Superintendent of Schools Fran Rabinowitz is pleased to announce the honorees for the month of April 2012.  Students are chosen by their respective schools for demonstrating good citizenship, perseverance, academic progress and service to the school.

Olivia Greene                                      Bear Path School

Cesare Quichimbo                      Church Street

School

Gianna Donnarummo                  Dunbar Hill School

Lucas Maione                              Helen Street

School

         

Richard Dawa                             Ridge Hill School

Jeffrey Ahn                                Shepherd Glen School

Brie Coggins                              Spring Glen School

Michael Ciaburri                         West Woods School

Christine Fracasso                      Hamden Middle School

Allegra Nottoli                           Hamden High School        

Erin Harpe                                 Hamden High School

All across the state on Tuesday, law enforcement, in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration, will be collecting unwanted, old prescription drugs. All collections will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

North Haven's collection, sponsored by the North Haven Substance Abuse Action Council and the DEA, will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.  People can bring them  for disposal to Fire Headquarters at 11 Broadway.  Hamden's collection, sponsored by the Police Department and the DEA, will take place in the lobby of Miller Memorial Library, 2901 Dixwell Ave.

Turning in your unused prescription drugs keeps our water clean and prevents young people from abusing them, according to officials.The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

HAMDEN -- The public is invited to participate in "Come Walk With Us," the Greater Hamden CROP Hunger Walk to help fight hunger. Proceeds will benefit St. Ann’s Soup Kitchen and the Hamden Food Bank, as well as feeding people worldwide through Church World Service.
Registration begins at noon and runs through 3 p.m. Sunday, starting at Brooksvale Park, 524 Brooksvale Ave. Participants can walk any distance they choose along the Farmington Canal trail, beginning and ending at the park. There will be live music and refreshments at the park, and the event is scheduled rain or shine.
Walkers can collect pledges, or donations can be made the day of the event at the park, or at any time on-line by choosing Hamden CROP Hunger Walk at www.crophungerwalk.org.
For more information, contact Debbie Laffin at 203-281-3241. The walk is being organized by the Board of Missions and Concerns of Dunbar United Church of Christ.

HAMDEN -- I don't know how the Democratic Town Committee can advertise the event as one that honors "Hamden's newly elected Democratic Team" when they've been wringing their hands over the 2012-12 budget for a long time now.
But in any case, the town committee is inviting the public to its inaugural from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday (May 1) at Cascade banquet facility, 480 Sherman Ave. It's $60 a person, $600 a table.
U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, will be the guest speaker.
And for those of you who may have been hiding under a rock, the persons of honor will be: Mayor Scott D. Jackson, Town Clerk Vera Morrison, Legislative Council district representatives Judi Kozak, Harry Gagliardi, Oswald Brown, David Hennigan, Kathleen Schomaker, R. Thomas Rousseau, Michael Colaiacovo, John DeRosa and Scott Harris, as well as at-large council members Al Gorman, Jack Kennelly, Carol Noble and Berita Rowe-Lewis. The school board guys are Michael D'Agostino and Adam Sendroff.
The fifth annual Gloria C. Sandillo Scholarship Award will be given. It is named after the late beloved town clerk and mayoral aide.
Maybe I'll see you there.
For more info visit http://www.hamdendemocrats.com/ or call Joe McDonagh at 203-288-3890.

HAMDEN -- After you're done with Little League Opening Day and your errands, how about going to West Woods Elementary School?
Mike Bennett and the PTA are having Beautification Day 2012, and volunteers are needed.
You can pull weeds, plant bulbs and flowers, rake leaves, trim hedges -- anything your heart desires!
Bring your family and your tools....blowers, rakes, edgers, shears, shovels, hedge trimmers, gloves.
The event begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday April 28 and runs until 8 p.m.
Have fun!

Hamden's sixth annual Earth Day Celebration is Saturday April 21 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hamden Middle School, 2623 Dixwell Ave.
Here are the highlights, as provided by Pam Roach, Hamden Solid Waste and Recycling Coordinator.

