Ellen Burns, co-owner of Books on the Common, Ridgefield, Conn., was awarded the Alice Paul Legacy in Action Award from the Ridgefield Democratic Town Committee. The award is named for suffragette and ERA advocate Alice Paul, who lived in Ridgefield for four decades.
The Committee wrote: "A 40-year Ridgefield resident and owner of Books on the Common, Ellen has combined professional excellence with unwavering civic commitment. In 1998, she co-founded the Ridgefield Open Space Association and spearheaded the community-driven campaign that saved the 480-acre property now preserved as Bennett’s Pond State Park.... She has served on numerous town boards and nonprofit organizations, shaping policy, preserving open space, and strengthening local institutions. In 2025, she was honored as the first "Icon" by Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center. Ellen's decades of service have helped safeguard Ridgefield's natural beauty and civic spirit.
Pictured: (l.-r.) Connecticut State Senator Julie Kushner, Ellen Burns, and State Senator Cece Maher.