About 50 business professionals gathered at Nuvance’s New Milford Hospital in March to network at the Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Business Scene. In addition to networking, a spread of delicious food prepared by the hospital’s Plow to Plate program was served and Dr. Thomas Koobatian, hospital executive director and chief of staff, presented a hospital update and Q&A.
Photos by Deb Vallinaggi
NEW MILFORD, Conn. — The Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerce has announced it will accept scholarship applications through mid-May.
Each year the Chamber provides two $1,000 scholarships — the Frederick J. Wynne Scholarship and the Bonnie Blackman Scholarship —to graduating seniors pursuing post-high school education.
To be eligible for a scholarship, the applicant must have a Chamber connection, have been involved in community service, and have participated in the school community. Full guidelines are cited on the Chamber website.
The Chamber’s Scholarship Committee will conduct a blind review of the applications.
An application can be downloaded on the Chamber site, and is also available in the guidance offices of area high schools.
The application deadline is May 13, 2025. Applications can be emailed to nmcc@newmilford-chamber.com or mailed to the Chamber, 11 Railroad St., New Milford, CT 06776.
The recipient will be notified in June and the scholarship will be awarded by the end of July.
The Chamber is a nonprofit organization aiming to develop, encourage, promote, and protect the commercial, industrial, professional and general business interests of the community; and to promote the civic interests and general welfare of the town of New Milford and its trade area.
For more information, call the Chamber office at 860-354-6080 or email nmcc@newmilford-chamber.com.
NEW MILFORD, Conn. — The Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerce will hold “Designer Bag Bingo + more “ May 3 at the VFW hall in New Milford.
The event will feature 10 rounds of Bingo, with a designer bag to be awarded to one winner per round of Bingo.
In addition, several alternate prize options will be available for those who wish not to win a handbag.
Door prizes, and a drawing for numerous baskets of goods and services donated by local businesses will also be held.
Attendees are invited to bring hors d’oeuvres, non-alcoholic beverages, and cash.
Additional Bingo cards, water, candy and chips will be available to purchase. A cash bar will be available.
Credit cards will also be accepted.
The event, which is for individuals age 21 and older, will be held at the VFW, 11 Avery Road.
Early bird registration is $35 through April 10. Beginning April 11 and up until the event starts, registration is $40.
Tickets can be reserved by visiting https://tinyurl.com/5ffpaw2w.
Table reservations are available for groups.
For more information, or to inquire about a table, email the Chamber at nmcc@newmilford-chamber.com.
The Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerce celebrated big Jan. 25, 2025, with its 25th Awards Gala. The popular event celebrated the successes of the past year and honored an outstanding Chamber member-business and an outstanding community member. In addition to these annual awards, this year the Chamber also presented a special award, the Silver Resilience Award, given to volunteer first responders in New Milford, Bridgewater, Roxbury, Sherman, Kent, Warren, and Washington. In addition to the awards and dinner, gala offerings included a silent auction, a raffle, a balloon pop, a wine pull, and a bourbon pull. The event was attended by approximately 170 guests.
The Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerce will hold its 25th Annual Awards Gala Jan. 25, 2025, from 6 to 11 p.m.
The black-tie optional dinner-dance will take place at the Amber Room Colonnade at 1 Stacey Road, Danbury.
This year’s theme is “25 Years of Resilience,” as this is the 25th gala.
A highlight of the dinner-dance will be the presentation of two awards, one to an outstanding business and another to an individual in the community. Recipients were nominated by Chamber members.
Agriventures Agway, which has been in business for nearly 25 years and is also known as New Milford Agway, will be presented the Distinguished Chamber Member of the Year for 2024.
Owners Dave O’Leary, Brian Leonard, and Andy Straiton are committed to serving the local community. With over 30 years in the Agway business, Leonard, who is at the New Milford location, has promoted exceptional store growth and been a shining star when it comes to community support and involvement, Chamber officials related.
He employs high school students for their first jobs; holds several roles for sports programs in town; and always makes sure Agway is represented at local events, providing giveaways and fun, family-friendly events free of charge.
