The Goose, an upscale American bistro located at the former site of the Black Goose Grille, is finally set to open for business next week, according to co-owner Michael Friedman.

Originally slated to launch in March, the restaurant will likely begin serving food to the public on Wednesday, Friedman said. The mood at the Goose will be kept "low key at first," he added, and the bistro plans to hold off serving lunch for the first two weeks.

Friedman described the Goose's cuisine as American with some French and Italian influences, accompanied by about 50 different wine selections at varying price points. Running the kitchen will be chef Piergiorgio Nanni, a Cordon Bleu-educated native of Rome with a long culinary resume.

The 972 Boston Post Road location had been left vacant since the decade-old Black Goose Grille closed in 2008. Friedman and co-owner Michael Gagliardi reached a deal to lease the space from building owner Hattco Post Road, LLC near the end of 2009.

Friedman, co-owner of the Ash Creek Saloon in Black Rock and Norwalk, comes to the project with significant restaurant experience, while longtime Darien resident Gagliardi is making his first foray into the business.

While the pair set out to make moderate renovations to the space, the bistro retains the Black Goose Grille's bar, described by Gagliardi as a "classic, big, beautiful American bar" in January.

More recently, the Goose encountered a setback when its plans to allow outdoor dining were held up by the Board of Selectmen last week due to a reduction in its umbrella insurance coverage.

The following information was provided by the Office of the Fire Marshall:

Monday, May 3

FALSE ALARMS Between 12:17 p.m. and 1:45 p.m., the Darien Fire Department, the Noroton Fire Department, and Noroton Heights Fire were called to three different alarm activations at 85 Old Kings Highway North. The cause in each case was work being performed on the building by contractor Air Tech. Slavko Enterprises, the site owner, was fined for two of the false alarms, while the third was cancelled.

Tuesday, May 4

SMOKE SCARE All three departments were again summoned, this time for a smoke scare at 23 Fox Hill Ln. The incident, reported at 4:25 p.m., turned out to have been caused by burnt food.

Friday, May 7

FALSE ALARM At 3:46 p.m., Noroton Heights Fire responded to an alarm at the Darien Senior Activities Center, 30 Edgerton Street. The cause was determined to be a child who had pulled the alarm, and the center was assessed a fine for the false call.

Saturday, May 8

BURNING BRUSH Around 8:38 a.m, Noroton Heights Fire was called to a smoke scare at 368 Hoyt Street by a neighbor. The cause was identified as a person burning brush in the backyard of the residence—not a legal activity in Darien—and the blaze was extinguished.

Sunday, May 9

WIRES ON FIRE At 7:12 p.m., Noroton Heights Fire extinguished a blaze at Holmes Avenue and Holmes Court cause by a branch falling on a set of power lines. The incident was most likely caused by wind, a fire official said.

Less government, lower taxes, and free enterprise were key initiatives endorsed Wednesday night by four Republicans seeking the state's Fourth District seat in Congress, which represents Darien.

During a two-hour program at Westport's Town Hall auditorium, the four engaged in spirited debates, responding to questions about the federal budget and taxes, terrorism and national security, regulatory reform, and how literally the Constitution should be interpreted.

The participants were state Sen. Dan Debicella, 35, in his second term representing Stratford, Shelton, Monroe and Seymour; Rick Torres, 50, the chairman of Bridgeport's Republican Town Committee and owner of the Harborview Bakery and Café in Bridgeport; Robert Merkle, 41, founder and owner of Management Recruiters in Westport; and Tom Herrmann, 54, the first selectman of Easton.

While seeking approval of the district's Republican electorate, the ultimate goal is for one of them to unseat Rep. Jim Himes, a Democrat in his first term in Washington.

Underscoring the intensity of the challenge, Merkle said, "If we don't send a warrior up against Jim Himes we're going to lose."

Merkle also said he's seen a "horrific" loss of the American peoples' liberties over the last few years.

Debicella said the American dream is threatened by a government that gets into every sector of our lives.

Torres, who identified life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as the government's purpose for existing, also said that, having lived in Cuba and the United States, he was the only candidate who "knows Socialism."

Pointing to his extensive business experience, Herrmann said the future success of the country and its economy is the support of private enterprise.

Debicella identified himself as the true fiscal conservative the Republicans need for their candidate, while Torres said he has a "history" of reaching people with good arguments.

People are "hugely afraid" of the growth of government, Torres said, and not just at the federal level, but state and local government, as well.

Merkle claimed the support of "tea party" voters, and said their "overarching" issue was being tired of politics as usual.

The questions were presented to the candidates by John Krubski, an unaffiliated voter.

As moderator, Krubski took the liberty — as he termed it — of varying how the program was run, sometimes allowing two minutes to answer a question instead of one and changing the sequence in which the candidates were asked to reply.

Responding to a question about the federal budget, Merkle said he would support an "across-the-board" cut between three to five percent.

"It's taken us 150 years to create this monster," Merkle said. "It's going to take us awhile longer to stop it."

On national security, Debicella said a condition for entering the United States should be, "If you are at all suspicious, you cannot come to America."

Torres said, "The fact is, folks, terrorists are among us."

Torres said the cause of terrorism against the United States is Islam's failure to come to grips with our system of practicing tolerance.

Merkle described the country's borders as "porous," and said Al Queda is infiltrating the country from the south.

Debicella said he favored Arizona's approach to illegal immigrants, allowing police officers to capture and deport them.

