Clamdigging Around Rowayton

Everything that is… just right for Rowayton.

Archive for April, 2012

And the “Stars” came out, Saturday Night… in Rowayton

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Thank you.............

Thank you to all… for making the Rowayton Library’s Fourth Annual Father Daughter Ball such a special evening for the daughters and fathers of Rowayton, and beyond.

The Rowayton Library’s Board of Trustees and the Father Daughter Ball Committee would like to thank everyone who helped.  And, thank you, to the community, for making this library fundraiser  a sold out event.  As part of the Library’s yearly fundraising plan, the Ball helps fund the programs and books and materials enjoyed by all.    And a special thank you to those who “tipped” our servers – in support of the Kids’ Summer Reading Program.

And a BIG Thank you to our supporters…


The Sattler Family
The Darien Rowayton Bank
David M. Osherow, D.D.S. (Orthodontics)
The Restaurant at Rowayton Seafood
The Rowayton Gardeners
Whitebridge Wines
Hoyt Livery
Rowayton Wine Shop
Kings of Karaoke CT
Brendan’s 101
Norwalk Tents

and all the wonderful glamorous volunteers and paparazzi,
and all those who worked behind the scenes!

Pictures to come next week!

Basic Coastal Boating Skills… State Certification… Rowaytonites… man those boats!

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Darien Sail & Power Squadron presents Basic Coastal Boating Skills …State Certification

A Safe Boating Course will be presented at Noroton Yacht Club, beginning at 7:30pm on Monday April 30, continuing to meet twice a see for six classes and an exam.  Emphasizing basic coastal boating skills, the course covers basic boat handling and seamanship, equipment and regulations, an introduction to charts and aids to navigation, basic piloting, and navigation rules.  The cost of the course ($95) includes the text book, charts and plotting equipment. Although pre-registration is not necessary, course materials may be reserved by filling in the form at www.dsps.darien.org or by phoning (203) 656 -1129 for further information.

50 Years… Rowayton Art Show helps educate children

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CCNS’s Art Show – Seven Featured Artists

Founded in 1953, the Community Cooperative Nursery School (www.ccnsct.com) is one of a few cooperative preschools left in Connecticut where parents own and participate in the running of the school.  The school’s curriculum focuses on learning through play, creativity and nature.

For 50 years, Rowayton’s little red schoolhouse on a hill has also been transforming itself into a high caliber art gallery, featuring a range of works by over a 100 local and international artists as its means to support their educational goals.

In advance of CCNS’ 50th Anniversary Art Show fundraiser to be held June 7-10, each week this blog hopes to introduce one of the featured artists.  The show will be a “best of” retrospective with artists who represent a range of styles and visions, coming from as near as SoNo and far away as SoHo and Holland.   Forty percent of the proceeds from the show go directly to CCNS and are tax deductible.

Here is a list of featured artists:  Paul Balmer, Andrea Bonfils, Helen Cantrell, Eline de Jonge, Lori Glavin, Claudia Mengel, and Duvian Montoya.

Rowayton Gardeners’ Annual Plant Sale – Jump Start Your Garden

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Mark your calendars for their Annual Plant Sale fundraiser on Saturday, May 5 from 9am-Noon at the Rowayton Community Center.

The Rowayton Gardeners’ Plant Sale is special because club members dig all of the perennials, with care, from their own garden beds. Shoppers can be confident that the perennials that they buy are either natives, zone-hardy or simply fail-proof plants that are well suited to area gardens. In addition to the perennials, lovely hand-made seasonal arrangements, annual baskets, herbs & garden-inspired gifts will be available for purchase.

This year the Gardeners will be offering their first annual garden tool sale. This mild winter allowed many “spring cleaning” opportunities. The Rowayton Gardeners are digging out a wide variety of gently used garden tools and paraphernalia to sell at reasonable prices.

This is one of two annual fundraisers for the club. Money raised is used to maintain the gardens at Bayley Beach, the Rowayton Community Center, the Pinkney Park herb garden as well as the Rowayton School Pond, in addition to other activities.

