Vietnam veterans help Rossi light West Haven Christmas tree

WEST HAVEN, Nov. 27, 2023 — Santa and Mrs. Claus accompanied Mayor Nancy R. Rossi and a group of Vietnam veterans to light the Christmas tree on the Green at the city’s annual holiday kickoff Saturday.

After arriving in the West Haven Fire Department’s 1935 Mack pump firetruck, Santa and Mrs. Claus were escorted to a portable stage on the Main Street side of the Green by the West Haven Seahawks cheerleading team to the sound of applause and shouts of glee from hundreds of bundled-up merrymakers.

Before the lighting, WOW Radio personality Brian Smith, the master of ceremonies, thanked and praised Rossi’s special guests — members of West Haven Vietnam Veterans and Surfside Veterans — as the all-ages crowd clapped and cheered.

Rossi then gave a shoutout to Mayor-elect Dorinda Borer, whose inauguration is Sunday, and helped Smith lead revelers in a countdown to set the tree — and the Green — aglow.

The guests recognized onstage were West Haven Vietnam Veterans President Dave Ricci, Vice President Al Beck Sr., Treasurer Steve Carney, and members Howie Chernikoff, Rick Foley, Mark Levine, Kevin Sullivan and Howie Thomas.

Also recognized were Surfside Veterans President Rich Deso, who is also West Haven’s municipal veterans representative, and members Robert Chapin, Doug Daniels, Conrad Martin, chaplain Ken Smith and Al Terr.

Read the full story and see the photo gallery at Christmas Tree Lighting 2023.

Bereavement group for widows, widowers, partners

WEST HAVEN, Nov. 27, 2023 — The first gathering of a bereavement group for widows, widowers and partners is scheduled from 6-7:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at the West Haven Senior Center on the upper floor of the Johnson Community Center, 201 Noble St.

To preregister or for more information about the bereavement group, call facilitator Cate Saxton at 203-535-1163. The preregistration deadline is today.

Sensing a need in West Haven and the surrounding communities, the group’s formulation was established in 2021 by West Haven residents with support from the city Department of Youth and Family Services.

The group is offered to individuals who have experienced the loss of a spouse or partner so they can come together locally and support one another during the life-altering period.

The group’s mission is to provide a confidential, safe, supportive grief-sharing environment for widows, widowers and partners.

Gatherings are held monthly on the first and third Wednesdays from 6-7:30 p.m. at the senior center.

Visit the group’s Facebook page.

Bargain Bingers marks grand opening on upper Campbell Ave.

WEST HAVEN, Nov. 21, 2023 — (Pictured): Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, right, cuts the ribbon with Bargain Bingers owners Jordan and Michelle Greenstein, with daughter Eden, 6, and son Zachary, 4, to celebrate the grand opening of the “extreme discount and bargain bin” store at 719 Campbell Ave. on Nov. 18.

Shown with them are, from left, Councilman Gary Donovan, D-at large; Mayor-elect Dorinda Borer; and Councilwoman Colleen O’Connor, R-at large.

The ceremony was also attended by Simon McDonald, the director of membership and marketing at the Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The new retailer is located in the upper Campbell Avenue business district near York Street and specializes in new, like new and used items, as well as donated merchandise.

According to Jordan Greenstein, the store offers savings up to 85% off retail prices. Bin items drop in price daily until sold, he said, starting at $10 with fresh merchandise coming in weekly.

In addition, all profits from selling items received as donations support people in need, Greenstein said.

The ribbon-cutting included giveaways for veterans.

(G. Gregory Geiger/West Haven Chamber)

Consultant chosen for Boardwalk Eco-Restoration

WEST HAVEN, Oct. 24, 2023 — The West Haven Shoreline Restoration Committee has chosen GEI Consultants Inc. for Phase 2 of the West Haven Boardwalk Resilience and Eco-Restoration Project.

Over the next four months, the committee will collaborate with the Glastonbury consulting company to complete the coastal resilience and ecological restoration of a 1 ½-acre portion of the West Haven shoreline adjacent to Old Grove Park.

The committee, also known as the SRC, will announce its final plans to the public in February 2024.

“The project addresses challenges associated with restoring and preserving native coastal habitat in a densely populated urban area and in response to climate change,” said project co-leads Marilyn Wilkes, the vice president of the Land Trust of West Haven, and Mark E. Paine Jr., the director of the city Department of Parks and Recreation. “It will help the community understand the connection between robust ecosystems and coastal resilience, will provide accessible and healthy green spaces to systemically marginalized and vulnerable populations, and will manage the shoreline space so that wildlife and people can thrive.”

The project’s target outcomes and impacts include:

— The restoration of 1 ½ acres of native coastal habitat and improved habitat connectivity to adjacent public green spaces.

— A long-term plan for invasive plant control and restoration maintenance at the site.

— A living classroom for public school and public use that includes interpretive signage linking by QR code to in-depth information on the Land Trust’s website.

— Free educational events on-site designed to appeal to a range of audiences and ages.

— Improvements to public amenities, including benches and walking paths at the site.

— Access for residents under the Americans with Disabilities Act, including access mats to the beach area.

— The creation of a replicable model for use by similar coastal restoration efforts in other communities.

— More site visitors equating to more economic opportunity in the area.

In August 2022, Rep. Dorinda Borer, D-West Haven, secured $200,000 in state funding for the project’s design phase.

Additional funding is needed for the construction phase, and the committee is applying to a number of state and local environmental agencies.

GEI, a full-service ecological firm, provides geotechnical, environmental, water resources, civil design and construction services throughout the project’s delivery lifecycle, from conceptual planning to permitting, design, engineering and construction management.

The committee chose GEI from a competitive pool of request-for-proposal applications because of its innovative strategies, extensive experience with successful shoreline projects and team approach.

The SRC is composed of members of the Land Trust, the city and the City Council, as well as residents who volunteer with local environmental groups.

Extensive community outreach contributed to Phase 1’s completion of preliminary engineering plans to 30% design.

Phase 1 plans and community surveys can be viewed on the project’s website.

Shoreline Restoration Project updates can be found on the Land Trust’s website or the city’s website.