AHID ANNUAL MEETING – DECEMBER 2025

Michael Stern, conductor for Orchestra Lumos, was the featured guest speaker at At Home In Darien’s 2025 Annual Meeting, held at the Darien Library. Speaking to an audience of more than 70 guests, Stern captivated attendees with engaging stories about the legendary Leonard Bernstein, along with personal reflections from his own career traveling the globe and leading major orchestras. His warmth, humor, and behind-the-scenes insights made for an entertaining and memorable presentation that added a special dimension to the evening’s program.

PICKEBALL HITS AT HOME IN DARIEN – NOVEMBER 2025

At Home In Darien hosted a lively pickleball fundraiser at Pickleball America in Stamford, bringing together more than 80 attendees for an evening of spirited play and camaraderie. Participants enjoyed friendly competition on the courts, along with great food and drinks that kept the energy high throughout the event. The fundraiser was made even more exciting by an array of amazing raffle items, creating a fun and engaging atmosphere while supporting At Home In Darien’s mission.

AHID CELEBRATES 50,000 RIDES – OCTOBER 2025

At Home In Darien celebrated a remarkable milestone with the completion of its 50,000th one-way ride, a testament to the organization’s long-standing commitment to supporting Darien seniors. The celebration brought together Darien First Selectman Jon Zagrodzky, along with past and present At Home In Darien Board members, staff, and dedicated volunteers who have made this achievement possible. Adding a special note to the occasion, Darien resident Margie Pace was honored as the 50,000th rider, highlighting the real and meaningful impact this vital service continues to have within the community.

YALE CENTER FOR BRITISH ART – SEPTEMBER 2025

As part of At Home In Darien’s new Out & About Trips program, eleven members enjoyed a memorable excursion to New Haven that included a private tour of the Yale Center for British Art. Guests were not only engaged and entertained by the museum’s impressive collection and expert-led tour, but also had time to relax and connect with one another. The day concluded with shared laughs and conversation over sandwiches by the water, where participants took in New Haven’s beautiful scenery, making the trip a perfect blend of culture, companionship, and fun.

DMA GOLF OUTING – JULY 2025

It was a beautiful day on the Oak Hills Golf Course in Norwalk, as nearly 80 golfers participated in a special fundraiser for At Home In Darien, organized and run by the Darien Men’s Association. A heartfelt “thank you” to the DMA for all of their time and efforts for holding such a successful event where the proceeds will directly benefit Darien seniors.

CHERRY LAWN GARDEN’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY – JUNE 2025

Members of At Home In Darien’s Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers participated at this unique event celebrating Darien’s beautiful Cherry Lawn Gardens. Guests to the event were not only able to stop at AHID’s table to learn about our services, but were also able to make special planting crafts that were enjoyed by both children and adults.

ANNUAL LUNCHEON AT THE DCA – MAY 2025

Over 100 guests once again enjoyed some great food and entertainment at this popular AHID event. Guest speaker Art Gottlieb, a local geriatric clinician, entertained guests with his blend of humor, expertise, and sensitivity about recognizing, managing, and adapting to life’s milestones and changes.

BINGO AT COMPASS REAL ESTATE – MARCH 2025

The competition was intense as Compass Real Estate hosted a Bingo event for At Home In Darien members! Prizes were provided to all winners and homemade pulled pork and cornbread were served to participants and guests.

A DIFFERENT TYPE OF ANNUAL MEETING – DECEMBER 2024

At Home In Darien’s 2024 Annual Meeting took a slightly different approach than in past years, with a more internal focus designed to strengthen connections across the organization. Rather than centering on formal presentations, the meeting brought together members of the Board of Directors, staff, and several outstanding volunteers to engage in meaningful conversation and reflection. The goal was to create space to discuss, recognize, and celebrate the achievements of the past year, reinforcing the shared commitment and collaboration that continue to drive the organization’s mission forward.

LIT TREE LANE STROLL TREE DECORATION – DECEMBER 2024

At Home In Darien proudly participated in the 2nd annual Darien Library Lit Tree Lane Stroll, a festive community event where local nonprofits, decorators, and artists created holiday trees inspired by classic literary works. Drawing from the beloved story Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates, At Home In Darien’s tree captured the spirit of the book and the season, with its display thoughtfully accented by a pair of antique skates generously supplied by Board member Tamsin Sickinger. The event offered a creative and engaging way to celebrate literature, community, and the holiday season while showcasing the organization’s involvement in Darien’s cultural life.

LOCAL AUTHOR ENTERTAINS GUESTS AT ANNUAL LUNCHEON – OCTOBER 2024

Local author Tim Manners was the featured speaker at At Home In Darien’s fall 2024 annual luncheon, where he shared highlights from his book Schoolboy: The Untold Journey of a Yankee Hero. Manners brought to life the remarkable story of Waite Hoyt, one of the unsung stars of the New York Yankees who pitched alongside legends Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig on the iconic 1927 Yankees—often regarded as the greatest baseball team ever assembled. Through a blend of detailed storytelling, humor, and historical insight, Manners offered both levity and a deeper appreciation for Hoyt’s talent, personality, and lasting impact on the game, engaging guests and enriching their understanding of baseball history.

