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Around Town
10th banquet
Westies Care, Inc., a recognized 501 (c) 3 charity is hosting its 10th Dinner, velebrating Education and Community on Sunday, May 19 at 5 at the Cielo Ballroom, 85 Chase Lane. The Class of 2019 includes Person Of The Year – John Lewis; Lifetime Community Service Awards will be given to Kathryn Gregory, Diane Milano, Teddi McKenna, Hilary Brentson, Paul Bronson and Paul Defonzo. The D’Andrea Group will be honored for Outstanding Leadership in Business. Student Honorees will be announce next week. Tickets are $35. Proceeds are donated to students awards and scholarships. To purchase tickets, become a sponsor or donate a raffle prize, contact Phil Liscio, (203) 494-6021, phil.liscio@westiescare.org.
Used Book Sale
The First Congregational church, 464 Campbell Ave., will host its monthly Used Book Sale and Clothes Closet on Saturday May 11, between 9-2. As always there will be a large selection of books, including many romances and children’s books in the basement and gently used clothing at ver low prices upstairs. For information, call (203) 933-6291.
Garden Clubs
The West Haven Garden Club will hold its monthly meeting on today (day change) at St. Louis Church on Bill Hill Road at 11:30 a.m. A luncheon will then follow and the program will be speaker Ray Sola, Beekeeper.
Bradley Point Garden Club of West Haven will hold its monthly luncheon followed by a craft workshop at noon on Tuesday, May 21, in the lower level of Ora Mason Library, 260 Benham Hill Road. New members are always welcome. Call Marie at (203) 878-8428.
Beach clean-up
Join volunteers from The Land Trust of West Haven to help with a beach clean-up on Saturday, May 11, from10 to noon. All interested individuals and civic groups are invited to help. Children are welcome if accompanied by an adult. Meet at the Park/Rec Activities Building on the Bike/Walk Path at Old Grove Park near Oak Street. Gloves and trash bags will be provided.
Annual luncheon
The Veterans Affairs Medical Center annual retirees luncheon is scheduled for Wednesday, May 8 – 11:30 at Lorenzo’s, 39 Elm St. Cost is $30 to be paid by April 30. Contact Elene Hanahan (203) 494-1092, ehanahan@aol.com or Elaine Schempp, Elaine.schempp@gmail.com.
President’s Ball
The West Haven Italian-American Civic Association will host its President’s Anniversary Ball with full dinner menu on Saturday, May 11, from 6-11 p.m. at the club, 85 Chase Lane. Menu incluedes NY strip, stuffed sole, or chicken marsala, with open bar and music. Tickets are $45 per person. For reservations call (203) 933-3367.
Summer theater
West Haven Summer Youth Theater, a division of West Haven Council on the Arts, in conjunction with Performance Plus/RVP Studios, 221 Bull Hill Lane, is offering summer theatre experience for youth ages 10-17. The program will run July 1 (except July 4-5) to Aug, 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (M-F) at RVP Studios. It will culminate in four performances of the classic Rock Musical Godspell 2012 Edition on Aug. 2-4.
Under the direction of Lara Morton with musical direction by Paul Scanlon, participants will receive expert instruction in acting, singing, and movement techniques required of all triple-threat, Broadway-bound performers.
Come to the Open House on April 28, 1-4 p.m. at Performance Plus at RVP Studios to find out more and meet the director and production team.
For more information & to sign up for the program: http://www.artswesthaven.org/
There is a $50 discount if enrolled by April 30.
Caregivers Workshops
The Agency on Aging of South Central CT is sponsoring a self-care education program for family caregivers, designed to provide you with tools and strategies to better handle the unique challenges you face. The free workshop series consists of six sessions held on Tuesdays, 1-3:30, April 30, May 7, 14, 21, 28 and June 4, held at the Agency on Aging of SCC at 117 Washington Ave, Suite 17, North Haven.
To register call or e-mail Jan Simmons at (203) 785-8533 x. 3162, jsimmons@aoascc.org. You can also register online at: www.aoascc.org/forms/ptc/.
Senior Center trips
Join the West Haven Senior Center for the following trip:
Wednesday, June 12 – The Good Speed Opera House “The Music Man” $99 per person enjoy lunch at the Gelston House, American bistro just steps from the Goodspeed. Bus leaves Savin Rock Conference Center 10 a.m. Departs Goodspeed approximately at 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 31– The Westchester Broadway Theatre “On Your Feet” enjoy lunch at the theatre before the show Cost $90 Bus leaves Savin Rock Conference Center 9 a.m. Departs Westchester approximately at 3:45 p.m.
