‘Tree tender’ volunteers sought for June 12 meeting at Painter Park

WEST HAVEN, June 2, 2022 — Tree Warden Leo Kelly is holding an outdoor meeting to discuss plans for replanting trees in parts of the city.

The meeting is set for 10 a.m. June 12 at Painter Park’s Kelsey Avenue entrance.

Kelly is seeking volunteers, called “tree tenders,” to help the city implement a $10,000 grant from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to plant and maintain trees in urban areas of West Haven.

Those interested in volunteering are encouraged to attend the meeting.

Kelly said many city trees have been lost because of storms and utility projects and have not been replaced or replenished. The tree tender initiative hopes to change that, he said.

Register for the meeting by email to lkelly@westhaven-ct.gov.

Historic New England accepting applications for preservation fund

WEST HAVEN, June 2, 2022 — Historic New England is accepting applications for the new Edward F. Gerber Urban Preservation Fund.

The endowed fund supports the preservation of private historic homes in Connecticut. It allows Historic New England to continue its work to build a network of historic preservation and community stakeholders by providing critical support to historic residential property owners in 10 Connecticut urban centers, including West Haven.

In addition to West Haven, eligible properties must be in Bridgeport, Hartford, Manchester, New Britain, New Haven, New London, Norwalk, Stamford and Waterbury. By investing in those areas, Historic New England will leverage the power of a strong network of local, state and regional organizations to support visible preservation projects in the communities.

“Historic New England is deeply committed to preserving the rich architectural and cultural history that is reflected in homes across New England,” President and CEO Vin Cipolla said. “The Edward F. Gerber Urban Preservation Fund supports the vital work of maintaining private historic homes in Connecticut’s urban areas for the benefit of homeowners and their communities.”

Cipolla said the annual award grants up to $10,000 to the owner-occupant of a residential property with no more than four units.

“Ed Gerber’s thoughtful and generous gift to establish this fund aligns perfectly with goals in Historic New England’s new strategic plan,” Cipolla said. “It is an excellent move forward in broadening how we support historic preservation and community livability throughout the region.”

Applications are available and due July 8.

Read the Grant Guidelines and apply today.

The brick Veterans Walk of Honor in Bradley Point Park, West Haven. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh, File)

Veterans Walk of Honor dedication postponed to Saturday

WEST HAVEN, June 2, 2022 — Because of rain last weekend, West Haven Veterans Council members and city officials will now dedicate the 14th phase of the brick Veterans Walk of Honor in Bradley Point Park at 5 p.m. Saturday.

All veterans are invited to participate in the seaside ceremony, which will feature a flag-raising, an invocation and a wreath-laying, as well as remarks by Mayor Nancy R. Rossi and Veterans Council President Dave Ricci.

The public is also invited.

State Rep. Dorinda Borer, D-West Haven, will serve as the master of ceremonies.

In November 2006, the Veterans Council began the first of 14 campaigns selling bricks to memorialize vets on the 100-yard Walk of Honor between the William A. Soderman and Vietnam Veterans memorials.

The bricks, which cost $75, have charcoal lettering for personalized messages.

About 2,900 bricks have been installed so far, including 58 for the 14th phase and 130 for the 13th phase, which was dedicated June 5, 2021.

In May 2015, the dedication of the eighth phase included the dedication of a granite stone in memory of Veterans Council President Lorelee “Lori” Grenfell, who died in 2015 at age 60. The memorial was crafted by Giordano Bros. Monuments of West Haven.

The Walk of Honor’s first phase and the city’s Korean War Memorial were dedicated in May 2007.

In May 2008, the walkway’s second phase and a memorial in honor of World War II Army Pfc. William A. Soderman were dedicated.

Soderman received the Medal of Honor after he distinguished himself in December 1944 while defending an important road junction near Rocherath, Belgium.

On July 1, 1984, Bradley Point Park’s flagpole was dedicated in memory of Soderman, who died in 1980.

