Home

Moms Take Fundraising Lead for Charity

neighbors

Alex Eising, Beth Williams and Kaitlyn Troy, all Darien moms, have joined forces to help their community by serving as co-presidents of OPUS, the major fundraising arm for Person-to-Person.

"We're all moms," Eising said. "We love being moms, but we also want to do something to give back, to be involved."

Person-to-Person, based out of St. Luke's Church in Darien, provides assistance to people in need. "Most of the clients are from Stamford or Norwalk," Williams said. "They have a food pantry that will last them a week, but we focus on baby basics. We provides layettes and

Sono Open House Caters to Kids

by Tom RennerToday

Sono Fieldhouse will hold open houses for parents interested in its Lil' Kickers soccer and Lil' Laxers lacrosse programs at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11. The open houses are geared toward exposing parents and children to the skills and instruction offered in each program.

Lil' Kickers is a noncompetitive introductory soccer and developmental skills program offering weekly classes for boys and girls ages 18 months to 9 years. Lil' Kickers classes focus on early childhood development skills in a safe and fun setting. Lil' Laxers offers players ages 2 ½ to 5 the opportunity to learn

Earl Prompts Closing of 7 Parks

by Alissa Letkowski09/03/10

Earl may not have packed much of wallop in Fairfield County, but some residents probably were forced to change their weekend plans. Severe weather warnings caused by Hurricane Earl have prompted the Department of Enviromental Protection to close seven state parks and beaches.

Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison, Rocky Neck State Park in East Lyme, Hopeville Pond State Park in Jewett City, Devil's Hopyard State Park in East Haddam, Salt Rock Campground in Sprague as well as Mount Misery Campground and Green Falls

Michigan Alumni to Gather for UConn Game

by Tom Renner09/03/10

University of Connecticut football fans probably have their favorite haunts to watch Saturday's game against Michigan, but what about Big Blue fans? Not to worry, as the University of Michigan Club of Fairfield County will be gathering in Stamford for Saturday's 3:30 p.m. kickoff.

Wolverines' fans and alumni can watch with other alumni at the Route 22 Restaurant and Bar, 1980 W. Main St. in Stamford. The group will have balloons for children and poster-sized schedules.

Storm Watch Canceled As Earl Weakens

by Andrew Vazzano09/03/10

The impact of Hurricane Earl, which was moving Friday up the East Coast, will be mild for Darien residents.

As of 11 a.m. Friday, the tropical storm watch for coastal Fairfield County had been canceled with Hurricane Earl off the coast of Maryland, moving up the East Coast. The Category 1 storm was predicted to bring rain to Connecticut by the afternoon and into the evening. Winds of 10 to 20 mph are possible.

But the holiday weekend won't be ruined. Saturday, Sunday and Monday are predicted to be sunny and breezy with high temperatures in the 70s.

Although the

Oval Office's New Do Gets Mixed Reviews

by Fenella Pearson09/03/10

It took the Obamas 18 months to get round to redecorating the Oval Office, apparently a requirement of the job. This week's Home section in The New York Times ran a feature on the new look, with photos comparing the Bush look with the new Obama Oval Office. Reactions from the design community were mixed to say the least, centering to a great extent on musings about who was going to eat the apples from the bowlful on the coffee table.

Since the Times editors forgot to ask me for my opinion, I

Duo Pushes to 'Legalize Gay'

by Andrew Vazzano09/03/10

Zach Huckel-Bauer, representing the Human Rights Campaign, hit the streets Thursday, asking people to donate funds to help legalize gay rights and marriage. "Darien's a nice, usually supportive town," he said. "It's progressive and people have the money to support things they believe in."

Huckel-Bauer took the train from Manhattan and was canvassing along the Post Road, speaking to anyone who would listen. "We're trying to get monthly donations or a one-time gift," he said. "Petitions can only do so much, but what the HRC needs is money to help support our causes in Washington,

Summer Resolutions Go Awry

by Moina Noor09/02/10

As I left the house this morning to drop my kids to school, I glanced at a list on the kitchen bulletin board that reads: "Summer Goals." Big, bold, in magic marker.

I know it's a new school year and time to look ahead, but as I headed out, I couldn't help think of all the things I had planned that didn't quite happen. At the beginning of summer, a day or two before school ends, I usually make an ambitious list of summer goals for the family. It includes trips I want us to take, house projects, and academics and activities for the kids.

So now, summer's over and only a few items have been satisfyingly crossed off. We painted my daughter's room—didn't finish the

Athletes Stay Hydrated at High School

by Andrew Vazzano09/02/10

With the temperature nearing or higher than 90 degrees for the fifth straight day, Darien High athletic director John Keleher said they were taking precautions to keep student-athletes healthy and hydrated.

"We postponed a few games on Tuesday to play at a later date and later in the evening so it's not as hot," Keleher said. "We're lucky to have a group of coaches with years of experience – some up to 25 or 30 years – who have been through this kind of heat before. All teams bring out jugs of water with them."

Keleher said a few students had vomited earlier last week

Help Music Studio Toot Its Horn

by Anthony Buzzeo09/01/10

Turning 10 may not get your birthday announced by Willard Scott on the "Today" show. But that's not going to stop Wilton Music Studios from celebrating with style. The studio is inviting all Darien residents to a birthday bash Sept. 11.

The party will be a two-part, all-day event. From 11-3 Wilton Music Studios and neighboring businesses in their building will

Freshmen Get a New Perspective

by Andrew Vazzano09/01/10

For 14-year-old freshmen Jack Sparkman, Colten Appleby and Andy Pena, the first two days of high school went by without incident. They all confirmed they were yet to be stuffed into any lockers.

But the changes from middle school are big. The schedule, which is an eight-day rotation instead of a five-day one, is confusing, Appleby said.

"For one thing, we have to rotate classes," Sparkman said. "I'm not used to that."

Scattered about the sidewalk beneath their feet were chalk phrases praising the senior class of 2011 and warning the freshmen of what may be coming.