Five Things to Know About Darien, March 8

Budget Hearing: Have an opinion about Darien's school or municipal budget? Tonight at 7:30 p.m., the Board of Finance will hold a public hearing on the two funding requests — and , respectively — in the Auditorium. All residents are entitled to attend and be heard on the matter. The hearing will be carried live on .

Stefanoni Vote: Following the applicants' denial of another extension, the Planning and Zoning Commission on Chris and Margaret Stefanoni's proposed tonight at its 8 p.m. meeting (room 206). A rejection the project seems all but assured given the chilly response it's received over the past several months, setting up a possible lawsuit by the developers under affordable housing statute 8-30g. With a decision deadline on Thursday, the commission has built in an extra meeting for Wednesday in case of an unforseen delay, according to P&Z Director Jeremy Ginsberg. 

Beach Permits: It might not bring on warm weather any faster, but the Parks and Recreation Department is now accepting applications (online or by mail) for beach permits. The decals are required for vehicle access to the town's beaches between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Extraordinary Lives: The 's Spring Book Discussion Series with Stacy's Schiff's Cleopatra: A Life. The biography of Egypt's last pharoah chronicles her tumultuous reign, from marrying her brothers to poisoning one and waging war against the other. Prior reading of the books is not required to attend, though the library has copies available to borrow. (The three-part series — "Extraordinary Lives, Extraordinary Times" — will pick up again on April 5 with Julie Orringer's The Invisible Bridge.)

Sun, Then Rain: The National Weather Service is calling for sunshine and highs in the 40s Tuesday, but increasing cloud cover is expected to give way to rain by late Wednesday or early Thursday. Up to 3 inches may be in the offing, the service warns, potentially causing more flooding around the area.