Debicella said a practical approach to stemming illegal immigration into the country would be cracking down on opportunities for employment.

Arizona, Merkle said, is "desperate and crying for help" dealing with illegal immigrants, and said the country needs a fence between its southern border and Mexico.

Torres said the states bordering Mexico are confronting drug-related violence "of the worst kind," and said, "we must stop it now and support our southern neighbors."

On taxes and stimulating the economy, Debicella called for cutting the payroll tax from six to three percent for both employees and employers, while Herrmann said corporate taxes should be cut from 40 percent to 25 percent.

Merkle said that as the U.S. tax rate on corporations is growing, taxes in the rest of the world are dropping.

"We need to incentivize companies to return to America," Merkle said.

In reading the Constitution, Debicella said, "it is what it says it is – no more, no less."

The purpose of the federal government, Torres said, is to defend our inalienable rights. He said the Constitution is, "clear and concise, which has allowed people to redefine it."

Torres also said the country's budget began to soar after implementation of the income tax.

"We opened the spigot," he said, "and the spigot was the IRS."

Merkle identified himself as a "strict constructionist" in reading the Constitution, and said the document had only enough framework "to keep us from killing each other."

He said growth in government represents "fraud, abuse and waste."

The only announced candidate for the Fourth District who did not attend the program was 24-year-old William Gregory of New Canaan, the executive director of the Mentis Foundation, a non-profit organization that distributes scholarships to underprivileged youths with dyslexia. Gregory announced Thursday that he was pulling out of the race to make room for "better financially equipped" candidates.

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Correction: The original version of this article misattributed a quote ("desperate and crying for help") to Dan Debicella. The speaker was actually Robert Merkle. Patch regrets the error.

The state tournament hopes of the Darien High School baseball team took a major hit Thursday, as the Blue Wave fell, 5-4, at Fairfield Warde after giving up a run in the bottom of the seventh.

Dave Hickey, who replaced starter Andrew Hurn in the sixth, surrendered the game-winning single to Eric Burns.

Dan Pidgeon and John Gardner homered for the Blue Wave.

The loss dropped Darien to 6-10—4-10 in the FCIAC—meaning the Blue Wave needs to do no worse than split its remaining four games to qualify for the state tournament.

Darien's remaining games are against Danbury, Westhill, Bassick, and Trumbull. The best chances for wins would appear to be against Bassick (1-15) and Trumbull (5-11).

However, Darien lost to a Warde team that came into Thursday's contest at just 4-11.

The Darien High School boys lacrosse team got a bit of a test at St. Joseph before pulling away for a 19-10 victory Thursday afternoon.

Henry West recorded five goals and two assists for the Blue Wave, which only enjoyed an 11-9 lead at the intermission.

But Darien came out swinging in the latter half, outscoring St. Joseph by a 6-0 margin in the third quarter to remain unbeaten in the FCIAC. The Blue Wave improved to 13-2 overall and 11-0 in the FCIAC East.

Brian Gleason and Bryan Annecchino each scored three goals for the Blue Wave, who concludes its regular season on Wednesday with a home contest against Greenwich .

Case Matheis, Alden Frelinghuysen, and Graham Maybell each chipped in with two goals, while Richard Gregory and J.P. Walsh registered the others for Darien.

Blue Wave goaltender Andrew West was busier than normal, finishing with 11 saves.

The Darien High School softball team defeated Fairfield Warde, 5-3, Thursday afternoon to take over sole possession of second place in the FCIAC.

The Blue Wave (13-2, 12-2 FCIAC) came out strong, erupting with four runs in the bottom of the first inning.

Junior shortstop Nicole Buch, the leadoff hitter, opened the inning with a walk and advanced on a sacrifice by sophomore Emily Blosio

Two more sophomores—Olivia Godz and Courtney Bell—followed with singles to produce the game's first run. Kelly Fahey then drilled a  line drive off the leg of Warde pitcher Gina Treglia to make it 2-0.

Sophomore pitcher Jessica DeMaio capped the big inning with a two-run, bases-clearing double that gave the Blue Wave an early 4-0 cushion.

"This game was a vital win," senior captain Michele Piccaro said, "because it determined our seed in the FCIAC."

Darien still has four league games remaining, but if the Blue Wave wins out, they will assure themselves of no lower than the No. 2 seed for the FCIAC playoffs.

DeMaio, who finished with three RBIs, scattered six hits with six strikeouts and three walks.

Treglia settled down, and the Mustangs (13-3, 11-3) battled back, scoring twice in the second and once in the third to pull within 4-3. But in the fifth, Bell doubled and scored an insurance run for the Blue Wave.

The Darien squad is next in action on Saturday, when its host Danbury in a makeup game at 12:30 p.m.

On Monday, the Blue Wave visits undefeated Westhill in what will be Darien's last chance to gain the top overall seed in the FCIAC playoffs.

"Westhill's our next biggest challenge, but Danbury is our next focus," Buch said.

At a luncheon on Friday, the Community Fund of Darien named the Swap Shop its project of the year—undeniably high praise for the young program.

But it hasn't been all smooth sailing for the project.

What started as an idea over breakfast at the Sugar Bowl two years ago and became a reality in December, has already sparked a bit controversy.

"The Swap Shop: Last Resort for Good Stuff" was envisioned by founders Susan Cameron, Reese Hutchison and Dot Kelly as a way to salvage usable goods from being thrown into the dump.  Local residents could take what they wanted, contribute other items as they saw fit, and the town would save money by not having to pay garbage hauling fees.