Rowaytonites… last chance to clean out those closets

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Fashion Republic - Clothing

You can donate used clothing

On Saturday, April 28 from 10am-2pm., the Brien McMahon Parents Club is running a clothing drive to help fund scholarships and enrichment programs at Brien McMahon.  They need Your Old Clothes!  So, if you are ready to discard those clothes that no one at home is wearing:  men’s women’s, and kid’s clothing; coats, ties, gloves, shoes, boots, belts, handbags, linens, pillows, towels, sheets, backpacks, briefcases, and stuffed animals, just package your items up in plastic bags (shoes should be kept separate) and bring them to Brien McMahon High School’s main entrance.

Fashion Republic - Toys

You can donate gently used stuffed animals

The school will be paid by the pound of clothing, so bring as much as you’ve got!!!

It’s the Last Show for their 22nd Season: Come to Rowayton

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Bob Franke

Last Show for their 22nd Season:  Good Folk Coffeehouse … April 28

The Good Fold Coffeehouse presents Bob Franke on Saturday, April 28.   Doors open at 7:30pm and the music starts at 8pm.  Adult donations are $25 and Children 7-12 are half price.  Children under 7 are welcome.  No reservations are necessary.  The Rowayton United Methodist Church, Fellowship Hall, 5 Pennoyer Street.  For more information, please visit them at www.goodfolkcoffeehouse.com.

Calling all Rowaytonites… Everyone is invited to the Annual WellFest on Saturday, April 28…

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Learn more about getting healthy, staying healthy and have fun doing it!   With support from the United Way of Coastal Fairfield County and the Norwalk Early Childhood Council, Norwalk’s School Readiness Preschool Providers are sponsoring the 2nd ANNUAL WELLFEST on Saturday, April 28, 2012from 9am-1pm in the St. Thomas Gym, 208 East Avenue in Norwalk.   There will be prizes, free books, healthy snacks and more!  Your child can touch a fire truck, sit in a police car or crawl through the smokehouse and learn more about fire safety.  You’ll get information about getting healthy and staying healthy from the Norwalk Health Department and the Norwalk Community Health Center.  Your children can enjoy stories, music and exercise, face painting, free books and more! Free fingerprinting for your child will be provided by New York Life and Financial.

April is Poetry Month – A Zen Moment from the Rowayton Library

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Rowayton Library's Haiku Contest

Rowayton Library's Seventh Annual Haiku Contest Winners - 2012

The Rowayton Library has held its annual Haiku Contest for the community for seven years and it is still going strong.  More than 270 Haiku were submitted for review by our judge, award winning poet Vinni Marie D’Ambrosio.

Anyone can write a Haiku and, at the Rowayton Library, everyone is a winner (of a Rowayton Library pencil just for entering).

And why would you enter?

Why would you take a moment to write a Haiku?

For the pencil?

Maybe.

Or…

maybe for experiencing that moment, that ability to capture a moment in time and share it – by writing a Haiku.

It is that Zen moment and we would like to share with you – the Haiku moments of this year’s winners.

(listed alphabetically by first name)

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-Aidan Maloney

It’s a wonderful

Day I see red leaves, roses

Thorns poison ivy?!?!?!

*

-Aidan Maloney

Gleaming stars twinkle

In the shimmering light of

The winking white moon

*

-Aidan Maloney

Nothingness looms in

The deeply depressed dark sky

Until the stars light

*

-Aidan Maloney

I am a thunder cloud

I am a lightening bolt

I’m amazing weather

*

School

-Aidan Maloney

“Ring!” children’s voices

Fill the jammed hallway “Ring!”

