Recent Meetings

Hi All:

I just wanted to give you an update on some of the meeting I was at this past week:

Monday - Full BOA Meeting
Tues - WEB Meeting
Tues - DPUC Meeting

At the WEB Meeting we found out that Lt. Collier is leaving the NHPD. He was on the job with us for 6 months. We wish him well in his new position. Chief Lewis was there along with Asst. Chief Gillespie and they promised us that the District will not be disbanded and that he plans to have a new District Manager in place by mid to late January.

I the left WEB Meeting a bit early because I wanted to get to the DPUC to give testimony against an increase. I did get there in time and heard from a number of passionate people who - all had the same message "Don't punish us for conserving energy & don't raise our rates". You can see my testimony at this link. Also want to note that it appears that the UI is going to take it's HQ out of New Haven and move to Orange. Not good for New Haven, I asked the CEO of UI to think about staying and I got no positive response, only silence.

Parking Ban

CITY OF NEW HAVEN MAYOR IMPOSES ON-STREET PARKING BANS EFFECTIVE: AT 12:00 NOON ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2008, AN ON-STREET PARKING BAN IS IMPOSED IN NEW HAVEN AS FOLLOWS:NO PARKING ON MAJOR STREETS POSTED AS SNOW EMERGENCY ROUTES CITYWIDE NO PARKING ON STREETS DOWNTOWN (all streets within the area bounded by Howe Street, Tower Parkway, Grove Street, State Street and North Frontage Road).NO PARKING WITHING 25 FEET OF ANY INTERSECTION CITYWIDE AND NO PARKING IN FRONT OF ANY BUS STOP CITYWIDE

Cars parking in violation of the parking ban may be ticketed and/or towed. The Parking Ban is scheduled to expire at 12:00 NOON on Saturday December 20, 2008. If snow removal operations move quickly the expiration time may be earlier. Please listen to your local news stations or check the city web site at www.cityofnewhaven.com or call 946-7669 (SNOW) for updated information.

Please note: Parking garages and off-street parking lots downtown are still open during snow emergencies. Residents are encouraged to use these facilities as an alternative to parking on the street.
In residential areas, residents are encouraged NOT to park on the odd numbered side of the street (numbers ending in 1,3,5,7,9) so that snowplows can clear the street to the curb. Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. urges the public’s cooperation in complying with the parking ban in order to assist the City’s plowing operations.

Off Street Parking Available During Snow Storms – Last Updated 2008

The following off street parking is available during the overnight hours while a parking ban is in effect. Cars may be parked in these locations no earlier than 5:00 P.M. and must be removed no later than6:00 AM. Parking charges for these locations are indicated below.

Surface lot at Chapel and Franklin Streets (no charge)
Surface lot at Chestnut Street (no charge)
Surface lot at State and Pulaski Streets (no charge)
Surface lot at Grand Avenue and East Pearl Street (no charge)
Crown Street Garage ($3.00 from 5:00 PM until 6:00 AM)
Granite Square Garage (no charge from 5:00 PM until 6:00 AM)
Temple Street Garage ($3.00 from 5:00 PM until 6:00 AM)

If cars are left in the garage during the day the normal hourly fees will apply. Off street parking is also available at the following Parks Department lots while a parking ban is in effect

East Shore Park by Salperto Rink (Woodward Avenue)
Bowen Field (Crescent Street)Edgewood Park (Whalley Avenue)
Blake Rink (State Street)

Overnight parking from 5:00 PM until 6:00 AM is available at the following Board of Education lots. Cars must be removed if school is in session during the day to allow for teacher parking.

Conte School (off chapel Street near Chestnut)
Betsy Ross Arts Magnet School (Kimberly Avenue)
Hill Regional Career School (Legion Avenue)
Clinton Avenue School (Clinton Avenue)
High School in the Community (Water Street)
Wexler/Grant School (Foote Street)
Katherine Brennan School (Wilmot Road)

Local press about the Mumbai India Terror attacks

Here are stories by the NHI & NHR about the terror attacks.

New Haven Independent

New Haven Register

Memorial Service for the Victims of the Mumbia India Terror attacks

Dear All:

There will be a memorial service tonight for the victims of the Mumbai India terror attacks. These attacks have hit home as the Rabbi & his wife who were killed in the Chabad House were 1st cousins to my sister & brother in law - Chaya & Meir Holtzberg - who live in our area.

This is the information for the memorial service tonight.

Location:
Southern Connecticut Hebrew Academy
261 Derby Avenue
Orange, CT

Date:
Tonight Thursday December 4th

Time:
7pm

WEB Meeting tonight

Hi All:

The monthly WEB Meeting will be held tonight at 7pm at the Whalley Avenue Sub Station at the corner of Whalley & Norton.

See you there!

Board of Zoning Appeals Hearing - items for the WEB

Hi All:

This is a public service announcement that was mailed out to the WEB mailing list.

The Board of Zoning Appeals has two items on its agenda of interest to the WEB Management Team:

The application by a large laundromat business that hopes to locate in the Walgreen’s Plaza. Their application is for a variance to open with fewer parking places than regulations require.

The application by 50 Fitch St. is for a variance to add a liquor license and live entertainment to their business. (As you may know there was a shooting outside their business on Nov. 3.) Their business is located within 1400 feet of school property.

The BZA hearing will be on Wed Nov.12 at 6:30 at 200 Orange St. Kennedy Hall of Records.

Legislation Committee Hearing tonight at 7pm

Hi All:

There will be a hearing tonight at 7pm in the Aldermanic Chambers about strengthening the anti graffitti ban we just passed a few months ago. There were some loopholes that need closing and we would love to hear from you!

Text of the hearing:

From Alderpersons Sturgis-Pascale and J. Rodriguez submitting an amendment to the ordinance amendment prohibiting graffiti as a public nuisance and blighting influence and banning sale of spray paint to minors by specifying penalties for such violations.

Thanks for your help with the AMR billing

Hi All:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank a number of people that help develop this idea of bundled billing. I could take full credit but it must be shared, as my colleague from the 5th ward – Jorge Perez – pointed out this was mentioned in finance committees a few years before I joined.
In addition I had conversations with Pat Eagan – the head of the Firefighters Local – about this issue as well and these conversations were one of the impetuses that made me move on this issue. Pat should be recognized for his help. CAO Smuts deserves a big thank you for moving so quickly and not waiting for the order to pass last night but started working on the AMR bundled billing and getting us ready to bring in a new revenue stream when it is so desperately needed.
Lastly, I must thank my colleagues – BOA President Carl Goldfield and Alderman Roland Lemar for all of their work and input on this project for this was a joint effort in every aspect.

Yours,

Moti Sandman

My comments to the Public Safety Committee Regarding home heating

See the Register Story Here by Liz Benton

Home Heating Safety Hearing
November 5, 2008
Public Safety Committee
Alexander Rhodeen – Chair

Mr. Chair & Members of the committee,

Thank you for giving this important issue a public hearing. I would like to start by giving a bit a background on how this item came up. Alderwomen Jones & I were discussing the concerns and calls from constituents’ regarding paying their home heating bills this winter season. We came to the conclusion that many of those with the least ability to cover their traditional home heating costs will turn to unconventional methods of heating their homes.

We both know from news reports and 1st hand accounts of people heating their homes by turning on the oven and opening the door or burning charcoal briquettes or propane gas grills in the house as well as wood. These are known dangers as they all give off the silent killer Carbon Monoxide.

Other folks will use electric or kerosene space heaters. These heating methods are a bit safer but still pose a danger if the resident is not vigilant in turning off the heating element when leaving the home or in refilling the kerosene.

The good new is that there some programs available to help out those in need Community Action Agency (CCA), the Federal LIHEAP as well as the State of Connecticut.

The problem is how we get the message out to the residents to inform them of:

The dangers in alternative home heating
The resources out there to help folks heat their homes this winter season.

Therefore Alderwomen Jones and I called for this hearing to hear from CAO Smuts & Chief Grant on how we – as a City – can get both messages across to the public.

Thank you,

Mordechai Sandman
Alderman Ward 28

Election Results breakdown for Ward28

Hi All:

These are the numbers off of the voting machine - I did not see the absentee ballots yet. There were a total of 1,204 ballots cast in our ward.

