South Africa’s Peace Train stops in Wilton

Written by Chris Davis
Friday, 10 February 2012 16:00

Wilton Presbyterian Church will host a visit by Sharon Katz & the Peace Train Sunday, Feb. 12, as part of its on-going "Music for Mission" series.

As Ms. Katz points out: "Feb. 11, 1990 was the day Nelson Mandela was liberated after 27 years in South African prison," said Ms. Katz. "This concert taking place on Feb. 12 is quite significant to me as a South African. To have the opportunity to continue the legacy of President Nelson Mandela around the world and to have the honor to travel around the world and share the music and the message is something that I never take for granted, and I am extremely honored to come up to Connecticut and perform for the Wilton community. I can promise a very exciting afternoon of wonderful music."

Board of Ed agrees on 2.39% increase for 2012-13 budget

Written by Chris Davis
Friday, 10 February 2012 15:40

The Board of Education Thursday night unanimously approved an operating budget of $74,516,358. The figure represents a 2.39% increase over the current year’s figure. The proposal will go before the Board of Finance Monday evening.

The board also approved a capital budget of $1,350,000 to repair parts of the roof on Middlebrook School. They also agreed to put in for design funds for renovating the bathrooms at the high school and Middlebrook. That figure, says Ken Post, the District’s Financial Officer, should be about $100,000.

Both requests for capital funds will go before the Board of Selectmen next Wednesday.

Gospel show at Wilton High celebrates ABC program

Written by Chris Davis
Friday, 10 February 2012 11:00

Sophie Delfeus, a junior at Wilton High School and in her third year of the ABC (A Better Chance) program, will be co-hosting the fourth annual ABC concert on Sunday, Feb. 12, at 4 p.m. at Wilton High School.

This year's concert, she said, is gospel in theme and called "I Dream a World," after the famous Langston Hughes poem. Ms. Delfeus said she and her fellow ABC students hope to promote "the goodness and positive effect that A Better Chance has had in Wilton in our lives, in the hope that one day, we won't need programs like ABC, because every child will have an equal opportunity to quality education."

Town’s unemployment rate dips

Written by Joan Lownds
Friday, 10 February 2012 07:00

Good economic news has been hard to find lately, but First Selectman William Brennan cited some positive snippets in the town's unemployment rate for December 2011.

"Wilton had a 5.2% unemployment rate for December of last year," said Mr. Brennan, at Monday's regular Board of Selectmen's meeting. "It's been slowly trending down, and only 11 other towns out of 169 in the state have a lower unemployment rate."

Bridgeport Diocese reacts to Egan: Abuse apology still stands

Written by Susan Shultz, Hersam Acorn Newspapers
Thursday, 09 February 2012 12:29

The Diocese of Bridgeport, which includes Wilton's Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic parish, is distancing itself from comments made by its former leader, Cardinal Edward Egan, to Connecticut Magazine.

In the magazine’s February issue, Cardinal Egan, who left the Diocese of Bridgeport in 2002 to become Archbishop of New York, said he retracted his apology for sexual abuse that reportedly occurred in the diocese.

“I never should have said that. I did say if we did anything wrong, I’m sorry, but I don’t think we did anything wrong,” Cardinal Egan said.

Brian Wallace, spokesman for the Diocese of Bridgeport and its current leader, Bishop William E. Lori, told Hersam Acorn Newspapers that “our apology stands. There’s no denial it happened, and it was a tragedy.”

In this week’s Wilton Bulletin

Written by Wilton Bulletin staff
Thursday, 09 February 2012 07:00

Here are some of the stories and features in this week's Wilton Bulletin, in mailboxes and on newsstands today:

• We may be enjoying the warm winter, but we may be paying for it with a burgeoning tick population come spring and summer.

• Bruce Likly offers his thoughts on the schools as he assumes chairmanship of the Board of Education.

• The fire department has a new truck on its budget — to replace a 20-year-old model.

• What was everyone eating during the Super Bowl? Wings, what else?

• Wilton police arrest a suspect in a string of house burglaries.

Police arrest house burglaries suspect

Written by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
Wednesday, 08 February 2012 15:38

Wilton police arrested a man Wednesday, Feb. 8, they suspect of having committed a series of house burglaries that took place in August 2010.

Police arrested Mark Missino, 44, of Waterford, who was appearing at Norwalk Superior Court while already in jail. In a press release, police said they believe Mr. Missino was one of two people responsible for three residential burglaries on Pond Road, Sturges Ridge Road and Henry Austin Drive. Each of these burglaries were in close proximity to each other and each involved forced entry into the unoccupied homes. Assorted jewelry and other personal property were stolen from each home with a total value in excess of $70,000.

CL&P storm response: State backs towns’ efforts

Written by Susan Wolf
Wednesday, 08 February 2012 09:32

Wilton and three other towns now have the support of the state Office of Consumer Counsel in their quest to get immediate improvements from Connecticut Light & Power Company (CL&P) in their storm response effort.

The first selectmen of Wilton, Redding, Ridgefield and Newtown met last November after witnessing the power company's response to two major power outages — the first in August due to Tropical Storm Irene and the second in an October nor'easter named Alfred. After both events, residents in these towns waited for days to get their power restored. The officials asked the Public Utilities Regulatory Agency (PURA) for oversight of the power company's storm response, and cited areas for immediate improvements.

Check your eligibility for earned income tax credit

Written by Wilton Bulletin staff
Tuesday, 07 February 2012 10:40

The earned income tax credit is a financial boost for workers earning $49,078 or less in 2011. Four of five eligible taxpayers filed for and received their EITC last year.

Here are the top 10 things the IRS wants you to know about this valuable credit:

1. As your financial, marital or parental situations change from year to year, you should review the EITC eligibility rules to determine whether you qualify. Just because you didn't qualify last year doesn't mean you won't this year.

Oliver makes dreams become ‘realty’

Written by Joan Lownds
Monday, 06 February 2012 11:00

When someone is making the leap to buy a home, it can be a stressful time, according to Anne Oliver. "That's why it requires patience on the part of a Realtor, and a willingness to follow the wishes of the client, and not push other properties," said Ms. Oliver, a 24-year Wilton resident, who recently was named Realtor of the Year by the Mid-Fairfield County Association of Realtors. "It's a big responsibility."