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‘Iconic’ hot dog restaurant, Frankies, celebrates 51st anniversary with grand reopening on Boston Post Rd.
WEST HAVEN, April 25, 2025 — (Pictured): Mayor Dorinda Borer, center, helps Frankies of West Haven owner Balwinder “Bill” Singh cut the ribbon to celebrate the hot dog restaurant’s 51st anniversary and grand reopening at 1151 Boston Post Road on Thursday.
Joining the ribbon-cutting are, from left, longtime Frankies employee Elvia Avesicha; Singh’s daughter, Nancy Kailey, and his wife, Parveen Kaur; 4th District Councilman Gary Donovan; Zoning Board of Appeals Commissioner Rich De Leo; Simon McDonald, the director of membership and marketing at the Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce; and Planning and Zoning Commission member Sammy Rivera.
The chamber-organized ceremony featured remarks by Borer and McDonald, who both congratulated Singh on the restaurant’s milestone.
Singh has owned the West Haven Frankies for 17 of its 51 years in business.
The 2,800-square-foot restaurant boasts a large outdoor patio with picnic tables and umbrellas.
Billed as “The Gourmet of Fast Food,” Frankies has been a Route 1 institution near West Haven’s Meloy Road since 1974. It serves breakfast daily and specializes in footlong hot dogs, burgers, french fries, submarine sandwiches, barbecue ribs, Buffalo wings, seafood, soft serve ice cream and milkshakes.
The iconic fast-food franchise, founded in Waterbury in 1937 by Frank Caiazzo, has five other locations in Connecticut.
Caiazzo was notable for his motto during the Great Depression: “Come in and eat or we’ll both starve!”
(City Photos/Michael P. Walsh) |
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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. |
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Ronnie Pizza marks opening under new ownership
WEST HAVEN, April 25, 2025 — (Pictured): Mayor Dorinda Borer, center, helps Ronnie Pizza owner Mustafa Dagdelenoglu cut the ribbon to celebrate the pizzeria’s grand opening under new ownership at 549 Main St. on April 17.
Joining the ribbon-cutting are, from left, 4th District Councilman Gary Donovan, West Haven state Rep. Bill Heffernan, Simon McDonald, the director of membership and marketing at the Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce, and 6th District Councilwoman Dawn Callahan.
The ceremony was organized by the chamber and featured welcoming remarks by Borer and McDonald.
Ronnie Pizza specializes in thin-crust pizzas, budget-friendly prices and other tasty options, including calzones, submarine sandwiches and wings.
The remodeled pizzeria is located with other small businesses at the busy intersection of Main Street and Kelsey Avenue and is open seven days a week.
(City Photo/Tianna Greene) |
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Bulk trash pickup underway; e-waste is Saturday
WEST HAVEN, April 25, 2025 — Bulk trash pickup week is underway.
West Haven residents are reminded to separate metals, recyclables and regular trash from bulk trash and put them out no more than 24 hours before pickup. Violations carry a $100 fine per daily offense, acting Public Works Commissioner Robert Sandella said.
Sandella said the city expects a heavier-than-usual pickup because spring bulk trash week is traditionally the heaviest. Pickup may run a day or two behind schedule, he said.
Residents are also reminded to “Put a Lid on It!” and use lids on all trash cans. Rain-soaked trash costs West Haven 10 times more at the dump, according to Sandella, adding that using trash can lids will save the city money by reducing the weight of trash and cost of tipping fees.
Bulk items include couches, chairs, tables, carpeting, padding and fencing, which may not exceed 6 feet in length. No building materials, tires, mattresses/box springs, propane tanks or hazardous waste are accepted.
Options for disposing of building materials include renting a dumpster or bringing the materials to a disposal facility for a fee.
Tires and mattresses/box springs are not considered bulk trash and will not be collected.
Tires can be brought to Town Fair Tire, 63 Boston Post Road, Orange, for a fee of $3.75 per tire.
To dispose of mattresses/box springs, residents must buy mattress/box spring bags from the Department of Public Works and put them out for pickup on their scheduled collection day through June 30. The bags cost $30 for the first one and $20 each after that. They are payable by cash and available in the public works office on the third floor of City Hall, 355 Main St.
