Savin Rock Fireworks Spectacular: All you need to know

In this Sept. 3, 2022, file photo, red, white and blue rockets burst over Long Island Sound off Bradley Point in West Haven at the Savin Rock Fireworks Spectacular. This year’s display is set for 9:15 p.m. July 3. (City Drone Photo/Andrew Kosarko, Courtesy of Jow Films LLC, File)

Savin Rock Fireworks: All you need to know

WEST HAVEN, June 23, 2023 — The 2023 Savin Rock Fireworks Spectacular is set for 9:15 p.m. July 3, Mayor Nancy R. Rossi announced.

The display, billed as “They Will Be Heard on the 3rd,” is launched off Bradley Point and presented by the Savin Rock Fireworks Committee. The rain date is July 5.

The pyrotechnic show is West Haven’s largest one-day event, attracting tens of thousands of residents and visitors to the city’s 3 miles of public beaches each year.

At 4 p.m. July 3, police will close Captain Thomas Boulevard and Ocean Avenue, from Kelsey Avenue to South Street, to give the festivities a block party feel. The roads will reopen around 11 p.m., according to police.

A fleet of 14 food and dessert trucks will line the westbound lane of Captain Thomas Boulevard, near Dyke Street, and dish up burgers, hot dogs, pizza, fried dough and tacos, as well as ice cream and kettle corn.

Before the fireworks light up the night sky over the West Haven shoreline, a craft fair will take place from noon-4 p.m. on the east side of Savin Rock. A short distance away, bands from West Haven’s Rock House School of Music will perform on a portable stage in front of the Rock.

From 7-9 p.m., Rubber City will perform horn-powered party hits on the Savin Rock stage.

On July 3, the parking fee for both residents and nonresidents is $20, payable by credit card through a “Pay for Parking” smartphone app only. Paid parking is available in all shoreline lots and the West Haven High School lot.

To park, residents and nonresidents must scan the QR code on the Premium Parking sign in each lot or text the lot code to 504504. Both options will connect them to the Premium Parking website to complete the transaction. People can also download the Premium Parking app on the Apple or Google app stores.

Those who park in the beach lots during the day can stay for the fireworks, but they have to keep their vehicles in the lots until the roads reopen around 11 p.m. Otherwise, they have to leave the lots by 4 p.m.

Beach parking lots are for use by residents and nonresidents on a first-come, first-served basis. The lots are: Oyster River, South Street Upper, South Street Lower, Dawson Avenue, Sea Bluff, Bradley Point, Rock Street, Oak Street, Palace Street, Altschuler Boulevard and Sandy Point, as well as the April Street boat launch.

Parking violators will receive an invoice of at least $100 — a $100 citation, plus a fee for the amount of time they were parked — from Premium Parking, the New Orleans-based company contracted with helping West Haven develop a digitally driven paid parking program along the shoreline.

In preparation for the fireworks, Police Chief Joseph S. Perno said the department is rolling out a comprehensive traffic management plan aimed at safeguarding the public.

Perno said the large-scale traffic plan will close many shoreline roads in the hours before the 9:15 p.m. display to protect pedestrians and allow for the safe passage of emergency vehicles.

Residents and nonresidents should take note that “No Parking” signs will be posted on both sides of Platt Avenue from Ocean Avenue to Randall’s Restaurant; Dyke Street from Captain Thomas Boulevard to Educational Way; Kelsey Avenue from Captain Thomas Boulevard to Graham Avenue; Ocean Avenue from South Street to Ivy Street; and the even side of all side streets off Ocean Avenue from South Street to Ivy Street.

“No Parking” signs will also be posted on the north side of Connecticut Avenue; the even side of all side streets off Ocean Avenue to Highland Avenue; the even side of Highland Avenue from Arlington Street to Linden Street; and the even side of all side streets off Beach Street to Thomas Street.

Because of construction, Beach Street from Monahan Place to Morse Avenue is closed to both vehicles and pedestrians.

Police can ticket and tow vehicles violating the traffic plan at the owner’s expense. Violators are subject to a $100 fine.

Residents and nonresidents should also take note that police will strictly enforce all beach regulations, which are posted at each access point along the shoreline, as well as the following restrictions:

—   All bags will be subject to search before entering the beach area.

—   No alcoholic beverages will be allowed on the beach.

—   No disorderly or obscene conduct will be tolerated.

—   No open fires or cooking will be allowed on the beach.

Freeplay opens Summer Concert Series at 7 tonight

WEST HAVEN, June 23, 2023 — Freeplay, “Connecticut’s hottest party band,” will open the West Haven Summer Concert Series at 7 tonight in Old Grove Park on Palace Street.

The free concert is presented by the Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce.

PLEASE NOTE: Week 1 of the Summer Concert Series is on a Friday night because of the band’s availability. The rest of the concerts are on Thursday nights.

Bowling program offered to West Haven residents ages 13 to 17

WEST HAVEN, June 23, 2023 — West Haven’s Youth and Family Services and Department of Parks and Recreation are teaming up to provide an alternative enrichment bowling league for residents ages 13-17.

The 10-pin league is for West Haven residents and will take place at the Bowlero Milford bowling alley, 1717 Boston Post Road, from 4-6 p.m. Tuesdays, July 11-Aug. 1.

The four-week program costs $25 per child. The fee includes two weekly games of bowling, a shoe rental, a pizza slice and soda, as well as a $7 arcade card each week.

Bus transportation is provided for those enrolled in the program. Participants must ride the bus — no drop-offs at Bowlero.

