Borer announces Blue Ribbon Panel on Arts, Culture & Tourism

WEST HAVEN, May 3, 2024 — Mayor Dorinda Borer has appointed a Blue Ribbon Panel on Arts, Culture and Tourism to support arts investments in the community, to create a strategy for promoting tourism in West Haven, and to help coordinate the city’s new microgrant arts program.

Borer said the West Haven Microgrants for Arts + Culture program will be facilitated by the Greater New Haven Arts Council to help distribute microgrants for artistic purposes in the community.

The microgrants will total $116,250 and will be issued in increments between $2,500 and $10,000 each, depending on an applicant’s need, the mayor said.

Borer, who chaired the General Assembly’s bipartisan Arts, Culture and Tourism Legislative Caucus when she was a state representative, modeled the new yearlong panel after the speaker of the state House’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Tourism in 2021.

“This special coalition is made up of individuals who bring different strengths and perspectives to the table,” Borer said. “Their vision and innovation will help drive the future success of the arts, culture and tourism in West Haven.”

“I like the idea of a panel,” the mayor added, “as they have a short one-year life span with a focus on bringing results.

“Statistics have demonstrated that for every dollar you invest in this area, $3 is brought back to the economy. There is a direct link toward bolstering our community.”

The grants, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, will also help strengthen the development of a vibrant and creative city by integrating arts and culture into community life while showcasing West Haven as a cultural destination, Borer said.

The ARPA grant program has been approved by the state Municipal Accountability Review Board.

Borer said the microgrants will be just one component of the panel’s role.

Elinor Slomba, the director of ArtsWestCT, West Haven’s public-facing arts service organization, has been a champion of the microgrant program and will coordinate the program’s application process.

“We are incredibly glad to see this get started,” Slomba said. “We’re starting a new chapter for creatives in West Haven. From all the interest we’ve received so far, we anticipate that a robust and diverse group of artists will submit applications.”

Applications are available online until May 29 at https://artscouncilofgreaternewhaven.submittable.com/submit/293095/west-haven-arpa-grant/collectOrganization.

Funded projects will take place in July and August to support West Haven artists, arts organizations and creative businesses, officials said.

The Arts Council will provide the infrastructure for a professionally managed review process. ArtsWest will help promote the program and provide mentorship to applicants.

Borer’s eight-member panel will decide the grant awards.

The members are city residents Monique Bolt, Ruby Melton, Marilyn Wilkes, Paige Weinstein, Caitlin Maloney, Steven Gourdier, Jeffrey Morena and Paul Scanlon.

“I am excited and honored to work alongside Mayor Borer as part of the blue-ribbon panel,” said Bolt, a lifelong Westie and former associate vice president of customer service and enrollment events at the University of New Haven. “As a member of the panel, I look forward to collaborating with the other members to examine ways we can stimulate more arts, culture and tourism within the city of West Haven and to assist with making decisions, in partnership with the Greater New Haven Arts Council, regarding microgrant distribution to artists, art organizations and creative businesses within the city.”

“I am very grateful for the opportunity to serve on the mayor’s blue-ribbon panel and to help create a vibrant and thriving arts and culture ecosystem in West Haven,” said Melton, a longtime advocate of the arts who brings extensive experience from her work on several New Haven regional arts organizations.

“This microgrant program will provide a wonderful opportunity for West Haven-centered artists and organizations to showcase their talents,” she said. “It’s also a way for the city to tap into the beautiful diversity of our artists and creatives and to jump-start creating an inclusive and sustainable arts and culture community. West Haven is at an exciting moment of change.”

Informational sessions about the application process will take place online and in person.

The first session is on Zoom at 6 p.m. May 8. Participants must register at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3-XgRhFiHn5Gxw7MOm-HjhQ7q26dQKTE35Vk9oTKWHssUcQ/viewform.

The second session, open to the public, is at 10 a.m. May 9 at Coffee Haven West, 535 Campbell Ave.

Appointments can also be made during ArtsWest’s office hours from 2-6 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The one-on-one sessions can be virtual or in person at 377 Main St., Suite 105, lower level, but must be arranged by emailing artswestct@gmail.com.

Learn more about the Arts Council of Greater New Haven at https://www.newhavenarts.org/.

Learn more about ArtsWestCT at https://www.artswestct.org/.

Borer appoints Stephen Fontana as West Haven’s new economic development director

Stephen Fontana tapped as city’s economic development director

WEST HAVEN, May 3, 2024 — Mayor Dorinda Borer has appointed Stephen Fontana as the city’s new economic development director.

For the past 10 years, Fontana has served as the deputy economic development director of New Haven’s Economic Development Administration, where he has managed the strategies and day-to-day operations of the Office of Business Development.

His duties in the Elm City include economic development design and implementation, personnel and project management, and maintaining relationships with business investors and community stakeholders.

Fontana earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law and a Master of Business Administration in marketing from Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management.

He is one of several new hires at City Hall since Borer took office in December and will start May 20.

Borer said she’s excited about Fontana’s appointment and strengthening her Cabinet with such a pivotal position.