Hazardous waste can be dropped off for free at HazWaste Central, 90 Sargent Drive, New Haven. HazWaste is open Saturday mornings from mid-May through October.
Propane tanks can be brought to Taylor Rental, 304 Boston Post Road, Orange, for a fee of $10.60 per tank.
The amount of bulk trash per collection is limited to 6 cubic yards, which is equal to a pile of trash about 6 feet long, 6 feet wide and 4 ½ feet high.
Homeowners are required to rent a dumpster or hire a junk removal service at their expense if trash exceeds 6 cubic yards. Otherwise, trash exceeding 6 cubic yards will be left at the curb, and a $100 fine per daily offense will be imposed, Sandella said.
To prevent a potential fine, property owners should familiarize themselves with the city’s trash guidelines at https://www.cityofwesthaven.com/260/Bulk-Trash-Pickup-Other-Services.
Bulk trash must be generated by the customer at the residential unit where it is collected. Trash will not be collected if it is generated by anyone other than the resident of the home.
Bulk items must be separated and orderly. Do not place them next to a mailbox or utility pole or close to a fence, Sandella said.
Also, do not place bulk items in front of a vacant lot or home — they will not be collected, he said.
In addition to bulk trash, the city picks up metals, including household appliances, also known as white goods, and toilets. To schedule a pickup on their curbside collection day, residents must call the Highway Department at 203-937-3644 or 203-937-3585. Appliance doors must be removed.
For electronic items, including TVs, the next e-waste drop-off day is Saturday.
Residents can drop off electronic recyclables — typically anything that contains a circuit board or needs a battery — from 8 a.m.-noon at the city garage, 1 Collis St.
West Haven is partnering with Take 2 Inc. of Waterbury, a state-approved recycler and collector of universal e-waste devices, to collect residential electronic items on a quarterly basis.
The collection is free for residents who have such items as computers, monitors, printers, keyboards, modems, computer mice, tablet computers, TVs, VCRs, DVD players, photocopiers, fax machines, scanners, video game machines, digital media players, personal digital assistants, stereo equipment, telephones, cellphones, cameras, microwaves and other small appliances.
Anything that has refrigerant, including air conditioners and dehumidifiers, is not accepted. Those items are considered white goods, and residents are asked to schedule a pickup on their curbside collection day by calling the Highway Department.
For details, go to https://www.cityofwesthaven.com/263/E-waste-Drop-off.
For the e-waste drop-off, residents are asked to heed the following guidelines:
— Stay in your vehicle.
— Vehicles will be spaced out. Event workers will remove electronics from your vehicle. There should be no interaction between residents and workers.
— No mattresses/box springs will be disposed of at the moment.
— No smoke detectors, ballasts or hazardous waste — lighter fluid, liquids, paint — will be accepted.
— Electronic items left curbside will be tagged with information on the e-waste schedule and must be removed, or face a potential fine.
For the latest news and information, subscribe to the city’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CityofWestHaven. |
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‘Pup Photos With the Easter Bunny’
WEST HAVEN, April 25, 2025 — (Pictured): Gizmo, left, and Flash strike a pose with the Easter Bunny during “Pup Photos With the Easter Bunny” at the Department of Parks and Recreation on April 12.
Donations from the event benefited the West Haven Animal Shelter.
The pups’ mama is city resident Natasha Papile.
(City Photo/Eddie Thomas) |
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Free radon test kits available in Health Department at City Hall
WEST HAVEN, April 25, 2025 — It’s not too late to test your home for radon, the second-leading cause of lung cancer.
Radon is a colorless, odorless and naturally occurring radioactive gas formed from the natural decay of uranium. It’s 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 https://portal.ct.gov/dph/Environmental-Health/Radon/Radon-Program.
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State honoring living WWII vets at May 19 ceremony
WEST HAVEN, April 25, 2025 — In a heartfelt tribute to honor and recognize the courage and sacrifice of Connecticut’s living World War II veterans, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, in collaboration with state Veterans Affairs Commissioner Ron Welch and National Guard Maj. Gen. Francis Evon, has announced a commemorative ceremony.
