OrangeLife Magazine - Summer 2014

SUMMER 2014 ISSUE #9

MAGAZINE

Come to a campus that’s all business.

• MBA • EXECUTIVE MBA • MS IN SPORTS MANAGEMENT

Orange Campus | 584 Derby Milford Rd • Orange, CT | www.newhaven.edu/OrangeLife | gradinfo@newhaven.edu

Contents SUMMER 2014 ISSUE #9

MAGAZINE

Publisher Paul J. Grimmer, Executive Director Orange Economic Development Corporation

Editors Mary Bialy Orange Economic Development Corporation Annemarie F. Sliby PEZ Candy, Inc.

Contributing Writers Annamarie Mastrangelo Amore, Chris John Amorosino, Chris Arnott, Mary Bialy, Stephanie Nash-Blanchette, Bonnie Coppola, Alyssa DaVanzo, Douglas R. Grabowski, Jr., Philip Innes, Max Irving, Kimberly Kick, Daina Larkin, Terri Miles

Contributing Photographers Alexandra Crocco, Cassidy Kristiansen, Paula Severino, John Ulatowski, Matt Wiederecht

Cover Photo Cassidy Kristiansen

Graphic Artists Michele Kelly, Paula Severino

Design & Production

Dale J Pavlik

| DJP Design LLC | djpdesignllc.com

Printing RR Donnelly OrangeLife Magazine is distributed semi-annually by the: Orange Economic Development Corporation (OEDC) 605A Orange Center Road Orange, Connecticut 06477 Phone: 203-891-1045 Fax: 203-891-1044 www.OrangeLife.net | www.facebook.com/OrangeLifeMagazine

Submit your ideas and photos If you have an idea for a story you would like to see featured in OrangeLife Magazine, please submit them to: pgrimmer@orangeedc.com Also, we are always looking for seasonal photographs for our covers (June and December). If you have any winter or summer scenes, please send them to the email above as well.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the OEDC. The OEDC shall not be held liable for typographical errors or errors in the publication or for failure to publish an advertisement. For more information, email PGrimmer@OrangeEDC.com

On the Cover Peck Place School students take time to celebrate their pending graduation from 6th grade at Yale West Campus.

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9 13 17 21 24 27 31 35 39 42 46 49 51 53 55 57 59 62

COMMUNITY NEWS Thank You Joe Blake COMMUNITY NEWS What’s Great About Orange FAIRS & FESTIVALS Orange Country Fair EDUCATION ASD Fitness HOUSE & HOME Design Trends for 2014 LIFE & LEISURE Orange Hills Country Club TECHNOLOGY How to Protect your Credit and Identity RESTAURANT Prime 16 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT On Board for the Arts COMMUNITY NEWS Higher Education for Peck Place Students COMMUNITY NEWS Community Bits FAIRS & FESTIVALS Strawberry Festival EDUCATION Self-Esteem Development HOUSE & HOME Energy Efficiency LIFE & LEISURE Paradise Vineyards CALENDAR Summer & Fall Calendar BUSINESS Girls Just Wanna Have Fun in Orange ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Land of the Dinosaurs

SUMMER 2014

Publisher’s Letter Dear Readers, Launched in June of 2010, OrangeLif Magazine is a full-color, glossy semi-annual publication that celebrates the Town of Orange by featuring everything you love about our town and more. The magazine is dedicated to covering the life and times of Orange residents and local businesses. It will help you discover – and rediscover – all the reasons you call Orange home. This magazine is brought to you by the Orange Economic Development Corporation (OEDC).

Founded in 1997 through cooperative support between the Town of Orange, local business leaders and Orange residents; the OEDC focuses its daily attention on business recruitment and retention activities in order to help maintain a stable tax base and provide employment opportunities for local residents.

On behalf of the OEDC, I wish to thank the Town of Orange for providing us the opportunity to serve the community; the Orange residents for their readership, and to our advertisers for providing the financial backing which allows us to produce the OrangeLif Magazine.

PAUL J. GRIMMER

Executive Director, OEDC

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PUBLISHER’S LETTER

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Thank You Joe Blake BY: DAINA LARKIN

For 34 years, Joe Blake dedicated his time to the betterment of Orange. He served during the time of 6 presidents, under 6 first selectman, and with hundreds of politicians in his 34 years of service.

Joe respected everyone he worked with, no matter their party, strongly believing the key to success is to “follow your heart, not your politics.”

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very equal and evenly balanced, which is what I really admire about him. He never let any particular thing sway him and I’ve always appreciated that in his character.”

LOYALTY TO ORANGE

In his 34 years Joe accomplished a great deal for the town. He served on more than 10 committees, many of them involving renovation projects, including the one at High Plains Community Center. It used to be a school, but Joe and his committee changed it to the bustling activity center it is today. But, of everything Joe’s done in his career, his greatest regret is inside the community center.

Joe with his granddaughter, Blake

BI-PARTISAN LEADERSHIP

Joe served as a Democrat, but it’s a detail he considers negligible. “I liked working with every one of the select people,” said Joe. “They were all good to work with, even on the other sides of the aisles. If it were up to me, I’d love to do away with party labels.”

In the 1950s, a young Joe wanted to earn a little money on the side while he attended high school. Being under the driving age, Joe had some difficulty finding a place he could work. Finally, he landed a job making five dollars a day delivering mail for the Democratic Party.

“They’d drive me to the end of the street and I’d get out and put political literature in every mailbox,” Joe recalled. “Then I’d come back and we’d drive to the next street.”

Joe comes from a mostly democratic family, but his first job was the deciding factor.

“They were the ones that offered me the job and the Republicans did not,” Joe said with a laugh. “When I became 21 my allegiance was to whoever paid me the five dollars.”

“I was never really happy with the outcome of the floor in the gym,” Joe said. “A lot of glue came up from the flooring. We’ve patched it up so many times, but I’m not really thrilled with

Joe approached every obstacle with the same nonpartisan mindset, with the benefit of the townspeople always in the forefront of his mind. From renovation projects to traffic light installments, Joe genuinely wanted to improve the town for its citizens, people he truly cared about.

First Selectman James Zeoli worked with Joe for 14 years, 6 years on the board and then 8 years as first selectman. Zeoli appreciates Joe’s hard work, as well as his nonpartisan thinking.

“He didn’t fold to political pressure from his party, he would vote and work and do what’s right, not necessarily what he was being told to do,” Zeoli commented. “Joe always was

Joe at the Town’s Sesquicentennial

it. If the town had the money I’d tear up that floor right now and put in a new one.”

Aside from his work on renovations, Joe helped get two traffic lights installed at dangerous intersections,

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moved the AMR building to its current location, and even assisted in probate court cases. Part time, he helps out in the schools during the summers with painting and sometimes doing custodial work. Joe’s accomplishments for Orange span a long list, but more than anything, Joe wants to see more senior housing in the town. He made it a major focus while on the board, but in retirement Joe still hopes to see that goal met.

“If I could even do something today with any committee or land owner that could get us some appropriate senior housing, I’d be willing to give anyone a hand on that one,” Joe said.

“Come out of ‘semi-retirement.’ I call it that.”

Zeoli noted Joe’s continuing dedication to the town, even in “semiretirement.”

“He likes being around the people of the town. He’s still doing it even though he’s not a selectman,” Zeoli said. “He wasn’t doing it with an ulterior motive to keep his office.

He’s a grandfather to far more than just his own grandchildren.”

RETIREMENT CELEBRATION

To celebrate Joe’s 34 years of committed service, a retirement party was held in his honor in January. He chose to split the proceeds between the Orange Volunteer Fire Department and the American Legion.

“They’re townspeople,” he said.

“I serve the townspeople.”

Joe’s casual campaign photo during 1st Selectman’s Race

When Joe and Kate first moved to Orange, Kate registered as an unaffiliated voter. “I didn’t want to register on the opposing party,” she said. Later, though, she switched to match her husband as a democratic voter. “I don’t know if my dad was very happy about that,” Kate laughed.

In addition to spending more time with Kate and their grandchildren, Joe donates much of his energy to the town, and he’s always willing to help out the board when needed. Together, Joe and Kate became Eucharistic ministers after Joe’s retirement, and they are heavily involved in their church community.

Though Joe has stepped back, he still has goals for the town. He just wishes more politicians followed the same principles he does when it comes to parties.

“You know, I used to only see the differences in politics on Election Day. When Election Day is over you roll up your sleeves and get to work.

Follow your heart,” he insisted.

“Not your politics.” 쮿

DEVOTED FAMILY MAN

Though he does still help the town in many ways, Joe is glad to be able to spend more time with his wife of 48 years, Kate, who has always had to go along with the schedules and demands of Joe’s career on the board.

“He’s been doing it for so long, it’s always been there,” Kate said. “You can say it’s his passion, his hobby.”

Kate, however, doesn’t care much for politics, though she came from a very republican family.

When they met, Kate was a registered Republican, while Joe served the Democratic Party, and the two came from families of opposing views. Between Joe’s nonpartisan ways and Kate’s lack of interest in politics, their bigger concern was keeping peace in the families.

Entire Blake Family

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SUMMER 2014

What’s Great About Orange?

BY: CHRIS JOHN AMOROSINO, OWNER, AMOROSINO WRITING LLC

Orange Congregational Church

A dream location.

Quality of life.

Talented people.

Those are some of the many reasons people who know Orange think it’s a great place to live and work. The business leaders and long-time residents I spoke with were full of praise.

LOWER REAL ESTATE COSTS

“Orange is a cost effective town to locate,” says Mark Sessel, a 24-year town resident and town business owner. Mark is the Chief Executive Officer of PFP, a marketing firm that helps credit unions in about 15 states serve their members. Since PFP’s founding in 1973, the company has become the nation's largest distributor of individual insurance products sold directly to credit union members.

UI’s 321,000 customers. Every day UI has hundreds of employees traveling to customers in its 17 town territory.

Because Orange sits near the middle of those 17 towns, it’s an ideal location. That’s one reason why UI completed construction of two buildings in Orange in 2012. The Marsh Hill Road sites now house more than 1,000 employees.

A 44-year resident, Donald Lewis, likes Orange for similar and other reasons. In 1969, State Farm Insurance asked Lewis to open the company’s first office in Connecticut. He recalls driving all over the state evaluating sites until he settled on Orange for its central location. “It’s an hour to New York, an hour to Rhode island, and an hour to Massachusetts,” he says.

John values Orange’s access to major roads and highways, which is also an attribute that Mark Sessel appreciates. Because of a heavy business travel schedule serving credit unions in 15 states, Sessel touts Orange’s easy access to New York City and the New York airports. Being located in close proximity to I-95 is also a time-saver.

