Stories

<p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Get ready to tee it up in style. The nonprofit USA Junior Golf Federation is proud to partner with Midspring women’s golf apparel to host a fun-filled Women’s Golf Day celebration on Sunday, June 1, on The National short course at The Golf Performance Center.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Midspring, co-founded by childhood best friends and Ridgefield High School grads Meredith (Maher) Carmody and Shannon (Galowski) Arniel, blends performance with polish. Their high-quality line of women’s golf apparel transitions effortlessly from the course to the everyday.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“Our line is designed with three pillars at the foundation of all of our styles: performance functionality, flattering fits and fashion femininity. We appeal to the most experienced of players as well as the novice recreational golfer and have clientele spanning all ages and stages. Regardless of your level of play, we hope our styles make you feel confident as you move throughout your day from the course, to courts, to calls, to carpools, to cocktails and everywhere in between,” says Carmody.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Women’s Golf Day isn’t just swings and putts—it’s a Sunday well spent. Think good company, a little golf guidance, tasty bites, bubbly in hand, and a breezy 9-hole round on The National. Guests will also have the chance to shop Midspring’s latest collection and enjoy a mimosa bar and brunch bites throughout the morning.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Grab your girls, your clubs, and make your way to The Golf Performance Center for a morning of fun, fashion, and fresh air. Whether you're a seasoned player or just golf-curious, this event is a great way to get into the game—or just enjoy a mimosa while browsing some great gear. No clubs? No problem. Registration is required to play, no need to register if you’re just stopping by to sip and shop.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"We’re thrilled to partner with Midspring to promote Women’s Golf Day! We want to work together to engage, empower and support girls and women through golf to build a foundation that creates a network to support the continuation of golf no matter what skill level while engaging in a charitable cause at a local level,” says Kim Genzburg, Executive Director of USA Junior Golf Federation.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The National, a 9-hole course designed for speed and enjoyment, offers a refreshing take on the game—quick enough to play in under 40 minutes and open for public play. Located at 824 Ethan Allen Highway in Ridgefield, The Golf Performance Center is changing how we play, learn, and love golf.A portion of the event proceeds from Midspring sales will support the USA Junior Golf</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Federation’s scholarship program at The Golf Performance Academy.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Register here:</span><a href="https://thegolfperformancecenter.com/womens-golf-day/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"> </a><a href="https://thegolfperformancecenter.com/womens-golf-day" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">https://thegolfperformancecenter.com/womens-golf-day/</a></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">About Midspring</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Midspring creates refined, functional golf apparel for women who want to feel comfortable, capable, and confident. Designed to transition seamlessly from a morning on the green to the rest of your day, Midspring is committed to celebrating the everyday athlete in every woman. Learn more</span><a href="https://midspringsport.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"> </a><a href="https://midspringsport.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">https://midspringsport.com/</a></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">About USA Junior Golf Federation</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">A 501(C)3 non-profit organization dedicated to fostering and educating the next generation of aspiring junior golf athletes. The Federation is committed to providing junior golfers at The Golf Performance Academy with the financial assistance and support they may need to enable them to excel on their way to playing collegiate golf and beyond. Learn more here (I don't know how to embed the link :) )</span><a href="https://usajuniorgolffederation.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </a><a href="https://usajuniorgolffederation.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">https://usajuniorgolffederation.org/</a></p>

