MONTHLY CALENDAR OF EVENTS: MARCH 2023

NEWSIES THE MUSICAL
Wednesday, March 15th at 6:30pm. Darien High School, 80 High School Lane. To register call At Home In Darien at 203-655-2227.
Once again, At Home In Darien is partnering with Darien High School’s Theatre 308 to provide a free theatre experience for Darien’s senior citizens! Seniors can attend this dress rehearsal free of charge and enjoy free transportation to and from the High School. Based on the real-life Newsboy Strike of 1899, this Disney musical tells the story of Jack Kelly, a rebellious newsboy who dreams of a life as an artist away from the big city. After publishing giant Joseph Pulitzer raises newspaper prices at the newsboys’ expense, Kelly and his fellow newsies take action. With help from the beautiful female reporter Katherine Plumber, all of New York City soon recognizes the power of “the little man”. 

HALF PRICE TAXI VOUCHERS FOR SALE
Darien seniors and people with disabilities are able to purchase taxi vouchers from At Home In Darien for 50% off the cost for taxi rides for whenever you want to go. Call us at 203-655-2227 for more information.      
NEED A RIDE TO ONE OF THESE GREAT EVENTS?
Call At Home In Darien at 203-655-2227. We offer transportation services for Darien seniors within Darien, Stamford, Norwalk and New Canaan. Our service hours are Monday through Thursday from 9:00am to 4:00pm, and Friday from 9:00am to 1:00pm. Please give us as much advance notice as possible to book your reservation.

THE FOLLOWING EVENTS, DATES, AND TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
PLEASE CONFIRM WITH THE ORGANIZATION PRIOR TO THE EVENT

TAX ASSISTANCE 
Appointments are required and can be scheduled by visiting https://www.darienlibrary.org/tax-help, or by calling the Tax Aide call center at 860-590-8910. 
Darien Library has teamed up with SimplifyCT to provide the community with a no cost, full-service AARP/VITA/IRS Volunteer Tax Assistance Program. The service will be available both on-site at Darien Library and virtually through a secure internet site. 

DARIEN MEN’S ASSOCIATION (DMA)
www.dariendma.org
The DMA, established in 1977, provides a unique forum that connects retired and semi-retired men while promoting good fellowship, friendship, and fun. The group meets every Wednesday from 9:45am to 12:00pm, from the beginning of September to the end of May, and coordinates a variety of diverse activities to nourish both the mind and body including bowling, bridge, tennis, pickleball, golf, hiking, walks, a book club and discussions ranging from current affairs to investments. A highlight of the group is the Speaker’s Program which is held during weekly meetings. For more information, visit the DMA’s website https://dariendma.org/ or call Art Baron, Chairman of the Membership and Hospitality Committee at (203) 293-8181.

WAVENY LIFECARE PRESENTS: HOW TO READ FOOD LABELS
Wednesday, March 1st at 12:30pm. Call Darien Senior Programs at 203-656-7490 to register.
Christine Burns, RN is back at Darien Senior Programs this month for another great workshop. This month’s workshop takes the guesswork out of shopping! Learn how to read food labels and understand the ingredients, and get more nutrients that your body needs.

A LOOK AT AUTHOR JAMES HERRIOT WITH CLAIRE EVANS
Wednesday, March 1 at 7:00pm, over Zoom. To register for this Darien Library virtual event click here.
Are you a fan of the book, and now PBS series, All Creatures Great and Small?  Season 3 has recently been released!  Explore the life and times of this famous, yet unassuming country veterinarian, Alf Wight, who rose to international fame later in life under the pen name James Herriot. Resident Anglophile and former UK resident Claire Evans will return with this engaging presentation for all to enjoy.

MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE SERIES BY AARP: EXTRA TERRESTRIAL LIFE
Wednesday, March 1st at 7:00p. To register for this virtual event, click here. 
Learning new things can improve brain health especially as we age. Join AARP CT and its Age-Friendly University, CCSU for this series designed to engage you in conversation on how the universe has made an impact on how we live and learn. 

TECH HELP THURSDAY AT MATHER CENTER BY APPOINTMENT
Thursday, March 2nd from 10:00am to 11:00am. Call Darien Senior Programs at 203-656-7490 to make an appointment. 
Mary-Beth Mason, Knowledge & Learning Services Librarian, Darien Public Library will help you use your cell phone, tablet, or computer. Questions may include computer basics, Internet and email, using a tablet or smart phone.

AUTHOR EVENT: THE GOOD GARDEN BY CHRIS MCLAUGHLIN
Thursday, March 2nd at 7:00pm, over Zoom. To register for this Darien Library virtual event click here.
How do you make a good garden? More importantly, how do you make a garden that is good for the planet? Join Chris McLaughlin, an expert gardener with 40 years of experience, as she delivers a guide for gardeners on how to cultivate regenerative, sustainable gardens that mimic nature.