But Orange also appeals to Lewis because everyone in his family is what he calls a “water rat.” Living only five miles from the Milford Harbor excited the Lewis family and made their 35 years of boating possible.

“New Haven County is more reasonably priced than being in the Stamford, Greenwich, Westport area,” Mark says. “The cost of real estate and rents are better in Orange.”

DREAM LOCATION

John Prete, Chief Operating Officer of Electric System Operations at The United Illuminating Company, calls Orange a dream location. A 34-year veteran of UIL Holdings Corporation and its operating companies (including UI), John is responsible for safely and reliably delivering electricity to

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Wright’s Pond

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PERFECT NEW ENGLAND TOWN

Everyone we spoke with agreed on Orange’s convenience and high quality of life. “I’ve talked to many UIL employees who, within a radius of a few miles, find everything they need for their families,” says UI’s John Prete.

He sees Orange as a perfect example of what people are looking for in a New England town. “I know a number of people we hired from out of state who didn’t have to look very far before they decided that Orange is where they wanted to live,” John says.

A SPIRIT OF VOLUNTEERISM

“It’s great to be in a town where so many people are involved,” Don Lewis says. He cited the spirit of volunteerism town residents have.

In fact, Don is an example of how volunteerism permeates Orange. His many activities have included leading business and community groups like the Economic Development Commission, Rotary Club and the Orange Chamber of Commerce. Don was the first chairperson of the Chamber in the early 1980s and served as president again in 2004. His membership in Rotary now spans 40+ years.

Don finds that local business people want to be active in the chamber and in the town in general. The business involvement has better enabled the business community to influence town growth.

“COULDN’T ASK FOR ANYTHING BETTER”

A lifelong Orange resident, Walter Bespuda calls the people of Orange cooperative. Walter owns one of the oldest working farms in Orange. He was born in the house he shares with his wife, Maryellen--a house built in the 1800s. Four generations of the Bespuda family have farmed the land at 831 Derby Milford Road over the last 80 years.

“All of us in town seem to work together,” Walter says. “My neighborhood is just great. I couldn’t ask for anything better.”

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United Illuminating’s corporate headquarters building on Marsh Hill Road.

While Orange has changed with the times, the town has found a way to stay true to its character and heritage. Forty years ago Maryellen and Walter co-chaired the first Orange Country Fair. Originally, it was to be a onetime event, part of the town’s Bicentennial Celebration in 1972; but it was so successful that it’s been held every year since.

“That first year we asked our friends to help. I don’t think I got a ‘no’ answer from anyone that we asked,” Walter says. “I can get on the telephone tonight and get a dozen people my age and younger to help us out.

This is what makes Orange what it is.”

SMART GROWTH, GOOD GOVERNMENT

While Orange has changed and grown, the growth has been smart, which is a credit to dedicated town officials. Mark Sessel complimented town officials for acquiring open space and never letting business development overwhelm the town’s residential areas. He sees the development of Edison Road as a plus because it will attract new commercial development, increase tax revenue, bring new jobs and provide a bigger customer base for established town businesses.

UIL’s John Prete says, “Based on our interactions, the town officials in Orange are super gracious hosts.

Town officials made it easy for us to choose Orange. During our building projects—zoning, traffic control, and construction—all went smoothly.

Our location went in on time and on budget. That’s unusual for something this large.”

SOME DISTINCTIVE ANSWERS

What’s great about Orange? While everyone had similar answers each person also had some distinctive ones.

Mark Sessel appreciates the residential variety in Orange. “What Orange has done for me is that I was able to grow as my career progressed and moved four times within Orange.”

After spending his entire 81 years (and more to come) living in town, Walter Bespuda had no doubt about the town’s greatest event. He talked about the Orange Bicentennial Parade in 1972. Walter remembers every organization in town making a float.

The parade stretched for miles.

John Prete appreciates much more than just the gleaming new UI campus in town. “We’re very proud to show off our new facilities but we’re also proud to show off Orange.” As are so many others—so many others. 쮿

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Orange Country Fair BY: DAINA LARKIN

Every year the fields at the High Plains Community Center flare up with life and fulfill their purpose at the Orange Fairgrounds.

together with his wife Maryellen decided to bring the fair back. They put together a new board and the Orange Country Fair returned in 1975 as a small, local fair.

The center of town fills with the sounds of children laughing and people cheering, while the smells of barbecue and grass waft in the thick summer air. People walk in, others are guided to designated parking fields. Many townspeople look forward to this weekend all year—the weekend of the Orange Country Fair.

Imagine the Orange town flag, the man riding the oxen-drawn plow. The theme of the fair brings us closer to that history, the agriculture and techniques used during those times.

Many of the events include farm animals, such as chaotic and hilarious pig races, and plow pulls that demonstrate the immense strength of farm animals.

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

This September, the Fair celebrates its 40th consecutive year, but our Orange Country Fair dates much older than 40. The very first fair took place in 1904. The original board never meant for the fair to become a lasting, annual event, and its first run ended in 1912. In 1973, Walter Bespuda, a resident of the town, SUMMER 2014

“We have a lot of animals now,” said Karen McCausland, co-chairman of the current board. “We have a whole animal building.”

The animal building is one of many structures that have been added to the fairgrounds as the fair expanded in size. In 1975 the fair felt small and quaint, but as the years went on more and more people attended, calling for FAIRS & FESTIVALS

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more space and events. The fair, though quite large now, still maintains a certain charm that keeps Orange residents and out-of-town visitors coming back.

PASSIONATE VOLUNTEERS

The fair is run entirely by volunteers, many of whom became involved through family. Entire families volunteer at the fair together, with parents passing the tradition on to their kids.

McCausland’s mother, Nancy, was a dedicated member of the board for years before Karen took her place.

The volunteers get to know each other and friendships are made.

“Like its own community,” McCausland said.

“It went from being a local fair to one of a good size,” commented Walter Bespuda. “One of the biggest in Connecticut. We’ve come a long way.”

OTHER BUILDINGS TO SEE

Another designated building on the grounds is the museum, an impressive collection of everything from old tools and equipment to old appliances.

Old machines fill every inch of floor space around a walking path, with laminated paper labels attached to each contraption describing the object and crediting its donator.

Butter churners, plows of every imaginable kind and even a fully sized canvas wagon were among the displays. The entire back corner resembles a toolshed, with walls filled with wrenches and other tools. The walkway is lined with benches made in the memory of past townspeople and volunteers to the fair.

Other buildings house handmade exhibits submitted by the townspeople.

Artwork, homegrown vegetables, and baked goods enter halls where they stand on display with others of their kind. Submissions are judged and ribbons are awarded, and nobody goes home without a ribbon of some kind. There’s also a giant ball of string which, according to McCausland, is the largest in the state.

“The townspeople make this fair,” McCausland noted. “If they didn’t contribute, we would have nothing to show.”

“People come back every summer,” she added. “They just love it. We had one volunteer who went off to college out of state; he came home for the weekend specifically for the fair.”

Though it does have many returning volunteers, the fair is always looking for new people. With the popularity of the event growing as it has, more and more responsibilities and jobs open up. For each year that the fair sells more tickets, it needs more people to volunteer. Since the Amity school system implemented mandatory community service, McCausland found teenagers among the volunteers; and many of them love it.

“They don’t just come because they have to for school anymore,” McCausland said. “They come because they love it, like everyone else.”

BOY SCOUTS PARTNERSHIP

The fair also creates projects for the Boy Scouts, such as constructing pieces for the fair. All ages work side by side on the fairgrounds.

The Orange Country Fair differs from other festivals in the town, such as the Orange Fireman’s Carnival.

There are no rides, flashy prize games or vendors. All food sold at the fair is prepared and sold on site by volunteers. The primary attractions are the animal events and displays made by the townspeople.

“The fun of the fair is to embrace history and share with the community,” McCausland said. “And I expect it to keep growing as it has.” 쮿

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COMMUNITY OUTREACH

ASD Fitness Center BY: ALYSSA DAVANZO

New Fitness Center Focuses on Individuals on the Autism Spectrum There is no doubt that regular physical activity works wonders on the body and mind. The ASD Fitness Center is a custom-designed facility that provides a safe, comfortable environment for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to help improve their levels of physical fitness.

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS

Autism Spectrum Disorders are a group of developmental disabilities that can cause social, communication and behavioral challenges. ASDs are “spectrum disorders,” which means that they affect each person in different ways and can range from very mild to very severe.

The ASD Fitness Center was founded

by Adam and Dedra Leapley, Orange residents who raised a child with ASD and witnessed the incredible effect that physical activity had on his life.

“Over the years my son has helped with Unified Sports, Autism Services Resources of Connecticut (ASRC), and Best Buddies,” Adam said. “I watched him mentor the kids in these programs and was inspired by his talent for working with others on the spectrum. I thought by opening this gym, he would get the opportunity to translate his skills into a career as an assistant personal trainer.”

When he first began thinking about the impact the fitness center could have on the community over one year ago, Adam reached out to the Yale Child Study Center, as well as the connections he made in his graduate class at Southern Connecticut State University.

“I spent time exploring the relationship between autism and exercise, and although there is limited research on the topic, what I did find was very positive,” Adam said. “I started to share my idea with professionals in the field of ASD and received support and positive feedback, so I decided to go forward with this project.”

The ASD Fitness Center’s impressive advisory board includes a nutritionist from Yale, an occupational therapist from Quinnipiac, a psychologist, a speech and behavioral therapist, and several other professionals who have had previous experience working with individuals with ASD. “Exercise is good for making people feel alert and may prompt interaction during the fitness activities for those on the spectrum,” said Tara Glennon, member of the ASD Fitness Center’s advisory board, owner of the Center for Pediatric Therapy and professor of Occupational Therapy at Quinnipiac University. “If you think about it, all teenagers and young adults need to have recreational occupations, and the fact that this gym environment will give young men and women the chance to participate in these types of activities is really exciting.”

UNIQUE SYMPTOMS

Adam & Dedra Leapley, Founders/Owners; Christina Keating, Executive Director/ Owner; Jaymie Sommers, Assistant Director/Owner; Lauren Sachs, Special Education Director, Brian Henrickson, Head Personal Trainer

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Anyone age 5 and up can join the ASD Fitness Center. While those with Autism Spectrum Disorder share a number of similar symptoms, there are significant differences in what triggers the symptoms and how severe they can become. Many people with ASD have difficulty processing everyday sensory information such as sounds, sights and smells. They can be over or under sensitive to any type of stimulus.