Preferred Access?

But after the Swap Shop opened last December, it seemed that a few town employees from DPW were spending a lot of time cherry-picking the donations before other residents had a chance. 

That prompted to an edict that banned town workers from the white tent completely, leading to a couple weeks of messy overflow.

The town DPW workers, it turns out, wouldn't clear unwanted items from the Swap Shop on their own time if they were being denied access. 

But a peace settlement was brokered—one allowing employees who are also town residents to access the Swap Shop on Saturdays—and it's back to a booming business for the help-yourself-to-anything operation.

Success Begets Challenges

"Everyone loves it," says co-founder Susan Cameron. "We're thrilled with its success."

But Cameron (no relation to this reporter) is seeking volunteer "ambassadors" to monitor donations and redirect the truly junky and broken items to the dump. 

She suggests that donors ask themselves, "Would I want or use this?" 

If the answer is no, trash it.  But if the answer is yes, also consider donating the item to the DCA Thrift Shop or Person to Person where it might be sold or given to the needy.

But Pat D'Arinzo of DPW says that a neighbor's trash can still be treasure. 

He says the better question is, "Can someone repair it?" If the answer is yes, leave it at the Swap Shop.

D'Arinzo cites a number of chairs that were salvaged for repair.  Also electronics, pictures and analog TV sets.  Even bulky furniture has found new owners just hours after being dropped off. 

Swap OR Shop

Cameron says "Swap Shop" is a bit of a misnomer:  you don't need to donate something to take something. 

She'd like to see more people stopping by once or twice a week to look over the newly arrived items. 

Even scavengers are welcome. You might find an item to re-sell on eBay.

"The whole idea is to keep stuff out of the dump.  We expect that the money saved on hauling fees will pay for the tent ($8,000) in 18 months," she says.

Yet, not everything finds a taker.  Cameron concedes, "You get some big stuff in there. If it's not moving, it needs to be gone."

That's when DPW comes down with its bucket-loader and removes the unwanted items, taking them up the hill to "the pit" for eventual hauling away and incineration.

Bright Future for Junk

Both Cameron and D'Arinzo dream of expanding the Swap Shop to a permanent building that can accept construction materials.

In the meantime, D'Arinzo cautions swappers not to lean items up against the inside of the white canvas tent.

"It's not a wall," he says. "Something is going to tear that fabric!"

All Darien residents with an RDA "Dump" sticker may swap to their heart's content.

The Swap Shop is open the same hours as the dump, Monday - Saturday, 7:00 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.

The 31^st annual Darien Volunteer Recognition Day on Friday saw 50 local residents receive public praise for their community work. 

Sponsored by The Community Fund of Darien, the catered luncheon at the Darien Community Association (DCA) was made possible by Halstead Property.

First Selectman David Campbell read a proclamation honoring the town's volunteers for their donations of time and talent on behalf of others.

Two Special Awards

The Obie Harrington-Howes Community Spirit Award was given to Joe Viesta, owner of Michael Joseph Catering, for his tireless support of Star Inc. - Lighting the Way. Viesta was presented the award by Harrington-Howes himself, acknowledging all of his work on behalf of those with disabilities.

The award from the Board of Selectmen went to Susan Cameron, Reese Hutchison and Dot Kelly, the trio behind the creation of the "Swap Shop" at the town dump.

Who's Who of Volunteers

MC's Martha Rhein and State Rep. Terrie Wood announced the other award winners, each nominated by a community nonprofit:

Avery Flowers, A Better Chance in Darien; Wyn Lydecker, Aging in Place in Darien; Dr. Josephine Velazquez, AmeriCares Free Clinics; David Flagg, Calvary Baptist Church; Lisa Moseley, Children's Aid; Alycia Crane, Darien Arts Center; Bill Jensen, Darien Chamber of Commerce; Susan Spain, Darien Community Association.

Debbie Coley, Darien EMS - Post 53; Connie Melvin, Darien Environmental Group; Kathleen DelCol, Darien High School; Sandy Coots, Darien High School Parents Association; Kenneth Reiss, Darien Historical Society; Den Frelinghuysen, Darien Land Trust; Karla Coe, Darien League of Women Voters.

Manny Perez, Darien Library; Nina Miller, Darien Nature Center; Laura Baere, Darien Senior Activities Center; Frank Johnson, Darien Senior Men's Association; Jennifer Lia, Darien Technology & Community Foundation; Anne Maguire and Lynnie Strother, Darien Youth Commission.

Phyllis Ryan, DCA Thrift Shop; Beth Siemers, The Depot; Jen Cippoletti, Domestic Violence Crisis Center; Jan Dilenschneider, Family Centers; John Wygal, First Congregational Church; Terrie Van de Graaf, Holmes School PTO; Michele Treacy, Junior League of Stamford-Norwalk; Janice Marzano, Kids in Crisis.

Paul Larson, Kiwanis Club of Darien; Susan McCaslin, Obie Harrington-Howes Foundation; Nicole Hornick, Ox Ridge School PTO; Tom Hagopian and Rick Nixon, Person-to-Person; Shannon Silsby , Royle Elementary School PTO; Pinky Haydock, Saint Luke's Episcopal Parish; Karly Abbott, Silver Hill Hospital.

