West Haven holding Sandy Hook observance at 9:35 a.m. Wednesday

West Haven, Dec. 13, 2022 — West Haven will hold a citywide commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Wednesday.

The city will mark the observance at 9:35 a.m., the time when the first 911 call came in from the Newtown school.

The First Congregational Church on the Green will toll bells 26 times while playing poignant music in memory of the 20 first graders and six educators who died in the Dec. 14, 2012, shooting.

Black-and-purple bunting will adorn City Hall and other municipal buildings, including schools and police and fire stations, according to organizers.

“As our city marks this very solemn anniversary, I think of each of the victims, their families and all of the survivors,” Mayor Nancy R. Rossi said. “West Haven will not let the memory of Charlotte Bacon or any other victim be forgotten.”

West Haven is home to the Charlotte Bacon “Where Angels Play” playground at Sea Bluff Beach, off Captain Thomas Boulevard near Ocean Avenue.

The pink playground was built in 2014 in memory of Charlotte, 6, whose favorite color was pink.

In honor of Charlotte this week, pink LED lights will illuminate the new Cove River pedestrian bridge, just steps from her seaside playground.

UI resumes tree care program in city

West Haven, Dec. 13, 2022 — United Illuminating has begun the latest phase of its tree care program to reduce the amount of vegetation that UI says threatens power lines during storms.

Over the next three months, UI’s tree service contractor will increase the distance between vegetation and power lines by targeting trees and limbs on Donna and Island lanes, Callegari and Country Hill drives, and Meloy Road, said city Tree Warden Leo Kelly, who reviewed and approved the project.

Kelly said UI may contact city homeowners about permitting pruning and tree removal on their properties.

The contractor, Asplundh Tree Expert LLC, will focus work on UI’s “Utility Protection Zone,” which extends 15 feet above, 8 feet below and 10 feet to the side of power lines, he said.

According to UI, the Orange-based utility will designate trees for pruning or removal if they pose a threat to power lines or risk falling into or encroaching on the Utility Protection Zone, causing damage to the electrical system or outages due to their height and growth pattern.

People can direct questions to Kelly at [email protected].

Public info meeting set Thursday for two shoreline projects on Beach St.

West Haven, Dec. 13, 2022 — The Water Pollution Control Commission is holding a public information meeting to seek input from city residents for studies on two projects aimed at protecting the shoreline from future storms.

The meeting is set for 5:15 p.m. Thursday in the Harriet C. North Community Room on the second floor of City Hall, 355 Main St.

The projects, both on Beach Street, call for safeguarding the Water Pollution Control Plant and rehabilitating the outfall pipe at Sandy Point.

As part of the preliminary outfall and “flood hardening” studies, the city will apply for grants and loans for the projects.

West Haven residents are encouraged to take advantage of the meeting to learn about and discuss the studies.

Those with questions can call City Engineer Abdul Quadir at 203-937-3577.

West Haven holding Hanukkah menorah lighting Monday on Green

West Haven, Dec. 13, 2022 — The city is holding a Hanukkah menorah lighting on the Green early next week.

Although this year’s Jewish holiday begins at sundown Sunday, West Haven’s annual lighting of the menorah will celebrate the second day of Hanukkah at 4:30 p.m. Monday.

The lighting will mark the Jewish Festival of Lights, an eight-day commemoration of rededication of the Temple by the Maccabees after their victory over the Syrians.

The ceremony, led by Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, will include a blessing by Rabbi Schneur Wilhelm of Chabad of Milford-Hebrew Congregation of Woodmont. The public is invited.

Singing group Nu Haven Kapelye will perform. ArtsWest CT will provide coffee, water and chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil, known as Hanukkah gelt.

Community Development Block Grant applications due Dec. 22

West Haven, Dec. 13, 2022 — The West Haven Community Development Administration is accepting applications for federal Community Development Block Grant funding for program year 49.

The program year begins July 1, 2023, and ends June 30, 2024.

Interested agencies can obtain an application by contacting the Community Development Administration, 355 Main St., West Haven, CT 06516, or by calling 203-937-3550 or emailing [email protected].

The application deadline is noon Dec. 22.

WWII storytelling set at senior center

West Haven, Dec. 13, 2022 — World War II historian Arnie Pritchard will present “This Business of Fighting: A Human Face on World War II” at 10 a.m. Jan. 24 at the West Haven Senior Center, 201 Noble St.

Orating from letters he inherited from his father’s Army footlocker, Pritchard will tell fascinating stories of Anton Pritchard’s wartime service.

Pritchard has spoken at several venues across Connecticut.

To reserve a seat, call the senior center at 203-937-3507 by Jan. 18.

Pearl Harbor remembered at solemn West Haven tribute

West Haven, Dec. 7, 2022 — The city and the West Haven Veterans Council commemorated Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day at the West Haven Veterans Museum & Learning Center on Wednesday.

The ceremony, traditionally held on the Veterans Walk of Honor in Bradley Point Park, was moved indoors because of rain.

Before a gathering of veterans, city and state officials, and residents, Councilman Gary Donovan, D-at large, read prepared remarks on behalf of Mayor Nancy R. Rossi honoring the American patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice 81 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.

“Although the attack happened 81 years ago today, that doesn’t outweigh the suffering that is still felt,” said Donovan, speaking from a World War II exhibit in the museum at 30 Hood Terrace.

“Despite the event occurring more than eight decades ago, there are still dozens of survivors who still have to live with their memory of that fateful day,” said Donovan, flanked by a wingtip from a Japanese Zero fighter that was shot down by a Bridgeport anti-aircraft unit.

Read the full story and see the photo spread at Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day 2022.

West Haven heralds launch of state’s largest food-to-clean-energy program

West Haven, Nov. 14, 2022 — West Haven is the first city in the state to offer a citywide curbside food scrap diversion option to all single-family residents, Mayor Nancy R. Rossi announced.

Rossi said the program allows all single-family homes — one, two and three families — to easily separate food scraps and have them collected at the curb in the same container now used for residents’ trash collection.

The city has received a $1.3 million Sustainable Materials Management grant from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to develop and launch a food-to-clean-energy program.

Grant Coordinator Doug Colter, who secured the funding for the city, said the state is facing a solid waste disposal crisis, as traditional options for disposing of municipal solid waste are diminishing or becoming more expensive. With fewer and rapidly aging disposal options in Connecticut, residents and municipal leaders can expect disposal costs to increase at the remaining waste incineration facilities “as well as out-of-state landfilling,” Colter said.

On Nov. 7, the West Haven Food to Clean Energy program launched a nine-month pilot project for curbside food scrap diversion. Participation in the program comes at no cost to the 16,000 eligible households.

Colter said the funding covers the purchase of special color-coded bags for trash and for food scrap separation for the nine-month pilot. It also covers the cost of educational materials — mailers, a website and a Connect mobile app — along with personnel to sort the bags and the shipment of food scraps to Quantum Biopower in Southington, where the food will be converted into clean electricity, he said.

More details at Food Scrap Recycling.

Informational Materials

The Downsizing Donation Guide: A Resource for Residents of New Haven County (PDF)

What’s In? What’s Out? A Guide to Recycling (PDF)