The week in photos – February 20, 2020

United States Army veteran Freddy Jackson has been named West Haven African- American Citizen of the Year by the West Haven Black Heritage Committee said Committee Chairman Steven R. Mullins. Jackson will share the honor with the late Teresa S. Blackwell, former head of welfare services in the City of West Haven.

The late Teresa S. Blackwell, former head of welfare services for the city has been named West Haven African- American Citizen of the Year by the West Haven Black Heritage Committee said Committee Chairman Steven R. Mullins. She will share the honor with United States Army veteran Freddy Jackson.

Rossi, center, joins Dorothy and William McCarthy during the city’s 30th annual Valentine’s Day party at West Haven Elks Lodge 1537 on Friday. The McCarthys, who have been married for 70 years, were among 28 couples married for at least 50 years who were honored at the two-hour event, presented by the mayor’s office. Rossi recognized the McCarthys as the event’s oldest couple, presenting them with a bottle of Champagne and a gift-wrapped pendant courtesy of Leslie Jewelers of West Haven. Lou and Maryann Celone, who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in May 2019, were recognized as the youngest couple.

Newlyweds Stefanie Kavanagh and Jason Paul Carasone, center, are joined by, from left, Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, Justice of the Peace Rosa Richard- son and City Clerk Patricia C. Horvath at City Hall on Friday. Kavanagh and Carasone were among seven city couples united in matrimony on Valentine’s Day as part of an annual service sponsored by the city clerk’s office, which offers free weddings to the first seven couples who apply for marriage licenses at City Hall. The weddings, performed by a justice of the peace, took place hourly.

The oyster industry was a big part of the Quinnipiac River area in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Acorn Group Vice President Gary S. Letendre, second from right, leads Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, center, on a site tour of Acorn’s budding Park View mixed-use development on Cellini Place. With them are, from left, A.P. Construction Co. project manager Kevin Deane, Svigals + Partners managing partner Jay Brotman and Rossi’s executive assistant, Lou Esposito.

Chairman of the West Haven High School Building Committee, Ken Carney, stands on the future basketball floor of the reconstructed building. The new gym will join the main office, cafeteria, media center and auditorium when completed. Not in the original plans, the gym was added when regulators saw that the old gym was not in conformity to current flood requirements.

West Haven Voice Historian Dan Shine recently met with sixth grade students of Carrigan Middle School and gave a pictorial Powerpoint presentation titled “All About West Haven.” The intent of the presentation was to make the students aware of what was special and unique about their home town, both in the present and in the past. Without leaving the classroom, the students toured Downtown West Haven, Allingtown, and West Haven’s Shoreline. This presentation was made in answer to a request by Sixth Grade teachers Mrs. Linda Sampietro and Mrs. Kelly Hanson.

Vincent Nitido Jr., center, receives citations Friday from state Rep. Charles J. Ferraro and Mayor Nancy R. Rossi honoring his father, the late Vincent Nitido, Sr., as a brilliant mind in the industry of candy-making who created the famous Mounds bar 100 years ago. Nitido, Sr., a West Haven resident at the time, introduced the dark chocolate and coconut-filled candy bar in 1920 as a single piece for 5 cents. A century later, his achievement was celebrated by the city he called home. During a presentation at City Hall, fittingly held on Valentine’s Day, Rossi read the citation to Nitido Jr., saying: “On the centennial of your father’s iconic confectionary invention, the great people of our city join me in admiring his ingenuity in bringing his vision to fruition. We are proud of your father’s inspiring contributions to our local identity. We are also proud of you for preserving his daring legacy and undying spirit for generations to come.” On behalf of the city’s delegation, Ferraro, (R-117), presented Nitido, Jr., 85, of Brown Street, with the General Assembly citation in recognition of his father’s milestone. Nitido Sr. died in 1954.

Combining fine motor skills, with creativity, Adilyn Sanders, age 2, a student at the West Haven Child Development Center, Inc. stamps a face, then demonstrates the matching emotion!

Notre Dame honored its Class of 2020 basketball seniors at its annual Senior Night Game on Friday, a 62-43 win over Fairfield Prep.

As part of a ceremony celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day, members of the West Haven Girls Basketball and Department of Parks and Recreation’s Summer Fun leagues were among 100 girls recognized before the Quinnipiac University women’s basketball game against Siena College at the People’s United Center in Hamden on Feb. 8. The special event, which included free admission for girls and their families, featured a postgame autograph session and meet-and-greet with Quinnipiac players.

Tenique Gates drives for the hoop in the Westies loss to Sheehan on Senior Night Monday.