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Around Town

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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.

Historian’s Corner

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Y2K, The Year 2000

Books and pamphlets on surviving the Y@K disaster became a cottage industry in the year leading up to 2000. In the end, it was all a big dud.

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.

Gripevine

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Residents are dumping trash in the area near the I-95 bridge on Stevens Avenue. City crews were called in to take care of the problem, which is ongoing.

Dear Gripe Vine Readers:

I have received complaints concerning this illegal dumping and have sent them out to the affected councilmen. No results: I thought I would like you to read the following  notes and look at these photos.

Dear  Eleanore Turkington:

This is what Stevens Ave near the VA looks like quite frequently. Unfortunately it is private property without any lighting or fence to deter It from happening.

I would like to thank the public works crew that cleaned all that trash, furniture, multiple sets of tires up on Saturday Nov 30th! They did a great job! So thanks!  

Stevens Avenue Resident

My thanks to the Public Works Department and a special note to the dumpers who leave their trash here- Please keep this neighborhood clean!

Ed. Note: Eleanore Turkington was under the weather last week, and sent this over as her column. We hope she feels better by the time this hits the streets.

Dear Felicia

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It look as if we’re gonna have a bit o’ the white stuff on the ground by the time yew git this missive, honey bunch. Whilst we’ve had two big days o’ rain – someone said about two inches were expected – it looks like it’s gonna git cold quick and about 3 inches o’ snow are expected. That’s a good thing, Cobina likes snow at this time o’ the year.

Here in the berg, things are settling into the pre-Christmas lull. It’s always been my suspicion that the politicos try to get on the “good” list just before the holidays, whilst making the “naughty” list the rest o’ the year. I guess nobody wants the Jolly Ole Elf to put coal in their stocking. Soooo, each year things slow down jest a tad.

Last week the Bored of Ed and the City Council had their chairman elections, and it looks like a famous political name is back in the news. This time, the chairman of the BOE is a Tallamelli. Over the years, the name, going back to old Will Tallamelli, has been a political force in the area, mostly in the second districk from whence it hailed. They were part o’ the Johnson strain of the party in the old days – Freddie Johnson. Of course, Wayne was chairman of the party for a looooong stretch.

I guess, according to Sammy Bluejay, with the sweep o’ the Rossi wing o’ the party into party – like I said, we can’t call it the Picard faction anymore – they wanted one o’ the ir own in the chairmanship, and Rosemary Russo isn’t one o’ their team. Everyone knew going in what was gonna happen, and the usual posturing came about.

We’ve seen these things before. The people making the biggest bellyache about Russo losing the chairmanship and what a great job she did (which she did) would have thrown over a supporter of any other faction effen the show was on the other foot, make no mistake about it. So the feigned outrage was jest a bit hard to take.

Meanwhile, over in the City Council, Sammy sez that things went on perty much as expected. Ron Quagliani was re-elected chairman of the council. He attempts to stay outta the factionalism, and seems to keep things on the straight and narrow. The last council session, though it had one or two hiccups, was probably the least contentious two years we’ve seen in some time.

That ain’t to say the next two years are gonna be a piece of cake. This berg has a way of making simple things hard, and hard things unbearable, politically speaking. The Haven projeck is gonna be coming up for scrutiny in the next little while, and it should be interesting to see how that progresses through what legislative hurdles are left. Stay tuned.

~~~

Nelly Nuthatch was by t’other afternoon, and said that whilst Ed Granfield has been chomping at the bit waiting for something to happen with the Charter Revision and its going before the voters, something, in fact, did happen. Nelly sez that a question was put together by the barristers that work for the city, and that, though it is filled with the legal-ese that one would expeck in setch a thing, the thing feared most ain’t gonna transpire.

The chairman and John Carrano, his Democratic counterpart, were worried that the barristers were gonna do damage when the question came out, and maybe even succumb to the politicos attempts to make it a multiple-question ballot. Whilst the barrister were against that, yew know how politics plays around here.

Tennyrate, the question that will go to the voters will be single and it will be an up or down vote. That is a good thing. Just reminding yew, the big fear was that pulling it out and making three or four questions, could spell the end of it all. All the voters had to do was reject one of the questions and the entire thing would be deep-sixed. The committee wove together a charter that is so interdependent on itself that ripping out one section would do damage to the entire document.

Well, that seems to be something that is not going to happen.

