West Haven Voice

Notre Dame High School senior Delvin Donniri, West Haven High School senior Caleb Awuah and Hill Career Regional High School senior Awurabena Ofori-Amo, holding certificates from left, receive a West Haven Black Heritage Committee award for “academic and leadership success” from, from right, committee Chairman Steven R. Mullins, West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer, state Treasurer Erick Russell, state Rep. Treneé McGee, D-West Haven, and Elder Renford Whynes of the New Haven Seventh-day Adventist Church. The students also received a $250 academic scholarship from the committee.

West Haven youth advocate Levi Jordan Sr. proudly holds up the 2025 Ernestine Jackson Citizen of Distinction Award he received from West Haven Black Heritage Committee Chairman Steven R. Mullins and Mayor Dorinda Borer during West Haven’s 29th Black Heritage Celebration at City Hall on Feb. 26. Jordan, the founder and CEO of The Best of the West LLC, which focuses on youth character building and life skills, is the committee’s second recipient of the award, formerly known as the African American Citizen of the Year. The annual cultural event is presented by the committee in honor of Black History Month

West Haven youth advocate Levi Jordan Sr. receives an embroidered “West Haven Black Heritage Ernestine Jackson Citizen of Distinction Award 2025” jacket from last year’s inaugural award recipient, former Councilwoman Robbin Watt Hamilton, D-5, and Black Heritage Committee Chairman Steven R. Mullins.

West Haven Black Coalition founder and President Carroll E. Brown receives a West Haven Black Heritage Committee award and a bouquet for her years of service to the city’s Black community from committee Chairman Steven R. Mullins.

Mayor Dorinda Borer, joined by Councilman Mackie Mc￾Millian (D-5), honors Councilwoman Katherine Tucker (D-7), for her work in cardiology at the Go Red for Heart Health brunch hosted by the New Haven Metropolitan Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc. on Feb. 22 at Anthony’s Ocean View in New Haven. Tucker received a citation from Borer and a special recognition from the New Haven chapter at the annual event, which raises awareness of the disparities that exist in heart disease for women of color and what preventive steps are necessary to improve health outcomes.

“The Cat In the Hat” (Annawon Lodge Past Master and Troop 821 Chaplain Steven R. Mullins) reads to children and parents attending the Read Across America event Saturday at Annawon Lodge, marking the birthday of Dr. Seuss

Holding oversize scissors, Yong Zhao and Wanting Zhang, the husband-wife owners of Nice Day Chinese Takeout, clap after cutting the ribbon with Mayor Dorinda Borer, second from left, to celebrate the grand opening of the couple’s Chinese American restaurant at 153 Sawmill Road on Feb. 21. Joining them are, from left, state Reps. MJ Shannon, D-Milford, and Bill Heffernan, D-West Haven, and West Haven Business Alliance President Michelle Caprio. The Sawmill Road location, formerly Great Wall Chinese Restaurant, joins five other Nice Day Chinese restaurants owned by Zhao and Zhang in Connecticut, including New Haven, and in New York. Nice Day Chinese began in 2021 with a series of pop-ups in New York City, one of which gained national attention when NBC “Today” weather anchor Al Roker regularly visited and featured it on his broadcasts. Encouraged by the pop-up events’ success, Zhao and Zhang took the next step in 2022 and planned their first permanent location. With a workforce of more than 100 employees, both full and part time, Nice Day has quickly established itself as a leader in the next era of Chinese American dining. Nice Day’s Sawmill Road restaurant is nestled in Hillcrest Plaza with other small businesses.

Mayor Dorinda Borer, third from left, joins guest readers, showing their books, at Savin Rock Community School’s Read Across America Day event on Monday. From left, Principal Thomas J. Hunt, New Haven Register reporter Brian Zahn, West Haven Fire Department Fire Marshal Roger Sicotte, literacy teacher Kristen Scanlon, Title I reading teacher Mary Winters, reading consultant Jackie Cincotta, and retired teacher and long-term substitute teacher Chris Latham.