Yours,

Moti

President:
Dem - Obama - 1,087
Rep - McCain - 95
Ind - Nader - 8
Blank - 8
Write in - 6

Rep in Congress
Dem - DeLauro - 998
Rep - Itshaky - 47
Green - Ferrucci (Ralph)- 33
Blank - 126
Write - none

State Senator
Dem - Harp - 986
Rep - Papantones - 77
Blank - 139
Write in - 2

State Rep
Dem - Walker - 976
Blank - 222
Write in - 6

Registrar of Voters
Dem - Ferrucci (Sharon) - 843
Rep - Tramontano - 72
Green - Pillsbury - 90
Blank - 199

Answer to why the DPUC is tying the hands of UI as posted to NHI

I had the same question and I took the advice of Deep Throat – I followed the money. If you see who is make most of the money in our now deregulated energy market, it is the hedge funds based out of Greenwich that just happened to make big donations to Gov. Roland’s & Rell’s election campaigns.
The hedge funds are purchasing the electricity from the generators and reselling to UI. We know that Millstone power plant sells their electricity for around $0.07 per KwH we are paying UI $0.125 or $0.13 per KwH. UI is buying for a bit less (around 10% under what we pay) so who is making all of the money in the spread? The hedge funds, they are also the ones who managed to manipulate the way the law was written up in Hartford so that UI is unable to make long term buys – like New Haven can & did for better rates. The problem with this all is that UI just passes the high rates on to the end user – you and me. Once again who benefits from this? The hedge funds that now have a lock on the electricity generated in the State because the generators signed long term contracts with them.

Text of my testimony submitted to the DPUC hearing on 10/27/08

October 27, 2008

Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control
Ten Franklin Square
New Britain, CT 06051

Re: 08-07-04 (BDP) UI Rate Increase-Public Comment Hearing

Dear Honorable Board of Commissioners:

I come before you this morning to express my strongly protest any increase in rates. I represent a number of interests. I am a homeowner in New Haven that heats our home with natural gas. I am representing my family business of which I am part of the 3rd generation. Lastly I come before you as a member of the New Haven Board of Aldermen where I represent the 28th Ward – Beaver Hills.

As a homeowner I know how my utility bill more then doubled in the past two years. In an effort to be more energy efficient a few years ago I had installed new windows in my home – with argon and low e, we upgraded all of our lights to CFLs and installed more energy efficient appliances when replacing them. All of this hard work has paid off, our monthly usage is less then it was in 2006. I also signed up to purchase my electricity from an alternate suppler – LEVCO. Levco and all of the other resellers raised electricity rates last year but their sales pitch was that we are still cheaper then UI. In researching the matter I found that UI can only purchase electricity a few months out at a time. Everyone else can purchase years at a time (as the City of New Haven just did to stabilize our costs). All the resellers are basing their charges on UI – if UI gets a increase you can be sure that all of the others will follow – but stay just enough under UI to stay in the game.

UI claims that they have not been able to sell as much electricity as they projected. This fact accounts for 40% of the shortfall projected by UI and is a prime driving force for the increase. If, I, as a customer and other like me are conserving electricity as promoted by DPUC and UI, they should not be penalized for doing the “right” thing. Also, future increases will result in future drops in demand, creating a feedback mechanism that ensures high prices.

As a manufacturer still based wholly in West Haven we are a substantial user of electricity. We have consultants that track the energy markets and advises us when it is advantageous lock in a contract for electricity usage. We are competing in an international business climate and on top of the fuel increases and on top of raw material increase we have to contend with some of the highest utility rates in the nation. This makes us less competitive going up against companies in other states never mind compared to overseas. One of our Stratford Connecticut bases suppliers closed their doors this past January – one of the primary reasons was the high utility rates cut their margins and they were unable to raise prices enough to survive. The company I work for is not guaranteed a profit but UI is. UI claims that it will not meet its projected profit as stipulated by the DPUC. In a time of financial hardship and economic turmoil, the DPUC should balance the need for a guaranteed profit with the decreased means of ratepayers

As an Alderman in New Haven I meet people of all walks of life – rich, poor, middle class; black, white, Hispanic. Across the city folks from all walks of life - regardless of race or economic class – people are worried about paying their utility bills.

To address another point that UI bring up. While overall demand is going down, peak demand has been going up steadily in CT. UI states that the capital costs related to upgrading its distribution network are above the DPUC projections. Urban residents such as New Haven’s residents are bearing the burden of extending and upgrading distribution networks in less dense suburbs. These urban customers are often less able to afford the rate increases that make this subsidy possible.

I understand the need to maintain a strong public utility – but the utility should not be allowed to take advantage of the market. I urge you not to approve this increase but to give UI the ability to purchase more then a few months of energy at a time so that they can really compete in the overall market and with that the DPUC will really help the ratepayer.

Respectfully yours,



Mordechai “Moti” Sandman
Alderman Ward 28
City of New Haven
165 Church Street
2nd Floor
New Haven, CT 06510

Elderly Tax Freeze

Posted to NHI:

There are two parts to the elderly tax freeze based on the applicants income level and if they have a spouse or not. The tax freeze has a $2,000 cap placed on the yearly benefit that a senior may receive. Any amount over the $2,000 can either be paid by the senior or put into deferral. The tax free benefit ends when the property is sold or transferred. Seniors who earn between $50,000 and $75,000 qualify for a deferral program that allows taxes to be deferred until the property is sold or transferred out of their name. Deferred taxes are charged a prime interest rate but create an option for individuals who do not meet the income requirements of the tax freeze. Homeowners who are 62 years of age and older qualify for the freeze if their spouse met all requirements at their time of death.

Applications for the program can be picked up at the City’s five senior centers or by contacting the Department of Elderly Services at 946-2272

The key is to make sure you get your application prior to November 1st or you will have to wait until next year.

Firing Range comments post to New Haven Independent

This is posted to New Haven Independent in reply to the comments posted about this story

Hi All:

I would like to take a moment to respond to some of the comments stating that the neighborhood should be quite about the activity at the range.

Before getting to the heart of the letter I would like to preface my remarks by clearly stating that I and the entire Firing Range Committee understand and have no issue with the fact that our officers must be trained and certified. We also understand the positive “bridge building” effect that allowing other departments to use our range as well. We look forward to working with COA Smuts, Chief Lewis and Assistant Chief Brown in creating the best academy and firing range on the Wintergreen sight.

Firstly the neighborhoods (Newhallville & Beaver Hills) were built and settled prior to the range being activated. The first homes in Newhallville were built in the 1880s and the first homes in Beaver Hills were built in the 1910s. What we now call the New Haven Police Academy & Range was originally the Sherman Avenue Police Precinct building. The Academy took it over in the 1950s and the range was activated at that same time. Nearly all of the homes were already built in both neighborhoods’.

In addition the activity at the range was minimal. The State only required officers to shoot once every 3 years now our officers have to certify every year both in daylight and night shooting conditions. Also in the past it was just the New Haven PD.

Now we have 23 surrounding towns using our range to certify and train as well as six Federal Agencies, including the FBI, CIA, Coast Guard, ATF and the Secret Service.

The noise levels have jumped from the past as well. What used to be just pistol practice are now long guns and even flash bangs (this has the equivalent sound of a grenade).

Additionally we have 3 schools in earshot of the range, King Robinson, Hillhouse High & SCSU. No child or young adult should have to grow up learning in an environment that is filled with gunfire.

This is not what here when my family moved in over thirty something years ago. I trust that by proactively and positively engaging our elected officials in Washington as well as in Hartford we can show them that moving the Academy & range to the Wintergreen sight is the best and highest use for the old base and that the fact that multiple agencies as well as many surrounding towns use the range should work in our favor as well.

Moti Sandman
Alderman Ward 28

Still Alive!

Hi,

I would like to thank all of you that have sent me emails and voice mails about the senseless attack upon myself, Carl, Rob & Crissie this past Monday night.

I am physically OK and I hope that no one here has to go through what we did because there was no reason for it and it was totally unprovoked on our part.

You can read the details in the NHRegister or the New Haven Independent.

Yours,

Moti

Block Party Postponed

The email is sent to the Beaver Hill Mailing List

Due to the 60% forecast for rain Sunday, and the current wet conditions, your block party organizers consulted with the oracle at the Weather channel and have agreed top declare the party officially moved to Sunday Oct 5, 2008, 2 -5 PM.

Please advise any of your neighbors who may not have email access.

Please plan accordingly and we hope to see you on the new date.