Bus pickup sites and times are: Carrigan Intermediate School, 2 Tetlow St., 3:15 p.m., and Bailey Middle School, 106 Morgan Lane, 3:30 p.m.

The bus will depart at the designated time and will not wait for those who are late.

Register for the program at Park-Rec .

Anyone with questions can email Youth and Family Services Director Diane Dietman at dietman@westhaven-ct.gov.

Engine 3, the City of West Haven Fire Department Allingtown’s new pumper, is placed into service at the department’s Minor Park Station on Wednesday. (COWHFD Allingtown Photo)

New Allingtown FD pumper truck placed into service

WEST HAVEN, June 22, 2023 — Engine 3, the City of West Haven Fire Department Allingtown’s new pumper, was placed into service Wednesday at the department’s Minor Park Station on Fairfax Street, Chief Michael R. Terenzio announced.

Read the full News Release.

Beach parking information

WEST HAVEN, June 21, 2023 — Nonresidents must pay to park in all shoreline lots in West Haven by using a “Pay for Parking” smartphone app.

Nonresidents can pay to park by scanning the QR code on the Premium Parking sign in each lot or texting the lot code to 504504. Both options will connect them to the Premium Parking website to complete the transaction. Nonresidents can also download the Premium Parking app on the Apple or Google app stores.

The daily parking fee for nonresidents is $5 per hour, or $30 per day, payable by credit card only. A nonresident seasonal parking pass for $250 is also available.

Parking is free for residents, provided their vehicles, including motorcycles and new, leased or military-exempt vehicles, are registered in West Haven and they are not delinquent on their motor vehicle taxes. A “new” vehicle means it was registered in West Haven after Oct. 1, 2022.

Taxpayers can check if they owe back taxes and make a payment at My Tax Bill.

The city is transitioning from using beach stickers to license plate numbers for proving that vehicles are registered in West Haven. Residents’ license plate numbers are registered in a tax office database. Each parking lot is equipped with a license plate scanner.

Beach parking lots are for use by both residents and nonresidents on a first-come, first-served basis. The lots are: Oyster River, South Street Upper, South Street Lower, Dawson Avenue, Sea Bluff, Bradley Point, Rock Street, Oak Street, Palace Street, Altschuler Boulevard and Sandy Point, as well as the April Street boat launch.

Parking violators will receive an invoice of at least $100 — a $100 citation, plus a fee for the amount of time they were parked — from Premium Parking, the New Orleans-based company contracted with helping West Haven develop a digitally driven paid parking program along the shoreline.

West Haven Vietnam vets sought for new section of memorial ‘wall’

WEST HAVEN, June 9, 2023 — Current and former city residents who served in the Vietnam War are sought by the West Haven Vietnam Memorial Inc. Committee to have their names inscribed on a new section of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Bradley Point Park.

To qualify for name recognition on the memorial “wall,” Vietnam veterans must apply and meet the following requirements:

— Applicants must live or have lived in West Haven. Veterans living in West Haven must provide proof of residence, such as a utility bill.

— Applicants must have served in-country during the Vietnam War.

— Applicants must have been honorably discharged from military service. A DD214 form (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) is required.

— Applicants must share potential costs, if any.

The committee does not have a formal application. Veterans must mail all documents, which are due Oct. 1, to West Haven Vietnam Veterans, City Hall, lower level, 355 Main St., West Haven, CT 06516.

Those with questions can call Bill at 203-521-2356, Steve at 475-655-2993 or Paul at 203-500-2159.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial includes a black granite wall inscribed with the names of those from West Haven who served or gave their lives in Vietnam from 1959 to 1975, along with three white flagpoles draped with the American, Connecticut and prisoner-of-war flags.

The memorial, dedicated Nov. 12, 2003, also includes a black granite map of the four battle districts of Vietnam bearing the inscription “All Gave Some, Some Gave All,” as well as five bronze insignia markers atop black granite posts representing each branch of the U.S. armed forces.

West Haven Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, right, presents William Campbell descendants George F. Campbell, 70, and his daughter, Miriam Campbell, 17, with a proclamation declaring “Adjutant William Campbell Day” in West Haven on June 8. The Campbells, of the Pollokshields suburb of Glasgow, Scotland, paid their respects at the final resting place of their revered fifth- and sixth-generation grandfather on “Monument Path” in Allingtown. On July 5, 1779, Campbell, a Scotsman serving in the British army, died hours after saving the Rev. Noah Williston of West Haven’s First Congregational Church from certain death at the hands of British soldiers and Hessian Jager mercenaries during the British invasion of New Haven. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Family of British war ‘hero’ pays respects at gravesite

WEST HAVEN, June 9, 2023 — The fifth-generation grandson and sixth-generation granddaughter of a “heroic” British army officer who died in West Haven during the Revolutionary War visited the city of his final resting place to pay their respects June 8.

George F. Campbell, 70, and his daughter, Miriam Campbell, 17, joined West Haven leaders to retrace the steps of their greatest of grandfathers, Adjutant William Campbell, who died hours after saving the village minister’s life during the British invasion of Colonial New Haven 244 years ago.

“William Campbell is one of the first true ‘American’ heroes and is revered by West Haven,” Mayor Nancy R. Rossi said. “To this day, the adjutant is the only known enemy combatant recognized by the very American town he invaded with both a monument and principal avenue named in his honor.”

Read the full story and see the photo gallery at Adjutant William Campbell.

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)

City touts 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)