Annual festival sure to delight nature lovers

Look to the skies



NEW HAVEN — Hawk-watchers spend plenty of rapturous fall days out at Lighthouse Point Park as eagles, peregrine falcons and more soar overhead, but this weekend, even casual nature lovers will find plenty to do.
The annual Lighthouse Point Park Migration Festival — A Celebration of Birds, Butterflies and Dragonflies runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Activities include live hawk and owl shows, wild bird banding, a Long Island Sound creature touch tank, carousel rides, tours of the lighthouse, music by Blue Trail Band, butterfly tagging and bird walks. Chris Loscalzo will lead a bird walk at 8 a.m., and Flo McBride will lead a children’s walk at 9:30 a.m. Wind Over Wings will do a live raptor show at 11:15 a.m. and, at 1:30 p.m., there’s a falconry demonstration from Skyhunters in Flight.
The Migration Festival is sponsored by city Department of Parks, Recreation & Trees; New Haven Bird Club; Connecticut Butterfly Association; Audubon Connecticut; and Northeast HawkWatch, to name a few.
Suggested donation is $5 per carload, and proceeds go toward next year’s event. Lighthouse Point Park is located at 2 Lighthouse Point Road. For a complete list of events, go to http://www.ctbirding.org/2010docs/2010MigrationFestSchedule.pdf.

Contributed photo: Brian Bradley of Skyhunters showed a free-flying barn owl at a previous Lighthouse Point Park Migration Festival in New Haven.

CRRA to hold electronics recycling collection

Residents from many area towns can participate

The Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority will hold its next electronics recycling collection on 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 2 at the CRRA Essex transfer station, located off Route 9’s Exit 4.
An advertisement in some media incorrectly indicated the date of the event. CRRA apologizes for the confusion, an agency spokesman said.
CRRA will offer bulk paper shredding at this event.
The collection is free and open to residents of towns that participate in CRRA’s Mid-Connecticut Project, including North Branford, Guilford, Madison, Killingworth, Clinton, Westbrook, Old Saybrook, Essex, Deep River, Chester, Haddam, East Hampton, Portland, Middlefield, Durham, and Cromwell.
Full details are at http://www.crra.org/

The wheels are turning at Yale-New Haven

NEW HAVEN - Yale-New Haven Hospital received the "Innovative New Transportation Demand Management Program Award" at the fifth annual New England Transportation Demand Management Conference, the hospital said in a statement.

"The award is given to an organization that has implemented an innovative transportation demand management program," the statement said.

YNHH "launched its Traffic Demand Management program three years ago, encouraging use of alternative travel modes, reducing the demand on parking, minimizing congestion on local roadways, improving air quality and responding to rising fuel costs," the statement said.

"We're really proud not only to receive this prestigious award, but to have been nominated by our partner in our efforts to provide commuter options - Rideworks of Greater New Haven," Nick Proto, director of protective services and parking at YNHH said in the statement.

"More and more of our employees are taking advantage of the various options available to cut down on commuting."

In the three years since the hospital initiated its official TDM efforts, the program has evolved and now includes options such as public transit subsidies, carpooling incentives and employee shuttles as well as new bicycle racks, lockers and showers, the statement said.

Yale-New Haven's TDM program has reduced employee car usage at the hospital by more than 460 vehicles per day since the program began.

Additionally, to help minimize traffic congestion, the hospital worked with the city to encourage the installation of re-designed traffic signals at 13 key intersections to enhance the flow of traffic and help ensure pedestrian safety, the statement said.

In the photo: Shown with the "Innovative New Transportation Demand Management Program Award" is Proto, with Jean Stimolo, executive director, Rideworks of New Haven, YNHH's partner in Transportation Demand Management efforts.

New Haven NAACP slates election schedule #NHV

The Greater New Haven Branch of the NAACP will hold several upcoming meetings for the purpose of election of officers and at-large members of the executive committee.
These include, with all sessions to be held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 111 Whalley Ave.:
- Election of Nominating Committee, 7 p.m. Sept. 30. All members whose memberships are current as of 30 days prior to the meeting may be elected to the Nominating Committee.
- Report of Nominating Committee, receipt of nominations by petition, election of the Election Supervisory Committee, 7 p.m. Oct. 21. All members whose memberships are current as of April 1, 2010 may be nominated for office or as an at-large member of the Executive Committee. In order to sign a nominating petition, or be elected to the Election Supervisory Committee, a member must be current as of 30 days prior to the October meeting.
- Election of officers and at-large members of the Executive Committee, 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 18. In order to vote in a Branch election, one must be a member in good standing of the Branch 30 days prior to the election. A form of identification is required.
For more information, call the Branch office at 203-389-7275.