“Stephen Fontana will bring the leadership, strategies and vision necessary to bolster West Haven’s economic development footprint and chart a course for our city’s future economic success,” the mayor said. “He is widely respected by his peers and is familiar with the region’s needs as a whole. His professional experience, public service and educational background speaks volumes.”

“I am pleased and excited to join Mayor Borer’s team as the city’s new economic development director,” Fontana said. “West Haven is full of possibilities and opportunities, and I’m looking forward to bringing my skills and experience to bear to pursue her vision for the city’s economic development and growth.”

Fontana is a former seven-term state representative from North Haven and has working knowledge of state financing and economic incentives.

He is a certified economic developer of the International Economic Development Council, a member of the Connecticut Bar Association and a master fellow of the Life Office Management Association.

Fontana is not related to Rick Fontana, the city’s emergency management director.

West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer is joined by Mental Health Connecticut President and CEO Luis B. Pérez, center left, city Health Director Maureen B. Lillis, center right, and other West Haven officials during a kickoff event marking Mental Health Awareness Month on the steps of City Hall on Wednesday. At right, an easel displays the “988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline,” a national 24/7 hotline that provides caring, trained counselors for people who are experiencing mental health-related distress. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

City leaders shine light on Mental Health Awareness Month at May 1 kickoff event on steps of City Hall

WEST HAVEN, May 2, 2024 — A united front of city leaders and first responders were joined by a group of mental health experts on the steps of City Hall to publicly mark Day 1 of Mental Health Awareness Month on Wednesday.

The kickoff event was led by Mayor Dorinda Borer and Health Director Maureen B. Lillis and featured an array of speakers from the region’s mental health agencies, including the Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center, Mental Health Connecticut, Bridges Healthcare, Shoreline Wellness Center & Behavioral Health Clinic, Fair Haven Community Health Care and the Bereavement Support Group of West Haven.

Borer and Lillis, both of whom wore green for the special month, delivered poignant remarks on the importance of mental health awareness, including a sobering statistic that suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States.

Lillis organized the half-hour event to shine a light on the public health crisis.

In front of dozens of mental health supporters, including city employees and fire chiefs, speakers shared stories of inspiration and words of encouragement, starting with Borer, who bravely revealed her struggle with mental health while growing up in West Haven.

Read the full story and see the photo gallery at Mental Health Awareness Month.

Mental health relief the focus of EAP May newsletter

WEST HAVEN, May 2, 2024 — Get mental health relief by checking out the May edition of the EAP newsletter.

Read the newsletter.

Borer makes more key hires

WEST HAVEN, April 24, 2024 — Mayor Dorinda Borer has expanded the city’s workforce by making several key hires, including the appointment of Jennifer Daddio as the new personnel director.

Borer said Daddio brings 32 years of human resources experience to West Haven, including a vast knowledge of employee relations, labor relations, benefits and payroll.

Daddio, who will serve as a member of the mayor’s Cabinet, previously worked for Barnes & Noble in New York City and several large pharmaceutical companies.

Also in the Personnel Department, Borer said Lisa Langella has been hired as Daddio’s personnel generalist.

Receiving the most new hires is the Finance Department with five: Christopher Tiberio, director of risk management; Erin Sweeney, payroll manager; Kathy Chambers, senior buyer procurement analyst; Vanessa Hruszko, assistant grant writer; and Michele DePascale, senior accountant.

The Health Department has two new hires: sanitarian Gelacio Sanchez and social worker Alyssa Eckstein.

Borer said Nicholas DeJohn will serve as the new director of the city’s Emergency Reporting System, also known as ERS.

DeJohn, whose first day on the job is May 6, will oversee the 911 Communications Center at police headquarters.

“All of these positions are vital to the day-to-day operations of the city,” Borer said. “I look forward to working with this talented team of new employees, who each brings a high level of expertise in their respective field to West Haven.

“Blending our current experienced staff with new members to the team is a perfect mix to deliver services for the residents of West Haven. These hires not only provide vesting into the role but will cut down on overtime and high-priced consultants the city has engaged in recent years.”

Borer said interviews continue and additional job offers have been made, which the city will announce soon.

AFC opens urgent care center on West Haven’s bustling Sawmill Road corridor

Holding oversize scissors, West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer cuts the ribbon with American Family Care franchise owner Muhammad Zaman, center left, and Medical Director Dr. Felix Pacheco, center right, to celebrate the grand opening of West Haven’s new AFC Urgent Care center at 354 Sawmill Road on April 23. With them are, from left, West Haven Councilman Gary Donovan, D-4; Barbara Ronalter, the center’s director of operations and business development; Zaman’s son, Musa, 15, and wife, Anila; City Clerk John W. Lewis; and Simon McDonald, the director of membership and marketing at the Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

AFC opens urgent care center on Sawmill Road

WEST HAVEN, April 24, 2024 — American Family Care, the city’s newest urgent care center, marked its grand opening with the snip of a blue ribbon April 23.

Using oversize scissors, Mayor Dorinda Borer helped American Family Care franchise owner Muhammad Zaman and Medical Director Dr. Felix Pacheco cut the ribbon to formally open the state-of-the-art AFC West Haven Urgent Care center at 354 Sawmill Road.

