VIP ticket holders receive a pre-concert reception with the artists at The Mary McCarthy Room at Norwalk Concert Hall, with food and drink donated by Barcelona Wine Bar, at 6:30 p.m. VIP ticket holders will also receive reserved seating and parking at the concert, as well as a complimentary gift bag which includes the signed CDs from the bands. The proceeds raised from the event will help provide funding for the agency's programs in seven impact areas: youth development; family strengthening; foster care; adoption; behavioral health; homeless services; and services for seniors.

New Canaan's Visiting Nurse & Hospice of Fairfield County will offer an eight-week bereavement support group this summer to help adults cope with loss following the death of a parent. The group will meet Wednesdays from 4 to 5:30 p.m. through Aug. 17. There is no fee for participation. For more information, or to preregister, call Visiting Nurse & Hospice of Fairfield County at 203-834-6341, extension 255.

Tasks in the United Methodist Action Reach-out Mission by Youth ("U.M. Army") program, included painting, cleaning and repairing homes of the underprivileged and handicapped of this western Pennsylvania community. Members of the Darien group worked on homes that needed repair and whose homeowners were unable to fulfill these repairs due to their medical health, physical handicap or financial situation. In response to the love of God and the example of Jesus Christ, they are called to reach out to the community in its diversity, accepting people just as they are and ministering to their needs; to provide opportunities for spiritual growth and development as they nurture Christian discipleship; to equip and send disciples into the world to make life more loving and just for those who live here.

The college and university graduates live in New Canaan, Norwalk, and Stamford, and attended schools in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York State, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C. They majored in a range of subjects, including accounting and media arts, audio engineering and microbiology, business administration and criminal justice, communications and elementary education. With remarks that were both poignant and humorous, current P2P board member and scholarship committee chair Rebecca Wilson (a past recipient of P2P scholarships) acknowledged the accomplishments of all 28 graduates while urging them to reach back to give a helping hand to those who will follow. Asha Bryce (Hofstra University); Christian Burke (Institute of Audio Research); Maria Cadena (University of Connecticut); Melinda Cadet (Long Island University); Cynthia Charles (University of Hartford); Fritz Chery (University of Connecticut); Juan Fabian (University of Connecticut); Brendy Franco (University of Connecticut); Keisha Freeman-Hill (Howard University); Revay Gordon (Temple University); Juanita Gyamera (Wesleyan University); Jessica Hoover (Eastern University); Mark Hylton (Industrial Management & Training Institute); Anne Jecrois (University of Massachusetts); Lisa Lacen-Romero (College of the Holy Cross); Kevin Lauture (University of Connecticut); Valeria Lopez Salazar (Manhattanville College); Jordan Lorrius (Eastern Connecticut State University); Thomas Michael (University of Connecticut); Diana Morris (Boston College); Shanice Owens (Quinnipiac University); Jazmin Powell (Mitchell College); Keisha Riley (Norwalk Community College); George Sanchez (University of Connecticut); Amanda Smith (Roanoke College); Ray Smith (University of New Haven); Jonathan Vergara (University of New Haven); Tara Williams (St. John's University).

The annual patriotic parade of children riding bikes, scooters, wagons or any nonmotorized vehicle steps off at 10:30 a.m. sharp from Goodwives Shopping Center, where Mary Ann Hall's Music for Children will entertain the waiting crowd starting at 10 a.m. The parade travels down the Post Road and ends in Tilley Pond Park, where food vendors and live entertainment will be available. Darien Rowayton Bank, The Melting Pot Restaurant, Darien Youth Commission, DCBleu, East Coast Irrigation, The Healthy Child, The Little Gym, David M. Osherow, D.D.S., REI, Rowatyon Pizza, Vernal's Service Station, Whole Foods Market and the Darien Parks & Recreation Department.