School’s out kids sprint home

*

Winter

-Alexa Flores

Winter, oh winter

The snow is gleaming, (sparkle)

Oh winter, oh wind

*

Winter

-Annika Friedrichsen

Winter morning sun

Rises against the cold snow

Melts it all away

*

Summer

-Austin Keller

Summer is steaming,

Steaming hot, burning my feet,

On the burning sand

*

-Bianca Kave

Nature’s wind blows softly

They whisper I am here now

As they soar through kites

*

-Bianca Kave

Don’t you know there’s a

Winter fairy that flutters

Don’t you know she’s real?

*

Winter

-Billy Begos

Snow flies through my hair

Snow truck rumbles down the lane

Pushing snow aside

*

Spring

-Billy Begos

Worms crawl under me

Crawling under the spring wind

Making richer soil

*

Autumn

-Billy Begos

Falling down down down

Leaves crunching under my feet

Everlasting sound

*

Summer

-Billy Begos

Waves crashing at my feet

Moving golden sands aside

Cold and refreshing

*

Autumn

-Billy Begos

Autumn’s here and now

Leaves are falling very fast

Autumn is awesome

*

Summer

-Billy Begos

Spring’s left, come outside

The waves crashing by my side

Yay,   it’s summertime

*

Breana Alvarez

The sea is crashing

Waves, cold, blue, ocean water

Rolls in really fast

*

Ocean

-Claire Ripperger

Starfish stick to rocks

Sharks chasing prey for their lunch

Dolphins swim with joy

*

Winter Time

-Dairelys Miser

Winter winter winter is here!

Burr burr winter is cold burr burr!

Burr burr burr winter!

*

Spring is here

-Evelyn Barragan

Flowers in my hair

The grass rubs against my feet

I’m welcoming spring

*

-Finley Harris

Rain falls on the ground

My umbrella is broken

Now I can’t go out!

