The 47,000 miles of highways that comprise America’s interstate highway system are nothing short of an engineering marvel, perhaps surpassed only in mileage and design by what China has built in the last few years. We take them for granted, but when they were designed almost 60 years ago these superhighways presented both great opportunity and vast challenges. Mind you, the U.S. wasn’t the first with superhighways. Those bragging rights go to the Germans, whose Reichsautobahn saw cars zooming along at 100+ mph in the 1930s. Most credit President Dwight Eisenhower, whose troops rode the Autobahn in World War II, for seeing the military value of an American equivalent, though engineering such a complex across the U.S. was far more difficult.
Of course by 1940 the US already had the Pennsylvania Turnpike and by 1954 the New York State Thruway, but those private toll roads were just the beginning.
The authors of this letter to Terrie Wood submitted it for publication by Darienite.com:
Hi Terrie;
As you know, Julie and I now live in Madison and, sadly, no longer represented by Terrie Wood. That said, I continue to follow your efforts in Hartford with admiration for your bi-partisan efforts to improve life in CT. We are life-long Republicans. Julie’s father was a delegate to the 1964 Republican National Convention, an ardent supporter of Berry Goldwater. We were shocked when Trump was nominated and catatonic on election night when he came down that golden escalator.
Carol Pietrzkiewicz Lostaglio passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Sept. 15, following a brief illness. She was 78. A lifelong Stamford resident, she was born on April 13, 1942, to Stanley Pietrzkiewicz and Genevieve Krasniewicz Pietrzkiewicz. Carol was a kind and generous woman who especially enjoyed holidays with her family.
Sefra Alexandra, “The Seed Huntress,” will discuss her work with seed saving for conservation, multiplication and distribution. Her talk, hosted by Darien Library, takes place online from 7 to 8 p.m., Monday, Sept. 21. — an announcement from Darien Library
This work supports seed sovereignty through the different initiatives she’s worked on at the local, national, and international scales. She’ll look at the importance of in situ (in place) seed banking and of ex situ (cold storage) seed saving strategies.
Senior Minister, Rev. Dale Rosenberger is retiring, after 41 years as a minister and nine years of service to First Congregational Church of Darien and to the lower Fairfield County community. The church will be saying goodbye in a special celebration on Sunday morning, both in person (for those already signed up — there are no more spaces available) and live online. — an announcement from the First Congregational Church of Darien (FCCD)
This Sunday’s Event
The church will hold a special Farewell Celebration at 9 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 20, outdoors on the lawn at the church, 14 Brookside Road. The service will include a Ritual of Farewell, with gifts and recognition, and Vows of Release from the ministry, as well as a formal Declaration of Parting.
Many of you know me for my decades working in the Darien schools. Schools are strongest when everyone works together. As a current Board member, Mike Burke provides historic board and parental perspectives. Darien needs Mike for his continued steady and wise council. As a parent, former president of the CDSP and Chair of the Holmes School PTO, Sara Parent has been actively engaged in the Board of Education for years.
Some money was stolen from the DCA Thrift Shop overnight from Sunday to Monday, Sept. 6 to 7, and a gas station in town was entered overnight from Sept. 10 to 11, but nothing was apparently missing in that incident, police said. According to police:
DCA Thrift Shop, 996 Post Road
At 7:45 a.m., police received a report from someone at the thrift shop who told them that when she arrived at the store, she noticed the deadbolt to an outside door was in the open position. She went to the cash register, where she found that an envelope containing cash was missing.
A Darien retirement home received a “C” rating, the worst grade in town Health Department’s A/B/C ratings system, in the inspection reports released Thursday by the Darien Health Department. The department released health inspection reports for nine food-serving establishments on Thursday for inspections that took place from Sept. 4 to 9. In addition to the “C” rating, three inspections resulted in an “A,” another five received a “B.” Keep in mind that a food-serving establishment with a history of good ratings may occasionally get a poor inspection rating, occasionally the best do, and every restaurant normally gets a few things wrong.
For a safe, interesting outing as the warm weather wanes, you can try the Norwalk Seaport Association’s sunset cruise on Wednesdays through Sundays, with two daily cruises on Saturdays and Sundays. Here’s what it’s like:
(This description is from the Norwalk Seaport Association, with information on making arrangements at bottom.)
A cruise with the Seaport Association from the Norwalk Harbor into Long Island Sound is blissful on an autumn day. This cruise is just long enough, about two hours, to feel refreshed and recharged when you are back on land. There are 25 islands that stretch about six miles from Norwalk to Westport located about a mile off the coast. Geologically, the islands are considered to be terminal moraines that consist of materials left by the last glacier.
After a life of kindness, Nina Rusko of Sandy Hook died of complications of metastatic cancer on June 5, 2020 in Danbury. She was 74. Much of her adult life was spent in Darien with her husband, attorney John J. Berger, and their sons, Nicholas Rusko-Berger of Baltimore and Winston Berger (Nancy Wallin) of Richmond, California. Her sweet, helpful family includes granddaughters Amanda Rusko-Berger (Drew Eco) and Ava Rusko-Berger of Baltimore; and brother Nicholas M. Rusko and sister-in-law Nancy Rusko of Rockland, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of Nicholas M. Rusko, a mechanical engineer and inventor, and Mary (Chabina) Rusko, an office manager and expert seamstress.
James C. Bogie of Darien died unexpectedly of a heart attack on July 12, 2020. He was 67. Jim is survived by his loving wife Patty, sons Chris and Cam, and their dog Cooper; his mother Helen Murphy Bogie, siblings Peter, Susan, and Scott (Lisa) Bogie; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father, Duane C. Bogie. Born April 16, 1953, Jim grew up in suburban Chicago and was proud to have Midwestern roots.
Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church is resuming a full lineup of worship services beginning Sunday, Sept. 20. Rev. Ryan Fleenor, the new pastor, said care has been taken to keep the services safe for parishioners. — an announcement from St. Luke’s Church
“Throughout the summer we had wonderful outdoor services,” Fleenor said, “and we also researched, prayed and prepared diligently to safely resume indoor worship once summer’s over, in addition to enriching our online programs.
Worship Services and Formats
“Sept.
The Community Fund of Darien has added a new staff position — youth program manager — to oversee and coordinate TCF’s four student youth groups. The first manager is Heather Gordon, also works in the Noroton Presbyterian Church’s Youth Ministry. She has years of experience as a volunteer in organizations, including youth-oriented groups. — This announcement (with edits by Darienite.com) was written by two TCF summer interns, Darien students Isabelle Garrett and Alyse Wright-Webb. Heather is an extremely involved volunteer, having previously partnered with organizations such as Young Life, Trinity Church, Save the Children, and the YMCA.
Mark Loys von Kreuter, age 58 of Darien and New York City was welcomed into heaven on Sept. 7, 2020. He was 58. He was a beloved son, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, godfather, and friend to all who had the privilege of knowing him. Mark was born in Darien on Feb.
