RWA bringing advanced metering infrastructure to West Haven

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 7, 2018 — About 13,000 Regional Water Authority customers in West Haven will have the water industry’s latest metering technology installed starting next month, joining the 50,000 customers in the RWA’s water district who have already received the upgrade.

The system will allow the RWA to accurately read customers’ water meters by securely transmitting a low-powered signal from an AMI endpoint, a small device connected to the meter, to the RWA’s office.

The technology will upgrade how the RWA receives water consumption information, eliminate the need for manually reading customers’ meters, provide early detection of water leaks, and largely eliminate estimated water bills.

The RWA will deploy the new metering system to every customer in its 15-town service area over the next two years.

The RWA hired Contract Callers Inc., or CCI, to install the new advanced meter reading devices. Installation generally takes less than an hour and involves attaching the AMI endpoint to the customer’s existing water meter, usually where the existing meter reading device is located.

Read the official RWA News Release.

Watch the RWA Advanced Metering Infrastructure video on the official RWA YouTube channel.

For more information, visit the RWA website at https://www.rwater.com/customer-care/advanced-metering-infrastructure or the CCI website at https://www.contractcallers.com/rwa/.

Members sought for new West Haven Sustainability Team

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 7, 2018 — The city’s new Sustainability Team is looking for members.

The Sustainability Team, also known as the Green Team, will help manage West Haven’s sustainability efforts by identifying resources and opportunities and creating an action plan for enhancing and developing the city’s capacity to thrive as a community — economically, environmentally and culturally.

Ideally, the team will consist of members from different backgrounds who are enthusiastic about making West Haven more sustainable. It is helpful if members have some knowledge of sustainability issues; however, the most important factor is a willingness to engage in the process.

The Sustainability Team will hold regular meetings and create a plan toward reaching the benchmarks outlined in the Sustainable CT program, such as recycling, energy conservation and shoreline restoration.

Send letters of interest by Aug. 15 to Kristen Teshoney in the mayor’s office at kteshoney@westhaven-ct.gov.

For more information, visit https://sustainablect.org/.

Movie, concert series on Green premiering Wednesday

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 7, 2018 — The city is presenting a new summer series, Singin’ on the Green: Movies & Bands.

The series will premiere at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday with a showing of “Mamma Mia!” the 2008 jukebox musical romantic comedy.

Organizers said the free series, held Wednesday nights, will feature three concerts performed on The John C. Ireland Bandstand and two high-definition movies shown on a 20-by-12-foot projection screen at Campbell Avenue and Main Street.

People are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs. There are no rain dates at the moment, organizers said.

Singin’ on the Green is co-sponsored by West Haven United, an organization aimed at bringing the city’s volunteer groups together, along with the West Haven Veterans Council and West Haven Vietnam Veterans.

Throughout the series, members of West Haven United will have an informational booth on the Green to register people for future volunteer efforts across the city.

The series will continue with live music Aug. 22, followed by a showing of “Grease,” the 1978 musical romantic comedy, at 7 p.m. Sept. 5.

It will culminate Sept. 14 with dance party favorites performed by Cleo Blue, sponsored by the Veterans Council, and live music Sept. 19.

Organizers will announce the time for Cleo Blue and the bands and times for Aug. 22 and Sept. 19 at a later date.

For information, visit www.cityofwesthaven.com.

Duckpin bowlers

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 7, 2018 — Connie Cappiello, white shirt, joins participants and counselors of the Washington Elementary School playground camp July 26 at the Woodlawn Duckpin Bowling Alley, 240 Platt Ave.

The seventh annual duckpin bowl-athon, held July 26-27, was sponsored by the Department of Parks and Recreation’s playground camp program in memory of Cappiello’s son, former employee Ed Cappiello Jr., and former employee Valerie DeFonzo-Withington, who died of long-term illnesses.

The city’s six playground sites participated in the benefit and raised $1,200 for scholarship funds in Cappiello’s and Withington’s names.

