To the Editors:

There simply aren’t enough words to express our gratitude to all who helped make the Wilton Family YMCA’s Farm to Table event a success on Sunday, May 31. Over 160 people gathered at Millstone Farm to raise funds to benefit the Y’s financial assistance program which enables young people achieve their potential, empower people of all ages to lead healthier lives, and strengthen the bonds of our community. We are so grateful to the community for championing this event in support of our Y’s mission.

The Y was proud to honor Becky and Steve Hudspeth and Carol and Mike Kaelin as the 2015 Distinguished Citizen Awardees at the event. Congratulations Becky, Steve, Carol and Mike! The Wilton Family YMCA is proud to call Wilton home because of people such as the Hudspeths and Kaelins — they make Wilton a better place.

A special thanks is made to the event sponsor Fairfield County Bank. We also would like to thank the Village Market, Gregory and Adams and Weeks Automobile Corporation for their continuous support of our cause.

We also thank local award-winning chef Tim LaBant of The Schoolhouse of Cannondale who provided a most delicious dinner and their event coordinator Rebecca Thorpe who paid close attention to every last detail which made the event as smooth as it can be. Jen Larsen and Deep River provided dynamic bluegrass music that added to the feel of the afternoon. Thank you to Millstone Farm for hosting the event which provided a beautiful and unique setting.

A big thanks to all the volunteers who contributed to making the event a success.  The Farm to Table committee of volunteers Mary Andrews, Vani Bettegowda, Laura Downing, Christene Freedman, Carol Johnson, Christine Kauh, Jill Kidd, Debbie LaFond, Melissa Norris, Terri Sheridan went above and beyond the call of duty as volunteers. They all selflessly gave their time, support, leadership and humor to help forward the mission of the Wilton Family YMCA. Also, thank you to volunteer auctioneer and Y board member Sean Carroll for leading the most successful auction and paddle raise we have ever conducted.

On behalf of the Y staff and Y board of directors we thank the entire Wilton community for their continued support of this newly designed event. We wish everyone a healthy and safe summer and we can’t wait to see you at the farm next spring!

Bob McDowell, CEO
Riverbrook Regional YMCA
Wilton, June 15

The post Letter: Farm to Table event a success for YMCA appeared first on Wilton Bulletin.

Mark Rubinstein stands along Danbury Road in front of his office. His new book, The Lovers’ Tango, was released this month and he will talk about it at Wilton Library on June 22. — Jeannette Ross photo

Here’s what’s happening in town today, June 22:

• Line Dance Fusion at Wilton Senior Center, from 10:30 to 11:30.

• Coffee at Wilton Senior Center at 11:30.

• Movie at Wilton Senior Center at noon.

• Comstock Knitters and Crafters at Wilton Senior Center, from 1 to 2:30.

• Comstock Building Committee meeting at 3:30, Wilton Senior Center Lounge.

• Exploring the Five Senses at Wilton Library, from 4 to 4:45.

• Area Author Affair: Mark Rubenstein at Wilton Library, from 6 to 7.

• Weir Farm Artist-in-Residence Exhibition/Reception: Rachel Sanders at Wilton Library, from 6 to 7:30.

• Planning and Zoning Commission meeting at 7:15, town hall annex Room A.

For more things to do, check the Wilton Bulletin Board.

The post What’s happening in Wilton? appeared first on Wilton Bulletin.

Wilton resident Frankie Davies standing next to a terra cotta bust of her grandaughter that she sculpted and entered into the Society of Connecticut Sculptor’s exhibit at the Wilton Library. —Hayden Turek photo

A terra cotta portrait called Emma by South Windsor artist LeeAnn Cogswell was the first place winner at the juried show presented by the Society of Connecticut Sculptors at an opening reception on Friday, June 5. More than 25 works by 16 members of the society will remain on display at Wilton Library until June 26.

Second place was awarded to Rene Beland of Stamford for her  semiabstract mahogany piece, Escape, and taking third place was Lee Greenberg of Westport for Off to the Game, a bronze statue.