A flyer with further details is available at the office at the West Haven Senior Center 201 Noble St. or you can call the Senior Center (203) 937-3507.
Shore Haven scholarships
The Shore Haven Junior Baseball League will be accepting scholarship applications for current high school seniors pursing further education. The league will be awarding three scholarships in the amounts of $250 in honor of Sal Arminio, Dave Terese, Sr., and Mario J.Argentino, plus the Joseph Morrell, Sr., Scholarship.
All applicants must have participated in the league for two years for the first three scholarships. Applications must be returned by May 15 to: Charles Gunning, 125 Central Ave., West Haven, 06516. For information can be obtained from area guidance offices or by calling (203) 934-9740.
Al-Anon group
An Al-Anon meeting group invites new members to attend its weekly meetings on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. in the First Lutheran Church, 52 George St. For information and details, call (203) 506-1464.
Student Loans
The Seth Haley Memorial Loan Fund of West Haven provides eligible college students with loans of up to $2500 to help students finish their post high school education.
Applicants must be West Haven residents who have completed two or more years of college or post-secondary work or be in their final two years of advanced work. Any West Haven resident attending college or a post high school professional, technical or trade school can be eligible for a loan. Repayments do not begin, and no interest will be charged until one year after graduation. If you are interested in making an application for a loan, please Gert Beckwith at (203) 934-6921, or Ralph Lawson, (203) 934-6442
Rain hampers Youth Soccer sked
For the third weekend in a row, Mother Nature left the fields of West Haven underwater, further delaying the start of the West Haven Youth Soccer League Rec season, but some of the travel teams were able to get games in. Saturday afternoon, the Elite Soccer Camps U-12 girls travel team visited Wallingford. The Westies fell, 5-2, in a tough game. The muddy field conditions and the aggressiveness of the Wallingford team forced the Westies to go down 3-0 by the half, despite several great saves my Etta Funke in the goal. The girls played better in the second half, moving the ball well and creating chances. Jaylyn Powell and Ciara Harp both scored, while Molly Gunning and Jaelyn Beauvais played well on the flanks. Adelicia Parise and Annabelle Pasacreta put in a solid effort defensively in the matchup.
The Gunning Law Firm U-12 boys took on Amity for a Wednesday night game for their first match of a rainy spring season. They looked rusty and had trouble playing on a wet field, but were able to get an early 1-0 lead. Amity countered and scored just before halftime. West Haven looked much sharper in the second half scoring two goals for a 3-1 win. Ethan Masoperh, Brian Cruz, and Bobby Severino all played great in the win.
The U-12 boys returned to action on Saturday taking on the U-13 Cheshire in the first 11v11 match of their careers. It was sunny, dry day and the boys looked good moving the ball around with ease. They used the whole field to their advantage and where able to get a 5-0 win. Ethan Masoperh picked up two goals, with Efrain Brown, Brian Cruz, and Gabe Locklear also scoring. Also playing well was Antonio Brown, Evan Amoro, and Matt Hunter.
The Rock House School of Music U-19 boys travel team traveled to Orange Sunday evening, and won, 4-0. The Westies opened the scoring in the first minute of the match, as Javier Yanez poked the ball past a diving Orange keeper. The game went back and forth until the Westies began to pull away. Derick Meza smashed a shot into the upper 90, and Yanez added his second goal of the match midway through the second half. Danny Morales rounded out the scoring. Holden Axelrod and Nash Noble combined for the shut-out. The Westies improved to 3-0-2, and will play in the First Round of the Connecticut Cup next Saturday, May 4, at 7 p.m. at Ken Strong Stadium.
The Top Hat Dance Academy U-19 girls travel team also played Sunday evening, hosting Southington. The Westies fell, 3-2, giving up a last-minute goal. Lauren Panza made several key plays as she anchored the defense, working with Jalen Chandler, Emma Konicki and Aerin Maclaughlin. Riley Collins and Madison Molster also worked hard. Julia Merola played goalie for the Rush, making some great saves to keep the game close. Jessica Robinson and Selena Izzo scored. CeCe Yanez, Sophia Gigliotti, Cori Severino, and Riley Severino all showed signs of brilliance with their passing and movement off the ball.
Westie Blue In Touch
West Haven base runner Chris Cavallaro (2) steals second in last week’s game at Piurek Field.
It was an interesting week of baseball for West Haven as the Westies were no-hit, pounded out 20 hits in a victory, then suffered a grueling loss to cap a three-day stretch.
The Westies opened the week with a 3-0 loss against Shelton at Piurek Field in West Haven Tuesday afternoon. The box score was easy to tell the result when Shelton came to town.
