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The week in photos – December 12, 2019
Around Town
GOP holiday party
The West Haven Republican Town Committee is hosting a Holiday Party on Wednesday, Dec. 19 at Johnny’s Grille from 6-9. Price is $15 per person, cash bar. Those attending are asked to bring food items for WHEAT or a toy to help the WHHS Peer Advocates with their toy drive. Chef Jeff, from West End Bistro, will be preparing the delicious food.
Christmas Eve breakfast
First Congregational Church of West Haven (on the Green) is hosting a Christmas Eve breakfast from 9 am to 11 on Christmas Eve. All are welcome to join us. For more information please contact Kirsten at kvargo@fccwesthaven.org
Breakfast with Santa
First Lutheran Church is sponsoring Breakfast with Santa at the church, 52 George St, on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 9-12.There will be activities and photos with Santa. Tickets available at door For more info, call Kyla (203) 859-2088
Christmas celebration
New Life Church located at 255 Jones Hill Road. invite you and your children (ages 5-10) to its first Christmas Celebration on Dec. 14, from 10-1:15.The Christmas Celebration will include: Decorating of gingerbread houses, 10:15-10:55; Reading of Christmas story, 11-11:15; Candy Cane Craft, 11:20-11:40; Snack time of Christmas cookies and juice, 11:45-12:10; Story of the Birth of Jesus & a gift for the Children, 12:15-1:15.Please RSVP, (203) 934-3022. Please leave your name, phone, and the number of children. A confirmation reply will be made. An adult must be present with the child during the festivities. An adult area with coffee, tea and cookies will be available during the activities, but adults are welcome to stay with the children.
OHS shop open
The Orange Historical Society is opened every Saturday with the antique shop and museum. New and interesting items arrive weekly for those special occasions. Holiday items are also available. Avoid the long lines at the mall and shop at 605 Orange Center Road from 10-3. If you like vintage dolls, this is your place. For information, call (203) 795-3106.
Atlantic City trip
F. Seniors and Friends are running a trip to Atlantic City on Jan. 6-8, at Resorts Casino. Cost of the trip is doubles, $235; triples, $229, single, $319. Four meals, two shows and slot play included. Reservation must be with a deposit is $50 person with final payment due Nov. 29. Call Fred Morgillo, (203) 389-5808, or (203) 927-4249.
Coin Show
The Liberty Coin Club of West Haven, organized in1962, will host a Coin Show on Sunday, Dec. 15, at the Elks Club, 265 Main St., from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free. Anyone with an interest in buying, selling or collecting coins, or with questions about coins, is welcome to attend. Expert dealers and collectors will be on hand.
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 call Ralph Lawson, (203) 934-6442.
Panthers upend Blue Devils
West Haven Girls Basketball continued its junior division schedule with the Bruins and Panthers remaining unbeaten through three games.
The Chuck’s Garage Panthers upended the Prospect Fish and Game Blue Devils, 22-4, as Kylie Gibbons, Jaearrah Mitchell and Hayden Holm erupted for 10 first-quarter points. Jaceianna Mitchell and Aleyia Lachance also scored for the Panthers. The Blue Devils were led by the play of Annause Costello and Timyra Rodgers.
The Emmett’s Auto Bruins, used eight points from Amare Bennett and four points from Jada Turner, downed the TBNG Eagles, 16-8, to remain unbeaten. Samantha Boyd and Sarah Went also scored for the Bruins. Perez Rosario, Hailey Locus, Jayda Ciliberti and Ava Sorbo led the offense for the Eagles.
The Gunning Law Huskies got a combined 20 points from Taryn Walker and Ella McDonnell.in their 30-12 win over the Oyster River Cardinals. Katie Mondo scored six points and Finley Gunning and Jazzlyn Arrington also scored in the win for the Huskies. Cristel Miguel scored six points and Peyton Davis, Cali Zeigler and Ava Oshomah accounted for the Cardinals scoring.
Ice Jamboree set for Friday
West Haven High School’s boys’ hockey team is sponsoring its annual Jackie Coyle Jamboree on Friday night at the Edward L. Bennett Rink, beginning at 6:30.
Four teams are included in the round-robin format, which will pit each team in four 20-minute periods. The schedule calls for:
Game 1 – West Haven vs ND;
Game 2- West Haven vs Amity;
Game 3- ND vs Fairfield Warde;
Game 4- Amity vs Fairfield Warde.
Mite C skaters pick up first win
The West Haven Mite C team picked up its first win of its young, inaugural season with a thrilling come-from-behind victory over the Wallingford Mite C’s in Northfard, Saturday morning. Logan Minio picked up a hat trick, with Ben Trenchard getting assists on Minio’s first two goals.
