To the Editor:
On Sunday, Jan. 28, the Wilton Chamber of Commerce held its inaugural Winter Carnival.
The Chamber is grateful to all who contributed to the success of the event by attending, decorating a snowflake for a lamppost, volunteering, and sponsoring. We thank our first selectwoman, Lynne Vanderslice, for painting the faces of our young attendees, and to Steve Pierce of the Parks and Recreation Department, Mark Ketley of Trackside Teen Center, and Patrick Russo, Peg Koellmer and Robin Roscillo for all that they did to help make the event come together.
From horse-drawn carriage rides through the middle of Wilton Center, to a live ice sculpture demonstration, a campfire with hot cocoa and marshmallows sponsored by the Economic Development Commission, and a scavenger hunt designed by Middlebrook students, there was fun for all ages.
Our thanks to our event sponsor, Fairfield County Bank. Entertainment was presented by Blue Buffalo, Gregory and Adams, Lynne and Paul Vanderslice and Kimco. Providing samples of chili for the Cook-Off Contest, were: Craft 14, Little Pub, Marly’s, Wilton Pizza, Chef Jeff’s BBQ, and Portofino’s.
Beautiful ice sculptures were commissioned by and displayed at the Village Market, Gregory and Adams and Fairfield County Bank, and at Wilton Library. The library also had a flurry of activities that transported you through virtual reality and a green screen to amazing far-off adventures, while never leaving the library!
Festive Snowflake signs dotted the landscape on the path from the gazebo to Schenck’s Island. We thank these businesses for their support: Four Seasons Racquet Club, Wilton Hardware, Lisa Gioffre Baird, Esq., Lee Horticultural Services, Michael Kaelin, Cummings and Lockwood, Cross Country Mortgage, Greens at Cannondale/Wilton Meadows, Realty Seven, Bianco Rosso and Craft 14, Wilson Properties, Reynolds and Rowella, Riverbrook YMCA, Mills and Mills Insurance, Vision Consultants, Lynne Murphy–Realty Seven, Cactus Rose Restaurant, Kiwanis Club of Wilton, Dr. Aris–Advanced Dentistry of Wilton, Wilton Electric, Open House Gift Shop, Halstead Property, and Caraluzzi’s Market.
We enjoyed fabulous media coverage by our sponsors, thank-you to GOOD Morning Wilton and 95.9, the Fox who supplied music at the event, and also to the Wilton Bulletin and The Hour/Wilton Villager.
We hope everyone will remember to save the last Sunday in January every year for this annual town-wide winter celebration.
Debra Hanson
Executive Director
Wilton Chamber of Commerce