Ivan Shiffman, who is a lifelong resident of New Milford, will be recognized with the Distinguished Community Member of the Year for 2024.
Shiffman has worked tirelessly to be one of the great advocates of the community, according to Chamber officials. Whether it is supporting local events and organizations, or establishing relationships with nonprofits and businesses in the area, he is a friend to all.
He has been an integral part of the Alzheimer’s Association and brought the Walk to End Alzheimer’s to town. He can be seen at key events in the area, not to promote his own business, but to support others.
He operates his own Edward Jones office.
In addition, the Chamber will recognize volunteer first responders with a special 25th gala award, the Silver Resilience Award.
Chamber Executive Director Bob Reiling said the past 25 years have been laden with key events such as 9/11, the 2007-08 economic crisis and the Covid pandemic, among others. The Chamber and the majority of local businesses are still standing through all of those trying times.
One group of individuals that has been affected by many of those key events, specifically 9/11 and the Covid pandemic, are first responders.
“We cannot express enough how invaluable our community’s volunteer emergency responders are,” Reiling said. “They are there every minute of the day for us. They exude courage and demonstrate resilience.”
Other gala offerings will include the introduction of the 2025 Chamber officers, a cocktail hour, dinner, dessert, a bourbon pull, a wine pull, a silent auction, a raffle, a balloon pop, music and dancing.
Tickets are $125 through Jan. 10. After that, tickets are $135.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit http://159.223.156.205/25th-annnual-awards-gala…/.
For questions, email nmcc@newmilford-chamber.com or call 860-354-6080.
Another record crowd flooded the venue for September’s Business Scene, presented by the Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerce.
Well more than 100 business owners, employees, and community representatives attended the Sept. 26 informal business networking event this month co-sponsored by Bakewell & Mulhare, Nicholas / Tobin Insurance, and NeJaime’s Wine & Spirits at The Hangar at Candlelight Farms in New Milford.
Expansive fabric was draped across the wooden beams – and strings of lights cast a warm glow – inside the hangar. The hard lines of wooden dining tables were softened by the autumn-colored table runners on which festive centerpieces caught the eye of guests.
Attendees conversed among themselves, forging new leads and connections, and sampled beer and wine at the tasting provided by NeJaime’s Wine & Spirits.
The beverages were complemented by the event’s fare: roast pig, cole slaw and beans served by Twins BBQ Co. in Brookfield.
As a special treat, Dean Snellback and the BluesyLand Band entertained guests with live music, and Diane Koester Sibert at Keller Williams donated homemade fall-themed cookies.
Snellback, who also performed at last month’s Business Scene, wrote on social media of the event, “Wow, what a night! Our BluesyLand Office in the hangar at Candlelight farms. A huge turnout on a drizzly night, festive indeed.”
Snellback said he was impressed with the turnout that shows support for the Chamber, and the amount of work that goes into making an event like this happen.
He added, “It’s not your ‘Parents Chamber.’ New post-pandemic creativity and passion for community.”
Door prizes and a 50/50 raffle were also held, as they are every Business Scene.
A1 Portable Toilet of Thomaston donated a portable restroom for the event.
The scenic views at the Aug. 8 Business Scene made up for less than favorable weather – rain. Despite early showers and then heavy rain, more than 100 business professionals attended August’s informal business networking event held at the wedding and special events venue, Candlelight Farms, in New Milford. Festivities were held in the farm’s Lower Barn, one of multiple locations on the 600-plus acre property where special events take place. Guests filled the spacious building, and also flowed out onto the Lower Barn’s wrap-around veranda that overlooks sprawling fields, woodland, and nearby mountains. This month’s event was sponsored by All American Waste. The venue, food and beverages were donated by Candlelight Farms, Rich’s Wings & Things, and Housatonic River Brewing, respectively. In addition to networking, attendees had an opportunity to win door prizes and a 50/50 raffle.
[This is the start of the story by Deborah Rose shared at https://www.newmilfordnow.org/stories?story=Let-Freedom-Ring-to-kick-off-Fourth-of-July-Celebration. This is re-posted with permission.]
