West Haven Voice

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted an increase in food requests for the West Haven Emergency Assistance Taskforce (WHEAT). Many families saw breadwinners go on hiatus due to the pandemic.

Capacity visitors trekked with members of the West Haven Historical Society Walking Tour, narrated by President Jon Purmont over the weekend, to visit the location of the former Oak Hill Seminary for Women. “Seminary” meant school at the time. The seminary property extended from Savin Avenue to the hill on present-day Church St. The three story structure was built on the hill facing Savin Avenue. Shown here: Church St - two 1870 houses and the former Johnson farmhouse, known as the Oak Hill Dairy. The structures were erected after the seminary closed in 1870. The former seminary building was destroyed by fire in 1896. The morning and afternoon tours were at capacity with 15 participants each. Other reservation requests were turned away including a family of five. The participants were very engaged and surprised about the history of the area.

Capacity visitors trekked with members of the West Haven Historical Society Walking Tour, narrated by President Jon Purmont over the weekend, to visit the location of the former Oak Hill Seminary for Women. “Seminary” meant school at the time. The seminary property extended from Savin Avenue to the hill on present-day Church St. The three story structure was built on the hill facing Savin Avenue. Shown here: Savin Avenue, corner of Church St -- 1900 James Peck House. The former seminary building was destroyed by fire in 1896. The morning and afternoon tours were at capacity with 15 participants each. Other reservation requests were turned away including a family of five. The participants were very engaged and surprised about the history of the area.

Mayor Nancy R. Rossi and Public Works Commissioner Tom J. McCarthy look over plans as a crew from ALZ Construction of Marshfield, Mass., finishes installing the new playground at Forest Elementary School on Sept. 16. The powder-coated steel playscape, manufactured by BCI Burke Co. of Fond du Lac, Wis., is equipped with stainless steel hardware and molded plastic apparatus for children to play on, including a slide, tom-tom drums and a small rock wall Financed with a $100,000 state grant, the playground is also outfitted with a pair of tire swings and park benches and a poured-in-place rubber surface for added safety. Rossi said the Forest PTA had requested a playground for many years, adding that PTA President Carrie Malangone was the driving force behind the project, along with state Rep. Michael A. DiMassa (D-116), who represents the district that includes the Allingtown school.

The New Haven Green as it looked around the 1840s in an artist’s rendering. The three churches, Trinity, Center and United, as well as the Statehouse that stood behind Center Church can be seen. New Haven was the co-capital of Connecticut until 1875. The building was eventually razed with no trace of it found today.

Branch Manager Aisha Banks packs up her office.

Village Improvement Association board member Curtis Hodgkins works on getting furniture ready for the move.

Library Director Colleen Bailie gives direction to the staff, volunteers and Public Works crew.

Public Works crew helped with the first phase getting furniture out of Piantino and moving it to Ora Mason. The second phase will be to move the book collection from Piantino to the Main Library.

Public Works Commissioner Tom J. McCarthy, left, and Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, center, on Sept. 17 receive a guided tour of the Hubbard Nature and Education Center in West Shore by Councilman Barry Lee Cohen, second from left, and Steven Johnstone, the lead sponsor of the park’s revitalization and president of the Hubbard Family Association. A ribbon-cutting was set for Sept. 29. Under the direction of Johnstone, the Hubbard Road park has been closed for renovations since mid-April. During this time, businesses and residents around the community have come together to support the revitalization by providing essential goods, services and labor, said Cohen (R-10). Neighbors, including a dedicated core of Hubbard family and friends, have generously participated in many cleanups to transform the 7.6-acre park.

West Haven Public Works Commissioner Tom J. McCarthy, left, and Mayor Nancy R. Rossi look on as a crew from Laydon Industries LLC of New Haven works to widen the existing truck apron at the Oyster River roundabout Sept. 15. The work is part of a state Department of Transportation project to upgrade the roundabout at Jones Hill Road and Ocean Avenue

Mayor Nancy R. Rossi cuts the ribbon with, from left, city recreation program coordinator Tom Conroy, city sidewalk inspector Ernie Chiarelli and Parks and Recreation Commission Chairman David Coyle on Sept. 23 to mark the grand reopening of the newly refurbished basketball courts in Veterans Memorial Park on Bull Hill Lane. The two all-weather courts, part of the former federal Nike site property, received a new asphalt surface painted in blue and white, the city’s official colors, bordered by a lighter shade of blue. New LED lighting, benches and fencing were also installed, and the existing fencing was upgraded to a vinyl-coated chain-link material, Paine said. The $49,500 project, overseen by Conroy and Chiarelli, was done by Spring Street-based Hinding Tennis and paid for by a state Local Capital Improvement Program grant.

The two all-weather courts, part of the former federal Nike site property, received a new asphalt surface painted in blue and white, the city’s official colors, bordered by a lighter shade of blue. New LED lighting, benches and fencing were also installed, and the existing fencing was upgraded to a vinyl-coated chain-link material, Paine said. The $49,500 project, overseen by Conroy and Chiarelli, was done by Spring Street-based Hinding Tennis and paid for by a state Local Capital Improvement Program grant. Shown here are the courts before the renovations project.

The two all-weather courts, part of the former federal Nike site property, received a new asphalt surface painted in blue and white, the city’s official colors, bordered by a lighter shade of blue. New LED lighting, benches and fencing were also installed, and the existing fencing was upgraded to a vinyl-coated chain-link material, Paine said. The $49,500 project, overseen by Conroy and Chiarelli, was done by Spring Street-based Hinding Tennis and paid for by a state Local Capital Improvement Program grant.

Sean Studley of the West Haven Peewee A team rushes up ice, closely watched by a defender, during action last weekend.