RIVERFEST
Annual Celebration of the Quinnipiac River and the Historic Fair Haven Waterfront

New Haven, CT, May 15, 2017:  The Chatham Square Neighborhood Association, working in collaboration with Fair Haven businesses and nonprofits, is offering a weekend of fun for all ages.

On Saturday May 20 from 11am-4pm the Chatham Square Neighborhood Association will present Quinnipiac Riverfest at Quinnipiac Marina, 309. The rain date is Sunday, May 21.  Event Sponsors include Brewery Square Apartments, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, The Mary Wade Home, the Urban Specialist at Real Living Realtors, Denali Outdoors, The Quinnipiac Watershed Association and Wine 101 of Hamden.

Featuring:  Live Music and dancing with Carlos y Su Momento Musical, Four Barrel Billy, the Bregamos Drummers and the Sweet Sixteen Dancers

Tasting: Black Hog Brewery and Spiked Seltzer

Food: Anastasio's Boat House Café, Green Wave and Moon Rocks Gourmet Cookies

Canoeing: Quinnipiac River Watershed Association

For kids: Arts, Crafts & Educational Activities and Face Painting by Face painting by Art plus Studio

NEW this year: the Front Street Dash - 1 mile race at 11am

Attendees will also be able to purchase seedlings, plants, hanging baskets & more from students at the Sound School of New Haven

The Chatham Square Neighborhood Association is an all-volunteer group of Fair Haven residents, businesses and nonprofits working to restore a sense of community and pride to our neighborhood. For more event information and updates visit:www.QuinnipiacRiverfest.com

New Haven |At 9:12 AM, New Haven Police were called regarding three protest groups that had taken a seat in the roadway at three locations.

Two groups, each with eight participants, and a third with seven participants wore signs protesting sexual harassment at Yale University.

Concerned for the protester’s safety, New Haven Police blocked traffic on several downtown streets. The groups gathered at York and Elm Streets and College and Grove Streets chanted at their sit-in and after approximately 30 minutes, voluntarily got up, walked to two waiting officers and were issued their summons to court. Each person was charged with disorderly conduct. Traffic was flowing there by 10:00 AM.

At College and Chapel Streets, three of the protesters opted to be taken into custody, despite being offered a summons. They and the five others were similarly charged with disorderly conduct. The three taken into custody were additionally charged with interfering. Several among those arrested thanked officers for their professionalism and courtesy during the arrest process. All affected roads were reopened by 10:15 AM.

NEW HAVEN POLICE ACADEMY SET TO GRADUATE TWENTY-EIGHT THIS FRIDAY

WHAT: Mayor Toni Harp and Interim Chief of Police Anthony Campbell are proud to announce the upcoming graduation ceremony for the men and women of the NHPA’s twenty-second academy class.

WHEN: Friday, 12 May, 2017 at 6:00 PM (Approximately 1.5 hrs.)

WHERE: New Haven’s Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School, 177 College Street (at Crown Street).

WHO: Graduating recruits, their families, the members of the Board of Police Commissioners, Board of Alders, Mayor Harp and city executive staff, Interim Chief Campbell and department Assistant Chiefs and command staff.

Save the date

Press Conference: Stetson Library Capital Campaign

Wednesday, May 10 at 1:30 pm, Stetson Library

WHAT:                 The New Haven Free Public Library (NHFPL) will launch Stetson Library: The Next Chapter, a community-wide fundraising effort to move the Stetson Branch Library into its new home at the reimagined Q House. 

                                The Boards of Directors of the New Haven Free Public Library and the New Haven Free Public Library Foundation have set a $2 million goal to support the purchase of new furniture and state-of-the-art equipment and technology, expand the library’s collection of print and digital materials and grow the endowment for the entire NHFPL system.

                                The press conference will give an overview of the project, announce key contributions and outline opportunities for the community to get involved with the campaign.

