WOODBRIDGE - Buyers will have the opportunity to purchase a building with more than two acres in Woodbridge Park on April 25.
Presented by United Country – Absolute Auctions & Realty Inc. of Pleasant Valley, N.Y., in conjunction with Colliers International, LLC., the live and online auction will take place at 1:11 p.m. on-site at 12 Lunar Drive. Showing and registration for this event begins at 11:30 a.m. Live Internet bidding will take place at www.AARbids.com.
The well-maintained building features a red brick façade with white painted bricks on the side. It has a central core lobby and atrium. The building is also equipped with two overhead doors and a keypad security system. Additionally, this location offers on-site parking with 96 delineated paved parking spaces. The site offers access to busy traffic corridors, such as routes 15, 63 and 69.
“Our seller recognizes the value of using an accelerated method of marketing – in other words, an auction – to sell their property,” said Rob Doyle, principal auctioneer and appraiser for United Country – Absolute Auctions & Realty Inc. “What does this mean for buyers? It means they have the opportunity to purchase a great commercial property at the price of their choosing. Today’s market conditions and the auction format allow sellers and buyers to come to a meeting of the minds quickly with a competitively achieved fair market value. In times like these, an auction is the best way to establish what real market value is.”
Potential buyers can preview the property on Monday, April 23 at 11 a.m. or by appointment by contacting Rob Doyle at 845-635-3169 Ext. 101.
Detailed information about the property for sale, as well as details about the auctions, can be found online at www.UCAAR.com or by calling 800-243-0061.

State Rep. Paul Davis (D-Milford/Orange/West Haven) recently welcomed the announcement that a new state jobs program called “STEP UP,” which provides subsidies and grants to help small businesses hire more people, has resulted in 65 new jobs at 45 state companies.
Another 135 residents are in the process of being hired through the program, which came out of the bipartisan jobs bill passed in October. One of those businesses getting state funds to hire and train a new employee is Orange Research, a small manufacturing company in Milford.
“I am pleased that Orange Research will benefit from the STEP UP program,” Davis said. “This is a productive investment by the state and helping a small business hire a single worker is a step in the right direction. The program creates jobs and boosts economic revival.”
The Subsidized Training & Employment Program (STEP UP) provides two types of hiring incentives – a scaled, six-month wage subsidy and a small manufacturer training grant that provides up to $12,500 over a six-month period. Qualified participants are typically residents who may have some of the necessary job qualifications but who still require on-the-job training to meet the needs of the company.
In total, STEP UP will provide $20 million in subsidies and training grants to help Connecticut small businesses hire more employees. Of the new jobs the program has helped create so far, positions include customer service representatives, machine operators, office assistants, carpenters, mechanics, equipment installers, shipping and receiving, fabricator, dispatch manager, tool grinders, help desk technicians and process engineers with hourly wages from $10 to $28.85.
To be eligible for either program, a company must employ less than 50 people and training must be provided at the business site. The new employee must be an unemployed jobseeker, and those hired under the wage subsidy program must meet certain income requirements and reside in specific municipalities, based on population or unemployment rates.

Concerned with high energy costs of your farm and home? Learn how to make your indoor and outdoor spaces less expensive and more efficient with a farm and home energy workshop. The Connecticut Farm Energy Program will help you make your barn, stable, or greenhouse more efficient while the Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge educates you on how to save money and stop wasting energy in your home. To register for this free workshop call 860-372-4406 or email sstone@ctenergychallenge.com by April 19.
This event is hosted by The Bethany Clean Energy Task Force, Connecticut Farm Energy, and the Bethany Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge.

It takes place April 24, 7 p.m. At Bethany Town Hall, 40 Peck Road.