ACRYLIC POURS SIP & POUR WORKSHOP
Friday, March 3rd from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. The cost is $65. To register for this Darien Arts Center class visit darienarts.org or call (203) 655-8683. The DAC is located at 2 Renshaw Road, behind the Town Hall.
Explore the techniques of this liquid painting method, and create beautiful abstract paintings without any painting experience! Please feel welcome to bring your own wine or refreshments.

CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP
Monday, March 6th at 7:00pm and Tuesday, March 21st at 11:00am. To register for these Bridges by EPOCH virtual events click here.
Caring for a loved one with dementia can be an emotional roller coaster ride – one fraught with stress, frustration, guilt and uncertainty. Join other family caregivers and dementia care professionals who understand your challenges and can help make your journey a little bit easier.

PLEASURE THROUGH PLANTS WITH THE GARDEN CLUB OF DARIEN 
Tuesday, March 7th at 10:30am. Call Darien Senior Programs at 203-656-7490 to register.
The Garden Club of Darien brings their Pleasure through Plants program to the Mather Center. Participants will create a one-of-a-kind project with all materials supplied. Space is limited, pre-registration required. Darien Members have priority.

WAVENY LIFECARE NETWORK BLOOD PRESSURE AND HEALTH SCREENING
Tuesday, March 7th from 11:00am to 12:00pm and Thursday, March 16th from 12:30pm to 1:30pm. Call Darien Senior Programs at 203-656-7490 to register. 
Waveny Lifecare Network provides monthly blood pressure and health screenings by a registered nurse. 

THE MAGICAL GARDENS OF WALES WITH JANA MILBOCKER
Tuesday, March 7 at 7:00pm, over Zoom. To register for this Darien Library virtual event click here.
Join everyone’s favorite garden lecturer, Jana Milbocker, for an armchair visit you will not forget! Take a virtual garden tour of castle country! With gorgeous historic manor homes surrounded by romantic gardens and castles galore (Wales has more than 600 of them!). Grab your beverage of choice, and come join us for a relaxing travel date without ever leaving your home.

MOVIE AND TREATS AT MATHER: HIDDEN FIGURES (2 hrs. & 6 mins.)
Wednesday, March 8th at 12:30pm. Call Darien Senior Programs at 203-656-7490 to register.  
An incredible and inspiring untold true story about three women at NASA who were instrumental in one of history’s greatest operations – the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit. The movie highlights a time when women were being underestimated in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields, and shows how they had to fight to overcome those obstacles.

IN CONVERSATION: ITALY ON A PLATE WITH SUSAN GRAVELY AND FRANCES MAYES
Wednesday, March 8 at 4:00pm, over Zoom. To register for this Darien Library virtual event click here.
Watch a special virtual “in conversation” event with debut author Susan Gravely and Frances Mayes (Under the Tuscan Sun) in discussion of Susan’s cookbook, Italy on a Plate, which is sure to be molto bene! Susan Gravely explores what makes Italy so magical: its staggering beauty, unparalleled style, artistic legacy, and incredible food.

INTRODUCTION TO WATERCOLOR 
Thursdays, March 9th to March 30th from 10:00am to 1:00pm. Cost is $285. To register for this Darien Arts Center class, visit darienarts.org or call (203) 655-8683. The DAC is located at 2 Renshaw Road, behind the Town Hall.
For beginners and those who need a refresher course in watercolor painting. Brushstrokes, color, mixing and painting techniques will be covered.

BEEYONDER TRAVEL: AGATHA CHRISTIE’S LONDON (LIVE PRESENTATION) 
Thursday, March 9th from 12:30pm to 1:30pm. Call Darien Senior Programs at 203-656-7490 to register. 
The Mousetrap, Death On The Nile, Hercule Poirot, The Mirror Crack’d, Miss Marple – all of these immediately make us think of Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, one of the twentieth century’s most prolific writers, best known for her crime fiction and whodunits. Agatha was widely travelled, but this presentation will focus on her time in London, looking at the places she lived, worked and studied, and where she wrote many of her most popular works of fiction. 

MONTHLY MOVEMENT AND MEDITATION FOR EMBODIED RESILIENCE
Monday, March 13th at 12:30pm (new day and time). Call Darien Senior Programs at 203-656-7490 to register. 
Darien’s Monica Keady, registered Yoga Teacher, leads practices that enhance awareness of the body/mind connection to fuel energy, steadiness, calm and resilience. Monica will teach gentle movements to release the joints, and stretch and tone muscles. You will learn breathing practices that help to release stress and deepen awareness, and meditation techniques to put it all together so that you can experience inner joy and resilience throughout the day. This class is for everyone — no prior experience needed.