PARTY AT THE BEACH – JULY 2024

Over 60 people enjoyed a beautiful early July evening at Darien’s Weed Beach, celebrating summer at a party hosted by At Home In Darien and co-sponsored by the local organization Seniors Helping Seniors. Laughter and lively conversation filled the Paddle Hut as seniors were treated to plenty of food and, more importantly, the opportunity to connect with each other.

KEVIN GALLAGHER DISCUSSES UNIQUE WWII BOOK – MAY 2024

At Home In Darien and the Darien Library hosted local author Kevin Gallagher, who thoroughly entertained the audience with details from his book Brothers In Arms. In particular, Kevin highlighted several heartwarming stories about his experiences researching and ultimately writing the book about brothers buried side by side in American World War II cemeteries overseas.

AT HOME IN DARIEN ANNUAL LUNCHEON A SUCCESS!

You’re never too old to claim your “SWAGGER”! That was one of the compelling messages from author Jennifer Mrozek Sukalo, guest speaker at At Home In Darien’s annual luncheon. The luncheon, co-sponsored by the Darien Community Association (DCA), was attended by over 100 seniors who were not only treated to a special lunch, but also provided with unique strategies to appreciate their own strengths to help them stop merely surviving but to start thriving. The positivity offered by Ms. Sukalo, an award-winning author of “Claim Your SWAGGER”, permeated the room and left all guests thinking about their own plan to develop the skills to create lasting behavioral changes.

​NAVIGATING SENIOR CARE OPTIONS

America is getting older, or more specifically, people in America are getting older and living longer. This of course is a good thing, but it introduces a variety of challenges for seniors. On October 17, 2023, the Darien Library sponsored a panel discussion titled “Navigating Senior Care Options”, featuring local senior experts.  Panel participants included Chris Jones, At Home In Darien’s Executive Director, along with representatives from Darien Signature Health, The Residence at Selleck’s Woods and Sterling Care. Panel participants provided background on how each organization supports area seniors and as Chris noted during the discussion, “it’s important to understand the full scope of services that are available for the senior community”. To view the panel discussion, please click here.

​TV 79 FEATURES AT HOME IN DARIEN – SEPTEMBER, 2023

At Home In Darien was proud to be featured in September 2023 in TV79’s “Inside Town Hall” series. While AHID is not officially part of town hall, its proximity and partnership with the town’s Human Services team and the Mather Center indelibly tie it to activities and issues that impact Darien seniors. Jim Cameron, TV79’s Program Director and a long-time fixture within the town hall, interviewed At Home In Darien’s Executive Director Chris Jones to learn more about AHID’s special history, services and people. To view the full interview please click here.

ROCKIN’ SOCK HOP – MAY 2023

Goodness, gracious “Great Balls of Fire”!

At Home In Darien was pleased to co-sponsor a 1950’s and 1960’s themed event for Darien seniors, held at and co-sponsored by Senior Programs at the Mather Center. The vibrant and fun filled event featured the entertaining and talented musical duo “The Elderly Brothers”, and included a delicious lunch created by Chef Judi. The attendees enjoyed plenty of dancing and laughing, and look forward to coming back for the event next year!

AT HOME IN DARIEN ANNUAL MEETING – DECEMBER 2022

After two years of meetings impacted by COVID-19, At Home In Darien was happy to hold its Annual Meeting completely in person on December 8, 2022. First Selectwoman Monica McNally read a proclamation declaring the date “At Home In Darien Day”, with special guests including a variety of state and local legislative representatives. The meeting featured a panel discussion titled “Moving Forward in an Intergenerational Community”, with the panelists offering perspective on how Darien can best support seniors moving forward.

For the full video of the Annual Meeting, please click here.

ANNUAL LUNCHEON AT THE DARIEN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION – NOVEMBER 2022

“He who laughs . . . lasts!”

This quote from Erma Bombeck was shared by local author and guest speaker Allia Zobel Nolan at At Home In Darien’s Annual Luncheon, held at and co-sponsored by the DCA on November 3, 2022. Ms. Nolan spoke of the benefits of laughter during her speech and shared some stories from her book “Laugh Out Loud: 40 Women Humorists Celebrate Then and Now . . . Before We Forget.” Over 100 senior citizens participated at the lunch event and laughter was clearly on the menu.

AT HOME IN DARIEN ANNUAL MEETING 2021

At Home In Darien was honored to have Connecticut’s Attorney General William Tong as the featured speaker at its Annual Meeting, which was held both in-person and virtually at Darien Library on Friday, December 10, 2021.  Mr. Tong explained the rationale for the creation of the Elder Justice Hotline, and how to prevent falling victim to fraudulent activities. 

For the full video of the presentation and the meeting, please click here. 

AT HOME IN DARIEN ANNUAL MEETING 2020

On Thursday, December 10, 2020, At Home In Darien held its Annual Meeting virtually featuring Marie L. Allen, Executive Director of the Southwestern CT Agency on Aging.

Ms. Allen spoke on:

Attitudes, Anxiety and Ageism in the Time of Covid-19

• The history of ageism and how it affects the pandemic narrative and response
• Combating a pandemic that discriminately targets people older than 65 and people living in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes
• Positive and negative responses towards older adults during the Pandemic
• Efforts towards intergenerational solidarity and the importance of community-based supports like senior centers and At Home In Darien

Please read our blog for a recap of this presentation, by clicking here.