I sat at last weeks Board of Selectmen meeting intrigued.
I know I am not the only one that has been waiting to hear how the shift in Animal Control coverage has been going.
Lord knows I wrote enough stories about the disbandment of District Animal Control last year.
At the time DAC was having some pretty major problems. However by the time the actual disbandment took place things were once again moving pretty well. Even Orange acknowledged the shelter was moving in the right direction.
I was happy to hear Deputy Chief Stuart commend the officers. I agree it must have been difficult for the two officers to go from answering to a commission on a monthly basis to having to explain every step they take.
I am not sure police officers picking up roaming dogs during off hours is the right way to save money. The officers, I assume, take the dogs to the shelter. I wonder if the officer also checks out the other critters to make sure they are all doing well.
Here is a link to the article

A decade ago the towns of Bethany, Orange and Woodbridge voted 17 times against the Amity Regional School District budget because they were angry and felt deceived.
A former finance director had led the board on and the district needed to be bailed out by its taxpayers.
On Monday there were only a handful of residents at the district meeting to discuss the budget.
Some spoke in favor of the course the district is on. Others, Jim Leahy and Jim Zeoli, pleaded with the board to cut costs.
Zeoli, in particular, has been at meeting after meeting asking the board to back off on expenses. He has said his town is suffering. Infrastructures need to be maintained.
He said in the past residents have been supportive of things Amity needed. But now it is past time for Amity to take a break from spending so much and let the towns catch up.
Phil Grande, a former BOE member, said he was disappointed that all the work he did on the board was ignored.
Grande had gotten the board to set up a roof repair account so residents wouldn't be hit so hard. After he was off the board turned around and reallocated those funds.
But the real question is where were all the BOW residents?
As it turns out many were down the street at the zoning meeting protesting a gun shop in town.

As I sat at the Woodbridge Plan and Zoning meeting Monday night I couldn't help noticing it was standing room only.
There were many children and young adults in attendance as well. All because a gun shop wants to open a firearms store.
The meeting room was so filled with people it was warm and stuffy. If you were near the back of the room as I was (so I could take notes) it was also hard to hear the presenters. The board members were even harder to hear.
I couldn't help wondering why the town does not have a public address system of some kind. Not only would it be easier for the audience to hear but the commissioners wouldn't have to yell to be heard.
It was also difficult to hear because so many audience members were having their own discussions. Additionally, some of those against the gun shop were incredibility rude to the two men who want to open the shop while they were making their presentation.
Just because you don't happen to agree with someone does not give you the right to be rude when they are speaking. If you have a counterpoint it was obvious the zoning board would have given you a chance to speak as well.
The next meeting on the issue is May 7.

Come to the April 10 meeting of The Garden Club of Orange and learn about the lives of raptors such as owls, hawks, falcons and eagles and how to protect them. Mary-Beth Kaeser, founder of Horizon Wings Raptor Rehabilitation and Education will present four of its magnificent birds of prey.
Horizon Wings is a non-profit wildlife rehabilitation center whose goal is to rehabilitate injured raptors for release back in to the wild.
The meeting will be held at The Church of the Good Shepherd, 680 Racebrook Road in Orange, and begins at 11:30 a.m. with a light luncheon, followed by a short business meeting and then by Kaeser’s presentation at 1 p.m.
The Garden Club of Orange is a member of the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, Inc. and its purpose is to promote and encourage garden skills and knowledge and to further an understanding of horticulture, flower arranging, bird-life, conservation and environmental awareness. All are welcome. If you are interesting in learning more about the Club, visit http://www.orange-ct.gov/gardenclub.html or contact Nettie Bartocelli at 203-795-3692.

The Orange Historical Society Antique Shop has a nice selection of vintage linens, perfect for that one-of-a-kind table setting. If it's additional silverware you need,
for those extra guests, come see the complete silver plate set guaranteed to
make any table sparkle.
For those last minute gifts, OHS has vintage
jewelry, affordable and ready to make those spring outfits stand out as well
as unique hostess gifts from the past. The shop is open on Saturdays from
10-3 with a wide variety of antiques and collectibles.
Located at 605 Orange Center Road.
The OHS is hosting Taste of the Past with a portrayal of Rachel Revere, wife of Paul Revere and lunch on April 14 when the shop will be closed.
For information call 203 795-6465

I have to say that I have repeatedly been impressed with the Woodbridge Volunteer Fire Department. These men and women consistently go above and beyond for their community.
Most recently they held a Fire and Safety Day and it was a tremendous success.
The effort was to honor Eva Block who died in a house fire while at college. Her mother, Barb Block, worked with the fire department to organize the event.
More than 500 attended.
That means more than 500 people now have a better understanding of how to prevent a fire from occuring.
They now also have a better idea of what to do if they are caught in a fire.
They also may be better able to navigate a smoke filled room.
Residents of Woodbridge should be mighty proud of the WVFD.