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‘Taste of Mexico,’ La Catrina, opens in Savin Rock Plaza
WEST HAVEN, Feb. 24, 2021 — (Pictured): Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, center, cuts the ceremonial ribbon with city leaders and the owners of La Catrina Restaurant and Cantina on Wednesday to celebrate the Mexican restaurant’s grand opening at 240 Captain Thomas Blvd.
Marking the event are, from left, Councilman William X. Conlon, D-2; owners Karen Sanchez Benitez and brothers Nicolas and Alberto Altamirano Escobedo; Councilman Gary Donovan, D-at large; City Clerk Patricia C. Horvath; city Treasurer Michael P. Last; and owner Carlos Perez, the brother-in-law of Nicolas and Alberto Altamirano Escobedo.
Nicolas Altamirano Escobedo said La Catrina proudly serves the taste of Mexico, specializing in such authentic dishes as tacos, burritos, tortas, quesadillas and enchiladas made from his mother’s time-honored recipes, along with savory fish, chicken, steak and pork entrees. The fusion of traditional Mexican cuisine is complemented by creative concoctions of citrusy-flavored margaritas and other zesty cocktails.
Nicolas Altamirano Escobedo and Sanchez Benitez, who hail from Puebla, Mexico, and now live together in Hamden, chose the West Haven location, housed in the Savin Rock Plaza near the beach, because they “love the city.”
The newly remodeled restaurant and bar is decorated with Spanish furnishings, knickknacks and murals and is accentuated by bright hues of the owners’ native Mexico.
The striking theme of La Catrina is “Dia de los Muertos,” or “Day of the Dead,” the popular Mexican holiday that commemorates loved ones who have died.
“La Catrina,” a female skeleton donning a dress hat with feathers, is the referential image of death in Mexico and is the symbol of Dia de los Muertos, observed Nov. 1-2.
As a tribute to the culture and people of Mexico, the restaurant’s festive and spacious dining room and barroom are enlivened by vivid pink and yellow stucco walls that showcase Day of the Dead-themed murals with skeleton faces painted by West Haven artist Cruz Manuel.
La Catrina is open for lunch and dinner daily from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh) |
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 La Catrina’s festive dining room features “Day of the Dead”-themed murals with skeleton faces painted by West Haven artist Cruz Manuel. The popular Mexican holiday celebrates loved ones who have died. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)
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Work slated to begin on new Cove River tide gates, pedestrian bridge
WEST HAVEN, Feb. 24, 2021 — A New York contractor is mobilizing equipment to begin construction this week on the new Cove River tide gate system and pedestrian bridge, Mayor Nancy R. Rossi announced.
City Engineer Abdul Quadir said the project, funded with a $3.9 million state grant, includes replacing the river’s deteriorated wooden tide gates on Captain Thomas Boulevard with new steel gates installed by Terry Contracting & Materials Inc. of Riverhead, New York. The grant money was secured by state Rep. Dorinda Borer, D-West Haven.
The Cove River flows into Long Island Sound through the tide-regulated gates, which abut the Charlotte Bacon “Where Angels Play” playground at Sea Bluff Beach, just off the boulevard near Ocean Avenue.
In high tide, the existing flap gates close to prevent the Sound from flooding the salt marsh on both sides of the river; in low tide, they open to allow the river to flow into the Sound, according to city officials.
Plans for the new tide gate system include installing two flap gates and two self-regulating gates that will enable the city to control the tidal height within an inch to keep the marsh healthy and prevent flooding, Quadir said.
The project also calls for Terry to demolish and replace the river’s concrete footbridge, which has been closed for more than 20 years, with a new prefabricated aluminum truss bridge that will connect Bradley Point Park to Sea Bluff Beach, Quadir said. The 88-foot-long, white powder-coated bridge, manufactured by GatorBridge of Sanford, Florida, will allow pedestrian access over the river.
The project, part of the city’s Coastal Resilience Plan, should take at least four months to complete, officials said, and will reduce the westbound traffic lanes on Captain Thomas Boulevard to one lane for a few weeks.
Officials said the gates are vital to preserving and restoring the river’s tidal wetlands. When functioning, they are designed to protect the surrounding infrastructure and restore the tidal flushing of the 90-acre marsh without flooding upstream properties, including homes, businesses and the campus of West Haven High School.
On Oct. 29, 2012, the surge of Superstorm Sandy overwhelmed the tide gates and flooded the school’s ballfields and track, prompting city officials to seek state funding to safeguard the area from a similar flooding event.
