Energy Khlub celebrates opening on lower Campbell Ave.

WEST HAVEN, Jan. 6, 2017 — Mayor Edward M. O’Brien cuts the ribbon Thursday with Energy Khlub owner Mahogany Mathis, right, and her mother, Knia Mathis, second from left, and her sister, Malaizja Mathis, to mark the organic beverage shop’s ceremonial opening at 82 Campbell Ave. “West Haven’s new healthy drink shop” blends a clever concoction of smoothies — raspberry jungle milk, sweet potato pie, vanilla lime zest — with such staples as coffee, tea, apple cider and hot chocolate. The lower Campbell Avenue business, owned and operated by the Mathis family, also whips up fresh bagels, cake, cookies, soup and doughnuts. The Energy Khlub is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Longtime married couples to be honored Feb. 14

WEST HAVEN, Jan. 6, 2017 — City couples married at least 50 years will be honored during the city’s 27th annual Valentine’s Day party from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Savin Rock Conference Center, 6 Rock St.

The couples will receive chocolates and roses from the mayor’s office.

The party, featuring music by the Clam Diggers, will include cake and coffee.

For reservations, call Elderly Services Director Sharon R. Mancini at 203-937-3507 by Feb. 10.

Tax help offered to residents 60 and older

WEST HAVEN, Jan. 6, 2017 — The West Haven Senior Center is offering a free tax preparation service to help low- to middle-income taxpayers.

The AARP Tax-Aide program is available by appointment from 9-11 a.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, starting Feb. 1, at the Johnson Community Center, 201 Noble St.

Special attention is given to help those 60 and older fill out federal tax forms.

The service, which includes tax counseling, is offered by trained volunteer tax preparers from AARP, in cooperation with the Internal Revenue Service.

For an appointment, call the senior center at 203-937-3507.

Golf tournament scores $7,260 for blood cancer research

WEST HAVEN, Jan. 6, 2017 — Longtime city businessman Frank Cuomo, owner of Elm Cafe at 124 Elm St., presented the 18th annual Elm Cafe Golf Tournament Oct. 17 at Alling Memorial Golf Club in New Haven.

The tournament, which benefits blood cancer research, raised $7,260 for the Stamford-based Connecticut Westchester Hudson Valley chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Since its inception in 1999, the event has collected $140,588 for the cause, Cuomo said.

“The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has been very honored to be the recipient of these hard-earned funds over the last 17 years,” the nonprofit organization said in a statement.

LLS, the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer, aims to cure leukemia, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Rye Brook, New York, LLS finances lifesaving blood cancer research worldwide and provides free information and support services. Details at www.lls.org.

An estimated 200 participants -- including Mayor Edward M. O'Brien, Westies T-shirt, and his son, David, red-and-white T-shirt -- dash in and out of the 41-degree water in Long Island Sound during the 16th annual Icy Plunge for the Cure benefit Feb. 6 at a snow-covered Savin Rock Beach. The event, presented by the city's Breast Cancer Awareness Committee, was moved from Jan. 23 because of snow. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh, File)

Participants sought for Icy Plunge for the Cure

WEST HAVEN, Jan. 4, 2017 — Participants in the 17th Icy Plunge for the Cure, a longtime winter tradition, can break out the arctic swimwear Jan. 28 at Savin Rock Beach.

The 9:30 a.m. event, presented by the city’s Breast Cancer Awareness Committee, benefits breast cancer research and education.

Registration starts at 7:30 a.m. in the Savin Rock Conference Center, 6 Rock St.

The first 100 people to register will receive “plungewear.” The top fundraiser will receive a prize.

Participants will wait on the beach for the signal to charge into Long Island Sound. Wetsuits are not allowed.

Last January, snow postponed the plunge for the first time in 16 years, with it taking place in February — also for the first time.

Since its inception in 2001, the committee has collected more than $780,000 for the cause, said Human Resources Commissioner Beth A. Sabo, a founding committee member.

An estimated 200 people took part in last year’s plunge, which netted about $32,000.

And organizers anticipate another good turnout this year, with plunge veterans Mayor Edward M. O’Brien and his 16-year-old son, David, returning for the frosty dip.

Several city, police and fire departments are forming teams and issuing challenges to one another to help raise the stakes and more money.

Sabo said the plunge is a celebration of survivors and a remembrance of loved ones who have died of the disease.

Registration forms are available in the Department of Human Resources on the second floor of City Hall, 355 Main St.

Pledges for the plunge must be handed in the day of the event, Sabo said. Checks are payable to the West Haven Breast Cancer Awareness Program.

Proceeds have previously gone to the Yale Breast Center at Yale New Haven’s Smilow Cancer Hospital and Looking Forward, an education and wellness program for cancer patients at Smilow.

For information, call committee member Jennifer Cavallaro at 203-937-3619 or Sabo at 203-937-3558. To sponsor the plunge, call Cavallaro or Sabo.

Send donation checks to the West Haven Breast Cancer Awareness Program, Department of Human Resources, 355 Main St., West Haven 06516.

Bulk trash pickup, e-waste drop-off schedule announced

WEST HAVEN, Jan. 4, 2017 — The 2017 bulk trash pickup schedule is March 6-10, June 5-9, Aug. 7-11 and Oct. 2-6.