Shelton’s Anthony Steele needed just 89 pitches to no-hit the Westies, striking out eight and walking just one. Steele threw 58 pitches for strikes.
Steele’s effort was needed to defeat West Haven as pitcher Juan Contreras, who allowed one earned run on five hits, while walking three and striking out four, was nearly as good as Steele on the hill for the Westies.
For Steele, only a leadoff walk to Chris Cavallaro in the second, a hit by pitch to Tyler Jones in the third, and Mike Tonucci reaching on an error in the sixth prevented a perfect game.
The Westies snapped a five-game losing streak with a 20-0 thumping over Bassick Wednesday afternoon at Piurek Field. West Haven pounded out 20 hits in the win.
Hunter Axelrod led the offense with three hits and two runs scored, Kaden Morgillo had two hits, drove in two runs, and scored twice, Gianni Gambardella added a pair of hits and drove in a pair, while scoring once, Cavallaro had two hits and three runs batted in, while Tonucci scored twice and drove in four runs.
West Haven started strong and never looked back, scoring eight runs in the first inning, five more in the second, and seven in the third to cruise to the victory. Lorenzo Espinal and Kaden Morgillo combined on a no-hitter, with Espinal striking out five in two innings of work, and Morgillo striking out seven in three innings.
The Westies started quickly as Dom Cambino led off the game with a triple to right and scored when Tonucci followed with a homer to right. Contreras then doubled, scored on a pair of passed balls, and Cavallaro walked.
After Mike Boni hit into a fielder’s choice, Boni scored on a single by Gambardella for a 4-0 lead. Axelrod doubled to right to put a pair of runners in scoring position, before Morgillo singled to score Gambardella and put runners on the corners.
Axelrod scored on a single to right by Tyler Jones. With two runners in scoring position, Morgillo scored on a ground out by Tonucci, and Cambino scored later in the inning when Contreras reached on an error.
The Westies increased the lead to 13-0 in the second when Gambardella singled to score Boni, Jones reached on an error to score Espinal, and Cavallaro singled to score Cambino and Tonucci.
West Haven added seven more in the third. Morgillo singled to score Derek Baker, Branden Coggins doubled to score Axelrod and Morgillo, and Cavallaro singled in Jake Lentine for an 18-0 advantage.
The Westies kept the offense going against Xavier scoring three times in the first inning, but could not hold on in a 7-4 loss at Palmer Field in Middletown Thursday evening.
West Haven was held to just five hits in the contest and watched as the Falcons scored once in the second and took a 5-4 lead in the third inning with four more runs.
With one out in the first, Toniucci was hit by a pitch, Contreras singled and Cavallaro grounded out to put two runners in scoring position. Tonucci scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Boni, Contreras scored on a single by Gambardella, and Cavallaro scored on a single to center by Axelrod.
After West Haven failed to push across another run and trailing 5-4, Xavier added two more in the sixth to seal the victory.
Gambardella allowed five earned runs on 10 hits, while walking two and striking out three in five innings of work.
ND keeps winning
The Notre Dame spring sports teams continued their winning ways with three of the five teams having a winning week while baseball split its two games. Highlighting the week was track and golf sweeping their competitions while lacrosse won two of their three games.
Baseball — The baseball team scored in every inning but the first en route to their 10-4 win over East Haven at Quigley Stadium on April 25to salvage a 1-1 week. Tanner Belcher had three hits, one RBI and a run scored while Noah Ferrucci added a pair of hits and RBIs to pace a 12-hit attack. The 10-run support benefited Ryan Sullivan who pitched six strong innings to earn the win. He allowed one run on six hits while striking out four. The Green Knights stumbled to start the week losing a 4-3 game to Southington when the Blue Knights got a two-out RBI single from Andrew Paradis in the top of the seventh inning. Mariano had three hits, including his RBI triple, while driving in one and scoring a run for Notre Dame. Eddie Zanor, Jason Ostrowski, and Belcher all added hits for the Green Knights, who had eight hits for the game. Notre Dame, which qualified for the state tournament with the win over East Haven, was 8-2 entering this week’s slate of games.
Golf — Jake Ivan-Pal was meandering through his round with a few more bogeys that he would like. That all changed with three birdies over the final four holes to record a score of 37 to lead Notre Dame to an 11-stroke win over Hamden on April 23, 2018. Notre Dame, which had just lost to Hamden by three shots last Thursday, shot a team score of 157. Hamden fired a 168. Notre Dame added scores of 38 from Tommy Rosati and Jon Bushka. The Green Knights ended the week undefeated with a convincing win over Amity. Tommy Rosati fired an even-par 35 to lead Notre Dame to a 156-181 victory. Notre Dame’s other counting scores included: Jake Ivan-Pal with a 37 while Jon Bushka and both shot 42. The Green Knights are 7-1 (3-0) heading into an important week with matches against Fairfield Prep and Hamden.