<p class="ql-align-center"><strong>It’s Flower Time! Annual Mother’s Day Plant Sale Is This Coming Weekend!</strong></p><p class="ql-align-center"><strong><em>Wilton Garden Club’s Time-Honored Tradition Celebrates 86 Years </em></strong></p><p><strong>WILTON, Conn., May 5, 2025</strong> – The <a href="http://www.wiltongardenclub.org/about-us/history/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: blue;"><strong>Wilton Garden Club</strong></a> (WGC) will hold its<strong> </strong><a href="https://www.wiltongardenclub.org/upcomingevents/plant-sale/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: blue;"><strong>86th Mother's Day Plant Sale</strong></a> this Friday, May 9, and Saturday, May 10, at the Wilton Town Center gazebo. This cherished tradition offers something for everyone, whether you’re a master gardener, a novice green thumb, or simply looking for the perfect floral Mother’s Day gift. The sale’s proceeds fund WGC’s year-round efforts to beautify Wilton and promote environmental conservation, preservation and education initiatives.</p><p>“Our plant sale is literally iconic,” Andrea O’Meara, WGC president, said. “We are frequently commended on its success, especially its extensive variety of plants, its rich history of 86 years, and our members’ enthusiastic dedication to the effort. We’re very proud to host such a special event for our town. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate Mother’s Day and kick off the spring growing season.”</p><p>From herbs to perennials to patio containers, the sale will feature an extensive variety of more than 4,000 plants that are sure to do well in customers’ gardens because most are locally grown by WGC members – either in their own home gardens, at the club’s community garden at Allen’s Meadows, or in the greenhouse at Wilton’s Comstock Community Center. Offerings will include:</p><ul><li>Organic <strong>vegetable</strong> <strong>and herb plants</strong></li><li>Stunning <strong>perennials</strong> </li><li>Colorful <strong>annuals</strong></li><li>Large variety of rare <strong>dahlias</strong></li><li>Pollinator-friendly <strong>plants, shrubs and</strong> <strong>trees</strong></li><li>Show-stopping <strong>patio containers</strong></li><li>Flowering <strong>hanging baskets</strong></li><li>Eye-catching <strong>wildflowers </strong>and <strong>native plants</strong></li><li><strong>Decorative baskets</strong> and <strong>china teacups</strong> filled with gorgeous flowers. (*Ideal for a Mother’s Day gift!)</li><li>Beautiful <strong>fresh-cut floral bouquets </strong>(*New this year!)</li></ul><p><strong><em>The plant sale will be held – rain or shine – at the Wilton Town Center Gazebo on Friday, May 9, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Additionally, for extra eager gardeners, a presale will be held at the Comstock Community Center greenhouse on Wednesday, May 7, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.</em></strong></p><p>WGC members work throughout the year to prep for this amazing effort. Thousands of plants are locally dug by members from each other’s gardens during the months leading up to the sale. The members then spend several weeks potting and caring for the plants at their homes. As these plants are acclimated to Wilton weather, they usually thrive with proper care in customers’ nearby gardens. WGC plants typically also have a larger, more established root ball than plants sold elsewhere that are grown from a single plug and thus take longer to establish in the soil.</p><p>Haiku Durden, co-chair of the sale with Ann Margaret Mannix, said: “So much of what Wilton Garden Club does throughout each year is in preparation for this sale. It’s our signature event, and we love that it helps our town welcome springtime and celebrate Mother’s Day.”</p><p><strong>A Proud History</strong></p><p>Every year – rain or shine – since 1939 in May, on the Friday and Saturday before Mother’s Day, WGC has held its annual plant sale. In 1939 the sale’s venue was Wilton’s Old Town Hall with plants hand dug from members’ gardens much as it happens now. Over the years, the sale grew and moved to Center School in 1978. And in 1986, the opening of the fully automated greenhouse at Wilton’s Comstock Community Center enabled WGC to accept cuttings and plants from its members in early autumn which, still today, along with hundreds of seeds, are propagated and nurtured by members throughout the winter. To date, thousands of such plants as well as those dug from members’ gardens are sold at the plant sale every year.</p><p><strong>A Community Effort</strong></p><p>The Wilton community is also actively engaged in the WGC plant sale. Foremost are the shoppers who come to the sale and purchase the plants every year, a tradition many of them say has been passed down from their parents. The American Legion provides much needed coffee for the sale’s volunteers, and Wilton Boy Scout troops have kept overnight watch after some plants went missing in the 1990s, naming themselves the Flower Guard. Wilton Girl Scouts recently joined the Flower Guard as well, alternating sleepover nights with the Boy Scouts. The scouts also help WGC dismantle the sale after it ends on Saturday, which the club greatly appreciates.