Darien Morning Briefing: Dec. 9, 2011

Today is Friday, Dec. 9, the 342nd day of 2011, four days before the town Shuffle Referendum and 16 days before Christmas.

On Monday, the "State of the Town" Representative Town meeting will be held in the Town Hall Auditorium at 8 p.m. It is open to the public and will feature "State of the Town" addresses from First Selectman Jayme Stevenson, Planning & Zoning Commission Chairman Fred Konze, Board of Education Chairman Elizabeth A. Hagerty-Ross and Board of Finance Chairman Elizabeth Mao.

HEADLINES

Holiday-related:

• Gift idea: "Amid the Cold of Winter": "The Darien Tudor Singers' Holiday CD "Amid the Cold of Winter" is available now for $15. Featuring studio recordings of 16 holiday and seasonal favorites performed by the 2008-2010 Tudor Singers, the album is a great way to celebrate the season while supporting choral music at DHS. The CD may be purchased from Mr. Andrade and is also available at Barrett Bookstore. Checks should be made payable to 'DHS.'"—Darien High School website (and you can listen to a short mix here.)
• Gift idea on Video: Miss Elisabeth & Children's Library suggest three books that make great gifts.

SHUFFLE REFERENDUM INFORMATION:

Websites for each camp:

• Stop the Shuffle
• Vote Yes Darien

From the town website:

• Taxpayer Impact of BOE/Mather Community Center Renovation
• P&Z Commission Mandatory Referral, 2 Renshaw Rd.
• P&Z Commission Mandatory Referral, 35 Leroy Ave.
• Mather Community Center Cost Analysis
• BOE/Mather Community Center Presentation, 9.19.11
• Annual Debt Service & Outstanding Principal
• Bond Total
• Public Works Garage Remodel
• BOE Occupancy Comparison
• Town Facility Optimization

EVENTS & REMINDERS

Adults:

• Darien Library Friday Film: The Help (2011) Starring Emma Stone, Viola Davis, and Bryce Dallas Howard; PG-13 (146 min).
• Holiday Gingerbread Tree at Town Hall "decorated with colorful paper Gingerbread people describing various ways to help  children, families and seniors in Darien, who are in need.  There is also a Gingerbread tree at the Darien Rowayton Bank on the Post Road Pick a Gingerbread tag, fill a wish, and drop it off at Social Services, Rm. 109. For more information on making a donation you can call 203-656-7328."—Town website
• SATURDAY: : 7:30 p.m. in Norwalk Concert Hall, 125 East Ave., Norwalk. "Admission is FREE.   The 65-member, 4-part mixed chorus, directed by Brian Muller, will perform music for the holiday season."—quoted from the events listing.

Kids:

• IMAX movies at the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk: 12 p.m.; , 1 p.m.
• Drop In: We've Got Game: At the Darien Library, 4:15 to 5:45 p.m. "An afternoon gaming program playing Nintendo Wii on the big screen. Kids are encouraged to bring their own handhelds. Ages 7 and up."—library website

TEENS

Darien High School: 

• Schedule: for an E Day, periods will be: 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 8

The Depot:

• Closed tonight for a private party
• SATURDAY Band Night: Starts at 7 p.m. Cost: $10. Bands: Meg Richter, “One Takes Al,” “Stereo Story,” “Premonition.”

DARIEN PLAYHOUSE SHOWTIMES

• The Muppets: 6:30 p.m., 8:45 p.m. (1 hr. 38 min.) — IMDb—trailer—trailer—website—Rotten Tomatoes
• New Year's Eve: 7 p.m., 9:15 p.m. (1 hr. 57 min.)—IMDb—trailer—website—Rotten Tomatoes

GOVERNMENT MEETINGS

None scheduled.

FORECAST as of 6:21 a.m., Friday (update)

• Friday: "Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. Southwest wind between 8 and 10 mph."
• Friday Night: " Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. West wind around 9 mph."

INTERSTATE 95 TRAFFIC CAMS

• 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

• Low tide: 4:08 a.m. (0.6')
• Sunrise: 7:07 a.m.
• High tide: 10:13 a.m. (7.3')
• Low tide: 4:46 p.m. (0.0')
• Sunset: 4:25 p.m.
• High tide: 10:46 p.m. (6.7')

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