Julius Stokes, Evan Harrison and Joey Mondo broke up several Wallingford plays in front of the Westie net, helping protect goalie Tony Parise, who had several key saves in the game. Brady Salkins and Jax Guarino worked hard on both sides of the puck, getting it forward to create chances and back checking to play defense. Kyle Johnson also scored twice late in the game to spark the comeback for the West Haven Mite C’s.
The West Haven Peewee A travel hockey team dropped both of its games this weekend and fell to 12-11-0 in CHC play. The Westies lost to Greater New Haven A, 7-1, and Ridgefield A, 3-2.
On Saturday afternoon at the Northford Ice Pavilion, the GNH Warriors and Blue Devils skated evenly for two periods. GNH scored in the first period for a 1-0 lead. The score remained 1-0 through the second period as the Westies killed off multiple penalties including a 5-on-3 disadvantage. Goaltender Jacob Silva made several clutch saves.
The Warriors went up 2-0 when the puck deflected off a Westies’ skate early in the third. West Haven got right back into the game with a power play goal two minutes later. Matt Kelly passed to Alex Bowery who quickly found Ronnie Mastroni. The winger put a great move on a defenseman and then wristed a shot over the goalie to make it 2-1. Penalties proved too costly down the stretch as GNH scored three power play goals and pulled away. Silva was valiant with 25 saves.
On Sunday morning at Edward L. Bennett Rink, the Westies hosted Ridgefield. The teams skated to a scoreless tie into the second period when Ridgefield took a 1-0 lead on a 4-on-3 power play goal.
The Blue Devils responded early in the third period. Sean Studley worked the puck up the boards and centered to Alex Bowery who slid it through the five hole to tie it at 1-1. Ridgefield then scored a power play goal and a short-handed goal within a minute of each other to go up 3-1.
Connor Moriarty got the Westies within a score when he fired a shot off the goalie and in for a power play tally with six minutes left in the game. West Haven could not muster the equalizer in the final minutes. Greg Galasso made 17 saves in net for the Westies.
The West Haven Peewee AA travel hockey team traveled to Red Bank Armory in New Jersey to face the Red Bank Generals AA on Saturday and played to a 2-2 tie.
Nick Salzano broke up a pass off the stick of a General sending it to Nick Eberhart who went the rest of the way before beating the goalie with a wrister for a 1-0 lead halfway through the first period. The Generals took the lead in the second period, going up 2-1 over the Devils.
Late in the second period, Brody DiNuzzo picked off a pass in the defensive zone before going the distance, beating the goalie with his backhand and knotting the game at 2-2.
The game ended in a 2-2 tie in regulation as would the Devils 18-game winning streak. Nate Kempton and Tyler Donroe gave up a goal each, but were outstanding in net making numerous saves.
On Sunday, the team hosted Mass Outlaws at Bennett Rink in the final EJEPL game of the season for the Devils and posted a 12-0 victory. DiNuzzo provided what would be the game winner just 13 seconds into the game after picking up a loose puck in the neutral zone and beating the goalie on a wrister unassisted. John Donohue finished with a hat trick and two assists. Nick Salzano had a hat trick as well. DiNuzzo finished with two goals, two assists, Mascari had two goals and one assist, Gabe Locklear and Tim Donohue had one goal and two assists each. Nicky Stevens had a pair of assists, Connor Benz and Beckett Stenz each had an assist. Thomas Porto and Eberhart played well and Jack Aloi was outstanding on defense. Nate Kempton and Donroe combined for the shutout.
Peewee AA team finished the EJ regular season with a record of 15-1, and outscored opponents, 98-22.
The West Haven Bantam A travel hockey team posted a win and a tie this weekend. The Westies opened the week with a 5-2 victory over Central at the Edward L. Bennett Rink Saturday morning. Cam Delvecchio led the way with three goals and an assist.
West Haven took a 3-0 lead in the first period and never looked back.
Jayden Spreyer scored an unassisted goal 2:52 into the contest, before Delvecchio scored off assists from Spreyer and Josh Gyolai 1:10 later. Delvecchio increased the lead to three goals off an assist from Spreyer with 5:56 left in the period.
Leading by two goals, West Haven increased the margin to 4-1 when Mickey Dowd scored off assists from Michael Madera and Delvecchio, who also added a goal with 56 seconds remaining in the contest.
Bryan Hong was once again solid in goal, making numerous saves behind the defense of Haygen Axelrod, Jason Alling, Gyolai, and Matt Stevens.
