Black Balloon Day to honor victims of opioid addiction

Black Balloon Day in West Haven to honor victims of opioid addiction

WEST HAVEN, March 5, 2018 — Mayor Nancy R. Rossi is calling on all residents who have been affected by the opioid epidemic to hang a black balloon in front of their homes in observance of Black Balloon Day on Tuesday.

Rossi recently pledged West Haven’s commitment to recognizing the special day after its co-founder, Diane Hurley, of Peabody, Massachusetts, reached out to the mayor seeking the city’s participation. Hurley’s daughter, Lauren Hurley, is the other co-founder.

Lauren Hurley’s mission began March 6, 2016, after her brother-in-law, Greg Tremblay, a father of four, died of a drug overdose a year earlier.

Hurley’s brother, Sean Hurley, was also a drug addict but has been clean for more than a year.

In the wake of the family’s tragedy, she and her mother have joined forces in the war on drugs.

On Tuesday, the Hurleys are encouraging all West Haveners who have been impacted by drug addiction, including pain-reducing opioid medications, to hang a black balloon outside their homes.

At the request of Diane Hurley, city officials will also hang a black balloon on the steps of City Hall for each resident who has died of opioids.

According to city Health Director Maureen B. Lillis, at least 12 residents died of opioids in 2017.

Hurley is encouraging the city’s police and fire departments to participate by hanging black balloons as well.

Rossi said West Haven’s participation is aimed at “shining a light on how the national public health crisis of opioid addiction affects us locally.”

Telling tales

WEST HAVEN, March 5, 2018 — Mayor Nancy R. Rossi reads to preschoolers during Read Across America Day at the West Haven Community House preschool Head Start program Friday.

More than 150 books were donated to the program by Read To Grow of Branford.

(Photo and Caption Courtesy of New Haven Register/Peter Hvizdak/Hearst Connecticut Media)

Moses and Roberta Douglas, West Haven’s African-American Citizens of the Year, receive a citation from Mayor Nancy R. Rossi during the 22nd annual Black Heritage Celebration Wednesday morning at City Hall. The cultural event, in honor of Black History Month, is presented by the West Haven Black Heritage Committee. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Cultural event celebrates West Haven’s black heritage

WEST HAVEN, March 1, 2018 — The city paid tribute to the proud legacy of African-Americans and the inspiring contributions they have made to enriching the culture and history of the United States at the 22nd Black Heritage Celebration Wednesday morning at City Hall.

During the annual event in observance of Black History Month, the city’s Black Heritage Committee honored West Haven High School seniors Kobe Brantley and Bobbie James for outstanding leadership and recognized Moses and Roberta Douglas as its African-American Citizens of the Year.

The couple received a citation from Mayor Nancy R. Rossi recognizing their “lifework in shaping the fabric of our African-American community and the story of our diverse city.”

Reading the citation aloud, Rossi said the Douglas’ “daring spirit and inspiring contributions have spoken to the hopes and dreams we all have in common.”

Moses Douglas retired from Ansonia Copper & Brass Co. His wife retired from Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. in Stratford after 16 years of service and has been a paraprofessional in the West Haven school district for the past 23 years.

The Douglases, who celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary Oct. 22, have been active members of the city’s Allingtown community for four decades.

The 40-minute program, held in the Harriet C. North Community Room, featured a performance of the black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” sung by the West Haven High Bel Canto Choir under the direction of Phyllis Silver.

The choir was later accompanied by the near-capacity assembly of dignitaries, family, friends and residents on “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

The ceremony included an awards presentation by Rossi and Program Chairman Steven R. Mullins, the master of ceremonies, whose daughter, West Haven High freshman Nora E. Mullins, sang a spectacular rendition of “God Bless America.”

The event also included remarks from West Haven High Assistant Principal John DellaCamera and committee founder Beulah “Bea” Johnson.

DellaCamera said, “We are very proud to have (Brantley and James) represent us at West Haven High School.”

Brantley, who aims to study medicine at the University of Hartford in the fall, and James, who aspires to study mechanical engineering at UConn, received a Black Heritage Committee certificate of achievement from Mullins, who was joined by Johnson.

Brantley, a member of the Bel Canto Choir, recently completed Developing Tomorrow’s Professionals, a mentorship program designed to help black and Latino male students who show promise but need some extra guidance in navigating their final years in high school and planning for the future.

James, also a member of the choir, is president of the high school’s mock trial team and Rotary Club and serves as vice president of the Academic Integrity Committee.

In honor of the monthlong black history celebration, organizers have adorned the walls of City Hall with banners and posters depicting important black leaders and role models worldwide.

The committee has worked since 1996 to promote racial harmony across West Haven, transforming City Hall into an exhibition of African-American art and literature throughout Black History Month to educate residents about black culture.

View the photo gallery at Scenes from the 2018 Black Heritage Celebration.

Way to Go!