For the past decade, Mark E. Paine Jr., formerly of the Department of Public Works and now the director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, has led the city’s efforts to rehabilitate the marsh by eliminating much of the invasive species, such as phragmites, and restoring the natural salt grasses. The area has also seen a resurgence in shorebirds and waterfowl, thanks to the restoration.
Rossi said the new gates will continue the marsh’s rehabilitation by enabling proper tidal flow to ensure the area is replenished with the salt, sulfur and nutrients it needs to stay healthy.
According to Paine, the first system to restrict tidal flow on the Cove River was built in 1912, primarily for salt hay mowing and drying.
The concrete footbridge and tide gate system were constructed in 1938. Those gates were removed in 1971 and replaced with the existing wooden flap gates, which were installed on the then-new bridge on Captain Thomas Boulevard. The original structure was used as a pedestrian bridge until the late ’90s, when it was fenced off and abandoned because of structural deficiencies, Paine said.
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Rossi announces update on COVID-19 vaccine rollout in West Haven
WEST HAVEN, Feb. 24, 2021 — Health Director Maureen B. Lillis has provided residents with an update on the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine rollout in West Haven, Mayor Nancy R. Rossi announced.
Read the Update.
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Rossi virtual town hall meeting on Zoom scheduled for 6 p.m. March 3
WEST HAVEN, Feb. 18, 2021 — Mayor Nancy R. Rossi and her staff invite residents to participate in a virtual town hall meeting on Zoom at 6 p.m. March 3.
The community event is aimed at fostering communication and transparency between City Hall and West Haven residents.
Residents can join the virtual town hall at the following Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9103126390. The meeting ID is 9103126390.
The meeting is sponsored by the mayor’s office and the University of New Haven Mayor’s Advisory Commission, a collaborative, student-driven task force founded in 2015 to strengthen town-gown relations.
The MAC is led by Killian Gruber, a junior studying political science, and adviser Chris Haynes, an assistant professor of political science and national security.
All members of the community are encouraged to participate in the town hall and ask questions. The moderators are UNH student Catherine Tomczyk and Haynes.
Participants can send questions before the meeting by email to ctomc1@unh.newhaven.edu. They can also ask questions on Zoom by using the “Raise Hand” function.
Those watching the town hall on Facebook Live can also submit questions.
Participants are allowed one question with a one-minute time limit. At the beginning of the question, they must state their name and the subject of their question, with all comments related to the city or government of West Haven.
Moderators will use the “Thumbs Up” function to give the person speaking a 10-second warning. Participants must keep all dialogue courteous and respectful.
For information, call the mayor’s office at 203-937-3510, or send an email to ctomc1@unh.newhaven.edu.
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Rossi encourages eligible West Haveners to register for vaccine
WEST HAVEN, Feb. 18, 2021 — Mayor Nancy R. Rossi is kicking off a citywide campaign to encourage eligible residents to sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine.
“The key to ending the pandemic and getting back to a sense of normality is for our residents to get vaccinated as soon as possible when they are eligible,” Rossi said.
West Haven is taking an aggressive approach and is working closely with the state to vaccinate as many people as possible, as quickly as possible, Rossi said.
“The availability of vaccine has been a challenge, but we expect the number of doses will increase in the weeks ahead, giving the city and our private partners the opportunity to vaccinate more residents,” Rossi said.
Connecticut is currently in Phase 1b, which includes health care professionals, medical first responders, and individuals 65 and older. As of last week, the state had vaccinated 61% of its population over age 75 and 13% between ages 65 and 74.
While Connecticut remains among the nation’s top four states for vaccine distribution, Rossi said: “I have real concern about the disparities that are being seen in Connecticut and across the country regarding vaccination across racial lines. Data shows that Black populations are lagging behind white and Hispanic populations.
“We must make sure that all of our communities in West Haven are given equal access to COVID-19 information and vaccination, and this will be my top priority until all of our residents are vaccinated and protected from this deadly virus.”
West Haven has set up a vaccination clinic at the Johnson Community Center, 201 Noble St., and is working with area health providers to set up temporary pop-up or mobile vaccination clinics as needed across the city.
Private partners in West Haven include the Walmart pharmacy and Walgreens, along with the neighboring Cornell Scott Hill Health Center on Columbus Avenue in New Haven. The Stop & Shop pharmacy in West Haven should be up and operational soon, Rossi said.
Appointments for those locations are done through the Vaccine Administration Management System, known as VAMS.
Individuals who are eligible and want to register for the vaccine can use the contact information below: Rossi added: “Please help your family and neighbors register for the vaccine when it is their turn. West Haven has always come together to help others in the community, and we are asking for your help once again. The city website has all the current COVID-19 information at http://www.cityofwesthaven.com/.
