May is designated Stroke Awareness Month and a good time to learn about your personal risk factors for stroke. Uncontrolled high blood pressure is the number one cause of stroke.

"Every adult should have theirs checked on a regular basis and take steps to lower it if it is too high" says David Knauf, Darien Director of Health.

For more information and the upcoming dates and times of local blood pressure screenings, please see the attached notice, issued today, from David Knauf.

Enjoy a day of fun with friends and family and celebrate wishes come true! March through the streets of beautiful Fairfield, Connecticut, with police officers, wish families, and friends from your town led by your town's police vehicle! Celebrate with us at a Beach Party with food, music, a Kids Tent with activities themed around Alyssa's Hawaiian Cruise wish and a display of police vehicles! Sign up at http://wishct.kintera.org/walk10. For more information, call Make-A-Wish Foundation of Connecticut, Inc., at 203-261-9044, or email tara@ct.wish.org.

Stand Against Racism Day - Friday, April 30th

. . . and there are many ways you can stand along with us!

The Stand Against Racism is a movement of the YWCA, with the goal of bringing people together from all walks of life - across the country - to help elimate racism. Friday, April 30th is "Stand Against Racism Day," and the YWCA Darien/Norwalk, along with 60 YWCA's and approximately 1,500 organizations, will celebrate diversity and raise awareness that racism still exists and should not be tolerated.

Please visit Darien Library on April 30th as we host programs and activities throughout the day in support of the Stand Against Racism:

Color Me Beautiful!
All day in the Children's Library
Like the many colors of crayons in a box, children come in all colors, too! Children of all ages are invited to color and design their own die cut people of all colors, shades, and hues to be displayed throughout the Children's Library.

Film Screening of "Crash"
2 PM in the Community Room
A seemingly simple car accident in Los Angeles brings together a very diverse group of people; as their lives collide, the issue of racism is explored as they each work through their own fears and inherent prejudices. Winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2006. Starring Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, and Thandie Newton; Rated R; 112 minutes.

Racism - No Way!
4 PM - 5 PM in the Teen Lounge
Teens, we'll have a variety of puzzles and group activities that explore issues relating to racism and cultural diversity. Bring a friend and join the discussion on what racism means to you.

Also, stop by all day to browse our display of books and films from our collection that capture the spirit of the day. Take a look at these booklists to get you started:

Multicultural Stories for Children

Around the World Kids
 

Our next Monday at Seven meeting will be on Monday, April 26th from 7 - 9 a.m. and it will be all about refining...refining the "elevator talk." Preparing the "elevator talk" gives you the opportunity to articulate who you are and what you offer a prospective employer. Build confidence while building this essential networking skill.

Next Monday, May 3rd, our featured speaker at Monday at Seven will be Marilyn Vojta, who is a career coach, and independent senior level Recruiter. The topics that Marilyn will cover are:

1.) Is your search too narrow or too broad?

2.) What to know about communicating with a recruiter

Marilyn has 10+ years of experience in the search business having placed over 170 senior and middle management people in Fortune 500 companies. She has an impressive record of finding the best fit of talent for companies and helping individuals realize and achieve their personal goals.

Our next Monday at Seven meeting will be on Monday, April 19th from 7 - 9 a.m.

On Monday, April 19th. the featured speaker will be Vic Benoit, who will lead a discussion, "What's holding you back? "

Person-to-Person is collecting spring and summer clothing and accessories. For more information, visit the Person-to-Person web site or call 203-655-0048.

The Darien Police Department and the Darien VFW have joined forces to raise money for the revitalization of the Veterans Memorial Flagpole Monument, located in Spring Grove Veterans Cemetery. Tax-deductible contributions may be made by check to the Darien VFW Post 6933, with "Veterans Flagpole Project" in the memo line. Mail your check to: VFW, P.O. Box 2172, Darien, CT 06820-0172.

Our next Monday at Seven meeting will be on Monday, April 5th from 7 - 9 a.m

Our goal with Monday at Seven has been (and continues to be) to provide a resource and meeting center for Job Seekers and Networkers by opening our doors every Monday from 7 to 9 a.m. Happily, we're helping many in the community achieve their goals, too.

Monday at Seven is open to residents of Darien and Darien Library members. Please join us. To read more about Monday at Seven, click here. To leave a comment, please click below. 

Showing Wednesday, March 31st at 7 p.m.

We invite you to join us tonight for a special Stand Against Racism* event, co-sponsored by the YWCA Darien/Norwalk.

Wednesday, March 31 at 7 p.m.

THE COLOR OF FEAR

The Color of Fear is an insightful, groundbreaking film about the state of race relations in America as seen through the eyes of eight North American men of Asian, European, Latino and African descent. In a series of intelligent, emotional and dramatic confrontations the men reveal the pain and scars that racism has caused them. What emerges is a deeper sense of understanding and trust. This is the dialogue most of us fear, but hope will happen sometime in our lifetime. (Running time: 90 minutes)

"What is presented to me as an American does not look like me. Does not think like me, does not smell like me, does not cry like me."-- Mexican-American participant featured in the film

 "I won't trust you until you're as affected by my experience as I am everyday by yours." -- African-American participant featured in the film. 

To view the trailer, click here. 

*The Stand Against Racism is a movement of the YWCA with the goal of bringing people together from all walks of life - across the country - to raise awareness that racism still exists. “Stand Against Racism” day is Friday, April 30, 2010,The YWCA Darien/Norwalk, along with 60 YWCA's and approximately 1,500 organizations will celebrate diversity and raise awareness that racism still exists and should not be tolerated.

Please join us for this important film event.

Utility pole down in Darien

The Town of Darien Department of Public Works issued a storm cleanup update on March 19.