you can register here.

Parents & Kids
Darien Scouting

Darien Scouting Open House Saturday Afternoon, Oct 3

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Families with boys and girls are invited to stop by the Scout Cabin at 140 West Ave. on Saturday Oct. 3 from 2 to 5 p.m. to see the scouts in action, participate in fun activities, and learn more about the Darien Scouting program. — an announcement from Darien Scouts

While many youth activities have gone virtual or been cancelled altogether due to the pandemic, Darien Scouting has continued to provide programs for local youth to enjoy fun outdoor activities, build leadership skills, make lifelong friends, and provide valuable community service, all while following COVID-19 safety procedures. Darien Scouting has programs for grades K-12 including Cub Scouts for boy and girl elementary students, separate boy and girl Scout BSA troops for middle and high school students, and the first-in-the-nation coed STEM Venture Crew for high schoolers interested in developing and teaching STEM-based curriculum.

Education
Darien High School DHS 9-13-16

DHS Principal: Here Are Resources for High School Students on Racism and Police Violence

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With many high school students concerned about the recent police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and dramatic events sparked by it, Darien High School sent an email Thursday morning to parents with web links to information geared toward students on racism and police violence. SEE ALSO: DHS Principal’s Recommended Source for Reading About Racism Denounced on National Fox News Show (June 6)

DHS Principal Ellen Dunn sent the email. Among the resources it points to are several that her message emphasized, including links to:

— an interview with “a clinical psychologist at the University [of Pennsylvania] studying racial literacy and racial trauma”

— a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, has detailed materials for educators and families on teaching about race, racism, and police violence

— three links to Web pages with information “for educators in how we can proactively help children think about and process these difficult ideas” from the National Association for School Psychologists, which was being used by the school district for guidance in addressing the topics with students. 

“As events unfold around the country, the Darien Public School District joins other organizations and individuals in the call to action to address and end systemic racism. […]
“As a District, we are sharing resources with the community that will guide our work moving forward in the race conscious education of our students and support your discussions as families.” […]
“Engaging in difficult conversations is a critical step in fostering acceptance and embracing differences.

Community Organizations

State Liquor Commission Fines Wee Burn Country Club $15,000, Says Minor Was Served There

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Wee Burn Country Club served alcohol to a minor and violated four other liquor laws or regulations, the state Liquor Commission has determined, so the commission fined the club $15,000 for that and suspended liquor sales for two days in October. The commission’s public notice about the suspension has few details about the violations it says the club committed, but, in addition to “sale to minor,” lists them as “club permit,” “restrictions on drink promotions,” “consumer bar violation” and “sale to intoxicated individuals.” The club, located at 410 Hollow Tree Ridge Road, will be barred from serving liquor on Oct. 12 and 13, 2020. The commission’s website didn’t give any details about the sale to a minor, but Darien police last August accused a Darien man of providing liquor to two “minors” — 19-year-old caddies, in part at the Wee Burn club bar.

Healthy Living
Darien High School DHS 9-13-16

First Selectman Bans Use of Public Baseball/Softball Fields in Town and Vehicles at Darien High

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Darien High School is shut off to all traffic, other than for COVID-19 testing, “in order to eliminate the public from gathering in a manner that risks the spread of COVID-19 within our community,” First Selectman Jayme Stevenson declared in a late Friday afternoon proclamation. Also, all public baseball and softball fields in town, both those at town parks and schools, along with the batting cages at McGuane Park “are hereby ordered closed,” the proclamation states. The order banning vehicles only applies to Darien High School and is not “applicable to the other schools within the district until it becomes necessary to do so,” the proclamation states. The order takes effect immediately and “shall remain in effect for the duration of the emergency unless earlier modified by the Chief Executive Officer,” the proclamation said. “[T]here is a need to eliminate public gatherings at Darien High School and elsewhere so as to eliminate the possible risks of the spread of COVID-19,” Stevenson says in the proclamation.

Community Organizations
Digital Weekends Bruce Museum

Online Activities and Projects You Can Do at Home, from the Bruce Museum

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The Bruce Museum in Greenwich is presenting online short videos and descriptions of projects kids, teens and families can do at home as you socially isolate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s the announcement about the program series, called “Digital Weekends,” from the Bruce Museum:

Digital Weekends with the Bruce are fun, hands-on art and science projects for you and your family. Over the next several weekends, teaching artist Grayson Kennedy and Youth and Family Programs Manager Megan Brown will lead you in an online activity based on exhibitions at the Bruce Museum. Use the linked videos and write-ups to make something fun and creative while you’re home. This week, for our first project, we will explore the artwork of L. A. Ring, whose paintings featured in the exhibition On the Edge of the World: Masterworks by Laurits Andersen Ring from SMK – the National Gallery of Denmark.