~~~

Iva Lootey had another part o’ the charter revision story. It seems the City Council will cobble together a “charter revision education effort” it was called by Iva. This will be some type of town hall, q and a session that will give John and Jane Q. the updates they might want concerning the draft document. There have been some people on the council who’re somewhat concerned that the public don’t know enuff about the draft.

This effort will allay some o’ those fears, Iyam told, and it will give some of the members of the council the assurance that the due diligence was handled correckly.

When Iva told me this, I must say that Cobina was blunt. Effen I were the members of the revision panel, I would stay alert, this berg has a history of mucking things up, and this caper is primed to be mucked up by the politicos. We shall see.

~~~

Madame Olga rang up Cobina t’other day, and we got to talking about things that might happen after the foist of the year. With the election of candidates in the odd year, the new town committees are elected the next even year. Well, that’s what we talked about, and Olga said her crystal ball wasn’t givin’ any secrets thus far.

On the Demmie side, the election gave the Rossi faction full control of the wheel of state, if yew will, and it’s thought that it will perty much lock up the Democratic Town Committee when those selections are done in February. The caucus is held, and effen there are contested seats in the various districks they go to primary. Over the last few years, we’ve had a citywide primary virtually every two years since the 1990s. That’s how segmented the Demmies are.

Come that caucus, we wonder effen there will be a primary come March. Who knows? With things the way they are and people still not talking to each other, it’s always a possibility. However, this time it’s with Rossi and her people fully in control of the throttle.

~~~

Olga had some things to say about the Republican Town Committee, though. She’s fully seeing that there will be some intramural high jinx between those supporting Pat Libero, the current chairman, and those who were supportive of Michele Gregorio, the defeated GOP mayoral candidate.

As yew remember, there was a close vote in the July caucus betwixt Gregorio and Steven Mullins. It perty much split the 60-member panel, and led to the foist GOP primary for mayor in memory. Gregorio took the vote, but that didn’t mean that everyone made nice afterwards. There are still some perty ticked off individuals.