It was the first time the library curated an all-sculpture exhibition and the first time the sculpture society has exhibited in Wilton.

“The opportunity arose and we were pleased to be able to bring this type of art to the library and the community. We’ve had sculpture pieces in exhibitions previously, but this is the first time we’ve showcased this media in an entire show,” said Ed MacEwen, the library’s art chairman.

Frankie Davies’ terra cotta statue of her daughter’s dachshund. — Hayden Turek photo

Works featured at the exhibition included bronze, terra cotta, mahogany, and alabaster sculpture.

Wilton resident and society member Frankie Davies had two featured pieces, one, a terra cotta bust of her 15-year-old granddaughter, Wilton High School student Severn Davies, Portrait of Severn; the other, also terra cotta, a statue of her daughter’s dachshund Lawyer’s Dachshund.

“When I was sculpting the bust,” said Davies, “I did not see the likeness until three-quarters of the way through the process. At first she looked like her mother; then she became her father, then two different aunts before she was really Severn. It was an unforgettable journey.”

According to Davies, the production of Lawyer’s Dachshund became an interesting endeavor when she realized her sculpture was beginning to exhibit the same back problems to which live dachshunds are predisposed.

A crowd visits the sculpture show at Wilton Library during the opening reception on June 5. — Hayden Turek photo

“Due to the quality of the material and the nature of the subject, I had trouble supporting the back. The result was a depression that, to me, symbolizes the breed’s affliction,” she said.

“The use of terra cotta is perhaps the most unforgiving of the traditional sculpting methods. It will do anything you ask of it, but if you fail, that failure cannot be attributed to the tenacity of the material. It’s your own fault.”

Dr. Fay Stevenson-Smith, another featured artist from Wilton, provided two bronze pieces: Circus Acrobat and Himba Dancer.

The exhibition was judged by Michael Keropian, notable for being commissioned to create nine larger-than-life tiger sculptures for Comerica Park, the new home of the Detroit Tigers, in 2000. He has earned a number of accolades throughout his career, including the Hudson Valley Art Association’s Gold Medal.

Wendy Swain, a Stratford woman who has been the president of the society for three years, was satisfied with the outcome of the evening.

“This has been one of our biggest and most successful receptions yet. I couldn’t be happier,” she said.

Many of the works are available for purchase with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Wilton Library.

The Society of Connecticut Sculptors was established in the Hartford area in 1992. It is a  nonprofit organization specializing in exhibitions, workshops, social events, field trips, lectures, and other educational projects.

For more information, visit: ctsculptors.org or www.wiltonlibrary.org.

The post Sculpture show a first for Wilton Library appeared first on Wilton Bulletin.

Chief Financial Officer Sandra Dennies

Wilton Chief Financial Officer Sandy Dennies presented the Board of Selectmen with a 2015 fiscal budget status report at its meeting on Monday, June 15. She was concerned about the town ending the year in the black.

According to Dennies, a number of things have happened that were not budgeted, specifically:

• Workers’ compensation claims,
• The lifts in the town garage needing to be replaced,
• Lead contamination in the police department building,
• Early retirements.

Revenues are good, she said, noting 100.98% of revenues have been collected on the original budget. Tax collection is on target at 100.26%.

“The only thing that I sincerely think we should be continuing to watch are the unanticipated retirements because of the contract requirements to pay out remaining vacation time,” Dennies said.

The fiscal year ends June 30.

The post Unanticipated expenses affect budget bottom line appeared first on Wilton Bulletin.

To the Editors:

At Tuesday’s annual meeting of the Wilton League of Women Voters, Louise Herot presented a wonderful history of League studies here in Wilton. Studies focus on learning more about a subject important to Leaguers and the community. Participation in a study is also an opportunity to build life-long friendships over interesting discussions and informative research (Louise and Judy Zucker can attest to that).  While some studies seek to gather information and inform, other studies, like our School Start-Time Study, go even further and have a policy impact. As we look ahead to the next programming year, we are considering whether the Wilton League will conduct a study next year.