The Town of New Milford will play host to its annual Fourth of July Celebration July 6.
The event is coordinated by the Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Town.
The celebration will feature a special opening ceremony and the signing of a life-sized Declaration of Independence, free cupcakes from the Woman’s Club of Greater New Milford, music, and a fireworks display.
A rain date of July 13 is set for the fireworks only.
Festivities will begin at 5:30 p.m. near the bandstand on the Village Green with a special “Let Freedom Ring” flag and bell-ringing ceremony sponsored by the New Milford Celebrates America 250 Committee.
The ceremony, held in partnership with the Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, will take place on the steps of the Roger Sherman Town Hall, where flags will be presented and displayed.
“It’s great we are able to bring something new to the celebration this year,” said Chamber Executive Director Bob Reiling, referring to the opening ceremony.
“We hope individuals and families will come to the Green to see this special event and stay to enjoy all of the activities and explore downtown, including our businesses, before the fireworks,” he said.
To read the full story, visit https://www.newmilfordnow.org/stories?story=Let-Freedom-Ring-to-kick-off-Fourth-of-July-Celebration
The Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerce has announced the recipients of its 2024 scholarships.
Each year the Chamber provides two $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors pursuing post-high school education.
This year’s recipients are Faith Bargellini, of Bridgewater, who received the Frederick Wynne Scholarship, and Lindsay Mulhare, of Roxbury, who was presented the Bonnie Blackman Scholarship.
Both students recently graduated from Shepaug Valley School in Washington.
“We were impressed with all of the applications we received this year,” said Chamber President Jennifer Birdseye. “All of the students who applied are standout students academically and have been active in the community.”
“This year’s recipients have been so active in their school, volunteering, and in their extracurricular activities that we’re not sure when they sleep,” Birdseye said, emphasizing the students’ resume of accomplishments and activities.
The Chamber’s Scholarship Committee conducted a blind review of the applications.
To be eligible for a scholarship, the applicant must have a Chamber connection, have been involved in community service, and have participated in the school community.
Faith has been a longtime volunteer for the Friends of the Lake’s Save the Lake cleanup day at Lake Lillinonah and a counselor-in-training at the Bridgewater Parks and Recreation Summer Camp.
She was Class of 2024 valedictorian, a member of multiple honor societies, the debate team, and the track, cross country and math teams, and a recipient of numerous awards, among other accolades.
As class president, working with school administrators, she initiated a new scheduling system that incorporates a period of time designated for extracurricular activities, extra help, and more at Shepaug.
Faith plans to study biomedical engineering.
Lindsay has been a member of Shepaug’s Leo and Simply Smiles clubs, a member of multiple national honor societies, a choreographer for the school’s musicals, and a tutor for both middle and high school students.
She has been an active member and volunteer at Roxbury Congregational Church, a volunteer for Roxbury’s tree lighting ceremony, town cleanups and a summer dance program for youth.
Lindsay, who works at Tasty Waves, has been a dance captain at FineLine Theater Arts, where she obtained the highest level of training as a sophomore.
She plans to pursue a degree in English/journalism,
The Chamber is a nonprofit organization aiming to develop, encourage, promote, and protect the commercial, industrial, professional and general business interests of the community; and to promote the civic interests and general welfare of the town of New Milford and its trade area.
For more information, call the Chamber office at 860-354-6080 or email nmcc@newmilford-chamber.com.
The weather was perfect for an evening outdoors at the New Milford Tennis & Swim Club, the venue for the Chamber’s June 11 Business Scene.
The networking event, co-sponsored by the swim club, National Iron Bank, and M&T Bank, was attended by an attentive crowd that appreciated the evening’s blue sky and mild temperature while networking with one another.
In addition to networking, an assortment of hors d’oeuvres were served, door prizes were presented, and a 50/50 raffle was held.
Topping off the evening was music provided by Dean Gray, and the presentation of the Chamber’s two scholarships (click here for more information).
