The Hill

Tiny Shelter Resident Rejects Branford Move

by | Sep 10, 2024 12:08 pm | Comments (29)

Jabez Choi photo

Joel Nieves, staying at Rosette for now: "I'm not alone anymore."

With the help of an extension cord providing power to his CPAP machine, Joel Nieves is still living in a tiny shelter on a Rosette Street backyard — two months after the city ordered the power turned off for him and his unhoused neighbors.

In that same time, the Elicker administration has also offered Nieves a new, more permanent place to stay, along with security deposit help.

The problem for Nieves — which has led him to turn down that housing help — is that the replacement apartment is two towns away, in Branford.

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Puerto Rican "Trailblazer" Eulogized

by | Sep 6, 2024 3:56 pm | Comments (1)

Allan Appel Photo

At Cordova's funeral service Friday.

contributed photo

Celestino Cordova: Borinqueneer and community advocate.

Dedication to service for others, personal resiliency, and don’t forget those family pig roasts on local beaches beginning at 3 a.m. (It takes time to roast a whole pig.)

These were some of the values and memories evoked Friday morning at a solemn burial mass for Celestino Cordova, one of the New Haven Puerto Rican community’s true trailblazers.

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Candidate Commits To Community, Communication

by | Sep 5, 2024 3:40 pm | Comments (12)

Jabez Choi Photo

Miguel and Sandra Pittman, on the Hill campaign trail.

Shauna Williams-Smith had never been visited by a local politician before this week. She also didn’t know about the Board of Alders, let alone the special election to replace former Ward 3 Alder Ron Hurt later this month. 

But on Wednesday, Miguel Pittman showed up at her Stevens Street door to pitch his run for the neighborhood legislative role — and won a pledge of support from a Hill resident newly engaged with local politics.

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Addiction Anguish Heard On The Doors

by | Sep 3, 2024 10:34 am | Comments (17)

Laura Glesby photos

Ward 3 alder candidate Angel Hubbard kicks off the campaign launch: “I will never judge anyone for having an addiction. We do need programs.”

Rafael Rodriguez and Steven Fontanez (right) are working hard to help themselves and others out of addiction, as they told Hubbard, Valerie Boyd, and Justin Elicker.

Steven Fontanez is running out of time. He has only a few days left to stay at a sober housing program, and he hasn’t had luck finding an apartment.

Giselle Orosco is running out of patience. She’s tired of guessing whether the people who lie down outside her house are overdosing or merely asleep.

Angel Hubbard is running to be an alder for them both.

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"Jammin" Salmon Seasoned Straight From Jamaica

by | Aug 8, 2024 11:34 am | Comments (1)

Brian Slattery Photos

Damien Clarke sauteeing vegetables at Jammin Jamaican.

Salmon and chicken, en route to being served.

Damian Clarke, chef and owner of Jammin Jamaican Cuisine at 611 Washington Ave. in the Hill, set to work preparing a salmon entree that has become one of the restaurant’s more popular dishes.

First, he chopped peppers and onions into neat strips. He folded a bunch of scallions in half before dicing them, using both onions and salmon to maximize the flavor. Then he sliced some thyme for extra seasoning.

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Stolen Cop Car Crashed Into Church

by | Aug 7, 2024 10:42 am | Comments (21)

Dashboard video sound begins at 0:29. “Get your gun out!” shouts the driver to the cop. “Shoot!”

Open the door,” a 49-year-old man shouted at a police officer sitting in the passenger side of a parked cruiser on Congress Avenue. 

The man said he was being followed. He told the officer to get out of the car.

The officer unlocked the vehicle, tried to radio for help, and the man got in — and started driving.

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Alder Fired From Drug Rehab Job After Sexual Relationship With Patient

by | Jul 29, 2024 1:00 pm | Comments (32)

NATALIE KAINZ Photo

Hill Alder Ron Hurt: “It was a matter that happened with me personally. ... I don't think that was a power dynamic."

A rehab facility fired Alder Ron Hurt as a therapist after a months-long sexual and romantic relationship between him and a patient came to light.

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Electricity Turned Off At Tiny Shelters

by | Jul 18, 2024 6:43 pm | Comments (59)

Jabez Choi photo

Joel Nieves, next to his CPAP machine: “I feel safe right here."

Joel Nieves woke up in his tiny backyard home on Rosette Street Thursday morning and noticed the air was warm — too warm. 

At 9:24 a.m., at the Elicker administration’s behest, United Illuminating (UI) shut off the power to six pre-fab shelters, including the one that Nieves has been living out of. 

With the temperature rising and his air conditioner now off, Nieves immediately thought about his CPAP machine, which he uses to sleep at night.

