Date & Time: May 19,2012 @ 0204 hours Location: Route 1 eastbound Arrested: Luis Cortes, Sept. 17, 1990, 221 Saltonstall Ave, New Haven Charges: DUI, Failure to Drive in Proper Lane, Operating a Motor Vehicle Without Insurance Court Status: Released after posting $50 bond, court date June 4 Officers conducting routine patrol observed a vehicle on Route 1 veering between the eastbound lanes. Officers stopped the vehicle and had the driver perform standardized roadside sobriety tests. He was subsequently taken into custody and charged. Date & Time: May 22, 2012 @ 1615 hours Location: Dogwood Road Arrested: Charles Park, May 29,1991, 548 Prudden Lane, Orange Charges: Evading Responsibility of a Motor Vehicle Accident Court Status: Released after posting $100 bond, court date June 5,2012 Officers responded to the scene of a one-car accident on Dogwood Road where the driver left the scene. Officers learned that a vehicle driven by the arrestee had failed to properly negotiate a bend in Dogwood Road and skidded off of Dogwood, knocking over a road sign in the process. Witnesses observed the arrestee exit the vehicle, survey the damage, and leave the area. Officers found him a short time later, and he was taken into custody and charged. Date & Time: May 18,2012 @ 1031 hours Location: 269 South Lambert Road, Colony Hardware Arrested: Charles Faranda, April 18,1967, 228 Rushmore Rd, Stormville, NY Charges: Disorderly Conduct, Threatening 2nd degree Court Status: PTA for June 1,2012 Officers were dispatched to the Colony Hardware building for a dispute between employees of a subcontractor working on site. Officers learned that the two men had a dispute over the use of tools during the job, and at one point, the arrestee threatened the complainant. He was subsequently taken into custody and charged.

Join in for a day of delicious food, live music and family fun at the fourth annual Strawberry Festival on the Orange Town Green. The Festival takes place Saturday, June 2, 10 a.m. to 7 p..m (rain date: Sunday, June 3), and admission is FREE! Check out the arts and crafts, enter to win great raffle prizes, entertain the kids with children's games, face painting and hayrides, and of course, enjoy luscious strawberry shortcake and other summer specialties. Musician Al deCant will play ywo shows for the kids, and the crowd-pleasing live band Furious George will be back to keep your toes tapping! Sponsored by the Orange Congregational Church. Call 203-795-9749 for more information.

On May 10 the Woodbridge Human Services Department held its 24th Annual Human Services Tea at the Woodbridge Senior Center. This year, 139 Human Services Volunteers were honored for their dedication and generosity to this community. Pictured left to right:

Nancy Pfund, Youth Services Director, Ed Sheehy, First Selectman, Nicholas Santoro, winner of First Selectman’s Youth Award, Mary Lee Barker, Chairperson of the Human Services Commission, and state Senator Joe Crisco.

Trinity Church, Woodbridge, will offer a summer sports camp for children. “Beyond the Gold” Sports Camp will be held July 16 to 20, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., for children aged five (by 1/1/13) through children entering grade six. Camp will include music, skits, Bible lessons and quality sports instruction. Basketball, soccer and flag football for boys and girls, and cheerleading for girls will be offered. Campers must be 8 yrs. old by 7/1/12 to participate in Flag Football. All campers receive a tee shirt and daily take home papers. Cost for those registering before June 17 is $40 per child, two children $75, three or more children $100 in the same family. A late fee will apply for registrations received after June 17. Registration forms can be downloaded at trinityefc.com under special events or you may call 203-387-4711 ext 20. Mail registration and checks (made out to Trinity Church) to 33 Center Road, Woodbridge CT 06525. Space is limited.

The Memorial Day Parade will be held on Sunday, May 27 with services beginning at 10:30 a.m. on the Parade Grounds at High Plains Community Center. The committee is still looking for WWII Veterans and their families to participate in the 2012 Memorial Day Parade. The registration form is available at www.orange-ct.gov or in the First Selectman’s Office at Town Hall. A luncheon for the veterans and their families will be served following the parade at High Plains Community Center sponsored by the American Legion Post #127 and the Memorial Day Committee.