</p><p><strong>Plants for Philanthropy</strong></p><p>Proceeds from the plant sale are used for WGC’s many philanthropic efforts which include:</p><p>· Maintaining most of the gardens in town (post office; Veteran’s Memorial; town sign at Rt. 7/33; Schenck’s Island Chess Park; and Horseshoe Road Garden)</p><p>· Cultivating native plants and eradicating invasive plants throughout Wilton</p><p>· Garden Therapy workshops with seniors at Comstock Community Center</p><p>· Holiday decorations throughout Wilton</p><p>· Holiday garden baskets to seniors through Wilton Social Services</p><p>· Charitable donations to nonprofits such as Norwalk River Valley Trail, Norwalk River Watershed, Wilton Historical Society, Wilton Library, Green Teens at Trackside, and Woodcock Nature Center, to name just a few.</p><p>For more information visit: <a href="https://www.wiltongardenclub.org/upcomingevents/plant-sale/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: blue;">https://www.wiltongardenclub.org/upcomingevents/plant-sale/</a></p><p> </p>

<p>Please join the Town of Wilton at the Annual Town Meeting (ATM) on May 6 and cast your vote on the Board of Selectmen and Board of Education budgets, as well as the mill rate and bonding referendums — collectively known as the ‘ATM Recommendations’. These recommendations reflect our community’s commitment to fiscal responsibility, outstanding education, and effective town services.</p><p>Wilton has a “Town Meeting” form of government which means you, the voter, have the final say in how we fund essential town services. Let’s continue to come together and actively participate in our town’s government by casting your vote on the ATM recommendations, our schools, and our town. As a reminder, the ATM will convene on Tuesday, May 6, at 7 p.m. in the Clune Auditorium at Wilton High School (395 Danbury Rd.). Additionally, voting will continue from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 10.</p><p>Toni Boucher, First Selectman</p><p>Matt Raimondi, Board of Finance Chair</p><p>Ruth DeLuca, Chair Board of Education</p>

<p class="ql-align-center"><strong style="color: rgb(24, 25, 26);">FC Buzz Weekend May 2-4</strong></p><p><span style="color: rgb(19, 19, 20);">HamletHub is proud to partner with the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County and FCBuzz to Elevate Arts and Culture in Fairfield County! Each week, look for a listing of weekend events and activities. The Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County celebrates the vibrancy and diversity of the arts and culture across 15 towns in coastal Fairfield County. Sign up to receive a free eBuzz newsletter with top picks and spotlight events from the hundreds of events posted on FCBuzz.</span></p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/the-wilton-playshop-presents-stephen-sondheim-s-into-the-woods-4ce8f" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Stephen Sondheim’s "Into The Woods"</strong></a></p><p><strong>The Wilton Playshop, Wilton</strong></p><p>Friday May 2, 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm, stages . One of Stephen Sondheim's most popular and beloved works, Into the Woods is a musically sophisticated and emotionally resonant show that masterfully weaves together the stories of some of our most cherished fairy tale characters. With a brilliant score that showcases Sondheim's unmatched lyrical talent, the musical brings characters like Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack (of Jack and the Beanstalk fame), and the Baker and his Wife together in a shared quest that is at once whimsical and profound.</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/dressed-to-impress-gala" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Dressed to Impress Gala</strong></a></p><p><strong>Fairfield Museum & History Center, Fairfield</strong></p><p>Friday May 2, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm</p><p>In celebration of the new exhibition Dressed to Impress, join the Fairfield Museum for an unforgettable night of fashion through the ages!</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/meet-for-coffee-at-the-bruce-conversations-with-robert-kalman" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Conversations with Robert Kalman</strong></a></p><p><strong>Bruce Museum, Greenwich</strong></p><p>Saturday May 3, 9:00 am - 10:30 am</p><p>Join the conversation with Robert Kalman, a celebrated photojournalist, educator, and lifelong storyteller. Born in Manhattan and raised in Queens, Robert’s journey spans decades of rich experience, from working as a news assistant at The New York Times to leading schools in New York and New England. Along the way, he built an impressive portfolio of photographic work, capturing compelling narratives of diverse communities across the globe.</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/birding-at-the-bruce-museum-with-greenwich-audubon" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Birding with Greenwich Audubon</strong></a></p><p><strong>Bruce Museum, Greenwich</strong></p><p>Saturday May 3, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm</p><p>Tours will go from the Bruce Park Playground to Audubon's neighboring Oneida Sanctuary, one of Greenwich's only remaining coastal salt marshes. This location not only provides an opportunity to see bird species that use this special habitat such as waterfowl, shorebirds, herons & egrets but also learn about Audubon's conservation efforts to improve our coastal resiliency in Greenwich.