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Standoff Escalates Over Tiny Shelters

by | Jul 16, 2024 5:54 pm | Comments (49)

Jabez Choi photos

Tiny home resident Joel Nieves at Rosette St. press conference: “Mr. Mayor, I say to you, am I not human? ”

Nieves, Godek, and Colville return city's cease-and-desist letter to City Hall.

(Updated) As a group of unhoused activists on Rosette Street held a press conference denouncing the city’s bid to shut down their backyard tiny homes, a state marshal arrived with a cease-and-desist letter from the Elicker administration — ordering the group to vacate the illegal” dwelling units in 24 hours.

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Kids Stay & Play; Parents Sit & Chat

by | Jul 15, 2024 8:41 am | Comments (2)

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Wilson Children's Librarian Michelle Ziogas: "I hope they come home from kindergarten and ask, ‘Can we go to the library?’”

And that’s Michelle,” said Wilson Library Branch Manager Meghan Currey. As you can see, she’s shaking out her sillies.”

Surrounded by six moms and their toddlers, Michelle Ziogas opened the Wilson Library’s weekly Stay and Play” in-person storytime in the same way she has since starting last July as the branch’s first children’s librarian in years.

That is, by singing along to a song, this week’s selection being Shake My Sillies Out” by children’s artist Raffi.

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Clinic-Pharmacy Hits The Road

by | Jul 10, 2024 5:28 pm | Comments (2)

Arthur Delot-Vilain photos

Stacey Cannon: Working to "overcome lack of trust" as a community health worker ...

... at New Haven's new mobile pharmacy-clinic.

A National Institute of Health (NIH)-funded mobile pharmacy van is taking to the streets of New Haven to provide clinical testing, prescriptions, and medical treatment to underserved communities — i.e. healthcare for everyone.”

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School Library Named For Local Legend

by | Jul 2, 2024 9:18 am | Comments (6)

Maya McFadden photos

Family gathered to celebrate library dedication honoring Hazel Pappas (pictured below).

Maya McFadden Photo

A mother, grandmother, sister, and advocate for thousands of young New Haveners — and for the broader public school community — will live on, through the newly dedicated Hazel B. Pappas Media Center at Roberto Clemente Leadership Academy. 

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Hill Plans For Future "Union Square"

by | Jun 24, 2024 12:37 pm | Comments (12)

Jabez Choi photo

Aura Soto: "We will make it a better place."

Thomas Breen photo

Former Church Street South, future Union Square.

Hill resident Aura Soto showed up with her two children to the latest planning meeting for the future of the former Church Street South site with concerns about neighborhood safety, and ideas about educational programs to keep the kids busy and out of trouble.”

She left feeling optimistic. With the help of the people,” Soto said, looking around at those gathered in the cafeteria of High School in the Community, we will make it a better place.”

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Drug Rehab Center Shuts Down

by | Jun 23, 2024 4:29 pm | Comments (15)

Paul Bass Photo

Retreat Behavioral Health on the Boulevard.

McFadden Photo

Facility boss Jarel Gallman: "Some financial struggles" came to light.

One of the city’s largest in-patient drug-rehab facilities abruptly closed its doors this weekend, with questions lingering about why and what comes next for its employees and recovering substance abusers.

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"BioCity" Classrooms Plan Advances

by | Jun 13, 2024 3:16 pm | Comments (9)

Laura Glesby Photo

Dev chief Piscitelli (right) with developer Winstanley: NHPS part of "ecosystem of growth."

City/NHPS Presentation

Laboratory and classroom space in 101 College designed for NHPS students.

Fifteen high school juniors from Hillhouse, Wilbur Cross, and Career have been selected to join cancer researchers and vaccine developers this fall in bringing to life a long-awaited College Street biotech hub.

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Theodosia Kept Pushing, & Reached Graduation

by | Jun 12, 2024 3:32 pm | Comments (2)

Maya McFadden photos

Theodosia Ross (center) with foster mother Arlene Wright, biological mother Tara Wills, and grandmother Christina Bradley.

Families swarm Parish Hall to watch Riverside students cross the stage.

Riverside Academy senior Theodosia Ross walked the stage to receive her high school diploma that, less than a week ago, she didn’t think she’d get — but she did, despite a long journey through foster care, not being motivated to attend school, losing her father, and battling depression. 

Ross was one of Riverside’s 12 graduating seniors who received their diplomas Tuesday afternoon. The class of 2024’s graduation, held at Betsy Ross’s Parish Hall on Kimberly Avenue, was a small but mighty one for New Haven’s last remaining alternative high school.

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