AUTHOR EVENT: GESINE BULLOCK-PRADO, MY VERMONT TABLE
Monday, March 13 at 7:00pm, Darien Library Community Room. To register click here.
Join Darien Library on a culinary journey north to celebrate celebrity pastry chef and cookbook author Gesine Bullock-Prado’s new book, My Vermont Table: Recipes for All (Six) Seasons. Gesine will be in conversation with Barrett Bookstore’s Page Berger.

ART GOTTLIEB PRESENTS: DOROTHEA LANGE
Tuesday, March 14th at 12:30pm. Call Darien Senior Programs at 203-656-7490 to register.   
Hoboken born Dorothea Lange is best remembered for her depression era photographs while working for the Farm Securities Administration (FSA). Throughout the 1930’s Lange documented rural poverty, sharecroppers and the plight of migrant laborers, ultimately leading to her being awarded the Guggenheim Prize for her 1936 photograph entitled “Migrant Mother”.

A HISTORY OF AMERICA 1920 – 2022
Wednesday, March 15th at 7:00pm: Influence of Sports on Society 
To register for this virtual event, click here. 
Join AARP through the decades and the changes in music, movies, entertainers, sports and more. Professor Stephen Armstrong from Central CT State University will focus this series on how moments in time have impacted our communities, societies and experiences. Generational perspectives will be discussed focusing on the aged 50-plus individual and their experiences over the 1920s to the current time. You will need to register separately for each class you are interested in attending.

COMPUTER BASICS FOR BEGINNERS CLASS
Thursday, March 16th from 10:00am to 11:00am. Call Darien Senior Programs at 203-656-7490 to register, space is limited.
This class is for beginners, mouse and keyboard skills not required. Mary-Beth Mason, Knowledge & Learning Services Librarian, Darien Public Library will help students learn basic skills such as browsing the internet safely, opening applications, and setting up email. 

DEMENTIA EDUCATION SERIES: ETHICS AND FIBBING
Thursday, March 16th at 11:00am. To register for this Bridges by EPOCH virtual event, click here.
Alicia Seaver, Certified Memory Impairment Specialist with Bridges, facilitates a dementia education and caregiver support group. She is available at the end of the dementia education sessions to answer questions. 

CAREGIVERS EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT GROUP AT MATHER CENTER
Thursday, March 16th from 1:00pm to 2:30pm. Call Darien Senior Programs at 203-656-7490 to register. 
Led by Beth Paris, Gerontologist and Director of Darien Senior Programs, this group is open to anyone who cares for a family member or a friend with needs, especially related to cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer’s and Dementia. This group will explore your concerns in a supportive and safe environment. Beth has over 30 years’ experience helping caregivers navigate caregiving.  

HOMEMADE BEESWAX CANDLES
Thursday, March 16th at 7:00pm, Darien Library Conference Room. To register click here.
Light up your creativity with our buzz-worthy workshop on making homemade beeswax candles! Join us as we delve into the wonderful world of bees and their magical wax, and learn how to transform it into beautiful, natural candles. You will buzz with excitement as you create your own unique candle to take home and enjoy, while learning about the benefits of using pure beeswax in your home.

LYNN ACADEMY OF IRISH DANCE PERFORMANCE
Friday, March 17th, lunch at 12:00pm ($5.00), performance at 12:30pm (free). Call Darien Senior Programs at 203-656-7490 to register.
The Lynn Academy of Irish Dance will be at Darien Senior Center on St. Patrick’s Day. The dancers are very excited to be back. The dancers, ranging in ages 6 to 16 years old, will be from all levels of dance from Beginner to World and National Championship levels. Dancing to traditional Irish music, performing both lovely soft-shoe and exciting hard-shoe routines, the dancers look forward to sharing their love of Irish dance.  

ACRYLIC PAINTING WITH SHERATON HOMECARE
Monday, March 20th at 12:30pm. Space is limited. Please call Darien Senior Programs at 203-656-7490 to register.
Sophie Slater, Art Therapist Sheraton Homecare, is back for her monthly art class. This class is for everyone, beginners through advanced. Sophie guides her students through the entire process. All materials supplied and a $5.00 donation is suggested. 

DOWNSIZED GOURMET VIA ZOOM
Monday, March 20th at 3:00pm. Call Darien Senior Programs at 203-656-7490 to receive the Zoom link.
Throw open the cabinets and refrigerator, pull up a chair, and watch Susan and Paul Doyle, Oasis Homecare, work their magic creating and cooking with things you have at home. Learn how to solve the problem of how to enjoy cooking on a smaller scale by preparing easy and tasty treats from the comfort of your own home. It is sure to be entertaining! 

