Day 7: As day ends, power outage down to 3 homes; Campbell returns, apologizes for 'bad choice;''

Written by Joshua Fisher, Susan Shultz and Lynsey Santimays, The Darien Times
Wednesday, 17 March 2010 00:00

All of the updates and articles from the storm are in this article, click on the headline above the picture or the 'Read more' link below to see all pictures and articles in one link.

Day 7: The latest

11:09 PM — There are now 3 Darien homes without power at this hour.

7:11 PM — There are 12 Darien homes without power at this hour.

6:35 PM — There are 17 Darien homes without power at this hour.

5:59 PM — There are 21 Darien homes without power at this hour.

1:30 PM — There are still 29 homes in Darien without power at this hour.

10:30 AM — There are now 29 Darien homes without power, 9 more than early this morning. Town official urge you to call CL&P if you are still without power.

If you don't have power now, then it is likely because of something on your property. CL&P can be reached at 800-286-2000.

6:30 AM FRIDAY — There are now 20 Darien homes without power, as the sun comes up on Day 7 since a weekend nor'easter knocked out electricity to 3,863 Darien homes and businesses.

This total represents 0.25 percent of Darien CL&P customers. While repair-related outages this week briefly had 56 percent of Darien without power, after the storm on Sunday, 49 percent of the town was without power for many hours.

Day 6: The latest

9:12 PM — First Selectman David Campbell returned to Darien Thursday following his Utah getaway and apologized to the townspeople for his "bad choice of leaving town on Sunday" for a vacation with his wife after one of the most destructive storms recent history.

His remorse was followed with thanks, though, when he expressed his gratitude to acting-First Selectman David Bayne and Selectman Jayme Stevenson — who were the only two selectmen in town during the crippling nor'easter and its aftermath.

Updates were provided at the Thursday night special meeting of the Board of Selectmen from various agencies regarding the latest status of the cleanup. CL&P's spokesman, Mitch Gross, was proud to report that the 40 lines crews, 20 tree crews, and 6 service crews in town today helped reduce the Darien homes without power to roughly 700.

"By midnight tonight that number will be down to 100, by midnight tomorrow it will be down to zero," Gross said. "We are finally reaching the end of a very trying road."

Bayne added that if you still don't have power by 6 a.m. tomorrow, CL&P should be contacted directly at 800-286-2000.

Rogers withdraws P&Z lawsuit days after Darien GOP nominates him to P&Z

Written by Susan Shultz
Thursday, 18 March 2010 17:00

The neighbors’ appeal of Planning & Zoning’s approval of the Allen-O’Neill Moderate Income Family Homes was withdrawn this week. This comes one week after one of those neighbors was nominated by Darien Republicans to fill a P&Z vacancy.

Peter Rogers, who the Republican Town Committee nominated last Wednesday despite his lawsuit against the town, told The Darien Times that the appeal was withdrawn on Wednesday.

Darien Library is refuge for storm victims

Written by Lynsey Santimays
Thursday, 18 March 2010 15:00

Saturday’s nor’easter had the power to transform — it not only turned Darien from an idyllic coastal town into a tangled mess of downed wires and trees, but it also converted the Darien Library from the library of the future to a place of warmth and refuge.

Since Sunday, thousands of Darienites without power, heat, or Internet have been flocking to the library.

Where’s the first selectman during the disaster?

Written by Susan Shultz
Thursday, 18 March 2010 08:45

First Selectman David Campbell told The Darien Times Sunday, after many Darienites awoke to find trees and wires down all over town, he was leaving the town in good hands with David Bayne as acting-first selectman and Selectman Jayme Stevenson.

He encouraged Darienites to stay home and clean up their own properties. Campbell said on Sunday that so far there was no need for a shelter and there had been no serious injuries. He also said that Town Hall would be open Monday for business, and said that the Department of Public Works and Connecticut Light & Power would be gearing up for a big mess.

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Later this week he said that once he arrived in Utah, he realized things were much worse than he thought and tried to get on a flight home but was unable to due to weather. The earliest Campbell could have gotten back was Tuesday, so he left his plans as they were to return on Thursday (today).

Inside this week's Darien Times

Written by Joshua Fisher
Thursday, 18 March 2010 09:18

• Where did First Selectman David Campbell go on Sunday when half the town was without power?
• Where did many Darienites end up this week when they didn’t have power?
• The Darien boy injured in last month’s hit and run is still recovering, his family tells The Darien Times
• The RTC nominated a man to P&Z who’s suing the town over P&Z a decision. What happened to the suit this week?

A list of roads with downed trees and wires

Written by The Darien Times
Tuesday, 16 March 2010 10:44

The Darien office of emergency management at about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday updated its list of what roads still had trees and power lines down. It was provided to The Darien Times:

The following roads have trees down but no wires:

Darien power outage reports

Written by The Darien Times
Monday, 15 March 2010 21:12

This page will be updated as Connecticut Light & Power outage reports are available

8:16 AM — Darien's power outage rate dropped below 40 percent for the first time since 8 p.m. Saturday. At this hour, there are 3,116 Darien homes without power. That is 39.7 percent of the town.