Don’t forget to bring a favorite dish to share and money for our legendary raffle!

This weeks meetings

Hi All:

These are some of the meetings that I will be attending this week:

Monday 9-22-08 - Legislation Committee - 6:30pm - Aldermanic Chamber - 165 Church St.

Wednesday - 9-24-08 - Tax Abatement - 7pm - Aldermanic Chamber - 165 Church St.

Thursday - 925-08 - Firing Range Committee - Whalley Ave Sub Station - Corner of Whalley & Norton

All of these are open meeting so I hope to see you there!

The Letter the BOA sent to the DPUC

August 18, 2008

Donald W. Downes, Chairman
Department of Public Utility Control
Ten Franklin Square
New Britain, CT 06051

Re: 08-07-10 (CBD) SCG Overearnings Rescheduled Hearing (HR 1)

Dear Chairman Downes:

We are writing to you today regarding the proposed rate increase for Southern Connecticut Gas Co (SCG).

We ask that you do not approve such a measure at this time. As members of the legislative body of the City of New Haven, we have the opportunity to hear from people from all walks of life and economic situations.

The overwhelming message we are receiving is that people do not know how they are going to pay their heating bills this coming year. Further, for SCG to get a rate increase at this point in time, when there are numerous numbers of families in Greater New Haven facing losing their homes through foreclosure or personal bankruptcy, would push people out of their homes much sooner and create serious problems for communities. We also are aware of many people who could face making the unthinkable choice of heating their homes or putting food on their table.

In addition, we represent numerous business owners and managers in New Haven. They report to us of the prohibitive costs of doing business in the region. Utilities are a constant item at the top of their list of these prohibitive costs. In order for the city, region and state to maintain and hopefully grow in the coming years we need to be competitive in all aspects of the cost spectrum.

Please consider all of the above when making your decision and trust that you will reject any increase at this time.

Yours truly,

Fire Department reoganization hearing

There will be a hearing on the re-organization of the New Haven Fire Department on October 7th at 6:30pm in the aldermanic chambers at 165 Church Street, 2nd Floor.

NHI Coverage

NHRegister Coverage

September 1, 2008

Carl Goldfield, President
New Haven Board of Aldermen
165 Church Street
New Haven, CT 06510

Dear Mr. President:

We would like to call upon the CAO’s office, for a plan from of action report on the possibility of reorganizing the New Haven Fire Department in order to achieve cost saving.

Yours truly,


Carl Goldfield Mordechai “Moti” Sandman
Alderman – Ward 29 Alderman – Ward 28


WHERAS the City of New Haven in it’s FY 2008-2009 budget allocated over $31million dollars for the Fire Department line item

WHERAS the City of New Haven has publicly announced the strong possibility of layoffs in the very near future

WHERAS According to the 2005 data (the latest figures available) calls for service to the City of New Haven Fire Department were 85% for medical service and 15% for fire suppression.

WHEREAS due to this inequality we as that the CAO look at the cost saving – if any – in removing or reducing the minimum staffing requirement. While it would not be a decision made lightly to reduce the staffing in the Fire Department, it is critical to provide the information necessary well in advance of the next contract negotiation to ensure that the best decision is made for public safety and public finances.

WHEREAS MMA Consulting Group, Inc. of Boston Mass issued an Operational Review of the New Haven Fire Department in August 2002

WHEREAS in the above mentioned report there were a number of options for the New Haven Fire Department to follow

WHEREAS both the recommended options included the expansion of our medical services currently provided by the Fire Department

WHEREAS the City of New Haven has a limited amount of Fire Department employees trained in Advanced Life Saving (ALS)

WHEREAS the City of New Haven currently does not bill medical insurers for medical services provided

Therefore be it resolved that the CAO or his designee report to the appropriate committee of Board of Aldermen of the City of New Haven regarding the refocusing of the Fire Department. Options should include the status quo, refashioning the department into a “First Responder” Department, reducing the size of the department, and such other options as might make sense.

Further be it Resolved that the Chief Administrative Officer or his designee report to the committee who the City can create a system for billing for services rendered, both currently and in any proposed new services.

Further be it resolved that with any restructuring appropriate consolidations be made and looking at the possibility of removing or reducing the minimum staffing requirement

Further be it Resolved that the CAO or his designee should present the requested report within 90 days of the passage of this resolution.

SCG Coverage

Coverage of the SCG fight

NHI

Fighting SCG on overeanings and on Increases

My comments to the DPUC hearing 8/29/08

Dear Honorable Board of Commissioners:

I come before you this morning to express my feelings of disgust with SCG overcharging us ratepayers & strongly protest any increase in rates. I represent a number of interests. I am a homeowner in New Haven that heats our home with natural gas. I am representing my family business of which I am part of the 3rd generation. Lastly I come before you as a member of the New Haven Board of Aldermen where I represent the 28th Ward.

As a homeowner I know how hard it is to pay my SCG especially in the winter. In an effort to be more energy efficient a few years ago I had installed new windows in my home – with argon and low e. We keep the thermostat down as low as my kids can take it. We wear sweaters and slippers in the home so we don’t have to turn up the heat.

As a manufacturer still based wholly in West Haven we are a substantial user of natural gas. We have consultants that track the natural gas & fuel oil markets and advises us when it is more advantageous to use one or the other. Additionally we purchase our natural gas in bulk from someone other the SCG. We are competing in an international business climate and on top of the fuel increases and on top of raw material increase we have to contend with some of the highest utility rates in the nation. This makes us less competitive going up against companies in other states never mind compared to overseas. One of our Stratford Connecticut bases suppliers closed their doors this past January – one of the primary reasons was the high utility rates cut their margins and they were unable to raise prices enough to survive.

As an Alderman in New Haven I meet people of all walks of life – rich, poor, middle class; black, white, Hispanic. Across the city folks from all walks of life - regardless of race or economic class – people are worried about paying their heating bills.

This all being said to then hear that SCG are overcharging us that is horrifying. People fear that they will not be able to pay their heating bills and SCG knowingly overcharges us.

I appreciate that the DPUC is holding this hearing, and hope that we can look at the underlying problem answering how & why this overcharging happened. I believe that the monthly bill we get from SGC in unnecessarily complex and most consumers have no idea as to what they are looking at.

I understand the need to maintain a strong public utility – but the utility should not be allowed to take advantage of the market.

We need to simplify the monthly billing statement. Take out the alphabet soup abbreviations. A simpler statement will enable the average consumer to review their bill and really comprehend what & why they are being charged and SCG will be less likely in the future to be able to overcharge.

In closing I ask that you the DPUC order SCG to refund us what they overcharged us with interest (as they charge people who are late in payment). Additionally I ask that this commission look into the possibility of lowering the current profit rate to something that is more bearable.

Police Letter

Hi All:

This is the letter that we sent out to both the PD & City asking them to get together July 7, 2008

New Haven Independet Story

New Haven Reg

NHReg Follow up



It is no secret that the City is in strained financial circumstances, that labor costs are the largest component of the City’s budget and that taxpayers are at the end of their ability to absorb substantial budget increases. For the sake of the City’s taxpayers and workforce we need to adjust our labor contracts in a manner that will fairly compensate our employees, encourage operational efficiencies and avoid bankrupting the city.

The City is currently negotiating a new contract with the police union. This will be the first in a series of contracts that are up for renewal and we feel that it will create a new template. We will be asked to approve the contract and we request that all of the parties involved in its negotiation give serious consideration to the following items:

I. Retirement – Police Pension
A. A greater contribution from police employees to the Police Pension Fund
B. A change to the minimum years for Police Officers to utilize accumulated sick and vacation time from 15 to 20 years of service prior to retirement
C. A cap on pensions to 100% of an officer’s base salary
D. We note that an alternative to items B & C. is to close the Police & Fire Pension Fund and move the fund to MERF.
II. Health Care
A. Institute higher employee deductibles and/or co-pays

III. Work Rules
A. All Sidebar Notes should be either incorporated into the negotiated contract or eliminated. There should be no more sidebar agreements in the future.
B. Change the work week schedule from “5-2, 5-3” to “5-2, 5-2” or “4-10.”
C. Eliminate hold-downs for extra duty.
IV. Bad Boy Clause
A. A Police Officer who is found guilty of a work related felony will lose his or her City pension.
B. An innocent spouse will have his or her portion of the offending police officer spouse’s pension protected, as per pending legislation in front of the Board of Aldermen.
V. New Officer Compensation
A. We would like to see a higher base salary for new officers. We acknowledge and appreciate the service that our officers provide to the city in putting their life on the line every day. This raise in base salary for the rookie officers will enable us to attract & retain our new officers by giving them the ability to earn a good wage commensurate with the job.

