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West Haven’s Extreme Cold Weather Protocol in Effect From 6 p.m. Sunday to Noon Friday
WEST HAVEN, Jan. 17, 2025 — The city will activate its extreme cold weather protocol at 6 p.m. Sunday and will open an overnight warming center for West Haven residents in need at 689 Campbell Ave., the new warming center location, Mayor Dorinda Borer announced.
The protocol is expected to end at noon Friday, when Gov. Ned Lamont is expected to lift the state’s severe cold weather protocol as temperatures become more seasonal.
West Haven’s two libraries will serve as warming centers during normal daytime hours as an alternative to being out in the dangerously cold temperatures.
The libraries and hours are:
— Main Library, 300 Elm St., Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. The library is closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
— Ora M. Mason Branch Library, 260 Benham Hill Road, Tuesday through Friday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. The library is closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Residents are urged to protect themselves and their families against the extremely cold weather. Frostbite can occur quickly. Ensure that caution is used for children waiting at bus stops and all vulnerable populations.
The city’s new warming center is at 689 Campbell Ave. The hours are on the flyer below.
Also, it is against the law to leave pets outside in extreme weather.
Food resources are available for residents in the greatest of need. For more information, see the West Haven Food Assistance Resource Guide. |
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Tax preparation business, ATAX, marks grand opening in downtown West Haven
WEST HAVEN, Jan. 17, 2025 — (Pictured): Mayor Dorinda Borer, center left, cuts the ribbon with ATAX CEO Mellessia Wright to celebrate the tax preparer’s grand opening at 334 Main St. on Thursday.
Marking the event with them are, from left, Wright’s daughter Deanne, ATAX Marketing Director Nicole Bellenfant, ATAX the Eagle and Wright’s daughter Kayla.
ATAX is located in downtown’s historic Falcone Law Firm building and specializes in “accurate, reliable and convenient tax preparation and business services.”
“We are the future of taxes,” Bellenfant said.
The Rev. Timothy Newton, who has been a client of Wright’s for 20 years, said: “Mellessia does a thorough job. I give her a rating of 120%.”
(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh) |
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 West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer and Emergency Management Director Rick Fontana on Tuesday unveil the city’s new anti-icing sprayer for pretreating roads during storms. The 1,000-gallon sprayer, which contains magnesium chloride, an anti-icing agent, is mounted on a Department of Public Works mason dump truck and applies a regulated amount of magnesium chloride liquid per roadway mile compared to many more pounds of granulated salt per roadway mile. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh) |
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Borer rolls out new anti-icing sprayer for pretreating roads during storms
WEST HAVEN, Jan. 17, 2025 — Mayor Dorinda Borer on Tuesday unveiled the city’s new anti-icing sprayer for pretreating roads during storms.
The 1,000-gallon sprayer, which contains magnesium chloride, an anti-icing agent, is mounted on a Department of Public Works mason dump truck and applies a regulated amount of magnesium chloride liquid per roadway mile compared to many more pounds of granulated salt per roadway mile.
“Magnesium chloride is better for the environment and much more cost-effective than salt,” Emergency Management Director Rick Fontana said. “Most importantly, the liquid will increase roadway safety, reducing motor vehicle accidents during slippery conditions.”
West Haven’s EMD added that the same liquid is used by the state Department of Transportation to pretreat highways.
“We are integrating a more modern, safer, environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach toward road safety in snowstorms,” Borer said.
Magnesium chloride is typically applied to roadways 24-48 hours before a storm. When snow reacts with the liquid, the snow becomes water.
West Haven’s product also contains an anti-rust inhibitor.
The city stores the magnesium chloride liquid in two 3,000-gallon tanks at the DPW garage on Collis Street.
According to Fontana, West Haven has 130 miles of roadway surface, 561 roadways and 102 dead ends, but mostly roads on hills and around schools will receive the magnesium chloride treatment, he said.
Borer said the city plans to equip more DPW trucks with anti-icing sprayers.
West Haven has seven snow emergency routes.