WHERE:               Stetson Library, 200 Dixwell Avenue, New Haven
Free parking available behind the plaza; the conference will be held outside the library’s main entrance, weather permitting

WHEN:                 Wednesday, May 10 at 1:30 PM

WHO:                   Speakers include:

                                Honorary Co-Chairs
Honorable Toni Harp, Mayor of New Haven
Dr. Peter Salovey, President of Yale University

                                Campaign Co-Chairs
Elsie Chapman, President of the NHFPL Foundation Board of Directors
Michael Morand, President of NHFPL Board of Directors
Althea Musgrove Norcott, Retired Educator and Community Leader

                                Martha L. Brogan, City Librarian

For more information, visit www.nextstetson.org or www.nhfpl.org

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About the New Haven Free Public Library

The New Haven Free Public Library welcomes more than 550,000 library patrons through its doors each year. The library system includes the Ives Memorial Library on the historic New Haven Green, 24/7 online services, the ReadMobile bringing books to early childhood learning centers, and four neighborhood libraries: Fair Haven, Mitchell, Wilson and Stetson.

The New Haven Free Public Library’s mission is to ensure all New Haven’s citizens have full and unlimited access to information and knowledge so that they may meet the needs of daily living, have opportunities for self-education, and participate successfully in self-government.

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The Elm City Freddy Fixer Parade

HISTORY OF THE FREDDY FIXER PARADE 

_____________________________________



Q: Who Is Freddy Fixer?

Answer: Dr. Fred Smith, A City Physician And Police Commissioner For Yale Police Department, Who Aggressively Fought Blight In The Dixwell-Newhallville Neighborhoods 






Q: What Is The Purpose Of The Freddie Fixer Parade?

Answer: The Purpose of The Freddy Fixer Parade Was For Citizens To Celebrate After Fixing Up The Neighborhoods And Promoting The Ideals Of Ecology Via Recycling, Neighborhood Beautification, And Assisting Seniors With Those Efforts.



Q: How Can I Help Support This Annual Event?

Answer: Anyone Can Help Support The Freddie Fixer Parade By Giving Donations, Volunteering, Or By Simply Recycling And Encouraging Everyone To Take Pride In Their Neighborhoods.




All Of These Questions Are Answered In The Following Passage.



On Or About September 15, 1962, A Cleanup Campaign Was Started In The Dixwell-Newhallville Community Initiated By The Late Dr. Fred Smith, A Physician, And The Dixwell Redevelopment Agency Based In The City Of New Haven, Connecticut. The Campaign Originated From A Desire To Help The Elderly In Fixing Up Their Homes And Yards. The Purpose Was To Get Residents To Take Pride In Their Community By Both Picking Up Trash, And By "Fixing Up" The Areas Around Their Homes. The "Fix-Up" Day Would Be Followed By A Parade Through The Neighborhood, Which Has Led To What Is Now Considered The Largest African-American Parade in New England. The “Freddie Fixer” Parade.





In Addition To His Passion For The Community To Which Dr. Smith Served, He Had A Strong Sense Of Involving All Of The Neighborhood Members In His Philosophy, Especially Children. In Fact, It Was Actually The Children Who Came Up With The Name Of The “Freddie Fixer.” A Contest Was Held Throughout The City Of New Haven Within The Public School System For The Children To Come Up With A Name For The Event And Initially, It Was Named “Freddie Fix-It,” Using Dr. Fred Smith’s First Name As A Metaphor. This Of Course Was Due To The Close Ties Dr. Smith Had Because Of His Status As A Pediatrician. Subsequent Contests Followed Which Eventually Led To The Unanimous Decision Of The Name: “Freddie Fixer.”





The First Organizers Of The Freddie Fixer Parade In Addition To The Late Dr. Fred Smith Were The Late Edward “Ed” Grant, The Late Edna Carnegie-Baker, And Dr. Charles Twyman. One Of The Fondest Memories That They Recall In Establishing The Parade Is That On Either The First Or Second Year Of The Celebration, “It Rained Like A Son Of A Gun!” Quoted The Late Ed Grant.





Fortunately, For The Many Years To Follow, The Month Of May Would Bring Much Better Weather That Churches, Marching Groups, Drill Teams, Police, Fire, Floats, Cars, Participants, Volunteers, And Parade Goers From All Across The Country, Would Come Out To The City Of New Haven, Connecticut And Celebrate In Record Numbers!





