ORANGE - Amity Middle School will be running a registration day on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for incoming 7th and 8th graders who will be new to the Orange public school system for the 2012-13 school year. Contact Amity Middle School at 203-392-3200 if you would like to set up a registration appointment for you and your child.

On a rainy afternoon, the Race Brook School Student Garden Committee planted a new garden in the front courtyard. The RBS Spirit Garden was created with red, white, and black (school colors) perennial flowers and rocks formed into the shape of the school's initials, RBS. The garden was sponsored by the Student Council. What better way to show school spirit than with nature!

ORANGE - From July 11 to Aug. 1, customers at participating Taco Bell®, KFC® restaurants, and all of The Paper Store’s 32 locations, will be asked to contribute $1, $3, or $5 to the Jimmy Fund’s “Strike Out Cancer” pin-up campaign. In return for their contributions, customers receive a baseball pin-up on which they can write their name. The pin-ups will be displayed in restaurants and stores, showing customers how easy it is to make a difference in the fight against cancer. Participating restaurants and stores are located throughout New England. Locally, “Strike Out Cancer” is taking place at Taco Bell: 89 Boston Post Rd., Orange. Taco Bell has generously supported the Jimmy Fund since 1999. In 2007, KFC joined their efforts, and last year The Paper Store stepped up to the plate to be a part of “Strike Out Cancer” and the program raised more than $205,000. When customers give to the Jimmy Fund, 100 percent of the proceeds benefit pediatric and adult cancer care and research at Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. “We are so proud of our team and the continued relationship with the Jimmy Fund. It is our privilege to raise money to help conquer cancer,” said Roger Lockwood, Taco Bell franchisee and trustee at Dana-Farber. “We are pleased again this year to be joining forces with participating KFC restaurants and The Paper Store to raise even more money for this important cause.” The Jimmy Fund solely supports Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, raising funds for adult and pediatric cancer care and research to improve the chances of survival for cancer patients around the world. It is an official charity of the Boston Red Sox, as well as the official charity of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge, and the Variety Children's Charity of New England. Since 1948, the generosity of millions of people has helped the Jimmy Fund (www.JimmyFund.org) save countless lives and reduce the burden of cancer for patients and families worldwide. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thejimmyfund or follow us on Twitter, www.twitter.com/TheJimmyFund

On June 16 officers responded to the scene of a fire in the restroom at the Christmas Tree Shoppe store. Officers learned that the arrestee, an employee of the store, had lit an aerosol spray can on fire and placed it into the bathroom ceiling. The store was open for business at this point and filled with other employees and customers. The Orange Volunteer Fire Department extinguished the fire. Manuel Aviles, 23, West Haven was taken into custody and charged with first-degree arson, first-degree reckless endangerment and first-degree criminal mischief. He was held on $100,000 bond. On June 21 Leopold Peavy, 23, Woodbridge turned himself in to police after learning of a warrant for his arrest. The warrant stemmed from a motor vehicle accident on April 16, when he struck another vehicle while driving, fled the scene, and later gave a false statement to officers about the incident when questioned. He was charged with following too close, evading the scene of an accident and filing a false statement. On June 18 officers were dispatched to a private residence on Avalon Drive in regards to a disturbance. Officers learned that the arrestee had gotten into a loud argument with his girlfriend, and that the argument had spilled out into the common area of the apartment complex, causing a disturbance. Pengcheng Yu, 24, Orange was charged with disorderly conduct.

In Orange and Woodbridge police reported no unusual activity related to the heat. The Woodbridge Senior Center has been the designated cooling center. A call to the center revealed that the location was ‘pretty busy.’ The center is open 8:30 a.m. to 4: p.m. and residents looking for a place to cool off in the evening are advised to check with the police department for a designated evening location. High Plains Community Center and the Case Memorial Library are the designated cooling centers in Orange. Meryl Farber, director of the library, said it was difficult to determine how many people visited the library specifically for cooling down. However on Wednesday 360 individuals used the library. Farber said the library has a number of programs going on so it was a good place to ‘chill out.’ At High Plains Community Center Director of Human Services Carol Nardini said she was not keeping count either. “We always have people coming and going. There are always people here playing cards. I do know we did not transport anyone after 4 p.m.,” Nardini said.

On Wednesday Connecticut Mothers Against Drunk Driving held its 26th annual Law Enforcement Recognition Ceremony at Anthony’s Ocean View in New Haven. The ceremony is held each year to honor Officers and Troopers across the State for their efforts towards prevention of alcohol related crashes and enforcement of drunk driving laws. The Keynote speaker this year was Edmund H. Hedge, Jr. the Law Enforcement Liaison, Office of Highway Safety, Connecticut Department of Transportation. The Orange Police Department this year had two officers recognized. Officer Jeffrey Platek and Officer Michael Luzzi received certificates recognizing their commitment and contributions to eliminate drunk driving. Pictured with the recipients from left to right are Lt. Anthony Cuozzo, Chief Robert J. Gagne, Off. Michael Luzzi, Officer Jeffrey Platek and Asst. Chief Edward A. Koether.

Connecticut residents, who are customers of the Connecticut Light and Power Company (CL&P) or The United Illuminating Company (UI), can make their homes more energy efficient this summer while helping Operation Fuel assist families and individuals who are struggling to pay their energy bills. In recognition of Operation Fuel’s 35th anniversary, Competitive Resources Inc. (CRI) of Wallingford is donating $35 to the non-profit energy assistance program for every CL&P and UI customer who schedules a home energy assessment with CRI by September 14. CRI had a similar program over this winter, and raised $1,820 for Operation Fuel. Operation Fuel is a private, non-profit statewide program that provides emergency energy assistance to lower-income working families, the elderly and disabled individuals who are in financial crisis and not eligible for energy assistance from government-funded programs. “During the warmer months, many families and individuals can’t afford to pay their energy bills, but there are no energy assistance programs running besides Operation Fuel. Some of the households we help are going through an economic hardship, such as a serious illness or recent unemployment. A home energy assessment will help to conserve energy and save money for your household, while helping another family who is struggling and has nowhere else to turn,” explained Operation Fuel’s Executive Director Patricia Wrice. For a co-pay of $75, CL&P and UI customers who have CRI perform a home energy assessment will receive an average of $700 in services and installed products that will help make their homes more energy efficient and lower their energy bills by an average of $200 annually. This energy efficiency service is provided through the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund’s Home Energy Solutions (HES) program in partnership with CL&P and UI. Competitive Resources of Wallingford, Conn., is an authorized Home Energy Solutions provider for all participating electric, gas, and municipal utilities in Connecticut. During the home energy assessment, CRI’s certified technicians will make energy saving improvements that include identifying and sealing air leaks and drafts, installing improved lighting and water-saving devices, and analyzing appliances and insulation. CL&P and UI customers can schedule an appointment by calling 888-403-3500 or by going to www.criprograms.com. CL&P and UI must approve all applications and the offer is subject to the availability of funding from the Energy Efficiency Fund. Utility customers should have their account number available and mention Operation Fuel when calling to schedule an energy assessment.

Mrs. Ruzarsky and Ms. Piscatelli's second grade students from the Bethany Community School visited the Russell House as part of their bus tour of Bethany. Bethany Historical Society members MaryJane Winne (pictured), Mary Russell and Aggie Russell provided guided tours of the historic house. Built in the 1760's, the Russell Homestead has been restored by the Bethany Historical Society, and is available for tours by local groups. The bus tour, conducted annually by Dana Menzies, provides an overview of Bethany's natural and historic resources.