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self-regulation and helping to process their surroundings. It can give people the chance for increased social opportunities with less emphasis on verbal interaction. Physical activity can help moderate autistic children’s risks of obesity.

Adam said that in the future, he plans on having the center’s trainers pair up with members to take part in a fun run, 5K race or a softball tournament.

He also looks forward to one day join forces with local schools.

The advisory board worked together to collectively create a detailed design of the fitness center’s interior from scratch. They took into consideration the lighting, acoustics, and coloring throughout the building.

“It was important for us to base our designs on the range of sensory issues that people with ASD might have coming into the gym,” Adam said. “We had to be careful not to paint primary colors on the walls or to put in astro-turf flooring, ceiling fans, and fluorescent lights. Our goal is for members of our facility to feel as comfortable as possible.”

EXERCISE PROGRAMS

Similar to a traditional gym, the ASD Fitness Center will feature one-onone personal training, small group classes and cardio machines. There is a separate workout area designated for moms and dads to use while waiting. The center is looking to bring in a variety of adaptive classes including karate, yoga, boot camp, Bal-AVis-X and Zumba. All members will be supervised by their trainers for safety purposes and will be paired with someone who has had past experience with both special education and personal training.

Personal trainers will focus on building core, upper body and lower body strength through the utilization of sectioned workout stations. Each station will be equipped with visual cues and timers. In between each workout station will be a ‘fun station,’ serving as an incentive to complete the activity in the workout station.

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“Most people with ASD want to know what they’re doing, how long they’re doing it, and what they’re going to do next,” Adam said.

Before each person can become a member of the gym, they are asked to sit down for a thorough evaluation with the Special Education Intake Coordinator in order to develop their Individualized Fitness Program (IFP).

Like an Individualized Education Program (IEP), an IFP establishes a routine that is tailored to the member’s distinct needs. Not only do IFPs make the work-outs more interesting and satisfying for the member, but the plans also help trainers understand the person’s disability and how it affects their physical activity.

Depending on the member’s IFP, certain personal training work-outs could feature a cardio component and a functional skill development session such as learning to ride a bike or throwing and catching a ball.

COSTS AND DONATIONS

The cost for the ASD Fitness Center membership, training and classes is priced similar to other gyms. The Bethany Leapley ASD Scholarship Fund, named in honor of Adam’s late mother Bethany, provides children, adolescents and adults with ASD funds to be used at the fitness center.

Donations are currently being accepted. For more information about how to get involved, email ASDcharity@gmail.com.

As the word spreads about this extraordinary facility, the ASD Fitness Center advisory board hopes that many in the community access the gym.

“Everyone involved feels that this community fitness center is really needed and we hope that we meet that need,” Tara said. “If it’s busy a year from now and there are many individuals who come as part of their weekly routine, then we will know that we’ve met a certain societal need.”

OPENING SOON

The ASD Fitness Center is scheduled to open during this spring at 307 Racebrook Road in Orange. To learn more about the gym and its advisory board visit www.asdfitnesscenter.com.

Exercise can drastically improve a person’s life. It has the ability to promote a better night’s sleep and combat diseases that attempt to fight the immune system on a daily basis.

Physical activity can transform a person’s mood from negative to positive, and boost their energy level.

Even more importantly, the gym can function as a social setting.

“This center is not just about physical fitness, but about the many other benefits individuals on the spectrum can realize from exercise,” said Adam. “If someone works out consistently, they can potentially increase adaptive and decrease their maladaptive behaviors. Exercise can be a key therapeutic component for people with ASD.” 쮿

According to a related piece in Psychology Today, autistic adults cited exercise as essential for SUMMER 2014

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Design Trends for 2014 BY: ANNAMARIE MASTRANGELO AMORE, OWNER, ANNAMARIE AMORE INTERIORS, LLC PERSONAL STYLE

The biggest trend in interior design is Personal Style. Everyone has a budget and wants their home to be a reflection of their personality.

Homeowners no longer boast about the expensive something in their home. Bragging is now reserved for those unique finds and one of a kind piece. It is the unique treasures that set their home apart from their neighbors’.

After years of chrome and silver, warm metals have returned and cool greens are a classic counterpoint to a regal finish. Embracing a love of excess, you can bring a mix of regal glam with modern sleekness by adding dramatic crystal chandeliers and crystal embedded tile. You can add a little extra without overloading your senses by mixing these elements with neutral shades to achieve a timeless and sophisticated elegance to your home.

COLOR

Gray has reigned supreme for the past few years but now gray has become the new white. I see it everywhere. I do believe you will see a lot of colors mixed with it like black, violet, blues and so on.

The color trends will be soft and cool colors for 2014. Pastel colors will be popping up in homes. My favorite line of paint is Benjamin Moore. The color pallet is extensive and is always true to color.

When designing a room, mix vintage and new in unexpected ways. The older pieces start to look exactly that “old” – have fun and reinvent those pieces in a way that is unique and one-of-a-kind. For example, spray paint end tables that are in your living room and add crystal or antique hardware for a new and old world styling.

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Don’t be afraid to be bold when choosing a color for a facelift in your space. Utilize the color you select by adding additional items that are the same colors, such as pillows, window treatments, furniture, hardware, art work or even glass accents. Glass has made a comeback with different colors and unique shapes. These accents will help in the overall look and feel of your room.

TRENDS AND TIPS FOR 2014

Do you remember your grandmother’s pink floral bathroom tile and how about that shag carpet that was bright red and blue? Designers of today will never go back to the trends of the past. They now realize the value of longevity and the lasting impression on the home. Timeless and classic choices are being made to carry over into your children’s families. The styles and trends have become iconic and classic, surviving the “newer and better” design ideas.

When designing any space in your home, keep this trend in mind—open and simple is the best avenue.

Do your research and always speak to a professional who understands what products are best for your home. Become a scavenger and look for unique pieces of furniture that can be revitalized with new paint or refinishing.

Determine your personal style, reinvent those old pieces, focus on what color is best for you, while adding several accents and your home will truly be a reflection of your personality. 쮿

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THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

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Orange Hills Country Club BY: MAX IRVING

Orange Hills, one of just a handful of familyowned-and-operated courses left around the state, is gearing up for its 65th season.

The Smith Family: Bud, Judy and Jud.

Despite challenges like increased competition, a struggling economy and fewer people playing the sport these days, Orange Hills remains a staple in the local golf community.

“It’s a terrific course, an 18-hole championship course,” said David Kennedy, who has played at Orange Hills for over 25 years. “But what makes it special is the Smith family.

Whether you’re a regular there or it’s your first time, you’re never treated like a number. They give everyone first-class treatment.”

“Saturdays and Sundays were like a war zone,” said Smith, who was inducted into the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame in 2000. “Who wanted to play 9 and who wanted to come back in and have a 2-hour wait to play 18—no matter how I did it, the demand was so much greater than the supply.”

Smith knew he had to expand. He eventually talked his father into adding a second nine. He used a chainsaw and began to clear the land. Without any construction background, he bought a second-hand bulldozer and taught himself how to use it.

“We had so many close calls,” said Smith with a laugh. “It was dangerous back then because the dead tree limbs would fall and the bulldozer didn’t have a cab on it.” Smith eventually hired a small crew to help.

He remembers the back nine being so swampy the bulldozer would get stuck. Smith became an expert at getting it out because it happened so much. He would drop the blade down, lift the caps, bang the railroad ties and walk it out. He got the whole process down to about 15 minutes.

Once, he had to call a tow truck to pull out the bulldozer.

PROUD HERITAGE

The course has come a very, very long way.

Sitting beside his daughter Judy, the course general manager and son Jud, the course superintendent, Orange Hills’ president Bud Smith shares some stories from over the years.

He’s a great story teller. He talks about the days when he jokingly says he needed binoculars to see a golfer on the course because there were so few or talks about when season tickets for the course cost just $35.

Smith then remembers the popularity of golf soaring in the 1950s, when Orange Hills was just a nine-hole course at the time.

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It took about six years to complete the back nine of the course. The expansion proved to be a pretty good investment as the sport’s popularity kept growing.

ORANGE HILLS TODAY

These days, Orange Hills remains a beautiful, challenging, 6,511-yard public course. The front nine is more open, whereas the back nine is a much tighter, tree-lined track. Its signature hole is number 10, a 207yard, par-3 hole with water on the right. It’s scenic and tough as well.

The course has attracted the likes of Lee Trevino. The Hall of Famer visited Orange Hills shortly after winning the 1968 U.S. Open. Musicians Kris Kristofferson and Seals and Crofts have also enjoyed playing the course.

“I reflect once in a while,” Smith said.

“It’s very rewarding I guess—to see people here and to see them happy.

It (expanding) turned out to be the right thing to do.”

After graduating from UConn with an engineering degree, Smith took over for his father in 1949 and ran the course. Even at 89, he remains heavily involved. These days, though, he’s developed into a schmoozer.

He will strike up a conversation with anyone and everyone.

Two of his four children, Judy and Jud, are also part of the day-to-day operations of Orange Hills. They helped out at the course growing up.

Judy was teaching at the University of New Haven and getting her MBA when her father asked her if she wanted to work at the course. She’s been there ever since. As for Jud, he was in the process of getting his Real Estate License and came to the course to help with a drainage project. That’s how it started, and he eventually took over as course superintendent. “The way he meticulously cut the grass was an early sign that this was his calling,” his sister, Judy, joked.

“It’s really a family atmosphere there,” said Richard Arnold, a longtime Orange resident who has played at the course for the last nine years.

“They run a good operation. They make you feel welcome. It’s a challenging course and it’s a very well maintained public course.”

Despite the fact that family-owned courses are becoming a dying breed, Orange Hills continues to hold its own.

The golf industry, as a whole, has seen a decline. The number of golfers in the United States have fallen by 13 percent over the last 5 years, according to the National Golf Foun-

“It’s a terrific course, an 18-hole championship “course,” said David Kennedy, who has played “at Orange Hills for over 25 years. But what “makes it special is the Smith family.”

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dation. People simply don’t have the time, money or interest these days.

To combat that, the PGA of America has introduced Golf 2.0. It’s designed to swing the declining trend and drive more to the sport. Golf 2.0 has bigger cups, just six holes and speeds up the game.

Orange Hills is also facing more competition. Woodbridge Country Club, Grassy Hill Country Club and Oak Lane, all former private courses, are now public and all within a short drive. Many courses drop prices as it gets closer to an open tee time. This has made pricing more competitive than ever. Orange Hills changes with the times. They push creative marketing strategies and adapt to the Internet age, all while keeping a family-like atmosphere intact.