</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/jane-s-walk-bridgeport" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Jane's Walk Bridgeport</strong></a></p><p><strong>The Archive, Bridgeport</strong></p><p>Saturday May 3, 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm</p><p>We have held “Jane’s Walks Bridgeport” for the last eight years – building on the international Jane’s Walk event inspired by the urban activist Jane Jacobs, whose focus on human-centered and community-led neighborhood development has made a lasting imprint on how cities are planned and built.</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/derby-day-celebration" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Derby Day Celebration</strong></a></p><p><strong>Pequot Library, Fairfield</strong></p><p>Saturday May 3, 4:00 pm -9:00 pm</p><p>Experience the excitement of the Kentucky Derby at Pequot Library! Take a stroll around the Great Lawn to view the festive hats, attire, and decorated tailgates. Get your Derby Dollars so that you can enter to win raffle items, take home a bottle of bourbon from the Bourbon Wall, and choose your winning horse for a shot at the top prize in the 50/50 raffle. Trophies will be awarded for Best Hat, Best Dressed, and Best Tailgates. Watch the “Run for the Roses” on the big screen in the auditorium, and celebrate with Kentucky fare and an open bar (plus non-alcoholic options) in the Main Tent, sponsored by the Loya Family. Keep the party going with DJ Rob and the Melt Mobile at the after-party. </p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/greenwich-choral-society-presents-the-great-american-songbook" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Greenwich Choral Society present The Great American Songbook</strong></a></p><p><strong>O'Byrne Chapel, Purchase</strong></p><p>Saturday May 3, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm</p><p>Join the Greenwich Choral Society in the beautiful O'Byrne Chapel at Manhattanville University in Purchase, NY - showcasing iconic and beloved songs from the American Songbook, featuring the the Bryan Reeder Orchestra and vocalists Hannah Gill and Chris Norton.</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/martin-kline-the-world-in-all-its-plenitude-420e5" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Martin Kline: The World In All Its Plenitude</strong></a></p><p><strong>Heather Gaudio Fine Art, Greenwich</strong></p><p>Saturday May 3, 10:30 am - 5:30 pm</p><p>The public is invited to attend an opening reception on Saturday, May 3, 4-6pm, and the exhibition will remain on view through June 14th. A fully illustrated catalogue with an essay written by art critic and poet Carter Ratcliff accompanies the exhibition. </p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/shark-safari" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Shark Safari</strong></a></p><p><strong>The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk</strong></p><p>Sunday May 4, 9:30 am - 11:00 am</p><p>Sharks and rays are an incredibly diverse group of animals, representing all sorts of sizes, body shapes, and behaviors to suit the places and climates they’ve occupied over time. In this drop-off style program, children start off examining shark teeth, jaws, and models, feel the sandpapery texture of shark skin, and learn how superb adaptations have allowed sharks to survive for millions of years in a wide variety of ocean habitats.</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/sm-nc-spring-on-the-farm-family-fest-sunday-09551" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>SM&NC Spring on the Farm Family Fest Sunday</strong></a></p><p><strong>Stamford Museum & Nature Center, Stamford</strong></p><p>Sunday May 4, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm</p><p>There are added attractions, fun springtime programs and free giveaways. Not only will the Rock Climbing Wall be making its return, but both days will feature special performances by Spider-Man and Taylor Swift tributes! Plus, they will have Sheep Shearing and Miniature Horses on-site exclusive to the first and second fest, respectively. Be sure to pre-register, because tickets at the gate will be limited and higher in price!</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/rediscover-greenwich-greenwich-avenue-walking-tour" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Rediscover Greenwich: Greenwich Avenue Walking Tour</strong></a></p><p><strong>Greenwich Historical Society, Greenwich</strong></p><p>Sunday May 4, 10:30 am - 2:00 pm</p><p>Historic buildings will become canvases for large-scale murals featuring archival images of what those places looked like in the past, with text and images drawn from the Historical Society’s collections and interactive QR codes, that when scanned, share those unique stories. The murals, designed by Untapped New York’s artist Aaron Asis, will debut in conjunction with a new series of guided walking tours exploring the history of Greenwich Avenue and its local businesses led by Justin Rivers, Untapped New York’s Chief Experience Officer and Christopher Shields, Historical Society Director of Library and Archives.