Singin’ on the Green continues at 7 tonight with ‘Grease’

WEST HAVEN, Sept. 5, 2018 — The city’s new summer series, Singin’ on the Green: Movies & Bands, continues at 7 tonight 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!” early last month, followed by rhythm and blues music performed by Shaded Soul Aug. 22.

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 Saturday on Green

WEST HAVEN, Sept. 5, 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. Saturday on the West Haven Green. The rain date is Sunday.

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.

‘Boot’ program resumes Monday

WEST HAVEN, Sept. 5, 2018 — City residents who are delinquent on their taxes are urged to pay their overdue taxes as soon as possible.

The “boot” program resumes Monday, and those who are delinquent on their motor vehicle taxes risk their vehicles being immobilized with a wheel-locking boot.

TaxServ Capital Services LLC of Hartford is the city’s vendor that administers the program in cooperation with Vioalert Systems LLC of West Haven.

A vehicle-mounted ID system that is part of the boot program uses an infrared license plate scanner to target tax scofflaws. Vehicles are released of the boot once their owners pay all delinquent taxes and the boot fee.

Additionally, delinquent personal property taxes for business owners who have not paid their taxes are being turned over for collection, and notices on delinquent real estate and sewer bills are being mailed the first week in September.

Taxpayers can check if they owe any back taxes and pay online at Tax Collector. They can also pay in person in the tax office on the first floor of City Hall, 355 Main St.

Tax Collector Dorothy Chambrelli has launched an aggressive campaign for collecting taxes.

“Please do not ignore your taxes; everyone must do their part,” Chambrelli said. “Your failure to pay negatively affects the entire city.”

Taxes accrue additional interest on the first day of each month.

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

WEST HAVEN, Sept. 5, 2018 — West Haven will observe the 17th 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 & Drums.

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

Remarks from dignitaries, including Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, 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 West Haven Rotary Club will distribute candles and programs at the granite monument, which was paid for by the service club in 2002.

Gabrielle, 50, of West Haven, was killed during the attack on the twin towers in New York’s World Trade Center complex. An insurance broker at Aon Corp., he 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.

West Haven High School sophomore Nora E. Mullins will sing the national anthem and “God Bless America.”

Board to hear appeals on vehicle assessments Sept. 12 at City Hall

WEST HAVEN, Sept. 5, 2018 — The Board of Assessment Appeals will meet 6-8 p.m. Sept. 12 in the assessor’s office on the first floor of City Hall, 355 Main St., to hear appeals of motor vehicle assessments on the 2017 grand list.

Any owner of a city-registered vehicle can appeal the assessment.

New sidewalks on Savin Ave.

WEST HAVEN, Sept. 5, 2018 — An excavation crew from the city’s sidewalk contractor, Elm City Materials Inc. of Spring Street, repairs a section of sidewalk on Savin Avenue near Brown Street on Aug. 23.

Citywide sidewalk repairs began in June. So far, 385 addresses have been inspected by city sidewalk inspector Ernie Chiarelli, and 343 sidewalks have been replaced or repaired by Elm City.

Only sidewalks damaged by the roots of city trees are being repaired. City trees are defined as those located between the sidewalk and street curb.

All sidewalk repairs are marked, and “No Parking” signs are posted prior to repair.

The new sidewalks are being financed with unused state Local Capital Improvement Program funds from previous years, which were discovered by Mayor Nancy R. Rossi’s administration. The work is being supervised by Public Works Commissioner Tom McCarthy and Rossi’s executive assistant, Lou Esposito.

(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

HerSoul Restaurant & Bar opens on Campbell Ave.

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 30, 2018 — Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, center, cuts the ribbon Aug. 28 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 Aug. 28 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.

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 Aug. 28 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)

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.

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.