The regular customers keep coming back. The course is very thankful for that. Its Men’s Association has already added many new members for this upcoming season and the Sisters of Swing, a nine-hole women’s group, continues to grow.

Orange Hills is also actively helping out with causes in the community.

It has been a sponsor for the town Little League since 1969 and donates regularly to local charities. Orange Hills is also a big supporter of the UConn Foundation and hosts a number of local high school golf teams at no charge.

“We just try to provide an incredible golf course and give incredible service,” Judy said. “It’s more challenging now, but we love the industry, and we love what we do. It’s an extension of our homes.” 쮿

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How to Protect your Credit and Identity BY: DOUGLAS R. GRABOWSKI, JR., MANAGING PARTNER, GRABOWSKI GROUP, INC.

Nowadays, your online identities and credit accounts are under constant attack. Here’s how to protect yourself, both online and “in the real world.”

Following numerous security concerns, the safety of our credit cards both online and offline are under constant attack. A perfect example of this is the Target Stores breach in December 2013, which affected tens of millions of people.

Many other wellknown websites such as LinkedIn, Adobe, and others have also been affected in recent times. It is becoming increasingly difficult to ensure that our credit cards, debit cards, and online accounts are protected. Here are five quick tips to ensure you’re doing all you can to ensure you’re safe, protected, and secure.

INCREASE PASSWORD AND PIN COMPLEXITY

It sounds very simple, but unfortunately a majority of users choose “password” , ”123456”, their name and birth date or use the site name “apple123” or “google123” as their password or PIN. DON’T DO IT! Use random numbers for your PIN. Bonus tip: you can use random words “birthday space rookie space baseball space orange” as a password (including the space). You don’t need to have to remember “l2]%{?"0X~ 37z1{“for example.

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MANAGE PASSWORDS

At home and at work, use a password manager; like LastPass or OnePass.

These password managers will synchronize your passwords across your computers, tablets and smartphones.

You may also use the built-in synchronization features of Google Chrome to accomplish the same within the browser. They’re very inexpensive; many are free and fully protect your account information per site. With this tool, you won’t have to remember every single password (and will eliminate sticky notes on your monitor), while also having access to all of your password information from anywhere, at any time.

PROACTIVELY MANAGE YOUR “OFFLINE” WORLD

Check your credit card and bank statements monthly. Open this month’s statements and take the time to examine each item. You might be reminded of services you’ve signed up monthly yet no longer use; you

might see some fraudulent activity; you might even just be reminded how often you eat out!

It’s a great exercise not only to curb spending, but to ensure that you’re not a victim of identity or credit card theft.

USE AN APP

Use an app such as LifeLock (formerly Lemon Wallet) to keep all of your credit, loyalty, and other cards in your pocket at all times. Why carry a bunch of plastic cards on a keychain or wallet if you don’t have to?

LifeLock will securely store images of the front and back of each of your cards, document their customer service numbers, and even tell you current, real-time balances of each account for free. Next time you’re at a big-box store or even the AAA office, just take out your phone and the added feature of having real-time balances simplifies your credit monitoring duties, above.

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BENEFIT FROM THE TARGET STORES BREACH AND FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Sign up for Target’s free credit monitoring and protection offer. Like all the tips here, it’s free and will give you copies of your credit statements and will monitor for a fraudulent activity for a year. Bonus tip: use AnnualCreditReport.com to get free copies of your three credit bureau reports.

BE CAREFUL ONLINE!

When receiving an email from what appears to be your bank or your credit card company, or what looks like a fax or a ZIP attachment from someone, be sure to double check

links in emails and social media sites. For example, an email that is fraudulent will look like it is coming from a bank such as Bank of America but the link itself guides you to an unfamiliar website. If it looks suspicious, don’t click! Not a single bank will ask you for your password or account information online. Better yet, open a new browser tab and go to your bank’s site directly. If you’re on your phone, don’t tap on the link – tap and hold and it will show you the link. If it’s not going directly to your bank, tap delete and send it directly to your trash.

Bonus tip: beware of fake Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter emails, too — they are not real.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Douglas R. Grabowski, Jr. is Managing Partner of Grabowski Group, Inc., a strategic technology advisory firm (with offices in Orange, Connecticut; New York City; and Florida), that develops and delivers services to improve the way businesses use technology to achieve strategic, operational and financial goals. He can be reached at doug@grabowskigroup.com

READ THIS ISSUE AND PAST ISSUES AT:

OrangeLife.net

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Center Podiatry Foot Pain Specialists

Foot Pain Emergencies Seen Immediately Featuring Shockwave Therapy for Chronic Heel Pain

Dr. Gary N. Grippo

Board Certified Foot Surgeon Bone & Joint Specialist

Dr. Sean Lazarus

Sports Injuries-Biomechanics Pediatric Footcare

www.centerpodiatry.com 1-800-676-FOOT (3668)

Guilford, East Haven, Higganum, Orange, Clinton Saturday Appointments Available

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THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

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Save the Date BOE OLYMPICS

June 11 from 3–6 p.m.

STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

June 14 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with a rain date of Sunday, June 15.

ORANGE EXPO

June 18 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

DOC'S RACE

June 29. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m.

INDEPENDENCE DAY CONCERT/FIREWORKS

July 5 with a rain date of July 6. The concert begins at 6:30 p.m.

Fireworks will light up the sky at 9:30 p.m.

FIREMEN'S CARNIVAL

July 31 – Aug. 3.

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SUMMER 2014

Prime16 BY: PHILIP INNES

Naysayers who claim that the suburbs can’t draw prime downtown restaurants have this food writer seeing — Orange.

floors, burgundy and reclaimed wood walls, and clear wall and drop lights with visible filaments. Most attractive of all was the unusual bar with its row of 30 taps reflected by a mirror backed by white tiles, and surrounding that on three sides, carefully spaced and glowing backlit amber bottles of Bourbon poised on wood blocks protruding like handholds on a climbing wall.

EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE

Our waitress, Tina, took exceptional care of us. She was patient as we tried several tastes of beer from the incredible draft beer list before settling on a Scrimshaw Pilsner ($7.50) from North Coast Brewing Company in Fort Bragg, California for our friend; a Misty Mountain IPA ($6) from Back East Brewing Company in Bloomfield, Connecticut for my wife; and a Headwaters Pale Ale ($6) from Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown, Pennsylvania for me. Also available were cocktails, wines and hard liquor, but Prime 16 is paradise for craft beer lovers like us.

TASTY DELIGHTS

Co-owners (left to right) Bob Potter and Jonathan Bara.

In fact, Orange’s attractive demographics (median family income of $88,000) and prime real estate (the bustling Boston Post Road) have combined to give this small town (roughly 14,000 residents at the 2010 census) a restaurant scene many larger towns would be envious.

This is undoubtedly what moved Bob Potter and Jonathan Bara to open a sibling of the original Prime 16 on Temple Street in New Haven on the site of the former Jacob Marley’s in late May of last year.

Although hardly recognizable from its earlier incarnations, the restaurant still maintains a main dining room to the right of the entry, a bar area to the left, and a small dining room in the rear. There’s a waiting SUMMER 2014

area with comfortable benches in front of the bar area, welcoming respite because the popular restaurant accepts reservations only for parties of six or more. A petite blonde staff member scales a stepladder to update the latest draft beer information on a chalkboard. After a halfhour wait that passed quickly, due to people watching and studying the menu, my family was seated in a raised booth at the back of the bar.

MODERN RUSTIC INTERIOR

With good foot support and hooks for hanging our coats, our booth was comfortable and commanded a great view of the action. We liked the “modern rustic” look achieved with a gray ceiling and air ducts, hardwood

It’s nirvana for lovers of good food as well. We began with the soup of the day—a generous bowl of spicy rutabaga purée ($4.95), the uncommon root vegetable that originated as a cross between turnip and cabbage showcased to fullest advantage in a nicely textured, slightly sweet, slightly spicy blend. Our vegetarian daughter abstained from trying it because it contained chicken stock.

However, our daughter was delighted with the Yukon Gold potato pizza ($8.50). The blistered, but not scorched, 10-inch pie was topped with Mozzarella, Smoked Gouda, sliced potato, oven-roasted garlic and rosemary. For an all-carnivore table, a smoked applewood bacon version ($8.50) with sautéed onion and cremini mushrooms also sounded tempting.

Of course, everything’s better with bacon—in its various permutations.

A hint of prosciutto was the finishing touch on twin portobello caps ($7.50) stuffed with cream cheese, artichoke

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heart, fire-roasted pepper and baby spinach, topped with breadcrumbs and drizzled with balsamic reduction.

Our vegetarian enjoyed an arugula salad ($8.95) with shaved Fontinella cheese, fire-roasted peppers, tobacco fried onions, grilled lemon and roasted garlic oil in a spicy Caesar dressing.

For her main course, because the restaurant had sold out of veggie dogs ($6.95), our daughter settled for a mushroom and pecan veggie burger ($9.95). This house-made patty was topped with Swiss cheese, baby spinach and sliced tomato, served with French fries and a side of truffle mayo. She also ordered a side of macaroni and cheese ($7.95) — pasta bathed in a five-cheese blend, topped with Panko crumbs.

Tragically, it was more cheesy crunchy goodness than she could finish on her own therefore the rest of us were forced to help her out.

But what Prime 16 is most famous for is its burgers, which (if you imagine them with cute little legs) will give any in Connecticut a run for their money. The restaurant serves only 100% natural and humanely raised ground beef, cooked to your requested degree of doneness (which some burger joints seem loath to do).

You can build your own, but my wife and I found plenty of the established combinations tempting. I’d previously tried the Greek-themed lamb burger ($12.95)—a freshly ground lamb patty seasoned with mint and cilantro and topped with Feta cheese, lettuce and tomato—and already knew it was wonderful.

So my wife had the stuffed mushroom burger ($10.25), hand-formed with cremino mushroom and shallot, topped with Swiss cheese, roasted portobello mushroom, lettuce and tomato, and served with IPA-infused mustard and French fries. Envisioning myself as a Sons of Anarchy sort of bad, ahem, seed, I embraced the tantalizing Badlands burger ($13.95), which featured a 100% bison burger topped with melted Cheddar Jack cheese, a black bean and corn salsa, tortilla strips and Badlands sauce served with Cajun fries. We were seriously full at this point, so the adults shared a large square of apple cinnamon bread pudding ($6) with vanilla ice cream ($1.75), while our daughter had a scoop of chocolate ice cream ($1.75).

