SCRCOG holding Zoom meeting to discuss disaster planning Nov. 7

WEST HAVEN, Oct. 24, 2022 — The 15 municipalities in south-central Connecticut, with the help of the South Central Regional Council of Governments, are preparing an update to the region’s Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan.

The plan names natural hazards and their potential impacts to each community, including West Haven. It then identifies activities each community may take to mitigate identified risks.

The plan makes each city and town eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency pre-disaster funding. The grant money may be used for projects that mitigate risk to vulnerable residents, build resilient infrastructure and transit systems, and protect the natural environment.

The plan is each community’s tool to prevent damage from natural hazards. Take the opportunity to voice any concerns and share ideas on a Zoom meeting from 6-7 p.m. Nov. 7.

For more information, read the full SCRCOG News Release.

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Food waste bags
West Haven heralds launch of state’s largest food-to-clean-energy program

WEST HAVEN, Oct. 24, 2022 — The city is “excited” to launch the largest food scrap co-collection program in the history of Connecticut, Mayor Nancy R. Rossi announced.

Starting Nov. 7, West Haven will be the first city in the state to offer a citywide curbside food scrap diversion option to all single-family residents.

Rossi said the program will allow all single-family homes — one, two and three families — to easily separate food scraps and have them collected at the curb in the same container now used for residents’ trash collection.

West Haven and 15 other municipalities have received a Sustainable Materials Management grant from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to develop and launch food-to-clean-energy programs.

Food scrap diversion programs are critical in addressing the state’s waste disposal crisis, said Grant Coordinator Doug Colter, who secured the funding for the city.

Colter said Connecticut is facing a solid waste disposal crisis, as traditional options for disposing of municipal solid waste are diminishing or becoming more expensive. With fewer and rapidly aging disposal options in the state, residents and municipal leaders can expect disposal costs to increase at the remaining waste incineration facilities “as well as out-of-state landfilling,” he said.

“Thirty-five percent of what residents throw away is organic material — food scraps and yard waste — that can be diverted for composting anaerobic digestion to create clean energy,” Colter said.

The West Haven Food to Clean Energy program, funded by a $1.3 million DEEP SMM grant, will launch a nine-month pilot project for curbside food scrap diversion starting Nov. 7. Participation in the program comes at no cost to the 16,000 eligible households.

Colter said the funding will cover the purchase of special color-coded bags for trash and for food scrap separation for the nine-month pilot. It will also cover the cost of educational materials — mailers, a website and a Connect mobile app — along with personnel to sort the bags and the shipment of food scraps to Quantum Biopower in Southington, where the food will be converted into clean electricity, he said.

“We are very excited for West Haven to be leading the way in Connecticut with this innovative, free food-to-clean-energy collection program,” Rossi said. “The DEEP SMM grant allows 16,000 eligible households the opportunity to participate in a program that can have a positive and significant financial and environmental impact for our city. I am encouraging all eligible residents to pick up their free bags and to participate in this important program to show that sustainability programs should be accessible to everyone.”

Starting this week, West Haven residents will receive a mailer with information on the program, instructions to download the Connect app, and locations and times to pick up their free nine-month supply of green and orange bags.

Residents can pick up the free bags at the following locations, dates and times:

— Stop & Shop, 460 Elm St., West Haven, Oct. 29-Nov. 6, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

— Family Dollar, 163 Boston Post Road, West Haven, Oct. 29-Nov. 6, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

— Family Dollar, 1055 Boston Post Road, West Haven, Oct. 29-Nov. 6, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

— ShopRite, 259 Bull Hill Road, Orange, Oct. 29-Nov. 6, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

More information is available on the city website at Food Scrap Recycling.

Halloween Haunt set for Oct. 25 in Painter Park
Halloween Haunt on Tuesday at Painter Park tennis courts

WEST HAVEN, Oct. 24, 2022 — The Department of Parks and Recreation is holding its annual Halloween Haunt on Tuesday at the Painter Park tennis courts, 190 Kelsey Ave. The rain date is Thursday.

The free event, for city residents 12 and younger, includes a candy corn guess and a contest for best decorated pumpkin.

The hunt schedule is 5:30 p.m., ages 3 and younger; 5:50 p.m., ages 4-5; 6:10 p.m., ages 6-7; 6:30 p.m., ages 8-10; and 7 p.m., ages 11-12.

Participants should register 10-15 minutes before their hunt time and must show proof of residence, including a driver’s license, a utility bill or a child’s report card.

Only one adult may assist a child in the hunt for ages 3 and under; all other age groups hunt unassisted.

West Haven’s Halloween on the Green set for Oct. 29
West Haven’s Halloween on the Green set for Saturday

WEST HAVEN, Oct. 24, 2022 — The city’s sixth annual Halloween on the Green is from 5-9:30 p.m. Saturday and will feature a showing of Disney’s “Hocus Pocus.”

The “spooktacular” event for children of all ages will kick off at 5 p.m. with a haunted gazebo, graveyard fun, pumpkin painting and Halloween crafts, followed by a half-hour performance by fire artist Fyrefox at 5:15 p.m.

At 6 p.m., a costume parade and contest, judged by state Rep. Dorinda Borer, D-West Haven, will march around the Green and award prizes.

The Top Hat Dance Academy will perform at 6:30 p.m., followed by the movie showing at 7 p.m.

The free event is presented by the city in partnership with West Haven United, an organization aimed at bringing the city’s volunteer groups together.

Free parking is available in the municipal lot behind City Hall at 355 Main St.

The Franco’s Fried Dough-Licious food truck will sell fried dough, chicken tenders and french fries. West Haven United will sell popcorn, soda and water.

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