The Orange Times is proud to announce the Volunteers of the Year: 2015 as chosen by the readers. They are Mitch Goldblatt, John Caldwell and Marianne Miller. That’s one more honoree than we initially intended!
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Miller and Caldwell tied in the polls, so the nominating committee, comprising of publisher Steve Hechtman, Baxter Walsh and Kevin Hadlock, decided to allow three winners instead of two.
Goldblatt has been offering his services to Orange since the 1970s, when he participated in the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of Orange in 1972.
“And now we’re going to be celebrating the bicentennial in 6 more years,” Goldblatt said in a phone interview, laughing at the realization he’s been volunteering in town for almost 50 years.
In that time he’s served a number of elected and appointed positions. Some of his favorite achievements include serving on the committee that gave Orange’s residents a library. He’s also quite proud to be one of the champions of environmental and recycling efforts in town.
“I think some of the mantras for the environmental movement, ‘think globally, work locally’ really apply to volunteering too,” Goldblatt said.
While Miller is an active member of the Orange Players, her dedication to the community is certainly not an act. If there is a position of authority within the troupe, there’s a fair chance Miller has held it.
“I’m really proud that I managed to produce 15 shows with the Orange Players, even through illnesses and breaking my back,” Miller said. She’s also served as president and treasurer, at the same time.
While she’s mostly been behind the scenes, Miller has set a personal goal of getting back in front of the audience and would love a singing role.
Her dedication to the community doesn’t stop there. Miller is a past president of the Orange Lions Club and currently sits on the regional zone board, helping oversee six clubs.
On Jan. 23, the Lions will host their annual Wine Tasting event at St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church. Miller started the fund raiser that now serves as one of their biggest events. This year tickets are $35 and can be purchased from any Lions Club member, at Wine and Liquor Outlet Store in Orange or by calling (203) 795-3906.
Caldwell was an engineer before retiring. Retirement didn’t bring about a lack of work. He can be found at locations across the nation, working under the direction of a licensed electricians to help fix homes ravaged by storms.
He began a few years back helping victims of Hurricane Katrina. The damage was so extensive he’s still helping victims of that storm in the Mississippi area.
“It’s certainly gratifying to see people get back into their homes,” Caldwell said. “It’s a huge lift for that family and for [the volunteers], too.”
It isn’t just storm damaged homes in the South that he organizes small crews of people to help fix. He’s worked, initially as part of a church group out of New Haven, on an estimated 40 homes from Maine to Louisiana. His crews, which include doctors and physicists, work under the supervision of local electricians and plumbers to help with repairs.
A ceremony will be held later in the year at a location to be determined to honor Goldblatt, Miller and Caldwell.