Citizen Contributions

W. Square Cherry Blossom
Festival Ready To Bloom

by | Apr 4, 2011 1:09 pm | Comments (2)

Ben Koizim Photo

A tree at the peak of last year’s bloom.

The Cherry Blossom Festival has been a part of Wooster Square for 38 years. This celebration of spring commemorates the planting of 72 Yoshino Japanese cherry blossom trees in 1973 by the New Haven Historic Commission in cooperation with the New Haven Parks Department.

The festival has grown from a modest event with a local band entertaining a handful of neighbors under lighted trees to a major New Haven-wide event, drawing over 700 visitors last year.

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Festival Ready To Bloom’

Fifth-Graders
Earn "Mutt-i-grees"

by | Mar 22, 2011 11:45 am | Comments (6)

Marsha Rabe Photo

Dana Mozell and Channelle Fuentes with Zipper.

On a recent Monday morning, Channelle Fuentes, a fifth-grader at St. Martin de Porres Academy, was afraid of dogs — actually petrified,” said her school’s president, Allison Rivera. The following Friday afternoon, standing in a sunny parking lot in Southbury, she was calmly, even nonchalantly, stroking the head of a small black dog named Zipper.

I learned not to be afraid,” said Channelle (at right in the picture above). Sometimes dogs are scared because they were abused. Most dogs are really nice.”

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Earn "Mutt-i-grees"’

Can Newhallville Become
A "Promise Land"?

by | Mar 1, 2011 2:46 pm | Comments (16)

Andy Ross Photo

Michael Jefferson.

We cannot do it alone,” said New Haven Police Chief Frank Limon, referring to his police department’s ongoing efforts to reduce crime in Newhallville. Only with the involvement of the community, the businesses, and the churches are we going to be able
to stop crime – and equally important, sustain crime reduction.”

His comments came during a meeting of 75 Newhallville stakeholders who convened last Tuesday night to find ways to curb a disturbing wave of violence.

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A "Promise Land"?’

A New Co-Working Option

by | Feb 25, 2011 12:00 pm | Comments (10)

David Sepulveda Photos

Day or night, the building is a hub of activity.

Bourse” is French for stock exchange,” but the image of harried, maniacal traders is the antithesis of what the owners of the new downtown business had in mind when they chose the moniker.

The Bourse,” said New Haven architect and co-business owner Robert Orr, was inspired by the early days of the Paris Stock Exchange; a place where people could find support as well as funding, and most importantly, a place where new ideas could be exchanged and find footing.”

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Psychedelic Snow-asaurus
Invades West Rock Avenue

by | Jan 31, 2011 12:25 pm | Comments (23)

Kara Sepulveda Photo

Though it remained hard to see over the mounds of snow lining my street, speculation about the about the big green creature sprawled across my Westville lawn was not in short supply. Is it a dragon, a dinosaur? How was it painted?

A small boy with his sister and mother gave a thumbs up as he authoritatively asserted, It’s a Stegosaurus.” Period.

Another passerby said she was happy to see that it’s a vegetarian” after spying sprigs of pachysandra dangling from the creature’s mouth.

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Invades West Rock Avenue’

Herb Turner, “Quiet Hero”

by | Jan 17, 2011 1:07 pm | Comments (15)

Jack Paulishen Photo

She was one of those quiet heroes that we have all across America. They’re not famous. Their names are not in newspapers, but each and every day they work hard. They aren’t seeking the limelight. All they try to do is just do the right thing.”
—President Obama remembering grandmother Madelyn Dunham.

At 6:30 a.m., I’m shoveling the mound of snow pushed in front of my driveway so I can go meet Herb Turner. There is no way this guy is going to be there,” I thought to myself. We just got 20 inches, the streets are barely passable, it’s 20 degrees out, and he’s 79 years old!”