How this plays out after the New Year is anyone’s guess. Olga seems to think things ain’t gonna smooth over jest yet, and that, probably, there will be something that might lead to a primary in March. Won’t that be interesting? Our reporter Josh LaBella uncovered some real distrust betwixt the sides, so it’ll be interesting to see effen that distrust lasts. We shall see.

~~~

With that bit o’ chatter, I’ll close this time till next, mitt luff und kizzez,

Around Town

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Christmas Fest

First Congregational Church is hosting its annual Christmas Fest on the Green on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 9 to 2:30. The festival will have exciting craft and candy vendors, lunch, bake sale, and a kids’ activity table and surprise tree. Our Book Sale, Clothes Closet, and White Elephant sale will all be open as well. We’ll have decorated trees, wreaths, and other items being raffled off. Have your picture taken with Santa between 11:30 and 2. There is a collection of food for WHEAT. Questions? Contact First Congregational Church at (203) 933-6291.

Santa breakfast

The West Haven Italian-American Civic Association is sponsoring a Breakfast with Santa on Sunday, Dec. 15 from 10-1 at the Cielo Banquet Hall, 85 Chase Lane. Cost is $10 for members, $12 for non-members. Children 10 and under eat free. All Children must be registered with name, age and sex. RSVP by Dec. 11. Contact: Rich Frey, (203) 215-8698 or Lisa Aguzzi, (203) 927-6467. The buffet-style breakfast includes pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, coffee and juice.

Christmas events

The First and Wesley United Methodist Church parish is sponsoring two holiday events the weekend of Dec. 7-8. A Living Nativity (an outdoor re-creation of the Christmas story), is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 7, from 2-4. This is a Christmas gift to the community. Experience the story of Christ’s birth by seeing the manger scene with costumed characters. During the event, parishioners will distribute free gifts (hats/mittens) to children, provide hot chocolate, and host a children’s craft area.

The next day, the 2nd annual Praise & Worship Concert “Light of Hope, is scheduled for 4 p.m.  

The concert is free and includes a wide variety of sacred music. *Your generous freewill offering will be used for the many ministries of the church. There’ll also be 17 handmade light-up snowman couples (approx. 7”x6”x6” each) available to purchase to benefit the church.

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.

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.

I-A Seniors

The West Haven Italian-American Civic Association Senior Center is seeking new members to join its Tuesday senior gathering. Join a group of friendly seniors in an afternoon of good company, with Bingo, cards, trips to casinos and conversations with like-minded people and more. We meet at the club, 85 Chase Lane, each Tuesday from noon to 3. The cost is just $3 per week to cover expenses. We offer refreshments at no additional cost. Call Sherri Torre, (203) 932-2893 for further information. 

Senior Center trips

Join the West Haven Seniors on the following scheduled trip: All trips leave from Savin Rock Conference Center:

Monday, Dec. 9 — The Westchester Broadway Theatre – “The Edwards Twins” New Holiday Themed Show! Direct from Las Vegas identical twins Anthony and Edward make musical legends come alive for this holiday performance. Sonny & Cher, Neil Diamond, Johnny Mathis and Barbara Streisand just to name a few of the acts re-created by the talented twins. Enjoy lunch at the theatre before the show. Cost $90 due by Nov. 1. Bus leaves Savin Rock Conference Center 9:30. Departs Westchester approximately at 3:45.

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.

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.

Historian’s Corner

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By Dan Shine

Voice Columnist

The Hurricane of 1950

 Note:  This week, we defer to a past First Church Historian, Marjorie Phelps, and part of a narrative she gave to the Vacation Bible School in August, 1960: 

The hurricane of 1950 blew through Connecticut late in the season on Nov. 25. It damaged the steeple of the First Congregational Church, and toppled the bell from its moorings. The bell (shown below) was undamaged, however, and soon a rebuilt steeple housed it to call worshipers to prayer.

 Now, the front of the church where the steeple is looks very much as it did a hundred years ago; but the front of the church isn’t exactly as it was a hundred years ago, because something happened here ten years ago.

 On Nov. 25, 1950, I happened to be at a wedding at the church here.  It was the wedding of someone whom some of you children had for a first grade teacher up in the old gymnasium.  Do any of you remember Mrs. Jones?  Well, it was her wedding day.  And such a rainy, windy day it was.  In fact, it was a day when we had a real hurricane here in West Haven.  Now, I only live two blocks from the church, but I took a bus to get to the church, because it was raining so very, very hard—I knew I would be soaked if I didn’t.  And I couldn’t drive my car.

 Well, after the wedding was over, we all went into the parlor for a lovely reception.  And we were having a nice pleasant time visiting around when the sexton, whose name was Mr. Duncan, came in; and he said, “Anybody who has his car parked outside the church better move it.  The shutters are beginning to blow off.”  And we looked out, and it was raining harder than ever, and sure enough the trees were bending down, almost touching the ground, and shutters had blown off the church.  Well, you never saw a building empty as fast as that parish house did.  Soon, everyone was gone from the wedding reception.  And I couldn’t get a bus back to my home—I walked; and it was so windy it was just like pushing against a wall to get up the street; but I finally got home.  I turned on the radio and they were telling about trees coming down and different things happening during the storm; and then all of a sudden came a News Flash!  And it said “The steeple on the First Congregational Church on West Haven Green has just blown over”.

