Beach lifeguards receive lifesaving Narcan training

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 15, 2024 — (Pictured): Beach lifeguards of the Department of Parks and Recreation show their new Narcan emergency overdose kits with Emergency Management Director Rick Fontana, right, and Pool and Waterfront Coordinator Margaret Ruggiero, second from right, on the city’s shoreline boardwalk Aug. 7.

From left, lifeguards Geffen Waterman, Brandon Sihaphong, Jeffery Flores-Copa, Chris Holt, Molly Wilson, Daniela Velez, Isaiah Correia, Haley Lippard, Brooke Nebor, Caly Nyack, Amber Militrano and Anglin Hebert.

Ruggiero, who supervises Park-Rec’s beach lifeguards, said her staff received “knowledge, training and expertise” from Fontana in administering Narcan, a brand name for a device that delivers the opioid-overdose antidote naloxone.

“This is so vital for our lifeguards to be knowledgeable and trained in how to identify possible overdose situations, as they are the first responders on the shoreline,” Ruggiero said. “Thanks so very much to Mr. Fontana for providing Narcan that these lifeguards now carry in case of an emergency situation should occur on our guarded beaches.”

Each Narcan overdose kit contains two 4-milligram nasal sprays.

Fontana has been installing the grant-funded kits in many municipal buildings and public places around West Haven.

(City Photo/Angelina Morales)

West Haven Summer Concert Series saves the best for last: 2 shows Friday night and 2 shows Saturday night

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 15, 2024 — The West Haven Summer Concert Series has saved the best for last: a grand finale of four shows in two nights this weekend in Old Grove Park, 1 Palace St.

On Friday, the Rock House School of Music’s TKM All Star Band will play a set of rockers from 5:30-6:30 p.m., followed by party rock hits performed by the Rum Runners from 7-9 p.m.

On Saturday, Sweeter Than Wine will play acoustic rock favorites from 5:30-6:30 p.m., followed by swing and Motown classics performed by Eight to the Bar from 7-9 p.m.

The free concerts will include food trucks and are presented by the Department of Parks and Recreation.

The tentative rain date for TKM All Star Band and Rum Runners is Aug. 23.

The rain date for Sweeter Than Wine and Eight to the Bar is Aug. 19.

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

Park-Rec campers learn cooking, grilling skills

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 13, 2024 — (Pictured): Armed with cooking utensils, campers of the Department of Parks and Recreation’s Summer Camp learn cooking and grilling skills from culinary expert Meg Kingston, left, at a camp cookout Aug. 8.

Kingston, the food service director of West Haven Public Schools, taught a weekly cooking class during the camp’s two-week session in Painter Park, where campers made smoothies, chicken quesadillas, chocolate chip cookies and meatballs.

(City Photo/Margaret Longo)

Borer, Fontana lead West Haven hurricane exercise

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 1, 2024 — (Pictured): Emergency Management Director Rick Fontana, joined by Mayor Dorinda Borer, right, and chief of staff Rick Spreyer, leads a hurricane readiness exercise for city and public safety officials in the Emergency Operations Center at City Hall on July 31.

Fontana, using new Promethean interactive weather map displays, provided a comprehensive update on West Haven’s readiness as the city enters the Atlantic hurricane season.

Although the season begins June 1, it is more likely that as the waters get warmer in August, the likelihood of a hurricane increases, and West Haven will ready its forces as a coastal community, Borer said.

Chiefs of West Haven’s Police Department and three fire departments participated in the hourlong training exercise, along with officials of the Department of Public Works and other city departments, including Health, Economic Development, Elderly Services, Parks and Recreation, and Youth and Family Services.

A representative of United Illuminating, the Orange-based utility, also took part.

Officials tested their readiness “to ensure that the highest level of public safety remains first and foremost,” Borer said.

To safeguard motorists from flood-prone railroad underpasses, Fontana said the city is installing “Danger Flooding” gates at the Campbell Avenue and Washington Avenue underpasses. Authorities will close the gates during rainstorms to prevent vehicles from driving through the low-lying areas, he said.

The last hurricane to hit West Haven was Gloria in September 1985. The city, however, has weathered powerful storms since then, including Tropical Storm Irene in August 2011 and Superstorm Sandy in October 2012.

(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

‘Discover West Haven’ video series launched

WEST HAVEN, July 18, 2024 — “Discover West Haven,” the city’s new video series, showcases all that West Haven has to offer, Mayor Dorinda Borer announced.

West Haven: “Miles of Shore and So Much More!”

Check out the video.