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-Gabriella Larsen

My mom’s car glowed in

The dark as she was driving

I was watching her

*

Winter

-Gracie Stadler

Winter snowflakes

As white as a polar bear

It is very cool

*

Peace

-Greer Lammens

The storm has ended

The birds are starting to sing

The world is at peace

*

The Ocean

-Greer Lammens

A big wonderland

Filled with fish, serpents, and more

One place I call home

*

Fall

-Isabella Bartilucci

Leaves fall from the trees

Blowers spin leaves in the air

Like a tornado

*

Spring

-Isabella Fortuna

Spring has come again

Rose petals bloom on bushes

And worms come around

*

-Jack Farrar

The sun shines on the

Ocean as beautiful fish

Swim through the great depths

*

-Jack Farrar

Something is somewhere,

A bush? Behind a tree? Or…

Maybe its just me

*

-Jack Farrar

The shells are scattered

All along the shore mixed with

Beautiful red rocks

*

-Jack Farrar

I like how the sun

Rises in the east and sets

In the far far west

*

-Jack Farrar

Bunnies jump around

In circles like happy goats

When winter begins

*

-Jack Farrar

The bugs fly through the

air wildly while the bats chase

The flies rapidly

*

-Jack Farrar

Flowers bloom in the

Beautiful garden of the

Kings ancient palace

*

-Jack Farrar

The storm has ended

Thunder won’t boom anymore

Here comes the warm sun

*

Falling leaves

-James Yallop

Leaves have changed colors

Now they will fall down the trees

And fly with the wind

*

Falling snow

-James Yallop

Snow is falling down

Soft flakes landing on my tongue

Turn into water

*

Growing trees

-James Yallop

Seeds have been planted

Now they will rise from the ground

Heading for the skies

*

-John Fassett

Spring, flowers blooming

Deer prancing, rabbits bouncing,

All great things in spring

*

Flowers

-Juliet DiTaranto

Flowers are pretty

They have fun shining like stars

They like to show off

*

Clouds

-Juliet DiTaranto

The clouds float around

They are like huge cotton balls

And they also cry

*

-Kathleen Conway

Mourning doves return

Blue cloudless sky, hawk circling

poAH, coo, coo, coo

*

-Kathleen Conway

One drop of water

Rests on anonymous leaf

Makes a perfect shelf

*

Sky

-Katie Lane

Blue high up above

There’re white pillows in the sky

And sleet and snow come

*

-Kate Lane

Pebbles of water

They trickle down fast and slow

Splash, on my window

*

Sunset

-Kate Lane

Sunset in my eye

Over the hill in the sky

Then at six am

*

-Macy Baker

Rain drops keep falling

On my head the dog is wet

Oh my what a mess

*

-Malcolm

Along came a bee

Actually stung my tongue

Then there was a swarm

*

Winter

-Morgan Reichman

The snow covered trees

Blow in the freezing cold wind

As I walk outside

*

Natalia Fortuna

As I run back home

I feel the wind on my face

I forgot my coat

*

-Natalia Fortuna

I see the white fog

It blocks the bright big hot sun

Then the sun moves

*

-Natalie Ramos

The pumpkin watched as

The kids came up the steps to

Get their trick or treat

*

-Natalie Ramos

Kids were swimming in

The hot summery day as

Adults tried to tan

*

-Pat Begos

Partly sunny, clouds

Chance of rain 50 percent

Tomorrow, windy

*

-Rachel Smith

Wind is much rougher

Than it was in the summer

Which means Fall is here

*

-Rachel Smith

When the sun rises

It does a happy sun dance

Also when it sets

*

Spring

-Robbie Whitney

Spring is blooming fast

Everything is pretty

Why would I dare blink?

*

The Forrest

-Robbie Whitney

The leaves go crackle

The branches cover the sun

And the squirrels run free

*

Storm

-Sebastian Tchkotoua

Lighting is striking,

Rain is pouring down, down, down

In a great harsh storm

*

-Sebastian Tchkotoua

“Roar, chirp, moo, bak- bak”

Who is saying these weird things?

Animals, all types

*

-Sebastian Tchkotoua

Words, words like big, BIG!!!

Words, words like small, small! Are all…

Parts of nature, BIG!!!

*

The Beach

-Stella Widmer

Walking on the beach

My feet melt into the sand

They soon disappear

*

Wind Mystery

-Tom R Ward

Wind is blowing now

How can it go by itself?

No one understands

*

Summer’s Return

-William Owen McClung

Waves are crashing fast,

Crashing on my chest and limbs,

Summer has returned

*

Frigid water

-Wyatt Machette

The oceans very cold

You jump in – shivers down your back,

You’re out in a flash

*

Rain fall

-Wyatt Machette

The rain falls in drops

Puddles form in dimples of earth

Kids now play in them

*

Day light

-Wyatt Machette

Sun rays hit the ground

Light cascades over our world,

Morning comes quickly

And, following the long established tradition of celebrating nature with poetry, the Rowayton Library is holding a celebration and poetry reading honoring the winners.  The winners are invited to come read their winning poems.  Friends and Family are invited to the festivities and to sample a selection of Italian desserts and coffee on Sunday, April 22 at 1pm at the Rowayton Library.

Vinni Marie D’Ambrosio has been the judge for the Rowayton Library’s Haiku Contest since its inception.  A graduate of Smith College and New York University, Vinni Marie D’Ambrosio, Ph. D., is a poet and scholar whose work is found in anthologies, journals, newspapers, as well as in her collections of poems, An Italian Morning (Waterside Press), Life of Touching Mouths (New York University Press), in her long narrative poem, Mexican Gothic (about Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, woodcuts by Karen Kunc, Blue Heron Press), and in her cultural study of T.S. Eliot’s youth, Eliot Possessed (New York University Press). Her poem “Copper Beech” appears on a public memorial monument commissioned by New York City.

The definition for Haiku for this contest was as follows:

An original poem of 17 syllables in 3 lines written in the format of: line 1 in 5 syllables, line 2 in 7 syllables, and  line 3 in 5 syllables; Depicting a season; Describing an event of nature; Without violence.

The Rowayton Library, 33 Highland Avenue, Rowayton, CT.  For more information, please call the Library at (203) 838-5038.  This program is free and open to the public.

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