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Darien Driving Under the Influence 2021

Police: Woman in Car Crash Had Four Times the Legal Alcohol Limit in Her Blood

By David Gurliacci | February 16, 2021

After a 56-year-old woman crashed into a tree on Sunday, Jan. 10, she was taken to a hospital, where tests showed she had a blood-alcohol level of 0.33, police said. That amount is more than four times the legal limit for a driver. Darien police gave these additional details about the case:

Nicole Bernardo of Richmond Hill Road in New Canaan was driving when she lost control of her Subaru and hit a tree near the intersection of Ox Ridge Lane and Middlesex Road. The car’s front end was heavily damaged, and the airbag deployed.

Government & Politics

Darien Republicans Host Online Forum on State Control of Zoning, School Regionalization on Feb 24

By DARIENITE.COM | February 15, 2021

State control of zoning and school regionalization is the topic of the next “Bring It Home!” online event on Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 7:30 p.m.

— an announcement from the Darien Republican Town Committee

Jayme Stevenson (Darien’s first selectman) and Terrie Wood (state representative, District 141) host the public conversation with these guest speakers:

—Kimberly Fiorello is a state representative for District 149 (in Greenwich and Stamford). She serves on the Education, Planning & Development and Judiciary committees. —Scott Hobbs, owner & project executive of Hobbs Inc.

—Francis Pinkering, executive director, Western CT Council
of Governments (WestCOG)

The “Bring It Home!” series is sponsored by the Darien Republican Town Committee for the benefit of all Darien residents. The series is free, and everyone is welcome to join.

Darien Obituaries 2021

Barbara Kelley, 95, Remembered for Her Dinner Parties, Social Activism, Gardening and Stone Sculptures

By DARIENITE.COM | February 15, 2021

Barbara Ann Kelley, a longtime resident of Southport on the Mill River, passed away on Jan. 27, as a result of complications from Alzheimer’s. She was a regal 95. Barbara was born on Dec. 19, 1925 to Cal and Bessie Baze in Grosse Point, Michigan, where she also grew up.

Darien Obituaries 2021

George Wetzell, 84, Active in Darien Softball and Basketball Leagues, Enjoyed Boating, Skiing, Golfing

By DARIENITE.COM | February 15, 2021

George Wulf Wetzell, 84, died peacefully on Feb. 9, 2021 surrounded by family. The son of the late Horace and Gerda Wetzell of Harrison, New York, George was born on Sept. 18, 1936 in Shanghai, where his father owned a U.S. trading company. His family then moved to Harrison in 1949.

Cameron on Transportation

Vastly Inflated Construction Costs Are No Way to Run a Railroad: Cameron on Transportation

By JIM CAMERON | February 8, 2021

Why is transportation construction so expensive in our area? What kind of honor was it when New York City recently surpassed Zurich (one of the most expensive cities in the world) as No. 1 on the most-expensive-place-to-do-underground-construction dishonor roll? The highly respected Regional Plan Association has studied that question and offers some explanations and frightening examples. Focusing on three recent MTA mega-projects in New York City — the Second Avenue Subway, the No.

Architecture

James von Klemperer of Darien, Architect of Midtown Manhattan’s Tallest Office Building, to Speak at DCA

By DARIENITE.COM | February 8, 2021

Architect James von Klemperer, a longtime Darien resident who designed the recently completed Midtown Manhattan’s tallest office building, One Vanderbilt, will discuss that project as well as the 1720 Darien farmhouse where he lives. His online talk, “From Farmhouse to High Rise,” will be presented as part of Darien Community Association’s “New Information and Inspiration Virtual Presentations” at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 23. — an announcement from the Darien Community Association

One Vanderbilt is the first thing encountered by many Darien commuters as they emerge from Grand Central Terminal. There, a steel frame and concrete core support a much larger structure, which rises to 1,401 feet.

Darien Obituaries 2020

Jennifer James, 77, Commercial Real Estate Broker, Founded Data Services Company

By DARIENITE.COM | February 8, 2021

Jennifer Austin James, 77, passed away on Jan. 15 at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington after a brief illness. Born to Dorothy J. Muller of Darien and Francis W. James of Lexington, Massachusetts, Jennifer was a Connecticut native and spent her entire youth living in Darien. Known to her friends as “Jef,” she attended Darien public schools and then continued on to Marietta College in Ohio. In 1966 she married her high school sweetheart from Greenwich.

Cameron on Transportation

SCMAGLEV at Yamanashi Maglev Line Facility in Japan

If Maglev Trains Come Here Your Commute Could Be Very Quick — or Very Far: Cameron on Transportation

By JIM CAMERON | January 27, 2021

Imagine going from New York City to Washington, D.C. in one hour — not by plane, but by maglev. By comparison, today the same trip from the LaGuardia to DC’s Reagan airport takes about 90 minutes by air (not counting getting to and from the airports) and costs $276 one way. On Amtrak’s Acela, the fastest run, downtown to downtown, is three hours and costs $157. Or you could take the bus for $30, assuming you have 4½ hours to waste. A maglev is a train, of sorts, that floats on a cushion of air, suspended and propelled along a special track quite different from conventional railroads.