The event is set for 11 a.m. May 19 at the Governor William A. O’Neill State Armory at 360 Broad St. in Hartford.
The ceremony will mark the 80th anniversary of the conclusion of World War II, a pivotal moment in history that ended in September 1945.
Bysiewicz said the event will recognize and thank members of the Greatest Generation, whose dedication and bravery shaped the freedom and democracy enjoyed today.
“The state invites everyone to join in this historic tribute and express gratitude to those who served during one of the most defining periods in modern history,” Bysiewicz said.
Connecticut cities and towns are invited to participate in the tribute.
To ensure that all veterans are properly honored, West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer has been asked by the lieutenant governor’s office to compile a list of the city’s living World War II veterans, including each veteran’s name, branch of service and age, by May 5.
To help Borer compile the list, families, friends and community members can email Amani Jaramoga, the mayor’s executive assistant, at ajaramoga@westhaven-ct.gov. They can also call Jaramoga at 203-937-3510.
For inquiries or details about the event, contact the lieutenant governor’s office at ltgovernor.bysiewicz@ct.gov or 860-299-5965. |
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Marchers sought for Memorial Day parade
WEST HAVEN, April 25, 2025 — The city and the West Haven Veterans Council are seeking veterans, civic groups, fraternal organizations, service clubs and marching bands to participate in the annual Memorial Day parade, which steps off at 10:30 a.m. May 26.
Participants must register and list required special accommodations for the procession, which has no rain date.
The city will provide transportation for veterans who are unable to walk the 1 ½-mile parade route, which follows Campbell Avenue from Captain Thomas Boulevard to Center Street. To make arrangements, call the mayor’s office at 203-937-3510.
Download a participation form here.
Forms are also available for pickup in the mayor’s office at City Hall, 355 Main St., where they are due May 2.
Completed forms must be faxed to 203-937-3621 or mailed to the West Haven Memorial Day Parade, Office of the Mayor, 355 Main St., West Haven, CT 06516. They can also be emailed to Amani Jaramoga, the executive assistant to Mayor Dorinda Borer, at ajaramoga@westhaven-ct.gov.
Anyone with questions can call Jaramoga at 203-937-3510. |
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 From left, West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer, Parks and Recreation Director Mark E. Paine Jr. and assistant grant writer Vanessa Hruszko on the dock of the April Street boat launch April 14. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh) |
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City gets $152K grant to improve April St. boat ramp
WEST HAVEN, April 14, 2025 — The State Bond Commission on April 11 awarded the city a $152,900 grant for improvements to the April Street boat launch, Mayor Dorinda Borer announced.
The grant, through the Connecticut Port Authority’s Small Harbor Improvement Projects Program, will fund the planning, design and permitting of renovations to West Haven’s public boat launch, including making it more accessible to boaters.
The existing boat launch on April Street is more than a mile from the federal channel, and users are limited to narrow periods of high tide to ensure sufficient water depth for launching, according to RACE Coastal Engineering of Stratford, which specializes in coastal, structural and geotechnical engineering.
In addition, the existing launch has a single one-sided dock that limits the number of boats docking at any given time, RACE said.
“As a shoreline community, we need the marine resources necessary for all of our water-based recreation,” Parks and Recreation Director Mark E. Paine Jr. said. “These funds give us the ability to properly vet our facility and design a safer, user-friendly launch that overcomes the issues we currently experience. It’s a huge quality-of-life issue for our local boaters.”
Borer said the state-funded plan and design will hopefully indicate how the city can upgrade the launch with additional, safer docks to make the area usable in most stages of the tide.
Assistant grant writer Vanessa Hruszko, who prepared the SHIPP grant for the city, said the improvements would support the state’s maritime policies by increasing the interest of boaters to use the launch.
“The increase in boaters will help the state’s goal of increasing the use of our waterfront for recreational purposes,” Hruszko said. “Many applications for various grants were submitted last year, and I’m grateful to start seeing them all come to fruition.”
