William Joseph Genco, born on Aug. 23, 2024, made his journey home to the Lord on Aug. 30. He is survived by his adoring parents: William and Michelle Genco, and his sister, Emilia; his paternal grandparents, William and Mary Genco; his maternal grandparents, Joseph and Loretta Lifrieri; his aunts and uncles: John (Kaitlin) Genco, Paul Genco, Catherine (Greg) Tevere; and his devoted cousins, Patrick and Giulia. In his short life he brought his entire family great joy and he will always remain in our hearts.
Christian Scott Miller passed away peacefully on Aug. 24, surrounded by family at home in Darien. He was 64. Born Aug. 6, 1960, to Charles Scott and Elinor Backe Miller in New York City, he grew up in Darien.
Schools Superintendent Alan Addley said in his first newsletter of the school year that the schools opened smoothly, even with renovation projects still underway at three elementary schools. Even the Pikmykid software the district has just started using and changes in special education transportation didn’t make the school opening rough. Addley added: “Typically, bus issues for general education and/or special education settle down by the end of the first week of school.” He didn’t say whether or not there were any problems this year. Here’s the full text of Addley’s email, with subheadings added by Darienite.com:
Dear Families & Staff :
Thank you for making this first week of school a tremendous success for the students.
16 Park Lane, Darien — $1,250,000 — Sunday, from 1 to 3 p.m.
______________________
Deirdre McGovern is a real estate agent with Compass who loves sharing all the best Darien has to offer. She can be reached at 203-554-0897 or deirdremcgovernteam@gmail.com. More information here.
When it comes to traffic, car travelers should avoid the most congested afternoon and early evening hours of Thursday and Friday, according to the AAA, citing INRIX, a provider of transportation data and advice. — an announcement from AAA Northeast
Drivers should hit the road in the morning unless they’re leaving on Saturday, when the best time to travel by car is in the afternoon. Travelers returning on Sunday and on Labor Day should leave as early as possible to avoid heavy traffic in the afternoon. “The most severe traffic jams over holiday weekends almost always come as commuters mix with travelers,” said Lauren Fabrizi, spokesperson for AAA Northeast. “Road trippers can pave the way for smooth drives by strategically planning their departures around the best times to hit the road.”
Gas Prices
Travelers taking road trips should expect to pay less for gas compared to last year.
While the owner was playing golf at Woodway Country Club late in the day on Saturday, Aug. 24, someone stole his car, he told Darien police. The car, a 2018 Audi S5, was reported stolen from the club at 540 Hoyt St. just before 7:25 p.m. It had been left unlocked with the keys inside.
Barbara L Johnson (nee Thomas) passed away Sunday Aug. 5. She was 85. She was born in Cumberland Maryland and graduated from Fort Hill High School in 1957. She also lived in Northfield, Ohio; Akron, Ohio, and Darien.
Mary Duncan Thompson, a beloved wife, mother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully on Aug. 15, 2024, at the age of 65. She was born Mary Hammond Duncan on Dec. 12, 1958, to John Bruce Duncan and Leila Hammond Duncan. She lived a life filled with love, service, and dedication to her family, friends, church, and community.
Two downtown businesses, Post Corner Pizza and Jade Nail Salon, were burglarized early Sunday morning, Aug 18, likely by the same person, who took money from both businesses, police said. Darien police gave this account of the two incidents:
At about 2:15 a.m., a surveillance camera recorded a burglar using a ladder to enter Post Corner Pizza (at 847 Post Road) through a skylight. The thief forced open cash registers and took an unknown amount of cash. Only 350 feet away (according to Google Maps) another surveillance camera showed the burglar enter Jade Nail Salon (at 887 Post Road) at 3:12 a.m. Police found signs of forced entry from the rear door. The surveillance recording showed the thief tampering with cameras and stealing an ATM holding an unknown amount of cash in it.
Priscilla Pope Masselink died on August 12, 2024 at her home in Sorrento, Maine after a 20-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 67. Born on Jan. 31, 1957, she was surrounded by her loving family and embraced virtually in the arms of countless friends from her Maine childhood in Bangor and Sorrento, her college years at Duke University, the Connecticut community in Darien/New Canaan, where she raised her family, and her cherished Florida home in Boca Grande. Priscilla’s lifelong pursuits were to be active and creative, to make a meaningful connection with her friends, to improve the groups she joined (and she joined many), to love deeply and laugh often.
You’ve seen the pictures — washed out rail tracks, crumbled roadways, debris and flood damage everywhere. The 1,000-year storm that hit the Naugatuck Valley last week caused destruction of biblical proportions. And the reconstruction will take weeks, possibly months. First off, the CDOT must secure the damaged areas, remove the debris and inspect for structural damage. Where appropriate they’ll replace damaged bridges with temporary spans, pulled from an inventory of such bridges stored for such occasions.
Greenwich native David D’Andrea and Father Gustavo Falla, Pastor at St. Mary of Stamford Parish, have been busy planning the upcoming Lourdes Retreat on Saturday, Sept. 7, expected to draw hundreds of people who believe in miracles. The event starts at 1 p.m. and will last about one hour. The retreat will be celebrated by Bishop Frank J. Caggiano.
Theresa Kish transitioned to eternal tranquility, rest and peace on her 94th birthday, Aug. 22. She was surrounded by family in the comfort of her own home. She was born Theresa Elizabeth Guenin in 1930 in Atlanta, to Herbert Franklin Guenin Sr. and Veronica Marguerite (Meehan) Guenin. Prior to her family settling in Stamford, Theresa (the youngest of six) lived in New Britain and Noroton Heights, where she attended her beloved Baker School before graduating from Darien High School in 1948.
Dive into the fascinating world of artificial intelligence. An hour-long presentation on Sept. 4 at Darien Library aims to break down the complexities of AI, offering a clear and engaging explanation of its inner workings and transformative potential. — an announcement from Darien Library
The event runs from 7 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 4, in the Conference Room of Darien Library.
