The second catered musical event of the spring season will feature a string quartet from the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra who will perform for the DMA at St. Luke’s on Wednesday evening, April 27. The musical ensemble consists of four highly skilled and experienced chamber musicians, including Emanouil Manolov (violin), Suzanne Corey-Sahlin (viola), Gunnar Sahlin (cello) and Nina Crothers (violin). All perform regularly with the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra and each of them has an impressive resumé featuring performances all over the United States and the world.
Category: Events (Page 3 of 12)
Events are unique, or annual, occurrences that provide singular opportunities for entertainment, service, or education.
As we emerge from COVID, the DMA Social Committee, led by Jan Selkowitz, Gehr Brown and Bob McGroarty, has been seeking to schedule a variety of events and activities for this spring. Plans are in preliminary stages, with many options being considered, including musical performances, sporting events, trips to museums, sorties on Long Island Sound and the June DMA picnic. The first event is a catered musical performance on March 31, at St. Luke’s, by The Melissa Newman Quartet. The Quartet, which has been together since 2012, will be performing standards from The Great American Songbook.
The musical ensemble includes the following talented performers:
Melissa Newman, Vocals: In addition to her vocal talents, Melissa has appeared in many television series (“Bonanza”, “Entertainment Tonight” and “The New Perry Mason” to name a few) and movies (“Mr. and Mrs. Bridge”, “See How She Runs”, etc.). You will also have heard her singing on many commercial jingles. In addition, Melissa is a sculptor and works with ceramics and has volunteered her time to teach art, singing and drawing at correctional facilities for women. She is currently working with the publisher on a previously unreleased memoir by her father, Paul Newman.
Phil Bowler, Bass: Phil graduated with a music degree from The University of Hartford in 1972 and has since played with a long list of jazz greats such as Roland Kirk, Hugh Masekela, Wynton Marsalis, Slide Hampton, John Faddis, Max Roach, Horace Silver and the Count Basie Orchestra. He also hosted Jazz Adventures on WHKN in Bridgeport from 1999-2009.
Tony Lombardozzi, Guitar: Tony has been a jazz guitar instructor and ensemble director on the Wesleyan University music faculty since 1986. He has performed at many famous jazz venues such as the Blue Note and Lincoln Center Jazz in New York City and at many jazz festivals. Since the ‘70s he has performed with a long list of jazz greats such as Clark Terry, Les Paul, Kenny Barron, Rufus Reed and others too numerous to mention.
Matt Moadel, Drums: Matt is a working drummer as well as a teacher. Armed with a degree in percussion from Western Connecticut State University, he has studied many different drumming styles from traditional drum set styles and rudimentary snare drumming to Middle Eastern and African drumming. Matt has performed in many settings—from Jazz and Reggae to Flamenco and Funk to marching bands and pit orchestras.
Time and Location: St. Luke’s Youth and Community Center, at St. Luke’s Parish, 1864 Post Road, Darien Wine and Hors d’oeuvres, 6:30 p.m.—7:30 p.m./Music 7:30 p.m.—8:45 p.m. Catering by Carolyn Eddie’s Absolutely Fabulous Events
Cost: $20 per attendee for DMA members and spouses/significant others. Sign-up sheets will be available during the DMA’s general meetings at the DCA in the month of March. Make checks payable to the Darien Men’s Association and either deliver them when you sign up or mail them to the DMA, c/o the Darien Community Association, attention of Marilyn DeMaio, 274 Middlesex Road, Darien, CT 06820.
Plan to join us for a wonderful evening of food, drink and an outstanding musical performance!
Your hosts: Joe Spain and David Mace
March Madness Contest
The 2022 March Madness contest will officially start with the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Selection Committee’s naming of the 68 teams who will participate in the annual post season tournament that leads up to the national championship game in early April. They will be named on Selection Sunday, March 13, and will be publicized all over in the media and on the Internet.
At the DMA, at our regular March 16 weekly meeting, members who wish to participate in the contest will hand in their entry sheets naming eight teams of their choosing from the 68 ranked teams that the NCAA has placed in its four regional brackets. We will have distributed entry sheet forms at the prior week’s meeting, and the form also will be available on the DMA website. The entry fee for each sheet shall be $5.00, the same as in prior years, and members can submit entries for themselves and for family members, but each entry should include the name of the DMA member who is submitting it.
