West Haven Voice

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West Haven Community House

WHCH parents trained in car seats and safety

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The West Haven Community House hosted a car seat safety seminar for Head Start parents, which included giving away new seats. Organizers are shown cateloguing the seats prior to the presentation.

West Haven Community House Head Start recently hosted a car seat education and seat distribution event in partnership with the Yale New Haven Hospital Injury Prevention and Community Outreach Program through a ‘Buckle Up For Life’ Grant. More than 60 car seats were distributed to families in the Head Start program.

More than 80 adults and children attended the educational segment, which was presented by Nick Aysseh, Community outreach Educator from Yale’s Injury Prevention and Community Outreach Program. Police officers from Monroe and Fairfield Police Departments, who are certified child passenger safety technicians, attended to assist Yale New Haven Hospital staff with installing the new seats with the families who attended.

A Head Start parent gets a new car seat following a training session sponsored by the West Haven Community House.

In its 40th year at the West Haven Community House, the Head Start program provides comprehensive school readiness services to more than 150 children each year. The program focuses on the social, cognitive, physical and psychological development of preschool children so that they enter kindergarten prepared to learn.

They offer full-day, full-year programs on a sliding scale fee basis for children of parents who are working or going to school. Part-day, part-year classes, which are closely aligned with the public school calendar, is available at no cost. Head Start is licensed by the CT Office of Early Childhood and families must meet the federal income eligibility guidelines to qualify. All children receive health and development screenings, oral and mental health support, as well as healthy meals and snacks.

Parents are engaged in monthly family-based activities and connected with a variety of available services that provide housing stability, continued education, and financial literacy. For more information about the Community House’s Head Start program, please contact 203-934-5221 or visit whcommunityhouse.org.

WHCH kids have ‘Fun with STEAM’

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Community House Director of Children and Youth Services Carol James directs one of the activities during last week’s “Fun with STEAM” event.

The West Haven Community House Children and Youth Services Program held a ‘Fun with STEAM’ (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) Family Night. Parents and students participated in hands-on learning activities that provided a fun way to learn, practice, utilize and strengthen essential STEAM skills.

Much fun was had by all as they experimented with recipes to produce polymers of different consistencies resulting in Fluffy Slime. Straw rocket making was a blast as they tried out different fin shapes and their positions to see how it affected accuracy and range of flight. Magnetic painting allowed for creativity and discovery of how different shaped metal objects were mobilized. Tower construction using various sizes of cups and buckets allowed families to compete with building the highest tower thinking about stability, strength and design.

Family events are made possible by a grant that was awarded to the Children and Youth Services Program by the CT State Department of Education. The goal of the events is to offer academic support to students and families in a fun and engaging manner. Other events have focused on mathematics and literacy with participants taking part in active games.

Winter Olympics was the theme for mathematics and while families participated in hurling, skiing, skating, ice hockey, biathalon and luge they practiced measurement, time, estimating, money and more.

“Who ever thought math could be so much fun?” asked one of the parents as they skated down the room on their felt skates. “Our goal is not to replicate school but to create engaging opportunites for students and parents together to discover alternative methods to support and enhance academic achievement,” said Carol James, Children and Youth Services Director.

Annual clothing, toy drives Donations overwhelm Community House staff

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The staff of the West Haven Housing Authority collected winter items and clothing for families. The collection was one of the best ever undertaken by the agency.

The true meaning of the holiday spirit is to give back. Here in West Haven, that spirit is alive and well as evidenced by a large variety of donations made to the West Haven Community House.

Each year, many individuals and local businesses conduct holiday drives collecting hundreds of toys, games, coats, hats, gloves and more.

The generosity of the business community, those working for the city, and individuals who just wanted to help overwhelmed longtime members of the agency staff, who have gone through many a holiday season. Some of the major donors iincluded Oyster River Energy, Shoreline Dental, Arti Dixson from JA Music LLC, Eder Bros, Our Lady of Victory’s community outreach center, Italian American Club Women’s Guild, West Haven Housing Authority, St. Lawrence, Z’s Corner Café and Donato Cappetta of Cappetta’s restaurant.

The holiday season was made brighter for needy families at the West Haven Community House with several organizations and individuals donating toys, clothes and other items. WHCH Head Start students look over the toys collected.

In addition, the Community House board members, friends and staff participate in an annual giving tree where donations of toys and gifts are collected and given out to families and adults in the agency’s programs.

“We are overwhelmed by the generosity of the West Haven community, and we wish to thank the many people and local businesses who make it a part of their holiday tradition to think of the Community House and the families we serve,” said Patricia Stevens, Executive Director of the Community House.