Unfortunately, The Tradition Of The Parade, Who Some Reluctantly Believe Has Shifted From Its True Purpose Of Neighborhood Beautification, Recycling, And Reducing Violence Throughout The City, Has Also Been Stereotyped To Be Associated With Violence Over The Last Few Years. A Tremendous Amount Of Support Has Been Lost Due To The Negative Incidents That Have Ocurred Which Were Totally Unrealted To The Mission Of The Freddie Fixer Parade And The Meaning That The Founding Members Worked So Hard To Establish. 





However, The Freddie Fixer Parade Organization Is Committed To Restore The True Meaning Of This Historic Event By Flooding The Community With Reminders Of The True History And Purpose Of Its Evolvement. All Donations Revceived By This Organization Will Go Directly To That Purpose.





Therefore, We Are Asking For The New Haven Community's Unconditional Financial, Moral, And Spiritual Support For This Event. Not Only During The Time That The Parade Comes Around, But On A Year-Round Basis. Together We Can March Back To The Future Of The Freddie Fixer Parade!



PLEASE MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TODAY!



AND REMEMBER:




OUR COMMUNITY IS ONLY IS SAFE AS WE "ALLOW" IT TO BE!

GROTON – As part of the 126^th Connecticut Library Association (CLA) Annual Conference:Uncharted Waters: Navigating the Changing Tides in Librarianship, taking place at the Mystic Marriott in Groton, CT, Diane Brown, Branch Manager of the Stetson Branch Library of the New Haven Free Public Library will receive the Connecticut Library Association 2017 Special Achievement Award!  Diane will be honored Friday morning, May 5 at the Annual Meeting of the CLA.

Diane Brown is employed by the New Haven Free Public Library where she has served as Manager of the Stetson Branch for the past 11 years.  In 2015 she received the, “I Love My Librarian” award from The American Librarian Association for her outstanding work in building lasting partnerships to provide services and programming to library patrons. Most notably she collaborated with several community-based organizations to develop a series of on-going programming for youth, entitled, “Teach Them While They Are Young”.  Diane’s commitment to the community she serves is remarkable and goes well beyond the walls of Stetson Branch Library and her profession as a librarian.

The Special Achievement Award honors an individual who has implemented a significant project or initiated an innovative program during the past year. Diane Brown was nominated for this award by individuals from four community partner organizations.

Hanan Hameen from Africa Is Me! Africa Is Me! is a structured, fun-filled, family-oriented program that uses the Artsucational™ curriculum method for all ages based on Black and African History and the connection between African traditions and current social issues and trends involving the global Black community.

Ed Tremble from SPORT Academy. SPORT Academy’s 20/20 Program is designed with the well-being and learning potential of each child in mind. SPORT Academy works with youth in a number of areas providing programs to help build life skills.

Darlitha Buzby from Dynamic University of Self Defense. The sensei and staff at Dynamic University of Self Defense partner with the Stetson Library to provide after school programming on bullying, safety, discipline and responsibility. 

Jahad Shabaz from Muck MuddProfessional Tutoring.  Muck MuddProfessional Tutoring is facilitated by professional educators who offer tutoring for ages 5-18 in math, English, science, reading and writing as well as special education.

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About the Connecticut Library Association

The Connecticut Library Association is Connecticut's professional organization of librarians, library staff, friends, and trustees working together: to improve library service to Connecticut, to advance the interests of librarians, library staff, and librarianship, and to increase public awareness of libraries and library services.

About the New Haven Free Public Library

The New Haven Free Public Library welcomes more than 550,000 library patrons through its doors each year. The library system includes the Ives Memorial Library on the historic New Haven Green, 24/7 online services, the ReadMobile bringing books to early childhood learning centers, and four neighborhood libraries: Fair Haven, Mitchell, Wilson and Stetson.

The New Haven Free Public Library’s mission is to ensure all New Haven’s citizens have full and unlimited access to information and knowledge so that they may meet the needs of daily living, have opportunities for self-education, and participate successfully in self-government.

# # #

NEW HAVEN - Mayor Toni N. Harp will be joined by federal, state, community and union leaders to recognize and congratulate the students who are completing their specialized skills training at Hillhouse High School’s new Career Pathways Technology Training Corridor on Monday, May 8, 10:00 – 11:00  a.m. at 480 Sherman Parkway, New Haven, CT which will begin in the atrium of the Hillhouse Field House.  (In addition to on-street parking, the adjacent parking lot located on the corner of Crescent and Munson Streets and the lot at Bowen Field also on Munson across from the school are available.)   