Lacrosse — The lacrosse team ended the week with a pair of impressive road wins. The Green Knights scored nine of the final 11 goals to pull away from a 4-4 tie to a 13-6 win at Joel Barlow on Saturday, April 27. This was on the heels of a 9-7 win at Cheshire on April 24. Zachary Hochman paved the way with five goals against Barlow while Alex Hird recorded a hat trick against Cheshire. The Green Knights lone loss was a close 12-10 loss to Guilford on April 22 where Hochman also had five goals. Notre Dame ended the week with a 6-4 mark and needed one more win to qualify for the CIAC Class M state tournament.
Tennis — The tennis team went 1-2 on the week with the win coming over Career on April 24. That win sandwiched defeats to Guilford and Amity. Against Career, the Green Knights singles players dropped only five games in registering their wins. Oliver Shannon, Hunter Stenquist, and Matt Wickliffe registered those wins. In doubles action, Eric Hardy and Sai Vipparia and Alex Cruz and Connor Perry registered wins. Brendan Canning shined for the Green Knights in their two losses. He recorded a singles win over Guilford and teamed with Pranov Kuraganti in a doubles win over Amity.
Track — The track team continued its winning ways sweeping Branford and East Haven in an SCC dual-meet on April 24. The Green Knights won 12 of the 18 events in comfortable wins over both teams. Notre Dame beat East Haven 122-28 and Branford 100-50. Warren Murphy ‘19 and Carlos Aurora were multiple winners. Murphy won the 200 and 400 meters and was on the 4×400 relay winning team. Aurora won the 100 meters and ran the opening leg of the winning 54×100 relay event. The Green Knights then earned seven medals at the Bristol Invitational on April 27, 2019. Murphy won the 400-meter event again while the 4×100 relay team placed second. Jason Sawicki added a third-place finish in the high jump. The track team is 6-1 entering the week.
You can get all the latest athletic news, scores, and more by following @NDWHAthletics on Twitter, Instagram, and Periscope while frieNDing the @NDWHAthletics Facebook group
Westies top Lancers, 8-5 in lax victory
The West Haven boys’ lacrosse team opened its week with an 8-5 victory over the Notre Dame of Fairfield Lancers in a rainy Ken Strong Stadium on Monday evening. The Blue Devils were slow out of the gate, allowing the Lancers to take a 2-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Westies finally got on the board at 9:12 of the second quarter on a goal by Connor Fowler and then Fowler again seven minutes later to tie the game at 2-2. The Lancers responded 30 seconds later to take a 3-2 lead into halftime.
Notre Dame opened the scoring in the second half, taking a 4-2 just 4:47 in, before the Westies were able to mount some offense reeling off the next, six goals. Niko Kyle scored with 5:24 left in the third quarter, Justin Rivera tied the game with 1:50 left in the quarter and then Rich Wadeka gave the Blue Devils their first lead of the night with 48.8 seconds left in the third quarter.
The boys continued to put on the pressure and Connor Fowler notched his third goal of the game just ten seconds into the final quarter to make it 6-4. Tyler Moscato scored 44 seconds later and then Justin Rivera found the back of the net with 6:24 remaining to increase the lead to 8-4. The Lancers were able to get one back with 4:51 left but Kevin Moriarty, who made 22 saves between the pipes, preserved the victory.
On Wednesday evening, the boys traveled to Milford to take on the Foran Lions. The Blue Devils led 3-2 at halftime and then outscored the Lions 4-0 in the second half for the 7-2 victory. After Foran took a 1-0 lead at 7:52 of the first quarter, the Westies responded 51 seconds later on a goal by Justin Rivera set up by Niko Kyle. Foran grabbed a 2-1 lead with 5:22 left in the quarter but then it was all Blue Devils, who scored six, unanswered goals. Rich Wadeka scored eight seconds later to tie the game at 2-2. In the second quarter, Niko Kyle gave the Westies a 3-2 lead with 1:27 left in the half assisted by Rivera.
In the second half, it was more West Haven. Nick Zaino increased the lead to 4-2 with 1:17 left in the third quarter and then Connor Fowler scored with 20 seconds left to make it 5-2, with Wadeka picking up assists on both goals. Kyle made it 6-2, assisted by Wadeka 36 seconds into the fourth quarter and then Wadeka set up Rivera for his second goal to cap the scoring with 7:10 left in the game. Kevin Moriarty made 46 saves in between the pipes for the Westies.
