<p>Kenneth John Ferrandino, 65 of Bethel, Connecticut, went home to Jesus on Friday, May 10, 2024.&nbsp;Ken was born in Norwalk, Connecticut on April 2, 1959, and grew up in Ridgefield, Newtown, and Bethel. He was the son of Michael John and Barbara June Schwartz Ferrandino. He graduated from Newtown High School and attended SUNY Purchase.</p><p>Ken is predeceased by his parents and younger brother, Timothy. Ken is survived by his siblings, sisters: Patricia Sumpter and her husband, Tom; Nancy and brothers: Mark and sister-in-law Delia Ferrandino; Tom and his wife, Linda; nephews: Jason, Stephen, Joshua, and Michael; nieces: Cathy, Kirstie, Clare, and Elizabeth. Along with his extended family and dear friends, Jeffrey Weg, Ron Mudgett, and loving cats Casper and Shirley.</p><p>Ken is remembered for his vivacious smile and laugh that lit up every room he walked into. To know Ken was to be around a loving individual with a kind heart who helped everyone in their time of need. He was a loving brother and uncle who loved his family and friends dearly.&nbsp;Over the course of the past three months, Ken came to know Jesus Christ and we have peace in knowing that he is in Heaven reunited with his mother, father, and brother.</p><p><strong>A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, May 17, 2024, at 10:00 AM in Saint Mary’s Church; 55 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield. Interment will follow at St. Mary Cemetery, Ridgefield.</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Friday, May 31 at 8:00 pm - FREE – Movie starts at Dusk – Drive-In or Walk-In</p><p class="ql-align-center"><a href="https://edmondtownhall.ticketleap.com/drive-in-jaws/details" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(248, 242, 232); background-color: rgb(212, 77, 92);">RESERVE YOUR SPOT HERE</a></p><p class="ql-align-center">Edmond Town Hall is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated return of its beloved Summer Drive-In series, kicking off with our one night only * FREE* showing of “JAWS”. As dusk falls, audiences will gather at Edmond Town Hall for a cinematic experience reminiscent of the golden age of drive-in theaters. Food Trucks will be on site for refreshments.</p><p class="ql-align-center">Presented by Title Sponsors&nbsp;<a href="http://www.theinteriordesignstudio.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(212, 77, 92); background-color: transparent;">IDS Home | Design |Baby</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://overheaddoorbrookfield.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(212, 77, 92); background-color: transparent;">Overhead Door Company of Brookfield</a>&nbsp;and</p><p class="ql-align-center">Supporting Sponsor&nbsp;<a href="https://newenglandelectricalct.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(212, 77, 92); background-color: transparent;">New England Electrical Contracting Company</a></p><p class="ql-align-center">JAWS (Rated PG)</p><p class="ql-align-center">1975 ‧ Thriller/Adventure ‧</p><p class="ql-align-center">Run time: 2h 10m</p><p class="ql-align-center">Starring:&nbsp;Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss,&nbsp;Robert Shaw</p><p class="ql-align-center">When a young woman is killed by a shark while skinny-dipping near the New England tourist town of Amity Island, police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) wants to close the beaches, but mayor Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) overrules him, fearing that the loss of tourist revenue will cripple the town.&nbsp;Ichthyologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and grizzled ship captain Quint (Robert Shaw) offer to help Brody capture the killer beast, and the trio engage in an epic battle of man vs. nature.</p><p><br></p>

<p>The Newtown Board of Education invites and encourages members of the school and broader community to participate in the search process for a new Superintendent of Schools.</p><p>The Board has contracted with a search consultant who will conduct a survey to gauge the community’s perspectives on the qualities, experiences, and characteristics desired in a new superintendent. We encourage students,bteachers, administrators, staff, parents, town officials, and community members to participate.</p><p>An anonymous survey will be available until May 19.</p><p>Take the survey <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NewtownSuptSearch" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NewtownSuptSearch</a></p><p>Feedback from the survey and other data will be incorporated into a leadership profile that will guide the Newtown Search Committee in identifying high-quality candidates who best fit the needs of the Newtown Public Schools. "We encourage the community to be a part of this important process and look forward to incorporating the results of their participation into the Search Committee's work,” said Alison Plante, Chair of the Newtown Board of Education.</p>

