The Orange Times is doing something new with this year’s Volunteers of the Year awards: we’re also honoring two nominees from Milford! Two Milford candidates will be chosen by the readers from a list of five to receive this award and will be recognized alongside the Orange winners.
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The Volunteers of the Year awards are a chance for the readers of The Orange Times to show their respect and thanks for those individuals who help make our communities what they are. As The Orange Times has been making strides in expanding our circulation into Milford, it only makes sense to extend this honor as well.
Voting will happen through ballot boxes at City Hall and Cafe’ Atlantique in Milford, as well as the High Plains Community Center and Case Memorial Library in Orange. Two nominees will be selected from each town. All four winners will be honored at a time and location to be determined. Last year’s award ceremony was held at La Famiglia Vincenzo and included proclamation’s from the state legislature representing Orange.
Those chosen as nominees in Milford were done so based on the merits and scope of their efforts as well as a consideration for the length of time they have dedicated to volunteering. Ballots for the nominees are available on page 18 and can be dropped off at Cafe Atlantique or Milford’s City Hall. Ballots must be submitted by Jan. 23. Votes also can ] be cast via email at MVOTY@theorangetimes.com. The two top vote earners will be recognized.
The Milford nominees for the 2017 The Orange Times Volunteers of the Year are:
Lloyd Jacobs
Lloyd Jacobs has volunteered at the First United Church of Christ for more than 12 years on the Emma Davis Medical Equipment Ministry, gathering used medical equipment to repair and distribute free of charge. Jacobs is also the first vice president of the Milford Historical Society, where he oversees caretaker and construction duties. He is a founder of the Friends of Milford Cemetery. In addition, Jacobs volunteers at Milford Food 2 Kids, making monthly trips to the CT Food Bank to pick up large food orders to be packaged and distributed to school children in need.
Anne Bolin
Anne Bolin has been president of The Friends of The Milford Library since the fall of 2014. In her tenure she created the “Little Libraries” project, building miniature libraries around the city to facilitate reading. She also began a high school book awards program which awards juniors at Milford High School who show community spirit and commitment. Bolin also hands out and organizes “New Resident” packages that are given to all new registries for library cards and has organized special book sale days during the Oyster Festival and the holiday season, all of which aid in promoting and funding the Milford Library.
Patricia Wigham
Patricia Wigham has been an Information Desk volunteer at Milford Hospital for 43 consecutive years with 9,374 volunteering hours logged to date. She was a former President of the Milford Hospital Auxiliary where she served from 1981 – 1983 and was the Legislation Chairperson until last year. She now has the distinct title of “Nominating Committee Chairperson” for the Auxiliary, recruiting officers and board members for the incoming board.
Rick George
Editor’s Note: The ballot appearing in the print edition of The Orange Times, Jan. 12, 2017, can be dropped off at Cafe’ Atlantique or City Hall. The drop-off information was erroneously omitted from the ballot itself but did appear in the story.
Milford’s official Santa Claus during the holiday season, George appears as Santa to almost any group that requests. He is retired from his positions as Director of the Milford Animal Shelter and as a board member and chair of the United Way. Along with his role as Santa (where he has designed a mobile “Santa’s Workshop” to travel with) George is also a greeter at John F. Kennedy High School.
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Grayce Mower
Currently a volunteer for Milford Hospital’s billing and credit office, the dietary department and the Walk In Center located on the Boston Post Road, Mower is also the Co-President of the Auxiliary for the second time. In her time as a volunteer Mower has logged 6,092 hours of service.
The official ballot can be found on page 18. You may vote for candidates in both communities.