Take a walk in Wooster Square

And let others lead the way...

NEW HAVEN — Theresa Argento, Ann Proto and Grace Iovene once again invite walkers to tour historic Wooster Square at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Christopher Wigren and Robert Grzywacz of the New Haven Preservation Trust will lead the annual tour past notable homes and St. Michael’s Church, the state’s oldest Italian church.
Meet at the Christopher Columbus statue in Wooster Square on Chapel Street. For more information, call 203-271-0945.

New Haven aldermen honor 34 police officers

NEW HAVEN — The Board of Aldermen has honored 33 city police officers and one Hamden officer for their roles in solving three city killings.
"I am proud to wear the New Haven Police Services uniform and join our community in celebrating the hard work of these men and women," said Chief Frank Limon. "New Haven Patrol Officers, Detectives and a Hamden Police Officer are being recognized for there outstanding teamwork, quick response and investigative skills for solving the city’s last three homicides cases.
The group received aldermanic citations.
Sgt. David Guliuzza and patrol officers Pedro Colon, Christopher Camerron, Luis Lopez, Ryan Przybylski, Christopher Elliott, Charles Kim, Ann Mays, Steven Cunningham, Nikki Curry, Bobby Jones, Marc DeCarvalho, John Pleckaitis and Hamden Officer Joseph Ligori were honored.
Also recognized from the detective bureau were: Sgts. Robert Criscuolo, James Grasso, Alfonzo Vazquez, Otoniel Reyes and Rachael Cain and Detectives Brett Runlett, Alberto Merced, Elisa Tuozzoli, Christopher Perrone, Michael Wuchek, James Naccarato, Angela Augustine-Daye, Scott Branfuhr, Raghue Tennant, Carlos Maldonado, Bertram Ettienne, Wayne Bullock, David Zaweski, Craig Dixon and Nicole Natale.

Effort underway to form Native American cultural group in New Haven

NEW HAVEN — There will be an organizational meeting of people working to establish a new Native American cultural group in New Haven from 9 to 11 a.m. Sept. 24 at 545 Whalley Avenue.
All Native Americans and those who wish to know more about the heritage and culture are invited to attend the meeting, organizers said. For more information, call 203-215-1521.

Renowned Cold Case Investigator and Bestselling Author To Speak at UNH

The event is free and open to the public

WEST HAVEN - The University of New Haven Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences will hold a public lecture and book signing featuring cold case investigator Richard Walter and bestselling author Michael Capuzzo, the university said in a statement.

The event begins at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9, at Dodds Theatre, UNH Main Campus.

The two will discuss Capuzzo’s recently released bestseller, “The Murder Room: The Heirs of Sherlock Holmes Gather to Solve the World’s Most Perplexing Cold Cases,” the statement said.

Capuzzo and Walter will highlight the Vidocq Society and how it came into existence, the statement said.

"The Vidocq Society is a secretive cold case investigation organization named for Eugene Francois Vidocq, the ground-breaking 19th-century French detective," the statement said.

Eighty-two of the world’s greatest detectives, one for each year in Vidocq’s life, meet monthly in Philadelphia to solve cold murders over lunch, the statement said.

"Vidocq Society members come from 17 states and 11 foreign countries including the FBI, Interpol, Scotland Yard, N.Y.P.D., the U.S. Navy and the Egyptian Army. They are medical examiners, blood-spatter experts, anti-terrorism investigators, chemists, anthropologists and experts in every imaginable forensic field who work pro bono to catch cold-case killers and bring justice to grieving families."

To view a preview of coverage of “The Murder Room” that will be aired on ABC’s “20/20 on September, 21, 2010, visit here.

The event is sponsored by the UNH Criminal Justice Department and is free and open to the public. Books may be purchased for signing and will be available at the UNH bookstore, the statement said.

"The Murder Room” highlights some of the Vidocq Society’s most famous cases, including “The Case of the Prodigal Son,” the story of how an investigator’s psychological acumen solved the murder of a millionaire’s son who had run away to Texas and was brutally murdered by a manipulative girlfriend; “The Fast Food Killer,” the story of a grisly slaughter at a Roy Rogers restaurant after closing time; and “The Boy in the Box,” a 50-year-old murder that made national headlines and still haunts Philadelphia to this day, the statement said. For more information, contact UNH Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice Katherine Brown at 203-931-2957 or kbrown@newhaven.edu.

