Inside this week’s Darien Times: Jan. 31

• Town budget looks to increase 7%

• Refuse, reduce, reuse & recycle — learn more about recycling committee

• Special ed personnel costs decrease, students increase

• DHS staffer honored as veteran

• As 8-30g legal bills rise, Stefanoni still offers compromise

• School testing schedule extended

• Darienites join March for Change

• Blotter: Shoplifter thwarted, protective order violated, car vandalized, tire stolen

• Police: girl assaulted by group at movie theater

• DTC starts “Policy Matters” series

• Local property transfers

• Darien artist exhibits at arts center

• Artist chosen for “Escapist” program

• Scout cabin receives grant from Darien Foundation

• Editorial: January

• Natale: Winter’s unexpected indoor fun

• Van Munching: All his exes live in….crazy town

• Letters: Support the school budget, thanks to Papa Joe, gun control disarms victims

• Marren: “Such a presence on the court”

• ‘Rock solid’: Wave’s East title its 10th in 11 years

• Lights-out: Wave gets 10th win with 3 in the 3rd

• Mass. ‘Miracle on Ice’ in Mite A tourney victory

• Wave makes it 10 straight titles at East meet

• Opus holding “Julep Ball”

• Valentines workshop at arts center

• Antiques show preview party benefits Inspirica

• Library hosts teen writing competition

• Women of Distinction nominations due for YW

• Senior center happenings

• YMCA hosts fundraiser with Olympics gymnastics coach

• DCA offers final global lecture series, canasta, chocolate cooking class

• Valentine’s Day tea at the DCA

• Theatreworks visits Tokeneke

• Noroton preschool visits post office

• From a teenager’s eye: Pond hockey

• Middlesex celebrates Latin American culture

• Tokeneke’s student council helps Sandy Hook

• Tokeneke geography bee winners

• Darien High School hosts volunteer fair Friday

• Royle honors Martin Luther King Jr.

• Kelly adds five agents to roster

• Podiatrist expands office

• Chinasaurs! Dinosaurs from China are the focus of a new exhibit at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich.
• The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is going ³Shark Raving Mad² during February.
• P.J. Pacifico will perform at the Aldrich Museum¹s First Fridays event this week.
• Civil War program in Ridgefield and Greenwich this weekend.
• Maggie Smith shines in Quartet, Dustin Hoffman¹s first directorial effort, says the Reel Dad.
• The new Chevrolet Shark is an appealing Œminicar¹ says Steven Macoy.