Education
Shark Maritime Aquarium

Presenting the Maritime Aquarium Online: Including Live Q&As, Streaming IMAX Movies

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The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is offering special online ways for guests and educators to still connect and learn during the current COVID-19 time of closure, including live Q&As with staff as well as streaming IMAX movies. — an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium

On March 17, the Maritime Aquarium began offering live Q&As with members of its Animal-Husbandry team at 3 p.m. each day on the Aquarium’s Facebook page. Each session will mainly focus on an animal or topic shown via recorded video, but questions can be about any related Aquarium subject. Questions can be submitted any time between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. via the Aquarium’s social-media pages – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – and then live on Facebook during the 3 p.m. “Watch Party” webcast. “We very strongly feel the need to make our resources available to our guests, members and schools, even though we are required to be apart,” said Aquarium spokesman Dave Sigworth.

Parents & Kids
Darien Dash 2018 first place team

You Can Register for This Weekend’s Darien Dash Scavenger Hunt Through Thursday

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Registration is open through Thursday, March 12, for the Darien Youth Commission’s third annual townwide scavenger hunt, the Darien Dash, which takes place on Saturday. — an announcement from the Darien Youth Commission

Teams partaking in the scavenger hunt will compete to score the most points by answering town-based riddles and visiting participating merchants based on clues. The Darien Dash takes place from 1 to 3 p.m., Saturday, March 14. It begins at the Town Hall gym and ends at The Depot Youth Center on Heights Road, where points will be tallied and prizes given to winners. Participation in the event is open to all ages, but requires a vehicle and driver to travel about town, based on answers to riddles.

Education

DHS Parents Association to Start ‘Senior Send-Off’ Party for Graduating Seniors

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After years of discussions with the high school’s administration, parents and community leaders, the Darien High School Parents Association got the green light earlier this fall to start a new tradition — the “Senior Send-Off.”
Taking place right after the Darien High School prom on Friday, May 15th, the Senior Send-Off will be a fun, inclusive, substance-free celebration for all DHS seniors that provides a final opportunity for them to celebrate with their entire graduating class before they head off to senior internships the following week. — an announcement from the Darien High School Parents Association
Whether students attend prom or not, all DHS seniors are invited to attend. The party’s theme will be a closely guarded secret until students step through the door of the still-secret location that evening, but clues will be given in the weeks leading up to the night full of food, games, entertainment, raffle prizes, memories and more. This celebration is a Darien High School Parents Association (DHSPA) sponsored event being planned and organized by a parent volunteer committee that already boasts nearly 100 parents sworn to secrecy. It will be funded entirely through donations from parents and the community.

Darien Library
Purple Ribbon Darien Domestic Abuse Council Domestic Violence

‘The Party,’ a Short Play About Dating Violence at College, To Be Presented Tuesday at Darien Library

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The Darien Domestic Abuse Council and Respectworks presents a short play exploring issues associated with relationship violence, sexual assault, consent, and bystander intervention. — an announcement from Darien Library

This unique, educational, interactive performance will take place from 7 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 4 in the Community Room at Darien Library. The content is considered suitable for those of High School age and older. About the Play

Presented by Deana’s Educational Theater (who also brought us “The Yellow Dress”), “The Party” explores the relationship between three characters, Jordan, Kyle and Allie, who are in college and enjoying campus life: Parties, games, and “hooking up” become a regular part of college life until one night something goes horribly wrong.

Dance
Dancing Dance Just Dance Teen Lounge 2020

A Time to Just Dance in the Teen Lounge at Darien Library

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Do you have what it takes to cha-cha-cha against the competition? Why not come to Darien Library and prove that you have the smoothest moves of all! The Just Dance Party takes place from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 28 in the Teen Lounge at the library. Eat some snacks and dance like nobody’s watching at our Just Dance party!

Darien Library
Long Night Against Procrastination

‘The Long Night Against Procrastination’ Sunday at Darien Library for Pre-Midterm Studying

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Settle in for some serious studying, Darien! Come to Darien Library for an after-hours event just for high school students. You’ll need to register. — an announcement from Darien Library

Find a quiet corner to review your notes, take a break with de-stress activities, or consult a reference librarian for your research needs. Dinner, snacks, and beverages will be served.