The first step takes place on Wednesday, June 24, at 9 a.m., at the Comstock Community Center, when Lisa Bogan will lead a discussion about League studies. This is an opportunity to learn the ways a League study can be structured and to discuss what level of interest there is in a study during our 2015-2016 programming year. Those participating in a study should approach the work with an open mind and expect to work collaboratively, listen attentively and gather data and conduct interviews in order to develop a broad understanding of the study topic.

The two topics we are considering for a League study are as follows:

1.  Wilton’s Business Climate. This would be an effort to understand Wilton’s business climate and to inform the current discussion in Wilton about the personal, local, regional and national factors that affect the local business climate in Wilton.

2.  Income Inequality. This study would focus on understanding income inequality and could be related to the 2009 Wilton LWV study and 2010 follow-up study seeking to understand the great recession’s impact on Wilton.

All League members and people interested in learning more about studies or participating in a study are welcome to attend. If you will be attending the June 24 meeting then please RSVP to wiltonlwv@gmail.com. If you cannot attend but are interested in working on a study next year, please email us at the same address to let us know your interest. Thank you.

Sharon Lewis Grace

Convener, Wilton League of Women Voters

The post Letter: Wilton League of Women Voters considers research project for next year appeared first on Wilton Bulletin.

Maple syrup from Ambler Farm.

Connecticut, the Nutmeg State, accounted for 1% of U.S. maple production this year, according a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Connecticut is part of the Northeast Region, which also includes Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania. As a whole, the region produced 2.96 million gallons of maple syrup this year, up 7% from 2014.

Connecticut totaled 85,000 tree taps and produced 19,000 gallons of maple syrup.

The maple syrup powerhouse is Vermont, which produced 40.7% of the country’s maple syrup. The Green Mountain State totaled 4,490,000 taps and produced 1,390,000 gallons of syrup.

Nationwide, maple syrup production in 2015 totaled 3,414,000 gallons.

According to the USDA report, the 2015 maple season in the Northeast was “mostly favorable.” Cold temperatures contributed to a shorter season of sap flow compared to last year. On average, the season lasted 26 days, compared to 29 days last year.

Information: nass.usda.gov.

The post ‘Nutmeg’ syrup appeared first on Wilton Bulletin.

Nine members of the conference champion Wilton High baseball team have received All-FCIAC honors for the 2015 season.

Pitcher J.T. Morin, who threw two complete-game victories in the conference playoffs, including a 1-0 victory in eight innings in the finals, was the only Warrior named to the All-FCIAC first team.

Fellow pitcher Jackson Ward, catcher Alex Jacobson and outfielders James Meany and Scott Shouvlin were selected to the All-FCIAC East squad.

Receiving honorable mention were infielders Dillon Lifrieri, Harry Sabo and Collin Kahal and outfielder Paul Sorbo.

Following is a complete list of the selections:

