Burns sworn in as West Haven housing commissioner

WEST HAVEN, Oct. 22, 2020 — (Pictured): Mayor Nancy R. Rossi swears in West Shore resident Harold “Hal” Burns to the Board of Commissioners of the West Haven Housing Authority on Wednesday at the World War I Armistice Memorial on the Green.

(City Photo/Marcin J. Stankevitch)

West Haven simplifies voting procedures for residents

WEST HAVEN, Oct. 22, 2020 — Election Day is right around the corner, and city election officials have residents covered.

Due to this year’s presidential election, officials are anticipating a higher-than-normal voter turnout by implementing procedures to simplify the in-person and absentee voting experiences for residents.

The helpful voting steps come at an already challenging time complicated by the coronavirus pandemic, officials said.

Residents can vote in person at the window outside the city clerk’s office of City Hall, 355 Main St., until 7 p.m. Nov. 2.

Residents with absentee ballots must deposit them in the ballot drop boxes at the Main Street and Savin Avenue entrances of City Hall by 8 p.m. Nov. 3. They can also deposit them in the drop boxes at the John Prete public housing complex at 1187 Campbell Ave. and the Surfside complex at 200 Oak St.

The voter registration deadline is at 8 p.m. Oct. 27. Residents can register by appointment only at City Hall by calling 203-937-3541, or they can register online at https://portal.ct.gov/.https://portal.ct.gov/.

After Oct. 27, residents cannot register to vote until Nov. 3 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at City Hall.

The Office of the Registrar of Voters encourages residents to register early to eliminate long lines on Election Day.

Polling places are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 3 in the following districts:

— 1st District, Elks Lodge 1537, 265 Main St.

— 2nd District, Savin Rock School, 50 Park St.

— 3rd District, Washington School, 369 Washington Ave.

— 4th District, St. Paul Church, 898 First Ave.

— 5th District, Simchat Yisrael, 870 First Ave.

— 6th District, Forest School, 95 Burwell Road.

— 7th District, Molloy School, 255 Meloy Road.

— 8th District, Mackrille School, 806 Jones Hill Road.

— 9th District, Haley School, 148 South St.

— 10th District, Pagels School, 26 Benham Hill Road.

Rossi issues COVID-19 update

WEST HAVEN, Oct. 22, 2020 — Mayor Nancy R. Rossi has issued an update on the coronavirus.

Read the Statement.

Drive-thru Halloween event set for Painter Park on Oct. 27

Drive-thru Halloween event set for Painter Park at 6 p.m. Tuesday

WEST HAVEN, Oct. 22, 2020 — The Department of Parks and Recreation is registering trick-or-treaters for its Halloween Drive-thru event in Painter Park on Tuesday from 6 p.m. until the candy runs out.

Vehicles must enter the park’s lower entrance on Kelsey Avenue, drive up to the pavilions and exit the main entrance.

The free program, for West Haven residents 12 and younger, is limited to the first 500 participants who sign up at Park-Rec. Parents must bring the registration receipt to the event.

The department will also hold its candy corn count for a prize. Each child will receive a guess slip.

Park-Rec asks that children come in costume so staff members can take photos for the department’s website.

Feeding those in need

WEST HAVEN, Oct. 15, 2020 — (Pictured): Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, third from left, joins Wellspring Community Center President Omer Kizilcik, fourth from left, on the steps of City Hall on Oct. 14 to announce the center’s gift of 210 pounds of ground beef to the West Haven Emergency Assistance Task Force.

With them are, from left, Wellspring volunteer Aysin Karaman, WHEAT Vice President Arnold Agnoli, state Sen. James Maroney, D-Milford, and Peace Islands Institute Connecticut Director Enes Yapici.

The donation was part of the fourth annual meat drive held by Wellspring and its sister nonprofit, Peace Islands, both of Milford. It was made possible through their partnership with the Connecticut Food Bank and Embrace Relief, a nonprofit international humanitarian relief and development organization based in Fairfield, N.J.

The beef was blessed July 31-Aug. 3 during the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha, meaning “Feast of Sacrifice.” The most important Islamic holiday marks the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim — Abraham to Christians and Jews — to sacrifice his son.

During the four-day holiday, Muslims slaughter sheep or cattle, distribute part of the meat to the poor and eat the rest.

According to Rose Majestic, the executive director of WHEAT at 674 Washington Ave., the beef will feed 4,000 city families in need.

West Haven has the state’s largest Turkish American population.

(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)