</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/quantum-leap-a-bold-fusion-of-chamber-music" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Quantum Leap: A Bold Fusion of Chamber Music</strong></a></p><p><strong>Emerson Hall at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Stamford</strong></p><p>Sunday May 4, 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm</p><p>Quantum Leap redefines chamber music by seamlessly blending classical and contemporary styles. The concert features musicians familiar to the Fairfield County chamber music community including Edita Orlinyte (violin), Shan Jiang (violin), Suzanne Corey-Sahlin (viola), Gunnar Sahlin (cello), Maxim Pakhomov (piano), and noted New Canaan musician and composer Gwyneth Walker as a narrator. The program includes works by contemporary composers Walker (Trails and Open Spaces) and Marc Chen (How Rivers Become Other Rivers), and a classical selection by Antonín Dvořák (Piano Quintet, Op. 88).</p><p><a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/events/egalitarian-brass---sunday-soundscapes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"> <strong>eGALitarian Brass - Sunday Soundscapes</strong></a></p><p><strong>Weston Public Library, Weston</strong></p><p>Sunday May 4, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm</p><p>eGALitarian Brass has presented recitals at Newport Classical, Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival, Women Composer's Festival of Hartford, International Women’s Brass Conference, New York Women Composers, and Spectrum’s Female Composers Festival. In addition to performances, they have been an Ensemble in Residence at Rutgers University, Sacred Heart University and Marist College, where they have presented recitals and masterclasses, and led panel discussions.</p><p>See these and discover hundreds more events on the <a href="https://events.culturalalliancefc.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">FCBUZZ EVENTS</a> page at <a href="https://culturalalliancefc.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://culturalalliancefc.org</a> Sign up for the <a href="https://culturalalliancefc.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cultural Alliance eBuzz</a> to receive top picks and spotlights each week in your inbox.</p>

<p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Wilton’s beloved Minks to Sinks Tag Sale is back this spring, bringing a weekend of treasure hunting for a great cause. The sale will take place under the big white tent at 395 Danbury Road (corner of School Road and Route 7) from Saturday, May 3, through Monday, May 5.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">This massive semiannual event features thousands of gently used items—from clothing and furniture to toys and housewares—all sold to benefit the Family & Children’s Agency (FCA), a nonprofit that supports children, families, adults, and seniors across Fairfield County.</span></p><p><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Donation & Consignment Days:</strong></p><ul><li><strong style="background-color: transparent;">Tuesday, April 29:</strong><span style="background-color: transparent;"> 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.</span></li><li><strong style="background-color: transparent;">Wednesday, April 30:</strong><span style="background-color: transparent;"> 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 4 – 6 p.m.</span></li><li><strong style="background-color: transparent;">Thursday, May 1:</strong><span style="background-color: transparent;"> 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Donations only)</span></li></ul><p><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Shopping Hours:</strong></p><ul><li><strong style="background-color: transparent;">Saturday, May 3:</strong><span style="background-color: transparent;"> 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.</span></li><li><strong style="background-color: transparent;">Sunday, May 4:</strong><span style="background-color: transparent;"> 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. (Bargain Day – everything half off!)</span></li><li><strong style="background-color: transparent;">Monday, May 5:</strong><span style="background-color: transparent;"> 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. (Fill a bag for $10!)</span></li></ul><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Whether you're donating, consigning, or shopping, your participation helps support FCA’s vital programs. For more information, visit</span><a href="https://www.familyandchildrensagency.org/minks-to-sinks/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </a><a href="familyandchildrensagency.org/minks-to-sinks" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">familyandchildrensagency.org/minks-to-sinks</a></p>

