Darien Morning Briefing: 5.16.12, Wednesday

Check out today's Darien weather vane quiz in the pictures.

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DARIEN FARMER'S MARKET Runs today from 11 to 4 p.m. in the Mechanic Street Parking Lot, behind the Darien Fire Department station.

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Today is Wednesday, May 15, 2012.

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CHINA TRADE DAY: June 11: "Please join the U.S. Commercial Service and Wesleyan University for China Trade Day. This event will educate regional firms about business opportunities in China and provide the opportunity for companies to meet with key industry and government experts from China. There will be a special afternoon session on clean energy opportunities with a focus on hydrogen, fuel cells, and energy storage!   This event is being held on Monday, June 11, 2012 from 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Wesleyan University, Beckham Hall, 45 Wyllys Avenue, Middletown. Please click here for additional information and to register."—from an email sent by organizers

HEADLINES:

News & opinion:

Sports:

Features:

EVENTS & REMINDERS 

Adults:

• DARIEN FARMER'S MARKET Runs today from 11 to 4 p.m. in the Mechanic Street Parking Lot, behind Darien Fire Department fire station.
• Movie: "We Bought a Zoo": 1:30 p.m. Community Room, Darien Library. (2011) Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson;PG (2 hrs., 4 mins.)—library announcement—IMDb—trailer—Rotten Tomatoes 
•  THURSDAY: Darien High School Spring Concert: Free. 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.). Auditorium, Darien High School. The DHS Band and Jazz Ensemble will be playing. ( on Darien Patch)
• FRIDAY: Artist reception: Linda Lyons: 6 to 8:30 p.m., Lower level, Darien Library. "Please join our Art on View artist, Linda Lyons, at her reception [...] Her show is on view on the Lower Level in the Library until May 31. 'When engaged in painting from observation, I seek to evoke the sense of atmospheric phenomenon found in nature, creating a dialogue in which the subject transcends the canvas, evoking a sense of deep, intimate space, the perception of color as light,' she said."—from  on Darien Patch

Reminders:

• Submit art to the 54th Annual Darien Art Show & Sale: "Artists may enter up to two pieces of artwork, with a registration fee of $20 for adults and $10 for Students per submission. The Darien Arts Center encourages all interested artists to pre-register online through  its website."— on Darien Patch
• REGISTER: Darien's Got Talent competition: "Do you think you can dance like Jennifer Lopez, sing like Christina Aguilera, or play a musical instrument better than Yo Yo Ma or Jimmy Hendrix? [...] If the above describes you, and you are between the ages of 10 and 100, then start preparing for some awesome auditions [...]"—from the  on Darien Patch
• Crazy for Quilts ~ Scrapbooks in Silk and Satin: "Elegant, silk crazy quilts from the collection of the Darien Historical Society."—from on Darien Patch
  

Parents:

• THURSDAY: Explaining the Birds & the Bees: Register first. 9:30 a.m. Darien Library. "When should parents begin explaining reproduction, puberty, and sexual health to children? How can parents do so in a way that is informational yet developmentally appropriate?  Amanda and Ed will help moms and dads prepare to have a frank discussion on "the birds and the bees" with their child.  Please register online."—from the library announcement.  
  
• Ways to Control Your Kids' Use of TV: "TV Watch is encouraging parents, grandparents and others who want to take control of TV viewing in their homes to “Spring into Action” by learning the television content ratings, utilizing parental controls, monitoring the TV and spreading the word to other parents."—from an announcement by the Charleston, SC-based group.
• Methodist Family Center Preschool Camp: "MFCP is offering camp for preschool children starting May 29 and ending June 29"—from on Darien Patch
• New Methodist Family Center Preschool program for 4-year-olds: "MFCP is offering the new Navigators program to students enrolled in the four-year-old classes this fall."—from on Darien Patch.
• YWCA Toddler Time and Summer Fun Registration for 2012-2013
• at the Darien Nature Center

Kids:

• Toddler Tales: 10:30 to 11 a.m. Storytime Room, Darien Library. "Walkers up to 36 months and caregiver."—library announcement 
• APPROACHING: White Aligator on exhibit at the Maritime Aquarium: May 26 Through Labor Day. Free with Maritime Aquarium admission. Norwalk. "Of some 5 million or so American alligators thought to be alive, fewer than 100 are white, according to the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, which owns this 'great white of the wetlands.' The 8-foot American alligator [...] is an albino animal – its teeth, dear, and its skin are all pearly white. Albino animals (and people) lack the pigment, called melanin, that normally gives color to the skin, hair and eyes."—from the .

