Tuesday, February 8 at 10 AM

In Bringing Nature Home, author Douglas Tallamy discusses the tremendous value in sustaining biodiversity in our environments and how planting native species in our own gardens can help preserve the local wildlife - insects, birds and other animals. The health of local wildlife is one of the best indicators of how healthy our environment is for people, as well. And there are simple ways that we can all make a difference - no need to overhaul your exisiting garden!

On Tuesday, February 8th at 10 AM, The Garden Club of Darien will host guest speaker Dr. Douglas W. Tallamy for an event, being held in Darien Library's Community Room. Dr. Tallamy will present ways that we can help preserve wildlife and sustain the planet through our own gardens.

This lecture is free and open to the public. Come and hear how you can make a difference. Then, visit the Research Library on the 2nd floor for a handout and display of sustainable gardening resources at Darien Library.

Ah, spring!

In Bringing Nature Home, author Douglas Tallamy discusses the tremendous value in sustaining biodiversity in our environments and how planting native species in our own gardens can help preserve the local wildlife - insects, birds and other animals. The health of local wildlife is one of the best indicators of how healthy our environment is for people, as well. And there are simple ways that we can all make a difference - no need to overhaul your exisiting garden!

On Tuesday, February 8th at 10 AM, The Garden Club of Darien will host guest speaker Dr. Douglas W. Tallamy for an event, being held in Darien Library's Community Room. Dr. Tallamy will present ways that we can help preserve wildlife and sustain the planet through our own gardens.

This lecture is free and open to the public. Come and hear how you can make a difference. Then, visit the Research Library on the 2nd floor for a display of sustainable gardening resources at Darien Library.

Click the link below to view a list of additional books.

Also, take a look at these websites that are staples for the novice and experienced gardener!

National Gardening Association
A one-stop website for finding gardening news, expert advice, and educational opportunities, as well as reference resources such as weed finders, plant finders, pest control libraries, food care guides, landscaping calculators, and more. With a Q&A library of over 28,000 gardening questions, answered by 3 garden experts and easy-to-follow how-to videos, the site also offers free newsletters on topic including regional gardening reports, edible landscaping, and kid garden news.

Kitchen Gardeners: A Global Community Cultivating Change
An online community of over 20,000 people who are interested in achieving higher levels of "food self-reliance" through kitchen gardening and sustainable local food. Q&As are arranged by vegetable/fruit, and the site includes recipes, various blogs and foums, and a listing of local "pods" - kitchen gardeners located in nearby communities for easy collaboration.

KidsGardening!
The NGA's kid-focused site helps introduce the conecpt of gardening to youth of all ages, and includes a "parents' primer" and activities for children to create and manage their own gardens, both indoor and outdoor. Also includes lesson plans and classroom stories for teachers.

(Image courtesy of flickr user jurvetson)

January 23rd, 2011

February 13th, 2011

March 6th, 2011

March 20th, 2011

TEDX Darien meets from 4:00- 5:00 p.m. on Sundays.

The Catherine Lindsey Actors/Playwrights Workshop is excited to announce that the Actors/Playwrights Workshop, now in its 19th year, will present a series of workshops at Darien Library.

Interested playwrights should submit ten pages of their scripts to Robert Cusack at robert.cusack1@att.net by February 1, 2011.

The playwright participants will workshop their plays at the following sessions:

Thursday, February 10 from 7 – 9 p.m.
Thursday, March 10 from 7 – 9 p.m.
Thursday, April 14 from 7 – 9 p.m.

The workshops will allow the playwrights to refine their scripts, which will then be submitted to the Darien Library Selection Committee.

On Sunday, June 12 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.

The Actors/Playwrights Workshop welcomes Actors’ Equity actors and non-Equity actors to participate, brings together local and regional playwrights and actors, and encourages a collaborative effort to create new plays and present a public-staged reading.

Co-founded by the late Catherine Lindsey and her husband Robert, the workshop introduces original plays in progress to be developed in a workshop environment with the goal of the public-staged readings. Catherine Lindsey was a beloved friend of the Library and director of Darien Library Theater for over 25 years. The memorial workshops will offer actors and playwrights the opportunity to work together to create original theatrical works in a supportive and creative environment.

The Actors/Playwrights Workshop welcomes all interested playwrights and actors, with or without experience, to join. The sessions offer actors and playwrights the opportunity to work together to create original theatrical works in a supportive and creative environment, culminating in the June 12 program, which will feature  six staged performances. The musicals, monologues, short scenes from full-length and one-act plays to be performed will be chosen by the Darien Library Selection Committee. To register and/or for more information, contact Robert Cusack at (203) 655-7699 or at robert.cusack1@att.net.
 

Do you still need to get a flu shot? Now, you can make an appointment to receive your flu shot at Town Hall! The Darien Health Department has  made it very simple by establishing an on-line, "make your own appointment" system.  To make an appointment, visit darienhealth.info, or just click here.

Flu shots are available for anyone over 36 months and cost $20.00.

January is designated as National Radon Action Month by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The Darien Health Department, in cooperation with the Connecticut Department of Public Health, is pleased to join in this national effort to bring awareness of this important topic to the attention of the general public and to the citizens of Darien.

As a public service, free test kits are now available in limited supply at the Darien Health Department, Darien Town Hall, weekdays between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM.
 

Please click on the attachment below to read the press release from the Darien Health Department.

Photo courtesy of flickr user areyoumyrik

2011 Darien Department of Public Works Christmas Tree Pickup Schedule

• Tuesdays and Wednesdays, January 11-12 and January 25-26: Area north of RR tracks and west of Hollow Tree Ridge Rd., including Hollow Tree Ridge Rd.
• Thursdays and Fridays, January 13-14 and January 27-28: Area north of RR tracks and east of Hollow Tree Ridge Rd., to and including Mansfield Ave.
• Mondays and Tuesdays, January 3-4 and January 17-18: Area north of RR tracks and east of Mansfield Ave.
• Wednesdays and Thursdays, January 5-6 and January 19-20: Area south of the RR tracks and north of and including the Post Rd.
• Fridays and Mondays, January 7 and 10 and January 21 and 24: Area south of the RR tracks and south of the Post Rd.

For more information, call the Department of Public Works at 203-656-7346.

Beginning December 27th, Monday at Seven will meet at a new location. The group will meet at the United Methodist Church in Westport. The meeting time will continue to be on Monday mornings at 7:00 a.m.

Monday at Seven is a networking group of professionals in transition.

Darien Library introduced Monday at Seven to the community more than 18 months ago, and is pleased to have hosted this important program; providing a resource and meeting center for job-seekers and networkers. 

Though the meeting site has changed, Darien Library staff will continue to provide assistance in job search, resume review, use of our Bloomberg terminal, and use of our technology resources to Monday at Seven participants.

United Methodist Church is located at 49 Weston Road in Westport. (It is just north of Exit 42 on the Merritt Parkway.) For more information, call James Ulrich at (203) 493-1236. For directions, call the church at (203) 227-4707 or visit westportumc.org.

(Photo courtesy of Flickr user Erik Charlton)

Please join us on Sunday, December 19th at 4:00 p.m. for another riveting TEDx Darien.  This program will be held in the Conference Room on the mezzanine level of the Library.  Refreshments will be served.

Flu Clinic at Darien Town Hall

Thursday, December 16 from 3 to 7 PM in Room 119.

Darien Town Hall is located at 2 Renshaw Road, Darien, CT.