New festival coming to West Haven shoreline in July

WEST HAVEN, May 31, 2018 — Marenna Amusements owners George Marenna Jr. and George Marenna III are bringing a new festival to the West Haven shoreline in July, Mayor Nancy R. Rossi announced.

Shoreline Fest will mark a return to “more of a fair atmosphere” featuring food tents, nonprofit booths, crafts and, of course, rides, said mayoral adviser Tom McCarthy, who was recently contacted by the father-son team about the festival.

The festival is set for July 19-22 and July 26-28 in Old Grove Park, off Palace Street, and on the nearby lawn at Captain Thomas Boulevard and Oak Street. The popular shoreline venues are also known as Parcel I and Parcel J, respectively.

The hours are 6 p.m.-midnight July 19-20, noon-10 p.m. July 21, noon-7 p.m. July 22, 6 p.m.-midnight July 26-27, and noon-10 p.m. July 28.

Rossi said the privately operated festival will take place at no cost to the city.

According to Marenna Amusements’ contract with the city, the company is assuming all festival-related responsibilities and fees, including paying for non-city maintenance workers and extra-duty police, obtaining all permits and licenses, and paying for electricity, portable toilets and rubbish removal.

Marenna will use the proceeds from food concession rental fees “to offset the cost of police services and city expenses.”

Under the contract, the company will also pay the city a one-time fee of $5,000 for up to 21 amusement rides.

Before the cancellation of this year’s Savin Rock Festival because of financial constraints, the Marennas, who are no strangers to giving back to the city, supplied the festival’s rides and games for 23 years.

With Shoreline Fest now a go, the Orange-based amusement company is partnering with the West Haven High School Band Parents Association, a longtime participant of the Savin Rock Festival, which previously depended on the festival for holding its annual craft fair fundraiser.

Rossi said the new festival will allow the band parents to continue having the fair and raising much-needed money for their association.

Throughout the festival, Marenna Amusements will offer bracelets for unlimited rides, a family pack of 24 tickets and single tickets.

Connected by a midway of games, both venues will showcase food vendors and rides, including a Grand Carousel on the grounds of the 148-year-old Grove.

Marenna Jr. said the carousel was filmed in New York’s Central Park in 2016 and appeared in the Kevin Spacey movie “Rebel in the Rye” last year.

“I am thankful to George Marenna and his son for rising to the occasion and bringing this festival to our shoreline for all ages to enjoy,” Rossi said. “While it will not replace the Savin Rock Festival, Shoreline Fest will preserve the legacy and spirit of old Savin Rock as a destination for family-friendly fun. I look forward to seeing my fellow Westies at the festival in July.”

Savin Rock Museum open

WEST HAVEN, May 31, 2018 — The Savin Rock Museum, which chronicles West Haven’s 370-year history, is open to the public for the season.

The museum is in the lower level of the Savin Rock Conference Center, 6 Rock St., and is open 1-4 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays through Aug. 30.

Admission is $4, or $2 for adults 60 and older and children under 12.

The museum displays artifacts from the old Savin Rock amusement park and its fire service, Engine & Hose Company 1, as well as Colonial pieces.

It also has a theater and learning center with exhibits, events and notable city figures, including 1933 Miss America Marian Bergeron and World War II Medal of Honor recipient William A. Soderman.

The gift shop sells official Savin Rock memorabilia; call museum volunteer Norma Kahl at 203-934-7234 to arrange a private tour for 10 or more. For information, call the same number and leave a message.

Pam Gardner blood drive on tap for Friday at Savin Rock Conference Ctr.

WEST HAVEN, May 31, 2018 — The Board of Education will hold an American Red Cross blood drive in honor of West Haven High School Principal Pamela B. Gardner from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at the Savin Rock Conference Center, 6 Rock St.

For details, view the Red Cross Blood Drive Flyer.

For an appointment, call 800-733-2767 or visit www.redcrossblood.org.

Honoring America’s fallen

WEST HAVEN, May 31, 2018 — Grand Marshal Freddy Jackson, commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9422, steers the Memorial Day parade Monday morning from a golf cart driven by city Human Resources Commissioner Beth A. Sabo. Jackson is followed by Mayor Nancy R. Rossi and her 8-year-old grandson, Arthur.