In the past two hours, there are 29 more Darien CL&P customers with power.

6:58 AM WEDNESDAY — Darien's power outage total dropped by 9 customers overnight to 3,145, which still represents 40 percent of the town.

12:33 AM — Darien's power outage total ended Tuesday at 3,155 homes without power. This is two fewer Darien CL&P customers without power since 7 Tuesday morning. Still 40 percent of the town is without power. Only Greenwich (47 percent) has a higher outage rate in Connecticut. There are still more than 28,000 in Connecticut without power since Saturday's storm.

In Greenwich, 13,257 homes are without power; in Stamford 5,121 (10%) are without power; in Westport 2,792 (23%); in Norwalk 2,305 (8%); New Canaan 1,932 (23%) and Wilton 148 (2%).

10:18 PM — Darien's power outage total dropped by 199 customers in the past two hours to 3,154, which represents 40 percent of the town.

8:12 PM — Darien's power outage total dropped by 1,042 customers in the past two hours to 3,353, which still represents 43 percent of the town.

6:13 PM — Darien's power outage total has dropped by 16 customers this hour to 4,395, which still represents 56 percent of the town.

5:47 PM — Darien's power outage total has reached a high for the week: 4,411, or 56 percent, of Darien CL&P customers are without power this hour.

4:18 PM — In the past hour, there is one more Darien house without power.

The total without power stands at 3,284 this hour — that is the same total as 11:05 a.m. This represents 42 percent of town.

3:22 PM — In the past four hours, there is one fewer Darien house without power.

The total without power stands at 3,283 this hour — down from the total at 11:05 a.m. This represents 42 percent of town.

Complete storm coverage

11:25 AM — In the past two hours, 42 more Darien houses have gained power. There are now 3,284 without power, as of 11:05 a.m., according to CL&P. That represents 42 percent of the town.

9:27 AM — In the past two hours, more Darien homes have come offline as utility repair work gets going across town.

There are now 3,326 Darien homes (Or 42 percent) without power.

Early this morning there were 3,156 homes (40 percent) without power.

Darien Officials gather, close schools, open shelter, stress patience

Written by Lynsey Santimays
Monday, 15 March 2010 16:30

4:30 PM — The effects from the storm that ravaged Darien on Saturday will be felt until at least mid-week, according to town officials who met Monday afternoon to discuss the next steps for Darien’s recovery.

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Schools will be closed again on Tuesday, with an opening Wednesday still in question, according to Schools Superintendent Don Fiftal.

Darien storm-related closures (and openings) for Tuesday and Wednesday

Written by The Darien Times
Monday, 15 March 2010 13:54

• All Darien Public Schools are closed Monday and Tuesday
• YWCA of Darien/Norwalk was closed Monday, will be limited on Tuesday. No Toddler Time, Ballet or Music for Children. Contact Paint Studio to confirm if that class on. Offering Legos from 10 to noon, must register by calling 203-292-8038 (Via Twitter @YWCADarien)
• Darien Community Association closed Tuesday and Wednesday (Via director Mary Flynn)

Will open

• Darien Library, from 9 to 11 on Wednesday. (Via Twitter @DarienLibrary)
• Parks & Recreation will open its gym for elementary school students from noon to 4 on Wednesday. (Via e-mail)
• Town Hall, 8:30 to 4:30 (Via First Selectman Dave Campbell)
• The Darien YMCA Travel Basketball Banquet is still on for Tuesday at 6:30 at Continental Manor. (Via Twitter @DarienYHoops)
  
• The Darien Red Cross office on Leroy Avenue reopened Tuesday. (Via e-mail)
• Representative Town Meeting, 8 p.m., Monday Town Hall (Via RTM Moderator Karen Armour)
• Darien Toy Box is open with power for "playing and reading." (Via Twitter @ChiefToyman)
• Fairbanks Photo is open to share its wireless network and help you develop storm-related photos for insurance claims (Via Twitter @FairbanksPhoto)
• Nicholas Roberts Fine Wine is open downtown. (Via Twitter @NRGwine)
• Supermarkets: Palmer's, Shaws, Stop & Shop, Trader Joe's are fully powered up and functioning Monday. (Via Darien Times)

Send your closing and "plan-to-open" news to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Include phone number, event details.

Republican Club annual meeting to focus on 2010 election opportunities

Written by The Darien Times
Tuesday, 16 March 2010 07:00

Connecticut Lt. Gov. Mike Fedele will speak to the The Republican Club of Darien at its annual meeting in the Garden Room at the Darien Community Association on Saturday, March 20. Doors open at 8 a.m., and a continental breakfast will be served. The meeting will start at 8:30, and is expected to last until 10.

The focus of the forum will be the 2010 Republican Party endorsement process (which process will culminate at a convention in May 2010) and the many candidates seeking endorsement.