Winkle Bus Co. donated the bus transportation.

(City Photo/Modestine Vaughn)

Fashion mini-specialty camp offered

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 7, 2018 — The Department of Parks and Recreation is offering a Fashion mini-specialty camp for boys and girls ages 6-12 from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, Aug. 13-17, at the lower pavilion in Painter Park. Registration ends at 5 p.m. Friday at Park-Rec, 190 Kelsey Ave., or online Sunday.

FASHION — 6 CAMPERS CURRENTLY ENROLLED — need 2 more!

Design and create one-of-a-kind trendy pieces that will complement your summer FASHION wardrobe with our Hobby Quest Designer! Open to boys and girls, children will be encouraged to design and sketch their fashion creation and will be shown basic hand-sewing and decorating skills for their garment. At the end of the week, Fashionistas will model their unique fashion creations in the Camp Fashion Show! Each child will bring home every garment they make during the week.

The camp costs $190 for residents and $205 for nonresidents.

For more information, visit Park-Rec.

Cositas Ricas brings Latin American flavor to city’s downtown

Cositas Ricas brings Latin American flavor to downtown

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 2, 2018 — Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, right, cuts the ribbon July 29 with Cositas Ricas owner Pilar Garcia Leon to celebrate the ceremonial opening of the fruit and frozen beverage shop at 445 Campbell Ave.

Joined by friends and loved ones, Garcia is accompanied by her husband, Joan Cuapio, and her children, from left, Ashley Aguila Garcia, 14, Leslie Aguila Garcia, 9, and Francisco Aguila Garcia, 12.

Nestled in a plaza of small businesses across the street from the downtown Green, the new shop blends a creative concoction of fresh fruits and fruit salads with creamy milkshakes and smoothies.

Cositas Ricas also whips up authentic Latin American dishes, such as zesty quesadillas and tacos, along with savory sandwiches.

(City Photo/Victor M. Borras)

Residents must remove bulk trash from curb or face $100 fine

WEST HAVEN, July 30, 2018 — Mayor Nancy R. Rossi and acting Public Works Commissioner Lou Esposito said recently that some residents are putting out bulk trash for pickup despite the city having canceled its August bulk pickup week.

Rossi and Esposito are asking residents who inadvertently put out bulk trash for the suspended bulk pickup week of Aug. 6-10 to immediately remove it from the curb.

Residents who violate the request will receive a $100 fine per daily offense for putting out trash — bulk or otherwise — more than 24 hours before pickup, they said.

Residents will have to wait to put out bulk trash until the city’s next bulk pickup week, which is Oct. 8-12.

Rossi and Esposito said residents who violate the bulk trash limit of 6 cubic yards per collection will also receive a $100 fine per daily offense. The cubic yardage is equal to a pile of trash about 6 feet long, 6 feet wide and 4 ½ feet high.

Homeowners are required to rent a dumpster or hire a junk removal service at their expense if trash exceeds 6 cubic yards. Otherwise, trash exceeding 6 cubic yards will be left at the curb, and a fine will be imposed, Esposito said.

To prevent a potential fine, property owners should familiarize themselves with the city’s trash guidelines at Public Works.

The August bulk pickup week was recently canceled because the weight of trash collected in the March and June bulk pickups exceeded the maximum weight of trash accepted by the city’s rubbish contractor, making bulk pickup increasingly cost prohibitive, Esposito has said.

Bulk items include couches, chairs, tables, carpeting, padding, fencing and small amounts of bundled lumber, which may not exceed 6 feet in length. No building materials are accepted.

Of special note are two significant changes in bulk pickup, which are effective immediately, Esposito said.

Although mattresses were formerly considered bulk trash, the city will no longer pick up mattresses, he said. Most mattress retailers, however, will remove and recycle mattresses when a new mattress is purchased.

Residents can also drop off mattresses of any amount for free from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays at Park City Green, 459 Iranistan Ave., Bridgeport.