Prime 16 is poised to be a star performer in Orange, but expect it to have a much greater reach. Some of the New Haven location’s customers who live in other suburbs elect to visit the Orange location for its free parking and more family-oriented demographic. 쮿

DIVERSE AND DELICIOUS

Prime 16 offers conventional entrées, along with a wealth of salads, sandwiches, hot dogs and burgers and even a kid’s menu. For his main course, our friend ordered a BBQ brisket sandwich ($11.95), featuring deliciously cured slices of beef topped with Cheddar Jack cheese, Bourbon Stout barbecue sauce, housemade coleslaw and tobacco fried onions on a ciabatta roll, served with French fries and romesco aïoli.

He made it clear he did not require any assistance from the rest of us.

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On Board for the Arts!

BY BONNIE COPPOLA

Without a doubt, one thing we can all be certain of in our town is that it’s tuned into the arts.

It’s almost 6:45 pm as you turn your car into the parking lot at the High Plains Community Center. The bright yellow Winkle bus is already there and people are boarding. You made it! Settling into your seat, and thinking how lucky to live in Orange, where so many local groups, organizations, elected officials and businesses go out of their way to enrich the cultural life of the community.

It makes you feel happy and proud to call this town your own. Happy and proud to of be part of a town that ‘gets it’ and understands everyone benefits when a community nurtures, supports and promotes the arts and artists. You appreciate your ride to the New Haven Symphony is free, thanks to “Hop the Bus,” the Orange Arts and Culture Council’s new program that whisks riders to Woolsey Hall to enjoy a concert. You chuckle at the fact you are part of an event

Orange residents (from left to right) Joy Habib, Nabil Habib and Marcia Jamron wait to leave for Woolsey Hall.

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exhibit at Case Memorial Library; view the latest exhibits at the Gallery at Town Hall or the Davis Gallery; or attend any of the superb productions sponsored by the Amity High School or the Orange Players. Don’t leave out summer concerts under the stars at the gazebo or Fourth of July fireworks at the fairgrounds.

ORIGINS OF THE OACC

Saiyara Fahmi Admires her artwork during the student exhibit at the Gallery at Town Hall.

that is “business and arts-driven,” literally and figuratively, and grateful it was made possible entirely through donations. Your last thought before you join in conversation is the town in which one chooses to live, raise a family, and work is always about the quality of life it offers. You smile to yourself in the knowledge that your town, Orange, makes the grade!

The Orange Arts and Culture Council’s free bus to the New Haven Symphony Orchestra is just one example of the variety of arts experiences that is offered. Orange is home to visual and performing artists and authors who live quietly among us. Art galleries, theatrical productions, musical events, workshops, lectures, and creative endeavors enrich all our lives and bring the Arts up close and personal. Residents should consider attending a film series or visit an art

The Orange Arts and Culture Council (OACC), a 501 (C) (3) was created in the spring of 2007. Originally conceived as a project for the Senior Leadership Program, the council’s mission was clear—to nurture the arts and artists, enrich the cultural life of our community, and support and promote the arts in Orange and throughout the region.

OUR VISION

The OACC is committed to the philosophy—as the arts inspire creativity in each of us individually, they breathe life into our communities. OACC sponsors events and programs that foster a broad range of cultural and educational experiences and promote expression and appreciation of the visual and performing arts. Since its inception, its offerings have grown exponentially to include myriad activities, collaborative events and projects that have made the arts

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ment, whether through attendance, participation, collaboration or financial commitment, is vital. Without it, many wonderful programs and events we look forward to in town would be seriously curtailed. Funding from the Orange Foundation, Lions Club, The United Illuminating Company, and Orange Community Women to the Jamie Hulley Arts Foundation, Milford Bank, and the Winkle Bus Company, have made one thing clear—when business and the arts work in concert, the results are truly noteworthy!

more accessible for Orange residents.

Foremost among these are OACC’s Gallery at Town Hall, annual Young Artists in Performance Concerts, local Dine Arounds, Build a Better Birdhouse event at the Country Fair, or its newest program, “Hop the Bus,” which provides free transportation to the New Haven Symphony.

If you find yourself wondering how a town of Orange’s size manages to offer its residents access to so much culture, consider the words collaboration and partnership. Both are powerful means to an end, a fact that has not been lost on individuals, groups and businesses in town that frequently work together to achieve common goals and accomplish great things for our community. If asked, I’m sure we could all compile a list of our favorites.

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

Pat Miller, Bonnie Coppola and Chris Winkle pose to promote the “Hop the Bus” program.

COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS

It is with this in mind that the Orange Arts & Culture Council wishes to acknowledge the role that town resi-

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dents, officials, groups, organizations and businesses play in nurturing and supporting the arts. Their involve-

If you would like to become a member of the Orange Arts and Culture Council or make a donation to the “Hop the Bus” program, contact Pat Miller at 203-397- 8915. OACC meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of the month, at 7:30 pm at High Plains Community Center.

All are welcome. 쮿

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Peck Place Students at Yale West Campus BY: DAINA LARKIN

Yale West Campus holds a graduation this summer unlike any held on its grounds before. This time, the students toss up their caps in celebration of finishing the sixth grade.

The relocated Peck Place Elementary sixth graders take a unique honor as the only elementary school class to commence on Yale soil, where they, along with their younger peers, finished out their school year.

PECK PLACE DAMAGED

This past January, Peck Place suffered severe flood damage from burst pipes, and a further look into the destruction revealed asbestos inside parts of the building. This left the approximately 375 students and 50 staff unable to return to the now-uninhabitable school, forcing the administration into quick action.

YALE UNIVERSITY STEPS UP

Yale West Campus addresses important issues in the fields of health, energy, and the environment in its 17-building-wide campus, of which one building in particular (Office Complex South) has seen little use since Yale bought the complex in 2007. In fact, Yale used the almost 100,000 square foot building exactly once for its Hack-a-Thon last year in which undergraduate students from all over the world hacked computers in the building for 24 hours. Thanks

to this event, Yale had brought the space up to code, outfitting it with the proper safety requirements and installing speedy wireless internet.

The space was unoccupied when Peck Place contacted Yale.

BUILDING TRANSFORMATION

Before Yale owned the complex, this building served as the administration headquarters for the Bayer Corporation. The building came fully equipped with beautiful office furniture however, didn’t resemble

The immediate response involved dividing the students and sending them to two nearby elementary schools, but school officials disliked splitting the student body. The students make up 6 grades with at least 3 classes per grade; Peck Place principal Eric Carbone firmly wanted the kids to remain one unit, saying “There was no other choice. It wasn’t going to work the other way.”

While the students and staff contended with the splitting-up solution, Superintendent Lynn McMullin, Carbone and the Board of Education sought a new location, asking if Yale West Campus had any available space.

First day of school for the 375 Peck Place students in their new temporary home at Yale's West Campus.

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Students are acclimating well in their new space, as they greet Security Monitor, Mr. Allen as part of their morning routine.

a typical elementary school, with the jutting partitions of cubicles and personal office spaces not big enough to house full classrooms of students.

Nonetheless, Yale offered the space to a delighted Peck Place.

The three-person layout team produced a practical design in a weekend. The small office spaces serve as teacher offices and storage rooms while the cubicle spaces make up the classrooms. Partitions were rearranged to accommodate a class size of roughly 20 children with the major difference being the lack of full walls and doors. Classes of the same grade level occupy neighboring classroom space, with classes of the same subjects being taught next to each other. Students and teachers can see from their classroom into the next and can hear their neighbors if voices aren’t controlled. This poses a new obstacle for both students and teachers, accustomed to having a door to shut. Carbone, however, has noticed the children to be very respectful in the new environment.

“You can literally see the next class if you look across the hall, but it’s not a problem,” he said. “The kids have been so resilient and they’ve picked up on this.”

had to be adjusted to prepare this space for children. Transforming the facility for safety meant a great deal of adjustments. The building connects directly to the campus’s School of Nursing by a bridge, easily crossed by wandering students. Specialized hardware had to be installed on these doors to ensure the elementary students didn’t wander into the nursing school while leaving the doors functional for escape in case of emergency.

“As much as the nursing students might love some little visitors,” Kelly smiled, “We can’t allow that.”

A gym was made out of some of the cubicle space. Yale associates lined the windowed walls with padded cushioning and recessed the hanging lighting into the ceiling to give the children freedom to play. In March, a parking lot in the back of the building was turned into an outdoor recess area for the children, bordered with orange netting to catch any stray balls.

“It’s a prime space for offices, but it wasn’t meant to be an elementary school,” said Danica Kelly, Yale West Campus’ Communications and Administrative Services Manager. “We were tasked with turning this administrative space into a school. That’s when we pulled our sleeves up.”

Carbone, his wife Mariza, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Colleen Murray and Superintendent Lynn McMullin toured the space, given three weeks to transform it into a working elementary school and at first Carbone had a hard time visualizing it.

“It was all little cubicles, and we’re talking to each other like ‘Oh, this will work, this will work,’” McMullin said with a laugh. “Meanwhile Eric said ‘I don’t see it.’”

By the end of their tour, it was time to get thinking. “I remember standing on this first floor,” Carbone recalled.

“And Lynn told us, ‘OK, give us a school by Monday.’”

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Principal Eric Carbone drops in on a 3rd grade music class using Orph instruments.

COMMUNITY AND PARENTS

Carbone, Murray, and the Board of Education worked closely with Yale staff and local fire and police departments to outfit the building for its new purpose. Hundreds of unexpected problems arose along the way, but teamwork and innovation answered each one.

“Buses, parent drop-off, lunch waves, after-school programs,” listed Kelly.

“There were so many things to consider.” Many things in the building

A cafeteria makes up a large room on the first floor, outfitted with lunch tables from Peck Place. The school is mandated by the state to provide a purchasable lunch, but having a hot lunch in the new space was difficult because of health regulations.

Instead, cafeteria employees prepare cold lunches for the students, such as sandwiches, which are transported in a refrigerated vehicle to the Yale campus, daily.

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Even the building’s elevators had to be modified for children. Underneath the first floor, the basement connects to the School of Nursing and the outside. The button on the elevator that goes to the basement needed to be unresponsive unless used by personnel with a specific key.

Three weeks went by and the building was ready for its new purpose, a feat which Carbone described as “unreal.”

However, after dealing with issues transforming the space, the teams needed to help the students adjust to their new surroundings.

DEDICATED COOPERATION

Yale and Peck Place staff worked tirelessly to make the transition as comfortable for the students as possible, filling the walls with color-coded paw prints (the Peck Place mascot is the panther) to direct the children to their appropriate areas and floors. In fact, the interior of the finished school looks like it could have always been a grade school. Some parts of the school even have windows safe for dry-erase marker that the students love to write and draw on.