The contest objective is to name teams that will win in the successive rounds of games in their respective regions. The entry sheet will be awarded points every time one of its eight named teams wins a game in this single elimination tournament. The number of points awarded for each win will equal the NCAA assigned ranking of that winning team in their tournament region. If a member’s sheet names a team that ranks five in one of the regions, then five points will be tallied on his sheet each time that team wins a game. If another team named on that sheet is a 12th ranked team, then the sheet receives 12 points each time that team wins a game. Teams that lose get no points and are out of the tournament. Only the winning teams continue to play into the succeeding rounds of games over the approximate two weeks when the tournament games will be played at the more than a dozen game venues all over the country.
Each entry sheet should have a circle drawn around the name of one of its teams, indicating that the entrant has chosen that team to be the tournament winner and National Champion. Circling the correct choice of the tournament winner means the sheet could be awarded an additional 25 bonus points in the contest tally. That circled team will have won all of its tournament games, right up to the championship game on Monday, April 4, and each win will have earned points for the entry sheet equal to its NCAA tournament ranking in its assigned division. But if it is the champ, it probably was placed high in the rankings, and every win will have yielded only a few points – save for the handsome bonus of 25 points for becoming Champion.
And, yes – there will be prizes. The winning sheet, the one with the most total points, gets the first prize of $100. And the runners-up get $50 each, until we have handed out all the funds that came in as entry fees. We hope we have a strong showing on the entry line on March 16 when we shall be receiving the entries.
We will hand out entry form sheets at the Wednesday, March 9 DMA meeting, and will have them again at the March 16 meeting, plus members can print their own sheet from the file that will be on our website. There may be some members who want to enter but are not yet ready to come to our Wednesday in-person meetings at the DCA. To accommodate them, the Wanderers plan to stay late after the meeting on March 16 for about half an hour, so members can drop by when most of the crowd has dissipated and make their entry in the vestibule, or outside, if the weather is dry.
Astute DMA members will, by now, have figured out that the entry sheet that has a high chance of winning our contest is one that names teams that received somewhat low rankings in their assigned region by the NCAA Selection Committee, but in reality, turn out to be much better than the rank the Committee gave them. They may be a nine or a thirteen ranked team, but they can defeat the higher ranked teams that they will be facing in each tournament round. And each win will yield bountiful points for their entry sheets. These are often called the Cinderella teams, and an entrant would do well to choose such teams for seven of the teams listed on his sheet. As for the eighth slot on your sheet, that is reserved for the team who will win the tournament, so make sure its name is circled. It doesn’t matter that it may receive only one or two points every time it wins, for the pay-off there is when your circled team keeps on winning and brings home the 25 bonus points. It may turn out that several entrants’ sheets have named and circled the same winning team to become the champ. If so, all such sheets will receive the 25 bonus points.
Super Bowl LVI Contest
Next Tuesday, February 1, the Wanderers will be at the DCA building, in the vestibule at some card tables, selling entries to the 2022 DMA Super Bowl Contest. David Mace, Greg Glashan, Taylor Strubinger and Joe Spain will be there on duty from ten o’clock to noon on Tuesday. If all the entries are not sold that day, they will be there again at the same time on Friday morning, February 4 to sell the balance. The Super Bowl Game itself will be on Sunday February 13.
We have had this traditional DMA event during the Wanderers’ off-season for more than ten years now. It is a pool lottery; and, prizes will be awarded based upon the actual final score of the Super Bowl game for the Grand Prize winner, and, for the runner up winners, based upon the actual score of the game at half-time, as well as at the end of the first and third quarters.
Members can enter by picking their boxes on this year’s ten-by-ten chart of one hundred boxes, and paying two dollars for each box chosen, with a limit of two boxes per member. The boxes are set up on a large sheet of poster board (see photo of this year’s chart by clicking on the link below); and, as each box is sold, the member writes his name in the box(es) he has chosen.
When all boxes are sold and entrants’ names entered on the chart, the numbers zero through nine will be randomly assigned to the ten horizontal rows in the grid. These row numbers are set to be matched against the second digit of the NFC team’s game score. Another set of the ten numbers will be randomly assigned to the grid’s ten vertical columns, and those column numbers are set to be matched against the second digit of the AFC team’s game score. These two sets of random numbers will be picked out of a hat and will define the two numerals assigned to each of the one hundred boxes on the contest grid.
