HAMDEN -- A fall festival celebrating everything Whitneyville takes place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15..
Local vendors, artisans, musicians and businesses will gather for the Whitneyville Fall Festival at Putnam and Whitney avenues. Parking is in the municipal lot.
There will be jewelry, art, photography, children’s activities, face painting, book readings, yoga demonstrators and more.
For more information visit the Whitneyville Fall Festival facebook.com page.

HAMDEN -- The 12th annual Brooksvale Fall Festival is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the park at 524 Brooksvale Ave. The rain date is Sunday Oct. 16.
There will be music, all kinds of activities like hay rides and pony rides. All sorts of displays, including the reptires taken care of by the Hamden High School Reptile Club. Admission is free but there is a charge for some activities.


NORTH HAVEN -- The annual business expo, "Show and Sell," takes place Saturday Oct. 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at North Haven High School, 221 Elm St. Ext. 10/15
The public is invited to see what local businesses have to offer. There will be give-aways and items for sale, including food.
New this year is child care provided by Sunnyside Up, and there will be children’s entertainment and activities so parents can view the expo.

HAMDEN -- The League of Women Voters of Hamden-North Haven and the Hamden Land Trust Alliance is co-sponsoring a mayoral debate that will focus on open space and sustainability from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday Oct. 18.
It will be held at Thornton Wilder Hall, Miller Cultural Complex, 2901 Dixwell Ave. Democratic Mayor Scott D. Jackson, attorney Matthew Corcoran, the Republican candidate, and Charles Baltayan, a businessman who is the independent candidate, will participate.
For more information, contact Eileen M. O’Neill at Eileen@eoecodesigns.com.

NORTH HAVEN -- North Haven’s Substance Abuse Action Council is offering a free parent education series, Courage to Speak-Courageous Parenting 101® developed by the Courage to Speak® Foundation starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18..
The free four-part class, which will also be at 7 p.m. Oct. 25, Nov. 1 and Nov. 15, will teach parents about substance abuse and give them the knowledge and skills to keep children safe.
Parents will learn effective communication strategies; gain confidence to talk to their children about the dangers of drugs; understand how to set clear rules and boundaries with their children related to use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs; and gain confidence in knowing how to deal with substance use among their children.
For more information contact: Nancy Leddy, North Haven Community Services at 203-239-5321 or leddy.nancy@town.north-haven.ct.us, and visit http://www.couragetospeak.org/.

NORTH HAVEN -- The North Haven Fire Department, in conjunction with the North Haven Fire Commission, will host a series of open houses for town residents to view the condition of fire stations that are being considered for a $9 million renovation.
All fire stations will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday Oct. 16 and  Nov. 20.
Residents can also visit the Montowese Co. 2, 282 Quinnipiac Ave., from 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays; Northeast Co. 4, 268 Washington Ave., from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays; fire headquarters, 11 Broadway, from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays and West Ridge Co. 3, 1331 Ridge Road, from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays.
Firefighters will be on duty at all stations to answer any questions.

NEW HAVEN -- The Saint Patrick’s Neighborhood Reunion Committee will hold its 15th anniversary dinner at 12:30 p.m. Oct. 23 at Anthony’s Ocean View.
This year’s honorees are North Haven First Selectman Michael J. Freda and his late father Michael A. Freda, Ben Tortora of New Haven, and the Rev. Francis Carter of St. Bernadette’s Church. The honorees will be presented with plaques in recognition of their service and dedication to their communities.
For tickets call John Ragozzino 203-239-3229, Anthony Mastriano 203-239-0025, Antoinette Mangler 203-469-2465, or John Fabrizio 203-777-2721

Before I mention the activities in our towns that are coming up, I'd like to tell you what I'm working on. The Hamden Board of Ed the other night gave out raises to the two assistant superintendents. And, Hamden Mayor Scott D. Jackson said that the town is getting close to solidifying a contract for the takeover of the transfer station.
Also coming up in the New Haven Register are profiles of the candidates running for state representative and senator.

FALL FEST AT BROOKSVALE
Saturday Oct. 16 marks the 11th annual Brooksvale Fall Festival. It's from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the park at 524 Brooksvale Ave., off Route 10 in Hamden. New this year is Farmer Brooks' Barnyard. There will be 11 food vendors, so bring a little cash for that, as well as for some of the activities. Most of the activities are free. There will be a lot to do, from hayrides, to a climbing wall, to pony rides from 1 to 3. There's also a hay maze, face painting and you can bring old clothes for scarecrow making. There'll be mustic in the Big Red Barn all day. Exhibitors include the Hamden High Reptile Club, New Haven Mineral Club and Lops R Us. Sounds like a great time. In case of inclement weather, check the website, http://www.brooksvale.org/, or call the park after 8 a.m., 203-287-2669.

IS IT THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN?

The Arresting Souls Motor Cycle Club will have its first annual Officer Andy Sanchez Memorial Toy Run to benefit U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots on Oct. 17.

The event will begin at the Foxon Community Center on Route 80 in East Haven, with registration taking place from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. The ride will go to JRoo’s, 249 State St., North Haven.

Riders and the public are invited to bring an unwrapped toy to JRoo’s for Toys for Tots.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

On Tuesday Oct. 19, 2010, the West Woods Neighborhood Association will meet at 7 p.m. at the Mount Carmel Congregational Church on Whitney Avenue in the parish center. Informative guest speakers on the docket in addition to updates on the DOT project, student housing and traffic calming issues. Please mark your calendars.

ENERGY ACTION

American Legion Post 76 is sponsoring a talk by John Betkoski, vice chairman of the Department of Public Utility Control. He will be talking about electric rates and other energy issues. The free meeting is at 7 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Post home, 20 Church St., North Haven.