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Creator of Mounds candy bar cited posthumously
WEST HAVEN, Feb. 14, 2020 — (Pictured): Vincent Nitido Jr., center, receives citations Friday from state Rep. Charles J. Ferraro and Mayor Nancy R. Rossi honoring his father, the late Vincent Nitido Sr., as a brilliant mind in the industry of candy-making who created the famous Mounds bar 100 years ago.
Nitido Sr., a West Haven resident at the time, introduced the dark chocolate and coconut-filled candy bar in 1920 as a single piece for 5 cents. A century later, his achievement was celebrated by the city he called home.
During a presentation at City Hall, fittingly held on Valentine’s Day, Rossi read the citation to Nitido Jr., saying: “On the centennial of your father’s iconic confectionary invention, the great people of our city join me in admiring his ingenuity in bringing his vision to fruition. We are proud of your father’s inspiring contributions to our local identity. We are also proud of you for preserving his daring legacy and undying spirit for generations to come.”
On behalf of the city’s delegation, Ferraro, R-West Haven, presented Nitido Jr., 85, of Brown Street, with the General Assembly citation in recognition of his father’s milestone. Nitido Sr. died in 1954.
The ceremony was attended by friends and members of the Nitido family.
In 1929, the Peter Paul Candy Manufacturing Co., founded in New Haven in 1919, bought the Mounds line and began production. Candy-makers Cadbury and Peter Paul merged in 1978, and The Hershey Co. purchased the company’s U.S. operations in 1988. Since then, the Mounds bar has been made by Hershey at its headquarters in Hershey, Pa.
(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh) |
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Celebrating love
WEST HAVEN, Feb. 14, 2020 — (Pictured): Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, center, joins Dorothy and William McCarthy during the city’s 30th annual Valentine’s Day party at West Haven Elks Lodge 1537 on Friday.
The McCarthys, who have been married for 70 years, were among 28 couples married for at least 50 years who were honored at the two-hour event, presented by the mayor’s office.
Rossi recognized the McCarthys as the event’s oldest couple, presenting them with a bottle of Champagne and a gift-wrapped pendant courtesy of Leslie Jewelers of West Haven. Lou and Maryann Celone, who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in May 2019, were recognized as the youngest couple.
All received chocolates, wine glasses and roses, as well as a framed photograph of themselves.
The party included music by the Clam Diggers and lunch provided by Z’s Corner Cafe. It was made possible by D&D Linen Supply and Fitzgerald’s Florist of West Haven and Costco of Milford.
(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh) |
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 Mayor Rossi recognizes Maryann and Lou Celone, who have been married for 50 years, as the youngest couple. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)
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They do!
WEST HAVEN, Feb. 14, 2020 — (Pictured): Newlyweds Stefanie Kavanagh and Jason Paul Carasone, center, are joined by, from left, Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, Justice of the Peace Rosa Richardson and City Clerk Patricia C. Horvath at City Hall on Friday.
Kavanagh and Carasone were among seven city couples united in matrimony on Valentine’s Day as part of an annual service sponsored by the city clerk’s office, which offers free weddings to the first seven couples who apply for marriage licenses at City Hall.
The weddings, performed by a justice of the peace, took place hourly.
(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh) |
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Architects sought for design review
WEST HAVEN, Feb. 14, 2020 — The Department of Planning and Development is seeking one or more local architects who are willing to volunteer their time to assist with the review of applications submitted within the recently established Village District in the Center.
The new regulation, adopted in September 2019, establishes a series of design standards for new buildings, additions and renovations that can be seen from public streets in the district. Design standards guide building placement and orientation, building massing and form, facades, roof and cornice lines, landscaping, parking, and streetscape and sidewalk design.
The regulation requires the Planning and Zoning Commission to receive a report from a professional architect or architectural firm on proposed plans before acting on them.
The department invites interested parties to contact the planning and zoning office at City Hall and provide a letter of interest stating the reasons for wanting to serve in the advisory role. They must provide a resume or statement of the individual’s or firm’s qualifications to perform the work, including education and training, past experience and current employment. Examples of past work the individual or firm has completed would be helpful, as well as examples of how the individual has served in a similar advisory capacity in the past.
For consideration, interested parties must submit all requested information to the planning and zoning office on the first floor of City Hall, 355 Main St., no later than Feb. 28.
For more information, call Assistant City Planner David W. Killeen at 203-937-3500, ext. 3007.
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Rossi tours Park View development in Allingtown
WEST HAVEN, Feb. 12, 2020 — (Pictured): Acorn Group Vice President Gary S. Letendre, second from right, leads Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, center, on a site tour of Acorn’s budding Park View mixed-use development on Cellini Place, just off Route 1, on Wednesday. Joining them are, from left, A.P. Construction Co. project manager Kevin Deane, Svigals + Partners managing partner Jay Brotman and Rossi’s executive assistant, Lou Esposito.
The 85,000-square-foot building is being built by Park Commons LLC, an Acorn development company, on the site of what years ago was the Park Theatre and will include 44 student apartments with rear parking and 16,000 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor.
The Park View, overlooking the Allingtown Green, is 400 feet from the University of New Haven’s Route 1 campus, which is home to about 6,000 students.
The three-story building is being constructed by A.P. Construction, based in Stamford, and was designed by the Svigals + Partners architectural firm in New Haven.
When finished in late June, the Park View will complement Acorn’s The Atwood, an $18 million apartment and commercial building across the street at 222 Boston Post Road, in making the neighborhood around the Allingtown Green a destination.
