<p>Joe Eustace of Wilton was recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. Eustace was initiated at University of Georgia.</p><p>Eustace is among approximately 25,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.</p><p>Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897 under the leadership of undergraduate student Marcus L. Urann who had a desire to create a different kind of honor society: one that recognized excellence in all academic disciplines. Today, the Society has chapters on more than 325 campuses in the United States, its territories and the Philippines. Its mission is "To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others."</p><p><strong>More About Phi Kappa Phi</strong></p><p>Since its founding, more than 1.5 million members have been initiated into Phi Kappa Phi. Some of the organization's notable members include former President Jimmy Carter, NASA astronaut Wendy Lawrence, novelist John Grisham and YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley. Each year, Phi Kappa Phi awards $1.3 million to outstanding students and members through graduate and dissertation fellowships, undergraduate study abroad grants, funding for post-baccalaureate development, and grants for local, national and international literacy initiatives. </p><p>For more information about Phi Kappa Phi, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://email.readme.readmedia.com/ss/c/u001.vR1Vq6W0XRZshLIchZFedQ8t4W5W-zT32bYPT3eBJOI/45t/Re8bTwRtSZG2I0FeJPN34Q/h0/h001.AafmYBtM29bRXltc1dsYY-OehQCngkABI_xKUEyj4Do" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.phikappaphi.org</a>.</p>

<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Wilton students were invited to once again participate in the&nbsp;</span><a href="https://uvgbbmeab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001jQLGmrf-bzeizgCkpXLVbnz_Zk36qb2VwUA0CT_wflhu1arNR0nkJ__-5O2BO2UPReYbwkxotKCRYccHDRa-b8CNp747Oe9Y3qq3VVH5KVy7tK34VWLIFvzy0fy6dUo08T6OfRl6cRBNPkTE9GK9C_T16qMsQh5VILNbT-Y1LKXFyfHpQg59OA==&amp;c=TCdJOILs-SRp61s4YmRpPoKYnKRGRVm3zBtUgt6rRu_gHcwpvrQR7Q==&amp;ch=lFb1R6D8BMEL8c7AspR_aLzwOiQ1gibvX1VVbVE46ny_HDWXtHQcMA==" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 99, 25);"><strong>Annual Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority (HRRA) Recycling Billboard Contest.</strong></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&nbsp;Each year, HRRA picks a theme to help raise awareness around waste and recycling issues.&nbsp;This year, students were asked to design a billboard encouraging residents to “Keep It Loose!” Don’t Bag or Bundle Your Recycling.&nbsp;Plastic bags of any kind are not acceptable in our mixed recycling system.&nbsp;Plastic bags clog machinery, endanger workers and are not able to be collected effectively.&nbsp;No resident should be bagging, bundling or boxing their recycling.&nbsp;Recycling should remain clean, dry and loose in your bin.&nbsp;To learn more visit&nbsp;</span><a href="https://uvgbbmeab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001jQLGmrf-bzeizgCkpXLVbnz_Zk36qb2VwUA0CT_wflhu1arNR0nkJ7YKx2C2qReOFzHR0GKF-AiBit4vlq1wJXL8mkyZ4l5g6X3icKG6y6EmbFKYww0-x1hq5uIxGPthf8aFidg0lz8XyRqKH0WVtg==&amp;c=TCdJOILs-SRp61s4YmRpPoKYnKRGRVm3zBtUgt6rRu_gHcwpvrQR7Q==&amp;ch=lFb1R6D8BMEL8c7AspR_aLzwOiQ1gibvX1VVbVE46ny_HDWXtHQcMA==" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 99, 25);">www.HRRA.org</a></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Wilton had 94 student entries K-12 that were first judged locally. All 1st place Wilton winners then went on to Regional Judging with the other 13 HRRA towns.&nbsp;Each grade level had a Regional 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place winner as well as Honorable Mention.&nbsp;Honorees were invited to the HRRA Regional Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, April 24th in which they received their Regional placement and award.&nbsp;Regional Honorable Mention winners received $10, 3rd place winners received $25, 2nd place winners $50, and 1st place winners $75. Grand Prize winners received $500.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p><strong style="color: rgb(26, 99, 25);">Wilton had seven Regional winners as well as a Regional Grand Prize Winner this year!!&nbsp;</strong></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">2nd Grader Chris Li was Wilton’s Grand Prize winner.&nbsp;Chris’ artwork, along with the other Regional Grand Prize winners,&nbsp;will be on the back of regional HartBuses starting the first week of May.&nbsp;All 1st place Regional winners were placed in a two-page ad in the Sunday's Danbury News Times.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Local Wilton winners will have a copy of their artwork displayed at Comstock Community Center in May.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The Annual HRRA Billboard Contest is open to all private, public and homeschooled students in all 14 HRRA towns.&nbsp;The 2025 Billboard Contest will kick off again in November 2024 so be on the lookout! As the Wilton Town Coordinator, Wilton Go Green will be making future announcements about the contest.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(50, 109, 49);">Watch a slideshow of the winner's artwork!</span></p><p>CONGRATULATIONS to all of our local and regional winners<span style="color: rgb(26, 99, 25);">!</span></p><p><strong>First Grade</strong></p><p>1st -Leon Shih (Miller-Driscoll)&nbsp;</p><p>2nd - Imogen Bikel (Seven Acres Montessori)&nbsp;</p><p>3rd - Penny Grayson (Miller-Driscoll)&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Second Grade</strong></p><p>1st - Chris Li (Miller-Driscoll) - REGIONAL GRAND PRIZE WINNER&nbsp;</p><p>2nd - Grace Ginsberg (Seven Acres Montessori)</p><p>3rd - Bella Ashley (Seven Acres Montessori)&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Third Grade</strong></p><p>1st - Wesley Elizabeth Robinson (Cider Mill)&nbsp;- REGIONAL HONORABLE MENTION</p><p>2nd - Alice Janhavi Kotwal (Cider Mill)&nbsp;</p><p>3rd - Emily Geng (Cider Mill)</p><p><strong>Fourth Grade</strong></p><p>1st - Sahana Kaushik (Cider Mill)&nbsp;</p><p>2nd - Amelie Lepke-Young (Seven Acres Montessori)&nbsp;</p><p>3rd - Disha Avadhani (Cider Mill)&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Fifth Grade</strong></p><p>1st - Carla Rinaldi (Cider Mill)&nbsp;</p><p>2nd - Jack Richardson (Cider Mill&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Sixth Grade</strong></p><p>1st - Ava DiDonato - REGIONAL 3rd PLACE WINNER</p><p>2nd - Penelope Kalon</p><p>3rd - Alisa Shatilo&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Seventh Grade</strong></p><p>1st - Alex Doughman&nbsp;</p><p>2nd - Lizzie McGuinness&nbsp;</p><p>3rd - Alexander Greene&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Eighth Grade</strong></p><p>1st - Sophie Zhang&nbsp;- REGIONAL 2nd PLACE WINNER</p><p>2nd - Alyssa Bi</p><p>3rd - Olivia Edwards&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Ninth Grade</strong></p><p>1st - Alexa Karanikis&nbsp;</p><p>2nd - Leighton Graves&nbsp;</p><p>3rd - Daniel Hickey&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Tenth Grade</strong></p><p>1st - Evan Miller - REGIONAL 1st PLACE WINNER</p><p>2nd - Boden Davi&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>3rd - Grace Gordon&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Eleventh Grade</strong></p><p>1st - Gael Santos Lugo&nbsp;- REGIONAL 3rd PLACE WINNER</p><p>2nd - Liam Howell&nbsp;</p><p>3rd - Stefanos Cross&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Twelfth Grade</strong></p><p>1st - Katie Reed - REGIONAL HONORABLE MENTION</p><p>2nd - Dillon Bhutani&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>3rd - Danielle Westgate&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