FREE ADMISSION   FREE ACTIVITIES    FREE  SHOWS

9:00am -- Pre-Event Bird Walk lead by Florence McBride

10:00am-1:00pm -- WTNH Weathervan

10:00am-1:00pm -- Petting Zoo

10:30am Reptile Show by Hamden High School

11am, Noon, 2pm - Organic Land Care Workshops by NOFA

11:30am and 12:30pm --C.J. May's Magic Shows

Noon -- Orchid Awards presented by Mayor Scott D. Jackson

1:00pm -- ART FARM - A Circus for a Fragile Planet

ALL DAY -- Carbon Nation - A Climate Change Solutions Movie

ALL DAY -- CT Child Identification Program

ALL DAY -- Amber Alert Registration

• Bring your old cell phones, ink cartridges and eyeglasses for recycling
• Bring your old used sneakers for recycling in the Nike ReuseAShoe program. Old athletic shoes are recycled into a material used to produce a variety of athletic surfaces including basketball courts, running tracks and playground surfacing. Only athletic shoes accepted – dry, no mud please.
• Bring a rechargeable battery and be entered into a drawing for a $25 Home Depot Gift Certificate

FREE RAFFLE for CHILDREN'S BIKE (and helmet) donated by D'Aniello's Amity Bike ($250 value)

and SO MUCH MORE !!!

 

 

NORTH HAVEN – Town firefighters are raising money today for the Atlantic Regional Fire Fighters Burn Foundation.

The event will take place from 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday (4/19) at Buffalo Wild Wings, 350 Universal Drive North.

Buffalo Wild Wings will donate 10 percent of all pre-taxed food sales toward the foundation, according to North Haven fire Lt. Paul Januszewski of Local 2987 of the International Association of Firefighters.

There will be happy hour specials from 4 to 7 p.m.. Fire trucks will be on the scene for children to view.

There also will be a “Blazin' Challenge” for firefighters and police officers, with a maximum of one participant per department. There is a $50 entry fee that includes wings and one draft beer. In order to place one must eat 12 wings in six minutes. To obtain an entry form, email nhfd50@comcast.net.

HAMDEN -- Mayor Scott D. Jackson has proclaimed the week of April 15 to April 22 2012 as Days of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust.  The Town will host a Holocaust Remembrance Day observance at noon Friday in Thornton Wilder Hall, Miller Library Complex.  The ceremony is open to all members of the public and will include a responsive reading and the lighting of seven candles.  This year’s theme is Choosing to Act:  Stories of Rescue, and commemorates the actions of rescuers during the Holocaust.  The stories of ordinary people who chose to intervene and help rescue Jews despite the risks, remind us that individuals have the power to make a difference. 

Our keynote speaker this year will be Renee Glassner of Hamden, a survivor of the Holocaust, who was born in Losice, Poland.  Along with members of her family, Mrs. Glassner  was one of only 16 of the 6,000 Jewish Losice natives who survived the Holocaust.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Rabbi Menachem Piekarski of Chabad of Hamden will provide the invocation.  Dr. Barry Herman of the Ethnic Heritage Center will be the Master of Ceremonies.  Mayor Scott Jackson will provide remarks and a proclamation.  Rabbi Benjamin Scolnic of Temple Beth Sholom will lead the audience in a responsive prayer.  Students from Hamden’s Public and Parochial Schools will participate in a candle lighting ceremony, and Hamden High School students will perform a reading.  Audience members will be invited to make brief comments.  A light lunch will be served following the ceremony.   

This year’s observance is the Town’s tenth Holocaust Remembrance Day.  The United States Congress established the Days of Remembrance as our nation’s annual civic commemoration of the victims of the Holocaust, and as a time for reminding Americans of what can happen to civilized people when bigotry, hatred and indifference reign.

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NORTH HAVEN – Flair for Hair will sponsor its annual “Night for Nurses” from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at 310 Washington Ave.

The event is owner Joyce-Lyn Altieri's way of honoring nursings, whom she feels are the “compassionate and understanding backbones” of the hospital.

