Darien Library

Darien Library welcomes seasoned angler, Gerald Berrafati, who will take us on a tour of some of the best local fly fishing opportunities here in Darien and across Fairfield County! From targeting trout on one of the 20+ streams in the county to chasing large striped bass cruising the coast, you'll discover the breadth and quality of fly fishing available right here in your own back yard! Mr. Berrafati, a lifelong Wilton resident, is the Chapter Coordinator for Trout Unlimited - a national conservation nonprofit dedicated to stream restoration and community education-&nbsp; in lower Fairfield County. An avid angler and fly caster since a young age, Mr. Berrafati knows the waters of our region like the back of his hand and will share his "secret" spots along with tips, tactics and information on the ways you can enjoy the great local fishing and be part of the work to care for and recover our rivers, streams and the Long Island Sound.
A must for fishing enthusiasts - come join us!
<h3>About the Presenter</h3>
Gerald Berrafati is currently chapter coordinator for The Mianus Chapter of Trout Unlimited. &nbsp;His intimate knowledge of the smaller rivers in Western Connecticut provide the most productive outings on local waters. The Mianus Chapter is part of a national conservation organization dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring our coldwater fisheries. Mianus has over 4,000 members and supporters - all passionate anglers and conservationists - in the Greenwich, Stamford, Darien, Norwalk, New Canaan, Ridgefield, Wilton and other nearby communities. As a conservation organization, the Mianus Chapter is primarily involved in active restoration work on local rivers and streams, but also promotes educational activities, hosts regular fishing outings and works with local and state agencies and regional environmental organizations to plan and implement conservation programs.&nbsp;

Local Event: Fly Fishing Fairfield County: From the Streams to the Shoreline

Fairfield County

Darien

Connecticut

Fly Fishing Fairfield County: From the Streams...

Darien Library welcomes seasoned angler, Gerald Berrafati, who will take us on a tour of some of the best local fly fishing...

Fly Fishing Fairfield County: From the Streams to the Shoreline

Darien Library is thrilled to welcome back local author and historian, <a href="https://laurencejurdem.com/books/41-george-h-w-bush-and-the-end-of-the-american-establishment/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Laurence Jurdem, Ph.D</a>., who will discuss his new book, 41: George H. W. Bush and the End of the American Establishment.
The book is a call for a restoration of professionalism in American government, as illustrated by the life of President George H. W. Bush.
George H. W. Bush is often regarded as the most well-prepared president ever to occupy the Oval Office. Though raised in a world of privilege, Bush was grounded in the belief that character and achievement were essential to serve the common good. In today’s political landscape, these motivations are hardly prided as hallmarks of a great leader—and our nation is experiencing the consequences of these qualities falling out of vogue.
Over the course of his education, military service, business career, and decades in public life, Bush absorbed lessons from those around him, shaping a worldview rooted in service, humility, and competence. 41: George H. W. Bush and the End of the American Establishment is not only a study of what Bush learned from mentors and colleagues, but also a reflection on why experience and expertise remain vital to effective presidential leadership.
<h3>About the Author</h3>
Laurence Jurdem, Ph.D., is currently a visiting assistant professor of history at Fairfield University. He is also the author of <a href="https://catalog.darienlibrary.org/Record/605588?searchId=11955257&amp;recordIndex=1&amp;page=1&amp;referred=resultIndex" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">The Rough Rider and the Professor: Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Cabot Lodge, and the Friendship that Changed American History</a>, and Paving the Way for Reagan: The Influence of Conservative Media on U.S. Foreign Policy. A frequent writer on American politics, his articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the San Francisco Chronicle. His newest book, 41: George H. W. Bush and the End of the American Establishment, was published in May 2026. He lives in Connecticut.&nbsp;

Local Event: Author Talk: Laurence Jurdem, “41 - George H. W. Bush and the End of the American Establishment”

Author Talk: Laurence Jurdem, “41 - George H....

Darien Library is thrilled to welcome back local author and historian, Laurence Jurdem, Ph.D., who will discuss his new book,...

Author Talk: Laurence Jurdem, “41 - George H. W. Bush and the End of the American Establishment”

Darien Library, <a href="https://dspsct.org/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Darien Sail &amp; Power Squadron</a>, and <a href="https://barrettbookstore.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Barrett Bookstore</a> welcome back author Eric Jay Dolin to discuss his new book, "The Wreck of the Mentor: A True Story of Death, Despair, and Deliverance in the Age of Sail." Selected by The New York Times as one of the most anticipated nonfiction books of 2026!&nbsp;
<h3>About the Book</h3>
From the best–selling author of Black Flags, Blue Waters comes the story of the American whaleship Mentor, wrecked in 1832 on a remote reef in the western Pacific. With supplies dwindling, the eleven surviving crewmen face not only the miseries of shipwreck in unfamiliar territory but also the profound uncertainty of contact with the Indigenous people of the Micronesian archipelago of Palau, who within days approach the deserted men brandishing axes, clubs, and spears. In this gripping saga of cultural collision, tribal wars, and dashed hopes, award–winning historian Eric Jay Dolin vividly reconstructs the Mentor’s doomed voyage, the years of perilous captivity, and the delicate negotiations and fraught naval rescue mission that followed.
Illustrated by more than 100 images and maps, The Wreck of the Mentor is at once a powerful story of survival and a revealing window into the great Age of Sail―a time when maritime ambition collided with local sovereignty, and when the outcome of one voyage rippled across oceans and empires.
<h3>About the Author</h3>
Eric Jay Dolin is the author of seventeen books, including&nbsp;Leviathan: The History of Whaling in America; A Furious Sky: The Five-Hundred-Year History of America’s Hurricanes; Black Flags, Blue Waters: The Epic History of America’s Most Notorious Pirates; and Rebels at Sea: Privateering in the American Revolution. His forthcoming book (June 2, 2026), is&nbsp;The Wreck of the Mentor: A True Story of Death, Despair, and Deliverance in the Age of Sail.&nbsp;
Dolin's books have won many awards including the John Lyman Award for U.S. Maritime History; Fraunces Tavern Museum Book Award; National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Excellence in American History Book Award for Adult Nonfiction; Samuel Eliot Morison Book Award for Naval Literature; L. Byrne Waterman Book Award for Outstanding Contributions to Research and Pedagogy in the Arts, Humanities, and Sciences; James P. Hanlan Book Award; and the Outdoor Writers Association of America Book Award. Many of his books have been chosen as “must reads” by the Massachusetts Center for the Book. Other honors include being chosen as a finalist for the Kirkus Prize, and as one of the best books of the year by The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, The Washington Post, Kirkus Reviews, the Library Journal, and Booklist.&nbsp;
Dolin lives in Marblehead, Massachusetts, with his family.