Press and guests will have opportunity to see students in action during concrete pours, scaffold building and other exciting, visual hands-on activities.  Hand crafted benches and flower boxes constructed by the students used to beautify the City of New Haven as part of their community service will also be on display. 

“I’m delighted we now have a dedicated technology corridor at Hillhouse High School established in collaboration with the New England Laborers’ Training Trust Fund and the Laborers’ International Union of America. (LiUNA). The commitment by the Laborers’ Union and Laborers’ Local 455 means we’re able to bring the Construction Craft Laborers’ (CCL) Program and its curriculum to neighborhood schools,” Mayor Harp said. “Students now have a direct link to the Laborers’ Apprenticehip Program and a promising, family-8sustaining career upon graduation – I look forward to the student tour of the Corridor, learning the details of the curriculum, and seeing samples of students’ work – particularly their efforts to benefit the city.” 

The Training Corridor provides 200 hours of vocational technical programming through a project of The Justice Education Center, Inc. Students focus on Construction Math, Mason Tending and Masonry, Scaffolding, Concrete, Demolition, Highway and Road Safety, and Pipework. 

In addition to skill-building and credentialing, Hillhouse students receive academic credit for the successful completion of all program components including the opportunity to perform community service work.

“For nearly two decades, the New England Laborers’ have been extremely successful in educating high school youth who have a strong interest in the construction technology industry,” said Michael Traficante, Director of Governmental Affairs for the New England Laborer’s Union. “Students who graduate from the Construction Craft Laborers’ program thanks to the Training Corridor and enter our Apprenticeship program can look forward to a life- long career in the construction technology trade with family supporting wages and benefits.  We are extremely pleased to have this partnership with the Career Pathways TECH Collaberative.  Together, we are taking a major step forward  in developing the essential link  between student training, high school graduation and a life long rewarding career.”

The Corridor is part of The Justice Education Center’s Career Pathways Technology Collaborative, a public/private partnership with the Office of the US Attorney-District of Connecticut and Department of Justice, the State Department of Education, City of New Haven and its YouthStat initiative.

“There are many pathways to success in the workplace and Career Pathways is a very important avenue for students who do not choose a 4 year college degree”, said Superintendent Dr. Reginald Mayo, Superintendent of New Haven Public Schools.

State Representative Toni Walker noted “I am proud of the General Assembly’s ongoing commitment to help students pursue their passions and develop strong skill sets that prepare them for promising careers  and long term employment”.  The Career Pathways Collaborative model serves as an excellent example of what can be accomplished when our commitment to Connecticut’s young people is a priority”, she said.

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The NAACP hosted progressive, civil and human rights thought leaders on May 2, 2017 at the Georgetown University Conference Center to discuss a plan for countering post-election implications on marginalized communities

    City Lights   

            Live Performances by

Dana Martin, Detective - Erika Bogan, Firefighter/EMT

Steven Teague, Sergeant - Reggie Blakey Firefighter/EMT  

             May 4, 2017

             6:00pm thru 12:00pm

            Club Vandome

                                                        102Hamilton St. New Haven, CT

                                Donation:  $20.00 includes:

             D.J. Diamond D.

            Appetizer  

              Raffle prizes; 50”smart TV

All donations will benefit our New Haven PAL Camp, Firebird Scholarship funds & Breast Cancer Research.

The NHPD’s PAL program was established in the early 1970s. It provides educational and athletic programs for children throughout the city after school, on weekends, and during the summer.

The New Haven Firebird , THE Firebird Society of New Haven Incorporated and organization of Black and Hispanic Firefighter organized on March 22, 1971.

Freddie FIXER parade 2014 

Girl Boxer from The New York Times - Video on Vimeo.

Jesselyn Silva is only 10 years old, but she's already in the ring. By Emily Sheskin. Read the story here: nyti.ms/2pWRBQ7

At the London premiere of "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2," Zoe Saldana reveals why she's glad that a new "Avatar" is finally on the horizon.

Days of rain are causing floods in several southeastern states including South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee. Cars and other vehicles got stuck trying to navigate Charleston, South Carolina's flooded streets