The AFC numbers along the tops of the columns of boxes and the NFC numbers along the left of the rows of boxes give every box a pair of single digit numbers that are designed to correspond to the points that will be scored during the Super Bowl game by the AFC Team and the NFC Team. Prizes in the contest will be awarded to the box in which its two numbers match the second or final digit of the points scored by each of the two teams at four designated times during the game: end of 1st quarter, half-time, end of 3rd quarter and end of game. At each of those four breaks in the Game, the second or final digit of each team’s score will be noted, and the box having those two numbers will be the winning box for that prize.
For example: if, at the end of the first half, the AFC team is ahead by the score of 28 to 14, then one of the boxes that is in the column that has the number 8 at its top will be the winner of the half-time prize. Also, one of the boxes that is in the row that has the number 4 at its left end will be the winner of that half-time prize. This is because it is the second or final digit of each team’s score that is used to determine which column and which row contain the winning box for that score. The NFC team’s score final digit determines which row has that winning box, and the AFC team’s score final digit determines which column contains that winning box. Each box, as a result of the random choice of that box’s row and column numbers, thus is assigned a fixed pair of numbers. And it is the scoring during of the Game, and the final digits of the teams’ points at the four key measuring times during play that will determine which specific box is the winner at each of those times.
The apparent winning box changes as the score changes. And we simply need to look at the score at those four stopping points in the game to determine each winning box, using the attached ten-by-ten chart. So, staying with the example, if the NFC team were to come back in the second half and win by a score of 35 to 31, the Grand Prize winning box would be at the intersection of the “5” row (finding the NFC score final digit 5 among the numbers along the left side of the chart) with the “1” column (finding the AFC score final digit 1 among the numbers along the top of the chart).
So, each contestant will have his name in one of the boxes of the chart, and can go to the top of his column to get his AFC team’s score number; and then look at the left end of his row for his NFC team’s score number. We will circulate a copy of this year’s completed chart, so all can see what the numbers are for each column and each row and, therefore, for each box. Contestants can make a note of both numbers for their reference while watching the Game on Sunday, February 13. If you are a winner, we shall announce that and the prizes during the DMA Wednesday meeting on February 16.
As indicated, there will be four places in the Game when one of the boxes is designated as a winner based upon the Game score at that time. The box that wins on the basis of the score at the end of the Game is the Grand Prize winner, and his prize is $100 dollars. For the half-time winning box, the winner receives $50 dollars. And for the boxes that win based upon the Game score at end of the first and the third quarters, each winner receives $25 dollars.
If anyone has questions, please contact Greg Glashan or Joe Spain by phone or email, and we shall be happy to assist.
Good Luck to all in the 2022 DMA Super Bowl LVI Contest!
Winners!
The winners were Matteo Harding ( represented by his grandfather Dick H. ) who won the first quarter prize. Tom Taylor, who won the half-time prize. Carol Hooper ( represented by her husband Bryan ) who won the third quarter prize. And Tom Taylor, who came through again to win the Grand Prize based upon the final score of the game.
Host: Jan Selkowitz
Chairman: Frank DeLeo
Bell Ringing at Palmer’s for Darien Human Services
Raising funds to help needy Darienites by soliciting donations from Palmer’s shoppers at Christmas has been a long-standing DMA tradition. Due to COVID-19, we couldn’t perform this important service in 2020. Fortunately, we were able to re-start this activity this year with teams of 2 (and one team of 3) ringing a handbell and greeting shoppers on their way in and out of the store on Sunday, December 12 and Monday, December 20. We had 25 people participate, including 3 members who rang on both days as well as a wife and granddaughter who joined their respective DMA members. Thanks to all who helped and to Palmer’s for letting us use their space and leverage their shoppers.
For several reasons, our historical relationship with the Salvation Army for this activity was no longer an option. So, we partnered directly with the Darien Human Services Department (DHS) (who had been our historical benefactor and go-between with the Salvation Army), focusing on their direct funding activities related to housing, energy, food and clothing assistance. We also had brochures about DHS at our table to help publicize the breadth of services they provide. By partnering directly with DHS, we were able to ensure that the funds raised would go 100% to Darien residents.
