MEET THE AUTHOR!

Susan Conley

Author of The Foremost Good Fortune

Wednesday, February 16 at 7 p.m.

Click here for all the details.

An important film about Lyme Disease!

Coming soon to theaters...SOONER to Darien Library!

UNDER OUR SKIN

Thursday, May 7 at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30)

“Under Our Skin” is a dramatic tale of microbes, medicine, and money. This groundbreaking documentary investigates the human, medical, and political dimensions of Lyme disease, an emerging epidemic destroying countless lives.  
Following the stories of patients and physicians as they battle for their lives and livelihoods, the film is meant to open viewers’ eyes to a danger in their own backyards. “Under Our Skin” was an Audience Choice Award Finalist at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Lyme disease is one of the most misunderstood and controversial illnesses of our time. Because the disease is difficult to test accurately, tens of thousands of people go undiagnosed - or misdiagnosed - with such conditions as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, autism, MS, and ALS. Each year, many of these patients are told that their symptoms are “all in their heads.”

Our showing of the film is well-timed, as this is the time of year that the adult deer ticks are easier to spot, and when most people, especially children, become infected.

According to research conducted by Dr. Eva Sapi of the University of New Haven, 60% of ticks that were tested in our area are infected with the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

This film is not recommended for children or young teens. Running time is approximately 105 minutes. There will be a question and answer period following the film.

Those wishing to learn more about the film may visit www.UnderOurSkin.com. 

Those wishing to learn more about Lyme disease may contact Russell Cornelius: CTLyme@hotmail.com.

 Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen's).

DARIEN GOVERNMENT ACCESS TELEVISION - TV79

Airing this week… 

- Inside Town Hall – Dept of Public Works ( runs :44 )  Airs 1:15 am, 4 pm, 7 pm 

-Bd of Education 4-14 ( runs 1:28 )  Airs 2:15 am, 10:15 am

-Bd of Selectmen 4-20 ( runs 1:05 ) Airs 4 am, 12 noon, 8 pm 

-RTM Rules Comm. 4-20 ( runs 1:51 )  Airs 1:09 am, 5:09 am, 9:09 pm 

-Zoning Bd of Appeals 4-22 ( runs 2:03 )  Airs 7 am, 2 pm, 5 pm, 11 pm

Live coverage (usually weeknight evenings) will pre-empt the schedule above. To receive TV79’s weekly program schedule, e-mail channel79@darienct.gov

Announcing a comprehensive series of free financial workshops to help you in this time of economic uncertainty.  Experts in their fields will provide useful information to help you make informed decisions about your financial security. 

March 3 Your Approach to Money –Money Psychology and It’s Impact on Cash Management and Investment Risk Tolerance
Carol Piscitelli, MA Life Coach; Elizabeth Cox, CFP®, Director, FPA CT Pro Bono;  Christopher Tasik, CFP®, Tasik Financial Strategies LLC*  

March 10 Getting Out of the Red – Consumer and Medical Debt/Credit Management Richard Blumenthal, Attorney General, State of Connecticut; Nan Jackson, CFP®, FP; Katalin Goencz, Founder MedBills Assist.

March 17 Rebounding from Job Loss – Labor Market Trends and Reinventing Yourself in a Tough Employment Market; COBRA/Health Insurance
Jo Shute, Vice President – Marketing, Communications & Planning, The Workplace, Inc.; Richard Spann, SVP, Gateway International Group; Lydia Maffei, Insurance Broker, CLTC

March 24 Hanging on to Hearth and Home – Mortgage Debt, Refinancing, Short Sales, and Foreclosure Intervention Merrie Hawley,Esq., Attorney;  Burt Hoffman, Esq., Attorney; Marc Hawley, Mortgage Broker, Landmark Financial LLC

March 31 Securing Your Family’s Future – College and Retirement Funding Peter Slavin, President, FPA Fairfield County Chapter; John Pearson, CPA, Barnum Financial Group

These events are co-sponsored by the Darien YWCA and the Financial Planning Association of Fairfield County. All lectures will be held at the Darien Library.

Money Matters workshop attendees should register in advance and at no charge with the YWCA Darien/Norwalk.   For additional information about the YW or to register for the free workshops, visit www.YWCADarienNorwalk.org or call (203) 655-2535.  Carol Piscitelli can be reached at (203) 655-2535 x 307 or by email at ywcounsel@ywcadariennorwalk.org.  

 

Darien Government Access Television - TV79 Weekly Schedule

Here are a few thoughts on this question:

Monday's New York Times article, After Suicide, Blog Insults Are Debated, reported on an incredibly disturbing event. After being personally attacked by unwarranted comments posted on two well-known advertising blogs, the very successful and accomplished creative director of DDB-Chicago committed suicide. The article also discussed the 2006 suicide of a 13-year old girl who, in the months leading up to her death, had been cyber-bullied by an adult neighbor pretending to be a teenage boy.

We can certainly ponder the cause-and-effect relationship of bullying in the virtual world. The hard truth, however, is that what so many of us value and praise the Internet for providing - anonymity, ease of communication, freedom of expression - has, in part, morphed into a venue for virtual bashing without consequence. There it is - the electronic mob.

The even harder truth is that yes, the mob is right here in Darien. It's happening in the Darien News Blog. It's inevitably happening on our MySpace and Facebook accounts. It's even happening in The Darien Times, where individuals are using the public forum to personally attack people or the paper itself rather than presenting a civil argument on concrete issues affecting the town.

It's a curious thing. We would all take action if we saw a child being outright bullied on the playground by another child. We would stop what was happening to the best of our ability, wouldn't we? So why do we so readily accept the type of from-afar bullying that goes on in this town - the kind that tries to pass itself off as valid criticism? Why do we allow anonymity and personal attacking to occur while accountability falls by the wayside?

Another, and perhaps the most important, question for us all: What can we do about it?

For our close-knit community, as part of a world that has embraced the Internet age and freedom of speech with open arms, it's a question that should be confronted and answered. There's no doubt about that.

Perhaps a starting point for action will be the program being held at Darien Library tomorrow night at 7pm, when author Lee Siegel will be visiting to speak about the ideas in his new book, Against the Machine: Being Human in the Age of the Electronic Mob. Mr. Siegel clarifys the urgency with which we need to deal with the hidden dangers of the Internet and the lack of accountability that has become a norm in our society. Please join us and let's get the ideas rolling on how we can implement the changes that need to take place.

Don't let your excitement for Super Bowl Sunday overshadow the fact that Super Tuesday is right around the corner. If you haven't registered to vote yet for the Presidential Primary, it's not too late! You can still register in-person at the Town Clerk's office by Monday, February 4th, at 12pm. Remember that you'll need to declare your political party affiliation at the time of registration so that you can vote in the primary election.

Visiting the polls on Tuesday? Voting hours are 6am to 8pm. Check your district location before heading out:

District 1:
Ox Ridge Elementary School
395 Mansfield Avenue
656-6684

District 2:
Town Hall
2 Renshaw Road
656-7219

District 3:
Holmes Elementary School
18 Hoyt Street
708-9809

District 4:
Hindley Elementary School
10 Nearwater Lane
656-9534

District 5:
Darien High School
80 High School Lane
656-9639

District 6:
Town Hall
2 Renshaw Road
656-7219