The Orange Police Department will once again join state and local law enforcement officials for an aggressive "Click it or Ticket" seat belt and child safety seat enforcement campaign during the Memorial Day holiday. This national mobilization effort will crack down on low vehicle restraint use to reduce highway fatalities, especially among children. Statistics show that nighttime passenger vehicle occupants are among those least likely to wear their seat belts. That's why during this campaign, officers will be cracking down on motorists who fail to wear their seat belts both day and night. The two week enforcement wave will run Monday May 21 to Sunday June 3 and include traffic stops, checkpoints, and saturation patrols. The Orange Police Department actively participates in these high visibility efforts because they work. Orange Police Chief Robert Gagne said that the Orange Police Department remains committed to the Click it or Ticket campaigns because these high visibility enforcement efforts work. Gagne added " With the 2012 Memorial Day Holiday upon us, the Orange Police Department intends to promote safe driving and increase the protection of all motorists. We will be out on the roads enforcing occupant protection laws and issuing citations to those who are unbuckled."

ORANGE - Explorers, Boy Scouts and volunteers put their training to the test at ConnJam 2012 this past Saturday when what is being described as a clear air microburst lifted a large banquet tent and bounce house into the air. But that didn’t dampen the spirit of the more than 4,000

in attendance. The event at the High Plains Community Center in Orange turned out to be one of the most successful events run by the Council with a full day of activities designed to peak the interests of Scouts. The attendees were witness to a display of professionalism and bravery by Explorers from Stratford EMS Post 4911 as they immediately took charge of the situation and put their training to the test. The Explorers will be recognized for their exceptional service at the Council’s Program Kickoff on Wednesday, May 16 at the Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport. “We train our Scouts to be prepared in all circumstances but hope that they won’t need to put their first aid and emergency response training to the test,” said Lou Salute, Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America, Connecticut Yankee Council. “I’m proud of the way that our Scouts, Explorers and volunteers reacted. They brought calm to chaos.” A total of six people were transported to the hospital for further treatment and later released. Four more were treated on site with minor injuries. None of the injuries were life-threatening, although they included multiple lacerations. One of those injured, a Cub Scout, actually came back to ConnJam later Saturday afternoon to experience the rest of the day. The microburst wasn’t the only exciting thing at ConnJam. A visit by the Chief Scout Executive Robert Mazzuca, a slacklining demonstration, non-stop Scouting activities and a rocking closing show made this an event one that our Scouts will never forget. A year and a half worth of planning and preparation, led by event chairman Michael Card, certainly paid off. The Connecticut Yankee Council is setting up a card drop at the Council Resource Center for any units or individuals interested in sending “get well” cards or letters to the victims of this incident. “I am always amazed at the resilience of Scouts,” said Salute. “Within ten minutes, our Scouts were out on the fields collecting the thousands of sheets of paper that had been blown into the air. Nobody asked them to. They just went to work, because they are Scouts.” The Boy Scouts of America, Connecticut Yankee Council serves nearly 17,000 young people in Fairfield, New Haven and parts of Hartford counties. Scouting’s purpose is to develop youth into good citizens by instilling in them the values contained in the Scout Oath and Law. Through its various programs, youth are exposed to new interests, make new friends, gain a respect for their environment, develop leadership skills and give back to their community. For more information, please visit www.ctyankee.org.

Woodbridge Animal Control, Country Companions Veterinary Services and Amity Animal Rescue Fund, Inc. are hosting a rabies clinic Saturday, May 19, noon to 2 p.m. at Woodbridge Animal Control, 135 Bradley Road. Rabies inoculations are $15. Bring proof of current rabies to receive 3-year certificate. Proceeds from the clinic will be used to purchase large animal rescue equipment. A current rabies inoculation is necessary for dog licensing in June.

Budget passes 917 yes to 597 no referendum also passes 952 yes to 558 no Orange was the only community to not support the budget

WOODBRIDGE - The towns Plan and Zoning Commission last night approved a gun shop at Selden Plaza. the reality of the approval was best said by commissioner Allen Lipson. "If they had rented the space two doors down from where they were they wouldn't even be here," Lipson said as he made the motion to approve the business. At last months meeting the room was packed with opponents of the gun shop. Last night there were just as many in attendance in support of the gun shop. Admittedly the majority of supporters didn't live in town. Nor were they allowed to speak. Here is a link to the story that appeared in the New Haven Register today on the meeting.