Laundymat on Whalley in Walgreens Plaza

The WEB has started a sub committee called Whalley Avenue Revitalization (WAR) that reports their activities to the WEB on a monthly basis. This group consists of:

The president & executive director of WASSD
A representative from the City Office of Economic Development
The Police District Manager
The president of the WEB
Two resident representatives of the WEB (one of which is the co-chair)
An Alderman

We focus on the issues facing Whalley Ave and how to overcome them. One issue was the cleanliness of the street. WASSD increased their payment by maximum amount allowed by their charter and will do so for the next 2 to 3 years to bring in enough revenue to service the district properly. The city is coming forward with funds and city resources to augment what WASDD is doing. Simple things like fixing the street lights that are out to trimming trees that have not been trimmed in years. The city is also helping out with façade program money that many other parts of the city already get.

All of the stakeholders mentioned above are working on a vision for Whalley to make it a place where everyone will want to shop & dine at and feel safe doing it. This is a massive undertaking and it will take time for some of the grand vision changes but small changes have taken place. The closing of Newt’s Bar on the corner of Whalley and Winthrop and the rebuilding of Chucks Luncheonette are some of the immediate changes.

When the shopkeepers on the strip know that people care they will start to take pride in their work. For the first time in years Minories is taking care of his property and has started working on a new façade and signage for his store. This was in good part to the combined efforts of WAR. We are not stopping with him.

An integral part of this all is making sure that we get quality stores to move on the strip. I agree that we can not have any more “brown bag” liquor stores or connivance stores that sell crack pipes, Philly Blunts and other drug paraphernalia with impunity. We also need to make sure that the stores don’t become hangouts (like L & A Deli, Whalley Pizza, Sam’s Store, just to name a few).

WASSD is working on a “Leakage Study” – a study showing what the residents of the area are buying outside the area because they can’t be serviced here. It is my hope that this study will be taken seriously and we can fill some of the open storefronts with what the community and WASSD wants and needs, and that the property owners look at what they are putting in and not just jump on the first call.

In order to change Whalley we need to put a higher caliber establishment in that takes pride in their store and neighborhood. If it can't happen with this store let us make it happen in the future.

Back in the Saddle

Hi All:

I have not been posting as frequently these past few weeks but I have been up to some interesting tings. I will start posting them over the next few days.

Yours,

Moti

Get a tree planted in front of your home!

The Urban Resources Initiative (URI) is pleased to announce the launching of their GreenSkills Program. This is an internship program that brings together college and high school interns to plant street trees.
Trees for Your Tree-Line
Do you want a tree for the tree-line in front of your home? The GreenSkills interns will plant the tree for you. Your only obligation is stewardship. Keep the tree watered and it will add beauty and shade to your home.
The GreenSkills interns will fulfill the tree requests that residents have made to the New Haven Department of Parks, Recreation and Trees or to the URI office.
URI staff will contact the resident prior to the planting to make a site assessment, discuss species selection, and explain the necessary follow-up maintenance.
Reserve your tree now!
This is a free service to you. Your only obligation is to water and take care of the tree.
Interested residents can contact the Parks Department or contact URI at 432-6570 or e-mail christopher.ozyck@yale.edu.

Whalley Ave Traffic Calming Meeting

A community workshop to develop ideas and support for making Whalley Avenue safer, calmer and more vibrant will take place at BEKI (Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel on the corner of Harrison and Whalley) on Thursday, July 24, at 6 p.m. This workshop will help prepare the community for the State Department of Transportation meeting, which is scheduled for the 31st.
The public meeting with the State Department of Transportation about the plans to widen and reconstruct a section of upper Whalley will take place on Thursday, July 31st from 5 to 8 p.m. at Edgewood School. This meeting will be an open house forum where DOT staff will be available the to answer questions. There will be an overview and wrap up at 7:30 p.m.


For more information, contact Carole Bass at bass.carole@gmail.com

Happenings at the Mitchell Library

Upcoming Programs at Mitchell Library July 21-25
37 Harrison Street
New Haven
946-8117

Children and teens are invited to join our summer reading program and earn prizes just for reading!

Pick up a reading log and start today! Read anything you want, books, magazines even graphic novels!

Monday 's 10 a.m. through Aug 4th Stay and Play storytime for infants and toddlers and their parent or caregiver.

Mondays at 4 p.m. through Aug 12American Sign Language for children and teens Join anytime!

Tuesday's at 10 a.m. through Aug 5th Pre-school storytime and crafts for children ages 3-5 and their parent or caregiver.

Tuesday July 22nd at 4 p.m. Bug stories , poems jokes and crafts! All ages welcome!

Wednesday July 23rd at 6:30 p.m. Magic Show! Magician Dan Bowen will perform and amaze children, teens and adults with an incredible performance!

Save the Date!

Free Fishing Class for children and teens Wed July 30th 1-3 p.m. or 6-8 p.m. Free Refreshments!

Book Discussion:

Charlottes Web by E.B. White Aug 12 at 4 p.m. All ages are welcome as long as they have read the book. Copies available at the library.

Just for Teens age 12+
Come to Mitchell Library and be the star in your own video book review.
July 28th at 4 p.m. All participants will have their video posted on a library v-log and have their name entered in a raffle to win a free digital camera!

Just for Teens ages 12+ !
Breaking Dawn Release Party Thursday July 31st at 4:40 p.m. Fan's of Stephanie Meyers books will enjoy making predictions about the new book, play trivia games and win prizes.

Firing Range update 6-23-08

Dear Eric,
The following is the range schedule for this week and next week. This,of course, is subject to change.
June 23-26 - 8:00am-3:45pm
June 24 - no classes scheduled
June 30 - 8:00am-3:45pm
July 1 - no classes scheduled
July 2 - 8:00am-3:45pm
July 3-4 - no classes scheduled

If you should have any questions please feel free to contact the academy at 203.946.6309.

Sincerely,

Academy Staff

Upcoming Events at Mitchell Library

Summer Fun for toddlers and preschoolers at Mitchell LibaryStay and Play Monday Mornings at 10 a.m. For Children ages 3 and under and their parent or care giver. Stories, songs, and playtime. June 30th, July 7, 14, 21, 28, & Aug 4th
Pre-School Storytime Tuesday Mornings 10 a.m. For children ages 3-5 and their parent or caregiver. Stories and arts and crafts. July 8,15,22,29 & Aug 5th*Music Together Demo Class (for children under 5) will be held at Mitchell Library Tuesday July 1 11 a.m. only (10 a.m. session is full) Space is limited, please call to make a reservation : 946-8117For more information about Music Together : www.Musicalfolk.com
Summer Fun For Children at Mitchell Library ( ages 5-12) Mondays at 4 p.m. American Sign Language Class for children ages 5 and up.Learn the ALS alphabet and words for bugs and creepy Crawlies. Taught by Yale Summer Intern“Book-tivities” Tuesdays at 4 p.m for children 5-12
July 1 at 4 p.m Bee Keeper Visit
July 8 at 4p.m. Whitney Water Center presents: Oozing Oobleck
July15 at 4 p.m. Bug stories, jokes and crafts!
July 22 at 4 p.m. Bug stories , jokes and crafts
July 29 at 4 p.m. Live insect and arachnid program with park ranger
Aug 5 at 4 p.m. Whitney Water Center presents: Water Art!


Movies and popsicles! Wednesday’s at 3 p.m.
July 2: The Bee Movie
July16: Spiderwick Chronicles
July 30: The Water Horse
Aug 6th: Children’s Classic
Aug 13th Enchanted

Special Events for Families
2nd Annual Garden Party Wednesday July 9th at 6:30 p.m.
Join us in the Mitchell Library Courtyard to release lady bugs, plant flowers that will attract butterflies, and make a garden ornament to take home.
Ice cream will be served! Please call to RSVP for this special event
Co-sponsored with Block Watch 303. All ages welcome!


Wednesday July 23rd at 6:30 p.m.
The Magic of Dan Bowen
Join us for a magic show that will blow your socks off!
All ages welcome!