 Well, the next morning, it was sun-shiney and quiet and calm and all the people went to church.  And the steeple lay in ruins on the steps and to the side—but there was a sign on the front of the church which said, “Church as usual”.  But we had to go in through the parish house doors.

 And the people had a meeting right after the church service that morning and they decided they would rebuild the steeple.  They would raise the money and they would put up another steeple just like the old one.  And so they did and they made the church a little bit larger while they were doing it, so there would be room for even more people. 

 And the bell that was in the old steeple was not broken so it was put in the new steeple and that’s the bell that you hear sometimes on Sunday mornings calling the people to church.

Gripevine

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Dear Eleanore Turkington:

I saw your question in the Nov. 28 edition of the West Haven Voice asking who runs the Apple Festival and whether it would be possible to relocate it to the Grove. I am the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the First Congregational Church of West Haven (FCCWH), and I am also on the Apple Festival Committee.

The Apple Festival is supported by generous donors and volunteers spread across many organizations throughout the city of West Haven and Greater New Haven County, but it is organized and operated by a group of dedicated volunteers from the FCCWH.

To answer your reader’s specific question about relocation, it would not be possible (to hold the Apple Festival at the Grove). The majority of the food is prepared on premises in the church’s commercial kitchen. The food prepared outside is done using the church’s health permit. The Grove does not have the facilities necessary for us to prepare all the food and operate the food service station. This is important as the FCCWH food service station generates a sizable portion of the proceeds from the festival. Those proceeds are not only allocated to the various missions of FCCWH, but thousands of dollars each year is given right back to community organizations such as the WHHS Band, Community House, Cub and Boy Scouts, and many others.

While the committee works from February through September to plan each festival, the actual setup and breakdown takes 3-4 weeks, which would not be possible if it were not hosted on the green and on the church’s property.

I hope this answers your reader’s questions. If I can ever be of assistance regarding the Apple Festival or anything else to do with the First Congregational Church, please feel free to reach out to me at any time.

Christopher E. Vargo, Jr.

Dear Eleanore Turkington:

On Beach Street, there’s a vacant lot. It’s on a little hill with cement steps and iron handrails leading up to it. Would you know who lived there? I walk past this area frequently and I am curious the actual name of the street it’s located on. The property is located on the corner.

RF Main Street Resident

Editor’s response: It was once the site of a large building that became the original Our Lady of Victory Church until the present edifice was constructed in the 1950s. The steps are remnants of that era.

You can send your gripes, questions, suggestions and comments to gripevine4wh@aol.com or write to Gripe Vine c/o of The West Haven Voice, 480 Boston Post Road, Box 4. Please include your name, address and phone number. Your information is kept in strict confidence with me only. You can also submit through our online form.

Dear Felicia

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Thanksgiving is over for another year, and now we move onto the Christmas season. No, not holiday season, Felicia Navalance: Christmas. Season. We don’t say Happy Holidays for any other season, and we shouldn’t do it here. If people feel like they’re being treated as “second-class citizens,” I’d say they have more problems than whether it’s Christmas or not. In fact, I’d say it’s their problem, not anyone else’s.

Tennyrate, here in the berg the fack that Thanksgiving was about the latest it could be, it butted up against the biennial rite of passage that this city has every odd year: inauguration of the new administration. The charter calls for the inaugural to be the foist Sunday in December. That happened to be Dec. 1. By the by, did you say “rabbit!” on Sunday. Nope? Neither did Cobina.

And the activities of the weekend were setch that not only was it Turkey Day, the tree-lighting took place on the Green on Saturday night as well.

That was a big success by the looks of it. Gabby Murrillo did the honors in lighting the tree, and there was an afternoon-long festival on the Green until the honors were done. Cobina happened by there Saturday night and there was quite a throng out there, with most of the Green cordoned off for the hayrides and other features. So, that was checked off the box of things to do.

Sunday, at the new WHHS auditorium, the new administration was sworn in during the only event that even comes close to pomp and circumstance around here, with the exception of graduation. With all the color and ceremony we could muster, the new administration was sworn in.

Sammy Bluejay was perched near the dais, and had a few pernted commints to make.

