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 The New Haven Symphony Orchestra is led by pops conductor Chelsea Tipton II. (Contributed Photo/NHSO) |
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New Haven Symphony performing ‘Holiday Extravaganza’ concert at WHHS on Friday
WEST HAVEN, Dec. 9, 2024 — The New Haven Symphony Orchestra is performing a special “Holiday Extravaganza: Joy to the World!” concert at West Haven High School on Friday, Mayor Dorinda Borer announced.
The 7 p.m. concert is presented by the city and will take place in the school auditorium at 1 McDonough Plaza.
Tickets cost $20 for orchestra seating and $15 for mezzanine seating.
Tickets are sold only in advance on the GoFan website or the NHSO website.
All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit West Haven Public Schools’ music department.
“I am overjoyed to bring this special holiday concert by the world-renowned New Haven Symphony Orchestra to West Haven as part of our efforts to revitalize arts and entertainment across the city,” Borer said. “This spirited performance for all ages will also serve as a way to support our school district’s music department as we recognize the value and importance of the arts among our youth. It enriches lives no matter the age.”
According to its website, the New Haven Symphony Orchestra’s Pops Series, conducted by Chelsea Tipton II, will bring the music and magic of the holiday season to West Haven for a special concert benefiting the arts in the city’s public schools.
“Families and friends will come together to experience the joy of holiday music from around the world in Connecticut’s favorite festive tradition!” according to the NHSO website.
The New Haven Symphony is America’s fourth-oldest orchestra, founded in 1894.
For more than a century, the NHSO has continued the traditions of performance and education by supporting programs in schools and communities and presenting classical repertoire and pops concerts.
The orchestra has performed regularly in New Haven and toured throughout Connecticut and beyond, including concerts at New York’s Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. It has also given numerous radio broadcasts. |
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Leaf bag pickup ends this week
WEST HAVEN, Dec. 9, 2024 — Leaf bag pickup will end this week on residents’ regular trash pickup days.
West Haven residents are asked to put leaves and grass clippings in separate biodegradable paper bags for curbside pickup. Plastic bags are prohibited.
Crews will not pick up leaf/grass bags after this week. After that, residents must bring all bags — paper, no plastic — to the city’s compost site, 1 Kimberly Ave., from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Proof of residence is required.
Leaf bag pickup will resume in mid-April 2025.
Also, per city ordinance, blowing leaves into city streets is prohibited, and violators are subject to a $60 fine for each offense.
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 West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer delivers poignant remarks commemorating Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and the 83rd anniversary of Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor during an observance on the Veterans Walk of Honor in Bradley Point Park on Saturday. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh) |
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Pearl Harbor remembered at solemn service on Veterans Walk of Honor
WEST HAVEN, Dec. 9, 2024 — Mayor Dorinda Borer was joined by members of West Haven’s Veterans Council and Surfside Veterans to commemorate Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day on the Veterans Walk of Honor in Bradley Point Park on Saturday.
Before a gathering of veterans, residents, and city and state leaders on a bitter cold morning, Borer delivered poignant remarks honoring the American patriots who made the supreme sacrifice 83 years ago during Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.
On Dec. 7, 1941, just before 8 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time, a swarm of 360 Japanese warplanes descended on the island of Oahu and bombed the U.S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor, killing 2,335 service members and 68 civilians and thrusting America into World War II.
“The selfless men and women of our grandparents’ generation, often defined as the greatest, lived for their faith and their family while braving great hardships to keep our country safe and free,” said Borer, speaking in front of a black granite memorial named for Army Pfc. William A. Soderman, who received the Medal of Honor in World War II.
Read the full story and see the photo gallery here. |
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New mobile charging stations will charge cellphones in West Haven neighborhoods during power outages
WEST HAVEN, Dec. 9, 2024 — (Pictured): Emergency Management Director Rick Fontana shows Mayor Dorinda Borer how to charge a cellphone using the city’s new mobile multiunit charging station at City Hall on Friday.
The city has purchased two state-of-the-art charging stations with accompanying GoSun solar tables and Honda generators for all residents to charge cellphones during power outages.