<p><strong>Call for Volunteers for Architectural Review Board and the Village District Design Advisory Committee</strong></p><p>The Town of Wilton is seeking a dedicated volunteer to serve as a member of&nbsp;<strong>both</strong>&nbsp;the Architectural Review Board (ARB) and the Village District Design Advisory Committee (VDDAC). These two groups play a pivotal role in preserving the unique charm of Wilton by ensuring that the design of new buildings and landscapes is in harmony with the historic elements that are a hallmark of our community. These committees work to ensure that all construction done in our town is of supreme quality, honors Wilton’s colonial heritage, and promotes the highest standards of aesthetic design.</p><p>The VDDAC is responsible for reviewing proposals for exterior alterations, new construction, and signage within the designated Village District. The ARB shares the same mandate, but reviews projects outside of the Village District areas. As a member of these boards, you will help shape the future visual appeal of our town, while safeguarding its architectural antiques for generations to come.</p><p>Meetings are held monthly, providing ample opportunity for committee members to engage in meaningful discussions and deliberations about the multiple projects going up around Wilton. Ideal candidates will have a professional background in design, such as architects, designers, or landscape architects, but those with a strong grasp of design, a passion for the subject and a deep appreciation for Wilton may also be selected.</p><p>Volunteering on these boards means joining a group of thoughtful citizens who work together to curate and enhance our town’s future development. If having an opportunity to directly contribute to Wilton’s architectural landscape sounds exciting to you, we hope to hear from you.</p><p>All interested applicants should submit a brief letter of interest outlining your relevant experience and motivations for volunteering on both boards. Letters should be addressed and mailed to Michael E. Wrinn, Director of Planning and Land Use Management, Town Hall Annex, 238 Danbury Road, Wilton, CT 06897. Letters of interest can also be submitted via email to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:Michael.Wrinn@wiltonct.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 204);">Michael.Wrinn@wiltonct.org</a></p><p>The deadline for applications is May 6, 2024. Applicants will be contacted shortly thereafter to schedule interviews with the Zoning Commission, who is responsible for appointing the VVDAC member and makes recommendations to the Board of Selectmen for the ARB member.</p><p>For more information about the position, please visit <a href="https://www.wiltonct.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.wiltonct.org/</a> or contact Michael E. Wrinn, Director of Planning and Land Use (<a href="mailto:Michael.Wrinn@Wiltonct.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 204);">Michael.Wrinn@Wiltonct.org</a>)</p>