On Saturday morning, the Blue Devils jumped all over the Windsor Warriors at Ken Strong Stadium, scoring seven goals in the first quarter on their way to a 10-0 victory to improve their record to 7-2 on the season. Tyler Moscato got things going with a goal just 32 seconds into the game and then Connor Fowler scored goals at 10:13, 8:49 and 8:10 to give the boys a 4-0 lead. Shane Taulty scored 38 seconds later to increase the lead to 5-0 and then Andrew Newkirk made it 6-0 58 seconds later. Taulty tallied again with 2:54 left in the first quarter for the 7-0 lead.
The Blue Devils played keep away for the rest of the way and tacked on three, additional goals. Tyler Moscato made it 8-0 with 6:32 left in the quarter and Nick Zaino scored with 2:42 left in the half to increase the lead to 9-0. Terell Williams scored with 40.6 seconds left in the third quarter for the 10-0 final. Kevin Moriarty made two saves before being replaced by Anthony Campagnuolo with 1:55 left in the half and he went on to make two, additional saves to preserve the shutout victory.
This week, the boys entertained the Wilbur Cross Governors on Monday, traveled to Milford again on Wednesday and faced the Jonathan Law Eagles before finishing the week on Saturday with a trip to Watertown for a game with the Indians at 6:45.
The softball team traveled to Shelton on Tuesday afternoon looking to extend its undefeated season to ten games. After falling behind 2-0 in the first inning, the girls battled back to defeat the Gaels, 11-4. Kailey Carrano went 4 for 5, including her 100th hit of her career. In the third inning, down 2-0 the Westies rallied when Morgan Peryer singled, Ashlynn O’Keefe reached on an error and Lynn reached on an error to score Peryer. Carrano doubled to center to score O’Keefe and Lynn for a 3-2 lead. The Blue Devils picked up another run in the fourth when Paige Beurer scored on a Peryer single. In the fifth inning, Carrano picked up her 100th hit and came around to score on a Kasey Marron single to take a 5-2 lead. The Westies put the game away, putting up three runs in the sixth and seventh innings for the 11-4 win. Peryer finished with four hits and two RBIs, Veronica Lynn had two hits and three runs scored while Ivy Santos went the distance again in the circle to pick up her 10th win and helped herself with two hits and a RBI.
On Wednesday evening, the girls hosted the Hamden Green Dragons at Frank Biondi Field. The Westies scored two in the first inning when Morgan Peryer singled and after a steal of second and a passed ball, scored on a sacrifice fly by Ashlynn O’Keefe. Veronica Lynn then walked and scored on a double by Kailey Carrano. The girls increased the lead to 3-0 in the second when O’Keefe singled and scored on a double by Lynn. In a huge play in the top of the third, Hamden had runners at first and third with one out and the Westies were able to turn a beautiful double-play from Paige Beurer to Lynn and on to Kasey Marron to end the inning and keep the Dragons off the board.
The Blue Devils picked up two, more runs in the fifth inning. Carrano doubled off the top of the wall in center and scored on a single by Marron, who then came around to score on a single by Paige Beurer. After Hamden was able to score in the top of the sixth to cut the lead to 5-1, The Westies left the Green Dragons on the field, scoring eight runs to get a mercy-rule ended 13-1 victory. O’Keefe walked and scored on Carrano’s line drive home run to left to make it 7-1. Ivy Santos then walked, Marron singled, Beurer singled to score Santos, Gigi Perkins singled, Peryer tripled, O’Keefe reached on an error and Carrano doubled to left to leave the Dragons on the field. Santos pitched a complete game allowing one unearned run on two hits while striking out nine Dragons to help the Westies improve to 11-0.
This week, the girls hosted Jonathan Law on Monday, host the Shelton Gaels on Thursday at 7 and finish the week with a trip to Madison on Saturday to face the Hand Tigers at noon.
The girls’ lacrosse team battled with the Amity Spartans on Tuesday evening at Ken Strong Stadium. Keegan Riccio gave the Westies an early 1-0 lead with a goal just 1:21 into the contest but the Spartans had an answer 2:03 later to knot the game 1-1. Amity scored again to take a 2-1 lead with 5:42 left in the half.
In the second half, the Spartans appeared to take a 3-1 lead just 3:18 in but the goal was taken away due to an illegal stick. In a huge momentum swing, the Blue Devils struck eight seconds later on a goal by Keegan Riccio, her second of the game to tie the game 2-2. Unfortunately for the Westies, momentum was reversed as the Spartans scored the next, six goals to take an 8-2 lead with 5:08 remaining in the game. Angela Borelli was able to get one back for the Blue Devils with 1:30 left for the 8-3 final. Nicole Gaston finished with 16 saves in goal for West Haven.
