HARWINTON OUTSTANDING CITIZEN
2009 Honoree

MICHAEL OREFICE

Michael J. Orefice has been selected as the 2009 recipient of the annual Harwinton Outstanding Citizen Award (formerly the Arthur B. Poole Award), which will be presented for the 35th time at a banquet on April 24 at the Torrington Elks Club.

Orefice and his family moved to Harwinton in 1985 when there was an opening in the Resource Room at Lewis Mills High School. He taught special education and ran the in-house Alternative Education Program at Mills for 15 years.

Despite being the father of a young family with five children, Mike soon got involved in the affairs of the town, focusing on those organizations and activities which stemmed from its agricultural roots. He has been a 4-H leader, a member of the Wamago Advisory Board representing Region 10, and the director for Litchfield County of the Connecticut Sheep Breeders Association for Litchfield County. He is currently the chairman of the Harwinton Planning Commission, a superintendent for the Harwinton Agricultural Society and serves on the Board of Directors for the Harwinton Land Trust and the T.A. Hungerford Memorial Museum.

His concern about retaining and contributing to the rural character of Harwinton is underscored by the work he does on his farm, Golden Acres.

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