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PAC Ends With School Gift

by | Jan 13, 2011 11:55 am | Comments (0)

Left to right: Kim Coppola, Pres. St. Bernadette’s School, Principal Sherry Steines, St. Bernadette’s School, Me presenting the check to the Principal (Susan Campion, Co-treasurer “Democrats for a New Vision”, Nick Colavolpe, Co-Treasurer of PAC presenting check to Lucia Paolella, Principal Nathan Hale School, Rosa Rodriguez, Acting Pres. Nathan Hale School, and Father Carter, Pastor of Saint Bernadette’s parish. Not in the picture but present, Sal DeCola, Vice- Pres. School and Church Council, St. Bernadette’s parish.

East Shore Democrat Susan Campion sent in this write-up about the final charitable donation of her Political Action Committee.

The Democrats for a New Vision” PAC’s co-treasurers’ Susan Campion and Nick Colavolpe today announced a new community enrichment action sponsored by the PAC. To celebrate 2011, the PAC dispersed its remaining funds with $500 contributions to the Nathan Hale PTO and the Saint Bernadette PTO on Monday, Jan. 10 at Nathan Hale School.

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Cove As Beauty Trove

by | Jan 8, 2011 7:36 pm | Comments (2)

Susan Debarcher and Moira Cotlier-Cassell sent these snow-tos of Morris Cove in this weekend’s storm. Cotlier-Cassell’s are specifically of Black Rock Fort. Michelle Reynard sent pics from East Rock; Cedar Hill Resident offered an indoor view of her fun” in the snow. Phyllis Gamm was on the Green. (Send us your photos of the storm .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address); click here to see readers’ photos from the last one.)

Susan Debarcher Photos

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Screeech!

by | Dec 30, 2010 4:27 pm | Comments (28)

Thomas MacMillan File Photo

Independent reader Rebecca Turcio, aka Cedar Hill Resident, sent in this opinion piece about a recent encounter with a hard-to-see pedestrian.

New Haven is on the road to becoming more pedestrian friendly. I love the bike lanes and pedestrian signs in the road. I love seeing traffic moving slower in our communities. But most of all I love to see the proactive involvement of communities. More people on bikes and on foot only benefit this city and its businesses.

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W. River Welcomes Holiday

by | Dec 23, 2010 11:00 am | Comments (5)

Paula Panzarella sent in the following report. She and John Fitzpatrick contributed the photos.

Saturday, Dec. 18, the annual West River Holiday Party, sponsored by the West River Neighborhood Services Corporation, was held at Berger Apartments, 135 Derby Ave. There were about 250 adults and children converging in the community room and solarium for crafts, face-painting, food, music and free toys.

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Job Corps Helps ELF

by | Dec 23, 2010 4:57 am | Comments (0)

Pedro Galarza, Facilities Maintenance student, and Kyterrua Wells, C.N.A. student, helping out at the Hartford Armory.

Jacqueline Solimini of the New Haven Job Corps Center sent in this write-up about a recent toy collection effort.

As part of Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s task force and holiday initiative, New Haven Job Corps Center (NHJCC) students and staff partnered with the staff of of the state Department of Labor (DOL) to collect toys for Operation ELF (an acronym for Embracing Lonely Families). The purpose of the drive is to distribute toys statewide to the families of deployed service people. On Tuesday, two students, Kyterrua Wells, C.N.A., and Pedro Galarza, Facilities Maintenance, delivered hundreds of donated toys collected under this partnership to the Hartford Armory. We were granted special clearance and special passes from Gov.Rell to drive the toys inside the upper level of the Armory — over hardwood floors — and then to tour the Armory and visit with personnel.

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Local Author “Presses Pause”

by | Dec 16, 2010 7:43 am | Comments (6)

David Sepulveda Photo

Author and editor Anne Witkavitch, a former Westville resident who still has family ties to the area and currently lives in Bethany, will be reading selections from her recently published anthology, Press Pause Moments: Essays about Life Transitions by Women Writers“Pya and other holiday-themed works at Deja Brew Café, 763 Edgewood Ave., on Sunday, Dec. 19, from 12 to 3 p.m.

