West Haven observing Pearl Harbor Day on Thursday

WEST HAVEN, Dec. 6, 2023 — The city and the West Haven Veterans Council will observe Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day on the Veterans Walk of Honor in Bradley Point Park at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

All veterans are invited to participate in the solemn service, which will commemorate the 82nd anniversary of Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

The public is also invited.

The annual ceremony, held in front of the Walk of Honor’s William A. Soderman Memorial, will commence with a greeting by City Clerk John W. Lewis, the master of ceremonies, followed by a presentation of the colors and a flag-raising by the West Haven Fire Department Honor Guard.

It will feature remarks from Mayor Dorinda Borer read by Lewis on behalf of Borer, who is unable to attend because of her first meeting as mayor with the state Municipal Accountability Review Board in Hartford.

West Haven Fire Department Chief James P. O’Brien will read the names of the 18 Connecticut servicemen who died in the Japanese bombing of the U.S. Navy base on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. A firefighter will toll the department’s chrome bell each instant a name is called.

Connecticut’s last known Pearl Harbor survivor died in 2020 at age 99.

The Pearl Harbor tribute will include the Pledge of Allegiance led by Veterans Council President Dave Ricci, the national anthem sung by West Haven High School sophomore Chloe Payne, and opening and closing prayers given by Vertical Church Pastor Randal Alquist.

It will also include a wreath-laying by Lewis and Rich Deso, West Haven’s municipal veterans representative, and taps played by retired West Shore Fire Department Lt. Kevin McKeon.

Borer ushers in new era at City Hall

WEST HAVEN, Dec. 5, 2023 — (Pictured): Mayor Dorinda Borer opens the front door to City Hall on Main Street for fellow Westies Dalky Morfe and her daughter, Mia, 3, on Monday morning.

Less than 24 hours earlier, Borer was administered the oath of office by state Attorney General William Tong as West Haven’s 13th and second female mayor during the inauguration of elected city officials in the West Haven High School auditorium.

Borer, who was elected for change, opened City Hall’s front and side entrances to the public for the first time since March 2020, when the entrances other than the Savin Avenue entrance were closed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Borer said the opening of all City Hall entrances signifies that West Haven is back open for business.

(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

‘A Bridge Forward’:
Borer sworn in as city’s 13th and 2nd female mayor

WEST HAVEN, Dec. 5, 2023 — Dorinda Borer formally began her inaugural two-year term as West Haven’s second female mayor after being sworn in during a ceremony at West Haven High School on Sunday morning.

Borer, a former three-term state representative, was administered the oath of office by state Attorney General William Tong in front of a spirited crowd of more than 500 well-wishers in the school auditorium at the inauguration of elected city officials.

She was joined onstage by her son, Drew Borer, 22, and West Haven Democratic state Rep. Treneé McGee, the master of ceremonies.

Among the dignitaries in attendance were former West Haven Mayors Nancy R. Rossi and Edward M. O’Brien, along with East Haven Mayor Joseph A. Carfora, Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett and North Haven First Selectman Michael J. Freda.

Watch the inauguration on West Haven YouTube.

Borer, a Democrat, defeated Republican candidate Barry Lee Cohen and write-in candidate Steven R. Mullins in the Nov. 7 general election, earning one of the highest vote totals for mayor in decades. Rossi, a Democrat, did not seek a fourth term.

Borer is West Haven’s 13th mayor since the city’s incorporation in 1961.

In her inaugural address, “A Bridge Forward,” she congratulated her fellow elected officials, thanked her son, family and supporters, and outlined a number of goals for the next two years.

“Our story has been a frustrating one to say the least recently, but that’s not the story that we are going to let define us,” Borer said. “I am reminded of the words of Victor Hugo, who said, ‘Even the darkest night will end, and the sun will rise.’ Our sun is rising, West Haven!

“We may have faced challenges, but it is the resilience of our people that has always prevailed. Our story is going to be about our strengths. Our story is going to be about our successes. And we will celebrate and leverage everything West Haven has to offer.”

Borer pledged to celebrate the city’s shoreline, restaurants, school system, public safety departments, business owners, train station, West Haven VA Medical Center, University of New Haven, youth sports, older residents, diversity, history and development opportunities.

Lastly, she pledged to celebrate all residents, affectionately known as Westies.

“You demonstrate pride and passion, and you are the heart and soul of this city,” Borer said. “Let’s not imagine, let’s reimagine. Let’s write our next chapter by turning the page. And when all is said and done, we will promote West Haven to the world, because we know what an amazing city we really are, and it’s time the rest of the world knew it as well.

“The best is yet to come, West Haven!”

The inauguration commenced with a presentation of the colors by the West Haven Police Honor Guard, followed by a procession of elected officials and police and fire chiefs led by bagpiper Coreyanne Armstrong.

