Lisa Wexler's birthday is this Saturday. Happy birthday, Lisa!

Ryan Cornell and Karen were married on June 13; d their anniversary is next Tuesday. Congratulations!

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

Norfield Congregational Church parish hall - 10 a.m.

by Tom Glass

The library board announced in January that selectmen chose Ian Parsells to succeed Karen Tatarka, now the UConn Hartford Campus Library director, as director of the Weston Public Library.

Mr. Parsells, an innovative and respected leader in the field, previously served as the head librarian/director of the Derby Neck Library Association in Derby since 2011.

“Ian has proven to be a creative, responsive, dynamic, and deliberate leader,” says Library Board Chair Lori Goertz. “He comes to us with the experience and talent to maintain and expand the Library’s services and programming driven by community needs. We’re thrilled to welcome him to Weston.”

Mr. Parsells began his library career in 2010 as a teen reference librarian at Glen Rock Public Library in New Jersey. He holds a bachelor of arts degree in literature from Ramapo College and a master of library and information science from Rutgers University.

Join us this Saturday, June 10, at Norfield Church parish hall, Weston. Doors open at 8 a.m., and the meeting starts at 8:30 a.m.

Sponsored by Past Presidents Woody Bliss and Dawn Egan, Harvey Luft is a 30-year resident of Weston. His committee preferences are community service, fundraising, human and spiritual values, and philanthropy.

The board admitted Harvey to membership last Saturday morning at its June monthly meeting.

Welcome Harvey!

*Thank you, Kiwanis Club of Weston, Connecticut, for supporting [The Child and Family Guidance Center, Inc.'s] services for children through the 2022 Reservoir Run Half Marathon and 5K.

For the second year in a row, this wonderful group of volunteers has donated proceeds from the race to our mental health and support services for kids. We were thrilled to have Dan Lerner, treasurer, Tom Watson, secretary, and member Tom Glass stop by our Champions for Children Gala [at the Inn at Longshore on Thursday, May 18, 2023] to deliver the donation of nearly $9,000. CFGC's Board Chair Dana Scinto, CEO Michael Patota, and Director of Development Kate Czaplinski are pictured here accepting this generous gift.

Thank you, Kiwanis! We encourage everyone to support the wonderful Reservoir Run, held each October in Weston. This group does great work in the community.

*From The Child and Family Guidance Center Facebook page posted May 31, 2023

by John Babyak, as told to Bob Uzenoff

Then - Weston High School junior Brian Babyak received the Kiwanis Club of Weston Service and Leadership Award award on May 31, 2014, from past president and Awards Committee Chair Dawn Egan.

Now - Brian has been living in Albuquerque for the past four years after graduating from Bucknell. He is competing in ultra-marathons (he's one of the top non-professionals in the United States), and he was recently promoted to planning and zoning manager for the City of Rio Rancho, the second largest city in New Mexico. Brian's dad, Past President John Babyak, and mom Nancy wish they could see him more than they do.

In the accompanying photograph, Brian recently competed and finished in second place in the Jemez Mountain 50k Trail Run near Los Alamos.

It may or may not take a village, but certainly, there's a connection between building great communities and producing serviceable and productive citizens. John likes the idea of connecting the good works and recognition Weston Kiwanis strives to provide, with a positive future we've helped to create and sustain. Thanks again! Best, John

Photographs by Jim McMorris and contributed by John Babyak. John was the 27th president of the Kiwanis Club of Weston in 2006/2007. John and Nancy moved to Cape Cod in 2020.

Past Lieutenant Governor Paula Conte will be the delegate of record representing the Kiwanis Club of Weston at the Kiwanis International convention June 21-24 in Minneapolis.

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

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

Get involved at westonkiwanis.org. #KidsNeedKiwanis

News and other content contributions from individual members, committees, the club board, and the foundation are requested. Please identify as such and email to kiwaniscope@westonkiwanis.org before noon every Wednesday.

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