Randy Polonia, Trinity Catholic – Pitcher/Shortstop FCIAC Player of the Year

Stephen Barston, Darien – Pitcher

Ben Casparius, Staples – Pitcher

J.T. Morin, Wilton – Pitcher

David Giusti, New Canaan -Pitcher

Zach Smith, New Canaan – Catcher

Carlos Garrido, Trumbull – Catcher

Robby Jones, New Canaan -First Base

Reece Maniscalco, Warde – First Base

Dave Balunek, Norwalk – Infield

Jake Frasca, Darien – Infield

Nick Nardone, Warde – Infield

Josh Nieves, Central – Infield

Matt Laveneziana, St. Joseph – Outfield

Nate Panzer, Staples – Outfield

A.J. Fabbri, Ridgefield – Outfield

Mike Maccarone, Darien – Outfield

Anthony DiMeglio, Darien – Utility

George Bielizna, Danbury – Utility

Michael Gonzalez, Norwalk – Utility

All-Central

Ryan Fitton, Staples – Pitcher

Colin Lowe, Ridgefield – Pitcher

John Natoli, Warde – Pitcher

Hunter Dumas, McMahon – Catcher

C.J. Hanrahan, Ludlowe – Catcher

Ross Poulley, Staples – First Base

John Stamatis, Ridgefield – First Base

Paul Salata, McMahon – First Base

Connor Daley, Ludlowe – First Base

Marco Latella, Staples – Infield

Eddie McCabe, Norwalk – Infield

Craig Burke, Ridgefield – Infield

Chris Winthrop, McMahon – Infield

Nate Klein, Ludlowe – Infield

Tom Ryan, Ludlowe – Infield

Zach Azadian, Staples – Outfield

Reid Singewald, Norwalk – Outfield

All-West

Shawn Urbano, Stamford – Pitcher

Anthony Ferraro, Greenwich – Pitcher

Michael Genaro, Greenwich – Pitcher

Luke Dawson, Westhill – Pitcher

Joe Nemchek, Trumbull – Pitcher

James Gronberg, Stamford – First Base

Kevin Woodring, Greenwich – First Base

Jay Devito, Stamford – Infield

Colin Kelly, Greenwich – Infield

Alex Loparco, Greenwich – Infield

John Spoto, Westhill – Infield

Eric Cerno, Danbury – Infield

Chris O’Brien, Trumbull – Outfield

Alex Rauso, Trumbull – Outfield

All-East

Jackson Ward, Wilton – Pitcher

Andrew Winsch, Darien – Pitcher

Mike Rotundo, St. Joseph – Pitcher

Alex Jacobson , Wilton – Catcher

Dillon Daine, Trinity Catholic – First Base

Brandon Abate, New Canaan – Infield

Matt Fraioli, Trinity Catholic – Infield

Neil Velasquez, St. Joseph – Infield

Danny Siemers, Darien – Infield

Kyle Levassuer, New Canaan – Infield

Scott Shouvlin , Wilton – Outfield

James Meany, Wilton – Outfield

Dan Bernard, Trinity Catholic – Outfield

Mike O’Malley, Darien – Outfield

Tom Costigan, Trinity Catholic – Utility

Conor Davey, Darien – Utility

Honorable Mention

Brien McMahon – Edwin Owolo, Michael Boguski, Sam Starkman

Danbury – Mike Halas, Derek Garnett, Ryan Solimine

Darien – Jamie Schofield, Peter Archey, George Reed

Fairfield Ludlowe – Patrick O’Leary, Eddie Magi

Fairfield Warde – Dakota DeJordy, Zach Weinstein, Joey Deutch

Greenwich – Devin McGrath, Paul Williams, Jason Capozza, Colin Lowe

New Canaan – Clarke Newlove, Kane Curtin, Matt Burger

Norwalk – Ed O’Hara, Ryan Searles, Matt Parlanti

Ridgefield – Liam Smith, Zach Fogg, Harrison Porter

Stamford – Tyler Serricchio, Billy DeVito

Staples – Noah Yokoi, Sean Clarke, Eric Hawes

St. Joseph – Andrew Walsh, Tully Horne, Brendan Rush

Trinity Catholic – Anthony Hoegemann, Cam Greig, Nick Lupinacci

Trumbull – Connor Smith, Frank Puglia, Brian Hnatuk

Westhill – Matt Gorey, Austin Nardi, Joey DePreta

Wilton – Dillon Lifrieri, Harry Sabo, Paul Sorbo, Collin Kahal

Wilton pitcher J.T. Morin was named to the All-FCIAC baseball first team. — GretchenMcMahonphotography.com

The post All-FCIAC honors for nine Wilton baseball players appeared first on Wilton Bulletin.

To the Editors:

The town of Wilton is run by many dedicated volunteers. The many boards, councils and commissions are staffed by people dedicated to giving back to the town and contributing their time to its benefit.

The Wilton Republican Town Committee is currently looking for individuals interested in serving on the Board of Selectmen. This is a volunteer position and the candidate will need to run for election this coming November.