The girls traveled to Wallingford on Thursday afternoon to take on the Lyman Hall Trojans. The Blue Devils took an early 1-0 lead when CC Condon scored with 18:35 left in the first half. The Trojans responded with a goal to tie the game 2:21 later and then took a 2-1 lead with 29.4 seconds left in the half. Lyman Hall scored three, more times in the first 10 minutes of the second half to take a 5-1 lead. Olyvia O’Mara scored for West Haven with 2:05 left in the game to cut the lead to 5-2 but the Trojans responded 23 seconds later to make it 6-2 before Taylor Nowak scored with 1:12 left for the 6-3 final. Nicole Gaston made 12 saves in the net for the Westies.
This week, the girls went to Hamden on Monday and face the Trumbull Eagles in Ken Strong Stadium on Thursday at 6:30.
The baseball team took on the Shelton Gaels on Tuesday afternoon at Piurek Field. J.C. Contreras allowed only three runs on five hits but, the Westie bats were silenced as Shelton sophomore Anthony Steele tossed a no-hitter in the 3-0 defeat of the Blue Devils.
On Wednesday, the Westies hosted the Bassick Lions and pounded out 23 hits to crush the Lions 20-0 in a mercy-rule shortened 5-inning victory. Lorenzo Espinal and Kaden Morgillo combined to throw a shutout against Bassick, allowing only one hit. The Blue Devils scored eight runs in the first inning, five more in the second and another seven runs in the third to pull away from the Lions.
On Thursday evening, the Westies traveled to Palmer Field in Middletown and lost to the Xavier Falcons, 7-4. This week, the boys hosted the Hand Tigers on Monday, traveled to Hamden on Wednesday to battle the Green Dragons and finish the week with a double header against the Career Panthers at Piurek Field on Friday at 4 and 7.
The boys’ tennis team suffered a 7-0 defeat on Tuesday afternoon at Amity. The doubles pairing of Jason Ramirez and Lucien Zheng put up a good match before falling, 6-1, 4-6, 10-6.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Westies battled with the Jonathan Law Eagles in Milford and came up just short, 4-3. Joseph Delgado won, 6-0, 6-1 in singles action while Nash Noble/Riyad Al-Bakri won, 7-5, 6-3, and Jason Ramirez/Lucien Zheng won, 7-5, 6-4 in doubles play.
This week, the boys hosted Notre Dame of West Haven on Monday, visited Xavier on Tuesday, play at Wilbur Cross on Thursday at 3:45 and finish the week hosting the Fairfield Prep Jesuits on Friday at 3:45.
The girls’ tennis team lost 5-2 to the Shelton Gaels on Tuesday afternoon at the Painter Park Courts. Skylar Serenson won, 6-1, 6-1 and Kiara Walker won, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5 in singles action for the Blue Devil wins.
On Wednesday afternoon, the girls bounced back with a 6-1 victory over the Career Panthers. In singles play, Sophia Lora won, 6-0, 6-0, Skylar Serenson won, 6-0, 6-0, Kiara Walker won, 6-0, 6-1 and Savannah Lopez won, 6-1, 6-1. In doubles, Shea Clarke/Arianna Nguyen were victorious, 6-0, 6-0 and Megan Mendoza/Kaitlyn Campos won, 6-4, 6-3.
On Thursday afternoon at the Painter Park Courts, the Blue Devils defeated the Platt Tech Panthers 6-1. This week, the girls visited Platt Tech on Monday, went to Wallingford on Tuesday to take on the Sheehan Titans and end the week with a trip to Hamden to face the Green Dragons on Friday at 3:45.
Library’s Bailie juggles services with budget cuts
By Josh LaBella
Voice Reporter
Colleen Bailie leads the library system as executive director during a time when the library has seen yearly cuts and is struggling to not exceed its budget.
Bailie started out her career in information technology but decided to study librarianship after she realized she did not want to work in technology for the rest of her career. She said she got her start working in libraries by working in IT for the West Haven system.
“When I first got here I started looking at the computers,” said Bailie. “A lot of the computers hadn’t been updated in quite a few years. We didn’t have wireless yet. So I brought that in during that time. The website was really outdated. It was about 10 to 15 years old; so I updated that.”
Bailie said she started in West Haven about 10 years ago as the department head for tech services. According to Bailie, the connection she found between IT and library services is helping people. She said she also had always had love of literacy and reading.
The director said she got her master’s in library science from Southern Connecticut State University. She said she decided to work at a public library opposed to an academic library because she was able to do a lot more.
“The staff is a lot smaller,” said Bailie, “So, you’re not as confined to one spot. I kind of like that aspect.”
