Join volunteers in Stamford and Darien at SoundWaters Make a Difference Day from 10 a.m. to p.m., Saturday, May 18, at Weed Beach.
Help change the world, one beach at a time, by cleaning the shoreline to protect birds and marine animals; clearing debris that still remains from Storm Sandy; and participating as a citizen scientist to monitor migration patterns of horseshoe crabs. Appropriate for all ages. Discover Camp SoundWaters and the exciting hands-on experiences for children in grades K through 8 during an open house at the SoundWaters Center. For more information, visit www.soundwaters.org.
Make a Difference Day at Weed Beach
Coffee and the News: Enrollment edition
Every other week, we ask residents to join us at the Darien Library to talk about what matters to them.
What issues in town are important to you? We want you to tell us.
Tomorrow, we’ll have another session of Coffee and the News at the Darien Library at 10:30 a.m.
We’ll bring the coffee and donuts, you bring the discussion.
Darien PD collecting prescription drugs
The Darien Health Department and the Darien Police Department, in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration, will host a National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Darien Recycling Center, 126 Ledge Road.
It’s quick, easy and free. Just drive through and drop off your unwanted or unused prescription drugs with no questions asked.
So clean out your medicine cabinet and safely dispose of those unwanted drugs to help prevent misuse or improper disposal.
Ellen Dunn named principal of Darien High School
Ellen Dunn, the current assistant principal at Darien High School, was named the new principal at Darien High School.
She will start her new position July 1 and will replace Arlene Gottsman, who is currently serving as the interim principal.
The following is a release from Superintendent Stephen Falcone:
“Ellen Dunn has had a distinguished career in education, 25of which have been at Darien High School. Since 2007, Mrs. Dunn has been an Assistant Principal and previously served as Science Department Coordinator and science teacher.
Prior to her coming to Darien High School, Mrs. Dunn taught in the diocesan school system of Bridgeport. She is certified to teach (and has taught) biology, chemistry, and physics including courses at the honors level. In addition to her teaching and administrative duties, Mrs. Dunn has served on the K-12 Science Curriculum Committee, the Darien High School Faculty Council, and as a Class Advisor.
In her role as teacher and assistant principal, Mrs. Dunn has been recognized for moving forward instructional initiatives focused on improving student performance and expanding opportunities for learning.
As department coordinator, she was integrally involved in bringing technology to the classroom, particularly with the inclusion of electronic data-gathering tools. She was the coordinator who helped to bring the Authentic Science Research program to Darien as well. During her tenure as coordinator, department offerings in science grew tremendously, AP program enrollment and offerings rose, and curriculum was continually refined to meet the needs of students.
As an assistant principal, Mrs. Dunn has taken a central leadership role in the coordination of Professional Learning Communities, led the process for the development of the master schedule, and served as a leader in the NEASC visit preparation and follow-up process.
Her efforts have been geared to ensuring that all students have a rich academic and personal experience, which has been reflected in her leadership in bridging general and special education as well as the coordination of the Names Day Program. She continues to exhibit a passion for mentoring teachers and supporting all teachers’ instructional growth.
It has been noted that she “uses her distinct teaching abilities to skillfully communicate and convey the intricacies of excellent high school teaching to the faculty she evaluates.”
Ellen’s leadership has been collaborative as she has engaged students, parents, teachers, support personnel and others for the purpose of promoting student well-being and growth. She has the highest integrity, compassion for the most vulnerable, and an ability to empathize. It, too, is important that these skills allow Ellen to put systems in place that support students.
As a colleague shared, “it is this openness to ideas, the respect for all perspectives, coupled with Ellen’s ability to translate these ideas into an actionable plan that sets her apart from her peers.”
Ellen Dunn earned her undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Trinity College in Hartford. She then received a Master of Arts degree in Teaching and a 6th Year in Educational Leadership from Sacred Heart University. She has guided student teachers in her role as a teacher coach for the district while she was Science Department Coordinator and has participated in numerous workshops throughout the state.
Mrs. Dunn currently resides in Fairfield, CT with her family.”
New CT gun bill and Darien
Darien Police Capt. Frederick Komm released the following information regarding the recently approved gun bill and how it will affect Darien.
Numerous inquiries have been received from residents as concerns the new legislation pertaining to firearms. Most of the inquiries center around firearms characterized as assault weapons, and large capacity ammunition magazines acquired by residents prior to the passage of the new law. The Darien Police Department wants to assure residents that should they own and possess either weapons and/or magazines that can no longer be legally purchased, that they will not be contacted, or visited by Darien Police. The compliance requirements of the law in question are still a work in progress with many of the logistical compliance features yet to be finalized at the State level. Once the compliance mechanism is set in place, I am advised that the State Police Public Information Office, and other informational sources, including the Darien Police Department, will bring clarity as to the specifics of what is procedurally required for currently owned weapons and large capacity magazines.
Darien Arts Center offering scholarship
Applications are now being accepted for the Ginny Wright Scholarship to a Darien High School senior who plans to continue his or her study of art in college.
Applications are due by April 19, and portfolios will be accepted during the week of April 22 at the Darien Arts Center.
For applications or information, call 203-655-8683 or visit arts.darien.org.
First selectman calls for shelter task force volunteers
The following press release came from First Selectman Jayme Stevenson:
The Town of Darien is committed to enhancing our disaster preparedness capability by forming an Emergency Shelter Task Force. Emergency Shelter Task Force volunteers would receive shelter operations training and be called upon, when necessary, to support the town’s emergency shelter response. Shelter training is a two-hour long workshop that consists of providing an orientation of sheltering operations. This is an excellent opportunity to be part of a volunteer team that provides assistance in local disaster situations that may affect our community. “This would greatly bolster our capabilities to provide for a local shelter operation in widespread disaster situations” stated Marc McEwan, Emergency Management Director for Darien. First Selectman Jayme Stevenson said “Our Emergency Operations Team recognizes and supports providing a local shelter option for our residents in times of disaster but we need the help of trained community volunteers to help provide this service.”
In a partnership with the American Red Cross, Darien will have Red Cross instructors teach this local workshop. The workshop is scheduled to be taught prior to the beginning of next hurricane season, or by June 1st.
Please contact the Town of Darien at 203-656-7345 to enroll or email us at darieneoc@darienct.gov.
Parties looking for a few good candidates
Both political parties in Darien have put out the call for candidates for the municipal election in November.
Darien voters will cast ballots for first selectman; members of the boards of Selectmen, Finance, Education and Assessment Appeals and Planning and Zoning Commission; town clerk; town treasurer; tax collector; and constables.
Interested candidates must be residents of Darien and registered as a Democrat or Republican.
Democrats should call Randall Klein of the Democratic Town Committee at 203-655-5076 or info@dariendemocrats.com.
In addition to the elective positions, the Republican Town Committee has issued an alert to residents to volunteer for appointed slots on the Architectural Review Board, Beautification Commission, Monuments and Ceremonies Commission, Parks and Recreation, and Youth Commission. Meetings generally are conducted monthly in the evenings.
To be considered by the RTC for elected and appointed positions, call Seth Morton at 203-348-5005 or email info@darienrtc.com.