Candidates should have experience in town, preferably having served on another board or major commission. If you are interested in being considered as a candidate please contact me at warrens@optonline.net or 203-858-9970.

We will likely be interviewing candidates within the next two weeks so if interested be sure and respond quickly.

Warren Serenbetz
WRTC Selectmen Subcommittee Chair
Wilton, June 15

The post Letter: Republicans seek selectman candidates appeared first on Wilton Bulletin.

Wilton High School senior Ryan Eberhardt and Reynolds & Rowella tax manager Greg Pepin.

Wilton High School seniors Ryan Eberhardt and Daniel Sullivan were named winners of this year’s Strength In Numbers Scholarship Award and were each presented a $500 check from accounting firm Reynolds & Rowella, LLP.

The firm awards the scholarships to two graduating seniors from Ridgefield, New Canaan and Wilton each year.

Reynolds & Rowella, which has offices in Ridgefield and New Canaan, has awarded $18,000 in scholarships since 2010.

“The partners and staff at Reynolds & Rowella, LLP, are committed to supporting their profession and the communities in which they live and work,” said Frank Rowella, CPA.

“We are pleased to recognize two talented students who we hope may be encouraged to consider a future in the accounting profession.”

Ryan Eberhardt will be attending Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Fla., and Daniel Sullivan will be attending Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va.

The post Wilton seniors receive $500 scholarships appeared first on Wilton Bulletin.

Here’s what’s happening in town today, June 23:

• Yoga at Wilton Senior Center, from 11 to noon.

• Blood Pressure Screening at Village Market, from 12:30 to 2.

• Mah Jongg at Wilton Senior Center at 12:30.

• Chair Yoga at Ogden House, from 2 to 3.

• Red Cross Babysitting Training at Wilton Library, from 2 to 5.

• Stay at Home meeting at Wilton Senior Center at 3.

For more things to do, check the Wilton Bulletin Board.

The post What’s happening in Wilton? appeared first on Wilton Bulletin.

President’s award

Jerre Dawson, left, receives the Wilton Garden Club’s 2015 President’s Award from club president Nan Merolla at the organization’s annual luncheon Thursday, June 4, at Rolling Hills Country Club. This award is given annually at the discretion of the club president to a member whose outstanding service has made a significant difference. Dawson runs the club’s greenhouse and chairs the horticulture committee. She also ran the horticulture section of the club’s flower show last fall, and was instrumental in propagation of plants at the greenhouse for the club’s Mother’s Day Plant Sale. The club bestowed a number of awards at the luncheon and welcomed provisional members as full members.

The post President’s award appeared first on Wilton Bulletin.

The Wilton Historical Society invites members and prospective members to  Annual Meeting and Old Fashioned Potluck Dinner on Thursday, June 25.

Cocktails and appetizers will be served from 5:30 to 6:30, and guests may take a gallery walk with quilt artist Denyse Schmidt and hooked rug artist June Myles, whose work is on display.

The meeting — with the election of officers and trustees — will begin at 6:30, followed by dinner. During coffee and dessert, guest speaker Nick Torres, a Bridgeport educator, will give a talk on Why History Matters .

The meeting and dinner will take place on the grounds of the historical society on Danbury Road.

RSVP to Amy Fallas-Kerr by email at communications@wiltonhistorical.org or by phone at 203-762-7257.

The post Historical society meeting and dinner appeared first on Wilton Bulletin.

To the Editors:

As incoming board chair of the American Lung Association of the Northeast, I was distressed once again when the annual State of the Air Report came out showing  Fairfield County — where I live — still has the worst air pollution in the entire Northeast. Our ozone grade remained an F with 52 orange unhealthy air days and three red unhealthy air days. That’s one more orange day than was recorded in the 2014 report.