Bailie has worn many hats at the West Haven Library, saying she has worked in most positions. She said her favorite aspect of the job will always be the people.
“I like the fact that you get to immediately help people,” said Bailie, providing an example. “When someone comes in to use our computers in the reference room and you show them how to upload pictures of their grandkids on their Facebook account, that’s something that is an immediate help and they walk out with a good feeling. To me that’s what we’re here for.”
When the position of director came available, Bailie said she decided to take a shot at it. She says during her three-year tenure in the job she has enjoyed “steering the ship” and thinks they have come a long way. Still, she said budget cuts have made it difficult.
“Despite the fact that we’ve had to cut our hours and materials budget every single year, we have seen an increase in people coming into the library,” said Bailie. “There is a need for a vibrant library in town. First and foremost we are here for the patrons.”
Bailie said staffing is the biggest piece of their budget and if their funding keeps getting cut they will need to have less hours. She said sometimes scheduling can be like a jigsaw puzzle; trying to put the right people in the right places. When they have to change hours, Bailie said they try and be cognizant of how it will affect their patrons.
If she did not have to worry about the budget, Bailie said they would try and restructure the buildings to make more room for people as well as adding more chairs and tables. She also said they want to keep their book collection relevant and add a dedicated teen space.
“Bringing in more computers is also something I’d like to look at,” said Bailie. “I would love to do more programming as well but we can only do so much with the budget that we have.”
Bailie said books are a small piece of what libraries provide as they cover everything from helping people fill out resumes to looking up medical terms.
As far as the budget, Bailie said they are near the limit. She said they are in the process of looking at different types of fundraisers to raise money.
“We need one really good fundraiser, that we can hopefully make an annual event,” she said. But we haven’t stumbled upon it yet.”
As Bailie sees it, she is doing her best to keep up the staff’s morale. She said the library is not going anywhere, but the current system may change.
Tree planting marks Arbor Day
By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the voice
Throwing ceremonial shovels of dirt, Mayor Nancy R. Rossi and Tree Commission members dedicated the planting of an eastern redbud on the east lawn of City Hall in observance of West Haven’s Arbor Day celebration Friday.
Accompanying Rossi for the annual tree planting were members of the newly revived commission, including current member Moshe Cohen and new member Rosemary Beloin.
The Tree Commission, which has not met since 2016, was reactivated by the mayor with the appointment of Beloin and three other new members — John Haas, Robert Marra and Michelle Matteo — at the City Council meeting April 22.
All four had served on the commission in the past and have agreed to work with Rossi to bring back the promotion and preservation of healthy trees for the benefit of the community. They join Cohen to round out the five-member commission.
Also attending the afternoon event were mayoral Executive Assistant Lou Esposito, tree warden Leo Kelly and city tree contractor Bob Herrington, owner of Herrington & Sons Tree Specialists LLC.
Rossi marked the special occasion, held on the Campbell side of City Hall near Main Street, by reading a mayoral proclamation declaring Arbor Day in West Haven.
Rossi, who huddled under an umbrella held by Esposito amid the wind-blown rain, said the redbud tree species, native to eastern North America, “is commonly planted as an ornamental in public areas because of its showy pink flowers and heart-shaped leaves.”
She added: “Trees reduce the erosion of topsoil by wind and water, cut heating and cooling costs, moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce life-giving oxygen, and provide habitat for life. Trees, wherever they are planted, are a source of joy and spiritual renewal.”
Rossi said the commission also plans to work with Kelly to improve West Haven’s Tree Management Plan and tree inventory process, along with implementing a sustainable and safe treescape in the heart of downtown.
Arbor Day was founded in 1872 by Julius Sterling Morton in Nebraska City, Nebraska.
By the 1920s, each state had enacted public laws mandating an Arbor Day observance. The customary observance is to plant a tree.
On the first Arbor Day, April 10, 1872, more than 1 million trees were planted.
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Historian’s corner
Long Wharf
We speak of it, we hear of it, but what do we actually know about it? Today when we drive along the I-95 corridor, we see signs referring to a place called Long Wharf, but we see no such structure projecting out into New Haven Harbor. What was it? Where was it?
Throughout most of New Haven’s history, the coastal, China, and West Indies trade accounted for most of its maritime activity. For its first two centuries, New Haven’s basic resource was the port, and the appearance of its shoreline has changed repeatedly over the centuries, reflecting the changing needs of the populace.
It was the winter of 1637 when seven men–the advance guard for Rev. Davenport and Theophilius Eaton’s boatload of religious pioneers—sailed up the West Creek (now buried under the Oak Street Connector), and spent their first nights camped on the spot more recently occupied by the New Haven Coliseum. In the years that followed, the shoreline would move further and further from the original Nine Squares.
