Have You Heard?

Around Town

Have You Heard …? Christmas Wreaths Readied, Cop Honored, Pumpkins Painted, 4 Million Visits

By David Gurliacci | November 11, 2018

Here’s the lowdown on what’s up around town:

Organizers are readying the Christmas Season wreaths that go on town lampposts from Sedgwick Avenue to Noroton Avenue, in Tilley Pond and the lights in the trees on Tokeneke Road. “Last week, the wreaths were checked and put into working order by volunteers from the Men’s Association of Darien,” according to an email from the Darien Chamber of Commerce. “They replaced 389 lightbulbs! During the spruce up though, we have discovered that soon we will have to replace a good number of these wreaths.” Darien taxpayers don’t pay for those wreaths — the money is donated to the Chamber of Commerce, which is now asking its members for more.

Around Town

Have You Heard …? Grand Openings, Tribute in Pink, Firefighter Thanked and More

By David Gurliacci | October 24, 2018

Here’s the low-down on what’s up around town:

Darien Grille holds its grand opening at 22 Center Street, from 3:30 p.m. to midnight on Wednesday, and on Thursday, Oct. 25, Hollow Tree Self Storage at 131 Hollow Tree Ridge Road holds its grand opening from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Both grand openings have free food, but we suspect there’ll be more at the restaurant. ***

***

NewCanaanite.com reports:

New Canaan High School senior Will Hetherington jumped into action on Sept. 25, and rescued two young girls caught in a submerged vehicle during the heavy rain storm and flash flooding that took place that day throughout the area. Hetherington, who’s been a volunteer fireman for the Darien Fire Department since he was 17, was on duty when, at approximately 4:30 p.m. that Tuesday, the DFD got a call for a car and water rescue. A Jeep Cherokee with three young girls, aged 6, 8 and 12, and their grandmother, was submerged under the Tokeneke Railroad Bridge in Darien, with flooding waters reaching half way up the car windows. Hetherington was on the rescue truck that was dispatched, and he volunteered to suit-up, donning a yellow waterproof rescue outfit, known as a “mustang suit.”

With DFD safety officer Andy Malowitz, Hetherington approached the trapped family’s vehicle.

Around Town

Have You Heard …? DHS Students in China, Win a Vespa, Daddy/Daughter Dance, Tea Cups Wanted

By David Gurliacci | April 9, 2018

Here’s the lowdown on what’s up around town:

Pictures last week from Darien High School students’ trip to China:

We don’t know who took each of the photos, but DHS Assistant Principal Kate Dimoulas posted them on Twitter. In one post, she wrote: “(Thanks, Mr. Banas, for sharing!)”

***

Darien police Lt. Jeremiah Marron Jr. recently took the “Command Training Series: Mid-Management Course,” a one-week training program for upper-level personnel. It was presented by the Justice System Training and Research Institute at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I., in partnership with the New England Association of Chiefs of Police. Coursework addressed contemporary concepts of management and leadership relevant to the responsibilities of first line supervisors in a modern police agency. The program, presented March 19 to 23, discussed topics including operational leadership and management principles, problem-solving, organizational and interpersonal communications, labor relations, disciplinary issues, and ethical decision-making.

Around Town

Have You Heard …? Darienites From Stage to Street to Firehouse to Restaurant to Gym to Pool to Museum to Golf Course

By David Gurliacci | March 28, 2018

Here’s the lowdown on what’s up around town:

Royle School’s recent STEAM started with the third to fifth graders making spinning tops in robotics and the Kindergarten through second graders learning about both color theory and taking a Keva Engineering Building Challenge! Royle is hosting its first ever STEAM week with hands on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math classes offered after early dismissal. More than 265 children signed up for the various activities. ***

You can go bald for a good cause, or at least support others who will this Saturday, March 31. The head shaving takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. at Darien Fire Department, 848 Post Road; the party at Center Street Pub, 22 Center St., runs from 9 to 11 p.m.

“Support Darien Fire Department, Noroton Heights Fire Department and Noroton Fire Department in helping St.

Around Town

Have You Heard …? Talent Show, Spring Fling, Memorial Day Prep, Music in Schools, Big Gifts

By David Gurliacci | March 19, 2018

Here’s the lowdown on what’s up around town:

Holmes Elementary School held its 6th annual talent show “The H Factor” at the Darien High School auditorium on Sunday, March 4.  The show included 80 participants, 44 acts and attracted a huge audience. ***

The St. John Church Spring Fling event is on Sunday March 25th , 12:30 to 4:30 at the church, 1986 Post Road. The event is getting bigger and better. The youth group in turn pays it forward throughout the year by donating time, services, help to those in need in the local areas and they also do healthy social events for the middle school and high school kids.