With the publication of Russ Madison’s first novel, VICTORY AMONG THE INSANE IN THE `70S, Boston University’s Mugar Memorial Library began collecting Madison’s writing. The Howard Gotlieb Special Collections Archive now houses all of Madison’s novels, poetry, letters, manuscripts (including his unique use of writing on rolls of paper towels) along with many works in progress. Madison, a native of Hamden and North Haven now resides in Woodbridge where he and his wife, Gi (also a novelist) are creative directors in their own advertising agency, Lone Wolf Advertising, Inc, an award winning communications agency now in its 20th year. Along with VICTORY AMONG THE INSANE, published by Grove Press, Madison has recently published THE MAN WHO WATCHED TRASH AND CHAPTER 11 – the latter an experimental novel that reads backwards to Chapter 1. In 2008, he won First Prize in a national poetry contest sponsored by The Milford Fine Arts Council for his poem, “Easter Island” written and revised over an eight year period. In 1997, he was awarded a prestigious Fellowship at The Provincetown Fine Arts Center where he was in residence to complete a long work on the late Norman Mailer. The “fantasy-novel” based on Mailer’s controversial life, titled CITY IN THE SKY, “a novel of the Fourth World” epitomizes Madison’s off the wall style and approach to writing. His unique use of paper towels (he does not use a computer) allows him to create in a “linear” style, where he can see the progress of a manuscript horizontally rather than in a pile of vertically stacked computer print outs. Since he drapes the walls and ceilings of his office-studio with his manuscript towels, he can actually walk inside his work and “live” in the manuscript. Boston University happily archives his paper towels along with the finished manuscript word-processed by members of his family. In fact, the Marcal Paper Products Company provided Madison with one year’s supply of paper products for using their brand in his literary achievements. His first novel, available in local libraries, was compared to some of the country’s finest literary writers including Joseph Heller, Thomas Pynchon, even Mark Twain and Herman Melville. A novel he has labored over for decades, HAAKENEN (a story of a Scandinavian immigrant who works at Yale University as a janitor-handyman) has been described by former Random House editor, Gordon Lish, as “destined for greatdom.” But that novel, like many others Madison works on concurrently, is a long way from publishing’s printing presses. The digital publishing age has been kind to Madison’s obscurity, allowing his published books to be available to a large audience. Even used books, often sell at a higher price than the original, have created a sort of underground cult following for his work. Several novels are available on Amazon.com and bn.com. Meanwhile, as President/Creative Director of Lone Wolf Advertising, Madison’s advice to young writers looking for the fast track of publishing and ultimate fame, is the conventional wisdom: “Don’t give up your day job.” Madison can be contacted at 203-393-0494, russ@lonewolfadvertising.com.

By Themis Klarides Results of an annual survey describing the best and worst states in which to run a business were released recently, and the news for Connecticut isn’t so hot. In fact, it’s downright dubious. Once again, the nutmeg state sits just above the bottom. Connecticut, despite what many state lawmakers say, isn’t open for business. The problems are well known: too many taxes, too much regulation. The eighth annual survey, conducted by Chief Executive Magazine, considered responses from 650 business leaders. CEOs graded states in which they do business in areas such as regulation and taxes, living environment and quality of workforce. Texas, noted for its regulatory and business-friendly tax environment, finished at the top of the list. California finished at the bottom of the list for the eighth straight time. But sitting at 44th, Connecticut isn’t much better than The Golden State. Among the comments from survey respondents was, “Connecticut continues its rapid decline and it’s getting ugly.” Within the last year, the legislature passed into law a controversial mandate governing the amount of sick leave some employers must provide to their workers. And the General Assembly was a whisker away from adopting “captive audience” legislation preventing employers from talking to workers about policy issues that impact the viability of their businesses. Those actions, and others, were red flags for anyone even considering moving to or creating a business here in Connecticut. Opportunity is passing us by. Three nearby states—New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts—ranked below ours and another, Rhode Island, is just above us on the list. There’s no reason why Connecticut, as one respondent wrote, couldn’t become a refuge for businesses in those states. Instead, Connecticut’s legislature consistently pursues tax increases and ironclad regulations—both barriers to growth. We must reverse this trend if we’re going to move up the list. Rep. Themis Klarides serves as Deputy Republican Leader and represents the 114th General Assembly District covering Derby, Orange and Woodbridge

The Bethany Economic Development Commission will hold its second annual 'Bethany in Business: Meet, Mingle, and Learn' event for the owners and representatives of businesses that are located in Bethany. This free event will be held at the Laticrete International headquarters at 91 Amity Road on Monday May 14, 3 to 5 p.m. The event features a tour of the Laticrete facility and a keynote address by Henry B. Rothberg, Sr. Vice President, Training of Laticrete International. The event also includes presentations by local and state officials and will conclude with an informal discussion among attendees. The Bethany EDC encourages all business leaders and their representatives, even home-based solopreneurs and individuals interested in starting a business to attend this special event. The Bethany EDC members include Tom Cavaliere, Kathy Consoli, Charles Johnson, Billy Verab, and Chairman Elizabeth Appel. Every business on record at the Bethany Town Hall will receive an invitation to attend the event by May 4. For more information about the event, contact Karen Hubbell at the Bethany Town Hall at 203.393.2100 x113 or khubbell@bethany-ct.com.