Can Social Media Bring Us Together?

Good question

NEW HAVEN — An event designed to ponder the question "Can Social Media Bring Us Together?" will be held from 9:15 to 10:15 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 4, at Congregation Beth El Keser Israel, 85 Harrison St.
The free event, sponsored by the congregation, will have Jeff Blasius of SeeClickFix, the website that lets neighbors connect over common concerns and seek solutions; Joe Ugly of urglyradio.net, and state Rep. Gary Holder-Winfield, D-New Haven, consider the question. The panel will be moderated by New Haven Independent Editor Paul Bass.
SeeClickFix is a partner of the New Haven Register’s parent, the Journal Register Co., and can be found on the Register website at www.newhavenregister.com

“Denim to Diamonds' gala to honor those who give

NEW HAVEN — AIDS Project New Haven will honor Shawn Lang with the Alvin Novick Memorial Leadership Award at its annual gala, this year with a “Denim to Diamonds” gala from 6 p.m. too midnight on Oct. 2 in the Michael J. Adanti Student Center Ballroom at Southern Connecticut State University.
The event will feature a live and silent auction, cocktail hour, awards presentation, passed hors d’oeuvres and eclectic food stations, music by Full Sound Productions and dancing, the agency said in a statement.
All proceeds benefit the programs and services of AIDS Project New Haven, the statement said.
“Al Novick, a founder of AIDS Project New Haven, was an early, passionate, brave and tenacious advocate and leader in responding to the AIDS crisis in New Haven and beyond. He had an extraordinary capacity to be direct with public officials about their ethical and programmatic shortcomings, always expressed in the context of sound science and good public health. Shawn embodies each of those characteristics and carries the torch onward in fighting everyday for social justice, public policy, rights and the basic human and healthcare needs of individuals living with HIV/AIDS in Connecticut and across the country,” AIDS Project New Haven Executive Director Chris Cole said in the statement.
The Community Loan Fund of Greater New Haven will receive the Community Partner Award and Ed Leduc, a long-time AIDS Project New Haven volunteer and community advocate will posthumously receive the Volunteer award at the gala, the statement said.
Gala guests are invited wear casual chic to formal attire and anything in between, the statement said.
“In these challenging economic times, we want our supporters to be comfortable and contribute what they would have spent on formal attire to the programs and services of AIDS Project New Haven,” Cole said in the statement.
To purchase tickets and for more information on the gala or programs and services of AIDS Project New Haven, visit www.apnh.org or call 203-624-0947.

Photo by Fran McMullen/Studio38

Italian American stories in New Haven

NEW HAVEN - An event dubbed "Italian American stories," a program presented by Joanna Leone, shown, author of “Slices of Life,” and sponsored by the Italian American Historical Society of Connecticut and the Columbus Day Committee of Greater New Haven, will be held at 3 p.m. Sept. 19 at the St. Anthony Church Parish Center, 270 Washington Ave.

Entertainment will be performed by singers Earl Benedetto and Michael Rea.

The event is free and refreshments will be provided.

Editor's note: The information in this post was contributed.

New Haven Home Recovery, Inc. helps kids with back-to-school supplies

NEW HAVEN - New Haven Home Recovery, Inc. sent more than 400 children off to school with new backpacks and supplies for this fall, agency officials said in a statement.

“With NHHR bookbags students are starting the school year on the right foot, which makes the second, third and more steps easier towards a successful academic year,” Michael Rebimbas, Family School Connection Clinical Supervisor said in the statement.

In NHHR’s programs there was a 48 percent increase in the number of children served from last year. The goal for the backpack drive was 400, compared to last year at 250, the statement said. Businesses, churches and individuals contributed to the success of the drive and NHHR appreciates all support from the community, the statement said.

According to the statement, New Haven Home Recovery Inc. was established in 1990 to provide emergency shelter for families, and is working in the New Haven area to address the housing and support service needs of women with children. NHHR provides services to families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. NHHR has developed its programs to include emergency shelter, supportive housing, children’s programs and The Furniture Co-op. For more information, visit the Web site at http://www.nhhr.org/.

In the photo: NHHR shows some of the 400 backpacks given to children in Greater New Haven for back to school.