Host: Jim Phillips
Month: April 2021
Contact Mike Heitz
This year’s Memorial Day Parade will occur on Monday, May 31. The Memorial Day Ceremony will take place immediately following the Parade at the Karl Lang monument in Spring Grove Veterans Cemetery. In case of inclement weather, the Ceremony will be moved to the Darien Library. The Parade will step-off at 10:00 am sharp and is a great opportunity to demonstrate pride in our role in the Community. Suggested attire for parading members will remain the same as in years past; namely, tan slacks, blue shirts – but not strictly enforced as all, of course, are welcomed!
The drop-off location is the Good Wives Shopping Center (drop-off time is 9:00 am; the Parade organizers will designate our assigned drop-off point with signs and guides at the Shopping Center) and the pick-up location is the Stamford Health Darien Draw Station at 1500 Post Road, a few yards across from the Darien Library.
We usually have about 6 cars in the parade, some being used for members who are more comfortable with riding the distance. Please let Mike Heitz (mheitz14@gmail.com) know if you have a car to include in the Parade and whether you will drive or wish to ride in a car or simply intend to walk the route. Lastly, we request that masks should be carried for use as required (or as deemed prudent).
David Mace and Joe Spain
The next wandering of the DMA will be on Tuesday, May 25 to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Jamaica Bay is a wildlife refuge managed by the National Parks Service as part of the Gateway National Recreation Area. It is located in Queens just a little over an hour’s drive from Darien. Our group will leave from the DCA parking lot at 8:30 am. We will car pool to the site and then enjoy the beautiful scenery and birdlife. Bring your binoculars and your camera. Afterward we will have lunch. If you are planning to join us please let Joe Spain or David Mace know in advance. We look forward to this spectacular day.
David H. Crandall died peacefully on March 13, 2021 with family by his side. He was 89 years old.
Born in Oswego, NY, Dave raised his family in Darien where he was exceptionally active in the life of the community, from church vestry member to volunteer firefighter. He also served on various town committees ultimately becoming Chairman of the Board of Finance for the Town of Darien.
After graduating from Colgate University in 1953 and then serving as a captain in the Marine Corps, Dave met Jane Fox in New York City. They married in 1959. Together they raised four children in Darien. Dave may be most remembered for his genuine connection with people. Regardless of one’s station in life, Dave had an easy way of bonding with anyone. When you spoke to him, you knew he cared about you.
Dave and his family were long-time members of St. Luke’s Parish in Darien where he served as senior warden among other volunteer roles. That participation in the church led to further involvement with the Berkeley Divinity School at Yale University where he served as Board Chair from 1991-99 and received an honorary doctorate degree in 1999. In business Dave built a successful career in real estate.
No remembrance of Dave would be complete without mentioning his passion for fire engines. Having served as a volunteer fireman with Noroton Fire Department, Dave loved everything about firefighting. His boyhood fascination never left him.
Dave was an avid sailor. Some of his happiest memories were sailing with his family on Long Island Sound and Buzzards Bay.
In addition to his wife Jane, Dave is survived by his four children, six grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
Host: Bob Baker
Discussion Leader: Charles Salmans
On Thursday, May 20 at 11 a.m., I will lead a Current Affairs discussion on Covid — an update. We’ll address vaccine resistance and what may be required to prevent further mutations that potentially could get around the vaccines, the challenge of vaccinating people in poor, high density populations, whether a vaccine passport should be required, and what lessons have been learned so we are better prepared should another pandemic arise.
Charles
Slides from the discussion: Covid Discussion DMA Current Affairs
Updates on the latest Covid infection rates, vaccination rates, hospitalizations, and deaths are available from several sources.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/05/11/coronavirus-covid-live-updates-us/
Breakdowns for Connecticut, the United States, and Around the World
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/connecticut-covid-cases.html
CDC data on vaccination rates
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home
Wall Street Journal — US Covid metrics take a positive turn
Taking ‘Extraordinary Measures,’ Biden Backs Suspending Patents on Vaccines
The Biden administration, siding with some world leaders over the U.S. pharmaceutical industry, came out in favor of waiving intellectual property protections for coronavirus vaccines.
Can Employers Require Vaccination
Vaccine hesitancy, misinformation is just part of the problem.
“The Magic of RNA: From CRISPR to Coronavirus Vaccines.” presented by Tom Cech
Groton Connecticut is an old New England town settled in the 1640s between the Thames and the Mystic Rivers. Early on it became a shipbuilding town. During WW1 Groton became a submarine base and in 1954 the first nuclear powered submarine, the Nautilus, was launched from Groton. In the waning days of the American Revolution the turncoat Benedict Arnold overwhelmed a cadre of militia on the heights of Groton overlooking the Thames. Arnold sacked the town as well as setting New London on fire across the river. This is the only major battle fought during the Revolution in Connecticut. We will meet in the parking lot of the DCA at 8:30 am. Those who wish to car pool may do so. Others may wish to drive alone. It is a 1 hour and 45 minute drive to Groton. We will pick a place for lunch either in Groton or in another town on our return. Please join us for an exciting day in a lovely part of Connecticut. Let Joe Spain or David Mace know of your interest in joining us.
Joe Spain, David Mace
Some great pictures: Wandering in Groton
Trailmaster: Dave McCollum
Greenwich Audubon Center in Greenwich, CT at 10:00 AM on Thursday April 22.
Greenwich Audubon Center is a 285 acre sanctuary which opened its doors in 1943 as Audubon’s first nature education center in the country. Located on land donated by Eleanor Clovis Reese and H Hall Clovis the center includes over 7 miles of trails through a rich diversity of hardwood forest, meadows, lakes, streams and vernal ponds. Also on the property are an expansive Nature Education Center, an old apple orchard and original New England homestead buildings.
We plan to meet in the main parking lot at 10 AM and hike for about two hours over varied terrain including one steep climb and several sections of rocky trail. We rate this as a hike of moderate plus difficulty. The footing on our pre-hike was very good. The scenery is spectacular particularly at this time of year before the leaves are out.
The Center is located at 613 Riversville Road in Greenwich on the north side of the Merritt Parkway. Exit at Round Hill Road and use GPS to get you to the center. As always, guests and spouses are welcome but no dogs on the property please! There will be no lunch after this hike.
CONTACTS: Dave McCollum and Bob Plunkett
Hike recap. On an unseasonably cold and windy April morning, twelve DMAers and guests hiked 2.8 miles in under two hours over spectacular terrain at the 285 acre property which also serves as the education center for Greenwich Audubon.
Located on land donated by the Clovis family the center’s trails traverse meadows, hardwood forests, lakes and some awesome rocks and ravines. Despite the heavy downpour yesterday, the trails were largely dry or just damp. With the
leaves still not out, the varied topography of the center was in full view. What was not in view was wildlife! We saw a grand total of one robin and a chipmunk! All hikers were totally up to the steep (160 vertical feet) path from the lake area
to the parking lot. This is a property that should be on our regular hiking rotation.