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WEST HAVEN — In their home in Orlando, Fla., Michael Avena ended an unexpected phone call and turned to his wife, Christine.

"I said, 'Chrissy, we're back,'" he said. "I said let's buy the pizzeria back. She looked at me like I'm nuts." On May 1, the couple had their soft launch for the new pizzeria that they co-own, We're Back Pizza.

Although the process of buying the company and leasing the property took months, the couple opened the restaurant about three weeks after the sale went through, placing an intense focus on getting all the permits they needed to open on time. The restaurant opened so quickly that the couple is still awaiting a sign to be mounted atop the restaurant marking the storefront as the location of We're Back Pizza.

After having worked for years at Abate's Pizza on Wooster Street in New Haven, Avena was tasked with managing a second location in Orange on Boston Post Road, which he did from 2011 to 2019. Two oven fires in 2016 and 2019, similar to one that recently broke out at the flagship New Haven location, ended up closing the restaurant during an investigation into what Avena said is a defect in the model of oven used at the pizzeria related to the flue.

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"My whole heart and soul was in here," Avena said.

During the investigation, the couple sold their Old Saybrook home and moved to Florida. However, after the investigation concluded, a new owner's brief attempt at business in that location was unsuccessful and Avena received a call from an old colleague enticing him to purchase the business as his own.

While working in the Orange store under Abate's, Avena was allowed to use his prior expertise owning and managing a pizzeria in Plainview, N.Y., to build and design the kitchen and dining room, he said. Over time, the Orange restaurant began to take on its own identity as Avena responded to customer feedback that they did not like pizza crust as charred as one would find in Wooster Street pizzerias.

Christine Avena, who also had worked at Abate's, said the name of the new pizzeria, is intended in large part to appeal to the loyal customer base of the former Abate's Pizza Orange location, loyalty earned through innovative pizzas and customer service, they said.

"You've got to see a smile when you walk into a place. We love our customers, we love how they appreciate how much we're back," she said. "And we're happy to be back. We were in Florida, so we missed the pizza."

The pizza the couple said was among the first to make the old Abate's Orange location popular is The Gramma, a pie with plum tomatoes, basil, garlic and mozzarella. However, the appeal is not just in the pizza itself, but how it's offered, they said. Unlike Wooster Street pizzerias, the Orange location sells pies by the slice, which is appealing to lunch rush crowds, while also offering a full-service menu with pizza pies, stuffed bread, sandwiches and salads, as well as catering.

We're Back also offers unique slices, such as its French Fry pie featuring french fries, bacon, ranch dressing, cheddar and mozzarella. The house special We're Back Special Pizza is a mix of mozzarella, onion, meatball, sausage, bacon, mushrooms and pepperoni.

"I'm excited about being back," said Christine Avena.

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ORANGE — Town leaders differ over whether to hire a part-time recycling attendant at the transfer station amid reduced recycling rates and slight contamination issues that cost the town nearly $1,000 last year.

According to Orange Recycling Committee Chairman Mitchell Goldblatt, the town's recycling rate dropped about 14 percent between 2020 and 2022. The rate is down an additional 6 percent through February 2023, data shows.

"We’re putting in 60 to 70 tons (of recyclables) a month when we used to be putting in 80 to 90 tons a month," Goldblatt, who also sits on the Orange Board of Selectmen, said. "It’s concerning. We want people to be recycling."

Contamination also has been a problem at the town's transfer station on South Orange Center Road, Goldblatt said. According to Sylvie Napoli, an office manager in the town Public Works department, the town paid $900 as a result of contaminated recycling loads during the 2021-22 fiscal year. In 2020-21, that cost was about $440, per Napoli.

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In light of those issues, the Orange Recycling Committee has advocated for the addition of a part-time recycling attendant in the next fiscal year budget, an effort Goldblatt said would benefit the environment while reducing long-term costs for the town. Goldblatt estimated that the position would cost roughly $20,000 for 2023-24.

The attendant would monitor and assist residents with sorting their recyclables into the correct containers. The town's transfer station currently has two or three on-duty workers during the busy weekend hours, but nobody who specifically oversees recycling.