Services include a haircut and style, sea salt scrub hand treatments and samples of anti-aging skin care. For more information call 203-234-1111.

HAMDEN -- Hundreds turned out Tuesday for the annual Hamden Chamber of Commerce Business and Community Expo.
They got to try out food from area restaurants and see what area businesses had to offer.
Kim Kasparian, the Success Genie, served as a greeter for those who trickled in from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hamden High School gym. The life and business coach said she likes being a member of the chamber because "it builds great relationships. Hamden's a great community, very friendly. The Expo is an opportunity to introduce your business to others and the community-at-large."
Frank P. Apuzzo Jr., a sales representative for Group Benefit Administrators of Connecticut, a North Haven firm, also was on hand to make introductions to folks about his business.
"We're meeting a lot of neighbors and old friends," said Sue Civitello, who with her husband, Tony, owns CivitelloBiscotti.
The couple manufacturers an all-natural biscotti mixes and their business has exploded.
From the ice cream pies served by Kelly's Kone Konnection to the pizza from Bimonte's, a good time was had by all.

HAMDEN -- Quinnipiac Bank & Trust Company is giving back to the community by donating two Apple I-Pads

One went to Hamden Middle School and one went to ARC of Greater New Haven.  Principal Dan Levy and Assistant Principal Rhonda Jackson,  LuAnn McInnes, executive director of ARC of Greater New Haven were the representatives accepting the donations.

Levy had a contest whereby each teacher had to write a short essay as to why his or her class deserved the I-Pad.  The engineering group won.

ARC of Greater New Haven (Association of Retarded Citizens) is an organization for the handicapped and elderly.  The clients will use the I-Pad on a regular basis.

Back row:  Mike Carrano, Dan Levy, Mark Candido

Sitting:  Rhonda Jackson, LuAnn McInnes

HAMDEN --  Local children and their families are encouraged to attend the SoHa (Southern Hamden) Spring Kid Festival on Wednesday, April 18^th from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Keefe Community Center,

11  Pine Street

in Hamden.  In collaboration, the Town of Hamden Community Services, Arts, Recreation and Culture, the Youth Services Bureau invite area youth for a fun, free day of activities and entertainment.  In addition to arts and crafts, games and other activities, there will be live performances, music and a free cook out!  With support from the Hamden Arts, Recreation and Culture Department, Arts Commission, Fire Department, Police Department, Parks and Public Works, it is sure to be a great day!

            For more information, please call 203 777-2610 or visit us on line @ http://www.hamden.com/ 

NORTH HAVEN -- North Haven resident Marilyn Calderon is executive director of Connecticut Parent Power, an organization that is trying to get the word out about the current education reform bill.
A people's forum will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday (April 14) at the Institute for Technology and Business Development, 185 Main St., New Britain. There is free garage parking on Walnut Street, behind the building.
According to Calderon, Connecticut Parent Power has maintained a neutral perspective on Senate Bill 24, which has drawn many perspectives across the state.
"After meeting with many parents and realizing that there are still many who do not know enough or have some questions and/or ideas that are being talked about…we were compelled to ask parents what they would like to see happen and they suggested a People's Forum that brings all stakeholders together to not only become more knowledgeable on SB 24, but to also come up with some solutions that will best shape the end result for our most vulnerable, our children," Calderon said.
Connecticut Parent Power' s mission is to educate, engage and mobilize parents to act on the issues that matter most to them in the areas of quality early childhood/care/education, health care reform and K-12 schools systems - with a strong focus on prevention with the critical early years of Birth through 8.  "Our belief comes with a deep understanding that we all have a responsibility to raise up our voices to ensure that our legislative/representative leaders are always making the most sound decisions for our children and families across our state in a way that looks at all perspectives fostering democracy in action," she said.

"Through our collaborative People's Forum we hope to facilitate a process that validates and embraces the varying opinions and suggestions that each participant brings.  Then, we will have one facilitator at each round table to foster a dialogue that comes up with a collection of solutions and action steps that continue supporting all children and their families in the long run.  This is an event to work  as a collective process building upon the strengths of the proposed reform with a unified voice. 

