Darien Morning Briefing: 3.19.12, Monday

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Through the American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Days campaign, more than 28,000 bunches of budding daffodils will arrive at 3 different FedEx warehouses in Connecticut via an 18-wheeler truck traveling from flower growers in Washington State.—from a news release issued by the American Cancer Society. They arrive today in Norwalk and two other locations in the state. You'll be seeing them soon.

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10 a.m. at the Darien Library: Morning Matinee for Parents. A documentary about children online (see "Parents" section below).

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Today is Monday, March 19, 2012.

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HEADLINES:

EVENTS & REMINDERS

Adults

• Spring Book Sale at the Darien Library: Starts 9 a.m. Saturday; half-price on Tuesday and Wednesday; dollar a bag on Thursday; ends at noon on Friday, March 23. "Looking to stuff your bookcases with new books, audiobooks, and DVDs this Spring? Then come to the Darien Library Spring Book Sale! Hardcover and softcover books, audiobooks, and DVDs are $1."—from the library announcement
  
• Video of investment author Julie Jason: "On Thursday, March 8, 2012, Julie Jason, author of Managing Retirement Wealth, came to Darien Library." A video of her hourlong presentation is here.
• Talk: A New Approach to Volunteering: 7 p.m., Darien Library. "VolunteerSquare.com is a nonprofit agency working closely with other local nonprofits to help spread the word about volunteer opportunities here in Fairfield County. Access to the site is free for all—nonprofits and individuals!"—from on Darien Patch
• DivorceCare:  Refreshments in the Noroton Presbyterian Church Parlor at 7:15 p.m.; program from 7:30 to 9 p.m. $15 for workbook. DivorceCare is "a confidential weekly seminar for people who are separated or divorced.  It is a safe environment for learning valuable information about healing from the hurt of divorce. [...] The format is set up for participants to join at any time."— on Darien Patch

Parents:

• Morning Matinee for Parents: "Growing Up Online": 10 a.m., Community Room, . "This Frontline documentary peers inside the world of the new cyber-savvy generation of tweens and teens; a generation with a radically different notion of privacy and personal space. 60 minutes."—from the library announcement.
• REGISTER: APRIL 2: TALK: "Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Lives of Boys": Free, 7 to 9 p.m., Monday, April 2, Darien High School Auditorium. "Michael Thompson, Ph.D. studies the risk factors that affect the lives of boys, from learning disorders to peer pressure. He will be presenting his findings and taking questions from parents, educators, and caregivers. Dr. Thompson is the author of several books on boys and childhood development and has appeared on The Today Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, ABC’s 20/20, and CBS’ 60 Minutes."—from the library announcement—Thompson's website—REGISTER HERE (free)

Kids:

• Storytelling Yoga: 1 p.m. Stepping Stones Museum for Children. "Parents and children together enjoy a short story while participating in yoga-based movement in the Performance Gallery."—the museum's anouncement
• Now showing in the Maritime Aquarium's IMAX theater: 11 a.m. - "Sea Rex" at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.; "Search for Great Sharks" at 1 and 3 p.m., and "Born to be Wild" at noon. Each lasts for about 40 minutes. More information here.
  
• Ceramic Studio: 3:30 p.m. Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk. Ages 3 and up "Learn the basics and create your own masterpiece. Space is limited. $5 per child, museum admission required. Visit the Welcome Desk for details."—the museum's anouncement

Teens:

• Darien High School schedule: "C" Day. Periods: 4 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 6
• FRIDAY: The Hunger Games is coming to the Darien Playhouse—first showing starts a minute after midnight on Friday.
• Talk: Looking for volunteer opportunities? 7 p.m., Darien Library. "VolunteerSquare.com is a nonprofit agency working closely with other local nonprofits to help spread the word about volunteer opportunities here in Fairfield County. Access to the site is free for all—nonprofits and individuals!"—from  on Darien Patch
• Contribute with your mouth (and your wallet): "Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza in Darien has arranged a special "Give Back Night" to support the DHS Orchestra's upcoming trip to Disney's Magic Music Days. On Monday, March 26 from 5 pm to closing, 20% of your check (pre-tax) will be donated to the Orchestra. If you have any questions, please contact Jane Minnis at 203-655-3981, ext. 2287 or JMinnis@darienps.org."—announcement on the Darien High School webpage
• NBC wants YOU, smart guy: "NBC is looking for kids 14-17 who want to be on TV.  NBC needs teens to help develop a potential show with a teen quiz theme.  Applicants and parents might also be asked to speak on camera about teen issues. No professional actors, please.  If interested, parents should email NBCTeenQuiz@gmail.com"—the  on Darien Patch.
• May 11: state Bandjam at Darien High School:  "Student Bands from around the state will compete in front of highly qualified judges [...] on Friday, May 11 at Darien High School to receive awards, gift certificates from Sam Ash Music Stores, and a gig on the main stage at the International Festival of Arts and Ideas in New Haven. The deadline for the submission of registration materials is Friday, April 13, 2012. All information and registration materials can be found at www.casciac.org or from Bandjam Festival Director, Rick Sadlon at: RSadlon@darienps.org or 203-655-3981 ext: 2329"—announcement on the Darien High School webpage
• Four new Eagle scouts: Elliott C. Helgans, Charles L. Stout, Alexander von Stuelpnagel and Holden M. Chung on Saturday.
• The March edition of Neirad
• Darien Depot March Calendar
  

DARIEN PLAYHOUSE SHOWTIMES

• John Carter: 7:15 and 9:45 p.m., PG-13 (2 hr. 19 min.)—IMDb—trailer—trailer—Rotten Tomatoes
• The Lorax: 7 and 9 p.m., PG-13 (1 hr. 26 min.)—IMDb—trailer—Rotten

GOVERNMENT MEETINGS

All meetings take place in , 2 Renshaw Rd., unless otherwise noted. Since Darien town government provides no reliable, centralized list of town government meetings, and there is not enough time in the day to go searching for them, this list may well be incomplete:

• Public Health & Safety Committee of the Representative Town Meeting, 7 p.m., Room 206 (agenda)
  

• Finance & Budget Committee  of the Representative Town Meeting, 7 p.m., Room 206 (agenda)
  

• District III caucus of the Representative Town Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Room 119 (agenda)
  

• District IV caucus of the Representative Town Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Room B3 (agenda)
  

• Representative Town Meeting, 8 p.m., Town Hall Auditorium (agenda)

FORECAST as of 12:11 a.m. Monday (update)

• Monday: "Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 60. Calm wind becoming south between 4 and 7 mph."
• Monday Night: "A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Southeast wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent."

INTERSTATE 95 TRAFFIC CAMS

See also Darien Patch's "Traffic & Gas Prices" page.

• Stamford: southbound, Exit 8 - Elm St.

• Stamford: northbound, south of Exit 9 - Lockwood Ave.

• Darien southbound, north of Exit 9 - Darien Service Plaza

• Darien northbound Exit 12 - Tokeneke Rd.

• Darien northbound, south of Exit 13 - Darien Service Plaza

• Darien southbound, Exit 13 - Rt. 1 (Boston Post Rd.)

• Norwalk southbound, Exit 15 - Stuart Ave.

• Norwalk Rt 7 south of Exit 1 - Connecticut Ave.

• Norwalk northbound, Exit 15 - Rt. 7

TIDES & TIMES

• Sunrise: 6:58 a.m.
• Sunset: 7:05 p.m.

• Low tide: 3:59 a.m. (0.1')
• High tide: 10:00 a.m. (7.2')
  
• Low tide: 4:24 a.m. (0.0')
• High tide: 10:24 p.m. (7.3')

HOW TO USE PATCH:

Forecast obtained from the National Weather Service; tide information obtained from saltwatertides.com (calibrated to Long Neck Point).