<p class="ql-align-center"><strong style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85);"><em>Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra presents DREAMIN'&nbsp;</em>with the Scott Robert&nbsp;Sextet on Sunday, June 9 at Aquila's Nest Vineyards in Newtown.</strong></p><p class="ql-align-center">Doors Open at 5:30 PM. Come early to take in the view and try one of Aquila's amazing wines.</p><p class="ql-align-center"><strong>Purchase your tickets </strong><a href="https://ci.ovationtix.com/35696/performance/11459612?performanceId=11459612" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p><p class="ql-align-center">Music at 6:00 PM<em style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85);">RSO Presents . . . W</em><span style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85);">e are once again partnering with Aquila's Nest Vineyards&nbsp;to present&nbsp;a fun, engaging and creative musical event!&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><em style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85);">DREAMIN'&nbsp;</em><span style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85);">with the Scott Robert&nbsp;Sextet&nbsp;features&nbsp;exceptionally talented&nbsp;musicians who came together as students in the Manhattan School of Music Jazz Arts program - one of the world's leading programs for jazz music.&nbsp;The band combines and draws from several different styles of jazz, classical, and other forms of contemporary music to present a&nbsp;fabulous concert in a unique venue!</span></p><p class="ql-align-center"><span style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85);">The Vineyard's marvelous wine selections&nbsp;and a food truck,&nbsp;</span><a href="https://ridgefieldsymphony.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=10ba77ae83c468a5356a445ff&amp;id=5150ff6daa&amp;e=b2f773bf3c" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85);">The Mason Jar Exchange Food Truck</a><span style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85);">,&nbsp;offering soups, sandwiches and more, will be available for purchase to enjoy before and during the concert.&nbsp;Come early to experience the full surroundings of&nbsp;Aquila's&nbsp;Nest Vineyards by renting a fire pit or pergola before the concert.&nbsp;Reservations are needed for these and are available on the&nbsp;</span><a href="https://ridgefieldsymphony.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=10ba77ae83c468a5356a445ff&amp;id=b64f65e988&amp;e=b2f773bf3c" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85);">Aquila's Nest website</a><span style="color: rgb(85, 85, 85);">.</span></p><p><br></p>

<p class="ql-align-center"><br></p><p>DANBURY, Connecticut — Researchers at the <a href="https://www.wcsu.edu/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Western Connecticut State University</a> <a href="https://www.wcsuticklab.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tickborne Disease Prevention Laboratory</a> need the public’s help for <a href="https://www.newvec.org/itch" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Project ITCH</a> (<strong>I</strong>s <strong>T</strong>ick <strong>C</strong>ontrol <strong>H</strong>elping?), a residential research study entering its second year. WCSU’s tick experts hope to learn about how local residents deal with backyard risk for Lyme disease, and are also seeking homeowners who will allow researchers to visit for the purpose of collecting ticks. Interested residents are asked to complete a short online survey at <a href="https://www.wcsuticklab.com/itch.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">ITCH - WCSU Tick Lab</a>. </p><p>The university is a research partner in the federally designated <a href="https://www.newvec.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New England Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases</a>, whose goals include finding the best ways residents can protect themselves, their families and pets from tick-borne diseases. This year, Project ITCH activities will include an evaluation of natural products like cedar oil for backyard tick control. </p><p>“We know that many homeowners in our region are interested in using natural products to control backyard ticks,” said Sophia Chiaia, a graduate student in WCSU’s <a href="https://www.wcsu.edu/biology-msbiodiversity/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Integrative Biological Diversity</a> program who is involved with the study. “We hope that our research can help us make recommendations about the best way to use such products.”</p><p>The online survey asks participants about methods they use to try to prevent tick exposure and allows respondents to indicate their interest in being considered for this study. Researchers will visit selected properties to measure tick abundance. To complete the 10-minute survey and request a backyard tick collection, go to <a href="https://www.wcsuticklab.com/itch.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">ITCH - WCSU Tick Lab</a>.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">For more information, contact WCSU Tick Lab study coordinator </span>Vicki Hornbostel at <a href="mailto:hornbostelv@wcsu.edu" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">hornbostelv@wcsu.edu</a> <span style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">or </span>WCSU Communications and Marketing at <a href="mailto:pr@wcsu.edu" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">pr@wcsu.edu</a>. </p>

<p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">(Evanston, Illinois) Today, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®) announced the winners of this year's National Merit $2500 Scholarships. The 2,500 Merit Scholar designees were selected from a talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding Finalists in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Among the winners is Newtown High School student Andrew J. Arena who received the $2500 National Merit Scholarship. This award is supported by National Merit Scholarship Corporation's own funds.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">National Merit $2500 Scholarship winners are the Finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the nation’s graduating high school seniors.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">These Scholars were chosen by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors, who appraised a substantial amount of information submitted by both the Finalists and their high schools: the academic record, including the difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®); contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay written by the Finalist; and a recommendation written by a high school official.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Today’s release is the second announcement of winners in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program. On April 24, about 770 recipients of corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards were named, and on June 5 and July 15, some 3,600 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship winners will be announced. By the conclusion of this year’s competition, more than 6,870 academic champions will have won National Merit Scholarships worth approximately $26 million.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Learn more about the National Merit Scholarship Corporation </span><a href="https://www.nationalmerit.org/s/1758/start.aspx?gid=2&amp;pgid=61" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">HERE.</a></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>