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FREE SHELTOLifeN COMMUNITY & BUSINESS NEWS JULY 2018 VOLUME 25, ISSUE 2 JULY ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS 2 Jones Pavilion Dedication 13 Valley Community Foundation 23 Derby-Shelton Bridge 3 Inline Plastics 15 Student Art Contest 27 Downtown Update 9 Housatonic Valley Association 21 The Poet Path 27 Annual Flag Day Picnic SHELTON COMMUNITY & BUSINESS NEWS Welcome from the Editor Dear Shelton Residents and Businesses: Welcome to the Summer 2018 Edition of This issue of Shelton our Shelton Life newsletter. In this edition we Life is dedicated to the will explore many wonderful stories including respect of Flag Day historic dedications & celebrations, arts & edu- (June 14, 2018). Our cation, along with a whole host of business and Flag represents our economic development news. United States history Of special note is the showcase of art proj- and is woven into our ects created by children attending our Shelton culture and deserves to be honored Schools. Each year the Economic Development Commission and the as such. We also give you an insight Board of Education team up to hold an art contest, in which students into the talented art work our City can submit drawings, paintings, sculptures or photographs for consid- of Shelton School children com- eration in the contest. Children attending Second Grade through our pleted this year, guided by our dedi- young adults from the Shelton High School, are able to display their cated Art Teachers in the educational talent and vision during this annual event. system. Enjoy this issue. We will see The City’s downtown has evolved over the decades. Once a heavy you again in the fall. industrial focused economy, the downtown district is transforming Fred Ruggio, Editor into a retail trade/services economy with an influx of new businesses and a host of new housing opportunities being made available from local developers. Also of note, there is one manufacturing firm on Canal Street, Inline Plastics, that just celebrated their 50th year in business. Congratulations to the Orkisz family for their tremendous success and commitment to their employees and the City of Shelton (see page 3). Shelton Life While perusing the newsletter please pay special attention to all of Community & Business News the many wonderful cultural, educational, environmental and fam- ily fun events that will be taking place throughout the summer. Your Volume 25, Issue 2 July 2018 participation in these events helps to reinforce the strong bond of community. Published by: Economic Development Commission Finally, members of our community strive to thrive economically Fred Ruggio, Chairman and there is no better place to view these endeavors than in the small c/o Shelton Economic Development Corporation 475 Howe Avenue, Suite 202 businesses scattered throughout town. Please take the time to read the Shelton, CT 06484, (203) 924-2521 many local business stories in this edition. Be inspired and patronize [email protected] • sheltonedc.com www.cityofshelton.org the small businesses in your community. As in the past, please share this information with your family and Editor Fred Ruggio, Chairman friends to keep them informed of our activities. This edition will be Economic Development Commission posted on the city’s website www.cityofshelton.org. And last but not Associate Editors least, hats off to our Shelton Life editorial team and community vol- Aleta Miner, SEDC unteers always striving for excellence. Have a great summer. Kate Marks Karen McGovern Sincerely, Pat Carey Doug Dempsey In Memory Fred Musante, Sr., (1922-2009) Design & Layout Mark A. Lauretti Q Company Communication, Shelton, CT Mayor, City of Shelton The Balanced Plan for Shelton’s Future Vision to See, Faith to Believe, Courage to Do… © Michael Connelly, “The Closers” 1 SHELTOLifeN COMMUNITY NEWS Jones Family Farms Dedicates New Pavilion Philip Hubbell Jones Reprinted with the family to work on the kind permission of the farm, all made brief Shelton Herald, Aaron remarks before the rib- Berkowitz. bon-cutting ceremony Family, friends and commenced. admirers of a long- “Philip Jones epito- time Shelton farmer mized America,” said gathered at the Jones Lauretti. “He was so Family Farm for a cel- many things that ebration of the 100th America stands for and anniversary of his represents, and he lived birth and the ribbon his life that way, and cutting for an honor- served his community ary pavilion. to the fullest.” Philip Hubbell The 10-sided pavil- Jones, owner of Jones Family Farm, who passed away ion was closed off with 10 ribbons to be cut by his in 2015, would have been 100 this year. The family and great-grandchildren. Two bald eagles were seen flying staff at the farm decided that the best way to honor the over the event shortly after the first ribbon was cut. late