Lisa Joyce, The Community Fund of Darien; Kelsey Harrison and Jenny Traver, The Youth Community Fund; Meghan Hannigan, Tokeneke Elementary School PTO; Barbara Cox, Volunteer Center of Southwestern Fairfield County; Katie Duker and  Abigail Sickinger , Youth Asset Team; Lisa Firmin, YWCA of Darien/Norwalk.

Technically Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of BBQ season.

I don't know about your household, but the gang at my house never seems so play by that rule. We've been grilling all winter long. But the warmer weather certainly does inspire us to grill more often and to be a little more adventurous.

So, to get your grilling juices flowing, we've visited some local markets to see their top picks for doing barbeque right – and doing right by the barbeque.

Trader Joe's

Gas grills are convenient, but if you are true devotee of charcoal or wood, you can't go wrong with Trader Joe's 100% All Natural Hardwood Briquettes.

In addition to the obvious lack of chemicals and igniting agents used in the more commercial brands of charcoal, these briquettes maintain a consistent temperature for a longer period of time.

I particularly like the fact that they don't give off a lot of ash. I like for the char on my meat to be mostly from the burnt fat, not the black sooty residue from the charcoal.

The 18 lb bag is a mere $6.99. Give them a shot – you won't be disappointed.

Calling All Carnivores!

Are you a T-bone man? A sliced flank steak gal? How 'bout you beef tenderloin buffs?

Well, it's grilling season, so it's time to enjoy!

Master butcher Richard Pinto of Palmer's Market has you covered. One of the few markets to dry-age their beef, Palmer's has one of the most impressive meat departments in town.

"We dry-age certain cuts of beef for 2-4 weeks," Richard explains.

"The process draws the excess water out of the meat, thus enhancing (intensifying) the flavor. It also tenderizes the meat by breaking down the enzymes," he says.

Hint: Lighter colored cuts of meat equals higher water content. Look for the deeper, dark red pieces. They are lower in moisture. And go for Palmer's Prime Dry-aged cuts.

Richard suggests grilling cuts of beef that have some fat marbelization to them.  Not only does the fat melt away in the cooking process, creating pockets in the meat which will make for a more tender and juicy steak, it also evokes tons of flavor. Lower fat cuts of meat such as filet mignon are more subtle in flavor.

For a simple accompaniment, cut a few peppers and onions in half, oil them up, add salt and pepper, and put them on the grill while the meats are cooking. This is a flavorful addition to any cut of meat.

Rule of thumb for the grill:

• Preheat to a high heat
• Oil and season the meat. Oiling will assist with the sticking.
• For an average 1 to 1 ½ inch thick piece of meat: 7-8 minutes on each side for medium rare.
• Let meat sit for 5 minutes so the juices spread into the meat, not your plate.
• Good cuts of meat don't need a lot of seasoning.
• Less tender varieties can use a good wet marinade for 2-5 hours to break down the enzymes and fibers in the meat.

Puttin' on the Fish!

More of a warm weather grilling option, fresh fish on the grill takes on a whole new life – and a whole new flavor.  

But don't be intimidated about cooking fish over a hot flame. Chef Tom Coffey at Darien Seafood suggests starting with the basics.

"Start with fresh fish," Chef Coffey says, "If it's really fresh, you won't even need season it beyond a little salt and pepper. "

Stay away from the more delicate types of fish, such as filet of sole. More dense and oilier types are ideal for grilling. Go with sushi grade tuna if you plan on searing it and keeping it rare on the inside. Swordfish, halibut, and salmon are great too.

Personally, I love to grill monkfish due to its long thick shape (easy turning on the grill), dense meat, and sweet mild flavor. Drizzle with a sauce of Dijon mustard, heavy cream and capers. Delicious!

Try throwing some littleneck clams on the heat and watch them pop open within 1-2 minutes. The clam holds all those wonderful juices in the shell. Top it with a dash of hot sauce or event sweet bbq sauce for some added zest.

Chef Coffey also likes to season soft shell crabs and grill for 3-4 minutes on each side. The soft shells morph into a crispy crust while keeping all the sweet juicy meat intact. Break apart and dip into clarified butter or garlic aioli.

A few tips when grilling fish:

• Season prior to grilling.
• Start with a high heat and then clean and oil your grill to prevent sticking.
• Bring the heat down to medium to grill fish.
• For thicker pieces of fish, such as swordfish, rotate the fish after two minutes. Cook for another 2 minutes before flipping over to cook another few minutes.
• Less is best. Unlike meat, fish will become overcooked rather quickly.

It's early in the season. I'll have plenty more grilling and barbeque articles on the way, so stay tuned!

Emma Hamilton singled in the game's only run in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Darien High School girls softball team blanked Danbury, 1-0, Saturday afternoon.

Darien managed only two hits off Danbury's Angela Cundari, but it was enough.

Sophomore Jessica DeMaio scattered four hits for the Blue Wave (14-2, 13-2 FCIAC) with seven strikeouts and no walks.

Darien plays at undefeated Westhill on Monday (4 p.m.) in what could be a preview of the FCIAC championship game.  The game is a battle of the league's top two teams.

Here's the outlook for Darien High School athletics over the final few days of regular season play:

Baseball -- (6-10, 4-10) -- The Blue  Wave have a busy final week with four games scheduled. They need at a split to clinch a berth in the state tournament. Final week schedule:  Monday vs. Westhill; Tuesday at Danbury; Wednesday vs. Bassick;  Friday vs. Trumbull.