Budget 2008

Hi Folks:



We are going to be voting on the budget on June 2nd. Cuts are coming down the pike. Watch and read the stories below on the budget.



Yours,



Moti



News Channel 8 story on the budget (featuring me!)



New Haven Independent story on the budget

Endorsement of State Rep Toni Walker

Hi All:

As you may be aware, there is a race for the State Representative position in the 93rd District. Jackie James is running against Toni Walker.

I would like to take this opportunity to wholly & enthusiastically endorse our current State Rep Toni Walker.

Toni has treated me fairly & honestly even when she could have done otherwise.

She has been one of the City's strongest allies in Hartford in this budget mess. She looks out for the concerns and needs of the neighborhood, from everything from the Whalley Avenue Jail problem to stopping SCSU from putting a 550 car garage at the intersection of the Ella T. Grasso Blvd & Crescent Street.

I believe that Toni is an asset to the District, the City & State. She is the right person for the job and is dedicated to it.

I have worked with her and look forward to continuing working with her to make the City a better place to live, work & play.

Yours truly,

Moti Sandman
Alderman - Ward28
City of New Haven

Streets closed due to Yale Commencement

Weekend Traffic Advisories Traffic Advisory:

The following street closures and parking bans willbe in effect to facilitate the Yale Commencement activities.

Friday May 23, 2008
1. Hillhouse Avenue, Trumbull Street to Sachem Street - no parking after 6PM.
2. Sachem Street, Hillhouse Avenue to Whitney Avenue - 3 spaces no parking after 6PM

Saturday May 24, 2008
1. College Street, Elm Street to Grove Street - closed to vehicular traffic 2PM-4PM
2. Hillhouse Avenue, Trumbull Street to Sachem Street - no parking all day.
3. Sachem Street, Hillhouse Avenue to Whitney Avenue - 3 spaces no parking all day.

Sunday May 25, 2008
1. College Street, Elm Street to Grove Street - closed to vehicular traffic 9AM-1PM
2. College Street, Chapel Street to Elm Street - closed to vehicular traffic 8AM-4PM. No parking all day3. Elm Street, York Street to College Street - closed to vehicular traffic 1:15PM-4PM. No Parking all day
4. High Street, Chapel Street to Elm Street - closed to vehicular traffic 1:15PM-4PM. No parking all day.
5. Hillhouse Avenue, Trumbull Street to Sachem Street - no parking all day.
6. Sachem Street, Hillhouse Avenue to Whitney Avenue - 3 spaces no parking all day.
7. Chapel Street, High Street to York Street - no parking 4PM-11PM
8. High Street, Crown Street to Chapel Street - no parking 4PM-11PM.

Monday May 26. 2008
1. College Street, Chapel Street to Elm Street - closed to vehicular traffic 8AM-1:30PM - No parking all day
2. Elm Street, York Street to College Street - closed to vehicular traffic intermittently 8AM-1:30PM. No Parking all day.
3. Elm Street, College to Temple Street - parking reserved for handicapped all day.5
4. High Street, Chapel Street to Elm Street - closed to vehicular traffic 8AM-1:30PM. No parking all day.
5. Hillhouse Avenue, Trumbull Street to Sachem Street - closed to vehicular traffic noon to 2PM. No parking all day.
6. Sachem Street, Hillhouse Avenue to Whitney Avenue - 3 spaces no parking all day.

Firing Range Activity for the next 2 weeks

Hot of the email...

Dear Eric,



The following is the range schedule for this week and next week. This,of course, is subject to change.



May 19 - 8:00 am-12:00pm

May 20 - no classes scheduled

May 21- 8:00am-3:45pm

May 22-23 no classes scheduled

May 26-30 - no classes scheduled



If you should have any questions please feel free to contact the academy at 203.946.6309.



Sincerely,



Academy Staff

Firing Range schedule for 5-5-08

Dear Eric,

The following is the range schedule for this week and next week. This, of course, is subject to change.

May 5 & 6 - no classes scheduled
May 7 - 8:00 am - 3:45 pm
May 8 & 9 - no classes scheduled
May 12 - 15 - 8:00 am - 3:45 pm
May 16 - no classes scheduled

If you should have any questions please feel free to contact the academy at 203.946.6309.

Sincerely,

K. D. Codish

Heating Oil Crisis

From our neighbor, Peaches Quinn

I learned yesterday that the cost of home heating fuel, right now, is up to as much as $4.94 per gallon ! I cannot be the only one who fears the next call for home heating fuel and what the per gallon cost will be. Likewise, electricity. Is there any end to rising cost?

What I am proposing will not affect the economics of energy globally, but it will positively affect our wallets.

Let us do what smart consumers have done elsewhere: become a group purchaser. Use the numbers of a group to purchase better service, better quality fuel at a reduced cost .

The New Haven Energy Buyers Group

What is it? Residential and business owners band together to purchase energy to reduce our cost. Let's start organizing in our neighborhood focusing on heating oil.

How will it work? Simply put, as many property owners in a location as possible commit to joining the buyers group. I will then put together a request for bids that I send out to local companies. They respond. The best bid is selected and we make a deal.

Does this mean we would have to pay for the fuel up front? NO! It only means all members of the buyers group sign contracts with the selected fuel company. A number of "ways to pay" will be available as they are for an individual deal.

Will furnace service be included? YES, Absolutely!

How quickly do we have to act? Very quickly. July usually begins the new contract year.

What next?

1. Please respond and let me know if you are interested
2. Circulate this note to everyone in our neighborhood (Beaver Hills/Westville) . Ask them to RSVP to me their interest
3. I will announce a "Call to Action" meeting at Hillhouse for those who want to hear more and discuss face to face.

Your thoughts and interest ASAP, PLEASE!
Peaches Quinn

Telephone: 203 915-3154Email: Pquinn0014@aol.com

Hamden Symphony Orchestra

Hamden Symphony Orchestra


presents

Vesna Mehinovic, Conductor

featuring

Thirty-Ninth Annual Concerto
Competition Winners

Jonathan Chang, cello

Jenny Liu, violin
Please help spread the word...
Lorenzo Kleine, clarinet

Thursday, May 1 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Garner Recital Hall (Engleman Hall C-112, SCSU)

Free Admission * Donations Gratefully Received


Mozart – Weber – Khachaturian – Dvorak – Popper – Frescobaldi – Granados

For more information: http://hamdensymphony.org

BIG Clean up at Beaver Pond Park

Dear Friends of Beaver Pond Park and Beaver Hill neighbors,

Please join our second historic collaboration between SCSU and FOBPP. On Sunday, April 27th, 2008 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM, the Friends of Beaver Pond Park will team with the Environmental Futurists of SCSU to clean up Beaver Pond Park in and around North Pond. The workday includes removal of invasive species, native tree planting, and litter removal at Beaver Pond Park near the SCSU campus. This event is an ongoing collaboration between FOBPP and SCSU. The Urban Resources Initiative (URI) will provide the trees and bushes to plant and will give technical advice on where and how to plant correctly. SCSU will provide water, fruit, and pastries. Please bring your family and join our efforts to make our park sparkle.

Who: Nan Bartow, Friends of Beaver Pond Park
Colin Bennett, Outreach Coordinator for the Environmental Futurists
What: Major Cleanup at Beaver Pond Park and planting of native trees & bushes
When: Sunday, April27th, 2008 1:00 to 3:00 PM
Where: Beaver Pond Park

Meet at North Pond behind the baseball stadium near the pond. Look for a truck and a group of people. Some of us will be working to the north of the cattail pond near the hillside that leads to Davis and the parking garage.


Nan Bartow
Friends of Beaver Pond Park
480 Ellsworth Ave.
New Haven, CT 06511

Balance Fitness Boot Camp

If you missed West Haven Community Boot Camp last Saturday you missed a GREAT workout. It was wonderful weather, beautiful view and a fantastic "sweat session". In fact the session was so great we are going to do it again this Saturday in the same place and time. Originally, our fourth community Boot Camp was going to be in woodbridge but we deciede to do a second boot camp at West Haven beach.


So if you haven't been able to make the last 3 Community Boot Camps this Saturday is your last chance.

Free Outdoor Community Boot Camp for women
Saturday April 26, 2008
West Haven Beach, CT
Outdoor Fitness Boot Camp For Women
The Anything Goes
Fat Burning
Muscle Building
Kick Butt
Outdoor Fitness
Boot Camp
For Women


Outtdoor Fitness Boot Camp Schedule
Only 20 Women per camp
Click Here to Sign Up NOW!