The hourlong ceremony featured the keynote speech by interim UNH President Sheahon Zenger and a patriotic performance of “America the Beautiful” by 2019 West Haven High graduates Hannah and Olivia Coppola, accompanied by Phyllis Silver. The rendition was highlighted by attendees waving their cellphone flashlights in a display of unity.

West Haven Veterans Council President Dave Ricci led the Pledge of Allegiance, and 2023 West Haven High graduate Madelyn Roche sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

First Congregational Church Senior Pastor E. Carl Howard and Vertical Church Outreach Pastor Paul Bronson gave opening and closing prayers, respectively.

A public reception was held after the ceremony in the school cafeteria.

The West Haven Charter mandates that all elected officials take the oath of office on the first Sunday in December.

Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz administered the oath of office to elected Democratic City Clerk John W. Lewis, who she noted is West Haven’s first Black city clerk.

Bysiewicz also swore in elected Democratic Treasurer Ronald M. Quagliani and elected Democratic Tax Collector Eric Murillo.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., swore in the five incumbents and eight newcomers on the City Council.

Returning council members are Sarah J. Ackbarali, D-3; Gary Donovan, D-4; Katherine Tucker, D-7; Steven J. Johnstone, R-10; and Meli Garthwait, R-at large.

New to the council are Anne Heffernan, D-1; Michelle Coletti, D-2; Mackie McMillian, D-5; Dawn Callahan, D-6; Christopher E. Vargo Jr., D-8; Katie Mueller, D-9; Brian Laucks, D-at large; and Nicholas A. Pascale, D-at large.

State Treasurer Erick Russell administered the oath of office to members of the Board of Education, including incumbent Democrat Caryll “Cebi” Waterfield, incumbent Republicans Robert J. Guthrie and Patricia B. Libero, and elected Democrats Heather Shea and Jonathan E. Jones.

Russell also swore in incumbent Democrat Joseph W. Harvey III, incumbent Republican David Riccio Jr. and elected Democrat Suzanne Mink to the Board of Assessment Appeals.

Borer, a lifelong Westie, has devoted much of her life to public service.

She was elected to represent West Haven’s 115th General Assembly District in a special election in February 2017.

She was a deputy speaker of the House of Representatives and the chairwoman of the General Bonding Subcommittee of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee.

Borer was also the chairwoman of the Veterans Affairs Committee and a member of the Environment and Public Health committees.

In 2009-13, Borer served on the city’s Board of Education. She also served a stint as Bailey Middle School’s PTA president.

Her work in the thriving Irish American community includes serving as the grand marshal of the 2003 Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade and West Haven’s Irishwoman of the Year in 2014.

Borer has also been honored by the West Haven Black Coalition and the West Haven Hispanic Society for her contributions to build better communities through diversity.

For 10 years, she worked in municipal government as the personnel director of the town of Stratford and the city of Bridgeport.

She also worked in banking as an auditing manager and a branch administrator for seven years.

Borer, a 1981 graduate of West Haven High, earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration and management from Southern Connecticut State University and a Master of Business Administration from UNH.

A longtime resident of the 8th District, she is the former wife of former seven-term West Haven Democratic Mayor H. Richard Borer Jr., who served from 1991 to 2005.

Dubel’s Cafe tees off for breast cancer fund

WEST HAVEN, Dec. 5, 2023 — (Pictured): Dubel’s Cafe owner Fred Hugendubel, a co-chairman of the annual Dubel’s Golf Tournament, presents an $8,200 check for the West Haven Breast Cancer Awareness Program to Beth A. Sabo, the program’s chairwoman and the city’s commissioner of human resources, at City Hall on Monday.

The money raised at the October tournament will benefit the program’s Susan A. Ruickoldt Scholarship Fund.

The fund was founded in March 2003 to raise breast cancer awareness in honor of Ruickoldt, who taught third grade at Savin Rock Community School before dying of breast cancer in 1997.

Each spring since 2003, scholarship organizers have awarded $2,000 in Ruickoldt’s memory to a female high school senior from West Haven who plans to continue her education.

(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Three Kings Day event Jan. 7 at Tropical Caribbean

WEST HAVEN, Dec. 5, 2023 — West Haven’s 2024 celebration of Three Kings Day is scheduled from 1-4 p.m. Jan. 7 at Tropical Caribbean restaurant, 701-703 Campbell Ave.

The free event is presented by the city, Budget Transmission Center and Car Wash, Tropical Caribbean and the West Haven Hispanic American of the Year Alumni Association.

Festivities will include music, refreshments and toys — and a visit by the three kings, of course.

Toys are distributed to West Haven children on a first-come, first-served basis.

Three Kings Day is a tradition in Spanish-speaking countries.

The holiday, observed on Jan. 6, marks the arrival of the three kings — Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar — in Bethlehem. The Magi, or wise men, brought gifts to the infant Jesus at Epiphany.

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.