Pictured (l-r): Sabrina Santoro of Sunflower Farm, Joe Moncheski of Grassy Hill Farm and Jeanne Consiglio, Market Master.
By Laura Fantarella - Orange Town News Correspondent
ORANGE - The Orange Farmers’ Market is scheduled for its grand opening on Wednesday, July 8th and every Wednesday through September 30th at the Orange Country Fairgrounds from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm. The town's five farms - Grassy Hill Farm, Buttermilk Lane, Shamrock Farm, Treat Farm and Sunflower Farm - will be on hand selling their fresh wares, along with twelve other vendors from across the state. This endeavor is the result of nearly a year of planning by Jeanne Consiglio, an Orange native and the projects "Market Master" who has always envisioned a community market. "It seems a natural fit - a farming community hosting an outdoor farm market," she said. First Selectman Jim Zeoli said the market had the unanimous support of the Board of Selectman. "I am thrilled, I think it will be a home run, and a big plus for the community," he said. "It will give all the local farms additional exposure, not only to town residents but to those beyond our boundaries that will visit." Zeoli will wear his other hat as a local farmer, representing Shamrock Farm selling plants, vegetables, and hopefully, eggs, at the upcoming market. Treat Farm owner Jeff Wilson said the Orange farmers see the new outdoor market as an opportunity to promote local grown agriculture and to connect with new customers. "We are all working hard to get things ready, and looking forward to bringing our vegetables to the market in July," Wilson said. There will be a variety of items for sale including produce, meats, cheeses, mushrooms, baked goods, stuffed breads, hand filled cannoli, maple syrup, honey, certified organic produce and salad greens, jams, natural soaps, and dog treats for our four legged friends. Besides the obvious opportunity to purchase fresh and healthy fare, Consiglio sees the market as a chance for neighbors to socialize. " I'm hoping it fosters a sense of community where people can come together, meet the vendors, share their favorite recipes and learn the value of purchasing products directly from the producer. And, don't forget your reusable shopping bags." The Orange Senior Center is offering rides to any seniors in town who can't drive to the fairgrounds. Just call Kim in the Community Services Office at 891-4788 a few days prior to the market to arrange for transportation. The market will be held, rain or shine, every Wednesday beginning July 8 from 3:30pm - 6:30pm except for July 29, due to the Fireman's Carnival and September 16th due to the Orange Country Fair. For more information, visit their website at www.orangefarmersmarket.com.
Orange Mourns Death of 2 Teens
ORANGE - The town is still in mourning more than two weeks after a crash involving a Milford police cruiser and a 2008 Mazda at the intersection of Route 1 and Dogwood Road during the early morning hours of June 13 which claimed the lives of two popular 19-year-old Orange teenagers. The teens, Ashlie Krakowski and her boyfriend, Dave Servin, were buried next to each other at Orange Cemetery in separate ceremonies. Both are graduates of Amity Regional High School in Woodbridge. While state police continued to investigate the crash, Krakowski's funeral took place June 17 at the Cody White Funeral Home on Broad Street, Milford. Servin was laid to rest two days later following a funeral service at Holy Infant Church in Orange. Friends of the youths attended both services, openly sobbing the sudden loss of the popular young couple. "We gather here today as a grieving community, struck dumb by the tragic death of Dave and Ashlie," said the Rev. Peter Dargan, pastor of Holy Infant Parish, during Servin's funeral. Dargan said while tragedies of people so young challenge people's faith, the onset of spring is "a reminder to us that nothing ever dies." Two days earlier, Krakowsi, who was studying to be a nurse at Gateway Community College, was mourned and recalled by many of the same friends as a "caring and kind" person who lit up a room with her smile. They said the two teens were with each other "all the time; almost every minute." During Servin's funeral, friends and family recalled him as "the life of the party who could make everyone laugh." They said he was "extremely proud" of his Native American heritage. His best friend, Corey Brown, said he will never forget Servin's "big smile and unbelievable sense of humor." The Connecticut Post reported that Servin's parents were actually at the accident scene after the crash, but that the car was so badly damaged they didn't realize that their son and girlfriend were in the car. "The car was so badly crushed we thought it was a hatchback of some kind," Susan Servin told the Post. "We could tell it was a horrible accident." She told the Post that "after mingling" for a while with the crowd, she and her husband went home. "Shocking and devastating" was how she described the news of her son's death just hours later. Meanwhile, state police investigators were granted warrants last week to search the vehicles involved in the crash. The Chief State Medical Examiner's Office in Farmington indicated both teens were killed by "blunt trauma" resulting from the crash.- Staff Report
Golf Event to Benefit Semmonella Scholarship
By Richard Weizel - Orange Town News Correspondent
ORANGE - A golf tournament held last June to raise money for the Salvatore Semmonella Memorial and Scholarship Fund was such a "major success" that plans are underway for a second annual tournament, said event Co-Chairman Paul Kaplan. Kaplan said about $17,000 was raised during the First Annual Golf Tournament last June 16 at the Orange Hills Country Club, 389 Racebrook Road, where the event will be held again this year on July 10. Semmonella, 17, was a passenger in a car driven by his best friend, Francesk Zefi, 18, who both died in a tragic March 3, 2008 accident on the Wilbur Cross Parkway. Both were popular students at Amity Regional High School. But after the tragedy a year ago, Gina and Andrew Semmonella decided that "something positive must come out of the tragedy," and established a memorial fund in their son's name to help provide scholarship funds to "deserving students" at Amity Regional High School, said Kaplan, a member of the Orange Town Plan & Zoning Commission. Kaplan and local resident Ken Miller, both parents of teenage boys who were close friends of the deceased students, said the golf tournament's success last year established it as an annual event. Kaplan said recently two students, including Amity High School football star Jason Moon received $500 college scholarships "We were absolutely thrilled with the community's response last year and we are hoping for a repeat this year," said Kaplan. "Usually when you kick off an event like this you can expect about $5,000 or $6,000 the first time out, but we greatly exceeded that last year and hope to be surprised again." Kaplan said about 90 golfers participated in last year's kick-off event, and he's hoping for more than 100 this year. Kaplan said Sal was one of his (19-year-old) son Stephen's best friends. "The goal of the fund was and still is to help students each year to go to college who exhibit some of the same attributes as Sal. That was the intent of his parents in establishing the fund." Semmonella was a captain of the Amity football team and, like Francesk, was known for his outgoing and warm personality and sense of humor, friends of the two teens said. Golfers participating in the tournament are being asked to contribute a $125 entrance fee which includes continental breakfast, golf, cart, luncheon, raffle prizes and contests. Sponsorships are available for the following: - Longest Drive - $500 - Closest to the Pin - $500 - Putting Contest - $250 - Tee or Green - $100
The event will include breakfast at 7 a.m., a shotgun start of the tournament at 8 a.m., with beverages and snacks; and a 1 p.m. luncheon cookout that will include presentations of awards and a raffle. Those not participating in the tournament can attend the luncheon for $30, which will include steaks, burgers, hot dogs, beer and other refreshments. Anyone wishing to make a donation to the scholarship fund or sign up for the golf tournament can make checks payable to the Sal Semmonella Scholarship Fund in c/o Ken Miller, 305 Knight Lane, Orange, CT., 06477 or call 795-8025 or 799-1422.
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