Darien Soundings

Dear Darien,

The Raymond F. Gates, Jr. Scholarship Program is now open. The Raymond F. Gates, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 1976 in memory of Raymond F. Gates, Jr. following his tragic death in an automobile accident. Mr. Gates was the Executive Vice President of the Connecticut REALTORS®. 

Applications must be completed by April 10, 2023. Students entering or currently enrolled in accredited vocational-technical schools are eligible! Children/step-children of Connecticut REALTORS®, REALTOR-ASSOCIATES® or local Board-Association/CTR staff are eligible to apply. Note that grandchildren are not eligible unless they are the legal ward of the grandparents (documentation will be required). The parent must be an active dues-paying Connecticut REALTOR®, REALTOR-ASSOCIATE® or local Board-Association/CTR staff member for the one-year period from April 11, 2022 to April 10, 2023 (local Board and CT State membership dates will be verified). 

Applicants must be either a high school senior or a college/vocational-technical/graduate student.

Learn more and apply here.

FACES

Following Your Bliss: In 1994, Ben Larrabee Photography LLC realized fear had prevented him from pursuing his true passion, photography. He was afraid of appearing to be too idealistic. He was worried that he might not be able to support his family, that his in-laws would be upset with him and maybe he’d even lose his house. But Ben believed that photography was what he was meant to do.

In the words of Joseph Campbell, a professor of mythology at Sarah Lawrence College: "If you follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living ..." or as he remembers an interview with Bill Moyers "a life spent making money and not following your bliss is a wasted life."

Ben Larrabee has been following his bliss for the past 25 years. As his brother once advised him, “if it’s the right decision, nature will support it”. Ben is grateful that photography has proven to be a very successful bliss for him. He's able to explore the authentic details of people’s lives and create intimate, revealing photographic portraits that serve as reminders of what is beautiful and enduring in his clients' lives. He calls his healing images, Moments of Grace. Darien is lucky to have a wonderful photographer like Ben Larrabee.

Visit his website here to learn more.

PLACES

Are you looking to get back into reading this year? There's no better place to pick up the perfect book than Barrett Bookstore! Barrett Bookstore is the largest and oldest independent bookstore in Fairfield County. 

The 3,600- square-foot store carries literary fiction, non-fiction, classics, biographies and memoirs, history, poetry, essays, science-fiction, fantasy, mysteries and thrillers, cooking, wellness, business, fine and performing arts, sports, nature science, gardening, and picture/gift books. In addition, Barrett prides itself on its wide selection of books and games for children of all ages. 

Barrett Bookstore can be found at 6 Corbin Drive.

Visit their website here to see everything they offer.

HIGHLIGHTS

Are you looking to express your family's creative side? Join the Darien Arts Center for upcoming workshops and classes! Founded in 1975, Darien Arts Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating, promoting, and providing the means of artistic expression in dance, music, visual arts, and theatre for members of the community of all ages. The winter and spring sessions for visual and performing arts programming and classes for all ages are open for enrollment now.

Find out more information and sign up at darienarts.org.