Insurance company opens shoreline office in West Haven

WEST HAVEN, Feb. 28, 2023 — (Pictured): Holding oversize scissors, Mayor Nancy R. Rossi and State Farm agent Christopher Carucci, who owns the Christopher Carucci Agency, cut the ribbon to celebrate the Milford insurance company’s new State Farm office in West Haven on Monday.

Marking the grand opening at 4 Ocean Ave. are, from left, Simon McDonald, the director of membership and marketing at the Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce; chamber President Michael Moses; State Farm associate agent Mariely Gonzalez and office manager Eric X. Negron; and state Sen. James J. Maroney, D-Milford.

The Christopher Carucci Agency LLC, a State Farm affiliate, signed a long-term lease last fall to open the 1,800-square-foot insurance office at a former dental practice in West Shore’s Baybrook Shopping Center, just across the street from Oyster River Beach.

Like Carucci’s Milford office, the West Haven office is open from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays and offers a full range of insurance options, including policies for auto, home and property, life, health, disability, small business, liability, and identity restoration. It also provides financial services, such as banking and investment options.

Founded in 1922, State Farm is the largest property and casualty insurance provider in the U.S. It is also America’s largest auto insurance provider.

The mutual company, headquartered in Bloomington, Ill., has 70,000 employees and 19,000 independent contractor agents who service 80 million policies and accounts nationwide.

(Creigh/West Haven Chamber)

Bake sale raises funds for special needs programs

WEST HAVEN, Feb. 28, 2023 — (Pictured): Members of the West Haven Interagency Network for Children sell baked goods at City Hall on Feb. 21 to raise funds for special needs programs.

From left, co-chair Sharon Rodriguez, Youth and Family Services Director Diane Dietman, co-chair Viola Waldo, Kyle Scarpulla, Michelle and Briana Pettaway, and co-chair Lucia Salazar-Cano.

The Mardi Gras bake sale collected $645 for special events and social activities organized by WHINC for families of special needs children enrolled in its support group program.

(City Photo/Jadine Finch)

West Haven issues snow rules for parking

City issues snow rules for parking

WEST HAVEN, Feb. 28, 2023 — To help crews expedite snow removal, Public Works Commissioner Tom J. McCarthy is reminding residents and businesses to observe parking regulations during and after storms.

Per the “Severe Weather” parking ordinance under Chapter 188 of the West Haven Code, police will ticket and tow vehicles violating the ordinance at the owner’s expense. Violators will receive a $100 fine.

Once snow begins to fall, a parking ban is in effect on the even-numbered side of most roads, unless one is posted with a “No Parking” sign on the odd side.

The ban is in effect for 36 hours after a storm. Residents are urged to park in driveways or designated private lots.

However, during an official snow emergency declared by Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, a parking ban will run from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. on both sides of Campbell and Savin avenues, Morgan Lane, Elm Street, Meloy Road, Second Avenue from Elm to Beach streets, and Main Street from Savin to Washington avenues.

McCarthy is also reminding residents and businesses to shovel their sidewalks within 24 hours after a storm or face a $25 fine “for each day that the violation persists.”

According to the “Removal of Snow and Ice” ordinance under Chapter 195 of the West Haven Code, people are given 24 hours to remove snow from sidewalks on and bordering their properties. Violators are subject to the $25-per-day fine, which is enforced by the Police Department, the ordinance states.

To report a complaint, call the department’s nonemergency line at 203-937-3900. Complaints are kept confidential.

McCarthy also pointed out that plowing or blowing snow into city streets is prohibited and violators are subject to a $60 fine for each offense, per the ordinance.

Also, residents and businesses with mailboxes damaged by snow thrown from a plow are the responsibility of the property owner. The city will only repair mailboxes damaged by the striking of a plow blade if there is visible evidence, such as paint or tire tracks.

Snow removal around mailboxes is the property owner’s responsibility.

Residents are also urged to help firefighters keep hydrants clear of snow.

For more information, call the Highway Department at 203-937-3644.

DOT replacing state-owned traffic signal controllers in city

DOT replacing state-owned traffic signal controllers in West Haven

WEST HAVEN, Feb. 24, 2023 — The state Department of Transportation is developing plans to replace traffic signal controllers and cabinets at select state-owned traffic signals in the city, along with installing communication equipment at several of the locations.

The DOT will coordinate the project with city officials during the design phase.

“It is the department’s policy to keep the public informed and involved when such projects are undertaken,” said Matthew C. Blume, the division chief of traffic engineering at the DOT’s Bureau of Engineering and Construction. “At this time, it is anticipated that an informational meeting or formal public hearing will not be necessary.”

The following West Haven intersections are included in the state project: Ocean Avenue (Route 705) at South Street; Ocean Avenue (Route 705) at Platt Court; Derby Avenue (Route 34) at Central Avenue; and Jones Hill Road (Route 162) at South Street.

Blume said the bureau should complete the design plans in June, with a tentative advertising date for construction of August.

Anyone interested in requesting information on “Project No. 0173-0532” can contact the project manager, John W. Lockaby, at john.lockaby@ct.gov or 860-594-2719.

