 City Project Coordinator and Sidewalk Inspector Ernie Chiarelli, center, helps Mayor Nancy R. Rossi cut the ribbon Saturday to mark the official opening of West Haven’s new dog park in Veterans Memorial Park at 91 Bull Hill Lane. Joining them are, from left, Councilman Barry Lee Cohen, R-10, with his dog, Roxie; city Treasurer Michael P. Last; City Council Chairman Ronald M. Quagliani, D-at large; Councilman Peter V. Massaro, D-6; state Rep. Dorinda Borer, D-West Haven; Councilman Gary Donovan, D-at large; Friends of the West Haven Dog Park Chairman Dan Potter; Councilwoman Bridgette J. Hoskie, D-1, with her dog, Toby; Tax Collector Dorothy Chambrelli; City Clerk Patricia C. Horvath; and Councilwoman Colleen O’Connor, R-at large. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)
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Ribbon-cutting marks opening of West Haven dog park
WEST HAVEN, March 29, 2021 — Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, sporting a pair of oversize scissors, cut a red ribbon Saturday morning to mark the official opening of the city’s new dog park in Veterans Memorial Park.
Rossi was joined by a contingent of West Haven officials and a small group of residents and furry friends to celebrate the dog park’s opening at 91 Bull Hill Lane.
“As you can see, West Haven is now home to a beautiful dog park that can be enjoyed by residents and their dogs,” Rossi told the socially distanced gathering.
Before cutting the ribbon, Rossi lauded Ernie Chiarelli, the project coordinator and sidewalk inspector for the Department of Public Works, and the many hardworking volunteers, including the Friends of the West Haven Dog Park, who rolled up their sleeves or donated materials to make the park a reality.
“Your combined efforts are much appreciated by myself and the residents of West Haven,” said Rossi, who was accompanied by animal-loving state Rep. Dorinda Borer, D-West Haven.
Moments later, Rossi snipped the ribbon to signal the park’s opening, sending the pack of eagerly awaiting dogs of various breeds and sizes — and their equally enthusiastic owners — scampering into the park to run and play.
The park comprises two fenced-in areas with two double gates for large and small dogs. Both areas feature such bells and whistles as running water to quench dogs’ thirst, an old fire hydrant and two tunnels, composed of high-density polyethylene plastic pipes, for them to crawl through.
Borer, who plans to frequent the park with her dog, Eli, is co-sponsoring a new bill that would require the Connecticut Sentencing Commission to review the state’s animal cruelty laws and make recommendations to change any current laws.
Also attending the ceremony were City Council Chairman Ronald M. Quagliani, D-at large, and council members Bridgette J. Hoskie, D-1, Peter V. Massaro, D-6, Barry Lee Cohen, R-10, Gary Donovan, D-at large, and Colleen O’Connor, R-at large.
They were joined by City Clerk Patricia C. Horvath, Treasurer Michael P. Last, Tax Collector Dorothy Chambrelli and Friends of the West Haven Dog Park Chairman Dan Potter.
The dog park was moved last year from behind the tennis courts of West Haven High School on Platt Avenue to the larger site of the former playground in Veterans Memorial Park, according to Chiarelli.
Rossi praised West Haven’s General Assembly delegation for securing a Local Capital Improvement Program grant to help fund the new park.
The park property, part of the former federal Nike site, was completely spruced up as well.
Chiarelli said the work included pruning trees, reseeding, and resealing and restriping the parking lot. It also included replacing the old incandescent lamps with new energy-efficient LED lights and reconditioning the existing benches and picnic tables with new wood, he said.
Veterans Memorial Park also houses horseshoe pits, two newly refurbished basketball courts and Veterans Field, the home of the West Haven Seahawks of the Ray Tellier Midget Football League and the Notre Dame High School football, soccer and lacrosse teams. |
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 Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, center, joins the Friends of the West Haven Dog Park, a grassroots group of volunteers who rolled up their sleeves to help bring the park to fruition. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)
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 The newly opened dog park has two fenced-in areas with two double gates for large dogs, top, and small dogs. Both areas have running water to quench dogs’ thirst, an old fire hydrant and two tunnels for them to crawl through. (City Photos/Michael P. Walsh)
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Vice President Harris brings ‘Help Is Here’ relief campaign to West Haven
WEST HAVEN, March 29, 2021 — Vice President Kamala Harris visited the West Haven Child Development Center on Friday.
