Why is Metro-North shooting itself in the foot? While adding more trains and encouraging (no, praying!) that commuters will come back to the rails, the railroad is still refusing to make those passengers feel safe by enforcing the federal and state mask rules. Sure, they’ve been passing out masks on trains, but what good are they if they’re not worn? I hate to keep harping on this issue, but we’re talking about a serious public health threat. Unmasked passengers, even if they’re vaccinated, can be asymptomatic and spread the COVID-19 virus to hundreds of fellow riders in a matter of minutes, let alone the hour-plus ride to NYC in a sealed tube.
Mary Elizabeth Cohee, a resident of Regalcare Greenwich, passed peacefully in her sleep after a prolonged battle with cancer on Sept. 16, 2021. She was born on July 30, 1958, in Cleveland, Ohio. From the time she could speak, she declared herself an artist, a love in which she indulged her entire life. After several moves to Hopkins, Minnesota and Wyncote, Pennsylvania, the family finally settled in Darien in the late 1960s, where Mary spent the bulk of her childhood.
The new school year is upon us, and understandably, for some it can be an exciting but anxious time. New Canaan Country School psychologists Rebecca Comizio and
Jackie Britt-Friedman offer the following tips to help reduce stress around the
transition. — This article is from New Canaan Country School
1. Open up space for dialogue
Children benefit from knowing the adults close to them are there to listen. There will be a myriad of feelings as the first day of school approaches: excitement, apprehension, anticipation, worry.
Katherine McLachlan Reilly of New Canaan passed away at home on Sept. 9, 2021. She was 98. Kay was born April 2, 1923 in Danbury, the daughter of George and Katherine McLachlan. She graduated high school from the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Noroton and from Rosemont College.
After four years as executive director of the Museum of Darien, Maggie McIntire has announced she will be leaving the job in October. A new director is expected to be named in January and start work early next year, the museum announced. The museum’s former name is the Darien Historical Society. “We are eternally grateful for all of the amazing work that Maggie has done for our organization and the community at large,” said Board President Robert J. Pascal Jr., adding that the non-profit’s board is putting a transition plan in motion and is expected to name a new leader in the coming months. Before taking on the leadership role at the Museum in 2017, McIntire directed adult programs at the Mark Twain Library in Redding and previously worked in communications at The Ferguson Library in Stamford.
On Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, Charlene Ann “Sea” Vanderslice passed away peacefully at the age of 75. Charlene was born on July 11, 1946 in Haverhill, Massachusetts to Alvin and Charlotte (Fuller) Dyes. She attended Pentuket High School, UMass, the Academy Modern, and studied Hatha and Raja yoga in Boston, meditation in Tibet and feng shui in Hong Kong. She is a graduate of the Feng Shui Institute of America and a professional member of Feng Shui International.
It should be easier to find and watch programs on Darien TV79, the town government’s cable TV channel, now that it’s started its own stand-alone website, DarienTV79.com, the cable station announced. “We’ve put everything in one easy-to-access location,” said Jim Cameron, program director and co-founder of the station. “After almost 14 years of operation, airing thousands of meetings and community events, our new Internet home offers seamless access to all our offerings.”
The new website offers:
—Key-word search of videos by committee name and date
—Access to over 2,500 meeting videos stored on Vimeo
—One-click access to the week’s most recent shows
—a link to TV79’s live feed in prime time
—a complete playlist of all meetings by committee name
—the ability to toggle between the meeting video and the meeting agenda
—timestamps for the Planning & Zoning Commission and the Board of Finance
—an easy signup for the weekly TV79 Program Guide by email
Designed by TV79’s Chief Technology Officer Cecil Wade, the new website was funded by the town government, Optimum subscribers and grants from The Darien Foundation. In a meeting of the Darien TV79 Advisory Council back in January, Wade said the new website would make it easier and faster for the volunteers running the channel to get video recordings posted on the Internet. That should also make the process more reliable, he said.
Jeannette Moser Angelbeck passed away peacefully on Monday, Aug. 30, 2021 in Darien at the age of 87. She was born on March 5, 1934 in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, where as a young girl she enjoyed ice skating, and liked to dance and play the harmonica. Jeannette also loved hiking and was a Girl Scout. On Jan.
It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of our beloved father, Harrington John Oberlander Jr., aka Sam and Harry. He passed away peacefully on June 22 at the age of 89. He was born Oct. 31, 1931 in Bridgeport and died 47 years and 3 days after the death of his late wife, Elizabeth Ann Ruddy, aka Sis. Harry was born to Harrington John Oberlander Sr., aka Harry, and Marjorie Josephine Ayers O. Bondi, (Frank).
Geraldine McGovern, 91, beloved wife of the late George C. McGovern, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021, at Heritage Hall Nursing Home in Agawam, Massachusetts. Her maiden name of “Friend” truly exemplified her kind, loving nature. “Gerry” grew up in Darien and attended Tufts University, where she met her future husband. Afterwards, she attended Katherine Gibbs Business College and worked as secretary for several doctors in the Darien area.
The feeling of solidarity among Americans in the days and weeks after Sept. 11, 2001 is something to remember and cultivate, both speakers said Saturday morning at Darien’s 20th anniversary commemoration of the 9/11 terrorist attack. “Something miraculous grew from those dark days,” First Selectman Jayme Stevenson said to the crowd of just over 100 people gathered by the memorial behind Middlesex Middle School. “We came together as one community — united by caring and compassion for one another and this great nation,” she said. “The sense of love and pride for America was palpable — hope began to rise from the ashes that our nation would emerge stronger than ever.”
Twenty years ago, I witnessed a few things in Darien that may be worth passing on. (I’m not sure how much this is worth — certainly none of it is as important as what actually happened in lower Manhattan or at the Pentagon or on board Flight 93. But it shows some of what happened in this town on that day. Darienites, in different degrees, experienced the horror here in town. Five town residents and a sixth former resident with a family in town died that day, along with thousands of others, including some with families in Darien.)
I was doing some freelance work for the Stamford Advocate and went out into town to gather reactions to the massacres that had just taken place that morning at the World Trade Center and Pentagon.
Here’s Realtor Deirdre McGovern’s report on Darien and Rowayton real estate from Sept. 2 to 9, 2021:
This week’s Darien highlights:
3 New to Market Listings in Darien
3 Price Reductions in Darien
3 Accepted Offers in Darien
4 Closed Sale in Darien
3 Open Houses in Darien
This week’s Rowayton highlights:
2 New to Market Listings in Rowayton
1 Price Reductions in Rowayton
0 Accepted Offers in Rowayton
4 Closed Sales in Rowayton
1 Open Houses in Rowayton
Be sure to register on Raveis.com, select ME, Deirdre McGovern, as your preferred agent & click the box to stay logged in. Please reach out to me directly with any questions about these properties. New Listings
Address, Community — Square Feet — Price
The Darien Department of Public Works announced Wednesday that it will conduct special bulk pickups of household items water damaged by the recent Storm Ida. To get the pickups, you’ll have to register first. The pickups start on Sept.11, and registration for pickups must be done by 5 p.m., Monday, Sept. 13. The pickups are limited to furniture and items damaged by stormwater, along with gypsum board, sheetrock and drywall (if those last three items are in bags or boxed).
Paul “Mac” Mackenzie Groetzinger, a well-known Fairfield County restaurateur, died suddenly on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021 at his home on Kiawah Island, South Carolina, surrounded by his loving life partner, Gina Zangrillo and close childhood friends. He was 69. Mac was born in Fremont, Nebraska on Feb. 24, 1952 and was raised in Stamford.