Softball  (14-2, 13-2)  -- The Blue Wave begins the final week in the second place in the FCIAC, one game ahead of St. Joseph and Trumbull. Final week schedule:  Monday at Westhill;   Wednesday at Bassick ; Friday vs. Trumbull; Saturday at NFA (non-league).

Boys lacrosse (13-2, 11-0) -- The Blue Wave is battling Staples for the top seed in the FCIAC playoffs. Darien will host a first-round game on Saturday. Final week schedule:  Wednesday vs. Greenwich.

Girls lacrosse  (13-3, 11-0)  -- The Blue Wave has clinched the top seed for the FCIAC playoffs and will have a bye in the first week. Final week schedule: regular season complete.

Boys volleyball (10-5, 10-3) -- The Blue Wave begins the final week in third place in the FCIAC , one game ahead of Danbury and Greenwich. Darien needs to at least split its final two matches to be guaranteed a spot in the FCIAC's four-team playoffs.  However, the week begins with a match against undefeated Staples.  Final week schedule: Monday at Staples; Wednesday vs. Bassick; May 24 at Lewis Mills.

Boys tennis (8-6)  - The Blue Wave is battling for the FCIAC's final playoff, but currently is one-half game behind eighth-place McMahon (8-5).  Final week schedule:  Monday vs. Trumbull; Tuesday vs. Danbury;  Thursday at Fairfield Prep (non-league).

A routine traffic stop deteriorated over the weekend into a sprawling mess of aliases, missing paperwork, and hysterical crying, according to the Darien Police Department.

Around 6:30 p.m. Friday, an officer near the intersection of Post Road and Mansfield Avenue conducted a random check on the license plate of 1994 Geo Tracker driving in front of her. When the tag came back as expired, the officer pulled over the vehicle and advanced toward the driver's side, a police official said.

When approached, the motorist, identified as Nabella Kandake, 50, of Stamford, told the officer that her driver's side door and window were inoperative. When the officer went to the passenger side door, Kandake indicated that window was also broken and would not roll down more than a few inches.

Speaking through the cracked window, the officer asked for Kandake's license, registration, and proof of insurance. Kandake replied that they had been stolen recently and began to appear "very agitated," the official said. Eventually, she provided a Connecticut Commercial Driver's Instruction Permit identifying her as 50 year-old Tamara Servance.

When the officer ran the license number listed on the permit, however, Kandake's legal name came back, prompting more questions. Kandake told the officer the vehicle belonged to her sister but refused to identify her or provide additional identification, according to police.

At that point, the officer opened the side door and rolled the window down fully to have better access. Kandake continued stonewalling, the official said, refusing to answer further questions and supplying only one point of contact: the phone number of a niece. Police were eventually able to reach Kandake's mother, who informed them that her daughter had changed her name but still went by both monikers.

After turning up an outstanding Greenwich warrant for failure to appear under Kandake's name, the officer placed her under arrest and transported her to police headquarters. Though Kandake was allowed to make several phone calls, the official said she refused to be fingerprinted or answer any questions. Her mother later came into the station to identify her.

Police charged Kandake with interfering with an officer, refusing to be fingerprinted, driving an unregistered vehicle, driving without a license, and driving without valid insurance. On top of a $1,500 bond stemming from the prior charge, police set bond for the new charges at $10,000.

When police obtained documents from the Greenwich Police Department regarding her outstanding warrant, they discovered that she had failed to appear in court regarding a very similar incident in 2008, the official said.

After being held at the station Friday and Saturday, Kandake was found crying hysterically and hyperventilating Sunday morning in her cell. She was transported by police and EMTs from Post 53 to Stamford Hospital, where a physician examined Kandake but told police there was nothing wrong with her.

Kandake remained in custody through the weekend and was scheduled to appear in court on Monday.

Following a dramatic comeback on Monday, a berth in the state tournament is now firmly within the grasp of the Darien High School baseball team.

Matt Anderson singled in the winning run as the Blue Wave rallied in the bottom of the seventh for a 4-3 victory over Westhill, last year's FCIAC runner-up.

The Blue Wave (7-10, 5-10) now needs to win only one of its last three games to clinch a berth in the state tournament.

For six innings Monday, Darien was dominated by Westhill's Morgan Williams, who was making only his second start of the season.

Brandon Tripodi led off the seventh with a walk, then advanced on a wild pitch and an infield single by Tommy Blankmeier.

After Tripodi scored the tying run on a wild pickoff attempt at third, Anderson delivered the winning hit, driving in Blankmeier and sparking a celebration at the plate. 

Ricky Hodges, who is headed to Virginia Tech in the fall, earned the win, blanking the Vikings over the final five innings after giving up three runs in the first two frames.

With two future Division I pitchers—Dave Hickey is headed to Yale—on the roster, it would be a rough comedown for the Blue Wave not to make postseason play.

Last year, Darien finished 18-8, reaching the semifinals of the Class L state tournament for the first time in school history

But offensive struggles earlier this season put Darien (7-10, 5-10) in its current predicament. During an eight-game losing streak, the Blue Wave scored two orfewer runs six times.

Still, Darien has been playing better lately, winning three of its last five games. The mini-run started with a 10-inning, 6-5 win over St. Joseph, which will be in the FCIAC playoffs.

With three games remaining against teams who have losing records in FCIAC, the Blue Wave has a realistic chance of finishing the regular season at .500. Darien plays at Danbury on Tuesday, hosts Bassick on Wednesday, and visits Trumbull on Friday.

