West Haven collecting supplies for Hurricane Harvey relief effort

WEST HAVEN, Sept. 5, 2017 — The city and the West Haven Fire Department, together with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, are collecting toiletries, cleaning supplies and diapers for the victims of Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Mayor Edward M. O’Brien announced.

O’Brien is calling on all West Haveners to aid the hurricane relief effort by dropping off items from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today through Friday at the sally port in the parking lot of City Hall, 355 Main St.

After 5 p.m., residents can drop off supplies at West Haven fire headquarters, 366 Elm St.

Watch Mayor O’Brien’s “Hurricane Harvey Relief” Facebook video at Help the People of Houston.

To make an online credit card donation, go to https://ghcf.org.

Send check or money order donations to the Greater Houston Community Foundation, 5120 Woodway Drive, Suite 6000, Houston, TX 77056.

WestFest fun

WEST HAVEN, Sept. 5, 2017 — A ball thrown by Ryan Walsh, 7, of West Haven, is about to hit the bull’s-eye and drop Mayor Edward M. O’Brien into the dunk tank Saturday on the Green during the third annual WestFest celebration, a community event aimed at bringing the city and University of New Haven closer.

WestFest was co-sponsored by the UNH Mayor’s Advisory Commission, O’Brien’s office, UNH, Watson Inc. and the West Haven Emergency Assistance Task Force to showcase what the city has to offer culturally.

Restaurants and food trucks dished up native eats and sweets, while businesses and organizations handed out informational materials.

The seven-hour festival featured activities from face painting and trivia contests to performances by the Top Hat Dance Academy and a pie-eating contest sponsored by Louise’s Homemade Food & Baked Goods. It included an inflatable bounce house and obstacle course.

Also participating were the local bands Ian Biggs, Quiet Giant, and The Sulls.

The UNH advisory commission, a student-appointed task force formed in March 2015, meets regularly with O’Brien and other City Hall officials to improve relations between the city and UNH.

(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Pie face

WEST HAVEN, Sept. 5, 2017 — The WestFest pie-eating contest in all its heartburn glory.

(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

West Haven observing 9/11 with flag-raising, candlelight vigil

WEST HAVEN, Sept. 1, 2017 — West Haven will observe the 16th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on 9/11 with a flag-raising ceremony at 6:30 p.m. at the Bradley Point Park flagpole, followed by a candlelight vigil at the city’s 9/11 memorial.

The service will begin with a presentation of the colors by the West Haven Police Color Guard and the flag-raising by the West Haven Fire Department Honor Guard and the New Haven County Firefighters Emerald Society Pipes and Drums.

The flag-raising will honor the memory of the nearly 3,000 people who were killed in the attacks.

Remarks from dignitaries, including Mayor Edward M. O’Brien, will follow.

At 7 p.m., the candlelight vigil will take place at the Richard S. Gabrielle Sept. 11 memorial on the beach walk next to the Savin Rock Conference Center, 6 Rock St.

Members of the Rotary Club will distribute candles and programs.

Gabrielle was West Haven’s lone victim of the attack on the twin towers in New York’s World Trade Center complex. An insurance broker at Aon Corp., Gabrielle, 50, was last seen on the south tower’s 78th floor.

Declared Patriot Day by Congress in 2002, the city will fly flags at half-staff in recognition of the national day of remembrance.

The vigil will feature taps played by former West Shore Fire Department Lt. Kevin McKeon and a Celtic folk performance by Irish singer-songwriter Liz McNicholl, including the song “The Bravest,” a tribute to the heroes of 9/11.

Nora Mullins and Grace Kelly Nowak will sing the national anthem and “God Bless America,” respectively.

West Haven collecting recyclable electronic items 8 a.m.-noon Sept. 30

WEST HAVEN, Sept. 1, 2017 — Residents can drop off electronic recyclables — typically anything that contains a circuit board or needs a battery — from 8 a.m.-noon Sept. 30 at the highway maintenance garage, 1 Collis St.

Anything that has refrigerant, including air conditioners and dehumidifiers, is not accepted. Those items are considered white goods, and residents are asked to put them out for pickup on their weekly curbside collection days.

More details at E-waste Drop-off.

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, monitors, copiers, scanners, microwaves, toaster ovens and other small appliances.

Tour of Wooster Square steps off at 1 p.m. Sept. 16 in New Haven

WEST HAVEN, Sept. 1, 2017 — The Columbus Day Committee of Greater New Haven will present a “Guided Walking Tour of Wooster Square” at 1 p.m. Sept. 16.

The tour, led by Christopher Wigren of the New Haven Preservation Trust and Robert Grzywacz, will meet at the statue of Christopher Columbus on Chapel Street in New Haven.

Details at Wooster Square Tour.

‘Learn for Laci’ CPR training session set for Sept. 7 at Savin Rock center

WEST HAVEN, Sept. 1, 2017 — The American Heart Association is holding a free CPR training session from 4-8 p.m. Sept. 7 at the Savin Rock Conference Center, 6 Rock St.

Open to the public, the “Learn for Laci” training session is aimed at giving people the tools to help save a life.

Details at Learn for Laci.

Artwork/Tony Ruggiero

O’Brien hosting panel discussion on old Savin Rock amusement park

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 18, 2017 — A three-person panel hosted by Mayor Edward M. O’Brien will discuss “Memories of Savin Rock Amusement Park” from 6-8 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Main Library, 300 Elm St.

The free event, presented by the Columbus Day Committee of Greater New Haven and Sons and Daughters of Italy Lodge 37, will include a presentation and a reception with refreshments.

The panel is composed of Natalie Guiliano DeRosa, William S. “Wiggy” Johnson Jr., former chief of the West Haven Fire Department, and Harold M. Peschell, former owner of Peschell’s Pastry Shop.

Details at Savin Rock.