~~~

Sammy noted that this year’s crop o’ council people had that look of excitement that he sees all the time. That gleam will probably turn to glaze once the tedium of the job begins to set in on them. The City Council does some interesting things, but, really, most of what it does is perty humdrum. The job has its share of late nights and there’s always the fun of dealing with John and Jane Q. They can be nice neighbors or real terrors, depending on the issues.

Of course, the foist thing the council will set out to do is elect a chairman. Ron Quagliani is, at this writing, expected to be tabbed for the title. He had it last term, and as chairmen go, he was known for being rather fair and easy going. There was little of the in-fighting that one has seen over the years, where the chairmen hafta be boxing referees and gameshow emcees at the same time. Ask some former chairmen, they’ll tell you.

One of the biggest and most interesting thing that has happened is the fack that the GOP will have two, count ‘em, two, members of the council outta the 13 on the list. They elected Barry Lee Cohen in the Tenth Districk, and Colleen O’Connor – the former GOP Town Chairman – as the at-large. One at-large seat goes to the minority under the current charter, and Cohen was able to get by Louise Martone in that districk by sacrificing the soles of his shoes. He won the old-fashioned way, hard work.

In fack, Cohen is gonna be an interesting individual to watch on this panel. To say he doesn’t “suffer fools gladly” is an understatement. He’s smart, cagey and analytical. At least that is the impression Cobina has. And a bit of caginess is not a bad thing when working with the other members.

Sooooo, over the next two years it’s gonna be very interesting to see jest whot transpires on the council and how it reacts or interacts with the new GOP reality. In the past the GOP had one seat, and that perty much meant the member had to sit down and twiddle his or her thumbs whilst the Demmies fought. Sometimes it was comical. The minority member would be sitting all alone at the table whilst a caucus was called, and there was screaming in the back room.

Now the GOP can have its own caucus. It’ll be interesting effen they call a caucus and leave the Demmies out in the big room. We shall see. But keep yore eyes on Cohen. He could provide the grist for our ever-grinding mill.

~~~

Of course, the GOP is a bit of a topic of conversation, regardless. Iva Lootey sez that the wounds that occurred during the election betwixt those working for Steven Mullins and those working for Michele Gregorio have yet to be sutured. In fack, there is still a bit of suspicion betwixt the two factions…factions, would’ve thunk it.

Whatever happens, the GOP did some good work during the last election, and shouldn’t let what should be friendly opposition turn to difficulties. The story writ last week by our own Josh LaBella perty much pernted out the problems the party has to overcome before it could begin to get back into the city’s mainstream.

We’ve been sayin’ it for years. The party has to do an outreach, get rid of dead wood and then move toward being an opposition organization. Some of us are old enuff to remember that Larry Minichino, who eventually became a Repubican mayor, built an entire organization of young folks that led the party to victory.

There were some problems later on, but for the most part, the New Turks, as they were called, did a perty good job, and helped the city during some boom years. The only thing the party needs is a leader it can rally around. The old-timers had the late Ted Adams. They need another.

We’ll keep watchin’ to see what transpires. The ball is in the GOP’s court and what they do with it is important.

~~~

Herrronner, meanwhile, will certainly have a more friendly City Council this go-round. Nelly Nuthatch pernted that out when she visited here the other day. Gone are the hold-overs from the Ed O’Brien ticket, and certainly, the Morrissey faction is only represented by one or two. This means that for the most part the mayor should be able to have more cooperation and less opposition – but we don’t wanna see the council become a rubber stamp.

