Darien Morning Briefing: 5.7.12, Monday

Long video of the day: Cristina Alger, author of The Darlings, the featured speaker at Darien Library on April 24, reads from her novel and talks about it. (30 mins.) (link)

Today is Monday, May 7, 2012.

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HEADLINES:

News & opinion:

Sports:

Features:

EVENTS & REMINDERS 

Adults

• Crazy for Quilts ~ Scrapbooks in Silk and Satin: "Elegant, silk crazy quilts from the collection of the Darien Historical Society."—from on Darien Patch
  
• Darien 4th of July Fireworks t-shirt contest: "Submit your artwork and the winner’s designs will serve as Darien’s official 4th of July Fireworks T-shirt! Hurry soon and fill out the information below, the contest will close May 15."—from on Darien Patch
• YWCA Darien/Norwalk Women of Distinction Awards & Luncheon: 11:30 a.m., Thursday, May 10. Tickets are now on sale. See the YWCA website for details.

Parents:

• REGISTER: Explaining the Birds & the Bees: 6:30 p.m.Wednesday, May 9 at 6:30 p.m. or Thursday, May 17 at 9:30 a.m. "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."—library announcement and registration form
• TUESDAY: Frontline video—"The Medicated Child": 10 to 11 a.m. Community Room, Darien Library. "Producer Marcela Gaviria confronts psychiatrists, researchers and government regulators about the risks and benefits of prescription drugs for children. (60 minutes)"—from the library announcement
• TUESDAY: Talk—"Reframing the College Process": 7 p.m. Darien Library. "This presentation offers parents the opportunity and tools to identify and effectively manage the anxiety associated with the college process. We CAN help our children develop the independence and confidence necessary to be resilient young adults, who can successfully make the transition to college and beyond, while maintaining strong bonds with their family. The college application process is ripe with opportunities that help our children hone these life skills."—from the library announcment
• TUESDAY: DHSPA meeting: "Please join us for our next DHSPA meeting on Tuesday May 8th in the DHS auditorium. Coffee will be served at 9am, meeting will begin promptly at 9:15am. Following important end of year news and updates, we are pleased to bring you a presentation by the Thriving Youth Connected Community"
• 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:

• Movie Magic: 10:30 to 11 a.m. Darien Library. "Enjoy movies of picture book classics in the Library's Conference Room. Ages 2 to 6."—library announcement 
• StoryTime Yoga: 4 to 4:45 p.m. Darien Library. "Children ages 5 to 7 will experience a mind-body connection with StoryTime Yoga. Through movement and narrative, this class will help kids explore their imaginations and decompress after school."—from the library announcement

Teens:

• Darien High School schedule: "G" Day. Order of periods: 4 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 6
• Movie Mondays: 3 p.m., Darien Library. "Stop by the Teen Lounge at 3 p.m. to watch a movie enjoy snacks!"—library announcement
• TUESDAY: Graphic Novel Giveaway: 3 p.m. Darien Library. "Come to the Teen Lounge to browse tons of graphic novels. Take what you like!"—from the library announcement
• Mother's Day is this coming Sunday: "The Annual Garden Club Mother's Day Plant Sale will take place in the Cafeteria during lunch on May 9th, 10th, and 11th. The plants, which range from $1.00 - $3.00, make great Mother's Day Gifts!"—Darien High School announcement
• DLtean now on Tumblr: "DLteen is now on tumblr. Follow us at: http://dlteen.tumblr.com We are following all sorts of cool music, art, technology, fashion, comics, news, science, books, and other teen stuff. Check it out now!"—from the library announcement
• Darien Depot: May Calendar
• Prom ticket prices go up after today: The prom is Friday, May 18. Greenwich Hyatt. "Admission to the prom may be purchased Monday, April 23 through Monday, May 7.  Admission purchased after that time will incur a late fee. Complete information and permission forms will be mailed to junior and senior homes during break week.  Questions?  See Mrs. Ricci in the Main Office.

DARIEN PLAYHOUSE SHOWTIMES

• 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
• The Lucky One: 7 p.m., PG-13 (1 hr., 41 min.)—IMDb—trailer—Rotten Tomatoes

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:

• Park & Recreation Committee of the Representative Town Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Room 213 (PDF of agenda)
• Finance & Budget Committee of the Representative Town Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Room 119 (PDF of agenda)
• Board of Selectmen, 7:45 p.m., Room 206 (PDF of agenda)

FORECAST as of 7:36 p.m. Sunday (update)

• Monday: "Partly sunny, with a high near 68. West wind between 3 and 11 mph."
• Monday Night: "A chance of showers, mainly after 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 52. South wind between 6 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent."
• Tide information

DARIEN  GOVERNMENT  ACCESS  TELEVISION - TV79

 Airing this week…

•  Police Commission  5/2  (runs :27)                                  
  • • Airs:  4:27 Am, 3:05 PM, 7:23 PM, 8:00 PM

•  Zoning Board of Appeals  4/25  (runs  1:59)                     
  
  • •  Airs:  10:55 AM, 12:40 AM

•  Board of Education  4/24   (runs  1:48)                            
  
  • • Airs  2:39 AM< 9:07 AM, 5:35 PM

•  RTM - Finance & Budget  4/23   (runs  2:11)                   
  
  • •  Airs  6:56 AM, 12:54 PM, 8:27 PM

•  RTM – Education Comm.  4/30    (runs  2:02)                  
  • •  Airs   4:54 AM, 3:32 PM, 10:38 PM

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

Monday          7:45 pm          Board of Selectmen                          live

                      7:30 pm          RTM – Finance & Budget                  taped

Tuesday         12 Noon          Bd of Ed / Mather / “Shuffle”            live

Wednesday    10:00 am         SWRPA                                               taped 

                        7:30 pm          RTM – Public Health & Safety          live

                        7:30 pm          Weed Beach Bldg Comm.                taped

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.