Darienite (https://darienite.com/page/6)
Being a train conductor seems like a simple, boring job: collecting tickets, opening and closing doors, reminding people to keep their feet off the seats. Yawn.
But there’s a lighter side to the job, as I wrote a few years ago, based on former conductor Michael Shaw’s great book, “My Rail Life” after he retired from a 36 year career on the New Haven line. He clearly loved his job. And he swears these stories are true.
Here’s Realtor Deirdre McGovern’s report on Darien and Rowayton-area real estate from Oct. 2 to 9, 2025:
Being a train conductor seems like a simple, boring job: collecting tickets, opening and closing doors, reminding people to keep their feet off the seats. Yawn.
Here’s Realtor Deirdre McGovern’s report on Darien and Rowayton-area real estate from June 19 to 26, 2025:
Darien Library is showing “The Pitch: Patient Safety’s Next Generation,” tonight, Monday, Sept. 8 at 6:30 p.m. The 60-minute movie about the latest developments in safety for patients, will be followed by an hour-long discussion.
First Selectman Jon Zagrodzky devoted Saturday’s entire town government newsletter to discussing the late Frank Kemp, a town official and active member of the community who passed away on Aug. 30 at the age of 81.
Friends of the Darien Library, an organization that raises funds for the institution, will hold its annual meeting on Sept. 14 to vote on trustees.
The Friends of the Darien Library cordially invite you to the Annual Meeting, where highlights of the past year at the library will be presented by Library Director Kiera Parrott. She will also give “a sneak peek at exciting developments ahead,” an announcement from the library said.
Here’s Realtor Deirdre McGovern’s report on Darien and Rowayton-area real estate from Aug. 28 to Sept. 4, 2025:
The Darien Department of Public Works will begin replacing the sidewalk on Nearwater Lane between the intersections of Brush Island Road and Nickerson Lane early in November, according to an announcement on the town government website.
The project will start on or about Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, the announcement said. Preliminary layout and tree removal will begin before that. The project is expected to take about one month.
Celebrating its 100th anniversary, Darien Police Department is holding an open house for adults and children, including a K-9 demo, SWAT demo, tours of the department and bicycle safety clinic.
Interim Schools Superintendent Eric Byrne, in his Friday newsletter to parents and staff, proposed that members of the school district community wear their school colors one day a week; discussed an incident where a young boy fell from his bicycle and got help from passers-by; and described what Byrne saw when riding a school bus with kids.
Doug Campbell III, age 72, passed away on Tuesday Sept. 2, 2025 at his home in Stamford with his wife and kids at his side, after a courageous four-year battle with ALS.
It is with very heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Sheila A. (Lunny) Duffy, of Darien, who passed away peacefully on Aug. 28 at 90 years of age.
The Board of Education is asking parents of Darien students for advice on picking the next superintendent of schools, and it announced two ways parents can use to bring those ideas to the board.
A therapy center in Cos Cob will host a free seminar next week on hidden risks and potential benefits of adolescents and young adults turning to AI companions and chatbots for emotional support.
For the second time this year a Norwalk man was found trespassing at Palmers Market, Darien police said.
In the latest incident, Thursday evening, Augustine Duffey, 25, of Finch Court was found with stolen items and charged with first-degree trespassing and sixth-degree larceny (both misdemeanors) according to police.
Frank Badart Kemp, 81, of Darien passed away peacefully at home on Aug. 30 2025, due to heart failure.
Rounding out our Summer re-run series, here’s a column from 2023 about a most determined hiker!
Five years ago now, Diana Jackson was walking 2,192 miles.
The Darien native is one of over 3,300 people each year who try to walk the entire length of the Appalachian Trail (the AT), from Georgia to Maine. But she’s one of the 25% of them that actually completed the task.
If you live in Fairfield County, there’s more confusion ahead in finding your favorite hometown government and educational cable channels on Optimum cable.
Just a week after moving the locally produced stations from Channels 79 (government) and 78 (educational), Optimum has decided to move them back by Sept. 16.
Here’s Realtor Deirdre McGovern’s report on Darien and Rowayton-area real estate from Aug. 21 to 28, 2025:
Late afternoon this Saturday, Fairfield Theatre Company will transform into a multicultural culinary oasis with food tastings and musical entertainment from across the globe.
The event takes place Saturday, Aug. 30, from 4 to 8 p.m.
The deadline for reserving tables at Darien Library’s Oct. 22 Novel Tea fundraiser on Oct. 22 is Friday, Aug. 29, the library announced. Tickets for individual seats will go on sale starting Wednesday, Sept. 3.
The event will feature New York Times bestselling author Liz Moore at Wee Burn Country Club.
Pearl Kaminsky passed peacefully on Aug. 17. She was born in Stamford Connecticut, the daughter of Paul and Katherine Walczuk. She was a longtime resident of Darien, moving to Norwalk after retirement.
A 25-year-old Norwalk man and a New York City man, 43, got into a dispute starting at Darien Railroad Station and continuing or reviving at Tilley Pond Park, across the street, Darien police said.
Each man was charged on Sunday, Aug. 24, with first-degree criminal trespassing, a misdemeanor.
SCORE Fairfield County presents its new program, Start Your Business Here, a five-session workshop designed to guide aspiring business owners.
Arthur Foster Draper Jr., known to all as “Port,” passed away peacefully on Aug. 5, at Bridges Memory Care in Norwalk, where he had lived for the past three years. He was 84.
A vehicle that was stopped but still running and with the gear in drive had an intoxicated driver asleep behind the wheel, Darien police said.
The Darien Chamber of Commerce invites you to lift your stein at the second annual Oktoberfest on Oct. 4 at the Gardener’s Center, on Saturday, Oct. 4, from 6 to 10 p.m.