Why should we care about the color of air quality days and why does our ranking matter? Having lost my father to emphysema, I have seen firsthand what it means for a person to struggle to breathe. The experience is what prompted me to become involved with the American Lung Association 34 years ago and advocate for policies that protect people who, like my dad, have a hard enough time breathing on their own without obstacles like avoidable air pollution and secondhand tobacco smoke.

On orange days, ozone pollution can cause serious health problems for people with lung disease, asthma, heart disease, and diabetes as well as the elderly and very young. On red days, all of us may begin to feel symptoms of irritation and not breathe as well when we spend time outdoors.

Sadly, Fairfield’s ozone problem is likely even worse than the State of the Air Report indicates. That’s why the American Lung Association is urging the EPA to safeguard the air by strengthening the ozone standard to the most protective level under consideration. Doing so could prevent as many as 7,900 premature deaths and 1.8 million asthma attacks nationwide. For the sake of Fairfield residents and Americans everywhere, I hope this standard is strengthened so we can all look forward to healthier air.

Jonathon Rosen
Board Chair Elect
American Lung Association of the Northeast
Wilton, June 11

The post Letter: Fairfield County’s air quality worst in Northeast appeared first on Wilton Bulletin.

Scott Mullen photos

Graduation 2015

Approximately 330 seniors bid farewell to Wilton High School during this year’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, June 20. Despite the rainy weather, which moved the event indoors to the Field House, it did not put a damper on the evening’s excitement and celebration.

The post Graduation 2015 appeared first on Wilton Bulletin.

Lila Snyder

Pitney Bowes Inc., a global technology company, announced it has formed the Global Ecommerce business unit, a merger between the recently acquired Borderfree and Pitney Bowes’ existing Ecommerce business.

Lila Snyder, who has led the integration since early May, has been named president, Global Ecommerce at Pitney Bowes. Previously, she served as president of Document Messaging Technologies. She joined Pitney Bowes from McKinsey and Co. in November 2013.

“Lila has been part of my leadership team since I became the CEO, first as an external advisor and then as the leader for one of our business units,” said Marc B. Lautenbach, president and CEO, Pitney Bowes.

“As the integration leader working with teams from Borderfree and Pitney Bowes, Lila is bringing together two complementary, cross-border ecommerce businesses and creating one team,” he continued.

Synder has a mechanical engineering S.M. and Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a B.S. in the same field from the University of Miami.

Pitney Bowes’ expertise is in customer information management, location intelligence, customer engagement, shipping and mailing, and global ecommerce.

Information: pitneybowes.com

The post Pitney Bowes names Lila Snyder president of new unit appeared first on Wilton Bulletin.

Twenty-one-year-old Johnny Hernandez of Mohawk Drive, Norwalk, was stopped by Wilton and New Canaan police within 24 hours for the same violations: driving without insurance, driving with a suspended license, misuse of plates, and driving an unregistered vehicle.

The arresting officer in Wilton noticed the license plate on the vehicle was badly damaged and ran it, turning up the New Canaan report. It turned out the plate on the vehicle, a 1999 Audi A4, came from a BMW.

Wilton police took Hernandez into custody and released him on a $500 bond. He has a court date of June 29.

The post Two arrests, two towns, one day appeared first on Wilton Bulletin.

Andrea Faulkner with Dash & Dot, the library’s new robots for youngsters.

Here’s what’s happening in town today, June 24:

• Open Bridge at Wilton Senior Center at 10.

• Introduction to Electronic Sewing at Wilton Library, from 10 to 11.

• Tai Chi at Wilton Senior Center, from 10:30 to 11:30.

• Mah Jongg at Wilton Senior Center at 1.

• Red Cross Babysitting Training at Wilton Library, from 2 to 5.

• Learning to Code with Dash and Dot at Wilton Library, from 3 to 4.

• Energy Commission meeting at 7, Wilton Library Presidents Room.

For more things to do, check the Wilton Bulletin Board.

The post What’s happening in Wilton? appeared first on Wilton Bulletin.

