• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

West Haven Voice

West Haven’s only independent news source - By and For West Haven

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Archive
  • Advertise With Us!
  • Classified
  • Announcements
  • Contact Us
  • Web Exclusive
    • Kids Activity Pages

Gripevine

August 22, 2018 By whvoice

Dear Eleanore Turkington:

I am a life-long resident and I feel the need to finally write this letter. West Haven has so many heavily littered areas. For the past several years I have been organizing local litter clean-ups throughout town. I also have a website and an educational program called litterawareness.org.

I have had a variety of volunteers who have helped clean up. Thank-you to all who have participated! Although sometimes the groups were small, we were successful. It is amazing what an hour of picking up litter can do for an area.

Unfortunately, perceptions about WHO is responsible for keeping an area clean can be assuming. There is a large domain of research in the area of community and environmental psychology that explains how individual people AND a community’s collective behaviors contribute to whether a park, beach, parking lot, bus-stop, or roadside stays clean. (Speaking of roadsides, it is Water Street that finally made me write this letter)!!! Water Street is an entrance area into West Haven. If I were an out of towner driving in, I wouldn’t want to drive too much further after seeing that roadside, but I am willing to help clean it up!

I have been proud to be a West Haven resident but looking around town makes it more and more difficult to stay proud. If residents and workers engage in positive behaviors and attitudes, we can make a difference. I am willing to continue to do my part. There are studies and steps we can take as individuals and as a town to make positive and permanent improvements.

I used to think just adding more trash cans would solve a big part of the problem, but it is so much more than that. There is science-based research on why and how litter ends up accumulating, but if we don’t ALL become aware and participate, change will be minimal and temporary. If anyone is interested they can visit my sight to learn more! Willing to Make A Difference

Stacey Giaquinto

litterawareness.org

Dear Stacey Giaquinto:

Thank you for writing Gripe Vine and making people aware of the importance of a clean city and thank you for your participation in organizing and recruiting assistance with your project.

Your mention of the need for more trash barrels throughout the city provided food for thought. Here is what I would like to suggest to you: Send me a list of areas in the city that you feel would benefit the most with a receptacle.

Keeping a city clean and beautiful is everyone’s job. Perhaps the Boy or Girl Scouts would like to participate in your program. Perhaps the City of West Haven can provide several trash cans. The scouts or volunteers could stencil a message on these receptacles to not only direct trash to these cans, but also to send a strong message to all of us.

I will be happy to place this suggestion in the hands of Mayor Nancy Rossi hoping to enlist the city’s cooperation toward this effort. Who knows? This project could develop into a strong environmental effort. Just recently, I received a suggestion from one of my readers that a trash can be placed in the Haven area to eliminate litter in that projected redevelopment area. Perhaps your suggestions “could get the ball rolling.”

Let me hear from you readers or you can also email this letter writer. I see great potential here.

Gripe Vine Readers:

I have been asked by a reader why there have been a number of unanswered gripes and questions sent to the mayor’s executive assistant, Louis Esposito.

Well, I agree with you, unanswered questions and gripes are not acceptable with me. I feel very strongly in representing the individual who is seeking safety and improvement in their neighborhoods and their city. Occasionally, we may not like or agree with the responses, but the answers are there. Cooperation is important!

I compiled the complete list of unanswered/not investigated gripes and sent them all to Mayor Nancy Rossi. I will be waiting for the answers to reach my desk. There are many, so I expect them to arrive regularly, possibly intermittent. My thanks and appreciation to Mayor Nancy Rossi and her staff.

You can send your gripes, questions and comments to [email protected] or you can mail them to Gripe Vine c/o West Haven Voice, 666 Savin Ave. Please include your name, address and phone number, kept strictly confidential with me. You can also submit them via our online form by clicking here.

Filed Under: 082318, Gripevine

Primary Sidebar

Seach our site

Follow us on Facebook

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

The week in photos ... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

The week in photos – May 8, 2025

westhavenvoice.com

The week in photos – May 8, 2025 May 8, 2025 By whvoice Leave a Comment Washington School set to open With the opening set for May 22, Gilbane Construction crews are placing fixtures and other equip...
1 day ago
View Comments
  • likes Like 0
  • Comments: 0
  • Shares: 0
Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

New Briefs - tax relief program, dog license info, Westies Care, and more.. ... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

News Briefs

westhavenvoice.com

News Briefs May 8, 2025 By whvoice Leave a Comment Tax relief applications accepted The assessor’s office is accepting applications by appointment for tax relief programs for elderly and disabled ho...
1 day ago
View Comments
  • likes Like 0
  • Comments: 0
  • Shares: 0
Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

Boardwalk facility named for Joe Carr ... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

Boardwalk facility named for Joe Carr

westhavenvoice.com

Boardwalk facility named for Joe Carr May 8, 2025 By whvoice Leave a Comment Family members of the late Department of Public Works laborer and driver Joe Carr pause beneath the sign that the city dedi...
1 day ago
View Comments
  • likes Like love 3
  • Comments: 0
  • Shares: 0
Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

Grant aids VA neighborhood upgrades ... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

Grant aids VA neighborhood upgrades

westhavenvoice.com

Grant aids VA neighborhood upgrades May 7, 2025 By whvoice Leave a Comment Mayor Dorinda Borer speaks during a news conference with Gov. Ned Lamont, second from right, at City Hall on Monday announcin...
1 day ago
View Comments
  • likes Like 0
  • Comments: 0
  • Shares: 0
Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

Load more

 

 

West Haven’s Calendar

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons
West Haven Calendar
2 years ago
West Haven Calendar

Thursday Night Live (This one's on Friday!!!)

... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

Thursday Night Live (This one's on Friday!!!)

tockify.com

Fri 23 Jun, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM [EDT]: Event by Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce, CT Old Grove Park Public · Anyone on or off Facebook West Haven summer concerts are back! Join us in West Haven thi...
View Comments
  • likes Like 0
  • Comments: 1
  • Shares: 0
Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

1 CommentsComment on Facebook

West Haven Calendar
2 years ago
West Haven Calendar

Mark Your West Haven Calendar

tockify.com/west.haven.calendar/detail/442/1686776400000

Business After Hours West Haven Veterans Museum
... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

Business After Hours West Haven Veterans Museum

tockify.com

Wed 14 Jun, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM [EDT]: Business After Hours West Haven Veterans Museum West Haven Veterans Museum & Learning Center Event by Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce, CT West Haven Veterans ...
View Comments
  • likes Like 0
  • Comments: 0
  • Shares: 0
Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

0 CommentsComment on Facebook

West Haven Calendar
2 years ago
West Haven Calendar

Added for June 10th & 11th

tockify.com/west.haven.calendar/detail/443/1686405600000

West Haven Historical Society Open House
... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

West Haven Historical Society Open House

tockify.com

Sat 10 Jun, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM [EDT]:
View Comments
  • likes Like 2
  • Comments: 1
  • Shares: 0
Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

1 CommentsComment on Facebook

Load more

Footer

Address

West Haven Voice
840 Boston Post Road
West Haven, CT

 

Contact us

Call (203) 934-6397

Contact form

SITE NAVIGATION

HOME
ABOUT US
ARCHIVE
ADVERTISE!
CLASSIFIED
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CONTACT US
WEB EXCLUSIVE

FIND US IN PRINT

Our print edition is available each Thursday. Here is a list of locations!

Letters Policy

Information on submitting letters to us.

Our submission deadlines.

Copyright © 2025 West Haven Voice, LLC