Dante Hardt, Will Giaquinto and Kyle Droney also played well in the contest.West Haven battled back from a 3-1 deficit to post a 4-4 tie against Greenwich Skate Club at Dorothy Hammill Rink Sunday afternoon.
Even at three, Dowd scored off assists from Alling and Delvecchio for a 4-3 advantage, before Greenwich rallied to tie the contest.
The West Haven Bantam B travel hockey team had a win and a tie this weekend.
On Saturday, the team traveled to Westminster to play Simsbury and posted a 7-0 victory.
Ashley Welch started the scoring for the Westies 29 seconds into the game on a pass from Zack Fonda. Yousaf Ullah (Danny Johnson assisted), Alex Kurowski (unassisted) and Carson Lee (Ullah assisted) extended the lead by the end of the first period.
Matty Wright, off an assist from Cody Rocchio, and Fonda, off an assist from Welch, added goals in the second period.
Welch connected from Fonda in the third to end the scoring and seal the 7-0 shutout win for Austin Fruin and the Westies.
On Sunday, the Westies faced off against the Greenwich Skating club at Bennett Rink and played to a 5-5 tie.
The Westies fell behind by two goals early in the first period but tied the game on goals from Max Ginsberg (Taylor Alfano assisted) and Yousaf Ullah (unassisted). West Haven then gave up two more goals before the end of the first period.
Rocchio picked up a rebound off Fonda’s shot to get the Westies within one goal. Wright scored an unassisted goal to tie the game up in the first minute of the third period.
Yousaf Ullah (unassisted) add the go-ahead goal minutes later, but Greenwich would tie the game.
The West Haven Squirt A travel hockey team fell 7-2 to Greenwich Skating Club A at Bennett Rink on Saturday.
The Blue Devils played solid on defense in the opening period, limiting Greenwich to one goal in the first 10 minutes until the Wings scored with 1:53 left to take a 2-0 lead. The Westies pulled within one at 0:54 of the first, when center Grady Schulte drained a shot in front of the net on a play set up by forwards Aedan Guarino and Cameren Lipford.
In the second, the Blue Devils continued to skate hard and pressure the Wings, with goaltender Alex Werle’s quick glove and stick keeping the Westies in the game. The gritty style of play paid off. At 7:04 of the period, Lipford picked up the loose puck in the Greenwich zone, deked a defender and toe-dragged it by another defender before firing a wrist shot high to the blocker side to tie it 2-2.
After a promising period and a half for the Blue Devils, the Wings took over and went on to score four unanswered goals in the second and one in the third to put the contest out of reach.
Werle made 28 saves for the Westies.
Wizards topple Watertown, 471-201
The West Haven Wizards swim team won its second meet of the season against the Watertown Warriors convincingly by a score of 471-201. Wizards are now 2-0 on the season.
The Wizards started out strong by winning first place in nearly all age groups in the medley relays. However, it was in the individual events that the Wizard swimmers showed their strength, speed and persistence. There were many close races and best time throughout the meet, but most impressive were the 11 events, where the Wizards swept first, second and third place.
For the 9/10 boys100-yard freestyle, CJ Sutton, Daniel Orozco and Ethan Burgard took the top spots and in the very next event, the 11/12 trio of Lucas Vital, Marco Ayala and AJ Meglio beat out the Warriors for the top spots in their 100-yard freestyle. Next, the 15-and-over girls took the top spots in consecutive events. The 100-yard butterfly was led by Kaelyn Falanga, Madison Hobart and Katherine Ayala and the 200-yard freestyle by Falanga, Jillian Goldbeck and Hannah Rascoll.
The 9/10 boys came back to the blocks for the 50-yard backstroke where Sutton, Aiden Giannettino and Xander Wight won the event, followed by the 13/14 girl’s trio of Kaleigh Morton, Lauren Blake and Adriana Giachino doing the same in the 100-yard backstroke.
Next up were the Individual medley events. For the 9/10 boys, Daniel Orozco, Ray Listorti and Wight led the field in the 100-yard individual medley, 13/14 girls; Kaleigh Morton, Christina Ayala and Giachino finishing as the top three in their 200-yard individual medley and the 15 & over girls finished strong with Kaya Vital, Molly Wilson and Alana Orecchio taking all three top spots.
Closing out the individual events, the 9/10 boy’s trio of Sutton, Burgard and Sean Fitzpatrick finished on top in the 50 yard-freestyle followed by Aarya Mulmi, Carli Cassone and Lia Hey sprinting to finish on top in the 11/12 girls 50-yard freestyle.