West Haven Harbor Master Robert Pimer said the boat launch site also serves as an emergency staging area for water rescues and recoveries.
“The boat ramp serves as the public boat launch for the city,” said Pimer, who serves on the city’s Harbor Management Commission. “It also launches emergency vehicles for the police and fire departments and allows a safe haven to tow disabled boats.
“Thanks to this grant, the ramp will receive the attention it needs to bring it back to a safe and functioning boat launch.”
Borer said she used idle American Rescue Plan Act funds last year to upgrade the boat launch with new paving, lighting and fencing to make the area more user-friendly and cleaner.
“An upgrade to the boat launch will complement that effort tenfold,” the mayor said. “I want to thank Harbor Management Commission Chairman Eugene L. Pacapelli for his leadership and support for the revitalization of our boat launch.” |
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 West Haven and Federal Emergency Management Agency officials at the West Haven Water Pollution Control Plant at 2 Beach St. on June 10, 2024. (City Photo) |
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City awarded $10M FEMA grant to build floodwall at wastewater treatment plant
WEST HAVEN, April 10, 2025 — The city has been awarded a $10.39 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to harden the wastewater treatment plant on Beach Street against storms, Mayor Dorinda Borer announced.
The grant — the largest federal grant in decades — is through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Program and will fund the final design and construction of a flood-hardening wall to protect West Haven’s wastewater treatment infrastructure against significant flooding.
The city will receive the funding as a Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities subgrant award through the state Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
“This critically important FEMA grant will protect our wastewater treatment plant against flooding and rising seas,” Borer said. “If the sewer plant is negatively impacted by significant flooding causing a compromise of the infrastructure, it could create a devastating impact across the city and Long Island Sound, and that is why everyone has worked collaboratively to bring this to fruition.
“I want to thank our grant writer, Olivia Bissanti, and our engineer, Abdul Quadir, for their collaboration on this project and assisting in securing these funds. I’m grateful for every state and federal agency that stepped up to help West Haven, including the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.”
The West Haven Water Pollution Control Plant is located on the Sound and has previously experienced flooding in severe weather. In nearly every storm, saltwater has damaged the plant’s equipment, jeopardizing operations and costing thousands to repair.
“FEMA’s $10.39 million grant award to the city is a game changer,” said Councilwoman Ruby Melton, D-2, whose district includes the plant at 2 Beach St. “It will fund a vitally needed project to protect the city’s wastewater treatment infrastructure against 500-year floods, which will benefit the city for years to come.”
Borer said the grant will also fund a floodwall to protect the wastewater pumping station at 167 Blohm St.
The solution to build floodwalls is supported by a comprehensive feasibility study done by the city’s engineering consultant, Black & Veatch.
Borer said the city is working with an engineering firm to complete the design and permitting process. A community engagement roundtable is expected this summer, with construction projected to begin in mid-to-late 2026.
The FEMA grant comes with a 25% cost match, which the city has included in the 2024 budget cycle for bonding, Borer said. |
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Applications available March 31-May 2 for West Haven Summer Youth Employment Program
WEST HAVEN, March 12, 2025 — Applications for the Summer Youth Employment Program will be available from March 31-May 2 in the main entrance of West Haven High School and the main office of Bailey Middle School.
Applications are available on the city website for students who do not attend West Haven High or Bailey. Download an application here.
The summer program, which begins July 7 and runs at least six weeks, is aimed at funding positions for city residents ages 14-21.
Students must return applications with all required documents to West Haven High from 7-8 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays or to Bailey from 8-9 a.m. Tuesdays or Thursdays.
Online applications must be returned to West Haven High from 7-8 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays.
No applications will be accepted after May 2.
Students must also include copies of information, such as a birth certificate and a Social Security card, as well as documentation of household income.
Family income is based on the number of people per household and is required to be within 185% of state poverty income levels.
In addition, some work sites will require a COVID-19 vaccination. Students must indicate their vaccination status on the application.
Incomplete applications will not be processed. Applicants will be notified by mail or phone if more information is needed. |
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