Volume 2, edition 7

West River Neighborhood Services Corporation, Inc.

West River News

Special points of in- Congratulations to our ence, his men, and how
terest: district manager Lt. he made himself avail-
Ray Hassett upon his
West River Water Festival to
be held Saturday, July 14,
retirement from the
2012, from 1:00-4:00 at the New Haven Police De-
West River Memorial Park partment. We wish
located at Derby Avenue and him and his family
Ella T. Grasso Boulevard.
well, and will miss his
There will be free family fun,
canoe rides, birding, mer- dedicated service to
maids and pirates. Contact the Dwight and West
Kathy Fay at (203) 865-5615 River communities
for details. where he served for
many years. It can
Weekly West River clean-up truly be said that he
Derby Avenue and Norton made a difference in
Street 8:00 a.m. and garden
our lives in his pres-
party at 32 Mead Street from
9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.
Good News
Board Officers
The WRNSC Little Red
Stacy Spell, President
Hen Community Gar-
John Fitzpatrick, Vice- den is finally about to
President start after having had
Aaron Darden, Treasurer to cap the contami-
Secretary, OPEN
nated soil with land-
scape fabric, clean fill
Board Members
and mulch. The first
Ann Greene three raised beds were
Cindy von Beren constructed last week
and will be filled with
Frank Panzarella
compost soon. The
Paula Panzarella lease with the city is to
Joyce Poole be signed, an all the
related documents
Virginia Spell
have been put together,
Patti Walker and the next step is to
able to all. Let us hope
his replacement is just
as qualified and pro-
fessional as he was.
We wish you the best
of luck.
We also extend the
best of luck to Daryl
McMillan, the property
manager of Berger
Brothers Apartments
as he moves on to an-
other position.
get donated vegetable make this community
plants into the raised garden a success need
beds. The first two beds not apply. There is a
went to those that vision to have a chicken
worked in the commu- coop for eggs, and a bee-
nity garden to bring it hive for honey. This a
to this point, the re- chance for us grow our
maining bed will be a own food, exercise in a
community bed to feed healthy way and find a
with fresh vegetables. new found joy in meet-
There are more beds ing neighbors that we
available to those that might not normally
are willing to sign a con- come in contact with.
tract and labor in the Let’s teach and illus-
community garden. trate to our children
Those not willing to put what sustainable living
in the sweat equity to is all about.
PAGE 2
President’s Report
Peace and Blessings.
The hot days of summer are
upon us and as a community we
have been thriving, and not had
any major incidents of violent
crime. It doesn’t mean that
we’re without problems, such as
prostitution and young men
selling drugs throughout small
pockets of West River, but I’m
serving notice to them that
their illegal activity will not be
tolerated and that the police
will be called every time I and
those that think like me see
them engaging in their crimes.
In these months where are chil-
dren are out of school, we have
to safeguard them from activity
that is detrimental to their be-
ing and protect them from
harm. Stray bullets and gunfire
don’t have anyone’s name on
them when they are let loose.
I’m amazed how a small per-
centage of people engaged in
criminal activity can make life
hard for the multitude of those
that live, work, and call West
River home. On a recent Satur-
day morning while conducting
the weekly cleaning up in the
area of Derby Avenue and Nor-
ton Street there was number of
addicts and prostitutes loitering
in the area of the closed bar and
the string of loud disgusting ob-
scenities, and disorderly behav-
ior coming from them, no
woman, or child should have to
hear. After enduring all I could
I called the police to have them
removed from the area. I say
WEST RIVER NEWS V O LU M E 2 , E D I T I O N 7
this to set the example that all
of us have to call the police
when we see or hear unwar-
UPCOMING
ranted behavior. I called them
and will continue to call (203) MEETING DATES:
946-6316 daily, and multiple
times if I have to, so that West
General Body
River can be that peaceful vi-
brant community. I can’t state July 24
enough that we have to be vigi-
August 28
lant and not wait until some-
one’s child or family member September 25
falls prey to violence. You have October 23
more power from behind your
November 27
living room curtains to stop
crime in our community by just December 18
simply notifying the police at
observing or hearing any sus-
picious activity. Board
July 11
We want to continue to engage
our neighbors and look out for August 8
one another. It’s my desire that September 12
we pay close attention to the
October 10
children of our community, be-
ing mindful that they are every November 14
where playing and that upon
December 12
every ball rolling or an ice
cream truck in the street a
child is likely to be chasing af-
ter it. As we travel the streets
of our community be aware of
your vehicle’s speed.
The West River Neighborhood
Services Corporation welcomes
you to attend our meeting on
July 24th at 6:00 p.m. at the
Barnard Environmental Stud-
ies Magnet School Cafetorium
located at 170 Derby Avenue.
Come out and have a slice of
pizza, Bring us your thoughts
and ideas, and help shape
where we live.