City Human Resources Commissioner Beth A. Sabo has overseen the construction of all phases of the walkway, which was built by City Point Construction Co. of West Haven.

Sabo has also supervised the design and placement of the granite Korean War and Soderman memorials, which were made by Shelley Bros. Monuments of Guilford.

Also in 2008, 14 grave markers signifying every war in U.S. history and peacetime were dedicated. The markers are mounted on granite posts.

Subsequent dedications have been held amid much fanfare, attracting hundreds of veterans and their families from all corners of Connecticut and beyond.

Grand Marshal Emery Linton Sr. steers West Haven’s Memorial Day parade up Campbell Avenue on Monday morning from a golf cart driven by city Human Resources Commissioner Beth A. Sabo. Linton, an Army veteran, served in the Vietnam War in 1970-72. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Parade honors America’s fallen

WEST HAVEN, May 31, 2022 — Grand Marshal Emery Linton Sr. steered West Haven’s Memorial Day parade Monday morning from a golf cart driven by city Human Resources Commissioner Beth A. Sabo.

Linton, an Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War in 1970-72, led the 40-unit procession of veterans, bands and dignitaries, including Mayor Nancy R. Rossi and other city officials, along Campbell Avenue.

The parade stepped from Captain Thomas Boulevard north to Center Street, where a sea of people lined the 1 ½-mile route, American flags waving, for the annual patriotic march.

Read the full story and see the photos at Memorial Day Parade.

Silver's parking lot closed during overnight hours

Silver’s parking lot closed overnight

WEST HAVEN, May 31, 2022 — Citing an increase in criminal activity, the city will close the municipal parking lot behind the former Silver’s Drug Shop building at 519 Campbell Ave. from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily, effective immediately.

Public Works Commissioner Tom J. McCarthy said the city has installed gates at the Main Street and Center Street entrances to keep the parking lot closed during the overnight hours to protect the public’s health and safety.

People are asked to take note of the lot’s new hours.

The public lot, previously open 24/7, is operated by the city as part of a 99-year agreement with the Silver family, who owned and operated the popular downtown drugstore from 1919 to 2006.

The $1 agreement began in 1996 and expires in 2095, according to city records.

Craft, farm, food truck vendors sought for farmers market

WEST HAVEN, May 26, 2022 — The city is seeking craft, farm and food truck vendors to participate in the Tony Inzero Farmers Market, which will open its 2022 season July 7 in the Oak Street Beach parking lot off Captain Thomas Boulevard.

Through Oct. 15, the market, nestled on the right side of the Oak Street municipal lot, will include state farmers selling homegrown fruits and vegetables and crafters selling wares from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays.

It will also include food trucks.

To participate in the semiweekly market, download an Application.

Applications are also available for pickup in the mayor’s office at City Hall, 355 Main St., where they are due June 13.

Completed applications must be emailed to the market’s manager, Killian Gruber, at kgruber@westhaven-ct.gov or faxed to 203-937-3705.

For more information, call Gruber at 203-937-3518..

High school students from city sought for logo design contest

WEST HAVEN, May 13, 2022 — The South Central Network of Care, a regional partnership aimed at building a system for meeting children’s behavioral health needs, is seeking high school students from West Haven to participate in a logo design contest.

To participate in the contest, complete an entry form, design a logo and submit them by June 20 to Daniela Giordano, the network’s Region 1 chair, at daniela.giordano@beaconhealthoptions.com.

Download an Entry Form.

The contest winner will receive a $50 gift card, and the South Central network will display the first-place logo on its brochures, website and other promotional materials.

The network is part of the Connecting to Care initiative, a collaboration between state and local agencies and service providers that offers care options, treatments and services for children.

The network includes West Haven’s Youth and Family Services and Interagency Network for Children.

The South Central network strives to coordinate and integrate behavioral health services across such child-focused systems as early care and education, K-12 education, pediatric primary care, youth justice, child welfare and recreation.