When an official snow emergency is declared by Borer, usually in a major storm of at least 6 inches, a parking ban will run from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. on both sides of Campbell and Savin avenues, Morgan Lane, Elm Street, Meloy Road, Second Avenue from Elm to Beach streets, and Main Street from Savin to Washington avenues.
Otherwise, once snow begins to fall, a parking ban is in effect on the even-numbered side of most roads, unless one is posted with a “No Parking” sign on the odd side. |
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Turcotte is new worshipful master of Annawon Lodge
WEST HAVEN, Jan. 17, 2025 — (Pictured): Douglas Turcotte receives a citation from Mayor Dorinda Borer recognizing his installation as the worshipful master of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Annawon Lodge 115 during a ceremony at 263 Center St. on Monday.
(City Photo/Diana McManus) |
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Mulkerin School of Irish Dance opens first-ever studio in West Haven and celebrates 85 years in business
WEST HAVEN, Jan. 17, 2025 — (Pictured, back center): Mayor Dorinda Borer and state Rep. Bill Heffernan join owner Kathy Carew of the Mulkerin School of Irish Dance to celebrate the grand opening of the school’s studio at 263 Center St. on Jan. 10 as members of the Carew family and students and assistants of the school look on.
The late-afternoon ceremony recognized Mulkerin’s first-ever studio while also marking the school’s 85th anniversary. The studio is based in the lower level of the West Haven Masonic Building.
In addition to celebrating the occasion with an ensemble of loved ones and friends, Carew received a mayoral citation from Borer and a General Assembly citation from Heffernan, D-West Haven, on behalf of the city’s delegation.
Borer, who read her citation before presenting it to Carew, said, “The residents of West Haven join me in honoring this school and the culture it represents to our vibrant downtown and community.”
The Mulkerin school, founded in 1939 by Carew’s mother, Kathleen Mulkerin, is recognized as “one of the first Irish dancing schools in Connecticut and has inspired generations of talented performers,” the mayor said.
Now led by Carew, the school continues to share its passion for Irish dance and music by offering traditional and modern Irish dance classes for all ages and skill levels.
“The Mulkerin family has represented our city with class, dignity and pride,” Borer said.
(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh) |
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Tax relief programs for elderly, disabled homeowners offered
WEST HAVEN, Jan. 10, 2025 — The assessor’s office is accepting applications by appointment for tax relief programs for elderly and disabled homeowners.
West Haven residents can apply for the programs, based on their 2024 taxable and untaxable incomes, weekdays from Feb. 18-May 15 in the assessor’s office on the first floor of City Hall, 355 Main St. For an appointment, call 203-937-3515. No walk-ins.
The state offers a tax reduction benefit depending on income and marital status through the circuit breaker program. To qualify, the applicant or spouse must be 65 or older by Dec. 31, 2024, or permanently and totally disabled as defined by Social Security.
Income limits, including Social Security, are $55,100 for married applicants and $45,200 for a single applicant. Those eligible for the program must reapply every two years.
To qualify for the West Haven tax freeze program, the applicant must be age 70 by Dec. 31, 2024, and have lived in the city for at least 20 consecutive years with nobody under age 25 living in the home. The program will freeze the city portion of the resident’s taxes only for the upcoming year.
Income limits, excluding Social Security, are $50,000 for married applicants and $35,000 for a single applicant. Those eligible for the program must reapply annually.
The assessor’s office is also accepting applications until Oct. 1 for additional veterans exemptions. The maximum income is $55,100 for married applicants and $45,200 for a single applicant.
For veterans who are 100% service connected, income limits are $24,000 for married applicants and $21,000 for a single applicant. Social Security and veterans disability payments do not count for 100% disabled veterans only. All other ratings must include veterans disability payments and Social Security.
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Dubel’s Cafe tees off for breast cancer scholarship
WEST HAVEN, Jan. 10, 2025 — (Pictured): Dubel’s Cafe owner Fred Hugendubel, a co-chairman of the annual Dubel’s Golf Tournament, presents a $6,300 check to the West Haven Breast Cancer Awareness Program at City Hall on Jan. 6.
The money raised at the October tournament will benefit the program’s Susan A. Ruickoldt Scholarship Fund.