May 12
New Haven Mon/Wed/Fri 5:30 AM -6:30AM
New Haven Mon/Wed/Fri 6:30 AM -7:30AM

New Haven Mon/Wed/Fri 6:45 PM -7:45PM

West Haven
New Haven Tue/Thurs/Sat 5:30 AM -6:30AM

Upcoming events at the Mitchell Library

Upcoming events at:
Mitchell Library
37 Harrison Street New Haven
946-8117

Tuesday April 22nd at 4 p.m.
Celebrate Earth Day at the library
Stories, games and a recycled art project. All ages welcome!

Wednesday April 23rd at 4 p.m.
Get Ready for Summer: Bike maintenance, repair and safety
For teens ages 11-14
Mitchell Library Courtyard
Ride your bike to the library and learn about:
· replacing your chain
· fixing a flat tire
· adjusting your brakes
· changing gears
· great places to bike around New Haven.
Can’t bring your bike to the library? Or you don’t have a bike?
Come anyway, extra bikes will be available to work on.
Program sponsored by:
New Haven Department of Parks Recreation and Trees.


Special Program for Parents:
Wednesday April 23rd from 6-8 p.m.
Real Life, Talk Real, Sex Ed For Parents
When is the right time to have “the talk”? What should you say?
Where should you start? Feeling clueless about the technology your kids
take for granted? Sex Ed For Parents is designed to provide parents with
tools to begin important dialogue with your kids.

Peaches is looking for some help...

Some of you know about this; some of you are just finding out:

20 AIDS orphans will arrive in New Haven in less than 48 hours. They are the SIFA CHOIR from Uganda Africa. New Haven is the first stop on a national tour to raise awareness and funds to build new buildings for their orphanage. A local musician, Mark Sheperd, wrote the theme song for their tour: "Together We Can Change the World".

While in New Haven the kids will record the song, produce a promo film and a segment of a documentary recording their journey, plus rehearse for the tour and take in local sites.

The Choir can find time to perform if you have an assembly or event to suggest.. They will be meeting our "Mayor John" at some point over the 12 days and singing in the rotunda of City Hall.

Assuming the group cannot be housed together, the next best is to group the choir in 5's: 4kids and one chaperone per location.

Specifics:

20 kids mostly ages 9-13
5 adult chaperones
All kids are AIDS orphans
Need 12 days of shelter beginning 4/16 to 4/28
Kitchen facilities not essential, but bathroom/shower access a must
Everyone has a sleeping bag
Kids will probably be out each day in am and return early evening pm. They will have their own transportation arrangements.


The decision to stop in New Haven was very last minute (as is this request!). We'd like to keep the choir in New Haven, if at all possible. There will be press coverage, so any group, person, business, church, school helping out can count on publicity.

To repeat: I need 5 host houses for 5 groups of 5... or, some other arrangement to accommodate 25 .

I have put the word out to colleges, churches, local agencies, individuals, real estate specialists, etc.,.

Please RSVP with hot leads or your address!!! 203 915-3154

Best wishes and huge thank you's to each of you!


Peaches Quinn, Our Breakfast ClubVisit: www.ourbreakfastclub.com Telephone: 203 915-3154Email: Pquinn0014@aol.com

SENIOR CITIZEN FRAUD - How to protect yourself

From Jerry Antunes - Alderman Ward12


SENIOR CITIZEN FRAUD
How To Protect Yourself

04/10/08

Criminals targeting the elderly are increasingly located outside the United States.
A Canadian couple is arrested for allegedly bilking victims across the U.S. by selling bogus credit card protection plans over the phone.
A Maryland financial planning/estate lawyer pleads guilty to defrauding his own clients. A California man is convicted of stealing nearly $5 million from residents of a retirement home through an investment scheme.
What's the common thread here? All of the victims were elderly, and many lost their life savings.

Why are the elderly such an attractive target for con artists?
· Many seniors have a "nest egg."
· They're less likely to report a fraud because they don't know where to go or they’re too embarrassed to talk about it.
· If they do report the crime, it's sometimes hard for them to remember exact details.
· Many of the products/services being hawked by con artists appeal to individuals of a certain age—i.e., anti-aging and other health care products, health care services, and investments related to retirement savings.
The threat to seniors is growing…and changing. Baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) are now the largest segment of our population—about 78 million people. That means that the number of senior citizens is rising. Many younger boomers also have considerable computer skills, so criminals are modifying their targeting techniques—using not only traditional telephone calls and mass mailings but also online scams like phishing and e-mail spamming.
Another trend: Criminals targeting the elderly are increasingly located outside the U.S., making it difficult for American law enforcement to track them down.
The scams. Some common ones to look out for:
· Identity theft (accomplished through "dumpster diving," phishing, address changes, old-fashioned theft);
· Health insurance frauds (medical equipment, "rolling lab" schemes, Medicare fraud, counterfeit prescription drugs);
· Home repair schemes;
· Foreign lottery/sweepstakes fraud;
· Advance fee/credit card frauds;
· Investment fraud; and
· Charity schemes.
Recovery schemes are also worth mentioning because they're especially cold-hearted: they target previous victims by convincing them that their money has been recovered by law enforcement or government officials but that they must pay a fee to get it back.
A few basic tips to avoid being victimized:
· Shred credit card receipts and old bank statements;
· Close unused credit card or bank accounts;
· Don't give out personal information via the phone, mail, or Internet unless you initiated the contact;
· Never respond to an offer you don't understand;
· Talk over investments with a trusted friend, family member, or financial advisor;
· Require all plans and purchases to be in writing; and
· Don't pay in advance for services.
Who to call. If you’re a senior citizen who has been victimized by fraud, start by calling your local or state law enforcement agency.
The FBI doesn’t handle isolated individual cases: we get involved only when there are huge dollar losses or if there's evidence of an international crime ring at work. But you can report fraud online to us through our Internet Crime Complaint Center, which is run in concert with the National White Collar Crime Center, and we’ll refer it to the proper authorities.

An arrest in the Bellevue Road Shooting

Police have secured an arrest warrant in connection with the murder of Lavias Phillips which occurred on January 17th 2008 at 10:40 p.m. on Bellevue Road.

Captain Peter Reichard stated after positive DNA results on evidence left at the scene, Detective Michael Wuchek and other investigators from the Investigative Services Division worked hard to bring this case to a close. This case was the city’s first homicide of 2008.

Antwan Byrd 12/23/75, of 10 Garden St, Hartford, Ct will be arraigned on Thursday with Murder, Criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and Carrying a pistol without a permit. The warrant carries a million dollar bond. Antwan Byrd is currently being held on unrelated robbery charges in connection with a bank robbery in Stafford, Connecticut.

Citation Awarded to the SCSU Environmental Futurist

Hi All:

Last night Carl Goldfield & myself awarded a citation to the SCSU Environmental Futurist. They do some really great work with Beaver Pond Park and deserve to be recognized for their efforts.

Below are my remarks at the award presentation.

Citation awarded to the SCSU Environmental Futurist

Aldermanic
Chambers New Haven, April 7, 2008

Comments by Moti Sandman –
Alderman Ward28

It gives me great pride standing here this evening
together with the SCSU Environmental Futurist. This group of young, motivated,
spirited, people have taken a grand vision and started creating a new reality.

Together with Nan Bartow and the Friends of Beaver Pond Park, they
have taken a vision of what we can be and started turning it into something
beautiful.

Their work with SCSU and encouraging the school to
commit to become “Carbon Neutral” is just some of what this group envisioned and
then made a reality.

I trust that the group will continue to move
down the path of envisioning the grand and then moving it to
reality.

I wish you the best of luck and look forward to working
with you in the future.

Firing Range Update

Dear Eric,

The following is the range schedule for this week and next week.

This, of course, is subject to change.

April 7-11 - 8:00 am - 3:45 pm
April 14-16 - 8:00 am -3:45 pm
April 18 & 19 - no classes scheduled

Also, Peaches has requested information on decibel levels involved in
the various training and certification exercises which take place on
our shooting range.

It is most likely that the Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) and Hazardous Devices Unit have the highest noise levels but I will defer to their officers-in-charge to provide you with details.

At the chief's suggestion, I will speak with these two officers and ask them to contact you and Peaches directly.

