A reception for the Darien Senior Center's artists currently displaying paintings in the Town Hall gallery will be held 6-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5.

Works including oils, acrylics and watercolors will be on display Nov. 1-30. Paintings are available for purchase.

The public is invited to drop by the gallery and to attend the reception to meet the artists.

The Depot is hosting a free college information night sponsored by Chyten Educational Services 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21, to demystify the process and answer questions.

Chyten's college counselor will be there to answer questions and provide insights into the process.  Topics to be discussed include:  

• Creating the Perfect College List 
• Managing College Visits
• Standardized tests:  SAT vs. ACT? 
• Making the Interview Work 
• The Application Process; Essay Strategies
• Early Decision/Early Action

The program is for both parents and students.

Via The Depot

Bring the children to enjoy the fun at the Darien Nature Center's Halloween Hoot and Howl.   "The Great Sirirco", hay rides, s'mores, crafts, campfire stories, and much more.

The library invites knitters to take part in the national "Warm Up America!" knitting project 4-5 p.m. Wednesdays in the conference room.

Participants are welcome to "drop in" with their needles and some yarn, and knit a square (patterns supplied). Squares will be joined together to create warm blankets for people around the world.

• It takes 20 squares to make a baby blanket.
• It takes 36 squares to make a child's blanket.
• It takes 49 squares to make an adult blanket.

Warm Up America! (WUA!) is a charity that has warmed peoples' lives since 1991. It started in a small Wisconsin town with neighbors knitting and crocheting afghans for neighbors in need. Thanks to the creativity of founder Evie Rosen who came up with the idea of having volunteers knit or crochet small sections and then others join them together, the idea quickly caught on. Today, Warm Up America! distributes warm afghans, caps and other items to tens of thousands of people, thanks to the generosity of knitters and crocheters around the country.

For more information call 203-655-1234.

In honor of Halloween, the library offers "Stories to Chill Your Bones," a spooky storytelling program for ages 7-10, at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 27. The program will include "jump" stories, songs and folktales - and maybe some goopy, creepy activities.

Take a look at collections of scary stories for elementary students.

Via Darien Library calendar

Wednesday, October 20 at 2 p.m. --

The library screens "THIS BOY'S LIFE" (1993) at 2 p.m. Wednesday, oct. 20. The movie stars Ellen Barkin, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Robert De Niro. It is Rated R; runtime is 115 minutes.

Academy Award-winner Robret De Niro creates another memorable performance as a colorful, yet strict suitor to the struggling and penniless divorcee Ellen Barkin and who has a profound effect on her teenage son. (The movie is based on Tobias Wolff's 1989 memoir of growing up in the 1950s.)

"Ultimately, 'This Boy's Life' is effective because we get to know the characters, understand their circumstances, and empathize with their dreams." - James Berardinelli, ReelView

Watch the trailer for the film by clicking here.

To view the October schedule of Wednesday Matinee films, click here.

The showing of "This Boy's Life" was selected and is being screened in October to coincide with Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The Town Players of New Canaan's open their 64^th season with "Postmortem," Tony Award-winning playwright Ken Ludwig's clever whodunit directed by Sheri Dean.

Performances are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Oct. 29-30, Nov. 5-6, and 12-13, with 2:30 Sunday matinees Oct. 31 and Nov. 7, at the handicapped-accessible Powerhouse Performing Arts Center in Waveny Park, New Canaan.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors (age 62).  To reserve seats call 203-966-7371 or visit tpnc.org.

"Postmortem" takes place at the Hadlyme home of actor manager, playwright William Gillette, famed for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes.  He has invited the cast of his latest Broadway revival of  "Sherlock Holmes" for a relaxing weekend at his castle, which is patterned after a medieval Rhenish fortress and overlooks the Connecticut River. 