<p>The Wilton Historical Society will host a Mother’s Day Paper Flower-Making Workshop for kids on Saturday, May 3, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at its campus at 224 Danbury Road in Wilton. Led by artist and owner of The Green Paper Flower, Meghan Hershfield, the workshop invites children ages 6 to 18 to create a handmade paper flower using tissue paper, construction paper, wire, and markers. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required, with a fee of $25 for Wilton Historical Society members and $35 for non-members.</p><p>This hands-on workshop offers a meaningful way for kids to celebrate the season and craft a special gift in time for Mother’s Day.</p><p>To register, visit: <a href="https://wiltonhistorical.org/events/event/mothers-day-paper-flower-making-workshop-for-kids/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://wiltonhistorical.org/events/event/mothers-day-paper-flower-making-workshop-for-kids/</a></p>

<p><strong>Local Business Champion: </strong><a href="https://www.foreststreetcollegecounseling.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(2, 177, 151);"><strong>Forest Street College Counseling</strong></a><strong>!</strong></p><p>Meet founder, Meg Joyce.</p><p><strong>Why did you start your business?</strong></p><p>I started my college counseling business to purposefully guide more high school students and their families in a calm, sequential manner so they are prepared to explore, apply to, and choose colleges where they will thrive. We empower students to feel proud of who they are, what they have accomplished, and where they are going.</p><p>We are committed to our core values of accessibility, excellence, growth, and calm. Families turn to Forest Street College Counseling to reduce the stress and confusion surrounding the college application process. We offer affordable rates and engage motivated families to share the work as desired. For students with mild learning differences or anxiety, we assess college support so they, too, can have a positive, successful college experience. And we ourselves are accessible – we are real, responsive people who are eager to discuss all the questions and concerns that are part of every college journey. We stay on top of developments at the industry, college, and program levels on a daily basis.</p><p><strong>What is your best-selling product/service?</strong></p><p>All of our college counseling services are provided via Zoom. Students appreciate the flexibility that remote work offers, especially during the super hectic time that is the Fall of senior year. Students start working with us any time between 8th grade and the start of 12th grade. When students start earlier, we work on high school course selection, and summer and activity planning; with older students, we tackle these items as well as a standardized testing plan, college list development, college application review, and college essay coaching. We get to know students and parents and take great care to factor academic, social, and financial fit into the college application process.</p><p><strong>How many local businesses do you use to support your business (products and services) and can you name them?</strong>For standardized test prep, we provide references to local tutors who have proven results and are a joy to work with. Longtime New Canaan resident Richard Corn (<a href="https://www.mathtutorct.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(2, 177, 151);">Math Tutor CT</a>) is the author of several popular books on SAT and ACT math prep and one of my go-to resources for families. I’ve lived in the area for nearly 30 years, raised my four children here and sent them to local public and independent schools, have deep roots in New Canaan, and appreciate every local client who comes my way.</p><p><strong>Have you "reimagined" your small business?</strong></p><p>Every student receives fully-customized college counseling services, which means we are constantly reimagining our business. Learning about students’ unique interests, strengths, weaknesses and goals is our favorite part of the job.</p><p>Visit <a href="https://www.foreststreetcollegecounseling.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(2, 177, 151);">Forest Street College Counseling</a> online <a href="https://www.foreststreetcollegecounseling.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(2, 177, 151);">here</a>! Learn more about Meg via LinkedIn <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/meg-joyce-b465766a" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p><strong>HamletHub thanks</strong><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.jkinfordbeautygroup.com/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1658238881436694&usg=AOvVaw39W0bJpATtDqE_cBmJU58x" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(2, 177, 151);"><strong> </strong></a><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.fairfieldcountybank.com/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1658238881437096&usg=AOvVaw3RsWKp-KhAsGejMtOWDanG" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(2, 177, 151);"><strong>Fairfield County Bank </strong></a><strong>for making our Why Small Businesses Matter series possible!</strong></p>