Ribbon-cutting marks opening of Block Advisors on Elm St.

WEST HAVEN, Jan. 17, 2017 — Mayor Edward M. O’Brien cuts the ribbon with Chamber of Commerce Director Alan R. Olenick, left, and Block Advisors tax adviser and office manager William Smith on Jan. 12 to celebrate the grand opening of the tax preparation service’s West Haven office in the Professional Centre at 98 Elm St. To mark the occasion, the new office hosted a four-hour networking event in conjunction with 346 Block Advisors offices nationwide, including eight in Connecticut, for small-business owners and other professionals to meet with tax advisers and talk about tax law changes, tax planning, and sales and use taxes. Block Advisors, which offers year-round bookkeeping and payroll services, was launched in January 2016 by H&R Block Inc., a global consumer tax services provider. H&R Block, headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., has about 12,000 company-owned and franchise retail offices worldwide. The company has prepared more than 680 million tax returns since 1955, in addition to offering banking, payroll, personal finance and business consulting services. H&R Block, which has its own consumer software products, also offers online tax preparation and electronic filing from its website. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Public informational meeting set for Coastal Resilience Plan

Public informational meeting set Jan. 31 for Coastal Resilience Plan

WEST HAVEN, Jan. 17, 2017 — The city is inviting members of the public to its second informational meeting in the development of a citywide Community Coastal Resilience Plan.

The meeting is set for 7 p.m. Jan. 31 in the Harriet C. North Community Room on the second floor of City Hall, 355 Main St.

At the first meeting in July, residents and business owners discussed the types of coastal hazards West Haven will face in the future, said David W. Killeen, assistant city planner.

At the upcoming meeting, residents and business owners will learn about the available methods of adapting to the city’s changing coastal environment to become more resilient to tidal flooding, storm surge, sea level rise and erosion, Killeen said.

“The Coastal Resilience Plan will develop options for adapting to coastal risks over the long term, with an emphasis on protecting people, buildings and West Haven’s infrastructure,” Killeen said.

As part of the planning effort, the city’s engineering consultant, Milone & MacBroom Inc. of Cheshire, is conducting a resident survey. Company officials will discuss the preliminary results at the public meeting Jan. 31.

To take the survey, go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WestHavenCRP.

Anyone with questions about the survey can contact Killeen at 203-937-3500, ext. 3007, or at dkilleen@westhaven-ct.gov.

Youth Hockey sets coaches game benefit for Macholl family Feb. 3

WEST HAVEN, Jan. 17, 2017 — West Haven Youth Hockey will hold its third annual Coaches vs. Coaches benefit game at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 3 at Bennett Rink.

Tickets cost $5, but admission is free for Youth Hockey players who wear their jerseys.

All proceeds will support the family of Mickey Macholl, 5, who died Dec. 13 of complications from his courageous battle with neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

Mickey’s parents, Mark and Rachel Eagan Macholl, are natives of West Haven.

The Friday night event will include raffles, including a chance for Youth Hockey players to win $500 off their 2017-18 tuition, along with Rita’s Italian Ice.

Details at Youth Hockey.

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.

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.

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.