The Town of Hamden Office of Housing and Neighborhood Development in conjunction with the CT Fair Housing Center will be hosting a Fair Housing Workshop/Luncheon on Wednesday, February 8^th from 12-1pm at the Keefe Community Center Lounge. The program will focus on housing discrimination and will be presented in Spanish. Lunch will be provided.

Housing discrimination is illegal throughout

the state of Connecticut. It is against the law

to deny anyone housing based on:

· Race

· Color

· National Origin

· Sex

· Ancestry

· Religion

· Children or Family Status

· Mental or physical disability

· Marital Status

· Age (except minors)

· Sexual Orientation

· Legal Source of Income

Looks like my childhood dog, Sandy. Please help.

HAMDEN -- OK, so what's with Jim Pascarella saying he wanted to retreat back to private life for a while?
He's back in the saddle, though not as much of a time-consuming one.
Pascarella on Thursday night was appointed to Myron Hul's vacancy on the Board of Education.
He had been nominated by the Democratic Town Committee to do so, and the school board picked him over two other unknowns whose resumes they received Thursday night.
Pascarella decided to not to run for the Legislative Council again in November so he could spend more time on his insurance business. As council president, he worked across party lines.
He's joining the school board at just the right time: Tuesday at 6 p.m. begins the board's review of the school superintendent's proposed $81.8 million budget for 2012-13.

HAMDEN -- Can't let the weekend begin without saying "good job" to these good eggs.

The annual Hamden Community Service Awards Dinner will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 28) at the Elks Lodge, 175 School St.

The event will honor Hamden Citizen of the Year Michael J. Reilly; Outstanding Police Detective John Marks; Firefighter of the Year Deputy Fire Marshal Brian C. Dolan and Volunteer Firefighter of the Year Robert Mark.

The evening will include dinner, cash bar and awards ceremony. The public is welcome. Tickets are $20 a person and you can buy them at the door or call the lodge at 203-248-2224.

Proceeds will support the Elks many youth and veterans projects and area charities.

Reilly is president of Hamden Fathers' Baseball Association and h as been a coach and board member for 32 years. He has held leadership positions with Hamden Fathers’ Basketball, Hamden Fathers’ Girls Softball, and with educational organizations.

Marks, a 23-year veteran member of the police force, and is the department’s representative to the Connecticut Special Olympics. He is president of the Walter Camp Football Foundation Inc. and has coached high school and Little League softball.

Dolan, on the Fire Department of eight years, has been acting fire marshal and is a certified life safety educator. He was part of a crew that received letters of commendation for saving an infant in respiratory distress.

Mark, has a volunteer fireman for over 34 years, 25 in Hamden. He coordinates the annual Hamden Volunteer Fire Department annual food drive to benefit the Hamden Food Bank, is chairman of the Hamden Solid Waste and Recycling Commission and is and has been active in various food bank, Special Olympic and charitable equestrian programs.

HAMDEN -- The League of Women Voters of Hamden-North Haven will host its annual Legislative Breakfast from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the Cultural Arts Center at Whitney Center, 200 Leeder Hill Drive.

A light breakfast will be available at 8:30.

The legislators will have informal discussions about topics of interest with constituents for about 30 minutes. The remainder of the time will be devoted to hearing from each legislator about what are his major concerns will be for the upcoming session in the General Assembly, according to Susan Hoffmann of the league.

Slated to attend are Reps. Alfred Adinolfi, R-Cheshire; David Yaccarino, R-North Haven; Roland Lemar, D-New Haven and House Majority Leader J. Brendan Sharkey and Peter F. Villano, both D-Hamden. Senate Majority Leader Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, and Joseph J. Crisco Jr., D-Woodbridge, also are expected to attend.

CT Food Bank will be delivering a variety of fresh products for a free distribution to limited income households.

Friday, January 27th at 11:00am

Abdul-Majid Karim Hasan Islamic Center

870 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden

For more information call 203.605.3844

Please bring bags to carry your items

If schools are closed due to INCLEMENT WEATHER the Mobile Pantry will be CANCELLED

On Tuesday, May 15, 2012, the Hamden Education Foundation will sponsor the Eleventh Annual Alumni Awards’ Dinner to recognize distinguished Hamden High School alumni ranging from the classes of 1936 through 2002.  This event will be held at Laurel View Country Club,

310 West Shepard Avenue, Hamden

.  If you would like to nominate a Hamden High School graduate for this distinguished award, please submit a letter describing the nominee’s accomplishments and, if available, a résumé to: Wendy Ocone at 60 Putnam Avenue, Hamden, CT 06517 or by email at wocone@hamden.org  by Friday, February 3, 2012. Please include your contact information with your nomination. 

