City and school leaders and state officials throw shovels of dirt Tuesday afternoon to mark the symbolic groundbreaking of the city’s new $129.9 million, state-of-the-art West Haven High School at 1 McDonough Plaza. From left, state Sen. Gayle Slossberg, D-Milford, state Rep. Dorinda Borer, D-West Haven, Mayor Edward M. O’Brien, Superintendent of Schools Neil C. Cavallaro, Board of Education Chairman James W. Morrissey, West Haven High School Building Committee Chairman William Sapienza, committee Vice Chairman Richard Shea, committee Secretary and West Haven High Principal Pamela B. Gardner, Antinozzi Associates President Paul Antinozzi, and David O’Brien, Sumedha Chowdhury and Julia Walker, student representatives to the B of E.
Beecher & Bennett sell city parlor
Beecher & Bennett Executive Director Arthur Erickson announced this week the funeral service is selling its Campbell Avenue location to a developer, ending a 49-year relationship with the city. Beecher & Bennett bought the Seth Taylor Funeral home in 1968. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.
Editorial cartoon
Home makeover
From left, Mayor Edward M. O’Brien, contractor Anthony Cordone and Planning and Development Commissioner Joseph A. Riccio Jr. on Monday stand in front of a Cape Cod-style house at 43 Linden St. that Cordone recently refurbished, an example of the unique partnership between the city and local contractors to improve West Haven’s aging housing stock. Four years ago, the city foreclosed on the single-family home as well as a single-family home at 41 Harold St. that contractor Brian Banning has since remodeled. After assuming ownership of the severely blighted homes, the city put the properties out to bid, with Cordone obtaining the Linden Street bid for $52,000 and Banning securing the Harold Street bid for $55,000. Cordone and Banning, known for building single-family homes in West Haven, then gutted the houses, giving them an extensive interior and exterior makeover — complete with such modern amenities as granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, hardwood flooring, and vinyl siding and windows.
Bowl-athon raises funds
Connie Cappiello, back center, joins participants of the city’s playground camp July 27 at the Woodlawn Duckpin Bowling Alley, 240 Platt Ave. The sixth annual duckpin bowl-athon, held July 26-27, was sponsored by the Department of Parks and Recreation’s playground camp program in memory of Cappiello’s son, former employee Ed Cappiello, Jr., and former employee Valerie DeFonzo-Withington, who died of long-term illnesses. West Haven’s six playground sites participated in the benefit and raised $1,200 for scholarship funds in Cappiello’s and Withington’s names.
Getting season ready
Ken Strong Stadium was an active place this week with high school players getting ready for their season openers. But, before that can happen, there’s practice, practice and more practice. Voice photog Russ McCreven was around the stadium this week and caught the West Haven High frosh putting in some plays at their home turf.
Getting season ready
Ken Strong Stadium was an active place this week with high school players getting ready for their season openers. But, before that can happen, there’s practice, practice and more practice. The West Haven Soccer Camp, sponsored by the Blue Devils’ soccer team put kids through their paces, with agility drills, honing their skills for youth soccer games set to start in a few weeks.
Preseason workout
Members of the West Haven Greys soccer team had a spirited workout over the weekend at Pagel’s Field on Benham Hill Road. The senior team is getting ready for its season at the school facility.
It's in the footwork!
This up and coming Westie frosh player just got a handoff and is mastering his footwork. High school teams have begun practice for the fall season, getting the final double-session days in before school starts next week.
'The Atwood' opens in Allingtown
Mayor Edward M. O’Brien, holding a pair of oversize scissors, cuts the ceremonial ribbon Aug. 17 with, from left, Acorn Group founder David A. Beckerman, Svigals & Partners managing partner Jay Brotman, Acorn Vice President Gary S. Letendre, state Rep. Michael A. DiMassa, D-West Haven, and city Planning and Development Commissioner Joseph A. Riccio, Jr. to mark the grand opening of Acorn’s The Atwood, an $18 million apartment and commercial development at 222 Boston Post Road.