Monday's defeat means that Westhill (11-7, 10-6) still hasn't officially clinched an FCIAC playoff spot a year after losing to Staples in the championship game.

The undefeated Westhill High School softball team posted its seventh consecutive shutout Monday with a 1-0 win over the Blue Wave in Stamford.

Senior Jen Joseph, who is headed for Springfield College in the fall, blanked her opposition for the 12th time this season as the Vikings improved to 18-0. 

With the win, Westhill clinches the No. 1 seed in the FCIAC tournament, set to begin next week. Darien has a half-game lead over St. Joseph and Trumbull for the No. 2 spot with a 13-3 league record.

The Blue Wave's  Jessica DeMaio matched Joseph in almost every category. Each pitcher allowed just two hits. Joseph struck out seven; DeMaio, nine.

"My fastball was my best pitch today along with a few changeups," Joseph said.

It was scoreless until Westhill came to bat in the bottom of the seventh, when a bizarre call by the umpires delayed the game for more than 10 minutes.

It began when Cassandra Kish reached first on an infield error. Joseph then notched a sacrifice hit, advancing Kish to second.

With one out, the next batter struck out swinging but was also hit by the pitch. The ball caromed toward the screen as Kish took third base.

Darien coach Nick DeMaio argued with officials that it had been a dead ball once it hit the batter and that the runner should not be allowed to advance a base. The umpires initially disagreed.

A Blue Wave assistant coach got a rule book and brought it to DeMaio, who in turn showed the umpires the rule. Finally, the men in blue conceded the point and sent Kish back to second base.

But ultimately it made no difference which base Kish was awarded, because Eileen Tublin immediately hit a hard line drive to right center field that sent Kish home for the game's only run.

"I saw the ball and swung and that was it," Tublin said. "No idea what kind of pitch it was."

Darien concludes the regular season with a Wednesday game at Bassick followed by a home contest on Friday against Trumbull.

The following information was provided by the Darien Police Department:

Tuesday, May 11

STOLEN WALLET Police were called to the scene of an apparent larceny at the Heights Road Stop & Shop after a woman noticed her wallet missing. The New Canaan resident told police she had left her purse in the child seat of an unattended cart while she shopped for plants outside. When she returned, she realized her bright green Judith Lieber wallet, valued at $400, was gone. The wallet contained two credit cards, police said, but there was no evidence either had been used.

MISSING HOUSES Police responded to a reported larceny at a house on Rings End Road, where a caretaker had noticed the disappearance of two miniature stone houses from the top of a wall lining the property's driveway. The decorations, which the caretaker last recalled seeing two weeks prior, weighed 25 pounds and were valued at $350 each.

Thursday, May 13

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE The driver of a 2007 Mini Cooper narrowly avoided serious injury in a Thursday night accident but is facing charges of driving under the influence, speeding, and failure to obey a stop sign. The motorist, identified as Michael Zeman, 59, of Hollow Tree Ridge Road, was allegedly speeding west on Sedgewick Avenue when a witness reported seeing him blow past a stop sign at Leroy Avenue. Zeman crossed over the asphalt near Rocaton Road, crashing into a tree, mangling his front bumper, and causing himself minor cuts and abrasions. After detecting a strong smell of alcohol, officers administered field sobriety tests, which Zeman failed. He was arrested and released after posting $250 bond. Zeman is set to appear in court May 25.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE Joann Savoia, 35, of Norwalk was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after she proved unable to stand during field sobriety tests, police said. Units were dispatched to the vicinity of Park Place around 10:38 p.m. after a report of an erratic motorist driving across several lawns. When an officer spotted Savoia's 2008 Mazda CX-7 driving toward the cruiser, the officer turned on the vehicle's lights and siren but was initially ignored. After turning left onto Noroton Avenue and right on Post Road, Savoia finally came to a stop, and the officer approached her. She appeared confused, police said, and was unable to stand up on her own or provide her name. Savoia later failed a breathalyzer test administered at police headquarters. Owing to her state, she was transported to Norwalk Hospital and a family member notified of her condition. She was released on a promise to appear in court May 24.

Friday, May 14

TRAFFIC STOP GONE AWRY A routine traffic stop Friday evening proved to be anything but as a motorist supplied officers with a puzzling jumble of alibis, aliases, and obstruction. The encounter ended with the suspect being held on $11,500 bond.

Read the full story here: Traffic Stop Prompts Battery Of Charges

Saturday, May 15

DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE Around 10:30 p.m., police responded to the scene of an apparent domestic violence incident between a couple going through divorce proceedings. Authorities first became aware of a disturbance after a 911 hang-up call from a residence at 224 West Avenue. A return call yielded a second hang-up, but officers were eventually able to make contact en route with the husband—identified as Richard Gilhooly, 43—who told the officers he would meet them in front of the residence. Once on the scene, two officers spoke with Gilhooly, while two others entered the house to speak with his wife, identified as Gemma Kenealy, 44. 

According to police, the couple had engaged in "a little pushing and shoving" during an altercation, and Gilhooly had threatened to call 911 if Kenealy did not go back to bed. Gilhooly further told the officers that he didn't think he had actually completed a call to 911. The couple's 8 and 13 year-old sons had already gone to bed at the time, police said.

Gilhooly and Kenealy were issued summonses on the scene for disorderly conduct and were set to appear in court Monday.

