Signarama, 553 Boston Post Road, Orange, has school specific Class of 2020 signs available for the special graduating senior in your life.
Each single sided, 18” X 24” Coroplast sign comes with a wire stake for easy display.
They are $30 each plus tax and volume pricing is available.
Call 203-795-5450 or visit sales@signs-ct.com to order yours today.
Luke Richard Smith, 20, of Bethany died on Saturday, May 16, 2020 at Yale New Haven Hospital as a result of a motor vehicle accident.
The Anti-Defamation League is celebrating the efforts that schools across the country are making to promote diversity, inclusion, and allyship through a nationwide viral campaign #noplaceforhate.
On Thursday, May 21st, Amity Regional School District No. 5 will be participating in this campaign by creating a post featuring one thing that has been accomplished in this area.
Amity is committed to fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion. At this uncertain time, it is even more important to celebrate these efforts.
Principal Anna Mahon would be happy to talk with you about the work the school has been engaged in with creating a positive and inclusive school culture.
Please contact Michelle Pincince mpincince@adl.org, ADL CT Director of Education, for
more information about No Place for Hate.
The Masks for CT giveaway is taking place today at Yale West Campus off Marsh Hill Road, Orange Until 1 p.m.
The process is quick and easy. Everything is so well organized that you drive in and follow the signs and guards or volunteers directions. Pull in all the way to the end of the aisle. A volunteer will approach your car and place a bag of 5 face masks in through your open back window, then off you go.
I volunteered from 6 a.m. until 10 a.m. and at no time was the wait longer than a minute.
Recipients drove through, some with signs to thank the volunteers, Early on, Scott Haney from WFSB3 was there talking to us, WPLR was playing music and broadcasting live.
I saw so many people that I knew, I don’t know how they recognized me behind my homemade mask, but it was nice to be part of it.
If you need masks, you still have time. The program is open until 1 p.m. – Hurry!
My name is Thomas Lewis, and I lived in Orange, CT for about 18 years. My mother, Karin Lewis, is my hero.
My mother works for the town itself, in the accounts payable department. She also worked for the OVNA, in their finance department, for many years. I would like to honor my mother, for not only all that she does for the town, but for her family as well.
Honoree Karin Lewis, Right, and her sisters.
My mother has always been there for me and her two sisters, and I am hoping having a
piece written about her would make her day. Her birthday is on May 21st, so I am hoping she likes this as part of her birthday gift.
She is an amazing woman, friend, and mother, and I would love to honor My Hero this way.
Masks for CT will distribute masks at Yale West Campus, 100 West Campus Drive, 
Orange, on Thursday, May 21, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on a first come first served basis to anyone in the community who wishes to drive by and pick up masks for their personal use. Contactless protocol is to roll down a window, drive by, and a volunteer will put a bag of masks inside your car.
Channel 3 joined forces with the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven, 99.1 WPLR, Yale University and Masks for Heroes to make sure more people can protect themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a member of the Orange Chamber of Commerce, I will be there from 6 to 8 a.m. helping to hand out the bags of five (5) masks to those who drive by.
This is a wonderful free program that has been going on throughout the state in several locations from Stamford to Mohegan Sun.
Now that many businesses in Connecticut are opening again, masks are required before you can walk through the doors of your favorite stores.
Wearing a mask is one way to help flatten the curve and hopefully eventually rid the state of this deadly virus for good.
Dan DeBarba, candidate for State Representative in the 114th District, received the full backing and support of area Republicans and delegates for the 114th District Republican Party Convention on Tuesday night.
State Representative and current House Republican Leader, Themis Klarides, announced earlier this month that she would not be seeking the nomination to run for re-election. Rep. Klarides endorsed DeBarba before the Convention. Klarides said DeBarba’s background in the healthcare industry and experience as a small business owner will enable him to be a strong advocate for the residents of the 114th district.
“Not only is Dan a successful CFO of a hospital system, he is a father, husband, and grandfather, who wants to see our state move in a better direction. Dan understands the many challenges families, businesses, and seniors face daily and is especially equipped to address and respond to the COVID-19 outbreak,” Klarides said. “Dan will be a great addition in Hartford and a person that we can trust to put politics aside to get the job done. I proudly support Dan and ask that my fellow neighbors vote for Dan in November.”
Derby Mayor, Richard Dziekan, thanked Rep. Klarides for her years of service to the community. Mayor Dziekan went on to nominate DeBarba to be the Republican candidate for State Representative.
“Dan knows what needs to get done and the importance of focusing on kick-starting our economy and fighting for good paying jobs,” said Mayor Dziekan. “Dan doesn’t need any training when it comes to understanding finances, running a business or how the healthcare industry operates. Dan will be a great partner for our communities, business leaders, hospitals, veterans, and all the residents of the 114th district. I will be voting for Dan in November and I hope you will join me.”
