Fireworks rescheduled to 9:15 p.m. Saturday

WEST HAVEN, July 3, 2025 — Unfortunately, due to the weather forecast and in consultation with the fireworks company and our public safety officials, we are rescheduling tonight’s fireworks display to the rain date of Saturday at 9:15 p.m.

With the report of potential rain, wind or lightning leading up to the display, bringing thousands of viewers to the beach, causes a public safety concern.

All previously communicated information by the police, including road and parking lot closures, along with beach rules will apply on Saturday.

Thank you for your patience. We look forward to Saturday’s show.

Mr. Bubbles, ‘the Disney World of laundromats,’ opens on Route 1

WEST HAVEN, July 3, 2025 — Mr. Bubbles Laundromat, a new self-service laundry at 1088 Boston Post Road, celebrated its grand opening Monday.

After dubbing Mr. Bubbles “the Disney World of laundromats,” Mayor Dorinda Borer and Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce executives snipped a red ribbon with owner Sammy Rivera and his wife and children to officially mark the event.

Greeted with loud cheers from dozens of friends and supporters, Rivera pulled out all the stops for the celebration, complete with red, white and blue balloons, exploding confetti, and food trucks.

The chamber-organized event included welcoming remarks by Borer, McDonald and Rivera, a Puerto Rican-born West Haven entrepreneur who also owns Budget Transmission Center and Budget Car Wash on the same Route 1 corridor in the city’s thriving Allingtown business district.

Now owning and operating three businesses in West Haven, Borer praised Rivera’s commitment to the city, saying: “Sammy has built his businesses into an empire that is rooted in hard work, honesty and integrity. On top of his business savvy, he’s also a great contributor toward countless nonprofit programs in the city.”

Also joining the ribbon-cutting were City Council members Gary Donovan, D-4, and Dawn Callahan, D-6, along with chamber President and CEO Michael Moses, Director of Membership and Marketing Simon McDonald and board member Hala Urban, the West Haven branch manager of New Haven Bank.

The midday ceremony was also marked by city Economic Development Director Steve Fontana, city Fair Rent Commission Chairman Steven R. Mullins, Joseph Rodriguez, the deputy state director of U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal’s Hartford office, and chamber board members Robert Creigh and Erin Eberhardt, the owner of West Shore Associates of West Haven.

The completely renovated, “all-in-one” laundromat offers wash, dry and fold services as well as pickup and delivery services. It also offers a dry cleaning service and rewards loyal customers with “Bubble Bucks.”

“Let us do the dirty work while you enjoy clean, fresh clothes,” said Rivera, the city’s 2021 Hispanic American of the Year.

Although Mr. Bubbles features state-of-the-art Electrolux Professional stainless steel washers and dryers of various sizes, it is not your typical laundromat.

Customers can watch programs on several newly installed high-definition TVs while waiting for their laundry, or they can relax in a massage chair.

The laundromat even has a kids playroom, arcade games and a lounge area with charging stations.

Mr. Bubbles is located in a small-business plaza, near Meloy Road, and is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to midnight. The space was formerly occupied by All-in-One Laundromat.

Farmers market kicks off Saturday at Oak St. Beach

WEST HAVEN, July 3, 2025 — The Tony Inzero Farmers Market kicks off Saturday.

The 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 feature homegrown fruits and vegetables, baked goods and homemade crafts through Oct. 11.

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.

No Strings Attached playing acoustic set Sunday a.m.

WEST HAVEN, July 3, 2025 — No Strings Attached will perform from 9:30-11 a.m. Sunday at the Oak Street deck as part of the city’s Acoustic Sunday Morning Concert Series.

Grab a coffee and a beach chair and chill out to covers of popular songs of all styles from the ’60s to the present. No rain date.

Join us Sunday morning!

Program supports kids with siblings with disabilities

WEST HAVEN, April 25, 2025 — West Haven Youth and Family Services is excited to launch a new program at WHINC in collaboration with Southern Connecticut SIBshop at Southern Connecticut State University.

The program, SIBshop, is designed to support children in West Haven who have siblings with disabilities.

SIBshops provide a unique space where children can connect with peers, enjoy recreational activities and build emotional resilience. While many children express positive experiences growing up alongside a sibling with a disability, they often face unique challenges, such as emotional stress, a heightened sense of responsibility or a drive to “compensate” through high achievement.

While the primary focus is on Spanish-speaking families, all are welcome. The program is limited to eight spots.

For more information, contact youth services coordinator Coraly Colon at 203-943-8802 or ccolon@westhaven-ct.gov.