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2nd Graders Fill Food Pantry

by | Dec 9, 2010 6:00 am | Comments (0)

Parent Chaperones and 2nd graders from Ezra Academy get ready to fill their shopping carts with groceries for the JFS Food Pantry.

Harriet Friedman sent in this write-up and these photos about recent food-drive activity benefiting the Jewish Family Services food pantry on Whalley Ave.

At 8:30 am Tuesday morning, 24 second-graders from Ezra Academy, eight parent chaperones and two teachers descended upon New Haven’s Stop and Shop supermarket with $800 to spend and only 45 minutes in which to fill their shopping carts.

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"Promised Land"
Sought In Newhallville

by | Dec 3, 2010 2:34 am | Comments (3)

Andy Ross Photo

Officer Shafiq Abdussabur (left) and Asst. Chief Thomas Wheeler

Removing violence from our community was the theme of last weekend’s fifth annual Brotherhood Leadership Summit, held at The Newhallville Community Center on Dixwell Avenue in New Haven. The Brotherhood Leadership Program is organized by the Christian Community Commission (CCC) under the direction of Executive Director Minister Donald Morris. The CCC is a Newhallville-based outreach organization comprised primarily of pastors and other community leaders from area congregations. CCC programs include youth mentoring, family counseling and fatherhood ministries.

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Sought In Newhallville’

Studio 607 Heads
West, As Salon LuLu

by | Nov 26, 2010 3:34 pm | Comments (2)

The longstanding Wooster Square business Studio 607, a full service hair and skin salon, is moving three blocks west to 839 Chapel St. – into the English Building. As part of the change owners Thomas and Sami Angelini will also give it a new name, Salon Lulu, which was inspired by their daughter Luciana – also known as Lulu.” (She’s shown here with her father Thom getting the first clip.)

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West, As Salon LuLu’

3 LEAP To Distinction

by | Nov 12, 2010 4:01 pm | Comments (1)

Pictured left to right: Gordon and Shelley Geballe, Louise Endel, Che Dawson, Erik Clemons (Executive Director), Rita Berkson (Chair of Board of Directors).

Lisa Scrofani of local non-profit Leadership, Education, and Athletics in Partnership (LEAP) sent in this photo and write-up about a recent awards ceremony held by the organization. The group honored several LEAPers of Distinction”: Louise Endel, Gordan & Shelley Geballe, and Che Dawson.

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Banking 101 &
A Stitch In Time

by | Nov 2, 2010 12:29 pm | Comments (0)

Thelma Ragsdale sent in this write-up about a mentoring program for girls in Dixwell and Newhallville:

The mentees at the Dixwell/Newhallville Girl’s Mentoring Program were engaged and excited after participating in Banking 101 and a Sewing lesson from two dynamic community leaders: Lynn Smith of START Community Bank and Vivian Fripp Elbert of Village of POWER of the Cornell Scott Hill Health Corporation.

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A Stitch In Time’

Book Lovers Unite

by | Oct 29, 2010 7:45 am | Comments (0)

Contributed Photos

Library Board Members Claudia Merson, Yale’s Michael Morand and the Community Foundation For Greater New Haven’s Will Ginsberg listen to New Haven Mayor John DeStefano.

New Haven Public Library communications director Kathie Hurley sent in the following writeup about a recent fundraiser.

The power of myth to hurt and/or heal was one of the main ingredients mixed throughout three presentations at the Patrons of New Haven Public Library’s annual Book Lover’s Luncheon held on Wednesday, October 20. As Roberto González Echevarría, Carlos Eire and Gustavo Pérez Firmat explored Myths about Cuba”, the Union League Café audience who attended the fundraising luncheon to support New Haven Free Public Library, was visibly engaged.

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Bring On The Noise

by | Aug 10, 2010 11:25 am | Comments (31)

Eva Landau.

Driving down College Street, my car packed with groceries, I noticed for the third day this week there were no legitimate parking spaces available. Not wanting to add to my costly history of finding bright orange tickets on my windshield, I pulled the car into the parking garage and balanced six bags of food up and down my arms and set off for the Taft Apartments.

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