Celebrating love

WEST HAVEN, Feb. 15, 2019 — Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, center, joins Anthony and Lucille Martone during the city’s 29th annual Valentine’s Day party Thursday at the Savin Rock Conference Center.

The Martones, who have been married for 67 years, were among 20 couples married for at least 50 years who were honored at the two-hour event, which was presented by the mayor’s office.

Rossi recognized the Martones as the event’s oldest couple, presenting them with a gift-wrapped pendant and a bottle of Champagne courtesy of Leslie Jewelers and Ye Old Liquor Shoppe of West Haven. John and Mary Malenda, who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in January, were recognized as the youngest couple.

All received chocolates, wine glasses and roses, as well as a framed photograph of themselves.

The party included music by the Clam Diggers, hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. It was made possible by D&D Linen Supply and Fitzgerald’s Florist of West Haven and Costco of Milford.

(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Mayor Rossi has a dance with Robert “Texas Bob” Marazzi. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Mayor Rossi recognizes John and Mary Malenda, who have been married for 50 years, as the youngest couple. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

They do!

WEST HAVEN, Feb. 15, 2019 — Newlyweds Enid Santiago and Patricio Zhicay, center, are joined by City Clerk Deborah Collins, left, and Justice of the Peace Grace Hendricks on Thursday at City Hall.

Accompanied by their 3-year-old son, Liam, Santiago and Zhicay were among six city couples united in matrimony on Valentine’s Day as part of an annual service sponsored by the city clerk’s office, which offers free weddings to the first six couples who apply for marriage licenses at City Hall.

The weddings, performed by a justice of the peace, took place hourly.

(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Registration open for tai chi

WEST HAVEN, Feb. 15, 2019 — Instructor Jonathan Davis is back, starting March 5 and March 7, with a new six-week format for tai chi.

The tai chi exercises will incorporate the Five Traditional Chinese Elements to benefit participants’ overall health and well-being.

Registration is open for Tuesday, Thursday or both days. A free trial class is available to anyone 16 and older the first week of the program.

Senior discount and multiple-day options are available.

Sign up at Park-Rec.

Savin Rock Fireworks Spectacular set for 9:15 p.m. July 3 off Bradley Point

WEST HAVEN, Feb. 11, 2019 — The Savin Rock Fireworks Spectacular is set for 9:15 p.m. July 3 off Bradley Point, Mayor Nancy R. Rossi announced.

The fireworks display, billed as “the region’s largest Independence Day fireworks show,” draws an estimated 100,000 people of all ages to West Haven’s 3 ½-mile shoreline each year. The rain date is July 5.

“The Savin Rock Fireworks Committee is once again very excited to raise the money for the cost of the fireworks show,” co-chairwomen Sandy McCauley and Marianne Drapeau said.

Before the patriotic display, partygoers can shake, rattle and roll to live music at the Savin Rock bandstand from 6:30-9 p.m.

Rossi appoints high school student to citizen advisory panel

Rossi appoints high school student to Citizen Advisory Committee

WEST HAVEN, Feb. 11, 2019 — Mayor Nancy R. Rossi has appointed 19-year-old resident Roman Khondker to the West Haven Community Development Administration’s Citizen Advisory Committee.

Khondker, who is halfway through his senior year at The Sound School Regional Vocational Aquaculture Center in New Haven, was sworn in Feb. 4 at a ceremony in the Harriet C. North Community Room at City Hall.

During her remarks, Rossi thanked Khondker for volunteering to serve on the nine-member committee, pointing out that he has a strong desire for serving the city he has called home since emigrating from Bangladesh nearly a decade ago.

“You will learn a lot about the day-to-day needs of some of our most vulnerable residents,” Rossi said. “I hope you stay positive and will be a compassionate member of the committee.”

According to CDA officials, Khondker will help consider grant applications and allocate Community Development Block Grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for programs that serve low- to moderate-income people.

“Our Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan says that this committee is the ‘foundation of its citizen participation process,’” Rossi said at the swearing-in ceremony. “And I think citizen participation is the foundation of a healthy democracy.”

Rossi said she was in office for about five weeks when Khondker came by City Hall expressing interest in his appointment to the committee.

“He delivered a letter of interest on Jan. 11, 2018,” Rossi said. “In it he described West Haven as friendly and amazing. How great that these were his first impressions of this city.”

Rossi, a Democrat, said she met Khondker last August while he was running in the Republican primary for state representative and was “very impressed.”

In his letter, Khondker wrote that he came to the U.S. in 2010 and became an American citizen in 2017.

“How many new citizens make public service one of their first priorities?” Rossi asked. “I am still impressed by Roman’s enthusiasm and passion for public service.”

Rossi announces grand list growth of nearly $30 million in West Haven

WEST HAVEN, Feb. 7, 2019 — Mayor Nancy R. Rossi announced that the city’s grand list of taxable property has grown by $29.7 million, or 1.11 percent, for fiscal year 2018 over the 2017 valuation. The net grand list for 2018 is $2,683,128,089.

“The grand list increase signals economic growth that is critical to improving the long-term fiscal health of the city of West Haven,” Rossi said. “The grand list growth in 2018, although relatively small, is the largest increase in several years and will generate approximately $1 million in new revenue for the fiscal year 2020 budget, which will begin on July 1, 2019.”