In reality, Gillette is determined to find out if Maude, his deceased fiancée who died exactly one year ago, committed suicide or was murdered by one of his cast members. Ludwig trots out all the classic murder mystery devices as Gillette plans to solve the case himself à la Sherlock Holmes! This is a show parents and grandparents can bring ten year olds to.

A display of Donna Glen's photos of Gillette Castle will be mounted in the Powerhouse lobby for the run of the show.

Megan Palmer Dean, Palmer's Bakery's executive pastry chef, demonstrates the making of some of her dazzling holiday desserts at 12:30 p.m. at the Darien Community Association (DCA) Tuesday, Nov. 2.

The event is open to the public and includes lunch. A reservation is required by Friday, Oct. 29.

The fee is $5 for DCA Women's Group members and $10 for non-members. RSVP to the DCA at 203-655-9050.

This is one of many social events planned by the Darien Community Association's Women's Group for women of all ages. New members and friends are always welcome.

Rain or shine, join the Darien VFW on Saturday, Oct. 23 for an Oktoberfest celebration. The $15 price of admission covers a complimentary glass of specially purchased Oktoberfest Draft Beer. Stay afterwards for music by Pimpinella through 11 p.m. The event will feature door prizes and authentic German food. 

There will be Halloween fun for all at the Mom's Morning In 16^th Annual Halloween parade taking place Friday, Oct. 29. Little ones can dress up for trick-or-treating at the doors of local merchants along the way to Tilley Pond. Snacks and a special show with popular magician "Amazing Andy" will follow.

Children should bring a goody bag as there will be treats for all. Those interested should take their little goblins to the Darien Fire Station across from Post Corner Pizza for a prompt 10 a.m. start. There is a $10 charge per child.

For more information, contact the DCA at 203-655-9050, dca1923@optonline.net or at www.dariendca.org.

Darien Senior Activities Center offers a fun Oil Painting class 10 a.m. to noon every Friday, with a focus on the technical basics of painting: color, perspective, composition and shadow. 

The class stresses creativity and development of each painter's own personal style in order to achieve a beautiful finished work of art.  Participants bring a photo or picture for inspiration.  Each class member receives individual attention and critique.  Throughout, various periods of art and the artists who made them famous will be discussed.    

Instructor Althea Ericsson studied fine art at Fareleigh Dickinson University and attended New York School of Design, Parsons Institute and Yale University.  

Ericsson also teaches Watercolor 9:30-11:30 a.m. Wednesdays, with a focus on atmospheric perspective, mixabilty, gouache and graded wash.

The classes are both drop-in and cost $4 per session.

Call the senior center 203-656-7455 for more information or pick up a calendar of monhtly events.

Darien Senior Activities Center offers a fun Watercolor art class 9:30-11:30 a.m. Wednesdays, with a focus on atmospheric perspective, mixabilty, gouache and graded wash.

Instructor Althea Ericsson studied fine art at Fareleigh Dickinson University and attended New York School of Design, Parsons Institute and Yale University.  

Ericsson also teaches Oil Painting 10 a.m.-noon every Friday, with a focus on the technical basics of painting: color, perspective, composition and shadow. 

The classes are both drop-in and cost $4 per session.

Call the senior center 203-656-7455 for more information or pick up a calendar of monhtly events.

Matt Wachnicki of Rowayton won Best In Show at the 16^th Mavis Fenner Memorial All-Media Exhibit for a gouache watercolor titled "Cold." Other award winners by medium are: Acrylic -- first Edith McClean (Rowayton) and honorable mention Sandra Aldrich (Westport); Drawings – first Gerry Guarino (Normandy Beach, NJ); Mixed Media – first Gregg Welz (Norwalk), second Don Axleroad (Stamford), third Ellen Gordon (Stamford); Oil – first Joel Flora (Rowayton), second Kathryn Glover (Norwalk), third Linda George (Darien); Pastel – first Janine Brown (Fairfield); Photography – first Barbara Murphy (Rowayton), second Robert Sachs (Rowayton), third Ben Larrabee (Darien), honorable mention Richard Ventre (Norwalk); Prints – first Vicki Smith (Darien); Watercolor – first Wendy Pieper (Westport), second Hanneke Goedkoop (Rowayton), third Marianne Rothballer (New Canaan).  All 83 works of art in the exhibition are for sale.