<p><strong>Unplug and Re-connect: How to Promote Digital Wellness and Increase Family Connections on Thursday, May 2 at 7pm in Brubeck Room</strong></p><p>The impact social media can have on our children's mental health has been in the news a lot lately. We know too much tech can be harmful, but we sometimes struggle with finding the right balance in our own homes. Wilton Youth Council is pleased to bring Claudia Erickson, BSW MPH and Co-founder of the Unplugged Collaborative, to deliver the keynote address for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Month.</p><p>Join Claudia to learn more about the current technology landscape and what our kids want us to know about their relationship with social media. We’ll talk about our greatest tech concerns. Using the latest research, Claudia will give us practical, creative ideas on how we can encourage healthier digital habits in our families. Claudia will show us how to find greater tech-life balance in a distracted world!</p><p>Claudia has over 20 years’ experience working in maternal child health for businesses such as San Diego State University, Scripps, Children’s Hospital, and more. Her work experience spans various public health issues from STD prevention, immunization education, breastfeeding, cybersafety and literacy. She is the founder of the Unplugged Village, a digital wellness company that helps people spend less time with technology and more time increasing authentic human connection and community.</p><p>Sponsored by Wilton Youth Council, Wilton Library, Middlebrook PTA, Thrive with a Guide, Wilton High School PTSA and Wilton SEPTA.</p><p>Registration is recommended.&nbsp;</p><p><a href="https://meoe7sn6.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011Ahqn01lCeko7R9UdDzoYcNRmTTHmecI5obfNnTuhS2U2cJMNb5hzxjxh4qXlgby-1Tvg0d4AZQ4BetPpvZ2Xg5ms7nYvNXtrhdrbToyZJqUiXh6hNpaWK5qh7e2sZ9xPQkvXObQ3NEiPAsbAaiAIj8dQMb-xrf353s9YEZQ_ugy86vYw78rXkUVKAUeONg9RMuOofV0zZqKF03O4E7RGmpAFZrIel8J&amp;c=eVGS4XS0-Gujmm2TJ-JSXHCmqXUgLfcV6ARy0Jbx8dPkDxpU-pK31g==&amp;ch=o2Y1YBvvER2KBxhRV-hbWXXvtYbofC56CU3_kusHfXqPUBHU_Ss8Kw==" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(70, 126, 246);">Register &amp; See Details&nbsp;</a></p>

<p>We’re thrilled and honored to announce that Friends of Ambler Farm has been awarded a generous grant of approximately $324,000 from ASML. The funds, to be disbursed over four years, will be used to renew the Farm’s educational gardens and animal habitats and to provide student scholarships for field trips to the Farm. What we will ultimately do and accomplish with this grant funding underscores and strengthens the power of connection.</p><p>We extend our heartfelt gratitude to ASML. Their commitment to our community goes beyond financial support. With over 3,000 employees in Wilton, they actively encourage volunteering in our community. ASML employees will provide some hands-on support through volunteering with the garden and animal habitat renewal projects.</p><p>Everything we do at the Farm is hands-on and on these projects are the foundation of our programs. Over the past 17 years, the educational gardens, animal habitats, and outdoor classroom space at Ambler Farm were built and maintained by Ambler Farm youth Apprentices. After nearly two decades of heavy usage, those assets are in need of significant repair and upgrades to ensure that Ambler Farm is able to continue serving Wilton through active-learning programs, sustainable agriculture, responsible land stewardship, and historic preservation. The kids in our youth Apprentice and Builders Programs have that opportunity once again to become part of something incredibly special in renewing the center of our programming area. Under the direction of Program Director, Kevin Meehan, each garden bed will be rebuilt over the next two years. The first one is nearly complete and will become the location of one of two summer camp preschool areas. Apprentices built the original garden beds and animal habitats.</p><p>Thanks go to Andrea Topalian, Moments by Andrea, for capturing yesterday’s press conference.&nbsp;<a href="https://amblerfarm.org/rl_gallery/ambler-farm-and-asml-press-conference/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(107, 147, 186);">Click here to view the photo gallery</a></p>

<p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">In honor of Arbor Day, Wilton’s Conservation Commission is hosting an event this Friday, April 26, 2024, at 9am, on Schenck’s Island, where two newly planted trees will be named for the Tree Steward of 2022,&nbsp; Frank Simone, and 2023, Nick Lee.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">First Selectman, Toni Boucher, will read a Proclamation that dedicates Wilton to protecting trees and woodlands and encourages citizens to plant and care for trees. Trees increase property values, reduce erosion in our topsoil, moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce oxygen, provide habitats for wildlife, are a renewable resource, enhance the economic vitality of business areas, beautify our community and elevate our spirit.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Wilton is proud to be officially designated as a Tree City, USA.</span></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>