As early as 1644, the construction of a wharf was proposed, and every male between the ages of sixteen and sixty was asked to donate four days of work to this important undertaking. By 1736, the main wharf–Long Wharf–extended about four hundred feet into the harbor; as the years went by, it was continuously lengthened. The base of the wharf was at a spot that is very near to where the seven men had camped, and the Coliseum has stood. In 1810-11, William Lanson, a black man, oversaw construction of fifteen hundred more feet of wharf, bringing it to its maximum length: thirty-five hundred feet.
By now, the wharf was lined with bustling warehouses and shops, and ships could load and unload at all tide levels. Clustered near Long Wharf were maritime-related businesses, along with stores, mills, banks, and other shops.
In 1836, the bed of the now-defunct Farmington Canal was lined with railroad tracks that extended north and south across Connecticut, and down the bed of East Creek, and then out onto a dock that ran parallel to Long Wharf. This arrangement streamlined the transfer of goods between rail car and ocean vessel.
The late 1800s saw the advent of pleasure travel by steam vessel; regular routes ran from New York to New Haven, and from New Haven to Savin Rock and Lighthouse Point. This trend would not last, however: by 1920, regular New York-New Haven steamboat service had been discontinued.
By the mid-1900s, the wooden expanse of Long Wharf was but a memory and the harbor continued its endless change. After World War II, the harbor was deepened to allow larger and larger ships to enter. The dredged material, approximately seven million cubic yards of mud, was used to fill in the harbor’s head, and the harbor’s west shore was extended nearly one mile east. This created the land that now supports I-95, Long Wharf Drive and Sargent Drive, and the Maritime Center. In recent decades, the shape of the harbor was changed considerably, to ease the increased passage of automobile traffic.
Would those original seven men who camped on East Creek through the winter of 1637 recognize their “new haven” today? Would they approve of its new look? We can only wonder.
Gripevine
Dear Eleanore Turkington:
There are lot of holes on the road from the bridge to West Spring Street on Stevens Avenue. Can you help those of us who drive our cars here to get this area repaired?
NF, Stevens Street
Dear NF, Stevens Street:
I contacted Councilman Mitchell L. Gallignano who oversees your district and asked him to investigate the condition of Stevens Avenue. According to Councilman Gallignano, “I have spoken to the commissioner of public works and he informed me that Stevens Avenue is going to be paved this spring/summer from York Street to West Spring Street.”
Dear Eleanore Turkington:
The pot holes on 500 Derby Avenue are atrocious. Can they be fixed?
OB, Derby Avenue
Dear OB, Derby Avenue:
Councilman Peter Massaro received your gripe and here is his reply, “For everyone’s information, Derby Avenue is a state road.”
Gripe Vine Readers:
By next week’s column, I should have the results from the State of Connecticut’s Department of Transportation regarding the condition of 500 Derby Ave. and what DOT is going to do about it.
Dear Eleanore Turkington:
There is a pot hole on Ardale, Dix and Eaton Streets that need repair. These are on the ends of each street. Can someone look into these please?”
LE, Eaton Street
Dear LE Eaton Street:
I placed your complaint with Councilwoman Robbin Hamilton who indicated “I have forwarded this information to the commissioner of Public Works. Many pot holes in the 5th district have been identified and are on the “need to be filled list.Thank you for bringing this to my attention.”
Gripe Vine Readers:
In last week’s column, I printed a letter from an individual who has been complaining about a decayed tree in front of her home. The letter writer indicated she has been trying to get this tree removed for some time.
Here is some good news for the letter writer, “Rotten Tree”: I was able to reach Councilwoman Tracy Morrissey for assistance with this complaint. Here is what Councilman Morrissey said in her reply to Gripe Vine, “I spoke a few times with Tom McCarthy, Public Works Director for the City of West Haven regarding the rotten tree on Sharon Street. I have been informed due to the tree having some life, it will be posted as soon as possible by Leo Kelly and then will be eligible for removal ten days later by Harrington Tree Service. I hope this helps clarify the situation of the rotten tree on Sharon Street. “
My personal thanks to the West Haven councilwomen and councilmen who have taken the opportunity to provide West Haven Voice Readers responses to their complaints and issues, that you care about their city as much as they do.
You can send your complaints, issues and comments to gripevine4wh@aol.com Please include your name, address and phone number kept strictly confidential with me. If you prefer, you can mail your gripes, using the coupon that is run next to my column. Send it to Gripe Vine c/o West Haven Voice, 666 Savin Ave. You can also submit through the online form.