West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer reads a proclamation to Zuppardi’s Apizza co-owners Lori Zuppardi, left, and Cheryl Zuppardi Pearce marking the pizzeria’s 90th anniversary celebration at 179 Union Ave. in West Haven on Monday. Looking on is the event’s master of ceremonies, New Haven-style pizza historian Colin Caplan, the principal of the food tour company Taste of New Haven. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

From left, Zuppardi’s Apizza employees Meagan O’Brien, Tia Bonessi and Lauren Vincent are all smiles showing a commemorative mozzarella “abeetz” with pepperoni slices forming a “90” in honor of the pizzeria’s anniversary. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Zuppardi’s Apizza celebrates 90 years of making New Haven-style ‘abeetz’; hundreds observe anniversary

WEST HAVEN, June 18, 2024 — Zuppardi’s Apizza, West Haven’s first family of apizza, celebrated 90 years in business Monday with music, Italian ice and pizza, of course.

Mayor Dorinda Borer joined generations of Zuppardis in the tented parking lot of the historic pizzeria at 179 Union Ave., where Borer read and presented a framed 90th anniversary proclamation to Cheryl Zuppardi Pearce and Lori Zuppardi, co-owners of Zuppardi’s, as other family members looked on.

Zuppardi’s has been serving New Haven-style apizza, pronounced “abeetz,” since 1934. The fourth-generation business is one of the oldest family-owned pizzerias in the U.S. and was featured on ABC’s “Good Morning America” in February.

The Zuppardi sisters were accompanied by hundreds of friends and supporters, including local and state officials, who turned out to pay tribute to a family that, through thick and thin, has been there for their customers, their city and their business community.

Borer, who was joined by the sisters for her remarks, lauded the family and its flourishing pizzeria business.

“It’s more than just about pizza; it’s the memories you’ve created,” said Borer, who called the sisters “two very strong businesswomen.” “You’re part of the fabric that’s woven into our community.”

Read the full story and see the photo gallery at Zuppardi’s 90th Anniversary.

Shaded Soul Band kicking off West Haven Summer Concert Series on Friday night in Old Grove Park

WEST HAVEN, June 18, 2024 — The West Haven Summer Concert Series will kick off Friday night in Old Grove Park with R&B favorites and pop hits performed by Shaded Soul Band.

The free concert is scheduled from 7-9 p.m. and presented by the Department of Parks and Recreation.

To check if a concert has been rescheduled because of rain, go to Park-Rec’s website.

Make Music Day set for 3-7 p.m. Friday, Grove Park

WEST HAVEN, June 18, 2024 — ArtsWestCT has announced the plans and lineup for West Haven’s third annual Make Music Day on Friday, a family-friendly event.

Internationally, Make Music Day celebrations are held in nearly 5,000 places worldwide, including West Haven’s own Old Grove Park.

In West Haven, the focus will be on creating instruments from recycled materials and jamming outdoors with local musicians, according to organizers.

City families and agencies are asked to help collect clean, empty containers with lids to bring to the event.

For complete details on Make Music Day, read the ArtsWest news release.

Public invited to construction open house for Interchange 43 Improvements Project in West Haven

WEST HAVEN, June 18, 2024 — The state Department of Transportation will start construction this summer on the Interstate 95 Interchange 43 Improvements Project.

Before construction kicks off, the DOT will hold a construction open house from 5-7 p.m. June 26 in the Harriet C. North Community Room on the second floor of City Hall, 355 Main St.

The open house will begin at 5 p.m. and will follow with a formal presentation at 6 p.m. by DOT team members on the status of the project’s design and construction phases.

For complete details, read the full DOT news release.

Dog license renewals in West Haven due June 30

Dog license renewals due June 30

WEST HAVEN, June 12, 2024 — June is Dog Licensing Month, and residents who own dogs at least 6 months old must renew licenses by June 30 or face a $1 monthly fine, City Clerk John W. Lewis said.

State law requires dog owners to submit a current rabies vaccination certificate when applying for the new dog tags. Expired certificates are not accepted.

The fee for the two licenses, which are available in the city clerk’s office at City Hall, 355 Main St., is $8 for neutered or spayed dogs and $19 for other dogs.

Residents can also send vaccination records and checks in a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Office of the City Clerk, P.O. Box 526, West Haven, CT 06516.

Dog license renewals are also available online .

West Haven’s first Small Business Forum receives overwhelming attendance and feedback

West Haven Economic Development Director Stephen Fontana speaks at the city’s first Small Business Forum at West Haven High School on June 11. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

More than 100 West Haven businesspeople attend the city’s first Small Business Forum. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

West Haven’s first Small Business Forum receives overwhelming attendance and feedback

WEST HAVEN, June 12, 2024 — Mayor Dorinda Borer and the city’s Economic Development Commission presented the first forum of its kind for small-business owners at West Haven High School on June 11.

With more than 100 business owners in attendance, the forum consisted of speakers from local, state and federal agencies sharing the resources available for businesses to thrive.

As part of the program, Borer launched the city’s new ARPA Small Business Grant program. Small businesses that apply for a grant can receive up to $10,000 for facade improvements or HVAC and outdoor dining upgrades.

The grant program is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.

Eleven speakers, including Borer, gave business owners “high-level information” on available grants, loans and technical support through PowerPoint presentations on a range of topics to support better economic outcomes for small businesses.

John McCarthy, who owns West Haven’s popular Rock House School of Music, said: “My wife, Cathy, and I were very impressed with the Small Business Forum. There are so many resources available that we had no idea about. As small-business owners of the Rock House School of Music and the nonprofit Teach Kids Music, we are going to take advantage of these resources to grow our business and help enrich our community. Thank you for holding this informative event!”

Speakers included West Haven Economic Development Director Stephen Fontana, Community Development Administration Manager Mark J. Bisaccia and grant writer Olivia Bissanti.

“This is an exciting time to be in West Haven, an exciting time to be in business,” Fontana said. “There’s a lot of resources out there to help people. Our goal is to try to help you navigate all that. If you need a place to start first, think of us.”

Also speaking were Moraima Gutierrez, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s deputy district director for Connecticut; Val Gomez, the Connecticut Small Business Development Center’s business adviser; Kenyetta Banks, the Women’s Business Development Council’s program manager; Larry Rush, the conservation and load management manager of residential for United Illuminating’s parent company, Avangrid; Sheila Hummel, the state Department of Economic and Community Development’s director of small business, community development and capital projects; Kobey Smith, the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce’s small business support specialist; and Steve Johnson, Workforce Alliance’s business services coordinator.

The forum concluded with an open discussion.

For information on West Haven’s ARPA Small Business Grant program, visit the city’s website.

Kickoff Dinner raises funds, recognizes honorees for Greater New Haven Italian American Heritage Fest

WEST HAVEN, May 22, 2024 — (Pictured, from left): Greater New Haven Italian American Heritage Committee Treasurer Sal Decola, committee member Mike Luzzi, Mayor Dorinda Borer, and newly sashed honorees Celia Pinzi and Mark Consorte are all smiles at the committee’s Kickoff Dinner at Cielo Banquet Hall on May 15.

The fundraising dinner recognized Consorte, a longtime social studies teacher and department head at West Haven High School, as the grand marshal of the 2024 Greater New Haven Italian American Heritage Festival and Pinzi, the owner of West Haven Funeral Home, as the recipient of the committee’s Laura Luzzi Award for outstanding public service.

West Haven is the host community for the festival, which is scheduled from noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, on the West Haven Green.

The cultural event will include live music and family-friendly activities to celebrate the region’s deep-rooted Italian heritage.

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.

(Contributed Photo)