Jackson, an Army veteran who served in Colorado and Korea in 1963-66 during the Vietnam War era, led the 45-unit procession of vets, dignitaries and bands along Campbell Avenue.

The parade stepped from Captain Thomas Boulevard north to Center Street, where a sea of revelers, many of them donning patriotic colors and waving American flags, lined the 1 ½-mile course.

Jackson, 73, was originally selected to guide the 2016 and 2017 parades, but they were canceled by rain.

He was selected by the West Haven Veterans Council, which helps the city organize the annual parade, for his years of service to the Army, his fellow veterans and his community.

Jackson is a longtime member of Hughson-Miller Post 71 of the American Legion and served as commander in the early ’90s.

He has also volunteered for years at the West Haven Veterans Affairs Hospital.

The hourlong parade included a flyover by a C-130 Hercules, a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft operated by the Connecticut Air National Guard.

The event, in memory of the deceased members of the U.S. armed forces of all wars, is the oldest parade of its kind in southern Connecticut.

In addition to marching bands and veterans groups, including the Orange-based 103rd Air Control Squadron, the procession showcased the traditional contingent of youth organizations and sports leagues, dance and Scout troupes, fraternal organizations and service clubs, local and state leaders, police officers and firefighters.

(City Photo/David W. Richards)

National Poppy Day

WEST HAVEN, May 31, 2018 — Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, center, receives a poppy corsage from Wayne Morgan, commander of Hughson-Miller Post 71 of the American Legion, and his wife, Ruth Morgan, president of Unit 71 of the American Legion Auxiliary, on Friday at City Hall.

Before presenting Rossi with the corsage, the couple collected donations for poppies outside Walmart at 515 Sawmill Road in observance of National Poppy Day.

The red poppy is a nationally recognized symbol of sacrifice worn by Americans since World War I to honor those who served and died for the U.S. in all wars.

The Legion Auxiliary each year distributes poppies with “a request that the person receiving the flower make a donation to support the future of veterans, active-duty military personnel and their families with medical and financial needs.”

The poppy became the official flower of the Legion in 1920, and the distribution of poppies became a national program of the veterans organization four years later.

(City Photo/Ruth G. Torres)

Digital copy of The Haven site plan available for public review

WEST HAVEN, May 31, 2018 — A digital copy of the site plan for The Haven development is available for public review.

View the Site Plan.

West Haven/Allingtown Senior Center sets summer party

West Haven/Allingtown Senior Center schedules summer party

WEST HAVEN, May 31, 2018 — The West Haven/Allingtown Senior Center is holding a “Welcome to Summer” party from noon-3 p.m. June 19 at the Savin Rock Conference Center, 6 Rock St., with entertainment by Ashly Cruz.

Catered by Cusano’s Catering by Maria, the buffet menu includes chicken Parmesan, ziti, salad, bread and dessert.

Coffee, soda and wine are also included.

The cost is $12 for members and $15 for nonmembers.

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

Simon and The Haven Group LLC commence entitlement process for The Haven luxury outlet center

WEST HAVEN, May 31, 2018 — Simon Property Group and The Haven Group LLC applied on May 21 for site plan approval before the Department of Planning and Development at City Hall, the first entitlement step toward building The Haven, a 235,000-square-foot luxury outlet center.

Read the official news release at Simon.

View a Rendering of The Haven development provided by Simon Property Group.

Bulk trash pickup week, e-waste drop-off day in June

WEST HAVEN, May 31, 2018 — The next bulk trash pickup week is June 4-8, and the next e-waste drop-off day is June 9.

City officials said the two services are not the same, however, and are reminding residents to take note of the difference.

During bulk trash week, crews will not pick up electronic items, including TVs. They will only pick up such bulk items as 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.

More details at Bulk Trash Pickup.

For electronic recyclables, which are defined as typically anything that contains a circuit board or needs a battery, residents must drop off those items from 8 a.m.-noon 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.

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.

More details at E-waste Drop-off.

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