Borer said the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security will deploy the rapid charging stations in neighborhoods for “significant outages that don’t appear to be able to be resolved immediately due to significant circumstances.”
“I’ve been one of those residents in a major storm who looks for power access in places like Dunkin’ Donuts, Starbucks or McDonald’s and felt there has to be a more modern way we could assist residents in outages and requested mobile charging stations,” Borer said.
Each charging station sits atop a solar table that powers the station.
Fontana said each USB and USB-C station can charge up to 50 mobile devices at a time in just 34 minutes.
In addition, each gas-powered generator has plugs that can charge up to 10 medical devices at a time, he said.
Borer said the city has also purchased three solar charging poles in three strategic locations: the shoreline boardwalk, downtown and Allingtown.
“The addition of solar charging stations down the beach and in public spaces will also assist in powering up,” the mayor said. |
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Borer, Santa bring holiday cheer to West Haven Senior Center’s ‘Merry & Bright Holiday Luncheon’
WEST HAVEN, Dec. 9, 2024 — (Pictured): Mayor Dorinda Borer, third from left, welcomes Santa Claus to the West Haven Senior Center’s “Merry & Bright Holiday Luncheon” at Cielo Banquet Hall on Friday.
With Borer and Santa are, from left, senior center program coordinator Donna MacLennan, Elderly Services Director Alyssa Maddern, senior center office coordinator Jim Arria, Youth and Family Services Director Diane Dietman, youth services coordinator Coraly Colon and personnel administrative floater Lauren Kenney.
At the catered luncheon, more than 60 senior center members received a gift bag from the mayor and a personalized belt bag from the center.
The event featured entertainment by Jose Paolo and included a raffle for a poinsettia plant decorated with scratch tickets and a raffle for a bottle of wine and a fleece blanket.
It also included photos with Santa, of course.
(City Photo/Tianna Greene) |
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 Mayor Dorinda Borer and Santa Claus join West Haven Senior Center members at the center’s “Merry & Bright Holiday Luncheon” at Cielo Banquet Hall on Friday. (City Photos/Tianna Greene) |
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4th graders at Savin Rock Community School engage with Borer on the three branches of government
WEST HAVEN, Dec. 9, 2024 — (Pictured): Mayor Dorinda Borer discusses local government with fourth graders at Savin Rock Community School on Thursday.
Looking on are Principal Thomas J. Hunt and teacher Kerry McQueeney.
The inquisitive students engaged with Borer in the school cafeteria on the three branches of government — executive, legislative, judicial — and the importance of laws.
Borer also spoke to the more than 90 students about the integral parts of city government and the job of mayor before taking questions, ranging from “How do you become mayor?” and “What’s the difference between the job of the governor and mayor?” to “Do you live in a mansion?”
Borer concluded her visit by handing out a government-themed word search puzzle to each student.
(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh) |
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West Haven High School Band shows off new instruments supported by Borer
WEST HAVEN, Dec. 4, 2024 — (Pictured): Mayor Dorinda Borer, center, gets a front-row showing of the West Haven High School Band’s new instruments by director Donata Lupacchino-Nelsen, back left, and band members and students of her Advanced Placement music theory class on Dec. 2.
Borer, a staunch advocate of the arts and music enrichment, supported the purchase of the instruments — an 88-key Yamaha P-S500 smart digital piano and a 34-inch Zildjian orchestral gong with a heavy-duty stand — through the American Rescue Plan Act.
Lupacchino-Nelsen said the band is looking forward to a special “Holiday Extravaganza: Joy to the World!” performance by the New Haven Symphony Orchestra at West Haven High on Dec. 13.
The 7 p.m. concert is presented by the city and will take place in the school auditorium at 1 McDonough Plaza.
Tickets cost $20 for orchestra seating and $15 for mezzanine seating.
Tickets are sold only in advance on the GoFan website and the NHSO website.
All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit West Haven Public Schools’ music department.