Yale staff helped the children feel very welcome; Benjamin Polak, the Provost of Yale University, visited the children in March and played a numbers game with Mrs. Behun’s 6th graders, Vice President of West Campus, Scott Strobel, personally thanked Mrs. Gorry’s 2nd graders for

the beautiful hand written thank you notes, and several West Campus administrators, staff and students read their favorite stories to the students as part of this year’s “adopt-a-reader” day Getting the students to adjust to the new processes took several weeks, according to Carbone.

“Children are used to routines,” said Carbone. “Every process that we had back at Peck had to be recreated.”

Even the dismissal routine had to be changed because of limited room for buses. The students gather in the cafeteria (again, former cubicle space) and await the calling of their bus number. Then they are escorted outside. “Yale security comes and helps us every day at dismissal and in the morning, too,” said Carbone.

“They have been really helpful.”

In some ways, Carbone and the Peck Place staff feel a little spoiled at Yale.

Yale staff answer their every request, with many of the supplies being loaned from Yale.

“If we need anything, we just call Yale and they have someone here in five minutes,” said Carbone. “We just had someone fix some blinds that were stuck. There was a crack in the concrete, and Yale came with their cement and fixed it right away.”

Some teachers enjoy better accommodations at Yale than they did at Peck Place. Music classes used to

Yale Provost, Ben Polak, plays a numbers game with Mrs. Behun's 6th graders during his visit.

share a space with other classes, but at Yale, music has its own designated room. There are even more teacher lounges at Yale than Peck.

“Even this,” Carbone said, picking up his walkie-talkie, “is loaned by Yale.”

McMullin explained it from the perspective of a teacher. “Here it’s kind of the opposite of what Eric and I are used to in our everyday work,” she said. “Every year we have a budget meeting. If what you want isn’t in the budget, you don’t get it.

We’re not used to people responding to our needs, usually it’s ‘if you need something put it on the list and we’ll get it next summer.’”

RESILIENCY PAYS OFF

Originally, the students were only meant to stay until March, though once the extent of the damage to Peck Place was understood, it became clear the children needed to finish the year in their temporary school. At the end of the school year, Peck Place’s graduating sixth graders will parade down the campus’s pathways to the decorated field where they will graduate from elementary school at Yale. 쮿

Students in grade three take an Accelerated Reader Quiz using portable laptops in their new library.

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Looking for an Orange Business?

Search using the OrangeEDC.com website

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THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

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Community Bits BY: TERRI MILES

2014 is a big year for businesses that are celebrating milestones.

Georgina Mauriello, owner of Georgina’s Hair Studio, 290 Boston Post Road, is celebrating her 30th year of business in Orange.

Georgina is known for her expertise in working with “textured” hair that's natural curly hair that some girls and women dislike. Georgina will give you a style to compliment your face and figure and teach you how to keep that perfect salon look.

Dr. Jeffery Arnel, owner of Arnel Family Chiropractic, 233 Boston Post Road, marks his 20th anniversary this year. He says he's never “healed” a patient in his entire career, because the body has a way of healing itself, he just helps it along.

Donald Jones, Owner of the UPS Store — Orange, 554 Boston Post Road celebrates his 10th year in business this year. The store has become the town’s one-stop-shop for printing, packaging and shipping services.

DOG LICENSES

June is Dog License month. Dog licenses are due and payable at the Town Clerk’s office. All dogs, 6 months old and older must be licensed. Owners must submit a rebus vaccination certificate to obtain a license. Spayed and neutered dogs — $8, Dogs that are not “fixed” $19.

JUNIORETTES

The Orange Community Juniorettes held their first fundraiser on April 18th-19th at Material Girls. The Juniorettes sold handmade Easter eggs, baskets, fresh cut flowers, and plants. We wish to thank Material Girls, The Home Depot, and Trader Joes for all of their support. And of course, a big thank you to all who came out to support us. All proceeds go directly to service projects within Orange.

Celebrating 53 years in business is Ben’s Service Center and Towing, 115 Boston Post Road. Ben and Andrea Santamauro are proud to be part of the Orange community. The shop offers emission testing, full mechanic services, towing and now, they honor Stop & Shop gas points as well.

Eniko Jonas, Owner of Orange Music Studio, 501 Boston Post Road is celebrating her 2nd year anniversary. The music studio provides quality music lessons for a variety of instruments for all ages. Eniko’s staff have over 45 years’ experience teaching students the fine art of music and want to share their love of music with you.

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Front Row Left to Right: Emily, Caelin; 2nd Row Left to Right: Josie, Erika, Keira; 3rd Row Left to Right:Alli, Alexa, Lilli; Back Row: Cheri, Karen

The Easter Bunny visits the Pez Museum and hands out candy to the children.

EGG-CITING DAY AT THE PEZ VISITOR CENTER!

On Saturday, April 19th the PEZ Visitor Center held an Easter Egg Hunt in the fields adjacent to the center. Over 500 children participated and went home with plastic eggs stuffed with PEZ candy. Some lucky children went home with special eggs that contained Visitor Center gift cards or discount coupons good toward a future visit.

The day would not be complete without a visit from the Easter Bunny himself. After the hunt, children were treated to a picture with the Easter Bunny, more candy and an Easter Bunny PEZ dispenser! The egg hunt was free to participants and brought over 700 people to the Visitor Center.

Shawn Peterson, Visitor Center Program Manager, states “I was very excited to get such a great response to our first Easter event and would like to thank everyone that came out to participate. This will be an event we hope to do again next year and turn into an annual tradition.” 쮿

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Two longtime supporters of the University of New Haven were honored by the University which named the Orange complex of three buildings the Bergami and Pompea Graduate Center in honor of Samuel S. Bergami, Jr. ’85 EMBA and his wife, Lois, and Charles E. Pompea ’71, ’90 EMBA and his wife, Tamera. Shown from left are: Lois Bergami, Sam Bergami, UNH President Steven H. Kaplan, Tammie Pompea and Charlie Pompea.

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THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

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Strawberry Festival BY: STEPHANIE NASH-BLANCHETTE

It’s a snow-covered February evening, but the members of the Orange Congregational Church Strawberry Festival Committee are thinking ahead to a (hopefully) sunny and warm June Saturday.

ADVANCED PLANNING

This dedicated group of volunteers, led by co-chairs Marie Gesler and Susan Cassidy, is already hard at work planning the sixth annual Strawberry Festival for June 14th at the Orange Fairgrounds at High Plains Community Center.

The beginnings of this much-anticipated yearly event were humble, with a simple goal of bringing the community together for some good old-fashioned fun and delicious food.

For the first couple of years, festivalgoers enjoyed classic children’s games, live musical entertainment, and face-painting; and in subsequent festival years, local vendors and crafters were invited to share their products and talents. But the Strawberry Festival’s crowning glory has always been the food: timeless fair favorites like steak and cheese subs, pulled pork sandwiches and freshcooked hamburgers and hot dogs for lunch and dinner; and hand cut

strawberries by the thousands to fill pies, top ice cream sundaes and serve as the centerpiece of luscious strawberry shortcakes.

STEADILY GROWING

Over the years, the crowd of attendees has swelled, prompting a move last year from the town green in front of the church to the fairgrounds at High Plains Community Center. The larger space allowed the festival to grow even larger with the addition of carnival rides such as the swings and the Berry-Go-Round. Seventy-five vendors participated, and over 3,000 attendees enjoyed food and fun on a gorgeous June day. Although the Committee was initially anxious that the larger space and added attractions would take away from the small town community feel of the event, they only served to enhance the experience and preserve the “fun for all ages” element.

BIGGER AND BETTER

The Orange Congregational Church’s annual Strawberry Festival continues to grow this year with more rides — including a carousel — and the inauguration of a “Red Car Show” to engage auto enthusiasts. The Committee will also be scheduling some old-fashioned relay races throughout the day, encouraging intergenerational team participation and guaranteeing lots of smiles.

for the big day, from soliciting donations for raffle prizes to arranging for large food purchases to stocking up on small giveaways for children’s games. In the weeks leading up to the Festival, the church community is bursting with action and food preparation is in full swing: chopping strawberries, making jam, prepping the pork, rolling out pie crusts, and — you guessed it! — chopping even more strawberries.

When that June day dawns sunny and bright and the fairgrounds fill with boisterous laughter, tempting smells and warm feelings of community; all the time and care put into planning and executing the event is worthwhile.

EVENT DETAILS

This year’s Strawberry Festival will take place on Saturday, June 14, 2014 from 9am to 6pm at the High Plains Community Center. The rain date is Sunday, June 15th. There are still open spots for vendors, and new volunteers are always welcome.

For more information about the Festival, call 203-795-9749 or visit the church website at www.orangecongregationalchurch.org. 쮿

Planning is still in its early stages now, but activity will ramp up even more once spring is in full bloom.

Committee members and volunteers gather to do the work of preparing

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FAIRS & FESTIVALS

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Self-Esteem Development BY: KIMBERLY KICK, OWNER, THE GODDARD SCHOOL

INFANTS

Self esteem begins with building trust. You can build trust with infants by meeting their needs in a timely fashion. When you respond to a child’s cry, you are showing that they are worthy of care and love.

When you meet their needs consistently, the infant trusts that they are consistently worthy, therefore building self-esteem.

TODDLER/GET SET (18-36 MONTHS)

Now that your infant has trust it is important to continue building trust into the Toddler Phase. Self-esteem comes from the picture the child has of himself as someone who can do things. Toddlers believe they can accomplish certain tasks and supporting their independence builds confidence that they can succeed.

Offer your child activities that lead to success. Toddlers are very successful at self-care activities, such as getting

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dressed, cleaning up after self and helping around the house, but they also enjoy new activities. When planning your day, find ways for your toddler’s involvement to be important.

PRESCHOOL (36 MONTHS – 5 YEARS)

A preschooler’s self-esteem is all about supported choices. Unlike the Toddler Phase when choices are made from selected options, a preschool child’s actions are the choice.

Preschool children are attracted to specific activities such as blocks or art. Goddard teachers will support that child’s choice to stay in that center every day and take the learning skills to the child. By doing so, the teacher has supported the child’s choice. The child interprets this as “If my choice was supported, I am good because my choice was good.”

Consistent support will lead to the child’s trust in his own decisionmaking, therefore building selfesteem.