Mayor Dorinda Borer celebrates Read Across America Day by reading the Dr. Seuss children’s book “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” to third graders of teacher Alexis Gilhuly‘s class at Savin Rock Community School on Monday. The event, organized by literacy teacher Kristen Scanlon and her reading team, highlighted the importance of literacy while marking Dr. Seuss’ birthday, complete with balloons, posters and snacks.

The West Haven High School Theater Workshop’s performances of The Addams Family run Thursday, March 27 and Friday March 28 at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium, with two shows on Saturday March 29 at 2 and 7. The cast is shown during rehearsals. Tickets are: $20 General Public, $18 Seniors/WHPS Staff Members, and $15 WHPS Students. Tickets can be purchased online via www.whhstw.org, or by calling the WHHSTW Parent Booster Club Box Office at (203) 701-9836. Additional questions may be answered by contacting [email protected]. The production is now in rehearsals and Voice photog Todd Dandelske was able to get some early shots

The West Haven High School Theater Workshop’s performances of The Addams Family run Thursday, March 27 and Friday March 28 at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium, with two shows on Saturday March 29 at 2 and 7. The cast is shown during rehearsals. Tickets are: $20 General Public, $18 Seniors/WHPS Staff Members, and $15 WHPS Students. Tickets can be purchased online via www.whhstw.org, or by calling the WHHSTW Parent Booster Club Box Office at (203) 701-9836. Additional questions may be answered by contacting [email protected]. The production is now in rehearsals and Voice photog Todd Dandelske was able to get some early shots

The West Haven High School Theater Workshop’s performances of The Addams Family run Thursday, March 27 and Friday March 28 at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium, with two shows on Saturday March 29 at 2 and 7. The cast is shown during rehearsals. Tickets are: $20 General Public, $18 Seniors/WHPS Staff Members, and $15 WHPS Students. Tickets can be purchased online via www.whhstw.org, or by calling the WHHSTW Parent Booster Club Box Office at (203) 701-9836. Additional questions may be answered by contacting [email protected]. The production is now in rehearsals and Voice photog Todd Dandelske was able to get some early shots

The West Haven High School Theater Workshop’s performances of The Addams Family run Thursday, March 27 and Friday March 28 at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium, with two shows on Saturday March 29 at 2 and 7. The cast is shown during rehearsals. Tickets are: $20 General Public, $18 Seniors/WHPS Staff Members, and $15 WHPS Students. Tickets can be purchased online via www.whhstw.org, or by calling the WHHSTW Parent Booster Club Box Office at (203) 701-9836. Additional questions may be answered by contacting [email protected]. The production is now in rehearsals and Voice photog Todd Dandelske was able to get some early shots

The West Haven High School Theater Workshop’s performances of The Addams Family run Thursday, March 27 and Friday March 28 at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium, with two shows on Saturday March 29 at 2 and 7. The cast is shown during rehearsals. Tickets are: $20 General Public, $18 Seniors/WHPS Staff Members, and $15 WHPS Students. Tickets can be purchased online via www.whhstw.org, or by calling the WHHSTW Parent Booster Club Box Office at (203) 701-9836. Additional questions may be answered by contacting [email protected]. The production is now in rehearsals and Voice photog Todd Dandelske was able to get some early shots

The Campbell grave in Allingtown.

Edward Doerr as Rev. Williston. The reenactment was part of the 350th anniversary celebration of the founding of “West Farms” in 1998.

K’naan Morris takes the three in the Blue Devils’ 59-42 win over Prep in the SCC Quarterfinals

Jacy Reyes sizes up her opponent in the Queen at the Mat Tournament at Foran.

The Westie Sharks celebrate their SCC Championship victory.

Nos. 30 Matt Rasile and 28 Kyle Guarino defend the West Haven net versus Branford in a 4-2 defeat.