Oyster River Energy had its annual toy collection with hundreds of items donated.

“It will make the children and families’ holidays so much brighter and happier. Our families are all struggling economically and to have this generosity of the community bestowed on them is so appreciated.”

The Community House is the cornerstone social service agency of West Haven providing services to thousands of families for more than 76 years by giving pre-schoolers from low-income families a “Head Start” in life and the educational foundation they need to be successful in school, ensuring that school-aged children have a safe, affordable place to be during out-of-school hours, and providing people with intellectual disabilities opportunities to gain skills needed to increase independence and integrate into the community.

“In this season of giving, we are reminded that we could not succeed without the support of the hundreds of kindhearted people of West Haven and beyond,” Stevens said. “W e cannot express enough how much we appreciate the support and generosity throughout the year, especially during the holiday season.” Stevens said.

“From all of us at the Community House and the families we serve, we wish you all a wonderful and safe new year.”

‘Rock & Stroll’ set for Sept 22

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Members of Rock House School of Music teach music to Community House preschoolers.

The West Haven Community House is expanding its annual “Family Fun Walk” to include a music festival. Rock & Stroll is an all-day event on Saturday, September 22, beginning with a two-mile stroll on the historic Savin Rock Boardwalk.

Walk registration is at 9:30 with a 10:30 walk kick-off. There is a $25 fee to participate in the walk, which includes a t-shirt and features a variety of fun activities along the route where participants receive free chances to be entered in a raffle.

“This walk is unique in that there are about a dozen fun activity stations along the route including limbo, three-legged race, hopscotch, bowling, wheelchair obstacle course and more,” said Patty Stevens, Community House executive director. “At the end of the walk, each participant turns in their earned raffle tickets for a chance to win some great prizes, which include a bicycle, guitar, toys, games, theater tickets, gift cards, and more. The stations will be staffed by more than 60 volunteers from University of New Haven’s Men’s and Women’s Track and Field teams.

The walk is followed by a music festival in collaboration with organizers John McCarthy of Rock House School of Music & Johnny Ziada of Z’s Corner Cafe.

“We are excited to add music to our established fall fundraising event in order to showcase and promote Teach Kids Music (TKM) programs that have been intertwined with the Community House’s programs for preschoolers and school age children.” Stevens said.

Youth musicians are shown playing at a recent open mic night at the Community House . The successful program has been part of a collaboration between Rock House and WHCH. The partnership has led to an expansion of the yearly “Family Walk Day” to include a music festival spearheaded by the local music school.

The Community House hosts monthly TKM Youth Open Mic Nights where young musicians and singers, 19 and under, play and listen to music and get the opportunity to interact with other musicians. The open mic nights play an important role in helping children express themselves in a safe, creative atmosphere. In addition to performing, many local children come to watch and get inspired creating a positive community experience. Parents are always welcome to come and get involved.  The next open mic night will be on Sept. 28.

“As the owner of Rock House School of Music and founder of TeachKidsMusic.org (TKM), my main mission is to help children learn music. By providing instruments and instruction, we are able to guide these kids to be creative and start a lifelong music journey,” said John McCarthy, founder of Rock House School of Music and the TKM. “Working with the West Haven Community House has been a pleasure. They are forward-thinking when it comes to providing music instruction to young children. The Rock House Ukulele course and Clap, Tap and Sing program is used as part of their program”.

The music festival, which begins at noon on the lawn of the Savin Rock Conference Center, is free and open to the public and ends at 7. People are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs and sit back and enjoy the music featuring more than a dozen bands including many local youth musicians including “Tears Fall Down,” 2017 Winner of CTNOW Best of CT Punk/Alternative band; “Black Catz,” local all-girl band ages 7 to 9; and “Stratus,” local teen cover band that has performed for the Apple Fest and Savin Rock festival; as well as Chemical Z, Fiction, Shot Down, and Glenn Roth and Frank Viele on the acoustic stage.

Sammy the Seagull, Community House Fun Walk mascot is getting ready for the Rock & Stroll on Sept. 22.

Also performing is “CT All Stars,” a group of All Star musicians including Rich Weber, Carrigan School principal and former drummer of “Mean Carlene;”John McCarthy from The Rock House School of Music; Mike Sangapore, drummer for Dee Snyder (Twisted Sister), Damiano Scarfi, guitarist who played on ABC’s American Idol tv show; Jordan Giangreco, keyboardist for ‘Psychedelic Breakfast;” Rob Liptrot, bass guitarist from ‘The Brotherhood Funk Band;” Jen Durkin, vocalist from “Jen Durkin Soul Power:” and ‘Deep Banana Blackout,’ and Kevin Lawless, lead vocalist for Ozzy Osbourne tribute band, Ozzy America, and local CT band ‘Liplok’.