Around Town

Have You Heard? … Christmas Season Doings and Givings

By David Gurliacci | December 18, 2017

Here’s the low down on what’s up around town:

Pre-K students at Methodist Family Center Preschool recently enjoyed a visit from Elizabeth Merow, Community Outreach Manager at The Connecticut Humane Society, and several of her furry friends. Through games and interactive exercises, the children learned about the preferred foods and habitats of different animals, and how each like to be touched and cared for. To thank Ms. Merow for spending time with them, the class presented her with items to be donated to pets at a local animal shelter. “This was such a special event for our students, from start to finish. They worked so hard to collect items from the Humane Society’s Wish List, and then were rewarded with such an engaging and educational experience.

Around Town

Have You Heard … News from Around Town and Beyond: Nov 20

By David Gurliacci | November 20, 2017

The lowdown on what’s up around town …  

Yes, two of those kids are wearing turkey legs on their heads. No, not real ones. Here, take a look, and see what their posters say (well, partly):

***

This year’s Christmas wreaths on lampposts downtown, along the Post Road and elsewhere in Darien are checked each year by volunteers from the Darien Men’s Association (DMA), who make sure the bulbs are working properly. “This year, 18 members showed up on Nov.

Around Town

Have You Heard? … Recent (and Some Not-So-Recent), Nov 15

By David Gurliacci | November 15, 2017

Here’s the low down on what’s up around town:

On Monday, Nov. 13, six of Darien High School Band students performed at the annual ASBDA (American School band Directors Association) Connecticut High School Honors Band Festival held at Maloney High School in Meriden. The festival featured students from 15 high schools from throughout the state in both a Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble conducted by guest conductors Michael Breaux from NYU and Gerald Dolan of Gordon College.  

Oboist Alex Wang performed in the Wind Ensemble and performing in the Symphonic Band from Darien High School were Audrey Hagen (bass clarinet); Veronica Mejias and Brooke Laird (both on trumpet); Madison Pomeroy (trombone); and Jacob Won (clarinet). Darien High School Band Director Jonathan Grauer is an ASBDA member.

Around Town

Have You Heard …? Back to School and More

By David Gurliacci | September 6, 2017

Here’s the low down on what’s up around town:

What the first day of school on Thursday looked like at Royle and Holmes:

***
XL Catlin, a global property and casualty insurance company with an office in Stamford’s South End, has awarded an $8,000 grant to Person-to-Person, which the agency will use for its scholarship program. Many of the students receiving scholarships are the first in their families to attend college, said Ceci Maher, executive director of the charity. A total of 80 percent of the students P2P helps go on to graduate from college — a rate  a well above the national average of 26 percent for college students from low-income households, according to P2P. Not only is the company giving money, but employees from XL Catlin regularly volunteer at Person-to-Person. ***

Did you know that TripAdvisor.com reviewers have rated the Maritime Aquarium as one of the top 20 aquariums in the U.S. and No.

Around Town

Have You Heard …? Darienites Departing, Getting Appointed, Being Asked to Volunteer

By David Gurliacci | July 27, 2017

Here’s the low-down on what’s up around town:

Youtube user AnthnySlzr7 has some interesting aerial videos of Cherry Lawn Park and Ziegler’s Cove (and surrounding areas) using a drone. Here’s a picture of the community garden at the park (we doubt you’ve ever seen it this way before, even if you’ve seen it), and two of the videos:

 

***

Shortly after opening earlier this year, the Mather Homestead house museum on Stephen Mather Road is losing its executive director, Anna Kirklin Denoyer, who is moving to the Midwest. She’s being replaced with Lauren Senkbeil Swenson, who has begun scheduling tours, according to an announcement on the homestead’s Facebook timeline. ***

If you’ve ever noticed the many thriving flowers and plants in the Town Clerk’s Office, Assistant Town Clerk Diana Zakhar was the one to thank. Zakhar, working in the office for 17 years, retired last Thursday.

Around Town

Have You Heard …? Food & (Mostly) Young Folks Edition

By David Gurliacci | June 18, 2017

What’s up from all around town and a bit beyond — notable news notes:

An announcement from the Darien YMCA. Some changes starting Monday, June 19:

 

***

Chef and author Pam Anderson of Darien recently was named by Epicurious magazine as one of the “100 Greatest Cooks of All Time”:

 

The Epicurious “listicle” article said:
“In How to Cook Without a Book, Anderson reminded us that we don’t need a recipe once we understand the fundamentals behind a dish, an approach that many food writers, including Epicurious food editor Anna Stockwell find particularly inspiring. […]”
***
Know a college student coming home for the summer? From the Darien Y newsletter:

Summer Break College Memberships are now available. Students can stop by our Front Desk to enroll or parents can pick up a membership form.

Around Town

Have You Heard …? We’re No. 1

By David Gurliacci | June 14, 2017

What’s up from all around town — notable news notes as of mid-June 2017:

The new building has been opened for the Swap Shop at Darien Recycling Center (the Dump) on Ledge Road and the old tent has been taken down. Some pictures:

“Thank you Energy and Recycling Center Committee for making it happen!” First Selectman Jayme Stevenson tweeted. ***

—”Have You Heard …?” Is an occasional feature on Darienite.com.