By Brandon T. Bisceglia
The committee that is organizing Orange’s 200th birthday has been formed and held its first meeting Dec. 9, with another meeting scheduled for Jan. 6 at High Plains Community Center.
Patrick O’Sullivan, who recently retired from his long-held position of town clerk, is chairing the Bicentennial Committee.
O’Sullivan said that the first brought 17 members of the committee together, where they decided to come up with ideas for the celebration and develop a calendar of events.
O’Sullivan said there was “much excitement and many positive ideas from the members of the committee.”
Several members of the committee were involved in Orange’s 150th birthday celebration in 1972, including Mitch Goldblatt, Robert Hiza, Diana Duarte and Priscilla Searles, who also writes a column for the Milford-Orange Times.
The other members of the committee are: Rev. Norman Brockett, Rev. Jennifer Campbell, Rev. Bill Cavanaugh, Connor Deane, Polly Demirjian, Ann Denny, Rabbi Michael Farbman, Santo Galatioto, Jr., Raymond LaPlante, Patricia Logioco, Kevin Margenau, Kellie Martino, Marianne Miller, Rev. Peter Orfanakos, Lynn Plaskowitz, Virginia Proestakes, Ginny Reinhard, Rev. Joshua Schiff, Mary Shaw, Paul Tarbox, Rabbi Alvin Wainhaus and Judy Williams.
The Orange Bicentennial Committee is still looking for volunteers to help in all aspects of the upcoming festivities.
Orange’s legacy, of course, stretches back more than 200 years. The land that is now called Orange was first settled by Europeans in 1639 as part of Milford and was incorporated as a separate town in 1822.
Even before that the area was under the control of the Paugussets. It was purchased by the Rev. Peter Prudden for six coats, 10 blankets, one kettle, 12 hatchets, 12 hoes, two dozen knives and a dozen small mirrors.
Orange was actually quite a bit larger until 1921, when the Connecticut General Assembly created West Haven from Orange’s southeastern section.
To volunteer for the bicentennial activities, reach out to any of the committee members individually or email adenny@orange-ct.gov.