Darien Grinds Out 2–1 Win Over Fairfield Prep, Improves to 4–3

Darien boys hockey earned a spirited 2–1 victory over Fairfield Prep on January 7, winning the defensive battle at the Darien Ice House. It was the Jesuits who struck first, breaking through with under six minutes left in the opening period. Darien answered with authority in the second, scoring twice to flip the game and take a 2–1 lead into the final frame.

The third period brought much drama. Fairfield Prep pulled its goalie in the closing minutes and brought heavy pressure in the Darien zone, but senior goaltender Schafer Repsher stood ground, turning aside every late attempt, to secure the win.

Darien moves to 4–3, showing poise in a matchup that demanded composure from start to finish. The Wave play two non-league matches before facing the Ridgefield Tigers on January 14.

Darien Girls Hockey Stays Red‑Hot

Despite a December setback against New Canaan, the Darien girls hockey team has been scorching ever since, out-scoring their other opponents by a combined 44–6. The Blue Wave added another win on Friday, January 9, skating past Brewster (NY) High School 8–1 to improve to 7–1 on the season. Darien, the defending FCIAC champions, sits just behind rival New Canaan in the conference standings. The Rams remain unbeaten at 7–0–1, setting up a compelling midseason clash between the two power programs.

Next up for the Wave is a non‑league matchup against Greenwich Academy at the Darien Ice House, a chance to keep momentum rolling as the schedule tightens.

🤼‍♀️ A Historic Night for Girls Wrestling in the FCIAC

Stamford and Trumbull will make conference history Saturday night when they compete in the first all‑girls wrestling dual meet in the 65‑year history of the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference. The landmark event—another sign of the rapid rise of girls wrestling across Connecticut—begins at 6 p.m. at Stamford High School.

Stamford Athletic Director Chris Passamano celebrated the moment in a statement:

“We take great pride in hosting this historic evening. Stamford High has built one of the best girls wrestling programs, not just in Connecticut, but all of New England. Our coaches have done an amazing job supporting girls wrestling and encouraging growth in all of our female sports.”

It’s a milestone night for the FCIAC and a showcase of how quickly the sport is expanding, both in participation and competitive quality.

What's This About an Amazon Refund

As of early January 2026, the big news around Amazon Prime refunds stems from a massive $2.5 billion settlement Amazon reached with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in September 2025. The FTC alleged that Amazon used deceptive tactics to enroll millions of customers in Prime subscriptions without clear consent and made cancellations unnecessarily difficult.

Total payout — $1.5 billion goes directly to eligible Prime customers as refunds, with the rest as a civil penalty.

Refund amount — Up to $51 per person (reflecting subscription fees paid during the affected period).

Affected period— Between June 23, 2019 and June 23, 2025, you either

- Signed up through the shipping page, checkout page, or Prime Video enrollment  

OR

- Tried to cancel Prime online but were blocked or misled during the cancellation flow

AND

You used Prime benefits sparingly.

If a customers used three or fewer Prime benefits in a 12-month period after enrollment, payments were paid automatically in November–December 2025. If a Prime member used from 3-10 benefits, they may need to file a claim manually. Starting in January 2026, Amazon is sending notices (email or mail, postmarked by Jan. 23) to those who qualify but didn't get automatic payments. These customers can file a claim online at the official settlement site: subscriptionmembershipsettlement.com.

Those of us who use Amazon all the darn time - forget about it.

Connecticut Faces One of Its Toughest Flu Seasons in Years

Connecticut is getting hammered by the flu this winter, with doctors calling it a season unlike anything the state has seen in many years. Emergency departments across Connecticut are reporting surging patient volumes, and the data backs it up: flu cases statewide have climbed sharply, driven by a fast‑spreading new strain.

Dr. Steven Valassis, chair of Emergency Medicine at St. Vincent’s, said the spike is both unmistakable and unprecedented in its timing. “The rise in flu cases this year is significantly worse than last year and has started earlier than in years past,” he said. “St. Vincent’s has been very busy with flu‑related visits in the last two weeks. This trend is unmistakable in our department and throughout the state.”

The primary culprit is a newly dominant influenza A subtype known as **H3N2 subclade K**, which experts say is spreading rapidly across the country. National reporting confirms that this strain now accounts for the vast majority of influenza A cases — roughly 90%, according to Valassis, and consistent with national coverage noting that “the bulk of this year’s cases are being linked to a new variant known as subclade K”. 

While this year’s flu vaccine is not a perfect match for the dominant strain — a point echoed in national and local reporting — doctors stress that it remains one of the most effective tools for reducing severe illness. 

Darien Posts Strong Marks at Jim Mitchell Invitational

Darien High School turned in a slate of competitive performances Saturday, Dec. 20 at the Jim Mitchell Invitational, held at the New York Armory’s Nike Track & Field Center, one of the Northeast’s premier early‑season stages.

Senior Andrew Sharron delivered the Blue Wave’s top result, winning the boys’ Seeded 1000 meters in 2:33.25, a personal best. His time came within striking distance of the Connecticut state record of 2:25.55, set in 2013, underscoring the strength of his early‑season form. Darien’s sophomore contingent also made its presence known. Gabriel Checketts captured the Unseeded 1‑mile title in 4:54.48, while Mischa Gagliardi placed 14th in the Seeded mile with a 5:39.55. In the sprints, Chase Larson earned seventh in the Seeded 200 meters, clocking 23.16.

The meet served as an early barometer for Darien’s indoor track team's depth across multiple events.