First Selectman James Zeoli said he thinks hiring a recycling attendant is unnecessary. The transfer station has clearly-marked signs for each designated recycling area. "I don’t think having another person at the transfer station is a need," he said.

Zeoli said that the town's recycling loads were not being rejected often enough to justify adding an attendant to the budget. "Very rarely is that happening," he said. "That’s not a norm, that’s an excuse to get an attendant."

The contamination arises when materials are placed into the wrong recycling bin. Plastic bags usually are the biggest culprit, Goldblatt said. Other non-recyclable materials include pill bottles (they are "too small to be recycled"), plastic toys and Styrofoam, which the chairman called a "huge problem."

"A lot of people do what’s called wishful recycling, where they think it’s recyclable so they just throw it in," Goldblatt said. "Sometimes it’s actually more harmful to throw in something that is questionable."

If a recycling load contains too many contaminants, the processing facility will reject it, and the town will have to pay an extra cost to have it hauled to the trash plant. Orange is charged $98 per ton for disposal of both mixed solid waste and recycling, according to Napoli.

Aside from the extra costs, contaminated recycling loads also are discouraging to those residents who chose to carefully sort their materials into the proper bins. "All their efforts are wasted," Goldblatt said. "Even one load being rejected is too many."

As the price of recycling and garbage disposal continues to rise, Goldblatt said, so a recycling attendant would "pay off" by helping the town avoid incurring unnecessary costs due to contamination. "We want to keep our costs down and obviously do what’s best for the environment because that’s what it’s all about," he said.

Despite the Recycling Committee's request, funds for the position were not included in the town's proposed budget for the next fiscal year. A disappointed Goldblatt said he would continue advocating for the position at the town's April 20 budget hearing.

"If there’s nobody there to help people, it’s going to continue and progressively get worse," the selectman said. "It would help everyone to have an additional person down there."

Goldblatt and Zeoli agreed that the town needs to look at separating glass bottles from the rest of the recyclables, as they are one of the heaviest materials and often cause problems when they shatter.

After dropping off some recyclables at the transfer station Tuesday, Orange resident Jason Ornstein, 56, said he supported the idea of hiring a recycling attendant. "I think these guys need extra help here," Ornstein said.

Jonathan Demirjian, another Orange resident visiting the transfer station Tuesday, said he supported the town installing another person at the transfer station, but did not necessarily agree with assigning that person to deal with recycling. He noted that the recycling bins were "pretty well delineated."

"I don’t know why somebody has to be labeled a recycling person down here," Demirjian said. "If you want to add another part-time person, that’s fine if the town can pay for it."

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The Orange Volunteer Fire Department, with the help of some friends, will welcome children into the firehouse for frightening fun.

ORANGE, CT – Orange Volunteer Fire Fighters are combining efforts with the Orange Players to deliver frightening fun at the firehouse to tell a Halloween ghost story.

“We’re very excited to welcome the Orange Players into our firehouse for our Haunted House spectacular,” said Dag Anderson, firefighter and co-chair of the program. “After the resounding success of last year’s event, we wanted to gear up for an even spookier experience. The Orange Players will certainly help us do that!”

For the second year, members of the Orange Volunteer Fire Department, with the help of some friends, will welcome children over 11 into their station, where ghosts, ghouls, goblins and others will set up camp from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Oct. 27 and Oct. 28 at the firehouse on Orange Center Road.

“Collaborating with the Orange Volunteer Fire Department is a fantastic opportunity to provide an unforgettable experience,” Cyndi Consoli, president of the Orange Players, said. “We are looking forward to delivering a night of spine-tingling terror.”

Children 11 and over are welcome at the haunted house, although adults must accompany children under 16. A donation of $5 or more is suggested.

Find out what's happening in Orangewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The haunted house will feature sinister corridors, prowling past bone-chilling characters and expecting some scary moments.

It won’t only be scary moments, as apple cider donuts will be offered during the event.

“We are thrilled to bring back the haunted house for the second year,” Rob Panapada, firefighter and co-chair of the event, said. “We’ve embraced the spirit of Halloween while providing some fun for the community.”

