Have You Heard 2017

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):

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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:

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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:

 

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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:

 

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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. […]”
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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.

Around Town

Have You Heard …?

By David Gurliacci | January 28, 2017

The low-down on what’s up around town:

Animal Embassy director Chris Evers recently visited students in Miss Rochler’s third grade class at Holmes Elementary School. ***

The Darien Police Commission has decided to look in-house for a police chief to replace Duane Lovello, who’s retiring in mid-February. ***

“We’re excited to report that we recently installed nine trees at the Darien Community Association (DCA) that included five Redbuds, three Dogwoods, and one White-Flowering Redbud,” the Tree Conservancy of Darien announced on Facebook. “Many thanks to Planters Choice Nursery for their generous donation of trees and to Richard Jones Landscaping for the help installing.” ***

From Darien Library:

If you live in Darien, you can bring up to five old light bulbs to Darien Library and exchange them for energy-efficient LED bulbs.

Around Town

Have You Heard …?

By David Gurliacci | January 24, 2017

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

A Darien Recycling Center post on Facebook:

 

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Kindergarten and first grade classrooms at Holmes Elementary School recently became living laboratories through the High Touch High Tech program. Students learned about the five senses with hands-on experiments and interactive investigations led by scientists Mr. O and Mark Goldstein. Other students learned about the forces of gravity, friction and magnetism by doing hands-on experiments led by High Touch High Tech scientist Stacy Smith. The kids discovered how much they rely on their senses and how easy they are to fool using pencils, flashlights and sandpaper. High Touch High Tech has provided enriching science experience to students for the last decade.