Patricia “Pat” Herbert celebrates her 100th birthday with William Heffernan, president of the West Haven Community House board of directors, and Mayor Nancy R. Rossi during a reception Tuesday at the Community House, 227 Elm St. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Pat Herbert marks a century

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 22, 2018 — Beloved city resident Patricia “Pat” Herbert celebrated her 100th birthday with Mayor Nancy R. Rossi and William Heffernan, president of the West Haven Community House board of directors, during a reception attended by dozens of colleagues, family and friends — and even a former pupil — on Tuesday afternoon at the Community House, 227 Elm St.

At the two-hour reception, Herbert, a lifetime board member and former board president of the Community House, was lauded as a pioneer in the field of social services.

An ardent financial supporter of the not-for-profit organization, she was instrumental in developing its Head Start program, establishing its before- and after-school child care program, and initiating its endowment fund, said Patricia W. Stevens, executive director of the Community House.

Three days earlier, Herbert received a mayoral citation from her friend Roberta Defonce on behalf of Rossi during a gathering of friends and loved ones at Biagetti’s Restaurant, 77 Campbell Ave.

Rossi praised Herbert, whose actual birthday was Monday, in the citation, saying: “I hope you reflect with pride on the memories you have made and the lives you have touched. Your accomplishments represent an important chapter in the story of West Haven and epitomize everything great about our city.”

In the Community House’s 2011 annual report, Herbert was affectionately called “a living time capsule of West Haven history.”

“To me, her commitment to the Community House and its work is unmatched for anybody over that length of time,” Heffernan said. “Particularly moving to me is that Pat never loses sight of the real purpose of the Community House, which is helping people.”

Herbert, a former professor of education at Southern Connecticut State University, taught at Noble Elementary School and served on the Board of Education.

She also served as chairwoman of the Conservation and Open Space Land Commission and was president of the West Haven Garden Club.

A champion for open space, Herbert is a founding member of the Land Trust of West Haven.

WestFest set for Sept. 8 on Green

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 22, 2018 — WestFest 2018, a community festival aimed at bringing the West Haven and University of New Haven communities closer, will feature food, music and inflatables for the fourth year.

The free event is 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 8 on the West Haven Green. The rain date is Sept. 9.

WestFest is co-sponsored by the UNH Mayor’s Advisory Commission, UNH, Watson Inc., Casa Bianca Pizza, Notre Dame High School of West Haven, Wells Fargo and USAlliance Financial.

Festival proceeds will benefit the West Haven Emergency Assistance Task Force, West Haven’s food pantry. Watson and WHEAT will hold a food drive during the event. People are asked to bring nonperishable items.

WestFest is again collaborating with the 5K Unity Run, sponsored by the UNH cross-country and track teams. The 10 a.m. run will start and finish at Maxcy Hall on the university’s main campus, 300 Boston Post Road.

After the run, transportation will be provided to WestFest on the Green, where attendees can participate in the 5K Unity Run’s powdered paint party and enjoy the family-friendly festivities.

Food trucks from Cappetta’s Italian Imports & Pizza, Louise’s Homemade Food & Baked Goods, The Colombian Hot Dog and Ted’s Steamed Burgers will serve up local dishes. Other participating businesses will include Watson, WHEAT, crafters, high school clubs, a face painter and a henna artist.

All-day entertainment will showcase live music by local bands, such as The Cobalt Rhythm Kings, Arcadia and Him or Her. There will also be the traditional WestFest pie-eating contest, sponsored by Louise’s, as well as a dunk tank where attendees can dunk state Reps. Michael A. DiMassa and Dorinda Borer, D-West Haven, and Councilman Sean P. Ronan, D-9, along with UNH professors and members of the university’s Undergraduate Student Government Association’s executive board.

Many UNH clubs and organizations, including fraternities, sororities, international groups and club sports, will take part in the seven-hour event, highlighting their community involvement efforts.

Official WestFest T-shirts will be sold.

WestFest, open to the public, will offer free on-street parking around the Green and on Campbell Avenue, as well as in municipal lots off Main Street, Savin Avenue and Curtiss Place.

About the University of New Haven Mayor’s Advisory Commission

The University of New Haven Mayor’s Advisory Commission is a collaborative, student-driven task force formed in early 2015 to strengthen the relationship between the UNH and West Haven communities. The MAC is led by Chairman Marcin Stankevitch, a junior political science major, and adviser Chris Haynes, assistant professor of political science.

The MAC also polls and surveys both UNH students and West Haven residents to gather data on issues to help city officials with crucial citywide planning and decision-making. While the program is under the direction of the university’s political science program, students who participate are from many different majors.

Learn more about the MAC and WestFest at UNH.

Singin’ on the Green continues tonight with Shaded Soul

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 22, 2018 — The city’s new summer series, Singin’ on the Green: Movies & Bands, continues at 7 tonight with rhythm and blues music performed by Shaded Soul.

The free series, which premiered with a showing of “Mamma Mia!” earlier this month, features 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.

The city is sponsoring all movies and bands in the Wednesday night series, except for the band Cleo Blue, which is sponsored by the West Haven Veterans Council.

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 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 continues with a showing of “Grease,” the 1978 musical romantic comedy, at 7 p.m. Sept. 5.

It culminates at 7 p.m. Sept. 14 with dance party favorites performed by Cleo Blue and old-school funk hits by The Kathy Thompson Band at 7 p.m. Sept. 19.

View the official Flyer.

New UNH police officer takes oath of office

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 22, 2018 — Mayor Nancy R. Rossi swears in new University of New Haven police Officer Elisa Tuozzoli, with her daughter, Adriana, on Friday at City Hall.

Also attending the ceremony were Tuozzoli’s two sons; Ronald M. Quagliani, UNH associate vice president of public safety and administrative services; and UNH Police Chief Tracy L. Mooney.

Tuozzoli recently retired as a lieutenant from the New Haven Police Department after a 20-year career.

(City Photo/David W. Richards)

Fashionistas

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 22, 2018 — Participants of the Department of Parks and Recreation’s fashion camp receive a certificate of completion from Park-Rec assistant Natalie Callentano, left, and a sewing kit from Hobby Quest instructor Leah Julian, right, on Friday at the department’s Painter Park office.

Each girl designed, created and sewed a shirt, skirt, vest and clutch pocketbook during the five-day camp, which culminated in the girls walking a runway to show off their creations.

(City Photo/Diane Dietman)

DPH issues mold education tips

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 22, 2018 — The warm, humid weather experienced by Connecticut residents every summer brings many enjoyable outdoor activities. The weather can also bring an increase in mold growth.

To protect your home from mold, read the state Department of Public Health’s Mold Education Tips.

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/.

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.