I hope this will help in our joint efforts to ameliorate the range's noise situation.

Sincerely,

K. D. Codish

Firing Range Schedual

Dear Eric,

The following is the range schedule for this week and next week. This, of course, is subject to change.

March 24 - no classes scheduled
March 25-26 - 8:00 am - 3:45 pm
March 27 - no classes scheduled
March 28 - 8:00 am -3:45 pm
March 31 - April 4 - 8:00 am - 3:45 pm

If you should have any questions please feel free to contact the academy at 203.946.6309.

Sincerely,

K. D. Codish

Traffic Advisory

TRAFFIC ADVISORY

Chapel Street between York and Park is to be narrowed for sewer work starting Monday to make sanitary and storm sewer connections at the Yale Art & Architecture building, their contractor will be narrowing Chapel St to one travel lane past the work site.
This work will begin on Monday, March 24, 2008 and continue for a period of six to eight weeks.

Also, beginning shortly after the above, the Colony Inn will be making the same connections to the sewers and that work will also narrow the street to one travel lane. The work at the Colony Inn is expected to last two weeks. This work will occur simultaneously since the set up for both jobs is the same, and the overall traffic impact will be shortened.

We anticipate that there will be traffic congestion at peak times due to the narrowing of the roadway.

Important meeting regarding Route 10

SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS

Judy Gott, Executive Director

For Immediate Release March 12, 2008

PRESS RELEASE – April 2 Public Information Meeting for Route 10 Corridor Study
The South Central Regional Council of Governments (SCRCOG) is currently completing a study to identify and assess transportation system needs and deficiencies in the Route 10 corridor between I-95 Interchange 45 in the City of New Haven and Skiff Street in the Town of Hamden. This area includes sections of Ella T. Grasso Boulevard, Whalley Avenue, Fitch Street, Arch Street, and Dixwell Avenue.

An important component of the study process is public outreach to the local community of residents, business people, and commuters who are concerned about transportation and its effect on the livability or quality of life of neighborhoods in and around the Route 10 study corridor. Towards this end, a public information meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, April 2, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the Beecher School gymnasium located at 100 Jewell Street, New Haven. The public information meeting will provide interested citizens an opportunity to learn about the study purpose and initial study findings, and will allow them to provide input to SCRCOG staff and our technical consultant, Clough Harbour & Associates LLP.

In general, the purpose of the Route 10 Corridor Study is to identify and address transportation needs in the corridor relative to safety; traffic operations; pedestrian and bicycle facilities; and transit services and amenities. The study will also investigate opportunities to apply Smart Growth strategies in the corridor and will coordinate transportation system recommendations with municipal land use and development plans.

For further information on this press release, please contact Judy Gott, Executive Director of SCRCOG, at (203) 234-7555.

127 Washington Avenue Equal Phone: (203) 234-7555
4th Floor West Opportunity Fax: (203) 234-9850
North Haven, Connecticut 06473-1715 Employer E-Mail: jgott@scrcog.org

Firing Range Notice

Hello all: Sorry for the short notice, but there will be rifle practice on the range tomorrow (Tuesday, March 18), from approximately 9am - 3pm.

Cynthia Savenelli
New Haven Police
AcademyDivision of Training & Education
710 Sherman Parkway
New Haven, CT 06511
Tel: 203-946-6309
Fax: 203-946-6141
Email: csavenel@newhavenct.net

Get involved & make a difference

PRESS RELEASE


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Officer Kelly Turner or
13 March 2008 Training Director Kay Codish
203.946.6309


CITIZENS’ ACADEMY PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT
BY NEW HAVEN POLICE

(New Haven, CT)—The New Haven Police Department (NHPD) is currently accepting applications for its popular Citizens’ Academy (CA), which will run from May 21st through July 23rd on Wednesday evenings, from 6:00 – 9:00pm. Approximately 25 local residents will be selected from the department’s 10 community policing districts throughout the city. They will participate in the program which is designed to improve communication and understanding between police and community members.

Residents selected will have a unique opportunity to work with officers and look behind the scenes of a progressive, community-minded police department. Ride-alongs with veteran officers, tours of various department divisions and meetings with the chiefs are only a sample of the extensive curriculum.

Application forms for the next New Haven Police Citizens’ Academy are available between 9:00a.m. - 5:00p.m. weekdays at the Police Academy (710 Sherman Parkway), where the 8-week course will be held. Forms may also be obtained at all ten police substations, the main desk at police headquarters at One Union Avenue and at area libraries. Information will also be mailed directly to local social service organizations and agencies and to individuals throughout the city. In addition, details may be found online at www.cityofnewhaven.com/police.

-continued-


PRESS RELEASE: Police Citizen’s Academy Page 2 of 2



Completed applications must be received at the New Haven Police Academy at the hours listed below, when Citizens’ Academy staff will be available to answer questions:
Wednesdays – Fridays: April 2nd – April 25th, 9:00am – 8:00pm
Saturdays: April 5th, 12th and 19th, 10:00am – 12:00noon
Applications received after 8:00pm on April 25th will not be considered.

Applicants must reside in New Haven and people of all races, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, ages, genders and physical abilities are encouraged to apply. Candidates must be 18 years of age by the first day of classes, have no major felony convictions and no convictions involving domestic violence. Applications will be processed by the New Haven Police Department and potential candidates will be subject to a basic criminal history check. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Participants are required to commit to actively participating in all twelve sessions.

For additional information, please call the New Haven Police Academy at 203.946.6309 between 9:00am – 4:00pm weekdays, or email us at policeacademy@newhavenct.net.

Spring into Spring with a Health kick!