Local Event: Author Talk: Eric Jay Dolin, "The Wreck of the Mentor: A True Story of Death, Despair, and Deliveran

Author Talk: Eric Jay Dolin, "The Wreck of the...

Darien Library, Darien Sail & Power Squadron, and Barrett Bookstore welcome back author Eric Jay Dolin to discuss his new book,...

Author Talk: Eric Jay Dolin, "The Wreck of the Mentor: A True Story of Death, Despair, and Deliveran

Richard Kaufman

New York City Metropolitan Area

RJ Scofield

Norwalk

Stamford

New Canaan

Greenwich

Alfred Branch

Westport

Hayleigh Evans

Wilton

Westchester County

Port Chester

New York

Jeff Edwards

Bedford-Katonah

Hartford Metropolitan Area

Fairfield

Darien High School

The Town of Darien Parks &amp; Recreation Department will host its annual Fireworks Spectacular on Friday, July 10, at Darien High School. There is a rain date of July 11.
The event will feature face painting, courtyard games, food trucks, a performance by the Darien Community Band and a synchronized fireworks display. Food vendors are scheduled to include Supreme Poutine, Antonio's Pizza, Mister Softee, Fryborg and Kona Ice.
Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs and picnic dinners. Face painting by Alicia and novelty glow items from Parade of Novelties will also be available.
Vehicle access to the event will be available only through the Noroton Avenue entrance. Gates to this entrance only will open at 6:30 p.m. and close promptly at 9 p.m. Fireworks are expected to begin at approximately 9:15 p.m.
Resident parking passes cost $30 per vehicle, with a limit of one pass per household. <a href="https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/darienparksandrec/activity/search/detail/8224?onlineSiteId=0&amp;from_original_cui=true" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Passes go on sale June 15 at 10 a.m.</a> and will be available through July 7 or until sold out. Passes can also be purchased in person through the Darien Parks &amp; Recreation Department.&nbsp;
Parking passes will need to be picked up in person at the Parks &amp; Recreation Department at Town Hall starting on June 22 and must be picked up by July 7.
Walk-ins to the fireworks are welcome, and nonresidents may attend for free, though on-site parking will not be available.

For more information, call the Darien Parks &amp; Recreation Department at 203-656-7325.(Shutterstock photo)

Local Event: 4th of July 2026 Darien Town Fireworks

4th of July 2026 Darien Town Fireworks

The Town of Darien Parks & Recreation Department will host its annual Fireworks Spectacular on Friday, July 10, at Darien High...

HAYVN Coworking - Darien

High School Girls: This is For You!
Become a marketing expert + learn how to start a business this summer. This two-day immersive program helps high school girls build real confidence, make meaningful connections, and dream beyond limits.
WHAT STUDENTS LEARN:
<ul><li>Day 1 → Marketing, Branding, Advertising, Content Creation, Social Media</li><li>Day 2 → Financial Literacy, Business Ideation, Pricing + Selling, Go-To-Market Plan</li></ul>WHAT STUDENTS RECEIVE:
<ul><li>Breakfast &amp; Lunch</li><li>A Curated Welcome Kit</li><li>Hands-On Business &amp; Marketing Training</li><li>Exposure to Career Paths</li><li>Certificate of Completion</li><li>Access to a National Network of Peers &amp; Mentors</li></ul>PROGRAM COSTS:
<ul><li>Supporter Rate – $150: Cover yourself + sponsor another girl.</li><li>Standard Rate – $75: Cover the direct costs.</li><li>Reduced Rate – $35: An option for those who cannot cover the full cost.</li><li>Sponsored Rate – $0: Available for families in need.</li></ul>This immersive experience turns high school girls into marketing and business experts. Find your voice. Build real confidence. Make meaningful connections. Dream beyond limits. 🧡

Local Event: The Next Girl Up Summer Tour: DARIEN

The Next Girl Up Summer Tour: DARIEN

High School Girls: This is For You!
Become a marketing expert + learn how to start a business this summer. This two-day...

Nearby Communities

State Edition

National Edition

Darien Library, Neighbor

Posting Activity

Fly Fishing Fairfield County: From the Streams to the Shoreline

JUL

16

7:00 PM

Darien Library, 1441 Post Rd, Darien, CT

Author Talk: Laurence Jurdem, “41 - George H. W. Bush and the End of the American Establishment”

JUL

22

7:00 PM

Darien Library, 1441 Post Rd, Darien, CT

Author Talk: Eric Jay Dolin, "The Wreck of the Mentor: A True Story of Death, Despair, and Deliveran

JUL

23

7:00 PM

Darien Library, 1441 Post Rd, Darien, CT

4th of July 2026 Darien Town Fireworks

The Next Girl Up Summer Tour: DARIEN