WEST HAVEN, March 1, 2018 — Jonathan Capone, coordinator of the Unified Sports Program in West Haven, receives the Way to Go award Tuesday at West Haven High School from, from left, Lisa Francis, Cassandra Nieves, Jazmine Anchette and Viola Waldo on behalf of the West Haven Interagency Network for Children.

Capone, the high school’s athletic director, was nominated by the four members of the West Haven Parent Support Group for children with special needs for his “support and dedication in coordinating the Unified Sports Program and overseeing the many student volunteers and partner athletic teams and coaches.”

Capone is involved in soccer, basketball, track and the annual bowling tournament.

The Way to Go program honors teachers, therapists and coaches who go above and beyond to help children and establish better relationships with families and providers.

(City Photo/Robert S. Morton)

Bulk trash pickup week, e-waste drop-off day in March

Bulk trash pickup week, e-waste drop-off day this month

WEST HAVEN, March 1, 2018 — The next bulk trash pickup week is March 5-9, and the next e-waste drop-off day is March 10.

City officials said the two services are not the same, however, and are reminding residents to take note of the difference.

During bulk trash week, crews will not pick up electronic items, including TVs. They will only pick up such bulk items as couches, chairs, mattresses, tables, carpeting, padding, fencing and small amounts of bundled lumber, which may not exceed 6 feet in length.

The amount of bulk trash per collection is limited to 6 cubic yards, which is equal to a pile of trash 6 feet long, 6 feet wide and 4 ½ feet high.

More details at Bulk Trash Pickup.

For electronic recyclables, which are defined as typically anything that contains a circuit board or needs a battery, residents must drop off those items from 8 a.m.-noon at the highway maintenance garage, 1 Collis St.

Anything that has refrigerant, including air conditioners and dehumidifiers, is not accepted. Those items are considered white goods, and residents are asked to put them out for pickup on their weekly curbside collection days.

The collection is free for residents who have such items as TVs, hand-held video games, computers, monitors, copiers, scanners, microwaves, toaster ovens and other small appliances.

More details at E-waste Drop-off.

Free CCM prescription discount cards available online, at City Hall

WEST HAVEN, Feb. 23, 2018 — The City of West Haven Prescription Discount Card is available for uninsured and underinsured residents, as well as their pets, Mayor Nancy R. Rossi said.

Rossi said the free card, which reduces prescription medication costs, is provided by the city through its partnership with the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, the statewide association of towns and cities.

West Haven has participated in the CCM Discount Prescription Drug Card Program, which is free to CCM-member municipalities, since November 2013.

During that time, CCM said, the program has saved city residents more than $176,000 in prescription costs — a 63 percent savings over what they would have paid for the 3,094 prescriptions filled so far.

The prescription card saves an average of 45 percent off the retail price of medications and provides discounts on vision, Lasik and hearing care services. It also saves residents money on prescription medications not covered by insurance.

The card offers the following features and benefits:

—All prescription medications are covered, including pet prescriptions — provided that it is a medication that also treats a human condition.

—There is no cost to the city or participating residents.

—There are many participating pharmacy chains nationwide, such as CVS, Rite Aid, Stop & Shop, Walgreens, Walmart and Big Y, along with many independent pharmacies locally.

Cards can be used by all residents regardless of age, income or existing health coverage. There are no enrollment forms, membership fees, restrictions or limits on the frequency of use.

Cards can be printed by visiting www.CTRxDiscountCard.com and selecting City of West Haven from the drop-down menu. Cards can also be picked up in the mayor’s office on the third floor of City Hall, 355 Main St.

Taxpayers can appeal property assessments

Taxpayers can appeal real estate, personal property assessments

WEST HAVEN, Feb. 5, 2018 — The Board of Assessment Appeals will hear appeals of real estate and personal property assessments on the 2017 grand list by appointment during March in the assessor’s office at City Hall.

The board will also hear appeals of motor vehicle assessments on the 2016 supplemental motor vehicle grand list that received a tax bill due Jan. 1.

Any property owner who wants to appeal an assessment must submit a written application to the board. The assessor’s office must receive the completed form to have it stamped in by 5 p.m. Feb. 20.

Applications are available in the assessor’s office on the first floor of City Hall, 355 Main St., or by calling the office at 203-937-3515.

Download a Board of Assessment Appeals Application.

Driver safety course offered in West Haven

Driver safety course offered March 21

WEST HAVEN, Feb. 5, 2018 — The West Haven Senior Center will offer an AARP Driver Safety Program from 2-6 p.m. March 21 at the Johnson Community Center, 201 Noble St.

The program is designed to help sharpen driving skills, develop strategies to adjust to age-related vision changes, develop hearing and reaction times, and learn about the effects of medication on driving performance.

Participants must complete the class to receive a certification for insurance purposes.

The fee is $15 for AARP members and $20 for nonmembers, payable to AARP.

To register, call the senior center at 203-937-3507.