PRE-K/K (5+ YEARS)

Pre-K and Kindergarten children build self-esteem through skill mastery. You may see your Pre-K child go back to old familiar activities or repeat activities. This process of experiencing past successes builds confidence. Ask your child openended questions to find out what they are thinking and know about their own activity. After your child displays their knowledge, inquire with “what if?” questions to draw out the next level of curiosity. Social skill success begins to play an important role in self-esteem. Offer opportunities for new social opportunities in anticipation of the next step to Kindergarten or First grade. 쮿

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Energy Efficiency BY: ENERGIZE CONNECTICUT

Energize Connecticut helps homeowners select the proper LED for their home and advises homeowners that lumens, not watts, is what’s important when selecting LEDs. Energy-efficient advancements in lighting offer consumers an opportunity to reduce their energy bills. One thing that consumers can do to save energy is to install super-efficient ENERGY STAR® LED light bulbs. One LED light bulb can last up to 25 times longer and uses about 80 percent less electricity than an old-fashioned incandescent.

There is an LED option for every application in your home, but choosing the proper LED light bulb is much different than selecting an old incandescent or compact fluorescent light (CFL).

Most homeowners select bulbs by looking at watts, but with LEDs, the important number to look at is the lumen rating. An LED bulb’s light output is measured in lumens, not watts. Manufacturers have made it easy for consumers by including this information on the package.

Similar to a nutrition label found in grocery stores, the lighting facts label also provides information that can help consumers choose the right bulb for a specific room.

temperatures. To maintain consistent light quality, it’s best to use bulbs with the same color temperature throughout a room. Consumers have many options from warm yellow to cool daylight. Another great feature of LEDs is that they turn on instantly, even in cold weather.

Switching from traditional incandescent light bulbs to LEDs is a simple, yet effective way to reduce energy use in your home. Not only will these bulbs use less energy, they will help save money on energy bills and prevent greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change.

To help consumers make the easy switch to LEDs, discounts are now

available through Energize Connecticut, and prices continue to drop as more options become available.

Consumers are also urged to look for the Energize Connecticut logo at participating retailers throughout Connecticut for special discounts.

For more information on energysaving programs and services supported by Energize Connecticut, call 1-877-WISE-USE or visit: EnergizeCT.com.

ABOUT ENERGIZE CONNECTICUT

Energize Connecticut helps you save money and use clean energy. It is an initiative of the Energy Efficiency Fund, the Clean Energy Finance & Investment Authority, the State, and your local electric and gas utilities, with funding from a charge on customer energy bills. Information on energy-saving programs can be found at EnergizeCT.com or by calling 1.877.WISE.USE. 쮿

While lumens will help you determine a bulb’s brightness another important consideration is the color of the light which can affect a room’s appearance. Two bulbs with equal lumen ratings can produce very different results if they have different color

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HOUSE & HOME

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Paradise Vineyards BY: ANNAMARIE MASTRANGELO AMORE I came across this amazing Family Owned and operated Winery.

Paradise Hills Vineyard & Winery established in 1997.

The Ruggiero Family looks forward to welcoming visitors to Paradise Hills Vineyard and Winery, their boutique Tuscan winery nestled among 65 acres of rolling hills along the Washington Trail in Wallingford.

The family’s passion is to share their love of wine and the art of the wine making process. With an eye to detail and a belief that wine should be enjoyed by all, results are superb

wines with an approachable price tag. They make a variety of wines from Chardonnay, Cayuga, Chambourcin, Seyval Blanc, Vignoles, and Vidal. The winery offers wine tasting, ambiance and relaxation.

After 14 years of operating solely as a vineyard, supplying quality wine grapes to several Connecticut farm wineries, the Ruggiero’s are proud to open their new winery and tasting room for all to enjoy some time in paradise. While sitting in the amazing architecture of this establishment, the details are amazing and tranquil.

On any given day, visitors will find Albert, Margaret, Natalie, Richard, Brenda, Jay and Diana in the tasting room, sharing stories and adventures over a glass of wine.

The intimate Tuscan boutique styled winery has a hand-crafted copper bar, decorative chandeliers,

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and mahogany tables, which provide a romantic setting to enjoy the countryside. This Winery is a great find with reasonable pricing and an incredible view. 쮿 Paradise Hills Winery: 15 Wind Swept Hill Road Wallingford, Connecticut (203) 284-0123 Year Round Hours of Operation: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 9am – 5pm Thursday: 11am – 8pm Friday: 11am – 9pm Saturday: 11am – 8pm Sunday: 11am – 6pm LIFE & LEISURE

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Summer and Fall Calendar BY: TERRI MILES

Fun events to look forward to in the months ahead.

BOARD OF EDUCATION OLYMPICS

DOC'S RACE

Elementary school students will be able to show off their athletic abilities at the annual OBOE School Olympics at the Orange Fairgrounds on Wednesday, June 11 from around 3 –6 p.m. The day includes races, softball throwing competitions and other events for which the children train during the school year. Jim Ronai hosts the Olympics with music and announcing by Ed Choiniere.

Medals are presented to the winners.

The second annual Doc Whitney 5K Road Race will take place at the High Plains Community Center on Sunday, June 29. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and race begins at 10 a.m. Proceeds will go to the Orange Country Fair, an event that was near and dear to Doc Whitney's heart.

STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

The 6th annual Orange Congregational Church Strawberry Festival will, once again take place at the Orange Fairgrounds on Orange Center Road. This year, the event will take place on Saturday, June 14 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with a rain date of Sunday, June 15. The event includes the best fresh strawberry shortcake around, children's games, raffle, food, vendors and more.

ORANGE BUSINESS & COMMUNITY EXPO

The 13th annual Orange Business and Community Expo will take place at the High Plains Community Center on Wednesday, June 18 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parking and admission are free. The event includes 58 vendors from Orange businesses and community groups, food, networking opportunities and raffles throughout the day.

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INDEPENDENCE DAY CONCERT AND FIREWORKS

The annual 4th of July concert and fireworks will take place at the Orange Fairgrounds on Saturday, July 5 with a rain date of July 6. The concert begins at 6:30 p.m. Fireworks will light up the sky at 9:30 p.m.

FIREMEN'S CARNIVAL

The Orange Volunteer Firemen’s Carnival will take place at the Orange Fairgrounds Thursday, July 31 – Sunday, Aug. 3. This annual event attracts visitors from miles away and proceeds from the Main Food Tent and Firemen’s Satellite Food Tent as well as several games that the firefighter’s host go to the Volunteer Fire Association for the purchase of equipment and training costs.

tractor pull. Start getting your plants, photos and collections ready now and compete for the coveted Best in Show ribbon.

SHRINER CAR SHOW

Automobile enthusiasts travel from near and far for the annual Shriner’s Car Show. Take a step back in time and check out the Model T Fords, Chryslers and that mint condition 1966 Charger that you always wanted, all on display at the Orange Fairgrounds on Sunday, October 5.

TRAIN SHOW

The New Haven & Derby Model Railroad Club will host its annual Model Train Show at the High Plains Community Center, Sunday, Oct. 12, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. There will be more than 100 vendor tables throughout the building selling everything railroad related, from model train cars, to miniatures, fullsized oil lanterns, postcards and so much more. Children and adults love the running displays making this a fine family event.

TURKEY TROT

The Rotary Club of Orange will host its second annual Rotary Turkey Trot — 5k road race, Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, Nov. 27 at High Plains Community Center. This race is a USTAF Sanctioned event with splits at 1, 2 and 3 miles. Proceeds benefit the Rotary’s humanitarian support and charitable services. 쮿

ORANGE COUNTRY FAIR

The annual Orange Country Fair will take place at the Orange Fairgrounds on Saturday, Sept. 20 – Sunday, Sept.

21. This wonderful agricultural fair includes exhibits, contests, and old fashioned small town spirit that one would expect in Orange. The Pig Races are always a favorite as is the women’s frying pan toss and garden CALENDAR

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Georgina’s Hair Studio

Hair Master Georgina Mauriello Hair Legend Vincent Farricielli

Decades of Experience Years of Award-Winning Talents Why Settle for Less?

Leader in All Textured Hair And Multi Cultural Hair Colorist Extraordi Waxing Hair Straightening And Hair Loss Treatments Air Brush Make Up Bridal Packages On Premises

290 Boston Post Road, Orange, CT 06477

203.799.2166 www.GeorginasHairStudio.net

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SUMMER 2014

Material Girls

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun in Orange!

BY: ALYSSA DAVANZO

Ladies, try to envision a day devoted to catching up and cracking up with your best girlfriends. Thanks to Orange’s fantastic local businesses, it has never been easier to plan the ultimate “girl’s day,” filled with nothing but style, relaxation, and good times!

TRENDY AND UNIQUE SHOPPING

If treating yourself to new summertime outfits and conversation necklaces is up your alley, look no further than 463 Boston Post Road. Material Girls, located next to Kaoud Rugs, is the perfect place to shop with a group of friends. The spacious, colorful boutique opened over three years ago and caters to a variety of budgets and fashion needs.

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Considered to be one of Connecticut’s best-kept secrets, Material Girls offers a fabulous selection of jewelry, women’s clothing and accessories as well as children’s gifts! Kristina Kaoud opened the boutique after noticing a lack of locally owned stores that sell fun, one-of-a-kind merchandise at prices that customers can afford.

“I love to shop for very nice things, but at good price points,” Kristina said. “When someone walks into Material Girls, they should not expect sticker shock!”

Whether someone is searching for a perfect “thinking of you” gift or a baby’s 1st birthday present, Material Girls is known for its diverse collection of goodies, not to mention its convenient gift-wrapping services!

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This year, YD Spa celebrated its 3-year anniversary! In honor of its third year in business, the spa has held a number of incredible promotions, such as $10 off a service of $50 or more. Anniversary sales do not expire until the end of 2014.

“I love Orange because of the people,” said Cindi Flynn, owner of YD Spa. “The spa gets customers from Milford and Orange, but also from towns further away like West Haven, Trumbull, Danbury and Waterbury.”

YD Spa

RELAXING MASSAGES AND MORE

“The store has a mix of the hottest trends and unique pieces that you won’t find in every department store,” Kristina said. “You’re not going to buy something at Material Girls and discover everyone else is wearing it too!”

Lulled meditation music? Check. Lava stone and personalized aromatherapy offered with all massages? Check.

YD Spa, located at 557 F Boston Post Road, provides pampering services that range from skin clearing facials to custom manicures and pedicures!

Kristina makes it her mission to buy items for different women and their particular tastes, instead of just focusing on items that match her personal style.

For an hour or two, it is important to take a breather from the hustlebustle of reality. The spa emphasizes health and wellness as two of its top priorities.