Growth occurred across all three taxation districts. The 1st District (Center) grand list assessments increased by $8,867,365, or 1 percent; the 2nd District (West Shore) increased by $9,810,142, or 1 percent; and the 3rd District (Allingtown) increased by $11,008,865, or 2.1 percent.

Commercial personal property had the largest increase in the 2018 grand list, and the valuation for real estate and motor vehicles also grew significantly.

“This increase is good news for West Haven,” Rossi said. “Our continued focus on aggressively pursuing economic development will likely result in additional increases in the grand list in 2019 and beyond. The new construction on the Yale property on Route 34 and the expansion of the Allingtown revitalization are tangible evidence of our recovery.”

The mayor added: “We are making progress attracting new business to West Haven and encouraging current West Haven businesses to expand here. Though recovery is slow, we have a plan and are moving in the right direction.”

Marchers sought for Memorial Day parade; applications due April 8

WEST HAVEN, Jan. 29, 2019 — The city is seeking veterans, civic groups, fraternal organizations, service clubs and marching bands to participate in the annual Memorial Day parade, which steps off at 10:30 a.m. May 27. There is no rain date.

Participants must register and list required special accommodations.

Transportation is provided for veterans who are unable to walk the 1 ½-mile parade course, which follows Campbell Avenue from Captain Thomas Boulevard to Center Street. To make arrangements, call the mayor’s office at 203-937-3510.

The parade grand marshal is West Haven Vietnam Veterans member William Benson, an Army veteran of the Vietnam War.

Download a Participation Form.
Forms are also available in the mayor’s office at City Hall, 355 Main St., where they are due April 8. Forms can also be emailed to parade organizer Kristen Teshoney at kteshoney@westhaven-ct.gov or faxed to 203-937-3705.

Elderly, disabled homeowners offered tax relief in West Haven

WEST HAVEN, Feb. 5, 2019 — Assessor Ann Marie Gradoia is accepting applications for tax relief programs for elderly and disabled homeowners.

Residents can apply for the programs, based on their 2018 incomes, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, Feb. 15-May 15, in the assessor’s office on the first floor of City Hall, 355 Main St.

The state elderly and disabled homeowners program offers tax reduction benefits depending on income and marital status. To qualify, the applicant or spouse must be 65 or older by Dec. 31, 2018, or permanently and totally disabled as defined by Social Security.

Income limits, including Social Security, are $43,900 for a married couple and $36,000 for a single person.

To qualify for the West Haven senior tax freeze program, the applicant must be 70 by the end of 2018 and have lived in the city for at least 20 consecutive years.

Income limits, excluding Social Security, are $50,000 for a married couple and $35,000 for a single person. Those eligible for the program must reapply each year.

The assessor’s office is also accepting applications until Oct. 1 for additional veterans exemptions. The maximum income is $43,900 for a married applicant and $36,000 for a single applicant.

Driver safety course offered in West Haven

Driver safety course offered March 6

WEST HAVEN, Jan. 29, 2019 — The Allingtown/West Haven Senior Center will offer an AARP Driver Safety Program from noon-4 p.m. March 6 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.

City issues snow rules for parking

WEST HAVEN, Jan. 17, 2019 — To help crews expedite snow removal, Public Works Commissioner Tom McCarthy is reminding residents and businesses to observe parking regulations during and after storms.

Per the “Severe Weather” parking ordinance under Chapter 188 of the West Haven Code, police will tag and tow vehicles violating the ordinance at the owner’s expense. Violators will receive a $100 fine.

Once snow begins to fall, a parking ban is in effect on the even-numbered side of most roads, unless one is posted with a “No Parking” sign on the odd side.

The ban is in effect for 36 hours after a storm. Residents are urged to park in driveways or designated private lots.

However, during an official snow emergency declared by Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, a parking ban will run from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. on both sides of Campbell and Savin avenues, Morgan Lane, Elm Street, Meloy Road, Second Avenue from Elm to Beach streets, and Main Street from Savin to Washington avenues.

McCarthy is also reminding residents and businesses to shovel their sidewalks within 24 hours after a storm or face a $25 fine “for each day that the violation persists.”

According to the “Removal of Snow and Ice” ordinance under Chapter 195 of the West Haven Code, people are given 24 hours to remove snow from sidewalks on and bordering their properties. Violators are subject to the $25-per-day fine, which is enforced by the Police Department, the ordinance states.

To report a complaint, call the department’s nonemergency line at 203-937-3900. Complaints are kept confidential.

McCarthy also pointed out that plowing or blowing snow into city streets is prohibited and violators are subject to a $60 fine for each offense, per the ordinance.

Also, residents and businesses with mailboxes damaged by snow thrown from a plow are the responsibility of the property owner. The city will only repair mailboxes damaged by the striking of a plow blade if there is visible evidence, such as paint or tire tracks.

Snow removal around mailboxes is the property owner’s responsibility.

Residents are also urged to help firefighters keep hydrants clear of snow.

For more information, call the Department of Public Works at 203-937-3585 or visit Public Works.

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