HerSoul Restaurant & Bar opens on Campbell Ave.

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 30, 2018 — Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, center, cuts the ribbon Tuesday with HerSoul owner Karen May to mark the ceremonial opening of the new soul food restaurant and bar at 93 Campbell Ave., formerly Peroles Restaurant & Bar.

Joining the celebration are, from left, chef Howard Smith; customers Jackie Smith-Wright and Ernest McIver; Councilwoman Robbin Watt Hamilton, D-5; May’s nephew Chrishaun Goins; Fred A. Messore, city commissioner of planning and development; mayoral Executive Assistant Lou Esposito; customer Carroll E. Brown; state Rep. Michael A. DiMassa, D-West Haven; and May’s son, Justin, daughter, Ashley, and husband, Steven.

The family-style restaurant, in the lower Campbell Avenue business district, specializes in steaks, barbecue ribs, burgers, fried chicken, ceviche, including red snapper, and other popular Southern dishes, which are prepared by Smith and chef Andre Browning.

May, who lives in Danbury, said she chose West Haven over locations in Fairfield and New Haven counties because of Campbell Avenue’s ample parking and short distance to the beach and because West Haven is “community-based.”

“Everyone has embraced us in the community,” said May, who plans to move her family to West Haven.

HerSoul is open Sunday, noon-8:30 p.m.; Tuesday, 1-8:30 p.m.; and Wednesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

It offers daily lunch specials from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and drink specials from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.

(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Amendola promoted to director of 911 center

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 30, 2018 — During a meeting Tuesday at City Hall, Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, center, congratulates 911 dispatcher Jennifer A. Amendola on her promotion to director of the 911 Communications Center and outgoing Director Abe Colon on his impending retirement.

Amendola, of Derby, has worked as a telecommunicator of West Haven’s Emergency Reporting System for more than 12 years, including the last four as supervisor of the evening shift.

ERS is based in the 911 center at police headquarters, 200 Sawmill Road.

Amendola, whose first day in her new job was Wednesday, will officially succeed Colon, of Hamden, when he retires from the center Sept. 21 after a decorated career of eight years.

Until then, they will serve as co-directors while she learns the complex position from Colon, an expert in public safety who is respected by his peers across the state.

(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Land damaged by Superstorm Sandy can be enrolled into easements

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 30, 2018 — The U.S. Agriculture Department is accepting a third round of applications from eligible landowners who want to sell the development rights of properties along Connecticut’s coastline that were damaged by Tropical Storm Irene and Superstorm Sandy in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

Funds are available through USDA’s Emergency Watershed Protection Floodplain Easements Program, which is managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, known as NRCS.

Applications are accepted through Oct. 10.

Read the official USDA News Release.

Marseglia celebrates 102nd birthday

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 30, 2018 — Helen Marseglia receives a mayoral citation in honor of her 102nd birthday from Lou Esposito, executive assistant to Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, during a celebration with friends and loved ones, including Marseglia’s daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Richard Ballerini, on Tuesday at the Seacrest Retirement Center, 588 Ocean Ave.

Marseglia, an avid dancer and exerciser, was recognized for “leading a remarkable life that is great in years and great in accomplishments.”

(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Scholarship winner

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 30, 2018 — Members of the late Susan Ruickoldt’s family, Doug “the Rake” Ruickoldt, left, and his son Douglas J. Ruickoldt, present a $2,000 check on behalf of the West Haven Breast Cancer Awareness Program to Susan A. Ruickoldt Scholarship Fund recipient Amanda Carr on Tuesday at City Hall.

The fund was founded 16 years ago in memory of Ruickoldt, a city schoolteacher who died of breast cancer in 1997, and a check is awarded to a female high school senior from West Haven who plans to continue her education.

Carr, a 2018 graduate of West Haven High School, will attend Springfield College in Massachusetts this fall.

(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, center, cuts the ribbon Monday with franchise owner Prakash Wadhwani of Mooyah Burgers, Fries & Shakes to mark the restaurant’s ceremonial opening at Route 1 and Atwood Place.

Joining the celebration are, from left, Councilwoman Robbin Watt Hamilton, D-5; Brian Kench, dean of the University of New Haven College of Business; state Rep. Michael A. DiMassa, D-West Haven; Councilman Peter V. Massaro, D-6; Fred A. Messore, city commissioner of planning and development; Acorn Group General Manager Rick Pollack; Ron Kuntze, nonprofit institute director of marketing and quantitative analysis of the College of Business; mayoral Executive Assistant Lou Esposito; UNH Police Chief Tracy L. Mooney; Mooyah General Manager Anton Tomaj; City Clerk Deborah Collins; City Council Chairman Ronald M. Quagliani, D-at large; and Mooyah regional owner Jay Hummer.