Teens:

• Darien High School schedule: "F" Day. Order of periods: 3 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 5
• Darien Depot Sexual Abuse Program for Teens: 7 p.m. The Depot. "The Center for Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling and Education will present an educational program for Darien teens at the Depot on May 16. The featured speaker will be author and newspaper columnist Sarah Darer Littman. Littman, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, will present “Speaking Up.” She will share her experiences and discuss why it is important for the community to talk about the realities of such abuse."—from on Darien Patch
• Audition to play at graduation: There will be two slots available for musical performances at graduation. Performances could include an acappella song, a song with musical accompaniment, or an instrumental. Mandatory auditions will be held on Wednesday, May 30th at 2:45 in the Choral Room."—from the announcement on the Home page of Darien High School
• How would you improve the Darien High School Library? You can meet at 2:30 p.m. Thursday or next Tuesday at 7:15 a.m. at the school library to tell them, or submit an anonymous survey. "The Library Staff is looking for input from students and staff on our space, resources, services, technology, and equipment. We want  to be able to meet the changing needs of all our users. For example:  Would you like more chairs for reading?  Different technology?"—from the announcement on the Home page of Darien High School.
• THURSDAY: Darien High School Spring Concert: Free. 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.). Auditorium, Darien High School. The DHS Band and Jazz Ensemble will be playing. Know anyone in it? ( on Darien Patch)
• SATURDAY: Band Night at the Depot: $10. "Doors open at 7 pm. Featuring Meg Richter, Premonition, Cataclysm."—Depot announcement
• Pet food collection: "DAWG [Darien Animal Welfare Group] will be collecting unopened dog and cat food, treats, toys, and paper towels from May 8-18.  The collection box is near the office, and all donations will go to the Humane Society of Connecticut."—Darien High School announcement
• Darien Depot: May Calendar

DARIEN PLAYHOUSE SHOWTIMES

• Dark Shadows: 7 p.m. PG-13 (1 hr. 53 min.)—"Are you stoned or something?" "They tried stoning me, my dear. It did not work."—IMDb—trailer—Rotten Tomatoes

• Marvel's The Avengers: 7 p.m. PG-13 (2 hrs. 22 min.). "Dr. Banner, your work is unparalleled, and I'm a huge fan of the way you lose control and turn into an enormous green rage monster." "Thanks."—IMDb—trailer—trailer—Rotten Tomatoes

FORECAST as of 8:29 p.m. Tuesday (update)

• Wednesday: "A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after noon. Areas of dense fog before 10am. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 70. South wind between 5 and 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent."
• Wednesday Night: "A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. North wind between 9 and 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent."
• Tide information

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:

• Commission on Aging, 9 a.m., Room 119

• Darien Police Headquarters Building Committee 3 p.m., Conference Room, Darien Library, 1441 Post Rd.
  

DARIEN TV79 SCHEDULE

Airing this week…

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    • Weed Beach Bldg Comm.  5/9  ( runs :56 )                  AGENDA
      • Airs:  7:02, 8:52 AM & PM

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    • Board of Selectmen  5/7  (runs  :28 )                           AGENDA
      •  Airs:  6:10, 8:00  AM & PM

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  •  
    • Bd of Ed / Mather “Shuffle”  5/8   ( runs  :24 )                       
      • Airs  6:38, 8:28 AM & PM

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  •  
    •  RTM - Finance & Budget  5/7   ( runs  1:39 )              AGENDA
      •  Airs  4:31, 9:48 AM & PM

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    •  Board of Education  5/8    ( runs  2:16 )                     AGENDA
      •  Airs   2:15 AM & PM

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    • Planning & Zoning Comm  5/11   ( runs 2:48 )             AGENDA
      • Airs  11:27 AM & PM

Planned coverage in the week ahead: (live coverage pre-empts schedule above)

Wednesday:    7:30 pm          Parks & Rec Comm.                          taped

                        7:45 pm          Zoning Bd of Appeals              live                 

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

HOW TO USE PATCH:

• Claim your business's Darien Patch listing

Forecast obtained from the National Weather Service.