Firefighters, with help from the Orange Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary, Orange Youth Services and the Orange Players, have been decorating the firehouse appropriately and preparing an immersive and fun experience.

“The challenge has been to create a route through the firehouse for those participating and still be able to put the fire apparatus back in the station at the end of the night,” Panapada said. “We still need to be ready to respond to real emergencies at any moment.”

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ORANGE, CT — The house of a well-known couple in the Orange community sustained severe damage after an undetected fire burned for an undetermined amount of time, said Town of Orange Fire Marshal James Vincent stated in a press release.

On Sunday, Aug. 13, Orange Dispatch Center received a call for the report of the side of a house on fire, Vincent said.

The house is owned by Lisa Kaplan, a decorated 13-year veteran with the fire department, and her husband Paul, Vincent said.

Lisa retired last year after decades of a career as a schoolteacher with the town of Orange Board of Education, and Paul has served and currently serves on town boards for some time, Vincent said.

As the first fire crews arrived, they went to work to knock down the heavy fire, Vincent said.

Fire personnel worked to ensure the fire was extinguished entirely, primarily, and a secondary search for occupants revealed nobody was in residence; they checked the environment inside the home and began an investigation, Vincent said.

Fire inspector Rossi said the area of origin was found to be on the lower level, where the fire burned undetected for an undetermined amount of time, which allowed it to burn through the floor into the upper level of the home and breach a window and begin to burn the outside of the house, Vincent said.

A person passing by the house smelled smoke and saw the fire and immediately called 911, the fire is still under further investigation, but the fire was accidental in nature, Vincent said.

Despite the best efforts, because the fire had plenty of time to burn undetected, there is severe damage to the home and its contents, and unfortunately, the house cannot be occupied, Vincent said.

The Kaplan’s were not home, nor was their dog, Teddy, when the fire occurred, Vincent said.

Vincent said many people have asked what can be done to help the Kaplan’s.

“We are in the process of assisting with recovery and will be doing so for the next few weeks,” Vincent stated. “I am certain there will be a joint effort between the Volunteer Fire Chief and the Superintendent of Schools to help Lisa and Paul in any way they need.”

Derby Fire Department and Woodbridge Fire Department provided mutual aid.

Orange's First Little Free Library helps ensure people of all ages in the neighborhood have access to books.

ORANGE, CT – When Jackie Babe and her husband (name) moved to Orange, their neighbors introduced themselves and were incredibly welcoming. Babe and her husband, Roberto Velez, decided to start a Little Free Library to foster more engagement and community spirit.

“I’ve always wanted a Little Free Library,” she said. “I think they are a great way to build a community of readers. I’m a huge fan of reading and literacy initiatives.

"I wanted to start an impromptu book club of sorts," Babe added.

The new Little Free Library, called Summit Little Library, is on the corner of Summit Drive and Crestwood Terrace.

Summit Little Library can be followed on both Facebook and Instagram.

Find out what's happening in Orangewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Babe said she’s not sure if they are the first to have a Little Free Library in Orange, but as of right now, theirs is the only official one on the website.

“We are hopefully starting a trend,” she said.

Babe said many children are in their neighborhood, and the Little Free Library is a great way to teach them how great it is to share.

“Sharing these books and having other neighbors or friends read them allows you to connect with them through the stories,” she said. “

Another reason why The Babe’s wanted to start the Little Free Library was to ensure their neighbors had access to books.

“I know there are some people who are older and little kids, and they can’t get to the library or order books,” she said. “I think everybody should have access to books and be able to share stories this way.”

Babe said the reaction they’ve received from their neighborhood and the Town of Orange, in general, has been positive.

“I was worried the library was just going to sit out there and no one was going to care, but it’s been so great,” she said. “We have a little guest book in it, and people have been writing in the guest book about how they took this book but donated this other one.”

Babe said they would sometimes do yard work, and neighbors would pass by to thank them for the Little Library.

“We’ve been able to meet a lot of new neighbors, and people have discussed the books they’ve taken and reading,” she said. “We’ve had many young people come in and donate their favorite childhood books and exchange them for others. So, it’s just been wonderful. I feel like we are all becoming a community over here in a way we weren’t before.”

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