The exhibit is on display at the Rowayton Arts Center, the only center for the arts in Norwalk, through November 7. The RAC gallery is open from 12:00-5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 1:00-4:00 p.m. on Sundays.  Admission is free.

Award-winning artist Duvian Montoya selected 83 works for the exhibition and chose the winners from 130 submissions by RAC exhibiting members and non-members. The winning artists received cash awards during the opening reception on October 10. The awards were presented by Mavis Fenner's daughter and granddaughter, artists Virginia and Janet Bates.  Fenner, who was involved with RAC from its beginning in 1960, became the Arts Center's curator in 1973, retiring ten years later because of injuries she suffered in an automobile accident.

The Fall Book Discussion Series, "The Butterfly Effect: Small Decisions, Epic Impacts," continues at Darien Library on Tuesday, November 2 at 7 p.m. The theme of the series is "The Butterfly Effect: Small Decisions, Epic Impacts." Taking the idea that one butterfly can cause a ripple effect on subsequent historical events (for example, the flap of a butterfly's wings in Brazil can lead to a tornado in Texas), the series will focus on stories where singular and seemingly small decisions change the course of lives forever. Library staff members will lead the discussions.

The discussion book on November 2 will be Room by Emma Donoghue. This critically-acclaimed novel tells the story of Jack and Ma. Room is the entire world to five-year-old Jack. It is his home. To Ma, Room is her prison; it's where she's been held captive for seven years.

Told entirely in the language of the energetic Jack, Room is a celebration of resilience and the limitless bond between parent and child, a brilliantly executed novel about what it means to journey from one world to another.

"Powerful… Seen entirely through Jack's eyes and childlike perceptions, the developments in this novel –there are enough plot twists to provide a dramatic arc of breathtaking suspense – are astonishing – Donoghue brilliantly portrays the psyche of a child raised in captivity…will keep readers rapt." – Publishers Weekly

"…Room is narrated by a five-year-old boy so real you could swear he was sitting right beside you… Room is so beautifully contrived that it never once seems contrived. But be warned: once you enter, you'll be Donoghue's willing prisoner right down to the last page." – Malcolm Jones, Newsweek

 "remarkable… This is a truly memorable novel, one that can be read through myriad lenses – psychological, sociological, political. It presents an utterly unique way to talk about love, all the while giving us a fresh, expansive eye on the world in which we live." – Aimee Bender, The New York Times Book Review

Room is the third book of the Library's Fall Book Discussion Series. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese and Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann were discussed earlier in the series.

The Library's Fall Book Discussion Series will conclude with The Passage by Justin Cronin on Tuesday, November 16 at 7 p.m.

The Library has copies of the books available for patrons to borrow, but prior reading of the books is not necessary to attend the discussions.

The Darien Library is located at 1441 Post Road, Darien, Conn 06820. For more information, call 203-655-1234 or visit darienlibrary.org.  

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

(Image attached: Book cover of "Room")

Teens can now have a good book to go along with their nachos when they're at The Depot, Darien's Teen Center. Darien Library has donated a book cart filled with favorites such as "The Maze Runner" by James Dashner and "Pretties" by Scott Westerfeld. There is no need to check the books out; teens are welcome to read a book while they're at The Depot, or they can take it home.

The sign on the book cart reads "Need a book? Take a book. Have a book? Share a book."  The Library will provide monthly additions to the cart.

Darien Teen Librarian Erica Leone said, upon delivering the books to The Depot, "We'll supply a wide variety of teen books so that there's a constant stash of fun and favorite titles." She added, "We encourage teens to share some of their favorite books by adding them to the cart, too."

The Depot is located at 45 Heights Road, Darien, Conn.