Headlining the music festival world renowned guitarist, Gary Hoey, listed as one of the top 100 guitarists of all time. He merges blues and rock with 25 years in the music business and 20 albums under his belt.

All proceeds from the event will benefit West Haven Community House and its programs including Head Start pre-school, Community Connections’ day and residential programs for adults with intellectual disabilities, and Children & Youth before and after school child care programs located in the West Haven public schools and the TKM programs.

For more information about the event, sponsorship opportunities and/or to register, please visit www.whcommunityhouse.org or contact Kathy Hart-Jones at (203) 934-5221 x 131 or via email: kathyhartjones@whcommunityhouse.org.

 

City, WHCH honor Herbert

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Patricia “Pat” Herbert celebrates her 100th birthday with William Heffernan, president of the West Haven Community House board of directors, and Mayor Nancy R. Rossi during a reception Aug. 21 at the Community House.

By Michael P. Walsh

Special to the Voice

Beloved city resident Patricia “Pat” Herbert celebrated her 100th birthday with Mayor Nancy R. Rossi and William Heffernan, president of the West Haven Community House board of directors, during a reception attended by dozens of colleagues, family and friends — and even a former pupil — Aug. 21 at the Community House, 227 Elm St.

At the two-hour reception, Herbert, a lifetime board member and former board president of the Community House, was lauded as a pioneer in the field of social services.

“To me, her commitment to the Community House and its work is unmatched for anybody over that length of time,” Heffernan said. “Particularly moving to me is that Pat never loses sight of the real purpose of the Community House, which is helping people.”

An ardent financial supporter of the not-for-profit organization, Herbert was instrumental in developing its Head Start program, establishing its before- and after-school child care program, and initiating its endowment fund, said Patricia W. Stevens, executive director of the Community House.

Three days earlier, Herbert received a mayoral citation from her friend Roberta Defonce on behalf of Rossi during a gathering of friends and loved ones at Biagetti’s Restaurant, 77 Campbell Ave.

Rossi praised Herbert, whose actual birthday was Aug. 20, in the citation, saying: “I hope you reflect with pride on the memories you have made and the lives you have touched. Your accomplishments represent an important chapter in the story of West Haven and epitomize everything great about our city.”

In the Community House’s 2011 annual report, Herbert was affectionately called “a living time capsule of West Haven history.”

Herbert, a former professor of education at Southern Connecticut State University, taught at Noble Elementary School and served on the Board of Education.

She also served as chairman of the Conservation and Open Space Land Commission and was president of the West Haven Garden Club.

A champion for open space, Herbert is a founding member of the Land Trust of West Haven.

 

WHCH to mark Herbert 100th

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Pictured are Patricia “Pat” Herbert shaking hands with Mitch Silverberg, son of Sid Silverberg, Community House executive director from 1957 to 1970, at the agency’s 75th anniversary party on the West Haven Green in 2016. Looking on are Patricia Stevens, current executive director and Mary Jane Morrissey, current board member and past board president of the Community House.

For longtime Board of Directors member Patricia “Pat” Herbert, the Community House, as well as her former school students and many others in West Haven, have been among her extended family. These days, Pat, who first began serving on the Community House Board more than 40 years ago, remains active, even as she is approaching her 100th birthday.

A past Community House Board president, Herbert has served many other local organizations in her time, including the library, Board of Education, Girl Scouts, and religious and civic groups, including being a founding member of the West Haven Land Trust, among others.

Pat was extremely active in the development of the Community House’s Head Start program and helped to establish their before and after school child care program in partnership with the West Haven Board of Education. However, her most enduring work has been with the initiation of the Community House Endowment Fund, which was established to ensure that the agency would sustain and thrive for many more years to come. Pat is a long time financial supporter of this fund and urges citizens to consider making a donation or bequest to support the Community House’s Endowment Fund as a way to leave a lasting legacy.

Community House Board President, Bill Heffernan, marveled at Pat’s commitments and achievements.

“To me, her commitment to the Community House and its work is unmatched for anybody over that length of time. Particularly moving to me is that Pat never loses sight of the real purpose of the Community House, which is helping people. I can still hear her say, ‘If we don’t take care of each other, who will?’ and I think that sentiment sums up what Pat is all about. She’s just phenomenal.”

Pat Herbert is certainly one of a kind, and the West Haven Community House has been very fortunate, indeed, to have her in its corner. Friends of Patricia Herbert are invited to join in a reception at the Community House on Tuesday, Aug. 21, between 1-3 p.m., and to share congratulatory wishes on this milestone birthday for an extraordinary woman. Guests are encouraged to donate to the Patricia Herbert Endowment Fund in her honor.