Sunday, May 16

STOLEN ATVS A resident of 191 Hoyt Street reported the disappearance of two red Polaris Scrambler ATVs, valued at $1500 each. Police said the man had been cutting grass around 12:30 p.m. when he noticed the quads were no longer parked in a driveway area out of plain sight from the road. The man said he last remembered seeing them in March.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE Gilberto Godinez, 23, of Port Chester, N.Y. was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving without a valid license, and failure to drive right, police said. Godinez was reportedly traveling northbound on Hoyt Street around 1:00 a.m.—straddling the double yellow line—when he passed an officer stationed on the side of the road. As the cruiser pulled out into the road in pursuit of Godinez's 1996 Ford Explorer, the officer saw him strike a curb and center himself over the yellow line again. After Godinez made a wide right turn onto Camp Avenue, the officer stopped his car and administered field sobriety tests, which he failed. Godinez was arrested and released after posting $250 bond. He is set to appear in court May 26.

It's not every day that people shell out $10 to get into a grocery store, but that was the drill Monday at the pre-opening party for Darien's new Whole Foods Market.

Of course the proceeds went to a good cause—Darien's Person-to-Person—but the Disney World-esque lines said it all: local residents were eager to get a glimpse of the community's newest retailer-cum-spectacle.

Nearly 2000 guests packed into the store over the course of three hours, taking in the sights, smells, and tastes of the upscale grocery.

Set against a live accompaniment of double bass, marimba, and drums, the crowds snaked around Whole Foods' mostly-stocked aisles, moving from free sample to free sample.

From potato gnocchi to goat cheese crostini, sashimi tuna steak to connecticut blue oysters, heirloom bean salad to butternut squash and crab bisque, rich and exotic tastes abounded.

One of the largest crowds—disproportionately teeming with children—surrounded the gelato station. Another table featured the surprising combination of pickled beets and blue cheese on raisin bread. Equally surprising: they went fast.

According to Diane Reese Tucker, director of development for Person-to-Person, the event brought in over $15,000 dollars for the charity.

"It's just phenomenal, the turnout of the community," Tucker said. "We are very humbled by that."

Whole Foods routinely holds such fundraisers when it opens new stores, and Person-to-Person was fortunate to become the beneficiary after some gentle lobbying of the retailer, Tucker said.

Since 1968, Person-to-Person has offered emergency aid to qualified persons through clothing donations, financial assistance, and its food pantry. The charity also operates a number of scholarship, summer camp, and holiday programs.

The robust turnout to Monday's event was not without drawbacks. Whole Foods' parking lot was packed solid, spilling traffic onto Ledge Road and into the recently revamped Post Road/Leroy Ave/I-95 intersection. The backups added weight to fears that the store would generate more congestion.

Those concerns will be put to the test of day-to-day business soon enough, as Whole Foods officially opens for business Wednesday morning, beginning with a bread breaking ceremony at 8:45 a.m.

After months of anticipation and a smattering of delays, The Goose is finally set to open for business Wednesday.

The restaurant will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony sponsored by the Darien Chamber of Commerce at 4:30 p.m. and begin serving food at 5:00 p.m., according to co-owner Michael Gagliardi.

The Goose does not plan to serve lunch for the first few weeks of business but will unveil a dinner menu described by co-owner Michael Friedman as "largely American but [with] some French and Italian."

Included on the inaugural menu are some reliable barroom classics—burgers, BBQ, pizza, and the like—alongside less common offerings such as "roasted beets with farmer goat cheese fritters, rocket, red onion, passion fruit vinaigrette" and "cornmeal crusted rare tuna topped with toasted pistachios & micro greens with carrot ginger coulis."

Gagliardi said that the original draft of the menu had been modified slightly after feedback from a private pre-launch gathering on Sunday, but that "95 percent" of it was unchanged. In charge of the restaurant's offerings is chef Piergiorgio Nanni, a native of Rome with a long culinary résumé and Cordon Bleu training.

Menu prices are generally moderate, with soups and Salads ranging from $7 to $14; small plates from $8 to $14; pizzas from $9 to $12; sandwiches and burgers from $10 to $14; entrees from $16 to $26; and pasta from $16 to $18.

The menu also features 17 wines by the glass from $7 to $17, 27 bottled and draught beers from $4.50 to $9, and about 50 wine selections from $27 to $290.

A peek inside the restaurant reveals an environment heavy on dark wood, subdued lighting, and goose-themed decor. The bar remains largely unchanged from the days of the Black Goose Grille, which occupied the space until closing in 2008.

On Monday, The Goose received some good news from the Board of Selectmen, which earlier this month had tabled the restaurant's plans for outdoor dining on a town-owned patio due to concerns over the size of its umbrella insurance coverage (down to $2 million from the $5 million held by the Black Goose Grille). 

After researching similar arrangements in neighboring towns, the board concluded that The Goose's policy—$2 million umbrella, $1 million liquor liability, and $2 million general liability—was sufficient and unanimously approved the lease agreement, effectively giving the green light to outdoor dining.

The restaurant, located at 972 Boston Post Road, marks Gagliardi's first culinary venture, while Friedman is currently the co-owner of the Ash Creek Salloon in Black Rock and Norwalk.

Darien Public Schools have officially signed onto Connecticut's application for a federal Race To The Top grant, according to Superintendent of Schools Don Fiftal.

If the state's application to the $4.35 billion federal pool is successful, Darien would be eligible to receive an estimated $140,000 in educational funding over three years in exchange for supporting and carrying out components of the state's proposal.