The city will also no longer pick up tires on residents’ curbside collection days because of rising disposal costs, Esposito said. According to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, there are no statutes that require tire retailers to take waste tires, but most will when a new tire is purchased.

For bulk pickup, residents are reminded to separate metals and recyclables from regular trash and to put out trash no more than 24 hours before pickup.

Bulk items must be separated and orderly. Do not place them next to a mailbox or utility pole or close to a fence, Esposito said.

Bulk trash must be generated by the customer at the residential unit where it is collected. Trash will not be collected if it is generated by anyone other than the resident of the home.

Also, do not place bulk items in front of a vacant lot or home — they will not be collected, Esposito said.

For electronic items, including TVs, the next e-waste drop-off day is Aug. 11.

Residents can drop off electronic recyclables — typically anything that contains a circuit board or needs a battery — from 8 a.m.-noon at the city’s 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 collection days.

The e-waste drop-off 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.

Farmers market open Thursdays, Saturdays on West Haven Green

WEST HAVEN, July 30, 2018 — The Tony Inzero Farmers Market is open for its 19th season on the Green.

Through Oct. 27, the market at Main Street and Campbell Avenue features state farmers selling homegrown fruits and vegetables from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

It includes crafters selling their wares.

The Thursday markets showcase food trucks, including 744 Express and Spuds Your Way, dishing up such savory favorites as baked potatoes, lobster rolls and pulled pork sandwiches. Each truck offers a weekly special.

Taxes were due July 1; payments after Aug. 1 accrue interest

WEST HAVEN, July 30, 2018 — City taxes were due July 1, and payments after Aug. 1 are considered delinquent and subject to interest, Tax Collector Dorothy Chambrelli said.

Tax bills — real estate, personal property, motor vehicle and sewer — are payable in two installments: July and January.

Each tax bill, which is sent out once a year, has three parts: a payment coupon for July, payment coupon for January and payment coupon for taxpayers’ records.

The tax office is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays on the first floor of City Hall, 355 Main St.

For the convenience of taxpayers, the city has an ATM outside the office.

Taxpayers can see their tax bills, make a payment, and print their payment history for income tax purposes at Tax Collector. Sewer bills are on the same page but under a separate heading.

In July and January only, current taxes can be paid by mail to a tax office lockbox, P.O. Box 150461, Hartford, CT 06115-0461. When paying by lockbox or the drop box outside the tax office in City Hall, the canceled check is the receipt.

After Aug. 1, taxes with interest can be paid by mail to the Office of the Tax Collector, P.O. Box 401, West Haven, CT 06516. Payments can also be made in person.

Anyone needing a motor vehicle clearance must pay in person with cash, credit card, bank check or money order.

Driver safety course offered in West Haven

Driver safety course offered Sept. 12

WEST HAVEN, July 30, 2018 — The West Haven Senior Center will offer an AARP Driver Safety Program from noon-4 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Johnson Community Center, 201 Noble St.

The program is designed to help sharpen driving skills, develop strategies to adjust to age-related vision changes, develop hearing and reaction times, and learn about the effects of medication on driving performance.

Participants must complete the class to receive a certification for insurance purposes.

The fee is $15 for AARP members and $20 for nonmembers, payable to AARP.

To register, call the senior center at 203-937-3507.

Farmers market vouchers available

WEST HAVEN, July 20, 2018 — Farmers market vouchers are available at the West Haven/Allingtown Senior Center, 201 Noble St.

To receive $18 in vouchers, the income limits for those at least 60 years old are $30,451 per year, or $2,537 per month, for a married couple and $22,459 per year, or $1,871 per month, for a single person.

Each voucher booklet contains six $3 vouchers.

When picking up the vouchers, eligible residents must show proof of income and sign a receipt confirming they meet the income guidelines. For proof of income, residents can show a gray Connect Card from the state.

The Tony Inzero Farmers Market is on the Green from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 27.

For information about the voucher program, call the Department of Elderly Services at 203-937-3507.