The Darien boys track team is outstanding this year with easy wins to go 5-0. They have outrun their competition in the 5 meets by a combined score of 509- 206. This year's team has also shown up in the record books, as Jake Gilbert ran the 2nd fastest 100m in school history at 11:35, and Thomas Hall ran the 2nd fastest time  in the 200m at 23:19.

 In addition, those 2 athletes combined with Liam Bortel and Chase Larson to run the second fastest school time in the 4X100 relay at 44:25.

Girl's Softball

The Wave are tearing it up, sitting atop the East division with a 10-1 record. They are 7-0 in league action, they have 6 shut-outs, and scored 67 runs while allowing 18. The team's only loss came against Amity, which brought the team back to earth with a 2-11 pasting. But Darien still ranks 5th in the Gametime CT polling, and the top team of the FCIAC.

In baseball, Darien is currently 8-5 and in good shape to get into this year's play-offs.  Norwalk HS is red-hot at 12-0, and currently seeded No. 1. 

Boy's Lacrosse

Coach Brameier's guys are 6-6 and 2-2 in division play. New Cannan is having a good season at 11-1 and tied with Staples, each team at 3-1 in the West. On May 3,  New Canaan beat Darien 8-4.

Darien girl's lacrosse are 12-2, and tops in the FCIAC West at 4-0. In their 12 wins they've scored 113 goals. The team's two loses were against St. Anthony's (8-13) and Sacred Heart Greenwich (8-9).

Darien in the Upset!

The Blue Wave played the spoiler on Saturday, ending the Rams unbeaten season with a 4-1 upset for the CIAC Division I crown at Quinnipiac's M&T Arena. For New Canaan, the loss was yet another in a long string of disappoinments in state finals. Their only championship came 53 years ago in 1972 and the Rams have come up short in 10 straight trips to the finals.

For Darien, four different skaters scored goals on Saturday coupled with an outstanding job by Wave goalie Schafer Repsher who recorded 25 saves. Darien took the lead late in the first, scoring a short-handed goal with only 35 seconds left on the clock. The second period saw no one score with New Canaan firing off 16 shots to the Wave's 13. In the third period, Rephsher shut down a flurry of shots before Darien tacked on 2 to go up 3-0 with only 6 minutes remaining. 

New Canaan managed a score with less the 5 minutes left and Darien scored an empty-netter to cap the win at 4-1.

This was the Wave's first championship since winning back-to-back finals in 2015 and 2016, and have a total a four titles in ten final appearances. Darien (18-5-1) is responsible for giving New Canaan their only loss and tie this season as they finish up at 23-1-1. 

Ah!  Coffee

Waking up tomorrow morning, 150 million Americans will drink over 400 million cups of coffee. On average, both male and females over 18 will consume about 3.2 cups. Most of this Joe (65%) is enjoyed during breakfast hours while 30% is consumed between meals.  Fully 50% of the adult population drinks coffee. 

An average home-brewed 8-ounce cup of coffee contains between 120 to 180mg of caffeine.  Specialty-coffee shop servings typically contain 160mg of caffeine per 8 ounces but since these coffees are often served in 12 to 20 ounce cups, figure between 240 to 415 mg, depending on the size. Brewed decaffeinated coffee contains between 5-15 mg of caffeine per 8 ounces.

The health benefits are remarkable as accumulating evidence from recent studies suggest coffee consumption has been associated with prevention or delay of such degenerative disease as type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Parkinsons, Alzheimer's disease, and some cancers. These potential benefits have been attributed in part to the antioxidants present in coffee. Coffee also assists in  moderate weight reduction, increased insulin sensitivity and reduced inflammation.  Black coffee can act as a substitute for high-caloric, nutrient-poor soft drinks, sports drinks, alcoholic beverages, and various high calorie fruit juices. Coffee contains over 1000 different biochemical molecules, many formed during the roasting process. Coffee is a rich source of polyphenols which are linked to numerous health benefits and has been shown to improve adipocytes while lowering fetuin-A levels, a blood protein which inhibits liver function. Available data also suggests there's a significant inverse association between coffee consumption and depression. Current studies show that coffee intake of up to 6 cups/day does not affect the heart's QT interval or pose a risk for serious arrhythmias, so Enjoy! 

Good Grades for Darien Schools

Darien Public Schools has recently received top grades from a school-ranking outfit named Niche. Niche assembles data compiled from reviews, other public information and data from the Dept of Education. The company ranked the Darien district as the fourth-best in the state (and behind New Canaan, at No. 1).

Darien's 4,700 kids in all grades have a student-teacher ratio of only 11 to 1. Rankings in specific categories give Darien an A+ in most, including Food served. Two areas which need improvement are Administration at  B+ and the area of Diversity with a C-. 

Some folks remembering  Jordy Perry Kay (right) at her Memorial at the  Weed Beach Hut. 

Left - Josie and Lauren with Jordy's son Andrew

Eddy, Eric Joosten, Lauren Fair and Tom Tyler

Kathy Micha Frate, Paul Hendrickson, Jeff Frate

Paul Hepp 1950-2024

Classmate Paul Frederick Hepp passed away on Saturday, June 22, 2024. 

See full obiturary in the Memorials Sections. 

Classmate Susan Danvers and Hubby Bob in Olympia, Washington.

Love to Hear From You!

Please, leave your remarks in the 'Comment' Section

Classmate Gary Swartz (far right) and wife Sally send greetings from Oman. The couple have their daughter's family staying there for the US State Department. The UN considers Oman the most improved country in terms of development in the last 40 years and is the oldest independent Arab state.

Do A 55th Reunion?

Lots of classmates are talking about holding a 55th reunion of the DHS Class of 1969. Probably something on the lighter-side, a casual Friday get-together and then a restaurant dinner Saturday night.

If this sounds good, you can contact classmate Jeff Myers, someone brave enough to put his name out-there.

Jeff can be reached at myerspercussion@gmail.com . Could be fun!

On 7 acres within the heart of Darien, Baywater Properties is re-imagining downtown Darien — at The Corbin District — resetting the landscape of shopping, dining, lifestyle and entertainment. Baywater began this exciting transformation in 2019 with extreme attention to detail and a sharp focus on creating one of the most enjoyable and walkable downtown environments in the region

Tim and Jamila Potts
 

Mark Paddock, Dennis Sullivan, Sue Venardi Mahoney, Janet Martin Fisher, Martyn Goossen, Kathy DelleFontane Goossen, Steve Craig

 

Rick Weber, Chris Weber, Eric Joosten, Paul Hendrickson

Choir

Vandy Van Wagener and Family

Anne Marie McGarry

Greetings Anahid!

Steve and Patti Craig squishing apples from their apple trees. One year they report harvesting over 20 bushels of apples. (Note: 1 bushel = 48 pounds). The Craigbo Cider Co. made 16 gallons of unadulterated apple cider, while also donating apples to a local farmer and food pantry.
 

 Terry Cummings, Tim Maul, Cliff Powell

 Shot of trip out west during summer of '69 when we hitchhiked to California. Mark Tinker's dad bought us the car to roam around California and back to CT. Thought I lost this. Great memories from that trip. Those were the days!  -George Wehmann