At night, Material Girls offers customers the option of hosting a private party for a school, organization or favorite charity! Instead of worrying about getting the house ready for guests and then having to clean up afterward, ladies have the chance to shop, chat, and enjoy drinks all at the same time! During fundraising events, Material Girls donates a portion of sales to support the cause of choice.

The summer is the spa’s most popular time of year and waxing appointments book up quickly! Treatments are gentle and the spa maintains the utmost sanitary and safety conditions for all available waxing services.

Today, massage therapy is viewed as an alternative medicine used to relieve pain and promote circulation and flexibility. YD Spa offers deep tissue and Swedish body massages, as well as its acclaimed YD signature massage, which combines a Swedish massage with hot stone and aromatherapy.

For those who spend an excessive amount of time on their feet, foot reflexology can alleviate pain and replace anxiety with a deep state of relaxation.

“Orange has always been very community-oriented. I can remember going to the carnival when I was a kid,” Kristina said. “It is great to see neighbors supporting each other and the local businesses in town!”

To stay in the loop with the store’s latest items, search for “Material Girls of Orange, CT” on Facebook!

After leaving Material Girls with filled bags and a flashy new wardrobe, a trip to the spa is the ideal second stop for a girl’s day.

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Lucille’s Bridal

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“I think of the foot as the root of a tree,” Cindi said. “It is healthy for people to get a one-hour foot massage, especially runners or people who drive a lot. Retired customers especially enjoy getting regular foot massages.”

A foot massage starts with a 15-minute shoulder, neck and arm massage, while the feet soak in water.

Once the feet soften, pressure is pleasantly placed on the heel, ankle bone and arch of each foot.

Revitalizing facials repair cellular damage caused by daily stress and strengthens the skin’s ability to protect itself. Facials incorporate massages with skin therapy.

“If someone asked me to recommend which YD Spa services for the best spa day, I would suggest an hour massage, a 30-minute foot massage and a one-hour facial,” Cindi said.

Walk-ins are accepted but appointments are suggested. To find out more information about the spa’s special offers, packages and membership options, visit www.ydspa.org.

ELEGANT SHOPPING OCCASIONS

For a group of girls looking to shop for a special occasion, Lucille’s Bridal on 236 Boston Post Road has a gorgeous collection of dresses for all ages. Lucille’s has helped teenagers, prospective brides and mothers-ofthe-brides search for the dresses of their dreams for over 42 years!

life-long Orange resident and owner of Lucille’s Bridal. “We strive for our customers to be happy, which is why customer service is our main concern.”

collection. In addition to dresses, Lucille’s also offers tuxedos and elegant accessories. Browse through Lucille’s styles online at www.lucillesbridalshop.com.

The store has gained an excellent reputation with customers from different sections of Connecticut and even outside of the state.

The time to visit these spectacular local businesses is now! Ladies -take a deep breath, hire a babysitter if you need to, and give your friends a call! Live it up and enjoy! 쮿

“I want to hear that we have the best selection around, so I like to stay trendy and updated with the latest styles,” Antonietta said. “A lot of the time, women who purchase our dresses will later come back to shop for other events.”

If a bridal party, the mother-of-thebride and her daughter, or a group of prom queens make an appointment at Lucille’s, they can expect both great advice and genuine honesty.

“I give suggestions of dresses that may complement the women’s bodies in the best way, and I tell the truth if something does not look right,” Antonietta said. “I want my customers to feel comfortable, look beautiful and get complimented.”

In the future, Lucille’s Bridal may add European designer dresses to their already spectacular bridal

Alyssa DaVanzo is a junior Communications and Journalism UConn student. She aspires to write or edit in the production field.

Given a 5 star review in WeddingWire and Martha Stewart’s wedding website, Lucille’s Bridal is busiest in the spring and summertime with quinceañeras, high school dances, and weddings.

It is easy for women to step foot in a dress shop and immediately feel overwhelmed by the large variety of dress designs. Thankfully, what makes Lucille’s unique is the one-onone attention given to each customer.

“I’ve heard stories of people who are excited walking into a bridal shop but then end up leaving disappointed because they are not treated very well,” said Antonietta Catania,

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Land of the Dinosaurs BY: CHRIS ARNOTT

Before there was Mr. Peabody with his WABAC machine, there was another family-friendly Peabody: Yale's Peabody Museum of Natural History at the corner of Whitney Avenue and Sachem Street near downtown New Haven.

How far back does this Peabody go?

Yale scientists started collecting and exhibiting its “curiosities,” including a dazzling set of minerals found by Prof. Benjamin Silliman, in the early 1800s. The museum itself was created in 1866. Some of the items inside the place goes back hundreds of millions of years. The museum had to be moved and expanded in the 1920s when it ran out of room to contain all the dinosaur bones that were being sent there by O.C. Marsh. The legendary paleontologist was responsible for giving dozens of dinosaurs the names by which we know them today, including the Triceratops, Stegasaurus, and Allosaurus.

DINOSAURS STILL RULE

The museum’s Great Hall houses models, and actual skeletons, of the immense creatures, including an Apatosaurus (a revision of what previous generations knew as a Brontosaurus). The hall also features the extraordinary 110-foot long mural painting by Rudy Zallinger showing the dinos in their natural leafy habitats, over the course of several prehistoric eras.

In 2005 the Peabody installed a bronze statue of a Torosaurus (another dinosaur named by Marsh) outside the museum. The imposing artwork stands on a 13-foot-high pedestal and weighs over three tons.

A Torosaurus greets all visitors to the Peabody Museum. Photo credit: M. Doolittle.

Recent temporary exhibits at the Peabody have taken visitors to ancient Egypt and outer space. But this summer, the big show on the museum's first floor special-exhibition area involves more dinosaurs. This time, they’re little ones. For the first couple of months of the Tiny Titans: Dinosaur Eggs and Babies exhibit, actual eggs were getting hatched in an incubator enclosed in a central glass case. The eggs came from emus, giant birds which are directly related to dinosaurs. After several eggs hatched, the chicks were moved to a “brooding box” in the same glass case, where visitors could see them grow up and strut about.

The Great Hall of Dinosaurs as seen from a window in the Discovery Room.

Photo credit: W. Sacco.

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“The Peabody is awesome,” gushes Betty Baisden, who’s performed her popular Roxi Fox puppet shows at the museum for over 20 years. She creates new shows around Peabodybased themes like ecology, Egyptian history and, yes, dinosaurs. “I’ve seen a real turnaround in them not just being academic but being family friendly too,” Baisden says. They have programs for kids, summer camps, vacation week camps, opportunities for high school students. It’s very cool to see all these things actually happening, all these people engaged.

It’s been a great transformation over the years.”

Students compare the bronze skulls of a human and a chimpanzee, man’s closest living relative, in the Peabody’s permanent exhibit “Fossil Fragments: The Riddle of Human Origins.” Photo credit: Yale Peabody Museum.

The emus have now moved on, but Tiny Titans (on view through August) don’t need live animals to stir up excitement. Models of snarling dinosaurs protecting their eggs, and paintings of Saurapod shells hatching or a condor-like beast feeding its young, are plenty exciting.

EVERY AREA IS ENTICING

Kids are catered to in the Discovery Room, where they can gaze at brightly colored (and poisonous!) tree frogs, giant snakes and industrious leaf-cutter ants, and where you can compare the textures of animal furs and tree barks. But all the areas of the Peabody are family friendly.

There are the lifelike dioramas and the actual Egyptian mummy on the third floor. There’s the box on the first floor which you can gaze into and see how human heads and facial structures evolved over the centuries.

There’s this amusing “Yale Tale” emblazoned on a plaque near fossils proving that the Australopithecus afarensis walked on two legs: “While walking back to camp one evening, [curator Andrew] Hill fell trying to avoid a large ball of elephant dung thrown at him by a colleague. With his face only inches from the rock, he recognized footprints made by antelopes and rhinos preserved in the volcanic ash, and among these, hominid footprints.”

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FAMILY FRIENDLY

Families stream into the Peabody from all over. In the winter of 201213, when the profusion of snow days forced New Haven to cancel its February vacation, the Peabody held its annual “Dinosaur Days” vacation events anyway and did just fine with all the visitors from suburbs which hadn’t cancelled the break.

Admission to the Peabody Museum is $9 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for children, but there are group discounts if you make a reservation in advance, and free admission of Thursday afternoons from September through June. A museum membership—$45 for individuals, $65 for households—quickly pays for itself, since it gets you free admission to the museum as well as discounts at the Peabody gift shop. For more info on the endless explorations and excitements of the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, visit http://peabody.yale.edu or call (203) 432-5050. 쮿

Theropod Dinosaur Eggs. Late Cretaceous, 70-85 million years old, real fossil, discovered in China. Photo credit: Melanie Brigockas.

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Orange Marketplace CONNECT YOUR BUSINESS TO OUR READERS

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Provide your business contact information and we will do the rest! OrangeLife Magazine is delivered to every Home, Business and PO Box within the Town of Orange.

Total Mailed Circulation is 6,200 – Additional magazines are distributed at various locations throughout the community.

The Orange Marketplace is designed to give small businesses an opportunity to advertise their Company, Brand and/or Service in the OrangeLife magazine at a low cost.

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To participate call Mary Bialy or Paul Grimmer at (203) 891-1045.

EXCAVATION & SEPTIC REPAIR

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR

T.M. Wright Excavating Jay Damon 305 Old Grassy Hill Road Orange, CT 06477 Phone: 203-799-2078 Fax: 203-799-6944

R.S. Electrical Contractor Ronald Petrillo 120 Sargent Drive New Haven, CT 06511 Phone: 203-724-1054 Fax: 203-865-5195

VACATION CRUISE PLANNING

BANKING

Cruise Planners Leslie Marsh, EEC CT Phone 203-799-2367 FL Phone: 239-513-0251 Toll Free: 866-912-7245 Fax: 203-907-1600 getreadytocruise.com Leslie@getreadytocruise.com Facebook: CTCruisePlanners

Webster Bank Stephen Carbonella 247 Boston Post Road Orange, CT 06477 Phone: 203-795-2780 Fax 203-795-2784 WebsterBank.Com Scabonella@websterbank.com Facebook: websterbank @websterbank Linkedin.com/Websterbank

CUSTOM JEWELRY

Origami Owl Custom Living Jewelry Marie Rossi Phone: 203-430-8646 marierossi.origamiowl.com Rerossi@snet.net

PROPERTY INSURANCE ADJUSTERS

Apicella Adjusters John Apicella 284 South Lambert Road Orange, CT 06477 Phone: 203-795-3111 Fax: 203-799-8697 ApicellaAdjusters.com john@apicellaadjusters.com

READ THIS ISSUE AND PAST ISSUES AT:

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