In addition to $24 million to be disbursed across the state for local use, the Connecticut State Department of Education would also receive $151 million under the award.

Buy-in from Darien and other communities is seen as a crucial part of making the state's application more attractive to the U.S. Department of Education, as weight is given to proposals supported by large percentages of local districts. In an earlier round of grant applications, the only two states who were given awards—Delaware and Tennessee—both had support from over 90% of local districts.

Despite the financial incentive, Darien's Board of Education declined to support Connecticut's application during the first round last year and has voiced concerns about the vagueness of the state's proposal and the possibility for encroachment as recently as last week.

Fiftal said those concerns are "still hanging out there," but that the district had ultimately decided the benefits of the plan outweighed them.

"In Darien, there's a question of pride because we have the nice position of having results that are very strong," Fiftal said, but "we're confident enough to take this step. It's not an irreversible step at this point."

Among other proposals, Connecticut's plan would establish a new support and evaluation system for teachers and administrators, increase the types and accessibility of data collected on students, and direct funds toward rehabilitating troubled schools in many of the state's biggest cities.

If Connecticut receives a grant—which would likely occur some time in August or early September, according to the U.S. Department of Education—the district will have 90 days to submit a plan for using the local funding. At that point, Darien could opt to back out.

Fiftal said that while the grant would represent more centralization of educational oversight, the district also has an interest in promoting the welfare of students across the state.

"We want Connecticut students to be strong. We want all kids to be well educated," Fiftal said. "It's not just about Darien."

The following information was provided by the Office of the Fire Marshal: 

Tuesday, May 11

BURNING OIL: Around 10:13 a.m., the Noroton Fire Department responded to a smoke scare at 2 Pasture Lane. The cause was determined to be a malfunctioning oil burner, which had triggered the fire alarm due to small amount of smoke.

Wednesday, May 12

BURNING BRANCH: A report of a tree branch on fire brought Noroton Heights Fire to the intersection of Edgerton St. and West Ave around 9:06 a.m. Firefighters were unable to locate the branch, however, likely because it fell to the ground or ceased to be in contact with the power line that had sparked the blaze, a fire official said.

SMOKING BIG RIG At 9:21 a.m., Noroton Heights Fire and the Darien Fire Department responded to the scene of a smoking tractor trailer on Interstate 95 between exits 9 and 10. A fire official said that while a 911 caller had believed the vehicle to be on fire, the cause was determined to be an oil leak.

Friday, May 14

I-95 CRASH: At 2:25 p.m, the Darien Fire Department and Noroton Heights Fire responded to a motor vehicle accident/injury on Interstate 95 near Exit 13.

The Board of Selectmen leafed through the latest draft of a proposed tree ordinance on Monday, stressing the importance of the legislation while raising several concerns about its implementation.

Among other provisions, the ordinance would clarify the responsibilities and obligations of Darien's tree warden; establish new powers and duties for a tree commission; and require permits in order to plant, alter, or remove trees within the right-of-way of town roads.

The version under review Monday was drafted by the Darien Tree Commission, a body established in 2008, and subsequently reviewed by the town counsel and numerous town departments.

Under the ordinance, the tree commission would be tasked with maintaining a "Master Street Tree Plan;" inventorying trees along town roads; and offering tree-related policies and advice to the town's departments, boards, and commissions. Five members would be appointed on a staggered basis, eventually serving 3-year terms from 2012 onward.

"I think about how this commission could play out, I think about the Beautification Commission, where people get on it and really take ownership and run with it," selectman Callie Sullivan said, describing tree maintenance as "one of the public's major concerns."

"The big thing is going to be the [commission's] interaction with public works and the tree warden," selectman David Bayne said.

The ordinance would also require anyone wishing to cut down, modify, or plant a tree within a certain distance—typically 25 feet—from the center line of a town-owned road to acquire a permit from the Department of Public Works. Failure to follow the rules could result in a fine of up to $100 in the case of planting and the total cost of restoration in the case of removal or defacement.

If the tree warden—currently Michael A. Cotta—determined that a particular plant violated the ordinance and needed to be cut down, he would be required to post a notice 10 days in advance of the planned action. Any objection to the removal would require a public hearing to be held.

Board members voiced a number of worries about the draft language, including how an ordinance affecting such a significant swath of land would be enforced.

"You pay the tree warden to go out and do as much work as humanly possible," selectman Callie Sullivan offered.

Selectman Jayme Stevenson inquired how, if at all, the ordinance would impact the town's liability. The question is of recent relevance to Darien: in November of 2009, Mieczyslaw and Jolanta Wisniewski were awarded $1.7 million in a suit against Cotta and the town stemming from a 2006 incident in which a tree fell onto their car on Rings End Road.

"This draft has been reviewed by our insurance consultant to be sure we aren't inviting new liability," Town Administrator Karl Kilduff said. He added that the town should avoid creating a proscriptive tree manual for residents—"something that is cookbook in style"—to that end.

Notably, the ordinance would not apply to state roads in Darien, which include Tokeneke Road, Mansfield Avenue, Hoyt Street, and Boston Post Road.

"Unfortunately some of the busiest streets in Darien are state-controlled, to which this ordinance has no bearing," Stevenson said.

Kilduff said he "can't even speculate" what subcommittee would be responsible for handling the proposed ordinance, which would ultimately require approval from the Representative Town Meeting, but he "anticipate[s] there will be lots of reviews" in the future.