THIS SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 2024 WE HAVE BREAKFAST AND PROGRAM: UKRAINE SISTER CITY - SIVERSK. (THE DATE FOR "THIS SATURDAY" SECTION WAS INCORRECT IN THE EARLIER VERSION.)

Breakfast and program: Ukraine Sister City - Siversk

Good morning ! This week in Kiwaniscope - breakfast and program:  Weston Siversk Sister City Program, how Kiwanis is supporting student's environmental educational programs at Weston High School, Green Up Day signup opens.

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MEMBERS’ MILESTONES

Woody Bliss and Harry Falber will be blowing out candles on Sunday, and Tom Glass has his turn on Wednesday; all three celebrate birthdays before the next Kiwaniscope.

Celebrating membership anniversaries in Kiwanis this week are world-traveler Toyin Okoro (Phyllis Gary) on Sunday and Harry Spencer (Rick Phillips, John Babyak) on Tuesday. Harry and his sponsors are past president of the club. Thank you Toyin and Harry!

THIS SATURDAY

This Saturday, April 13, 2024

Breakfast and program: Ukraine Sister City - Siversk

Iryna Akolzina, the chair of the Weston Siversk Sister City program, will present an overview of this important initiative. The Town of Weston has created a steering community chaired by Iryna Kolzina and co-chaired by Kirby Brensdel to educate Westonites about the needs in Siversk. 

“Weston - Siversk Sister-City Partnership is nothing but a pure act of Kindness, “ Kolzina said. 

“There is a Ukrainian idiom, dobro zavzhdy peremahaye zlo, which means kindness always triumphs over evil."

"So, this partnership brings us closer to the victory that all Ukrainians are praying for every day! One Ukrainian town, among many others, which lost most of its population due to the war, will be alive because we will be supporting Siversk during these hard times and one day, people will come back to live there happily ever after.”

The Weston sister city program is coordinated under the auspices of Ukraine Aid International as part of a regional effort that includes sister city programs with the towns of Easton and Westport. Ukraine Aid International, Inc. is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Contributions to Ukraine Aid International are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

For more information, please email Iryna Kolzina or Allyson Hupka or visit

https://www.westonct.gov/our-community/organizations-services/ukraine-sister-city-siversk

Norfield Congregational Church parish hall 8:30 a.m.

LAST SATURDAY

KIWANIS SUPPORTS STUDENT ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS

Weston Kiwanis responded to requests for support for two environmental projects with strong educational components led by students at Weston High School with financial grants at last week's meeting.

WHS senior Emmy Brenan (second from the left) received a $500 check for The Carbon Gardener team. The WHS team and teams at universities around the world will help answer a big question: Can enhanced rock weathering remove billions of tons of carbon from the air across different soil conditions and help reverse climate change? The Weston High School team is the only team from a high school participating in the program. Follow this link to read more about the Carbon Gardener.

WHS senior Emily Kolodny, second from the right, received a check for $1,400 to help fund a new pollinator garden at Weston High School, increasing native populations and student involvement in sustainable practices.

The goal of the project is to create an interactive ecosystem where students can get hands-on experience with wildlife and problem-solving. This is an opportunity for students to be educated outside of the classroom and foster a sense of community and responsibility. Follow this link to read more about Weston High School Pollinator Courtyard.

Representing Weston Kiwanis at the presentation were Past President Harry Spencer and Foundation President Keith Johnson.

Kiwanis photograph by Jim McMorris.

REST OF APRIL AND MAY

Volunteer for our annual April community service project by signing up to pick up litter along our roads and neighborhoods.

Sign up sheets will be available at the April 13 and 20 meetings and the online sign up tool. On April 27, we will head out at nine o'clock, right after breakfast.

Saturday, May 4, 2024

Breakfast and business meeting. All members are welcome. This will also be the monthly club board meeting.

Norfield Congregational Church parish hall 8:30 a.m.

Saturday, May 11, 2024

Breakfast and program: Michael Schwartz, M.D. Getting to Know Your Fellow Kiwanian (GTKYFK)

Norfield Congregational Church parish hall 8:30 a.m.

Saturday, May 18, 2024

Breakfast meeting.

Norfield Congregational Church parish hall 8:30 a.m.

Friday May 24 - Monday, May 27, 2024

Memorial Day Weekend Fair

Hurlbutt Elementary School South House Field

DIVISION NEWS

THE KIWANIS CLUB OF DANBURY

Upcoming activities include a family and bicycle safety event on Saturday, June 1, 2024.

THE KIWANIS CLUB OF NORWALK

Norwalk Kiwanis's annual bicycle safety rodeo has grown into a city-wide movement to get everyone out and moving, safely in the  Norwalk Open Streets: Walk Bike & Roll Festival for a day of outdoor fun and active transportation event at Calf Pasture Beach on Saturday, May 4, 2024.

Kiwaniscope is published weekly for the members and friends of the Kiwanis Club of Weston on Thursday mornings September through June by the Kiwanis Club of Weston, Connecticut, Inc.