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Community Awards Honor Orange, Woodbridge, and Bethany Police and Firefighters; Business of the Year

September 25, 2025
Courtyard by Marriott
136 Marsh Hill Road
Orange, CT
Left to Right: State Senator, James Maroney; Vice President of the Amity Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Dr. Rob Rubino; Amity Chamber CEO, Barry Lee Cohen; State Representative, Kathy Kennedy; Woodbridge Police Officer of the Year, John Lalli; U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal; Vice President and Branch Manager of The Milford Bank, Tina Mason (Chamber Business of the Year); Orange Police Officer of the Year, Vincent Landisio; Orange Volunteer Firefighter of the Year, Eric Auscavitch; Bethany Volunteer Firefighter of the Year, Steven Kirschbaum

ORANGE, Connecticut, September 25, 2025 –  The Amity Chamber of Commerce Community Awards and Annual Meeting was held today at the Courtyard by Marriott, 136 Marsh Hill Road, Orange. The sold-out event celebrated the Orange and Woodbridge Police Officers and the Orange and Bethany Firefighters of the Year, as determined by their peers.  The Milford Bank, chosen as the Amity Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year, was also honored.

Hosted by Amity Chamber CEO, Barry Lee Cohen,  and Dr. Rob Rubino, Vice President of the Amity Chamber Board of Directors, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal was a welcome addition to the program, presenting Citations of Recognition from the U.S. Senate to each of the honorees. Leaders throughout the region joined Orange Police Chief Robert Gagne, Woodbridge Police Chief Ronald E. Smith, Orange Fire Chief Vaughan Dumas, and Bethany Fire Chief Brent Ciccarelli in recognizing the merits of each honoree from their respective municipalities, and included: Milford Mayor Tony Giannattasio; Woodbridge First Selectman, Mica Cardoza; Bethany First Selectman, Salvadore Amadeo; and Orange Selectman Mitch Goldblatt.

State Senator James Maroney (D-14), and State Rep. Kathy Kennedy (R-119) presented citations on behalf of the Connecticut State General Assembly, recognizing each honoree’s achievements. Honorees included:
-Bethany Firefighter of the Year: Steven Kirschbaum​
-Orange Firefighter of the Year: Eric Auscavitch​
-Orange Police Officer of the Year: Sergeant Vincent Landisio
-Woodbridge Police Officer of the Year: Officer John Lalli
-Business of the Year: The Milford Bank

Amity Chamber Corporate Partners, including Avangrid (Platinum Level), The Milford Bank (Gold Level), and Coastal Bridge Advisors (Gold Level), sponsored this year’s event, along with Chamber members Baybrook Remodelers (Silver Level), Comcast Business (Silver Level), and 7 Brew Drive Thru Coffee (Bronze Level).

To view more pictures, please visit the Amity Chamber of Commerce Facebook Page. Click here and here.

Left to Right: Rubino, Cohen, Milford Mayor Tony Giannattasio, Mason, Kennedy, Maroney
Left to Right: Blumenthal, Orange Police Chief Robert Gagne, Landisio, Auscavitch, Orange Fire Chief Vaughan Dumas, Goldblatt, Cohen
Left to Right: Maroney, Woodbridge Police Chief Ronald E. Smith, Lalli, Kennedy, Woodbridge First Selectman Mica Cardozo, Cohen
Left to Right: Maroney, Kennedy, Kirschbaum, Bethany Fire Chief Brent Ciccarelli, Bethany First Selectman Sal Amadeo, Cohen
Left to Right: Orange Selectman Mitch Goldblatt, Maroney, Auscavitch, Kennedy, Orange Fire Chief Vaughan Dumas
Left to Right: Orange Selectman Mitch Goldblatt, Maroney, Kennedy, Landisio, Orange Police Chief Robert Gagne, Cohen