Charity Events and Opportunities
Wide TeenTalk logo a Kids in Crisis program

Community Fund Still Needs $8K to Meet $30K Goal to Pay for TeenTalk Middle School Counselor

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The Community Fund of Darien has received $22,000 in individual donations towards funding a TeenTalk mental health counselor at Middlesex Middle School. They need $8,000 more to meet their goal. “You can make a difference today! Every contribution counts, and with your support, you can make a big difference in the lives of our students,” the Community Fund said in an email. “Let’s come together and make this happen!”

Healthy Living
Teens and safe driving AAA

AAA Says Talk to Your Kids: Fatal Crashes by Teen Drivers are Highest Between Now and Labor Day

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For many teens, summertime holds the promise of graduation parties, preparation for a new school year — or college — and more time to spend with friends. On the heels of a record-high number of road trips this Memorial Day weekend, summer also heralds a busy travel season that brings an increased risk for teen drivers. — an announcement from AAA Northeast
The “100 Deadliest Days” is the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when fatal crashes involving teen drivers are the highest. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s analysis of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data, 7,435 people died in teen driver-related summertime crashes nationwide from 2013 to 2022. And in 2022 alone, 790 people were killed in these types of crashes — a 10% increase over pre-pandemic 2019.

Graduation hats in the air

Darien Community Association Grants 2024 Scholarships to 11 DHS Seniors

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The Darien Community Association has announced that it’s awarding scholarships to 11 Darien High School seniors graduating this year. — information from a Darien Community Association announcement

This is the 83rd year that the DCA has granted scholarships, and the organization is the largest provider of scholarships to DHS graduates — with funding for both new and returning college students. The scholarship program is also the only one in Darien offering recipients the opportunity to reapply for all four years of college, the announcement said. “The DCA is proud to support Darien High School graduates and is grateful to our generous donors,” the announcement said. “We wish you all the best in your future endeavors!”

Teens

Before Friday’s DHS Jr Prom, Thriving Youth Darien and Police Publicize Law and Risks of Underage Drinking

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With Darien’s Junior Prom on Friday and graduation right around the corner, Thriving Youth Darien and the Darien Police Department are reminding teens and their parents to do so responsibly and legally. — an announcement from Thriving Youth Darien
Connecticut’s Social Host Law holds parents and property owners liable for underage drinking and/or cannabis use that occurs in their homes. A person convicted of violating this law may be fined up to $2,000 and receive up to one year in jail. According to Thriving Youth Darien’s 2023 Youth Survey, 69% of high-school aged youth believed it would be sort of or very easy to access alcohol, and 53% report getting alcohol from an adult or parent with their permission. ‘Sticker Shock Campaign’ for Safety
To address these concerning findings, Youth representatives from Thriving Youth Darien, The Community Fund of Darien’s Youth Asset Team, and The Depot’s Students Against Destructive Decisions group and Volunteer Club are conducting a “sticker-shock campaign.”

Parents & Kids

Report says the ‘Happiest and Healthiest State for Children’ Is Connecticut

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A company that provides educators and therapists online through school districts, says a state-by-state statistical comparison of various aspects of how children fare in each one shows “Connecticut families have the happiest and healthiest children in the nation.” The study was released by the company, VocoVison, for National Childrens Mental Health Awareness Day, today, May 9. Here’s the news release:

New research finds that Connecticut has the happiest and healthiest children in the nation, while Mississippi has the least. The Happy Child Index from VocoVision ranks all 50 states on ten factors that impact children’s mental and physical health. Connecticut, the overall happiest and healthiest state for children, has the fifth highest rate of children living in neighborhoods with a library.

Teens
Surviving the Pressure Cooker Zoom Webinar 2024

How to Help a Teen Manage Stress in a High-Achievement Environment: Online Presentation May 15

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Parents and teens concerned about managing the stress that comes with living in a high-achievement environment are invited to a Zoom conversation on the subject Wednesday, May 15. Dr. Amanda Craig, a licensed marriage and family therapist, and Rebecca Campbell, Director of Therapeutic Services at Sasco River Center, will discuss the problem. — an announcement from Thriving Youth Darien

“Surviving the Pressure Cooker: How to Help Teens Manage the Need to Succeed” will unravel the complexities of performance-driven culture and help us empower adolescents maintain a healthy balance between their goals and their mental health. An anonymous audience Q&A session will follow the discussion. The program is presented  by Thriving Youth Darien, The Depot and YWCA Parent Awareness.

Parents & Kids
Poster for Childhood 2.0 documentary

Smartphones, Social Media and Your Kids: See ‘Childhood 2.0’ Followed by Q&A Tuesday at Darien Library

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Issues confronting kids in the Digital Age, including cyberbullying, suicidal ideation and online predators, are the subject of a documentary, “Childhood 2.0,” followed by a question-and-answer session this Tuesday, April 22 at Darien Library. The event is jointly sponsored by the library, OK To Delay Darien, Darien Depot and Thriving Youth Darien this Tuesday evening, April 22. — an announcement from Darien Library
6 to 7:45 p.m. — Watch the documentary
The film, just under 90 minutes long, will be shown in the Community Room. If you are unable to attend the screening, you can watch the film ahead of time (see links, below) and attend the Q&A portion. The library’s announcement says “‘Childhood 2.0’ is required viewing for anyone who wants to better understand the world their children are navigating as they grow up in the digital age.