The Rotary Club of Orange announces that it is again taking applications for its scholarship program. Any student who resides in Orange and is a US citizen is eligible to apply. Applications are available at the guidance offices of the following schools: 1. Amity High School, 2. Notre Dame, 3. Laurelton Hall 4. Platt Tech, 5. Sacred Heart Academy, and 6. Hopkins. Applications are also available online at our website: www.orangectrotary.org. Completed applications are due by May 10, 2012. In making their decision, the scholarship committee will take into consideration financial need, scholastic accomplishments and community involvement. Questions can be directed to Joe Cuzzocreo at (203) 376-8296. The scholarship program is just one of the many ways that the Rotary Club supports our community and is now in its 11th year. Although the Rotary Club of Orange supports many initiatives within the community, this is surely one of the most important. When you participate in a Rotary fundraiser, you are contributing to programs like this one

State Rep. Themis Klarides on April 27 told fourth graders at Turkey Hill School a bit about the life of state lawmaker. Her trip to the school’s library came on the heels of their recent meeting with her at the Capitol. During her visit to the Orange school, Klarides described the process of how bills becomes laws and some of the more recent proposals tackled by the legislature. In turn, students told her about their favorite moments from their trip to Hartford and asked Klarides how she balances her legislative responsibilities with her personal and professional schedules. Klarides ended her visit fielding questions on varied topics—from the longest House floor debate to whether she’s interested in running for president. On the latter, Klarides assured the students that she’s perfectly happy with the job she has now: serving as their voice in Hartford.

The State of Connecticut mandates that the Town of Bethany perform a property revaluation for the October 1, 2013 Grand List which includes physical inspections. The last revaluation of Bethany real estate was conducted for the October 1, 2008 Grand List. The last physical inspection of all properties was conducted for the October 1, 1999 Grand List. The purpose of the upcoming revaluation program is to create more accurate and uniform assessments between real properties based on fair market value as of October 1, 2013. This in turn, will generate a more evenly dispersed tax base throughout the municipality, by which every property owner will pay only their share of Bethany’s tax burden. The firm of eQuality Valuation Services, LLC has been contracted by the Town of Bethany to assist in conducting the revaluation for the October 1, 2013 Grand List. Under the supervision of the Assessor, this company will collect and analyze information regarding all properties in town. The first step in this data collection process is to inspect and measure each home as well as industrial and commercial properties in town. The revaluation company will begin inspections within the next few weeks. Property owners will receive a letter from eQuality Valuation Services before the data collectors arrive in their area. Each employee will carry photo identification and have their cars registered with the Bethany Resident State Trooper. These vehicles will also be clearly marked “REVALUATION PROJECT”. After the interior inspection is completed, the homeowner will be asked to sign a form that verifies that their home was inspected. This signature does not commit the homeowner in any way. This inspection will take approximately 10 minutes. If you have any questions about this project please call the Assessor’s Office at 393-2100 Ext 112.

HARTFORD – State Sen. Gayle Slossberg (D-Milford) announced Senate passage of a liquor reform bill that allows the Sunday sale of alcohol and strikes a balance between benefiting consumers and protecting small package store owners. House Bill 5021, An Act Concerning Competitive Alcohol Liquor Pricing and Hours or Operation for Permittees, passed 28-6 in the Senate. The bill passed in the House last month and now goes to Governor Dannel P. Malloy to be signed into law. “This bill is about empowering consumers by giving them the option of purchasing alcohol on Sundays and holidays. But it is also about protecting the livelihood of small package store owners,” said Sen. Slossberg. “We are at our best as legislators when we achieve compromise on important bills that improve the quality of life for Connecticut residents. I commend Sen. Paul Doyle for leading passage of this bill in the Senate and I thank Governor Malloy for his vision in finally clearing the path for Sunday sales in Connecticut.” The version of the bill approved: • Allows for the sale of alcohol on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., which enables stores in Connecticut to open earlier than in Massachusetts. • Increases the number of stores a package store owner can own from two to three. • Maintains minimum pricing rules, but allows package store owners to choose one item a month to sell at a 10 percent discount. • Establishes a 15-member task force to study other liquor reform proposals, such as a medallion system for package store owners and allowing quantity discounts. • Allows package stores to offer fresh fruit used in the preparation of mixed drinks and to sell cheese and crackers and olives.