MONDAY NIGHT MOVIE: OSCAR NOMINATED SHORT FILMS
Monday, March 20th at 6:30pm, Darien Library Community Room. No registration needed. To learn more, click here.
Darien Library presents a new weekly program: Monday Night at the Movies! Join us for a selection of Oscar Nominated Short Films, including “Stranger at the Gate”, “The Flying Sailor”, and “The Martha Mitchell Effect”.

DSP BOOK CLUB: BORN A CRIME: STORIES FROM A SOUTH AFRICAN CHILDHOOD BY TREVOR NOAH
Tuesday, March 21st at 1:00pm. Call Darien Senior Programs at 203-656-7490 for more information and to register.
The story of a mischievous young boy who grows into a restless young man as he struggles to find himself in a world where he was never supposed to exist. Trevor Noah’s unlikely path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of The Daily Show began with a criminal act: his birth. Trevor was born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a union was punishable by five years in prison. His stories weave together to form a moving and seemingly funny portrait of a boy making his way through a damaged world in a dangerous time, armed only with a keen sense of humor and a mother’s unconventional, unconditional love.

MARK ALBERTSON PRESENTS: ALICE PAUL
Wednesday, March 22nd at 12:30pm. Call Darien Senior Programs at 203-656-7490 to register.
Alice Paul was one of the leaders of the second wave of suffragists. The first wave featured such standouts as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony and Harriet Tubman. Alice Paul reflected the growing exuberance of the times: massive demonstrations, hunger strikes, and confronting police on the streets. She is also one of the leaders of the movement who enabled women, finally, to obtain the right to vote, and one of the co-authors of the Equal Rights Amendment.

THE CHANGING FACE OF TELEVISION: YOUTUBE, BINGEING, STREAMING AND BEYOND WITH BRIAN ROSE
Wednesday, March 22nd at 7:00pm, over Zoom. To register for this Darien Library virtual event click here.
Watching television used to be a simple enterprise: you turned on your TV set, selected one of 500 channels, and enjoyed your program. Now, television is changing in front of our eyes. Find out how!

SPRING FLORAL DESIGN DEMO
Thursday, March 23rd at 10:00am, Darien Library Conference Room. To register click here.
Get inspired with a floral demonstration that has a spring feel! Jaime Hayes, Florist Manager at The Gardener’s Center, will show you how to put together a couple of arrangements using quintessential spring blooms like tulips, hyacinth, viburnum, and lilac. Jaime will also share some fun and creative tablescape ideas perfect for your spring gatherings. 

CRAFTING WITH ARTIST RENE SOTO
Tuesday, March 28th at 12:30pm. Call Darien Senior Programs at 203-656-7490 to register, space is limited. Suggested donation is $5.00 per class. 
Local multimedia artist, Rene Soto is back this month with another great activity. Rene wants to help people never forget that everyone is born an artist, and some just have not tapped into their creative side yet. In this workshop Rene will help unleash your creativity. All materials will be supplied. 

STARTING YOUR VEGETABLE GARDEN
Wednesday, March 29th from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. To register for this AARP virtual event click here.
Spring is the time of year for planting seeds, pulling weeds, and planning out the harvest for the year ahead…but, if you’ve never planted a vegetable garden before, where do you begin? During this webinar, we’ll learn all about how to start a new vegetable garden, or improve an existing patch, from Longwood Gardens’ Outdoor Landscapes Manager Anton Ginella. We’ll cover the most essential topics in vegetable gardening, including soil health, crop selection, propagation, pest and disease management and what to do with your harvests. The only thing left for you to do is pick your seeds and get your hands dirty!

LIVABILITY 2023: AGING LANDSCAPE CONFERENCE
Friday, March 31st from 9:30am to 12:00pm. To register for this AARP virtual event click here. 
Join AARP CT and Masonicare for the 5th annual Livable Communities conference (virtual) in collaboration with 5 universities: Central CT State University, University of Hartford, Quinnipiac University, Hartford International University for Religion and Peace, and Southern CT State University. Themes include the future of aging from the lens of livability, a focus on age-friendly universities, training for students utilizing patient education models, digital inclusion of older adults and housing across the lifespan, with an emphasis on the realities of homelessness and eviction among people 50-plus.
The workshop topics are:

• Addressing the World Health Organization’s 8 Domains of Livability
• The Work of an Age-friendly University
• Redesigning the Patient Role Using the Core Method of Patient Education
• Digital Inclusion of Older Adults
• Housing Across the Lifespan

At Home In Darien
2 Renshaw Road, Darien, CT  06820
Tel:  203.655.2227  Fax: 1.866.224.4210
www.athomeindarien.org
Connecting Seniors to Community