“Please stay safe and Westie strong. We are almost there!”
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West Haven centenarian celebrates birthday
WEST HAVEN, Feb. 18, 2021 — (Pictured): Susan Dupee receives a mayoral citation in honor of her 100th birthday from Louis P. Esposito Jr., the executive assistant to Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, left, and Councilman Robert Bruneau, D-9, during a celebration at the Hillside Avenue home of her daughter and son-in-law, Jane and Mike Pniewski, on Feb. 17.
Dupee, who has lived most of her 100 years in West Haven, was recognized for “leading a remarkable life that is great in years and great in accomplishments.”
(Contributed Photo/Mike Pniewski) |
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 Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, center, delivers a red rose and a blue tote bag containing other valentines to Bill and Doreen Breen as part of West Haven’s 31st annual Valentine’s Day event Feb. 12. The Breens, who live on Laurel Street and have been married for 53 years, were among 30 couples married for at least 50 years and honored by Rossi during the pandemic-safe celebration. (City Photo/Tom J. McCarthy)
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Rossi delivers valentines to couples married 50 years
WEST HAVEN, Feb. 17, 2021 — In a time dominated by the coronavirus, Mayor Nancy R. Rossi lifted spirits by delivering valentines to 30 couples married for at least 50 years, including Bill and Doreen Breen, as part of the city’s 31st annual Valentine’s Day event.
The Breens, who live on Laurel Street and have been married for 53 years, were among the West Haven couples honored by Rossi on Feb. 12, two days before Valentine’s Day.
During the pandemic-safe celebration, Rossi drove to each home and gave each couple a blue tote bag emblazoned with a white West Haven centennial logo and filled with congratulatory gifts.
In the past three decades, the City With a Heart had recognized those sweethearts who reached the half-century mark and beyond with a Valentine’s Day party featuring entertainment, dancing and refreshments.
But this year was different, Rossi acknowledged, because of COVID-19. Pandemic or not, she was determined to keep the city’s long-standing Valentine’s Day tradition alive.
Without skipping a beat, Rossi, with help from the Department of Elderly Services, organized an alternative event that celebrated the holiday of love from the safety of couples’ homes — all the while she played Cupid and delivered gift bags to the happy couples in an otherwise trying time.
The insulated tote bags were donated by West Haven United, an organization aimed at bringing the city’s volunteer groups together, and were assembled by the University of New Haven Mayor’s Advisory Commission, a collaborative, student-driven task force founded in 2015 to strengthen town-gown relations.
Each bag contained a bottle of prosecco, a red rose and a salami and provolone snack pack courtesy of Costco of Milford, as well as face masks from the West Haven Health Department and promotional items from the West Haven Community Development Administration.
Rossi also presented the event’s oldest married couple, William and Dorothy McCarthy, 71 years, and the youngest couple, Lou and Maryann Celone, 51 years, with a bottle of wine and a gift-wrapped pendant courtesy of Leslie Jewelers of West Haven. |
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 Rossi delivers valentines to West Haven’s youngest couple, Maryann and Lou Celone. The Celones, of Linwood Street, have been married for 51 years. (City Photo/Tom J. McCarthy)
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Facebook page promotes West Haven’s centennial celebration
WEST HAVEN, Feb. 10, 2021 — The City of West Haven Centennial Celebration Committee has launched a Facebook page to mark and promote the community’s 100th anniversary this year, Mayor Nancy R. Rossi announced.
The newly published page, called “City of West Haven Centennial Celebration - 1921-2021,” is the centennial’s official Facebook page. It is administered by the city and edited by Dan Shine, one of the foremost authorities on West Haven history.
The committee is planning a series of commemorative events, starting in late June, to observe the 1921 birth of Connecticut’s youngest town, said Rossi, the honorary chairwoman.
In the coming weeks and months, Shine and other notable authors will post a wide range of articles and photos on the page to celebrate historical events, people and places in West Haven from the past 100 years. Other posts will include announcements of centennial fundraisers and festivities.
Like the page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CityofWestHavenCentennialCelebrationCommittee.
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100-year-old Westies sought for centennial recognition
WEST HAVEN, Feb. 10, 2021 — As part of the community’s 100th anniversary festivities later this year, the City of West Haven Centennial Celebration Committee is honoring residents 100 and older and is looking for centenarians to recognize.
All centenarians who live in West Haven are invited to participate by calling committee member Beth A. Sabo at 203-937-3558.
The committee is planning a series of commemorative events, starting in late June, to celebrate the 1921 birth of Connecticut’s youngest town.
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