Domenic’s cited for 40 years of pizzas and grinders

WEST HAVEN, Sept. 13, 2018 — Domenic’s Apizza owner Domenic Giannotti, center, receives a citation for 40 years in business from Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, third from left, on Wednesday at 18 Ocean Ave.

Marking the occasion are, from left, City Clerk Deborah Collins, Giannotti’s daughter, Kyle, mayoral Executive Assistant Lou Esposito and Giannotti’s son, Domenic.

Rossi recognized Giannotti, a longtime city resident who has been making pizzas and grinders for takeout in the Baybrook Shopping Center since 1978, for “the celebration of your 40th anniversary and successful career in the pizzeria business.”

Reading the citation, Rossi said, “Your accomplishment as well as your dedication to your craft is a source of pride for all our residents and epitomizes everything good about West Haven.”

The family-owned and -operated pizzeria is open Sunday, 3-9 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; and Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

UI’s Vegetation Program resumes

WEST HAVEN, Sept. 13, 2018 — The next phase of United Illuminating’s Vegetation Management Program kicked off Tuesday in Allingtown.

The five-year program, which began in 2014, is designed to reduce the amount of vegetation that threatens power lines during storms.

UI is specifically targeting trees and limbs within 8 feet to either side of power lines.

According to the Orange-based utility, tree reduction will increase public safety, reduce road blockage, improve roadside sight, and reduce tree-related power outages.

UI’s tree service contractor, Asplundh Tree Expert LLC of East Windsor, will not trim or remove privately owned trees without the owner’s consent, except when they are in contact with the utility’s energized conductors and present an imminent danger.

Trees on public property are under the control of West Haven’s tree warden, Leo Kelly.

Tom McCarthy, the city’s commissioner of public works, said Asplundh will remove all wood within 10 business days of pruning or removal.

The tree work, which has been reviewed and approved by Kelly, will follow in the West Shore and Center districts and end in the spring.

Tree service crews, working from Orange trucks, will have police assigned for safety and traffic control.

View the list of streets affected by the Vegetation Management Program.

More details at UI’s VMP.

Singin’ on the Green continues Friday with Cleo Blue

WEST HAVEN, Sept. 13, 2018 — The city’s new summer series, Singin’ on the Green: Movies & Bands, continues at 7 p.m. Friday with dance party favorites performed by Cleo Blue.

The free series culminates at 7 p.m. Sept. 19 with old-school funk hits by The Kathy Thompson Band.

People are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs.

The 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 on Aug. 22 and a showing of “Grease,” the 1978 musical romantic comedy, on Wednesday.

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.

Board to hear appeals on vehicle assessments Sept. 26 at City Hall

WEST HAVEN, Sept. 13, 2018 — The Board of Assessment Appeals will meet 6-7:30 p.m. Sept. 26 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)

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.

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.