Borer joins Laborers Local Union 455 to give out backpacks to K-12 students of Spring Heights

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 23, 2024 — (Pictured): Mayor Dorinda Borer and City Council Chairman Nicholas A. Pascale, D-at large, hand out a free backpack to Carrigan Intermediate School seventh grader Zuhaib Shah of Savin Rock Communities’ Spring Heights Apartments on Glade Street on Friday.

At least 100 backpacks, each containing a pencil bag with a ruler and a pencil sharpener, were donated by Laborers Local Union 455’s back-to-school backpack program and were distributed to K-12 students living at the public housing complex.

Each student also received a notebook and a box of crayons donated by the East Haven-based local, along with coloring books, pencils, water bottles and T-shirts given out by Sgt. Pat Buturla and crime prevention Sgt. Scott Allard on behalf of the West Haven Police Department.

Other backpacks benefited the West Haven Community Hose’s McKinney-Vento Homeless Students Case Management Program.

The three-hour backpack giveaway was organized by Andrew T. Inorio, the local’s business manager and secretary-treasurer. Inorio was assisted by office manager Georgette Richardson and laborers Jorge Rivas and Mark Simeoli.

Other participants included Community House Executive Director Amy Guay-Macfarlane, Development Director Alan Olenick and office/ERSEA assistant Jhoely Castillo, as well as Kiara Davila, Savin Rock Communities’ assistant resident services coordinator.

The Community House officials also enrolled preschoolers in the social service agency’s Head Start program at 227 Elm St. for the new school year.

See more photos on the city website.

(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Tony Inzero Farmers Market every Thursday on West Haven Green, every Saturday at Oak Street Beach

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 23, 2024 — The Tony Inzero Farmers Market is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Thursday on the Green, at Campbell Avenue and Main Street, and every Saturday next to the Oak Street Beach parking lot, off Captain Thomas Boulevard.

The market will include state farmers selling homegrown fruits and vegetables and crafters selling homemade wares through Oct. 12.

Parking is available on Campbell Avenue and in the City Hall municipal lot, 355 Main St., as well as in the Oak Street municipal lot and on Palace Street. Oak Street is on the senior shuttle route and the CTtransit route.

The farmers market was dedicated in 2010 in memory of Anthony F. “Tony” Inzero, a leader in the downtown business community who co-owned Flower Affair on Campbell Avenue with Betty DelVecchio for many years. Inzero was a founding member and longtime president of the West Haven Business Association who spearheaded a variety of events and programs to drum up business for fellow merchants, including the first farmers market in 2000.

Inzero, who lived in Hamden, died in 2009 at age 59.

Mayor Dorinda Borer launches new marketing video showcase, ‘Summers in West Haven — Feel the Vibe!’

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 21, 2024 — Mayor Dorinda Borer has launched “Summers in West Haven — Feel the Vibe!”, the latest video showcase in the city’s new promotional series, “Discover West Haven.”

Check out the video.

Jason Heffernan playing Oak Street pier Sept. 1

WEST HAVEN, Aug. 21, 2024 — Westie Jason Heffernan will perform from 9:30-11 a.m. Sept. 1 at the Oak Street pier, off Captain Thomas Boulevard, as part of the city's Acoustic Sunday Morning Concert Series.

Grab a coffee and a beach chair and chill out to classic and modern rock ditties played by one of West Haven’s finest troubadours.

No rain date.

James calls it a career, receives ‘Way to Go!’ award

NEW HAVEN, Aug. 21, 2024 — (Pictured): West Haven Community House Children and Youth Services Director Carol James, right, receives the West Haven Interagency Network for Children’s “Way to Go!” award from West Haven Youth and Family Services Director Diane Dietman at the Community House’s Staff Development Day at Anthony’s Ocean View on Aug. 16.

The event marked the last day of James’ “wonderful” career at the Community House, a not-for-profit social service agency based at 227 Elm St. in West Haven.

Dietman presented the framed award to James on behalf of WHINC, a department of Youth and Family Services, for “providing services and resources to families of disabled children, youth and young adults in our community. Best wishes on your retirement.”

The Way to Go program recognizes those who go above and beyond to offer services and resources.

(WHCH Photo/Alan Olenick)

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)