The fund was founded in March 2003 to raise breast cancer awareness in honor of Ruickoldt, who taught third grade at Savin Rock Community School before dying of breast cancer in 1997.
Each spring since 2003, scholarship organizers have awarded $2,000 in Ruickoldt’s memory to a female high school senior from West Haven who plans to continue her education.
(City Photo/Beth A. Sabo) |
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City offers free radon test kits for National Radon Action Month
WEST HAVEN, Jan. 10, 2025 — January is National Radon Action Month, and the city Health Department is encouraging residents to protect their health by testing their homes for radon.
Radon, the second-leading cause of lung cancer, is a colorless, odorless and naturally occurring radioactive gas formed from the natural decay of uranium. It is found in rock, water and soil.
While radon in outdoor air poses a relatively low risk to human health, it can enter homes from the surrounding soil and become a health hazard inside buildings, according to city health officials.
Testing for radon is recommended every two years, officials said.
A limited number of free radon test kits have been made available to West Haven residents by the state Department of Public Health. To receive a test kit, call the city Health Department at 203-937-3660.
Learn more about radon at the DPH Radon Program.
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Reminders issued for Christmas trees and holiday trash pickup
WEST HAVEN, Jan. 10, 2025 — The Department of Public Works reminds residents not to put Christmas trees in plastic bags or stands for curbside pickup.
Lights must also be removed from Christmas trees. Plastic bags and other items can become tangled in the machine that grinds the trees into compost.
Christmas trees will be picked up in January and February only. City residents needing a pickup after Feb. 28 will be charged a $25 fee. Christmas trees can also be brought to the compost site at 1 Kimberly Ave.
Also, residents are reminded that five 2025 holidays will delay curbside pickup one day.
Affordable Waste Systems LLC of East Haven, West Haven’s private contractor for rubbish and recyclables, will not pick up rubbish, recyclables or metals on Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
If a holiday falls on a weekday, pickup for that week will be delayed one day. But when a holiday like Thanksgiving falls on a Thursday, only Thursday and Friday’s collections will be delayed one day.
Thanksgiving is also the only holiday that excludes metal pickup in those affected districts.
Separate metals and recyclables from regular trash.
Detailed information about the city’s trash and recycling guidelines is available at Bulk Trash Pickup & Other Services.
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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, Jan. 10, 2025 — 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, 2024.
Download a brick application here.
Applications, due March 14, are also available in the mayor’s office at City Hall, 355 Main St. For details, call 203-937-3510. |
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Taxes due now in West Haven
WEST HAVEN, Jan. 10, 2025 — The second installment of city tax bills — real estate, personal property, motor vehicle, sewer — was due Jan. 1, and payments after Feb. 3 are considered delinquent and subject to interest, per state law.
The 2023 supplemental motor vehicle bills are for vehicles registered after Oct. 1, 2023, and were also due Jan. 1.
After Feb. 3, interest will be charged on the installment due from Jan. 1 at the rate of 1 ½% per month.
Payments — full or partial — can be made by cash, check, credit card, debit card or money order from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays in the tax office on the first floor of City Hall, 355 Main St. The building has an ATM on the first floor.
Taxpayers can also make payments online at My Tax Bill. Sewer bills are on the same page but under a separate tab. Tax payment history can also be viewed and printed.
The fees for credit cards and electronic checks are available at Payments.
During tax season, taxes can be paid by the drop box outside the interior door of the tax office from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Do not leave cash or credit card information in the drop box.
When paying by drop box, the canceled check is the receipt.
Taxes can also be paid by mail to the Office of the Tax Collector, City of West Haven, P.O. Box 401, West Haven, CT 06516.
Anyone needing a motor vehicle clearance must pay by cash, credit card, debit card or money order.
West Haven property owners should be advised that the January installment of taxes does not reflect any changes in real property assessments that may have been indicated in a revaluation notice they have received. The revaluation adjustments will be applied to the tax billing starting in July. For more information, visit the Assessor’s Office webpage.
As part of the city’s revaluation, property values have increased. However, to ensure that the overall tax burden remains balanced, the mill rate will be adjusted downward. The adjustment will help offset the increase in property values, resulting in a more equitable tax bill.
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