The late-afternoon ceremony was organized by the Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce. It included welcoming remarks by Borer and Simon McDonald, the chamber’s director of membership and marketing, as well as remarks by Zaman and Pacheco.

“Access to quality, affordable health care is critical, and language can be a barrier,” Borer said. “A facility like this will provide equitable access to quality, affordable care.”

Also celebrating the event were City Clerk John W. Lewis and Councilman Gary Donovan, D-4, along with chamber President and CEO Michael Moses and Barbara Ronalter, the center’s director of operations and business development.

They were joined by members of the AFC medical team and a delegation of chamber board members, including West Shore Associates of West Haven owner Erin Eberhardt, New Haven Bank of West Haven branch manager Hala Urban and Edward Jones of Milford financial adviser Jay Borelli.

The center is open seven days a week and has walk-in options — urgent care, lab testing, vaccinations — to meet the immediate health care needs of patients of all ages. No appointment is needed.

“Our medical team is staffed with medical professionals who are dedicated to ensuring your health and overall well-being,” said Zaman, who was accompanied by his wife, Anila, and son, Musa, 15.

The center is off Interstate 95’s Exit 42 and has seven exam rooms, a manager’s office, and X-ray and storage space.

It is located in a plaza with an Aspen Dental practice, a Chipotle Mexican Grill and a former Starbucks store.

Starbucks recently opened a new stand-alone store with drive-thru service next door at 340 Sawmill Road, the site of a former Stewart’s All American Grill. The AFC center space was formerly occupied by a T-Mobile store.

Zaman said that although it just opened, the 2,670-square-foot center is already expanding into the vacant Starbucks space. The expansion is expected to take about two months to complete and will bring the center to 4,475 square feet, he said.

Zaman chose West Haven’s bustling Sawmill Road retail corridor for his first AFC Urgent Care center because of the area’s dense population and high visibility from I-95.

“We are very grateful Mr. Zaman chose his first location to be in West Haven,” Borer said.

The West Haven center joins 17 other franchise-owned AFC urgent care centers in Connecticut.

Tickets available for Kickoff Dinner supporting Greater New Haven Italian American Heritage Fest

WEST HAVEN, April 11, 2024 — West Haven is the host community for October’s Greater New Haven Italian American Heritage Festival.

Kicking off the festivities is a dinner from 6-10 p.m. May 15 at West Haven’s Cielo Banquet Hall, 85 Chase Lane, where the city will recognize this year’s grand marshal, longtime resident Mark Consorte.

Mayor Dorinda Borer, who tapped Consorte, said: “Mark is a great representative of what the Italian culture stands for: kindness, charitable and family-oriented. As a longtime teacher, he’s mentored thousands of students with his knowledge and passion and additionally has volunteered toward organizations across our city.”

Also being recognized is West Haven Funeral Home owner Celia Pinzi, who will receive the Greater New Haven Italian American Heritage Committee’s Laura Luzzi service award.

“Celia has been there for so many of us, myself included, and I felt it was important to recognize a wonderful person who silently stays behind the scenes and doesn’t look for recognition but provides great comfort and support to our residents,” Borer said. “Celia always steps up and generously participates in our nonprofits, lifting up the community.”

In addition to West Haven, the host community rotates annually among New Haven, North Haven, Branford, East Haven and Hamden, the host of last year’s festival.

West Haven was the host for the event, which was a parade before transitioning to a festival, in 2017, 2011 and 2006.

According to organizers, the committee transitioned the parade to a festival to allow for wider participation.

The cost of the Kickoff Dinner is $50 and includes a buffet dinner, coffee and dessert, as well as a cash bar and raffles. A separate raffle will be held for two round-trip tickets on Avelo Airlines to anywhere Avelo flies out of Tweed-New Haven Airport.

To buy dinner tickets, call committee members Michael Luzzi at 203-671-9415 or Paul Frosolone at 203-887-6089.

The free Heritage Festival, in its second year, is scheduled from noon-4 p.m. Oct. 12 on the West Haven Green. The rain date is Oct. 13.

Festivities will include live music and family-friendly activities to celebrate the region’s deep-rooted Italian heritage. Details are forthcoming.

To participate in the festival as a sponsor or vendor, call the mayor’s office at 203-937-3510.

Join Paige’s Purple Pirates in cystic fibrosis fight

WEST HAVEN, April 12, 2024 — Help support 2-year-old Paige McCormack in her fight against cystic fibrosis, an inherited disorder that causes severe damage to the lungs, digestive system and other organs in the body.

Paige was diagnosed with CF when she was only 2 weeks old.

Now, her parents, Mark and Jill McCormack, and her grandparents, Tim and Debbie Collins and Keith and Maureen McCormack, will not stop until CF stands for “Cure Found.”

On May 19, join Paige’s Purple Pirates in the Great Strides walk for a cure at Jimmies of Savin Rock, 5 Rock St.

Any donation is appreciated to help reach Paige’s $5,000 fundraising goal for the walkathon, which is presented by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Donate to Page or join her team at Paige’s Purple Pirates.