A Class Act

Dear Readers and Residents of Darien,

As Earth Day this month focuses our attention on the environment, we are pleased to bring you this issue and its celebration of the kinds of actions embodied in the Alexanders’ recent donation of part of their land to the Darien Land Trust. It is vision like theirs that balances the exciting development around us.

It is the same vision that defines Chris Filmer’s volunteerism in town. With his decades of passionate work on behalf of Darien’s open spaces and the flora and fauna who live there (as well as the two-legged among us lucky enough to have found them!), he leads with all he does—quietly, with intelligence, action, humor, grace and grit, schooling us to find the best in ourselves while he’s at it. What a gift to have spent the time with him to write this story, a gift we are pleased to share.

Darien’s Meaghan Hetherington, LCSW | psychotherapist, contributed our Mind Set column this month about the mental health benefits of green spaces, especially for kids, and Carolyn Bayne with the Darien Advisory Committee on Sus- tainability has issued a very interesting and worthwhile challenge in our Giving Back column. All I can say is ‘we’re in!’ …for both and perhaps you will be too after you read them. We love Carol Guthrie’s column about the Art of Landscape Design in this issue and are pleased to introduce a new item this month—House Tour, an exploration of the many architectural styles that give Darien its unique character. Special thanks to Town Historian Marian Castell and Liz Geiger of the Architectural Review Board for helping with this. Thanks also to Sharon Rodda of Houlihan Lawrence for bringing us into 194 Long Neck Point Road, this month’s House Tour feature.

There’s all this and more in the pages ahead, a magazine for Darien, by Darien, and we thank the advertisers who make it possible for us to produce it for you, especially Hollow Tree Storage and Wine Vault profiled in this issue. Please, share your thoughts with us at pam@darienmagazinect.com or carl@darienmagazinect.com. And be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram @darienmagazinect.

PAMELA DEY VOSSLER CARL TRAUTMANN Editor-in-Chief Founder & Publisher

To be positive, to inspire, to educate, and expand minds through contributed content and the stories we tell about Darien residents, influencers, organizations, business owners, charities, and more, connecting to the issues of our day by showcasing the many layers of who we are as a community.

Who We Are:

A new, locally owned, multimedia platform built to serve Darien exclusively and help connect our community. Our aim is to uncover the gems in our midst, exposing what we may not know, or could have missed—an angle, a resource, a backstory and more, as shared by the people behind them. We’ll look at the familiar in new and different ways, to take you deep into the community that we call home.

We are grateful to our local Founding Partners for their support. If you need the services these great folks provide, please visit them first.

980 Post Rd. #A Darien, CT 06820 (203) 655-7677 • www.crossprivateclient.com

A boutique Personal Lines Insurance Agency that focuses solely on Personal Risk Management for successful individuals.

You can schedule a complimentary call with me through my website at www.lindamstephens.com.

My virtual door is always open if you want to discuss your health concerns and goals. We believe in being proactive about your health because your health is your responsibility.

Our efforts are dedicated to the memory of Irene “Renie” Mahoney Trautmann, co-founder of DarienMagazineCT.com, loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend. A long-time Darien resident, music educator, Holmes School substitute teacher, real estate agent and so much more, it was her selfless, positive approach to giving back and bringing joy that is our inspiration. You can visit Renie’s bench in Woodland Park.

Darien’s prosperity is intertwined with our amazing local businesses. Did you know that:

• 70% of local dollars spent, stay local (Amex)

Special shout out to our local contributors this month: The Darien Land Trust, Linda Stephens, Meaghan Hetherington, Carol Guthrie, Carolyn Bayne and the Darien Advisory Committee on Sustainability, Sharon Rodda, Marian Castell and Carolyn Eddie

Coming soon:

DarienMagazineCT.com

576 Boston Post Road, Darien, CT 203. 655. 6633 • www.gearygallery.com

Fine Art. Accent Picture Framing. Accent Restoration. We offer curbside pick up. Come visit our Gallery or take a tour on line.

635 Frogtown Rd, New Canaan, CT 06840 (203) 801-5608 • www.countryschool.net

New Canaan Country School focuses on translating knowledge into action. NCCS ensures that students enjoy a broad range of ageappropriate, “learning-by-doing” activities in an environment that fosters trust and risk-taking.

• Local businesses generate as much as 80% of their business within 5 miles of their location. (SBA)

131 Hollow Tree Ridge Road, Darien, CT 06820 203-655-2018 • www.hollowtreestorage.com

Hollow Tree Self Storage has the right space for you. Located on Hollow Tree Ridge Road, our fenced facility is here to provide you with the solution to your storage needs.

1020 Post Road, Darien, CT 06820 (203) 655-1020 • www.info@tentwentypost.com

French Quarter New Orleans meets the Oyster Bar @ Grand Central with a spacious bar and numerous seating options, Ten Twenty Post offers a diverse menu that will make for an excellent experience regardless of the occasion.

• “Near Me” (within 5 miles) is a top business search category. (Google Small Business) website launch

Thank you for supporting our local business community.

Please follow us on:

@darienmagazinect

@darienmagazinect.com

If you’d like to connect regarding:

• A marketing partnership, to advertise, or have a general inquiry, please reach out to carl@darienmagazinect.com

• Editorial or contribution ideas and feedback, please reach out to pam@darienmagazinect.com

Art Director KIRSTEN NAVIN

DarienMagazineCT.com

LLC is an independent, wholly owned multimedia platform and business including this publication published ten times a year, social media, and a soon to launch website.