Abilis 2024
Abilis Project Search employment internship program

Young Adults with Disabilities Can Learn About Work Internship Programs at Thursday Event in Greenwich

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Abilis, the nonprofit serving more than 800 individuals with disabilities and their families, is hosting a Project SEARCH Information Night for young adults to learn about employment internship programs Abilis runs with partners Greenwich Hospital, Stamford Health and the Darien YMCA. — an announcement from Abilis

The information session will be held at Greenwich Hospital in the Nobel conference room, 5 Perryridge Road in Greenwich on Thursday, March 28, at 5:00pm. Space is limited and registration is requested at Abilis.US/Calendar. Project SEARCH is a national program run mostly at hospitals throughout the United States and is a nine-month internship and job training program for young adults with developmental disabilities ages 18 to 30. Abilis has been running Project SEARCH in partnership with Greenwich Hospital for the past five years; in 2022, Abilis expanded the program to include the Darien YMCA, the first community Y in the country to offer the program; and in 2023, expanded Project SEARCH to Stamford Hospital in conjunction with Stamford Health.

Theatre 308 2024
Flamboyant hat Hello Dolly

Theatre 308 Presents ‘Hello, Dolly!’ at Darien High School, March 14 to 16

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This March, the students of Darien High School’s Theatre 308 will perform the hit Golden-Age musical Hello, Dolly! presenting a classic story filled with smiles, songs and plenty of love. — an announcement from Darien High School

The two-act musical portrays the story of the famous matchmaker, Mrs. Dolly Levi, as she attempts to marry the prominent Mr. Horace Vandergelder in hopes of sharing his money with the masses, the way her late husband had taught her. At the same time, Mrs. Levi excels in pairing the young widow, Mrs. Molloy, and her assistant Minnie Fay, with two of Vandergelder’s comedic secondaries: Cornelius Hackl and Barnaby Tucker. From the streets of Yonkers to the most captivating restaurant in New York City, Mrs. Dolly Levi leads the characters, as well as the audience, on an unforgettable adventure through New York at the turn of the twentieth century.

Teens

Teens Invited to Submit Safe Driving Videos for Statewide Contest

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The Connecticut Dept of Motor Vehicles and Travelers are co-sponsoring Connecticut’s 14th annual Teen Safe Driving Video Contest, which engages high school students on the importance of making responsible decisions behind the wheel. — This article was previously published by GreenwichFreePress.com. Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for 15- to 18-year-olds in the United States

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, during 2020 an estimated 2,276 people in the country were killed in car crashes involving teen drivers, and 748 of those deaths were teen drivers. “We know that teen drivers are nearly three times more likely to be in a fatal crash than drivers aged 20 and older,” DMV Commissioner Sibongile Magubane said in a news release. Gov. Ned Lamont announced the launch of the contest during National Teen Driver Safety Week, which runs from Oct.

Darien High School 2022-2023
2022 DHS National Merit Scholarship semifinalists wide for Facebook

Four Darien High School Seniors Named 2023 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists

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Four Darien High School seniors have been named semifinalists in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program. — an announcement from Darien High School

Lily Cowles, Ellen Gaaserud, Katherine Kahn and William Moles are this year’s DHS semifinalists. “We are so proud of this exceptional group of students and wish them well as the process moves forward,” said DHS Principal Ellen Dunn. About 16,000 high school students nationwide have been recognized as National Merit semi-finalists. These academically talented students have an opportunity to continue in the program for National Merit Scholarships that will be offered next spring.

Darien Road Race 2022
Darien Road Race Route wide version

Darien Police Issue Traffic Advisory for This Sunday’s 42nd Darien Road Race

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Darien police have announced “short-term” traffic restrictions during the annual Darien Road Race this Sunday morning, Sept. 18 in the area of Long Neck Point, Pear Tree Point, part of Tokeneke and a short stretch of Old Kings Highway South. The race starts at 9 a.m., with about 500 racers at Pear Tree Point Beach. (If you want to join the race, you can register here.)

Streets along the 5-mile route are: 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. You can see the streets on the map included with this article, which also shows “the loop.”

Applying to College 2022
Trinity College 910-2-16

‘Ten Steps to Writing a Successful College Application Essay’ an Online Presentation Coming Monday

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Greenwich-based writing, editing, and tutoring company A Bloc of Writers will provide guidance and tips about how to tackle the Common Application essay prompts and various supplemental essays in a virtual event Monday evening. — an announcement from A bloc of Writers and Greenwich Library

The online presentation for high school students and their parents, “Ten Steps to Writing a Successful College Application Essay,” is free and sponsored by Greenwich Library. It takes place from 7 to 8 p.m., Monday, Sept. 12. The event is free, but registration is required.

Running 2022
Darien Road Race 2022

Registration Now Open for Darien Road Race/Family Fun Day on Sept 18

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Hundreds of runners and others, along with music, games, sponsor booths, a silent auction and entertainment will all be part of the 42nd Annual Darien Road Race and Family Fun Day on Sunday, Sept. 18. The event will start at 9 a.m. that day at Pear Tree Point Beach, and race registration is now open. — an announcement from The Community Fund of Darien

You can register here. The race attracts more than 600 people and more than 450 runners of all ages participate.

Education
DHS graduation march

Police Traffic Advisory for High School, Middle School Graduations at DHS Campus

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Darien Police Department has announced the following traffic regulations for the area near Darien High School for Middlesex Middle School’s graduation on Thursday, June 16, and Darien High School’s graduation on Friday June 17. Each ceremony starts at 4 p.m.

—As in previous years, all traffic will enter the High School grounds via Noroton Avenue Vehicular traffic will not be permitted to enter the area from High School Lane or Nutmeg Lane. Officers will be on hand to direct all vehicles to appropriate and designated parking areas. —All vehicles will be properly parked to facilitate and expedite the safe flow of vehicles after the graduation ceremonies. —If needed, vehicles will be parked on both sides of Nutmeg Lane and High School Lane facing away from Darien High School.