Marie Bourdeau, who works at Wilton Meadows, with her daughter Mia Love, first black Republican woman to be elected to the House of Representatives. — Lois Alcosser photo

At Wilton Meadows Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, they call Marie Bourdeau “Mama.” She is a much-loved nurse assistant/caregiver who has worked at Wilton Meadows for 20 years, almost when it opened its doors. There are residents who rely on her to eat, take a shower, get dressed. She is also the real mother of Mia Love, the first black Republican woman to be elected to the House of Representatives, from Utah’s 4th Congressional District.

Talking about her daughter, Bourdeau is filled with pride, but she’s also down-to-earth, realistic and not overwhelmed by her daughter’s success, because “even as a little girl, Mia was always in charge. She knew what she wanted and could tell you to ‘do this and do that.’” Mia Love’s natural leadership qualities were always apparent, but so were her mother’s. “When I talked, they listened,” she said, referring to Mia, her sister and brother.

Love’s parents came to this country from Haiti with not much more than $10. The first stop was Brooklyn, where Mia was born in 1975. When her daughter was five years old, Bourdeau decided the city was no place to bring up children, and the family moved to Norwalk. Mia graduated from Norwalk High School, and went to the University of Hartford, where she studied theater arts, hoping to get a job as an actor. Bourdeau recalled. “She went from audition to audition. Before she heard from one, she was at another.” She finally was offered a role on Broadway, but she was about to get married and that was more important. She met Jason Love at college and they married in 1998. He is a computer science expert. They have three children.

Mia was raised a Roman Catholic, but in college she learned about The Church of Latter Day Saints, and became a Mormon.

“My backyard was full of missionaries!” Bourdeau recalled. Love moved to Utah. If this was a problem for Bourdeau, she soon adjusted.

“Utah is my town, “she said. “I go there to help with my grandkids. And the Mormons! They don’t smoke, do drugs, or drink and they wear conservative clothes. They have groups for everything.”

She remembered getting all dressed up to go to church in Utah and when she was told her dress was too low-cut, she said “But I’m not a Mormon!”

Mother and daughter admire each other tremendously. “I’ve been working all these years,” Bourdeau said. “When I think of Mia, I see what I was working for.” One of her precious possessions is a photograph of herself with three-year-old Mia.

“Mia put this on Facebook, saying, “This is the woman who made me what I am today.” In Sarasota Springs, Utah, Love was on the city council, then mayor. “They love her in Utah,” Bourdeau said.

What’s next for Mia Love? Senator? President?  “No,” Bourdeau said. “Look at Obama, his hair is turning white!” With smiles and laughter, she said, “But now I must get back to my people!”

“Mama’s back!” could be heard nearby.

The post Marie Bourdeau: Mama to Mia Love and many more appeared first on Wilton Bulletin.

Lawrenceville scholar

Wiltonian Aulden Foltz, a senior at the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey, received the Robert Mammano Frezza Memorial Scholarship. She was selected based on her capability to lead and motivate, scholastic ability and achievement, moral force of character, priorities on friendship and family, and acceptance of differences and personal ambition. She was also awarded the Colin Sullivan Award for excellence in journalistic production, the Lawther O. Smith Computer Science Prize for excellence in the study of computer science, and the Wendell Hertig Taylor Prize for bridging the two worlds of science and the humanities. In the fall, she will attend Stanford University in Stanford, Calif.

The post Lawrenceville scholar appeared first on Wilton Bulletin.

Wilton Library has issued a call for entries to the 71st annual summer art exhibition open to adult Wilton artists. Artists may enter one or two pieces in the mediums of painting, pastel, drawing or sculpture.

Entries must be framed and wired and brought to the library between 10 and 4 on Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27.

There will be an artists’ reception, open to the public, on Friday, July 10, from 6 to 7:30. The show will remain up until Aug. 13.

For an entry form, visit bit.ly/1FWTA79.

Information: Janet Crystal, 203-762-3950, ext. 226 or jcrystal@wiltonbulletin.org or Ed MacEwen at 203-210-5620.

The post Artists invited to show appeared first on Wilton Bulletin.