Residents are reminded that bulk pickup is on their scheduled curbside collection days in the second calendar week of the four designated months. They are also reminded to separate metals and recyclables from regular trash and to put out trash no more than 24 hours before pickup.

Violations carry a $100 fine per daily offense.

Bulk items include couches, chairs, mattresses, tables, carpeting, padding, fencing and small amounts of bundled lumber, which may not exceed 6 feet in length.

The amount of bulk trash per collection is limited to 6 cubic yards, which is equal to a pile of trash 6 feet long, 6 feet wide and 4 ½ feet high.

Along with tires, the city also picks up such white goods as refrigerators, washing machines and stoves on residents’ weekly collection days.

To prevent a potential fine, property owners should familiarize themselves with the city’s trash guidelines. Details at Bulk Trash Pickup.

To report a complaint, call the department at 203-937-3585. Complaints are kept confidential.

Also, the 2017 e-waste drop-off days are Jan. 7, March 4, June 3 and Sept. 30.

Residents can drop off electronic recyclables — typically anything that plugs in or needs a battery — from 8 a.m.-noon at the highway maintenance garage, 1 Collis St.

The city is partnering with Take 2 Inc. of Waterbury, a recycler and collector of universal e-waste devices, to collect residential electronic items on a quarterly basis.

The collection is free for residents who have such items as TVs, hand-held video games, computers and monitors, copiers and scanners, microwave and toaster ovens, dehumidifiers and other small appliances.

For the latest news and information, visit us on our website at www.cityofwesthaven.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CityofWestHaven.

Reminders about Christmas trees, holiday trash pickup

WEST HAVEN, Jan. 4, 2017 — The city reminds residents not to put Christmas trees in plastic bags or stands for curbside pickup.

Plastic bags and other items can become tangled in the machine that grinds the trees into compost.

Also, residents are reminded that five holidays during the year delay curbside pickup one day.

All American Waste of New Haven, the city’s private rubbish contractor, will not pick up rubbish, recyclables, metals or tires Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

If a holiday falls on a weekday, pickup for that week will move ahead one day.

But when a holiday, such as Thanksgiving, falls on a Thursday, only Thursday and Friday’s collections will move up a day.

Thanksgiving is also the only holiday that excludes metal and tire pickups in those affected districts.

Separate metals and recyclables from regular trash.

For details, call the Department of Public Works at 203-937-3585.

For the latest news and information, visit us on our website at www.cityofwesthaven.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CityofWestHaven.

Knights of Columbus raise $1,500 for adolescent group

Knights of Columbus raises $1,500 for adolescent group

WEST HAVEN, Jan. 4, 2017 — City Youth and Family Services Director Robert S. Morton, third from right, receives a $1,500 check Dec. 30 at City Hall from members of the Knights of Columbus for the West Haven Interagency Network for Children’s Adolescent and Young Adult Social Group as John Przybylowski, holding plaque, receives the “You Make a Difference Award” on behalf of the Knights from WHINC members. From left, Knights Phil Piskura and Emil Belous, adolescent group members Kyle Scarpulla and Chris Przybylowski, group leader Viola Waldo, and Knights James Celestine, Paul Bauer and Phil King. The money was raised at a pasta dinner held by the Knights of Columbus Nov. 12 in the hall of St. John Vianney Church. Funds were also collected at the fraternal organization’s recent Tootsie Roll drive. Proceeds from the sales of Tootsie Rolls and other candy are donated by the Knights to programs that aim to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities, said Morton, director of WHINC. (City Photo/Rosa Richardson)

City collecting recyclable electronic items Jan. 7

WEST HAVEN, Dec. 19, 2016 — Residents can drop off electronic recyclables — typically anything that plugs in or needs a battery — from 8 a.m.-noon Jan. 7 at the highway maintenance garage, 1 Collis St.

The city is partnering with Take 2 Inc. of Waterbury, a recycler and collector of universal e-waste devices, to collect residential electronic items on a quarterly basis.

The next drop-off day is March 4. Details at E-waste Drop-off.

The collection is free for residents who have such items as TVs, hand-held video games, computers and monitors, copiers and scanners, microwave and toaster ovens, dehumidifiers and other small appliances.

For the latest news and information, visit us on our website at www.cityofwesthaven.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CityofWestHaven.

City issues snow rules for parking

WEST HAVEN, Dec. 12, 2016 — To help expedite snow removal, the Department of Public Works is reminding residents and businesses to observe parking regulations during and after snowstorms.

Under normal snow conditions, 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 snowstorm. Residents are urged to park in driveways or designated private lots.

During an official snow emergency declared by Mayor Edward M. O’Brien, 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.

Police will tag and tow vehicles violating the parking ordinance at the owner’s expense.

Per city ordinance, residents and businesses are responsible for removing snow from sidewalks on and bordering their properties. Also, per ordinance, plowing or blowing snow into city streets is prohibited, and violators are subject to fines.

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.

For information, call the Public Works Department at 203-937-3585.

For the latest news and information, visit us on our website at www.cityofwesthaven.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CityofWestHaven.