That is one of the reasons it’s good to have to GOP-ers. With the GOP and the one or two opposition in the Demmie camp, there should be some very interesting debates about issues. The mayor will have the votes should she need them, of course, but the combination of Republican votes and a couple of opposition Demmies will help spur some real debate and real action, not just an easy vote. That’s a good thing, we think.

~~~

Finally, ole Cobina wanted to note that the generosity of our fellow citizens is one o’ the things that makes this berg so special, despite its politics. Several churches, organizations and groups made the holiday special for many from turkey distributions, to the Community Thanksgiving Dinner, to what we know will be special toy collections toward Christmas. It’s a nice thing to see.

Finally, we forgot a bit name in last week’s list o’ turkeys: Patrick Morrissey. Pat has been named in that colyume just for fun for almost 20 years. We somehow forgot – old age, probably. Don’t worry, there’s still Christmas gifts to be given out.

With that bit o’ chatter, I’ll close this week till next, mitt luff und kizzez,

Around Town

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Christmas Fest

First Congregational Church is hosting its annual Christmas Fest on the Green on Saturday, Dec 7, from 9 to 2:30. The festival will have exciting craft and candy vendors, lunch, bake sale, and a kids’ activity table and surprise tree. Our Book Sale, Clothes Closet, and White Elephant sale will all be open as well. We’ll have decorated trees, wreaths, and other items being raffled off. Have your picture taken with Santa between 11:30 and 2. There is a collection of food for WHEAT. Questions? Contact First Congregational Church at (203) 933-6291.

Santa breakfast

The West Haven Italian-American Civic Association is sponsoring a Breakfast with Santa on Sunday, Dec. 15 from 10-1 at the Cielo Banquet Hall, 85 Chase Lane. Cost is $10 for members, $12 for non-members. Children 10 and under eat free. All Children must be registered with name, age and sex. RSVP by Dec 11. Contact: Rich Frey, (203) 215-8698 or Lisa Aguzzi, (203) 927-6467. The buffet-style breakfast includes pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, coffee and juice.

Christmas events

The First and Wesley United Methodist Church parish is sponsoring two holiday events the weekend of Dec. 7-8. A Living Nativity (an outdoor re-creation of the Christmas story), is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 7, from 2-4. This is a Christmas gift to the community. Experience the story of Christ’s birth by seeing the manger scene with costumed characters. During the event, parishioners will distribute free gifts (hats/mittens) to children, provide hot chocolate, and host a children’s craft area.

The next day, the 2nd annual Praise & Worship Concert “Light of Hope, is scheduled for 4 p.m.  

The concert is free and includes a wide variety of sacred music. *Your generous freewill offering will be used for the many ministries of the church. There’ll also be 17 handmade light-up snowman couples (approx. 7”x6”x6” each) available to purchase to benefit the church.

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.

Holiday Bazaar

The West Haven Garden Club will have its Holiday Bazaar on Thursday, Dec. 5 from 9-2.  It will take place at the West Haven City Hall, 355 Main St.  The bazaar will have handcraft items, Christmas tree raffle, plants, and bake sale plus so much more.  This is to include money, which is being raised for a bench for a child shot in Newtown.  The bench will be put at the pink playground on the beach.

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.

I-A Seniors

The West Haven Italian-American Civic Association Senior Center is seeking new members to join its Tuesday senior gathering. Join a group of friendly seniors in an afternoon of good company, with Bingo, cards, trips to casinos and conversations with like-minded people and more. We meet at the club, 85 Chase Lane, each Tuesday from noon to 3. The cost is just $3 per week to cover expenses. We offer refreshments at no additional cost. Call Sherri Torre, (203) 932-2893 for further information. 

Senior Center trips

Join the West Haven Seniors on the following scheduled trip: All trips leave from Savin Rock Conference Center:

Monday, Dec. 9 — The Westchester Broadway Theatre – “The Edwards Twins” New Holiday Themed Show! Direct from Las Vegas identical twins Anthony and Edward make musical legends come alive for this holiday performance. Sonny & Cher, Neil Diamond, Johnny Mathis and Barbara Streisand just to name a few of the acts re-created by the talented twins. Enjoy lunch at the theatre before the show. Cost $90 due by Nov. 1. Bus leaves Savin Rock Conference Center 9:30. Departs Westchester approximately at 3:45.

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.

Coin Show

The Liberty Coin Club of West Haven, organized in1962, will host a Coin Show on Sunday, Oct. 20, and 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.