A press release from Hamden:

Hamden's annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. Friday in the Thornton Wilder Hall, Miller Library Complex, 2901 Dixwell Ave.  Bishop Theodore L. Brooks, Sr., pastor of Beulah Heights First Pentecostal Church of New Haven, is keynote speaker.  Mayor Scott D. Jackson will provide comments.  Fifth-grade students from Shepherd Glen School will read “Sketch of Martin Luther King, I Have a Dream.”  The Hamden Youth Preschool will provide musical entertainment, and Barbara Larsen of Hamden’s Youth Services Department and Ann Griffin of St. Paul’s U.A.M.E. Church will perform solos.  

The  is an opportunity to reflect on  King’s life and his mission. The public is invited to attend and light refreshments will be served.  

News from the Hamden PTA Council -- 

At our next meeting, Thursday, January 5, 2012, the Hamden PTA Council will host a legislative forum with members of Hamden’s state delegation.  Join us at 7 PM in the Hamden Middle School Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium.

Since last November, a lot of new legislation has been passed that requires the review and revision of existing education-related laws.  We’ll discuss what has been reviewed and changed, and the recommendations for the upcoming legislative session.  Some hot topics:  Educational Cost Sharing, unfunded mandates, special education funding, individual education plans, teacher evaluations, high school reform,  technical schools, universal pre-K, and higher education funding.

“Hamden’s PTA membership, over 1400 members, accounts for almost 3% of the Connecticut PTSA’s membership,” said Marjorie Clark, VP of HPTA Council’s membership.  “Not only does Hamden have the numbers to backup it’s advocacy for education and children’s issues, we are fortunate to be represented by, and have the ears of, majority leaders in both the Connecticut House and Senate.  Our goal with this forum is to inform parents and citizens about what is happening in Hartford, and to impress upon them that we need their voice to affect change.”

Confirmed attendees are House Majority Leader, Rep. Brendan Sharkey and Rep. Peter Villano.  Also invited but not confirmed at press time are Representatives Roland Lamar, Gary Holder-Winfield and Al Adinolfi and Senators Martin Looney and Joe Crisco.  Members of Hamden’s Board of Education and town government are also encouraged to attend.

Contact:

Marjorie Clark

VP Membership
Hamden PTA Council

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“On October 23, 2011 The North Haven Sons & Daughters of Italy Lodge 2805 sponsored a Fashion Show held at Fantasia Restaurant. A portion of the proceeds for the show were donated to the Y-ME Breast Cancer Support Group, located in Milford, CT.  A check was presented to Doretta Sackville of Y-ME (pictured on right) by the fashion show committee chair MaryEllen Vollano (pictured on left).  Y-ME offers one on one support for those afflicted and their families, “Because no one should face breast cancer alone”.  Y-ME’s info line is 1-800-221-2141.

A press release from Hamden Youth Services --

The Hamden Youth Advisory Council (HYAC) has started a campaign to reduce underage drinking in Hamden.  The HYAC was formed from the Youth Services Bureau, Board of Education, police, faith groups, local businesss, and social service agencies to help Hamden teens stay healthy and drug and alcohol free.  Hamden is part of a statewide initiative to reduce risky teen behaviors, especially underage drinking, sponsored by the Connecticut Department of  Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS).

The initial phase of the campaign kicked off in December with the “Parents who Host Lose the Most” publicity.  The campaign is focused on making parents aware of Connecticut’s Social Host law passed in 2006 that subjects hosts of house parties and their guests to fines and possible arrest if minors present are found to be in possession of alcohol.  This message is especially important over the holidays.

Yard signs are being displayed at Hamden schools and other locations including the YMCA to remind parents of the law.  Local liquor store owners have also agreed to post stickers on their front doors to remind parents.  Cooperating stores include Mt. Carmel Wine and Spirits, Discount Wine and Spirit Shoppe, Amity Wine and Spirit Co., French-Italian Import Co., Hometown Wine and Liquors, Wine Merchants, and A.L.K Wine and Liquors.

The HYAC is also seeking to involve parents and increase their activity in positive youth activities and the HYAC.  Interested parents should contact Beth Chiarillo at the Hamden Youth Services Bureau, 203-777-2610 x137.

Superintendent of Schools Fran Rabinowitz announces the Student of the Month honorees for December 2011 and January 2012.  Students are chosen by their respective schools for demonstrating good citizenship, perseverance, academic progress and service to the school.

Reagan Hamling                          Bear Path School

Attilio LaVecchia

Tawana Gray                               Church Street

School

Cindy Lozada

Justin Radford                            Dunbar Hill School

Sathscia Sowinkong

Christian Ruggiero                      Helen Street

School

Isabella Canas

         

Jamar Washington                      Ridge Hill School

Harrison DelVecchio

Pranya Kadiyala                          Shepherd Glen School

Dyami Wood

Tyzhe Harrison                           Spring Glen School

Nathan Jalowiec

Madelyn Smith                            West Woods School

Christian Gee

Jillian Kahen                                Hamden Middle School

Jenna Jackson

Kortney Leftridge                        Hamden High School        

Kayleigh Darcy                            Hamden High School

Jocelyn Rayas

Taylor Campano

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