The Wizard’s next meet will be Saturday at home against the Madison Marlins. For more information on the West Haven Wizards please visit our website at www.westhavenwizards.org.
Mariano heading to Radford in the fall
The Notre Dame baseball program has a history of its players achieving their dream of playing at the next level.
The latest in a long list of baseball alumni playing at the Division I collegiate level made it official today when Maxwell Mariano ‘20 (Meriden, CT) inked his letter of intent to play at Radford University next season. Mariano signed his LOI in the Team Room at Notre Dame, enjoying the moment with family, friends, and coaches.
Mariano chose Radford over Seton Hall, Bryant and South Carolina Upstate. He is now looking forward to his senior season this spring before heading south for his college career.
Mariano said, “Radford was the final choice for a lot of reasons, but mainly because it is in a nice location and I loved the facilities and coaches. I also thought it was a perfect academic fit for me.”
Radford is located in Radford, Virginia and plays out of the Big South Conference. Last year, the Highlanders went 30-27 overall and finished second with a 19-8 record in conference games. They reached the third round of the Big South Championships.
Mariano, an all-State selection as a junior last season, has helped the Green Knights to a 37-32 record in his three years as a varsity starter for head coach Donald Martone ‘87.
Martone said, “The main thing about Max is that I have watched him mature as a freshman starter to a captain. The maturation process as a player has been a metamorphosis as a I have watched him grow to become a role model for our program and it’s not because he can hit the ball out of the park. It’s the little things like sprinting out of the box to second base on a ball to the outfield and on and off the field.”
Martone added, “Max certainly has the skills to play at a high level. He has all the tools to be successful at the Division I level, the most important of which is his mental approach and love of the game. Those attributes will allow him to flourish once he gets on campus because he will be challenged every practice, every pitch, and every game.”
As a junior in the spring of 2019, Mariano led the team in seven offensive categories. He hit .357 with 30 hits on the season, including three doubles, four triples, and two home runs, all of which led the team.
His biggest swing of the spring last season came against Daniel Hand in the quarterfinal round. His two-run homer proved to be the difference in an eventual 7-3 Green Knight win. Mariano struck out only six times in 97 plate appearances. He also scored 25 runs and collected 12 RBIs. The team lost 8-3 to Berlin in the semifinal round of the Class L tournament.
Over his career, Mariano has played in 59 games, which includes missing the later part of his freshman season due to an injury. He has 60 career hits, 44 runs scored, and 38 RBIs heading into his senior campaign.
Notre Dame will begin preparing for its spring season when practice starts on Saturday, March 21.
Libero sees the city’s potential
Pat Libero seems potential in the city and has put her money where her mouth is, working in various capacities to bring out that potential. She is shown with her grandchildren Evan and Mia Capozzi.
By Josh LaBella
Voice Reporter
As a teacher, principal, justice of the peace, Board of Education member and chairman of the Republican Town Committee, Pat Libero has dedicated her life to public service. She said she sees the potential of the city.
Libero, who was born and raised in West Haven, said she went to Southern after graduating from Lauralton Hall in Milford. She studied special education as well as eventually getting her master’s and sixth-year degree there.
“I started at Pagels and taught there for 27 years,” said Libero. “I did a lot of different things when I was there. I loved the school. I loved the community. I was like the teacher in charge. I ran meetings and covered classes. So, it’s not like I stayed in my little special ed circle.”
In between having her first and second child, Libero said she went back to school to get her administrative degree as she wanted to be a principal. She got her first job as principal in 2001 at Bailey Middle school. Eighteen months later, she was hired to be assistant principal at the high school.
“Then I went to Carrigan for five years as principal,” said Libero. “I went to Mackrille for my last year.”
The former principal said in all her roles she found it important to listen to students and their parents. Libero retired in 2011 and said she has had a different job every year. She is hoping to work in Southern’s school of education starting in January.
It was in 2011 that Libero was elected to the Board of Education. She said she wanted to take her experience as an educator and continue to work to improve the quality of West Havens school system.
“I guess I just wanted to stay involved,” said Libero. “I think when you go from being a teacher to a principal or assistant principal it’s a whole different perspective of things you didn’t know.”
Libero said being an administrator and then a board member allowed her to see the reasoning behind big policy decisions that teachers have to carry out. She said one issue she now has a greater understanding of the budget process for the board of education.
As she just won reelection to the board this November, Libero said she hopes they can hire a grant writer and a public relations specialist for the school system. She said the former can help them gain additional funding for the schools while the latter can keep the parents of West Haven students informed on the day-to-day news or important breaking stories, which she thinks is important.
