Christmas 2019
Depot Holiday Wrap-Up poster 2019

Let the Depot Elves Help You Wrap Christmas Presents

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Have time to shop but no time to wrap? The Darien Depot Youth Center’s elves are back to wrap presents for residents just before the holidays. Drop off unwrapped and labeled presents at the Depot and we will handle the wrapping. A minimum $20 charge is required, but keep in mind that it helps the Depot run programs.

The “Holiday Wrap-Up” runs from 10 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, Dec. 21 to 23 at the Depot at 25 Heights Road (next to Noroton Heights Train Station).

Business

Holiday Stroll in Downtown Stores from 5 to 9 PM, Wednesday — With Refreshments, Special Promotions

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Darien will have a holiday stroll on Wednesday with the theme of “Darien Does Holidays!” Enjoy the many unique boutiques and shops in Darien on Wednesday, Dec. 11 from 5 to 9 p.m.

— an announcement from the Darien Chamber of Commerce

Stroll from shop to shop with your list of gifts you need to find for your family, friends, co-workers and neighbors. Each participating store will have refreshments to enjoy, lite bites and special promotions offered that night! Share the event with you all you know! The participating stores are:

A Little Something White Bridal Couture, Aquarius, Barrett Bookstore, Brown & Co., Chocolate Works, Coco and Lala, Darien Toy Box, David Harvey Jewelers, The Dock Shop, EGG New York, Everything is Rosey, Flowers and Flowers, Good Goods, Helen Ainson, J.McLaughlin, Kirby and Company, Kirby Girl, Mandarine Home, Morley, Runner’s Roost, Shoes ‘N’ More, Sipstirs, and Sokayri.

Charity Events and Opportunities
Salvation Army Kettle

What Happens When You Put Money in the Salvation Army Kettle in Darien

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The Salvation Army bell ringing season runs through Christmas Eve when the red kettles are packed away for the season. When you give at the red kettle outside of Palmer’s Market, 90% of the money dropped in the kettle goes right back to our community! — an announcement from Darien Department of Human Services

Did you know that the volunteers outside of Palmer’s Market collects on average about $500 in donations? The volunteers are your friends and neighbors. Groups such as the Boy Scouts, the Masons, Darien Men’s Group and others spend their weekends in December ringing the bells to benefit our community.

Healthy Living
Christmas lights Eversource

When Decorating for the Holidays, Consider Safety, Saving Energy and Money: Some Tips

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With the holiday season upon us, neighborhoods are starting to twinkle with festive light displays inside and out. Here are some safety tips were recently announced by Eversource on lighting and the New Canaan Fire Marshal’s Office on other decorations, as well. (Darienite.com added the boldface, not to add urgency but to make the tips quicker to scan so you can concentrate on the ones you don’t already follow.)

FROM EVERSOURCE:
SAFETY
“Before putting up holiday decorations, it’s important to inspect them to ensure they’re not broken or damaged — check lighted displays for cracked sockets, frayed wires or loose connections,” said Ken Bogler, Eversource vice president of safety. “When decorating outside, we remind people to work from a stable surface and to always be aware of any power lines or other hazards that might be nearby.”

More Safety Tips:

Never run extension cords under rugs or coil them tightly, which can cause them to overheat
Water and electricity do not mix so keep outdoor connections off the ground
Check labels to ensure lights are used properly — outside light are labeled for outdoor use
All the parts of the lights need to be dampness and temperature-proof
Check extension cords for wear, and plug outdoor lights and decorations into GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlets
Use advanced power strips where possible for all holiday lighting to eliminate standby energy loss

SAVE ENERGY, SAVE MONEY
Customers can save money and protect the planet by replacing traditional incandescent lights with an energy-efficient light-emitting diode, or LED, holiday decoration. Not only do LEDs use 80 percent less energy than conventional bulbs, they last longer, and they are brighter and safer, as they are much cooler than incandescent lights.