Like The Atwood, which opened in August 2017, the Park View will consist of one- and two-bedroom studios.
The national retail tenants occupying the ground floor of the four-story, 90,150-square-foot Atwood include Torrington-based EbLens Clothing & Footwear, USAlliance Financial of Rye, New York, and Plano, Texas-based Mooyah Burgers, Fries & Shakes.
Tenants for the Park View have not yet been announced.
Acorn, based in New Haven, has also announced plans for The Forest, a third mixed-use development slated for construction on the former site of the demolished Forest Theatre at the intersection of Boston Post Road, Campbell Avenue and Forest Road.
Preliminary plans call for dozens of student apartments and 15,000 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor.
In all, the three developments, collectively known as University Commons, are projected to generate more than $1 million in annual property tax revenue for the city’s coffers, officials have said.
(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh) |
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Park-Rec offers open gym during school break at Carrigan School
WEST HAVEN, Feb. 12, 2020 — During the February school break, the Department of Parks and Recreation is offering an open gym from 10 a.m.-noon Tuesday in the Carrigan Intermediate School gym, 2 Tetlow St.
The program is for city children ages 6-18.
The fee, payable at the door, is $2 per day.
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West Haven girls hoops recognized at QU women’s game
WEST HAVEN, Feb. 12, 2020 — (Pictured): As part of a ceremony celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day, members of the West Haven Girls Basketball and Department of Parks and Recreation’s Summer Fun leagues were among 100 girls recognized before the Quinnipiac University women’s basketball game against Siena College at the People’s United Center in Hamden on Saturday.
The special event, which included free admission for girls and their families, featured a postgame autograph session and meet-and-greet with Quinnipiac players.
The lady Bobcats fell 68-60 to the Saints in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference contest.
(City Photo/Diane Dietman) |
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Taxpayers can appeal property assessments in West Haven
WEST HAVEN, Feb. 5, 2020 — The Board of Assessment Appeals will hear appeals of real estate and personal property assessments on the 2019 grand list by appointment during March in the assessor’s office at City Hall.
The board will also hear appeals of motor vehicle assessments on the 2018 supplemental motor vehicle grand list that received a tax bill due Jan. 1.
Any property owner who wants to appeal an assessment must submit a written application to the board. The assessor’s office must receive the completed form to have it stamped in by 5 p.m. Feb. 20.
Download an Application.
Applications are also available in the assessor’s office on the first floor of City Hall, 355 Main St., or by calling the office at 203-937-3515.
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City realizes continued grand list growth with $36M boost in 2019
WEST HAVEN, Feb. 5, 2020 — The city’s grand list of taxable property has grown by nearly $36 million, or just over 1%, for fiscal year 2019, Mayor Nancy R. Rossi announced.
The net grand list is now more than $2.7 billion, said Rossi, adding that the grand list also grew by more than 1% in fiscal 2018.
“The grand list growth, specifically in the commercial area, is critical to stabilizing our tax mill rate as we move forward,” Rossi said. “Although the grand list growth is relatively small as a percentage, it will generate about $1.3 million in new revenue for the fiscal year 2021 budget cycle, which begins on July 1, 2020.”
Rossi noted that growth occurred in all three taxation districts. The 1st District (Center) grand list assessments increased by about $2 million and the 2nd District (West Shore) by $13.9 million. The 3rd District (Allingtown) saw the largest increase at $20.1 million.
Real estate had the largest growth in the 2019 grand list, with an increase of $15.3 million citywide. Personal property increased by $10.9 million and motor vehicles by $9.8 million.
The real estate growth included the Yale New Haven Health distribution center project on Route 34 in Allingtown, the continued revitalization of the Allingtown Center, and new and expanded business activity throughout the city.
“The continued growth in the city of West Haven’s grand list is encouraging,” Rossi said. “We have worked hard to show investors that we are fiscally accountable and serious about economic development.
“We will continue to aggressively market the city to attract new investment and business. We have put the city in a good position to create more commercial opportunities moving forward.”
The mayor continued: “Grand list growth is essential and will generate much-needed revenue from commercial investments and help stabilize our tax rate for our residents. There is much more work to be done, but seeing the grand list continue to grow is a positive indicator and will build momentum for our future success.
“As we begin the budget process, the increase in the grand list is vital to reducing and hopefully mitigating the tax increase suggested by the state Municipal Accountability Review Board for fiscal year 2021.”
“We continue to move in the right direction,” Rossi said.
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Marchers sought for Memorial Day parade; applications due April 10
WEST HAVEN, Jan. 10, 2020 — The city is seeking veterans, civic groups, fraternal organizations, service clubs and marching bands to participate in the annual Memorial Day parade, which steps off at 10:30 a.m. May 25.
The parade has no rain date.
Participants must register and list required special accommodations.
Transportation is provided for veterans who are unable to walk the 1 ½-mile parade course, which follows Campbell Avenue from Captain Thomas Boulevard to Center Street. To make arrangements, call the mayor’s office at 203-937-3510.
The parade grand marshals are World War II veteran Frank Corso, who served in the Army Air Forces in 1942-45, and Korean War vet Salvatore Gullo, who served in the Navy in 1948-52.
Download a Participation Form.
Forms are also available in the mayor’s office at City Hall, 355 Main St., where they are due April 10.
Forms can also be emailed to parade organizer Kristen Teshoney at kteshoney@westhaven-ct.gov or faxed to 203-937-3705.
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