Harris, America’s first female vice president, toured the 201 Noble St. center with Nancy R. Rossi, West Haven’s first female mayor, as part of the Biden administration’s “Help Is Here” campaign.
In her first visit to Connecticut as vice president, Harris touted the administration’s coronavirus relief package, called the American Rescue Plan, and its billions in funding to increase the child tax credit and support child care providers nationwide, including $277 million to help day care centers and preschools in the state.
Harris and Rossi were accompanied by U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-3, who championed the child tax credit legislation, as well as Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz. They were also joined by state Rep. Dorinda Borer, D-West Haven, and Councilwoman Robbin Watt Hamilton, D-5.
“We are happy to welcome Vice President Harris to West Haven,” Rossi said. “The American Rescue Plan includes funding that directly benefits West Haven and child care facilities like our Child Development Center. Help is here for West Haven in this robust relief package, which alleviates the many hardships felt by COVID-19.”
The Child Development Center, founded in 1978, is expected to receive funding for teachers and classrooms “to further support the care and education of our children,” said Executive Director Patrice Farquharson, who has a doctorate in education and was also on hand for the late-afternoon tour, which included Harris greeting a preschool class.
The center, which reopened July 6, 2020, after a period of distance learning, offers full- and part-day child care services for infants and children up to age 5. While it was closed, the center serviced families remotely by providing diapers and information to access food, Farquharson said.
The $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill, enacted by Congress earlier this month, includes funds for COVID-19 vaccines and testing; state, local and tribal governments; and schools and ailing industries. It also includes tax breaks to help lower-earning people and families with children.
Under the new law, West Haven is expected to receive $38.61 million — $19.85 million for education and $18.76 million for noneducation — in coronavirus relief, including aid for low-to-moderate-income families, according to the office of U.S. Rep. John B. Larson, D-1.
Besides stopping the pandemic and jump-starting hiring, the rescue package contains elements intended to stimulate faster growth over the long term, such as sustaining public transportation and repairing state and local government finances.
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Rossi virtual town hall meeting on Zoom scheduled for 6 p.m. April 12
WEST HAVEN, March 29, 2021 — Mayor Nancy R. Rossi and her staff invite residents to participate in a virtual town hall meeting on Zoom at 6 p.m. April 12.
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 Samuel Weinmann and Haynes.
Participants can send questions before the meeting by email to swein1@unh.newhaven.edu or chaynes@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 more information, call the mayor’s office at 203-937-3510, or send an email to swein1@unh.newhaven.edu or chaynes@newhaven.edu.
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Tax relief programs for elderly, disabled homeowners offered
WEST HAVEN, March 10, 2021 — The assessor’s office is accepting applications for tax relief programs for elderly and disabled homeowners from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays at City Hall, 355 Main St.
West Haven residents can apply for the programs, based on their 2020 incomes, until May 14.
The state elderly and disabled homeowners program offers tax reduction benefits depending on income and marital status. To qualify, the applicant or spouse must be 65 or older by Dec. 31, 2020, or permanently and totally disabled as defined by Social Security.
Income limits, including Social Security, are $45,800 for a married couple and $37,600 for a single person.
To qualify for the West Haven senior tax freeze program, the applicant must be 70 by the end of 2020 and have lived in the city for at least 20 consecutive years.
Income limits, excluding Social Security, are $50,000 for a married couple and $35,000 for a single person. Those eligible for the program must reapply each year.
The assessor’s office is also accepting applications until Oct. 1 for additional veterans exemptions. The maximum income is $45,800 for a married applicant and $37,600 for a single applicant.
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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 created 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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