She also said she hopes the board can work on reintroducing introductory courses in sewing, cooking, woodwork and other shop classes in pre-high school curriculums.
Libero had been a longtime member of the RTC when she decided to run for the chairman position. She said she was encouraged to run by outgoing chair and former mayoral candidate Michele Gregorio as well as State Representative Charles Ferraro.
The past election was a “bit of a learning curve” for the party. Libero said they learned a lot about fundraising. They also had a primary, which was rare for the republicans of West Haven.
“Instead of unifying us, the primaries have had the opposite effect,” said Libero. “I think we need to sit down as a group and decide what direction we are going in as well as redefine what our goals are.”
Libero said it can be hard for people not to take things personally in local level politics. According to her, it is important that they not “burn bridges” with the people they live with.
The issues the party is going through just come with the territory of the growth and change they are experiencing, said the chairwoman. She said mistakes are going to be made and it is on her and others to mitigate them and continue forward.
According to Libero, there is ample opportunity for development in the city. She said there are a lot of people with good ideas that could spark improvement who are turned off by the “inner circle politics” that create barriers to entering the space. She described the issue as something that needed to be addressed.
Libero said she is very proud of the school system and the city of West Haven, even if it makes her “crazy sometimes.” She said when push comes to shove, Westies pull together and support one another.
Historian’s Corner
Y2K, The Year 2000
By Dan Shine
Voice Columnist
Any child who grew up in the 1950s or 1960s will remember a popular cartoon program about a family known as The Jetsons. The Jetson family reflected the vision that most of us believed would become reality by The Year 2000 and beyond. Naturally, George Jetson, his wife Jane, their two children and their dog Astro tooled through the air in an aerocar, since surface transportation had become outmoded. George worked two hours a day, and Jane had a robot named Rosie who handled the housework.
The Boy watched The Jetsons every Sunday night during 1962 and 1963, and after that on Saturday mornings as it went into reruns. He had no doubt that this was his future.
But life doesn’t always work out as we plan. By 1999 there were no aerocars in existence, except for Doc Brown’s DeLorean, as featured in that iconic movie from 1985, Back to the Future. As The Year 2000 approached, the world had much uncertainty to worry about, including end-of-the world predictions, and the lesser fear of the Y2K Virus, which we believed might shut down computer operations, taking with it our utilities, communication, everything.
Newspaper headlines and magazine covers in 1999 had much to say, including: The day the earth will stand still; All banks will fail; Food supplies will be depleted; Electricity will be cut off; The stock market will crash; Vehicles using computer chips will stop dead; Telephones will cease to function; Domino effect will cause a worldwide depression; Nostradamus Predictions for 2000.
And so it was that the cautious New Haven Register for Jan. 1, 2000 was actually delivered to newsstands and newspaper carriers before sundown on New Year’s Eve. And as parties and celebrations began, the world waited and watched with some degree of trepidation.
And of course, Jan.1, 2000 came and went with it no real calamities or inconveniences. And since that day twenty years have passed, bringing new problems and new fears to replace the old ones. And along with those passing years has come a whole new generation of young adults who have no memories of Y2K. Or even of The Jetsons.
Tax bills go out Jan. 1
By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
The second installment of city tax bills — real estate, personal property, motor vehicle and sewer — are due Jan. 1.
The 2018 supplemental motor vehicle bills are in the process of being mailed for vehicles registered after Oct. 1, 2018, and are also due Jan. 1.
Payments after Feb. 3 are considered delinquent and subject to interest, Tax Collector Dorothy Chambrelli said.
The tax office is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays on the first floor of City Hall, 355 Main St. The city has an ATM outside the office.
Taxpayers can make a payment at www.cityofwesthaven.com and clicking on Tax Collector under the Government heading. Sewer bills are on the same page but under a separate heading. Tax payment history can also be viewed and printed.
The fees for credit cards and electronic checks are posted on the city website and outside the tax office.
During tax season, Dec. 23-Feb. 3, current taxes can be paid by the drop box outside the tax office from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Current taxes can also be paid by mail to the tax office lockbox, P.O. Box 150461, Hartford 06115-0461. When paying by lockbox or drop box, the canceled check is the receipt.
After Feb. 3, taxes with interest can be paid by mail to the Office of the Tax Collector, P.O. Box 401, West Haven 06516. Payments can also be made in person.
Anyone needing a motor vehicle clearance must pay in person with cash, credit card, bank check or money order.