(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh) |
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 An exuberant West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer, holding microphone, reacts as Santa Claus helps Carrigan Intermediate School fifth grader Shyann Jones push down on a gift-wrapped plunger box to light the West Haven Green Christmas Tree at the city’s annual holiday kickoff Nov. 30. With them are, from left, West Haven United co-Chair Jaime Connellan and Mrs. Claus. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh) |
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10-year-old Shyann Jones helps Borer light the West Haven Green Christmas Tree
WEST HAVEN, Dec. 4, 2024 — Santa and Mrs. Claus accompanied Mayor Dorinda Borer and her special guest, Carrigan Intermediate School fifth grader Shyann Jones, to light the West Haven Green Christmas Tree at the city’s annual holiday kickoff Nov. 30.
After arriving in the West Haven Fire Department’s 1935 Mack pump firetruck, Santa and Mrs. Claus were escorted to a portable stage on the Main Street side of the Green by the West Haven High School cheerleading team to chants of “Here we go, Santa, here we go!” and shouts of glee from hundreds of bundled-up merrymakers.
The stage was bedecked with giant presents that lit up each side.
Before the lighting, WOW Radio personality Brian Smith, the master of ceremonies, thanked and praised Borer’s special guest as the all-ages crowd clapped and cheered.
Borer then lead revelers in a countdown before Santa helped 10-year-old Shyann push down on a gift-wrapped plunger box to set the tree — and the Green — aglow.
Read the full story and see the photo gallery here. |
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Revaluation project update: Property owners will receive new valuation notices in December
WEST HAVEN, Nov. 26, 2024 — The city’s ongoing revaluation project will determine the fair market value of every property for the purpose of a fair and equitable distribution of the tax burden.
Property revaluations are mandated by the state and must occur every five years.
Appraisal staff members from West Haven’s revaluation contractor, Vision Government Solutions Inc. of Hudson, Massachusetts, have been analyzing residential property sales and performing parcel-by-parcel reviews of value.
While valuations will continue through November as new property sales occur, the revaluation date of appraisal is Oct. 1.
Property owners can expect to receive a new value notice in December.
The new property valuations will be available online for the public’s review when notices are mailed. The site will allow inquiry access to the assessor’s database, including value summary, property data and general revaluation information.
Property owners can review their new assessment on Vision’s website: https://www.vgsi.com/.
Property owners with questions about the revaluation process or the data collected on their property will have an opportunity to meet with a Vision representative to discuss their new valuation through an informal telephone hearing or an in-person hearing from December through early January.
Property owners wishing to appeal their new assessment after the informal hearing process with Vision is complete must file a written appeal to the city’s Board of Assessment Appeals on or before Feb. 20, 2025.
BAA appeal forms will be available online and in the assessor’s office on the first floor of City Hall, 355 Main St.
For more information on the revaluation process, visit https://www.vgsi.com/taxpayer-revaluation-information/.
For questions about the revaluation process or additional information, call the assessor’s office at 203-937-3515.
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 The brick Veterans Walk of Honor in Bradley Point Park, West Haven. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh, File) |
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Veterans Council launches 2025 Brick Campaign
WEST HAVEN, Nov. 19, 2024 — The West Haven Veterans Council has launched the 17th phase of its popular Brick Campaign.
In November 2006, the council began the first of 17 campaigns selling bricks to memorialize veterans on the 100-yard Walk of Honor between the William A. Soderman and Vietnam Veterans memorials.
The bricks, which cost $75, have charcoal lettering for personalized messages.
About 3,000 bricks have been installed to date, including 47 for Phase 16, which was dedicated May 25.
Download a brick application here.
Applications, due March 14, 2025, are also available in the mayor’s office at City Hall, 355 Main St. For details, call 203-937-3510. |
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Residents’ input sought for community development, housing needs survey; deadline is Dec. 20
WEST HAVEN, Oct. 16, 2024 — Residents can share their opinions as the city updates its five-year Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development for submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
A brief survey of needs and priorities is available to residents on the West Haven Community Development Administration webpage. Residents can also take the survey by scanning the QR code below.
Residents must return the survey to rosa@westhaven-ct.gov by Dec. 20.
The goal is to prepare a plan that describes West Haven’s housing and community development needs and implement a strategy for 2025-29.
The seven-question survey can be completed in a few minutes. Information will be from the survey, workshops and other sources.
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