Darien Morning Briefing: Tues., Jan. 10, 2012

Today is Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012.

***

***

HEADLINES

• —"Patch In" column by Heather Borden Herve
• —"You Said It" column

EVENTS & REMINDERS

Adults:

• THE DUMP TO CLOSE WEDNESDAY: Maintenance work is being done on the truck scale, the Department of Public Works . Commercial vehicles can still use the dump by paying a fee for an average load.
• WEDNESDAY: Stress reduction workshop: 7 p.m. "Dr. Robert Zembroski will host 'Combat Stress in Chaotic Times: Reduce the Seven Symptoms of Stress' at Darien Library to provide information that will help participants fight those symptoms."—according to on Darien Patch.
• WEDNESDAY: Workshop: "Is My Child Developing Normally?" 7 p.m., Norwalk City Hall. "Every parent has asked this question at some point. Join us for brief presentations followed by an open discussion with three experts in different areas of child development."—from on Patch
• The Catherine Lindsey Actors/Playwrights Workshop will present a series of workshops at Darien Library in February, March and April. "Interested playwrights should submit ten pages of their scripts to Robert Cusack at robert.cusack1@att.net by Feb. 1, 2012. [...] The workshops will allow the playwrights to refine their scripts, which will then be submitted to the Darien Library Selection Committee. On Sunday, June 10 at 2 p.m., the Actors/Playwrights Workshop will present the first public-staged reading of selections from the plays in the Library’s Community Room."—from the announcement on the library website.

Kids:

• Openings in Saturday Enrichment Program: "Intellectually curious students in grades 4-6 are invited to join like-minded children for some hands-on courses in topics like CSI: Forensics, Crazy Chemistry, Aware:Wolf, Mini Beast Biology, Math Puzzles and Riddles, Top Chef, Wondrous Words, Digital Photography, Shakespeare for Kids, Mural Painting, What Makes a Pop Song, and Expedition: China."— on Darien Patch about New Canaan Country Day School's "Think Beyond" enrichment program.
• Nutmeg @ Night Games: For Grades 4 to 6 at 6 p.m. (Register first!) "Join your favorite Children's Librarians and School Librarians for a night of Nutmeg trivia, peculiar puzzles, and crazy challenges. Win prizes as a group and as an individual!"—from
• Darien Little League Major League Tryouts: "All 10, 11 and 12-year olds (based on player's age as of 4/30/2012) who previously played in the Minors or AAA or are new this year and wish to tryout for the Majors should attend" a tryout, according to the . Mark your calendars: The "Primary Session" is on Jan. 22.
• ends Jan. 15.
• Create a video about a book you like, and enter it in the StoryTubes competition to win a prize. This week, Darien Library will have video equipment available for kids and teens from 5 to 18 years old to create their video, which can be entered into a competition from Jan. 20 to Feb. 20. The video equipment is available today from 1 to 6 p.m.

TEENS

• Darien High School Schedule: "E" day. Periods: 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 8
• STUDY UP, Part 1: Free food for Freshmen: "Freshmen are invited to COCOA & CRAM hosted by DHS Big Brothers/Big Sisters. National Honor Society tutors will also be available. Wednesday Jan. 11, 5-7 p.m. in the Learning Connections hallway classrooms. Bring your study materials & enjoy a little study snack. Work with juniors & seniors who have been through it and can give you practical advice."—Darien High School homepage.
• STUDY UP, Part 2: Today is 7 days before midterm exams on Tuesday, Jan. 17. Darien Library will stay open late: until 10:30 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday, Jan. 15 to 19. According to the library's announcement: "Also, as we did last year, we'll be offering study breaks in the Teen Lounge on the evenings of Monday the 16th and Wednesday the 18th. We will be stocked with lots of goodies, plus cupcakes for you to decorate and then devour. And you can also grab a few rounds of Wii Sports to blow off steam while you're at it."
• January Doings at the Depot: the Darien Depot's online calendar
• WRITING COMPETITION: For this third annual event sponsored by library, there is "$100 for the winner in each age group and category, You will also have the opportunity to meet with published authors and have your work printed and read by a large audience. And can you imagine putting this on your college applications?" Poetry, fiction and nonfiction are all accepted. If you have any questions, call Erica at 669-5225. [...] To enter email your entry along with the application form to teenstaff@darienlibrary.org beginning on Jan. 1.  Participants have until Feb. 28 to enter for a chance to win cash prizes.  An awards ceremony will conclude the competition on Saturday, March 31."—from the Darien Library website.
• VIDEO COMPETITION:Create a video about a book you like, and enter it in the StoryTubes competition to win a prize. This week, the library will have video equipment available for kids and teens from 5 to 18 years old to create their video, which can be entered into a competition from Jan. 20 to Feb. 20. The video equipment is available today from 1 to 6 p.m.
• BANDS & ACTS COMPETITION: JAN. 28: The free event will feature free food. "A $350 first prize and $150 runner up prize will be offered to the best acts, chosen by members of the Darien Teen Advisory Board (Caroline Farrington, Katherine Feehan, and Dylan Gabriel ). Come to see all of your friends perform or come and be in the show! If you are interested in being an act, talk to any of the judges, Caroline Farrington, or Danielle Tilford."—from the library website. Here's the application form to download and fill out.

DARIEN PLAYHOUSE SHOWTIMES

• Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked: 7 p.m. (1 hr., 27 min.) —IMDb—trailer—trailer—trailer—Rotten Tomatoes
• War Horse: 7 p.m. (2 hrs., 26 min.)—IMDb—trailer—Rotten Tomatoes
  
  

GOVERNMENT MEETINGS

All meetings take place in , 2 Renshaw Rd., unless otherwise noted.

• Board of Education, 7:30 p.m., Library Conference Room in Darien Public Schools administrative offices at Town Hall (agenda)
• Planning & Zoning Commission, 8 p.m., Room 206 (agenda)

FORECAST as of 9:41 p.m., Monday (update)

• Tuesday: "Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. West wind between 8 and 14 mph."
• Tuesday Night: "Clear, with a low around 32. North wind between 7 and 11 mph."

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

• Low tide: 5:49 a.m. (-0.1')
• Sunrise: 7:18 a.m.
• High tide: 11:50 a.m. (7.7')
• Low tide: 6:20 p.m. (-0.6')
• Sunset: 4:44 p.m.

HOW TO USE PATCH:

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