Please call (203) 934-5221 to reserve a place at the reception.

 

WHCH installs new directors

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The West Haven Community House recently installed its new Board of Directors for the upcoming business year. The agency, which has provided social and educational help for families in the city for the past 77 years, installed a new president and added board members. They are: incoming Presdient Bill Heffernan, III., and members John Lewis, Edward O’Brien, Pam O’Neill, Elizabeth Johnston and Ken Prisco.

At the West Haven Community House’s recent board of directors meeting, the 2018-19 slate of new board officers and members was announced. Ken Prisco, outgoing president, welcomed incoming president, Bill Heffernan, III; first vice president, Katie Heffernan-Farrell, second vice president John F. Onofrio; treasurer, James Turcio, secretary Jay Brennan, and assistant secretary, Gene Sullivan. Also, four new board members were inducted including Elizabeth Johnston, John Lewis; Edward O’Brien, former West Haven Mayor; and Pamela O’Neill.

Prior to the start of his board service in 2010, Incoming Board President Bill Heffernan was no stranger to the Community House as he was instrumental in serving on the agency’s annual Golf Committee from 1999 to 2012, and was the recipient of the Community House’s Certificate of Appreciation in 2001 and 2004 and the Pauline Lang Award in 2014.

“In all the years that Bill has been involved with the Community House, he has never once said no to anything asked of him,” said Community House Executive Director, Patty Stevens. “Bill has been an integral part of a variety of Community House’s board committees including our Executive Committee, Buildings & Grounds, Nominating, and Fund Development committees. In addition, Bill played a pivitol role in the planning and execution of our annual fundraising events, and especially, our 75th Anniversary events in 2016,” Stevens continued, “..we look forward to his leadership in the next fiscal year.”

Heffernan is the son of schoolteachers Evelyn and the late William Heffernan, Jr., of West Haven. He has three siblings: a sister Katie Farrell, a social worker and incoming first Vice-President of the board at the West Haven Community House; a brother, Daniel, an attorney; and another sister Nancy, also a school teacher. He and his wife Anne Marie have two children, Anita and William Heffernan IV. Heffernan, has deep roots in the city of West Haven and is well known throughout the community, especially for his 25-years of service with the West Haven Fire Department, currently holding the rank of Lieutenant.

During his career he has been the recipient of two unit Citations, was awarded the Distinguished Service Award and the Medal of Meritorious Service, and he is a proud member of West Haven Professional Firefighters Local 1198.

In addition, he has been a member of the West Haven Elks Lodge 1537 for over 30 years, the West Haven Historical Society, and a member of the Village Improvement Association, which is the Board of Directors for the West Haven Public Library. He also realized a life-long dream of spending a month in Nepal hiking Mount Everest making it to the base camp in the Fall of 2017.

 

‘Read Across America’ marked at WHCH

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Mayor Nancy Rossi paid a visit to the Community House celebration of Read Across America Day, and read two stories to the children.

Preschoolers from West Haven Community House’s Head Start program joined millions of other students across the country to celebrate the 21st annual “Read Across America Day.” The annual reading motivation and awareness event calls for every child in every community to pick up a book and read on March 2, the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss. The event, which began in 1998 by the National Education Association, is the nation’s largest celebration of reading with more than 45 million participants, both young and old, fostering the love of reading.

A couple of special visitors joined in the celebration to read some books from the library of Dr. Seuss to the Head Start preschoolers. First came “Cat in the Hat,” aka Kelly Ruickoldt, Head Start office manager, who was greeted with hugs from the wide-eyed preschoolers.

Preschoolers from West Haven Community House’s Head Start program marked the 21st annual “Read Across America Day” with guest appearances, including “The Cat in the Hat.”

The Cat handed out lollipop-shaped coloring books to the children in each of the eight classrooms after a theatrical reading of “Fox in Socks.”

Mayor Nancy Rossi stopped by to read to the children as they sat quietly and giggled occasionally at the tongue twisting, rhyming rendition of “Hop on Pop’ and ‘I Can Read with My Eyes Shut.”

For more than seven decades, the Community House has been the cornerstone social service agency in West Haven with programs to help individuals and families achieve success in their lives and realize bright futures.

The Head Start school readiness program offers preschoolers the educational foundation they need to be socially, emotionally and mentally prepared for Kindergarten.

Each of the 144 children in the Head Start program received a brand new, hard cover book donated by Read to Grow, a nonprofit organization that provides books to families and to programs and helps parents create language-rich homes in which children can develop critical early skills.