Food scrap bags sold at retail sites

WEST HAVEN, Feb. 24, 2023 — Residents who need more green and orange food scrap bags can buy them at the following retail locations ($1.05 for five green bags and $1.55 for five orange bags):

• Krauszer’s Food Store, 10 Jones Hill Road (Babybrook Shopping Center, corner of Ocean Avenue)

• Krauszer’s Food Store, 911 Campbell Ave. (corner of Spring Street)

• Krauszer’s Food Store, 377 Campbell Ave. (corner of Brown Street)

• Krauszer’s Food Store, 191 Platt Ave. (near the WHHS entrance)

• Nazar Halal Meat & Market, 39 Elm St. (West River Plaza)

• Greatway Food Store, 502 Sawmill Road (across from Walmart)

• Best Gas & Food Mart, 161 Boston Post Road (near the Allington Green)

• Noble Gas Station, 941 Boston Post Road (corner of Farwell Street)

Allingtown Fire Department promotes car seat program

WEST HAVEN, Feb. 21, 2023 — (Pictured): At the Minor Park Station on Feb. 17, City of West Haven Fire Department Allingtown firefighter Vincent Del Vecchio shows Mayor Nancy R. Rossi how to install a car seat to ensure that it is properly fastened for securing a small child.

The public service is provided by the department’s Child Safety Car Seat Installation and Inspection Program.

Allingtown Chief Michael R. Terenzio reminds residents to register their car seat or booster seat with the manufacturer so they can receive a notification in the event of a recall.

To schedule a car seat inspection or installation, call the department at 203-933-2541.

(COWHFD Allingtown Photo/Stephen Grodzicki)

West Haven 7th District Councilwoman Katherine Tucker, second from left, receives “African American Citizen of the Year” citations from, from left, West Haven state Rep. Treneé McGee, Mayor Nancy R. Rossi and Black Heritage Committee Chairman Steven R. Mullins during the 27th annual Black Heritage Celebration at City Hall on Feb. 16. Tucker, a lifelong Westie, is a board-certified advanced practice registered nurse and the clinical program director of outpatient programs at Yale New Haven Hospital’s Heart and Vascular Center. The cultural event, in honor of Black History Month, is presented by the Black Heritage Committee. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Cultural event celebrates West Haven’s Black heritage

WEST HAVEN, Feb. 17, 2023 — The city recognized the “proud legacy, unique heritage and vibrant culture” of African Americans and the pioneering contributions they have made to writing the great American story at the 27th annual Black Heritage Celebration on Feb. 16.

During the City Hall cultural event in observance of Black History Month, the West Haven Black Heritage Committee cited “outstanding” West Haven High School juniors Malachi Calhoun and Dana Davis and seniors Ayannah Obas and Jo’Vante Witter for leadership and academics and honored Councilwoman Katherine Tucker, D-7, as the city’s African American Citizen of the Year.

Tucker, a lifelong resident who began her inaugural term on the City Council in March 2022, received a citation from Mayor Nancy R. Rossi for “your pioneering contributions to upholding the traditions and values of our African American community.”

Read the full story and see the photo spread at Black Heritage Celebration 2023.

Marchers sought for West Haven Memorial Day parade

WEST HAVEN, Feb. 10, 2023 — The city and the West Haven Veterans Council are 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 29.

Participants must register and list required special accommodations for the procession, which has no rain date.

The city will provide transportation for veterans who are unable to walk the 1 ½-mile parade route, 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 marshal is Mark Levine, an Army veteran of the Vietnam War.

Download a Participation Form.

Forms are also available for pickup in the mayor’s office at City Hall, 355 Main St., where they are due May 8.

Completed forms must be faxed to 203-937-3705 or mailed to the West Haven Memorial Day Parade, Office of the Mayor, 355 Main St., West Haven, CT 06516.

West Haven heralds launch of state’s largest food-to-clean-energy program

WEST HAVEN, Nov. 14, 2022 — West Haven is the first city in the state to offer a citywide curbside food scrap diversion option to all single-family residents, Mayor Nancy R. Rossi announced.

Rossi said the program allows all single-family homes — one, two and three families — to easily separate food scraps and have them collected at the curb in the same container now used for residents’ trash collection.

The city has received a $1.3 million Sustainable Materials Management grant from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to develop and launch a food-to-clean-energy program.

Grant Coordinator Doug Colter, who secured the funding for the city, said the state is facing a solid waste disposal crisis, as traditional options for disposing of municipal solid waste are diminishing or becoming more expensive. With fewer and rapidly aging disposal options in Connecticut, residents and municipal leaders can expect disposal costs to increase at the remaining waste incineration facilities “as well as out-of-state landfilling,” Colter said.

On Nov. 7, the West Haven Food to Clean Energy program launched a nine-month pilot project for curbside food scrap diversion. Participation in the program comes at no cost to the 16,000 eligible households.

Colter said the funding covers the purchase of special color-coded bags for trash and for food scrap separation for the nine-month pilot. It also covers the cost of educational materials — mailers, a website and a Connect mobile app — along with personnel to sort the bags and the shipment of food scraps to Quantum Biopower in Southington, where the food will be converted into clean electricity, he said.

More details at Food Scrap Recycling.

Informational Materials

The Downsizing Donation Guide: A Resource for Residents of New Haven County (PDF)

What’s In? What’s Out? A Guide to Recycling (PDF)