(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Mooyah Burgers, Fries & Shakes opens in The Atwood

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 30, 2018 — Wielding a pair of oversize scissors, Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, joined by a delegation of city and state leaders, cut the ribbon Monday with franchise owner Prakash Wadhwani and General Manager Anton Tomaj to celebrate the ceremonial opening of Mooyah Burgers, Fries & Shakes at Route 1 and Atwood Place.

While the morning event was touted as the restaurant’s “grand opening,” Mooyah, a fast-casual, “better burger” concept, officially opened its doors July 6 on the ground floor of The Atwood, a new $18 million apartment and commercial building developed by the Acorn Group.

Founded in 2007, the Plano, Texas-based chain specializes in made-to-order burgers, hand-cut fries and milkshakes.

The West Haven location, which employs about 40 people, is Mooyah’s third in Connecticut, after Mansfield and Newington.

The new 2,463-square-foot restaurant, open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily, seats about 100 people inside and 24 at six tables outside. It also offers online ordering and delivery services.

The symbolic ribbon-cutting took place as many of The Atwood’s residents, all students of the nearby University of New Haven, headed to their first day of classes.

It was attended by Mooyah regional owner Jay Hummer, Acorn General Manager Rick Pollack, and UNH Police Chief Tracy L. Mooney, Brian Kench, dean of the College of Business, and Ron Kuntze, nonprofit institute director of marketing and quantitative analysis of the College of Business.

It also included state Rep. Michael A. DiMassa, D-West Haven; City Council Chairman Ronald M. Quagliani, D-at large; Councilwoman Robbin Watt Hamilton, D-5; Councilman Peter V. Massaro, D-6; City Clerk Deborah Collins; mayoral Executive Assistant Lou Esposito; and city Planning and Development Commissioner Fred A. Messore.

Wadhwani, of New Canaan, is a former banker who also works in real estate. He also owns three franchises in Greater New Haven for a men’s grooming business, Kennedy’s All-American Barber Club.

The Atwood, standing between Atwood Place and Taft Avenue, is just 400 feet from UNH’s Route 1 campus, which is home to about 6,000 students.

The four-story, 90,150-square-foot building, built by the Acorn development company Forest Road Manor LLC on the former 89-year-old site of Carroll Cut-Rate Furniture, houses 67 market-rate apartments, composed of one- and two-bedroom studios, and 15,000 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor.

In addition to Mooyah, the national retail tenants occupying the ground floor of the brick and fiber cement-sided building include Torrington-based EbLens Clothing & Footwear and Rye, New York-based USAlliance Financial.

The Atwood is complemented by the Park View, Acorn’s budding mixed-use development across the street at Route 1 and Cellini Place, in making the neighborhood around the Allingtown Green a destination.

Rossi, Messore and David Kooris, deputy commissioner of the state Department of Economic and Community Development, recently toured the site with Acorn officials.

The 85,000-square-foot project, scheduled for construction on the site of what years ago was the Park Theatre, would include 50 market-rate apartments with covered parking and 20,000 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor.

Like The Atwood, which opened Aug. 17, 2017, the Park View would consist of one- and two-bedroom studios, according to preliminary plans.

On July 24, 2017, the City Council approved the sale of 9,024 square feet of the Louis J. Piantino Branch Library’s parking lot at 1 Forest Road to Acorn for the Park View project. The property was sold for $106,000.

Acorn, based in New Haven, has also announced plans for The Forest, a third mixed-use development.

The 90,000-square-foot project, slated for construction on the former site of the demolished Forest Theatre at the intersection of Boston Post Road, Campbell Avenue and Forest Road, would include 62 market-rate apartments with covered parking and 15,000 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor.

In all, the three developments, collectively known as University Commons, are projected to generate more than $1 million in annual property tax revenue for the city’s coffers, officials have said.

Singin’ on the Green continues Sept. 5 with ‘Grease’

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 30, 2018 — The city’s new summer series, Singin’ on the Green: Movies & Bands, continues at 7 p.m. Sept. 5 with a showing of “Grease,” the 1978 musical romantic comedy.

The free series 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.
People are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs.

The Wednesday night series is composed of 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.

It premiered with a showing of “Mamma Mia!” earlier this month, followed by rhythm and blues music performed by Shaded Soul last week.

The city is sponsoring all movies and bands in the series, except for 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.

View the official Flyer.

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.

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.