A long time friend and delegate, Leo DiSorbo, seconded DeBarba’s nomination. DiSorbo said, “Dan is a good neighbor and his work ethic and commitment to helping others will make him a tremendous State Representative. We need Dan fighting for us and our families in Hartford.”
With the full support of the delegates, DeBarba accepted the nomination to run for State Representative.
“I am very grateful to Representative Klarides, not only for her support, but for her tireless work over the past two decades in making our district and all of Connecticut a better place to live. After all, improving the quality of life for Connecticut’s residents is what any of us drawn to public service should be interested in doing,” DeBarba said.
He added, “Themis has embodied that effort each and every day. I thank the convention delegates for placing their confidence in me and I will work as hard as I can to be deserving of that confidence. I plan to use my experiences in finance, healthcare and small business to make Connecticut a better place for all and I will do all I can to be a strong, level-headed, and hard-working public servant.”
For more information, contact Dan at dan@debarbaforstaterep.com or call 203-699-6569.
Some Good News From Zoo Director Gregg Dancho:
We have created a one-way loop around the Zoo so guests can explore while social distancing. All buildings will be closed to the public; however, guests will be able to pre-order food online from the café and pick it up from our take-out window. Also, the gift shop will be open for online purchases which will be made available for pick up at gift shop kiosk.
A zoo volunteer interacts with the goats.
As we welcome you back under these new circumstances, we appreciate your patience as we look to be able to provide you the best Zoo experience in the safest manner possible.
Beardsley Bart
would like to know what you are thinking. If you have a question, comment or concern please feel free to email me at info@beardsleyzoo.org. As always, I look forward to hearing from you.
On Monday evening, May 18, via a video conference call from her home, Orange Board of Education member Mary Welander was unanimously endorsed as the democratic candidate for State Representative for the 114th District. The 114th District encompasses parts of Orange, Derby and the Town of Woodbridge.
“My motivation for running, and for most things in my life, is to help people. It’s simple, but to the core, it’s the truth.” Welander said in her acceptance speech. “I realized that if I truly wanted to help people then I needed to be part of the bigger conversations that shape these laws. Despite our culture’s aversion to discussing politics, these laws affect every aspect of our lives and, as the saying goes, ‘If you don’t have a seat at the table, you’re probably on the menu’.
For too long the voices of everyday families have not been heard at the table because the people making the decisions don’t understand what we are facing every day.”
In addition to serving on the Orange Board of Education, Mary holds the Vice Chair positions of both the Finance and Policy, Personnel, and Transportation subcommittees, and is the Co-President of the Race Brook School PTA. She also continues to serve as one of two statewide representatives for the Sandy Hook Promise Organization supporting non-partisan, social/emotional based gun violence prevention programs.
Marc Garofalo, former Mayor of Derby, stated “It is with great pleasure and pride that I nominated Mary Welander tonight to be State Representative for Derby, Orange, and Woodbridge. Mary is different from the typical official you see in Hartford. As a mother, locally elected official and an active member of her community who puts service above self, Mary ‘walks the walk’ more than ‘talks the talk’, and has proven it. I know she will be an effective, dedicated advocate for all of our towns.”
Margaret Novicki, current member of the Orange Board of Selectmen, said, “Mary is exactly the kind of leader we need representing us at the state level at this challenging time in our history. Hers will be a deeply caring and compassionate leadership, keenly attuned to the needs of our communities – whether our young families and children, or our senior citizens. I have seen at close hand how hard Mary works for the issues and principles we stand for as a community, party and district. Always ready to put her shoulder to the wheel, Mary has demonstrated time and again commitment, dedication and true volunteer spirit when our town has needed it. A great representative for Orange, Woodbridge and Derby, Mary will take the people’s concerns to heart and to Hartford. We need her kind of leadership NOW.”
Sandra Stein, current member of the Woodbridge Board of Selectmen, also shared her enthusiastic support. “Mary is an exceptional individual who cares deeply about her community and their access to education, healthcare, benefits for workers, and building our future together. Mary understands the issues that the communities of Woodbridge, Orange, and Derby are facing. It is her real-life problem solving approach focusing on people, not politics, that makes her the ideal person to represent all of us in Hartford.”
Welander said, “We are facing serious challenges; none of the solutions will be easy, and none of them will please everyone, but one thing is for certain: if we want to create better, healthier, more successful communities we need leadership who has already been listening and putting in the hard work to make it happen. When we redefine our future as a district, we will need a voice who brings that understanding, and that care to the table.
I have been here – elected to serve, listening in the meetings, questioning the choices. I am humbled by the trust and support given to me in the past and am determined to keep it through hard work, caring, and dedication to Derby, Orange, and Woodbridge.”
Mary and her husband, Matt, live in Orange with their three children and dog, Bauer.
TP&Z Chair Ozzy Parente
HERE is the link which will enable you to watch tonight’s TPZC meeting live.
This is not a public hearing.
Following is the agenda
TOWN PLAN & ZONING COMMISSION MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2020 – 7:00 P.M.
ZOOM INTERNET MEETING