Government & Politics

If You Want to Defer Your Darien Taxes, Get Your Application in By This Monday, Feb 1

By DARIENITE.COM | January 27, 2021

Darien Tax Collector Kathy Larkins would like to remind taxpayers who qualify for extended time to pay their January 2021 property taxes, the application deadline is Monday Feb. 1, 2021. That’s the last date on the postmark that will be accepted, even if the envelope is mailed from abroad. Or you can email it. Or deliver it in person on Monday (the office and the rest of Town Hall closes at 5:15 p.m. that day, and Town Hall is closed on Fridays.)

— an announcement from the Darien Tax Collector’s Office

This application may be found on the Tax Collector’s page on the Town of Darien website and requires applicants to attest to a loss of income as a result of COVID-19.

Art Exhibits

Melissa Orme Celebration Rowayton Arts Center

Open Call to Artists for Spring Juried Show at Rowayton Arts Center

By DARIENITE.COM | January 27, 2021

Online submissions are now being accepted in an Open Call to Artists for the Spring Juried Show at Rowayton Arts Center from March 14 to April 10, 2021. The show is open to all artists interested in exhibiting their artwork. The deadline is Feb. 21. — an announcement from Rowayton Arts Center

Categories include: oil painting, acrylic painting, watercolor, mixed media, color photography, black and white photography, sculpture, printmaking, pastels or drawing.

Darien Obituaries 2020

David Marshman, 69, Real Estate Broker Who Grew Up in Darien, Loved Racquet Sports

By DARIENITE.COM | January 27, 2021

David McGill Marshman, 20-year resident of Venice, Florida, died in his sleep on Jan. 7. He was 69. He was preceded in death by his parents, Donald McGill and Ann Lane Marshman of Darien, Connecticut. David was born on Feb.

Public Safety

Police: Darien Man, 47, Charged in Two Violent Domestic Incidents

By David Gurliacci | January 26, 2021

A 47-year-old Darien man, who came home apparently intoxicated, held one person in a headlock while holding another by the neck against a wall, according to Darien police. Police described what happened with this account, including accusations not proven in court:

Sometime before 9:43 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 21, Patrick Gately of Hollow Tree Ridge Road arrived home and got into a dispute with at least one person, whom he held in a headlock. A second person tried to intervene, and Gately held that person by the neck against a wall. Police later determined that they had probable cause to charge Gately with second-degree strangulation on the accusation he held the second person by the neck.

Coronavirus 2021

COVID-19 in Darien: Latest Updates from First Selectman, Superintendent, Other Leaders

By DARIENITE.COM | January 22, 2021

A total of 629 Darien households have had at least one resident with COVID-19 since the pandemic began, and there are a total of 921 in town who tested positive, First Selectman Jayme Stevenson said in her latest pandemic update. Schools Superintendent Alan Addley also released a message to teachers and parents to update them on pandemic developments for the school district. In addition, a recording of a public, hourlong discussion Thursday about the state’s vaccine rollout has been posted. It features the Stamford Hospital CEO, the state director of economic development and an area business leader. Here are both Darien messages, along with a description of the video and link to it:
First Selectman’s Announcement
Stevenson sent out the announcement on CodeRed alert system (which you can sign up for here) and on the town government website.

Opinion

Commuters are NOT Coming Back. A New Train Riding Era Now Begins: Cameron on Transportation

By JIM CAMERON | January 11, 2021

I have one belated prediction for the new year and you’re not going to like it: After we all get vaccinated and things “return to normal,” regular weekday commuters on Metro-North will not be coming back as hoped. Why should they? Who wants to spend $400-plus a month and waste two-plus hours each day, five days a week riding a train into New York City if you don’t have to? If this pandemic has shown us anything it’s that going to an office isn’t necessary to doing our jobs. Sure, there are some people who have to show up in person to do their work (healthcare staffers, auto mechanics etc.), but that’s never been the bulk of Metro-North’s ridership.

Healthy Living

For Details on Vaccine Availability in Darien and Other Urgent Info, Sign Up for Code Red Alerts

By DARIENITE.COM | January 11, 2021

The Town of Darien’s Health, Human Services and Senior Programs departments urge all residents to sign up for Code Red alerts, if they have not done so already. — an announcement from the two town departments

Detailed information regarding vaccine availability for Darien residents will be announced through the First Selectman’s weekly Code Red message, as well as local media outlets. As plans for Phase 1B develop we want to make sure everyone is informed, particularly those who will be eligible during that phase, such as seniors over age 75. To register for CODE RED click here: Community Notification Enrollment. If you need assistance with enrolling please call the Human Services department at 203-656-7328 and we will be happy to help you.