farmer would be via a party with all his loved ones Terry Jones said he could feel his father’s spirit at and a handcraft- the event shortly after an original song was sung and ed pavilion that dedicated to Philip. He honored his father by reciting everyone could a flurry of puns his father had stored in his desk before enjoy. he died. The pavilion “Let’s enjoy the journey of Philip from trees to pavil- is composed of ion,” said Terry. “And if the party gets boring, just leaf.” eastern white Malloy said he had the pleasure of getting to know pine, white Philip Jones in his later years and said the Jones family cedar, and solid is amazing. black walnut, “The meaning of this structure is that we’re on this and all of the Earth a long enough time, and in Philip’s case a very lumber used, long time, to plant trees, change lives, to make a differ- except for the ence, and to have respect for one’s life work represented pegs, came from by the timber and materials that we celebrate today. Gov. Dannel Malloy and Terry Jones trees that were He would be embarrassed at all of these shenanigans planted by Jones himself. The pegs were from trees not and demonstrations, but I do think that he’s some- planted by Jones but that were grown on the farm, where looking down proud that he planted those trees according to Tom Harbinson, the facilities and hospital- so many years ago and that they survived so long and ity manager at Jones Family Farm. grew so big on this farm.” Steve Strong, who has a sawmill in eastern Philip Jones served as a state representative and was Connecticut, created the design and cut the timber an active volunteer with many local nonprofit entities, before assembling the pavilion with the help of his such as the library, Scouts, land trust, and farm organi- team. zations. Terry Jones said the pavilion means everything More than 100 people came out for the celebration. to the family and is just one way that his father’s legacy Mayor Mark Lauretti, Gov. Dannel Malloy, and Jones’s will live on. F son Terry, who is part of the fifth generation of the 2 SHELTON COMMUNITY & BUSINESS NEWS BUSINESS NEWS Inline Plastics Celebrates its 50th Anniversary On April 18, 2018 truly fortunate that they Inline Plastics in down- have made their home town Shelton celebrated base in Shelton for 34 50 years in business. years,” commented Mayor The celebration was Lauretti. “Inline Plastics is held at their corporate recognized by the City of headquarters located on Shelton for its corporate Canal Street close to the citizenship to the commu- Shelton Farm and Public nity. On behalf of the City Market. Mr. Tom Orkisz, of Shelton, congratulations the President and owner, on your 50th anniversary. welcomed the staff of The city wishes you con- the Shelton facility, the tinued success.” Board of Directors and The history of Inline Mayor Mark A. Lauretti. Plastics begins in 1958. Additional guests in attendance were Ben McGorty, Founded by brothers Rudolph and Gene Orkisz who State Representative for District 122, CT Senator Kevin immigrated from Poland, it was originally named the Kelly, Paul Grimmer, President of the Shelton Economic R&G Mold Pattern Company. The business started out Development Corporation, John Anglace, President of of the basement of their home and then relocated to a the Board of Aldermen, and Bill Purcell, President of the facility in Bridgeport in 1968. The company continued Valley Chamber of Commerce. to grow through the 1970s and 1980s. Through the “Inline Plastics is a corporate leader in the industry. 1970s the company expanded beyond simply making They are also a leader in our community and the city is molds for other manufacturers when Rudy and Gene (L to R) Inline Plastics President and owner Tom Orkisz, Mayor Mark (L to R) Tom Orkisz and CT Senator Kevin Kelly Lauretti, Bill Purcell, President of Valley Chamber of Commerce 3 SHELTOLifeN BUSINESS NEWS purchased their own thermoforming machine and viding retailers and consumers with greater product began producing the finished plastic products them- protection. They continue to design and manufacture selves. This separate endeavor was named Inline Plastics packaging solutions that keep food products safe, fresh, Corporation. As more thermoforming and pressure-form- and enhance shelf merchandising. The company also ing machines were purchased, multiple moves to larger offers the most complete line of automated equipment facilities were required. By the early 1980s the tooling to load, close and label their containers. Inline continues demands for Inline Plastics were occupying 100% of the to maintain a reputation as a product leader and innova- resources of R & G Mold. At that point, the decision was tor within the thermoforming industry, realizing almost made to cease creating molds for other companies, retire 300% in growth in the last decade alone.