Letter to Our Readers
At right, Hattie Hunsberger and Henry Krupp at last year’s Tokeneke Pumpkin Carnival, a beloved October tradition in Darien for more than 50 years, when the Tokeneke School is transformed into a Halloween-themed festival and amusement park. Offering something spooky and fun for all ages—rides for the big kids, rides for the littles; Pumpkin Pinko, the Eerie Apple Launcher, a Cake Walk and other games; a wide array of tasty foods and beverages from local restaurants, traditional fairground fare and home-baked goods at the parent-run bake sale, plus face painting, sand art, slime making and more. Happening this year on Saturday, October 17th, 10am to 4pm, rain or shine. All funds raised go to school enrichment programs, field trips and various community events. For more info, visit tokenekepto.com/about-the-pumpkin-carnival / Photo courtesy Sarah Hunsberger
Dear Readers and Residents of Darien,
We are thrilled to bring this issue’s cover story to you. It represents a long-held desire of ours
to work with the students of Darien High School (DHS) to give our community an overview of what’s happening with our high school sports. It is with huge thanks to the DHS Sports Marketing Club, their Faculty Advisor Sarina Thomas and DHS Director of Athletics Chris Manfredonia that we launch this collaboration.
Special thanks as well to DHS senior Claire Wood, a lead in the high school’s fall production of You Can’t Take It With You for her firsthand backstage look at DHS’s award-winning Theatre 308 program. Love! …having the voices of our youth in the magazine.
Speaking of youth, thanks to Kristen Bodenstein of the Goddard School for her insights regarding early childhood education for our littlest peeps. She knows of which she writes. The Goddard School gets kids started. The New Canaan Country School leads them forward; we’re happy to aim your attention to their partner profile in this issue and the information in it about their unique approach to Pre-K through ninth grade education.
We can’t wait for you to check out the story about Darien’s Junior Cheerleaders and their coaches in the pages ahead. Talk about great energy and the community they build with their efforts and enthusiasm …so fun! And if your heart isn’t warm enough after reading that, turn to Peter Saverine’s article about Saint Luke’s Parish Community Supper, a 20-year ministry that, as Peter writes, “understands that the most important thing served on Thursday nights isn’t necessarily what is on the plate.”
It is a privilege to share the Mind Set column Emma Powless contributed to this issue about all that awaits us on the other side of our comfort zone. Emma, who grew up in Darien, was the keynote speaker at the 2026 Memorial Day Parade. She is a 2020 graduate of West Point and former Captain in the U.S. Army. Be sure as well to catch “The Biggest Win” – our tribute to Darien’s extraordinary group of Little Leaguers and their run at the Little League World Series last summer.
First, last and every moment in between, thank you to our advertisers who make all we do possible, especially the Goddard School and the Darien Land Trust who we welcome to this issue!
Pamela Dey Vossler Editor-in-Chief
Carl Trautmann Founder & Publisher
CORRECTIONS: In our last issue, we wrote that Band Memo keyboardist Martin Schmid is from Rochester, NY; he is from Buffalo, NY. The “Dreaming in Real Time” article opener photo is by Onne van der Wal.