Darien Library is located at 1441 Post Road, Darien, Conn.

(Attached image: Book cart with sign)

On Wednesdays, from 4 - 5 p.m., Darien Library will be hosting "Warm Up America!* Knitting Project." Bring your needles and some yarn, and knit a square (patterns will be supplied). Squares will be joined together to create warm blankets for people around the world.

*Warm Up America! (WUA!) is a charity that has warmed peoples' lives since 1991. It started in a small Wisconsin town with neighbors knitting and crocheting afghans for neighbors in need. Thanks to the creativity of founder Evie Rosen who came up with the idea of having volunteers knit or crochet small sections and then others join them together, the idea quickly caught on. Today, Warm Up America! distributes warm afghans, caps and other items to tens of thousands of people, thanks to the generosity of knitters and crocheters around the country.

This is a drop-in program.

Darien Library is located at 1441 Post Road, Darien. For more information, visit darienlibrary.org or call 203-655-1234.

A One Page Poetry Circle will be held at Darien Library on Wednesday, November 3 at 7 p.m. The theme will be "Poetry & Gratitude."

The One Page Poetry Circle encourages reading, appreciation, and discussion of poetry. Bring a single page of poetry by an established poet plus your enthusiasm, thoughts, questions, and curiosity about the poems that others bring. The discussion will be led by Madge McKeithen, author of "Blue Peninsula: Essential Words for a Life of Loss and Change" and a faculty member of The Writing Program at The New School. The discussion will take place in the Conference Room on the Mezzanine Level of the Library. Refreshments will be served.

Darien Library is located at 1441 Post Road, Darien. For more information, visit darienlibrary.org or call 203-655-1234.

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

(Photo attached: Headshot of Madge McKeithen)

Darien, CT (October 21, 2010)—The Darien Depot will host a free educational lecture open to the community on Attention Deficit Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and other learning challenges on November 17^th at 7:00pm at its 45 Heights Road, Darien, CT facility.

Guest speakers include Dr. Robert Zembroski of Darien Center for Integrative Medicine and Barbara D. Levine of Chyten Educational Services who will present the latest research on the neurological and physiological causes of these disorders, objective scientific evaluation and natural therapies that address underlying causes.

Participants will learn myths and facts behind these challenges, the consequences of these challenges, e.g. poor grades, disorganization, lack of focus, how neurological and physiological factors, as well as diet and exercise, can influence behavior and attention. Attendees will learn the best non-drug solutions for improved performance!

Dr. Robert Zembroski, Chiropractic Neurologist, diplomate of the American Chirpractic Neurology Board is certified in the diagnosis and treatment of ADD/ADHD, and learning challenges. For more than 17 years he has maintained a private practice in Darien.

Barbara D. Levine, M.S. is the owner and director of Chyten Educational Services, a tutoring and test preparation business, in New Canaan, CT. Ms. Levine has a Master's degree from Harvard University and a 25-year career in consulting,

Call Kelly at 203-655-2659 to register today!

Darien Senior Activities Center hosts speaker Art Gotlieb, a former professional curator of naval history and a technical director of exhibits at the Intrepid Air-Sea and Space Museum, at 12:45 Monday, Nov. 1. 

Gotlieb will discuss "The Battle for Guadalcanal," a pivotal battle in the Pacific checking the forward advance of the Japanese empire. Marines struggled through the most vicious hand to hand combat of the entire war during this epic battle on land, sea and air. 

He will return to the center Nov. 8 for a talk on Pearl Harbor.

For more information call 203-565-7455. 

Submitted by Darien Senior Activities Center

Darien Senior Activities Center hosts speaker Art Gotlieb, a former professional curator of naval history and a technical director of exhibits at the Intrepid Air-Sea and Space Museum, at 12:45 Monday, Nov. 8, for a discussion on Pearl Harbor.

For more information call 203-565-7455. 

Submitted by Darien Senior Activities Center