We were blessed with good weather on both days (sunny and not too chilly). Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of Darien residents/Palmer’s shoppers (and the warmth and engaging demeanor of our bell ringers – many of whom enhanced the spirit of the season by wearing Santa hats), we raised $1,350 on the 12th and $1,125 on the 20th, for a grand total of $2,475. The DHS Director was thrilled and extremely appreciative since past years’ daily donations were typically in the $400-$800 range. What a great way to re-institute one of our traditional Community Service activities. We not only made a significant contribution to our neighbors, but we also raised the bar for future holiday fund raising at Palmer’s!
The Social Events committee has arranged a visit to the processing and laboratory facilities of Copps Island Oysters by Norm Bloom at 7 Edgewater Place in Norwalk commencing 9:30 am on Friday, October 22th . The visit will include a ride on one of their oyster boats to see oysters being harvested – as long as weather permits. After the event we will go to Knot Norms seafood restaurant for lunch where you can sample oysters in a variety of dishes – raw or cooked – or try their chowder or one of their lobster dishes. The address is 10 1st Street in Norwalk.
There is a limit of ten people that Copps Island Oysters can accommodate, so we will accept reservations on a first-come basis and then maintain a reserve list. Should the trip be oversubscribed we will attempt to arrange a follow-up event, as we did in 2019. We welcome those not attending the tour to join us at Knot Norms for lunch around 11:30 am.
All those members who have been fully vaccinated are invited to join the group, and masks are required for the tour of the facility. Please contact Jan Selkowitz to reserve your place. We will need to car-pool since there is limited parking in the area and we welcome volunteers for this task: let Jan know if you can be one of the drivers. We will meet at the DCA carpark and leave around 9:00 am to drive to Norwalk.
The Social Events committee has arranged a visit to the processing and laboratory facilities of Copps Island Oysters by Norm Bloom at 7 Edgewater Place in Norwalk commencing 9:30 am on Friday, October 29nd . The visit will include a ride on one of their oyster boats to see oysters being harvested – as long as weather permits. After the event we will go to Knot Norms seafood restaurant for lunch where you can sample oysters in a variety of dishes – raw or cooked – or try their chowder or one of their lobster dishes. The address is 10 1st Street in Norwalk.
There is a limit of ten people that Copps Island Oysters can accommodate, so we will accept reservations on a first-come basis and then maintain a reserve list. Should the trip be oversubscribed we will attempt to arrange a follow-up event, as we did in 2019. We welcome those not attending the tour to join us at Knot Norms for lunch around 11:30 am.
All those members who have been fully vaccinated are invited to join the group, and masks are required for the tour of the facility. Please contact Jan Selkowitz to reserve your place. We will need to car-pool since there is limited parking in the area and we welcome volunteers for this task: let Jan know if you can be one of the drivers. We will meet at the DCA carpark and leave around 9:00 am to drive to Norwalk.
On Wednesday evening, June 16, the DMA hosted its first annual picnic/cookout in two years. The turnout was monumental – over 230 people enjoyed a beautiful evening together in the picnic grove at Weed Beach. What a wonderful personal gathering to cap off a challenging yet rewarding DMA year. The late spring weather was perfect, the food was delicious, the music was most entertaining and the company was superb.
A huge thank you to Alex Garnett for taking the lead in organizing this affair. His personal reflections are most appropriate: “I would just say that we have come a long way since the days of our wives bringing the food, the time we moved all the furniture from the DCA in a hired truck and also did our own grilling to now having Danny and his Vavala’s staff do all the heavy lifting.
The beauty of this event and our holiday party is that we have so many wonderful people who really care about one another. As we all age, we may slow down a bit but the hugs, smiles and laughter always help to brighten our lives.”
One DMA member, Mark Nunan, was so moved by the perfect weather that the bard in him was inspired to share a short celebratory poem on the occasion:
Not too hot, not too cold
Still – could have rained out
Ya – but Garnett’s got clout
Our day reigned sun, real gold
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).
Our first 2021 activity is a celebration of Earth Day. There are two sites to be cleaned up. The first is Stony Brook Park.Saturday April, 24th at 9:30 a.m.
Meet at the parking lot.
To sign up, email Mike Heitz at: mheitz14@gmail.com