"We are looking to have all parents from across the state present at this meaningful event, so please join us," Calderon said.

The event is free. For more information call Calderon at 203-980-8511 or Sasha Davis at 860-888-8889 or register at http://peoplesforurm.eventbrite.com/.

NORTH HAVEN -- First Selectman Michael J. Freda has announced new dates for the annual budget town meeting and referendum.
Earlieri dates had been announced previously because of a clerical error after reading the town charter. The charter says the annual budget town meeting had to be the second Monday in May, and that the referendum would be the following Tuesday.
The budget meeting will be held at 7 p.m. May 14 at North Haven High School. The referendum is from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 22. The Board of Finance will meet at 7 p.m. May 23 to set the tax rate, expected to be 26.54 mills, the same as this year.

HAMDEN -- The Republican Town Committee on Thursday night endorsed Mitt Romney for president, Town Chairman Ron Gambardella announced.

Romney’s name was put into nomination by Legislative Council Minority Leader Austin T. Cesare, R-at large. 

 “Mitt Romney is by far the best candidate to go up against the current incumbent president. Mitt Romney will put America on the path to prosperity and I encourage Hamden Republicans to support his candidacy,” Cesare said after the meeting. 

Gambardella urged all Hamden Republicans to vote on Primary Day, April 24. He also encourages the public to attend town committee meetings held on the first Thursday of the month at the Miller Senior Center at 7:30pm.

He can be reached at 203-281-5512.

  

HAMDEN -- The Democratic Town Committee will hold its regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m. April 16 at the Senior Center, Miller Memorial Library,

2901 Dixwell Ave.

On the agenda will be an election to fill a vacancy in the 5th District.  Anyone interested in being considered for the vacancy should contact Michael Ross, at mross56@comcast.net, and attend the Town Committee meeting on  April 16.

For more information, please contact DTC Chairman Lewis Panzo, at lpanzo@chiallc.com.

NORTH HAVEN -- The North Haven Education Association is inviting parents to a social media and internet safety seminar from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday 4/10 in the North Haven High School auditorium, 221 Elm St. Ext.
Peter Massey, a former Hamden police detective and forensic science professor at the University of New Haven, will give the seminar.
"This will be geared toward parents," said NHEA member Krista Kaplan. "There are a lot of issues with kids’ safety on Facebook and Twitter and how easy it is to get lured onto sites that are dangerous for children."
Topics like identity theft also will be covered, according to Kaplan.
Because of the graphic content, the presentation is not recommended for children, she said. Parents will receive information packets.
Light refreshments will be served.

HAMDEN -- A state Freedom of Information hearing officer has ruled that a 400-page report on the conduct of former Fire Marshal Brian Badamo should be released to the New Haven Register.
Hearing Officer Lisa Fein Siegel, in a proposed final decision on March 29, said that after an inspection of the report, which investigated conflict of interest allegations against the fire marshal, "it is found that all of the requested records pertain to a legitimate matter of public concern," and that the information in the records "is not highly offensive to a reasonable person."
Those two elements must be established in determining whether a disclosure of records would constitute an invasion of personal privacy, according to the Supreme Court, in a Connecticut case known as Perkins v. Freedom of Information Commission.
Notified by the town that there was a request for his records, Badamo intervened, saying in early June 2011 he didn't want his personnel file to be released. Siegel concluded that the town had no duty under the FOI Act to notify Badamo of the request for the records and should have "promptly disclosed the report to the complainants." (Besides the Register and reporter Ann DeMatteo, former Fire Chief Timothy Sullivan asked for the report; the FOIC consolidated his complaint with the Register's.)
Siegel is recommending that the New Haven Register receive the report, free of charge. The complaint is scheduled to be disposed of at a meeting of the full FOIC at 2 p.m. April 25 at the commission office in Hartford. The commission will take oral arguments at the time, and is expected to rule on the case.