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Sound Keeper Sails to Big Win in Court Case

News

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - Connecticut Sound Keeper Terry Backer was thrilled when he discovered the New York Supreme Court found that the state's Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) was too lenient in its management of storm water runoff into the Long Island Sound.

"This is a big win," Backer said. "Storm water runoff is one of the critical and serious problems facing both the Sound and other area waterways."

The court ruled that the department was too lax in its certification, and must "issue revisions" consistent with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, ...

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News

Darien Finance Consultant Stresses Planning

By Casey Donahue

DARIEN, Conn. – The Fed will be keeping interest rates low until at least the end of 2014, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke announced this week. At a time when the economy seems uncertain, Darien financial consultant Kevin Judge says it is important for people to set financial goals and develop strategies.

“You have to ask yourself, ‘What am I trying to accomplish?’” said Judge, a financial consultant at Webster Bank in Darien. Whether someone is trying to put away money to retire, pay a down payment on a home or send their kids to college, Judge tries to help his clients ...

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News

Lawmakers Hedge Bets on Online Gambling

By Richard Weizel

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. – Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is betting that online gambling “is inevitable” in Connecticut and would raise significant revenue for state coffers. But Republican state legislators are wagering against him.

“It is clear online gambling will become a reality, given the federal decision, and now (we) must decide how to address it,” Malloy said during a news conference in Hartford earlier this month.

The online gambling debate was fueled after the U.S. Department of Justice released a legal opinion several weeks ago that New York and Illinois ...

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News

Seized Easton Horses Doing Well Under State Care

By Erin Lynch 27 min 29 sec ago

EASTON, Conn. – The five horses that were seized from Pee Wee Horse Farm in an animal cruelty investigation are now thriving in their new home in a Niantic facility, said Ray Connors, the supervisor for the state Animal Control Division.

The owner of Pee Wee Horse Farm, Apollonio “Paul” Vittorio, was arrested on Thursday by the Easton Police Department and charged with six counts of animal cruelty in a state arrest warrant.

The charges stem from an ongoing investigation by state animal control officers, who say they received several complaints about the ...

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Sports

High School Boys Ice Hockey Standings

By Eric Gendron 2 hours ago

Fairfield County Interscholastic Conference Boys Ice Hockey Standings - Through Jan. 26

East Division Conference Record Overall Record

Ridgefield 5-0 10-1

Darien ...

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News

Shelter Struggles to Fit All the Homeless

By Nancy Guenther Chapman 15 hours ago

NORWALK, Conn. – Updated, 11:12 a.m., Jan. 27. Bill Okwuosa left work to head home Thursday, his heart hardened and prepared to do the worst – or so he thought.

The director of Norwalk's Open Door Shelter had decided to turn people away because of overcrowding. But he couldn't do it.

"I just got in the car to leave and come home, and I'm noticing there's quite a few people outside the shelter that can't get in because we are beyond our capacity. And I told you I was going to stop letting them come in," Okwuosa said in a voicemail. "I can't do it. I ...

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News

Spanish Report: Murder Suspect Hanged Himself

By Vanessa Inzitari 19 hours ago

WESTPORT, Conn. – A Barcelona-based newspaper reports that Andrew Robert Levene, the suspect in the Dec. 8 murder of Westport jeweler Yekutiel Zeevi, hanged himself in his prison cell with clothing.

The Associated Press reports a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Madrid said American officials were notified of Levene's death Thursday but did not say how he died. The statement said Spanish authorities were investigating his death.

La Vanguardia, a Spanish-language newspaper headquartered in Barcelona, reports that Levene, 41, was found dead in his cell at Barcelona's ...

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News

Darien Offers Free Radon Test Kits

By Casey Donahue 01/26/12

DARIEN, Conn. – January is “Radon Awareness Month” and the Darien Health Department is offering free radon test kits so residents can test their homes.

Radon is considered by the Centers for Disease Control and the Environmental Protection Agency to be the second leading cause of lung cancer.

Darien Health Director David Knauf said that winter is the best time to test for radon because the house is closed up. If you have elevated levels of radon, it is easy and relatively inexpensive to fix.

Radon kits can be picked up in the office of the Darien Health ...

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News

'Cinderella' on Tap in Darien This Weekend

By Casey Donahue 01/26/12

DARIEN, Conn. – There’s a lot of live entertainment in Darien this weekend. Here are some of the activities going on around town:

Friday, Jan. 27

10 a.m. – Mom’s Morning In hosts Kindermusic at the Darien Community Association.7:30 p.m. – The Darien Library screens its Friday film, “The Ides of March.”

Saturday, Jan. 28

2 p.m. – Make Your Own Zine at the Darien Library.4 p.m. – YWCA Presents "Cinderella" at Darien Town Hall.7 p.m. – “So You Think You Can Do Something?” Teen Talent Competition at the Darien Library.

Sunday, ...

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Sports

Sullivan Named Athletic Director at Darien High

By Eric Gendron 01/26/12

DARIEN, Conn. — Michael Sullivan has been named the next athletic director at Darien High School, the school announced Wednesday. He will replace John Keleher, who is retiring after 10 years as head of athletics.

Sullivan was given the title of director of physical education, health and athletics for Darien Public Schools by Superintendant Stephen V. Falcone. Sullivan will reportedly transition into the job and take over full time for the 2012-13 school year.

Sullivan began at Darien High as a student intern and has also served as a math teacher. In 2009, he ...

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Community Calendar

9:30 am - 10:00 am

Preschool Time at the Darien Library
10:00 am - 11:00 am

Kindermusic at Mom's Morning In
4:00 pm

Coaches vs. Cancer Basketball Games
4:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Darien High girls hockey vs. New Canaan
4:15 pm - 5:45 pm

We've Got Game at the Darien Library
6:00 pm

Wilton Y Wahoos Winter Invitational

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News

Horse Owner Faces Criminal Charges

By Erin Lynch 01/26/12

EASTON, Conn. – The owner of Pee Wee Horse Farm in Easton was arrested on multiple counts of animal cruelty Thursday morning. The arrest followed an investigation in which state Animal Control officers seized five horses, police said.

Apollonio “Paul” Vittorio, 75, turned himself in to Easton Police minutes before 11 a.m. Thursday after police notified him that the state had issued an active warrant for his arrest, according to Chief James Candee. Vittorio was released on a written promise to appear in court.

The charges stem from an ongoing investigation by state ...

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Sports

Darien Boys Crush Staples for 6th Straight Win

By Eric Gendron 01/26/12

DARIEN, Conn. – Some might argue which boys hockey team is the best in Fairfield County. But it has become clear that Darien High is the most-balanced squad this season.

The Blue Wave won its sixth game in a row, and seven players scored in an 8-0 rout of Staples-Weston-Shelton. It was the fifth time this season that at least four Darien players netted goals.

“We have four solid lines. And when we get to the net, we take good shots and everyone can score,” Darien’s Brendan Hathaway said. “It’s great because even when the third and fourth line is out, I’m not worried. We ...

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Pear Tree Beach after January snowstorm. Photo Credit: Tracy Wind

Kids from the Darien Youth Commission, as well as Social Services Director Olive Hauser and First Selectman Jayme Stevenson Photo Credit: Casey Donahue

The Science Genie gives a fiery demonstration to the students at Ox Ridge. Photo Credit: Jennifer Voelker

A Darien High School student surveys the board outside the DHS Jobs Office. Photo Credit: Matt Mullen

Brooke Voelker and Sydney Weibel build and program Lego robots. Photo Credit: Jennifer Voelker

The new graffiti mural at the Depot. Photo Credit: Janice Marzano

Former president Bill Clinton greets reporters when he stopped by Barrett Bookstore for a book signing. Photo Credit: Casey Donahue

A lone drummer plays at the Occupy Darien demonstration at Tilley Pond Park. Photo Credit: Casey Donahue

Mike Stovall, left, and Andrew Maley, from the Darien High football team joined team members in Wreaths Across America Saturday. Photo Credit: Charles Barthold