The New Haven Advocate’s Best of Award ballots are out. Did you vote yet? Last year we won 3rd place for “the best all woman Health Club“. This year the goal is to get #1 personal trainer. Pick up a New Haven Advocate and Cast your ballot or vote on-line by clicking here...VOTE NOW! Remember you have to vote in at least 20 catagories in order for your ballot to qualify.
Outdoor Fitness Boot Camp:
We are gearing up for Boot Camp Season. It starts in two short weeks. If you are ready to get in the best shape of your life, then I am ready to help you get there. Last year's Boot Camp is estimated to have shed over 300 reported pounds among participants. Will you be among this year's sucess stories? We are limiting each camp, so be sure to sign up before we fill up!
Article of the Month:
I have written a couple articles and posted them on the website. You have to read
The Krispy Kreme Diet: How to Lose 2lbs a Week Eating Krispy Kreme Every Day...Read More
Five Reasons You May Not be Losing Weight...Read More
Audio of the Month:
Starting Monday March 17th, you can look forward to an audio of the week posted on the website. I don't always have time to write or blog but I do have the “gift of gab“. So start tuning in and even send in a question to be answered.
Yours in Health and Fitness
Mubarakah Ibrahim, CPT
Who Else Wants the Secret to Great Abs?
It never fails. As spring approaches people start thinking about getting in shape for summer. And every year the number one thing I'm asked is "How can I get great abs?" You've probably pondered that question at some time or another and you're likely frustrated with your waistline. Maybe you've given up on your abs after doing dozens of crunches only to see zero results. I don't blame you. Forget everything you've heard about how to sculpt your abs. Crunches simply won't give you a six pack. You see, to do crunches with the hope that it will turn your midsection into a washboard is to operate under one of the most widely held fitness myths. I'm talking about spot reducing. Simply put, training one area of your body will not specifically burn fat from that area. You've probably heard that spot reducing is a myth, but most people still train as if it is true. Doing crunches will not magically make your waist shrink, it will not cause your muffin top to disappear, and it will not give you washboard abs. Only a drop in body fat will do that for you.So what is the secret to great abs? Instead of endless crunches, the secret is a winning combination of fat burning cardio, resistance training, and proper eating. It is absolutely possible for you to dramatically shape up your waistline before summer hits this year. Yes, Y-O-U. Weight loss is not reserved only for the people you've seen on the Biggest Loser or on diet pill infomercials. You can do it too.Answer the following two questions to see how your routine measures up:How often do you exercise? If your answer was anything less than 4 times a week, then that's the first thing getting between you and streamline abs. How do you define a fat burning workout? A routine including intense cardiovascular training coupled with effective resistance training. Do you do this?I'm sorry to be the one to break this to you, but walking on the treadmill for 30 minutes isn't a fat blasting routine. Neither is a leisurely 20 minutes on the elliptical machine. The truth is that you can dramatically increase your results while investing less time when you exercise right. Cardio exercise is all about maintaining an effective level of intensity. This doesn't mean that you should be out of breath or gasping for air. It does mean that you need to push yourself. Resistance training is the second key part of a fat burning workout. This means working your major muscle groups against resistance in a way that stimulates your metabolism. Again the key here is to find the right intensity and to keep each muscle group guessing.What kind of shape is your diet in? Diet is a big stumbling block for most people-especially as it relates to their midsection. Here's a fact: If your diet is out of control then your abs will be too. You can't trim your waist without trimming the junk out of your diet, regardless of how hard you exercise.
Keep calories in check. Do you know how many calories you eat? The best way to find out is to record everything you eat for a few days. Tally the number of calories that you eat each day and do an evaluation-feel free to recruit me to help out with this part. Together we'll chart improvements for your diet and adjust your calories for maximum results.
Just say "No" to junk food. While this may seem obvious, your definition of "junk food" may need an alteration. Refined sugar is one of the biggest culprits in the junk food world-it is found in soft drinks, blended coffee drinks, cookies, cakes, packaged snacks, and other sinfully sweet treats. Processed fat is another monster. As a rule of thumb you can safely view all processed or refined items as junk food.
Eat more frequently. The key here is to never let your metabolism "crash" by going hours without eating. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to skip breakfast-as this is the meal that 'breaks the fast' that your body goes into each night. Stick with eating small meals every few hours and always avoid stuffing yourself. You should now understand why you are better off not wasting time on crunches-while it is important to exercise your abs a couple of times a week, you won't expect fat to fall of that area after 100's of crunches. Do you want to flatten and sculpt your waist in time for summer this year? All you have to do is decide that you really want it. Commit to yourself-you deserve it. See me for fat blasting workouts that deliver results. Together we will get you on a program that will melt the fat off your abs, exposing shape and definition-just in time for summer. Call or email me today for a no obligation consultation.
Back to Basics
Losing weight may seem anything but simple. With all of the trendy diet plans and new workout fads-it is easy to become confused. The good news is that the basics of weight loss have not changed over the years. It all boils down to Calories In versus Calories Out. Too many Calories In, and you will gain weight. Extra Calories Out and you will lose it. Keep in mind that 3,500 calories equals one pound and every single calorie counts!
Fiesta Breakfast Taco
This delicious dish is made with egg whites and sautéed vegetables and makes a wonderful light breakfast. Enjoy with salsa for an added kick. Servings: 2Here's what you need...
1/4 cup onion, chopped
1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 medium tomato, chopped
3/4 cup egg whites (about 4 large egg whites)
2 wheat tortillas
1/4 of a small avocado
A dash of Paprika
A dash of Garlic salt
Spray a medium frying pan with cooking spray. Sauté the onion, bell pepper and garlic until soft. Add the tomato and egg whites. Cook until the egg whites have set.
Divide the egg and veggie mixture between the tortillas and fold like a taco.
Slice the avocado and sprinkle it with paprika and garlic salt. Arrange the avocado on each taco and serve. Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 243 calories, 5g fat, 35g carbohydrate, 6g fiber, and 15g protein.

We are in the running!

For Immediate Release
Denver, Colorado
March 14, 2008
Contact: Mike McGrath
303 571 4343

Finalists Named for 2008 All-America City Award
The National Civic League announced the finalists in the annual all-America City Award today.
The finalists are: Goodyear, Arizona; Marana, Arizona; Cerritos, California; Aurora, Colorado; New Haven, Connecticut; Kissimmee- Osceola County, Florida; Sarasota County, Florida; Somerville, Massachusetts; Gladstone, Missouri; the St. Louis Region, Missouri-Illinois; Lenoir, North Carolina; Reidsville, North Carolina; Akron, Ohio; Upper Dublin Township, Pennsylvania; Abbeville County, South Carolina; Selma, Texas, and Caroline County, Virginia.
Each finalist completed an extensive application providing detailed descriptions of the challenges they face and the impacts of three community projects to address those challenges.
The next step is for each community to send a delegation to Tampa, Florida, for a three-day awards competition and innovations forum (June 4-6). The winners will be announced on the evening of Friday, June 6.
“New Haven is proud to be selected as a 2008 All America City Finalist,” said Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. “Our last win was in 2003 and we look forward to bringing the title back home this year. This accomplishment is to be shared by all residents and community leaders in New Haven as it is based on the hard work of so many individuals and organizations. In this application we profiled the success of three important programs: the Elm City Resident Card Program, the combined efforts of the Street Outreach Workers Program and CTRIBAT, and CitySeed.”

The All-America City Awards recognizes communities for collaboration, inclusiveness, and successful innovation. All-America Cities demonstrate community-wide civic accomplishments, cross-sector cooperation, grassroots participation, and creative approaches to issues such as the need for low-income housing, support for at-risk youth, downtown revitalization, and healthcare for the uninsured.

“The original community award, the All-America City Award is the ‘Oscar’ for communities of all sizes,” noted National Civic League President Gloria Rubio-Cortés. “It recognizes the efforts of entire communities and exemplifies extensive civic engagement. When people attend the event for the first time, they are energized by the can-do spirit, excitement and optimism of the participants. The spirit of community-pride and unlimited possibility is contagious.”

During the three-day competition, a delegation from each community will present its programs and solutions to a jury of national experts from across the United States. Their presentations will address the community’s social and economic issues, including at least one project that focuses on the needs of young people.

A jury of national business, government, philanthropic, and nonprofit leaders will select the top 10 communities based on their presentations and applications. The 2008 All-America City Award winners will be announced Friday June 6 at a ceremony beginning at 7 p.m. at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel and Marina.

This year the awards program will feature Innovation Forums to promote peer-to-peer dialogues among the finalist communities and regional and national leaders. The topics include best practices of All-America Cities, effectively marketing your community, a youth forum, and a chief elected and appointed officials forum on civic issues. Hot topic workshops are being developed on green solutions, immigrant integration, the community-side of the subprime lending crisis, and other issues.

Now in its 59th year, the All-America City Award is an honor achieved by more than 500 neighborhoods, villages, towns, cities, counties, and regions across the country. Some have won the award multiple times.

This year’s AAC Awards are sponsored in part by Jones Day, MWH, RBC Capital Markets, Southwest Airlines (The Official Airline of the AAC Awards), Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel and Marina (The Sole Official Headquarters Hotel of the AAC Awards), and Marriott International.

Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, the National Civic League strengthens democracy by increasing the capacity of our nation’s people to fully participate in and build healthy and prosperous communities across America. We are the nation’s best at the science of local government, the art of public engagement, and the celebration of the progress that can be achieved when people work together. Founded in 1894 by Theodore Roosevelt and other government reformers, NCL is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that accomplishes its mission through training, technical assistance, publishing, facilitating community-wide strategic planning and awards programs. It publishes research on government structures and reform and community building innovation (The National Civic Review, The Civic Index, and The 8th Edition of the Model City Charter). In addition to the All-America City Awards, NCL conducts the MetLife Foundation Ambassadors in Education Awards to be announced in April. www.ncl.org

Bingo at St. Brendans

Hi All:

Our neighbor Dale Bruckhart asked that I pass this along...

Moti,

Bingo players can play every Wednesday at St. Brendans. The average prize money every week is about $1,500.

We now have (2) two progressive bingo games with a payout of $1,000.00 every eight weeks and $2,000.00 every sixteen weeks.

For a fun, low cost night out walk to the corner of Ellsworth and Whalley Avenue . It’s the “Green” alternative to driving to Foxwoods and all profits go to the school and the parish in our neighborhood.

The first game begins at 7:15PM.

No bingo on March 19.

Please help to spread the word.

Regards,

Dale Bruckhart
Member-In-Charge
456 Ellsworth Avenue

I just got this email - it looks intresting so I am going to post a link on the site.

Yours,

Moti


Dear Mr. Sandman,

I am writing as publisher of the New Haven Review, a new journal recently created by a collection of New Haven resident-writers. The journal is first and foremost a book review of quality, with a large portion of the contributions coming from well-known writers who once resided or currently reside in the Greater New Haven area.

We intend to follow our first issue of last year, done very much on the cheap, with a far more professional version this May. However, we are most excited about the new website that we just launched at www.newhavenreview.com.

With that in mind, if you produce on behalf of your constituency a newsletter of some sort—delivered by hand or regular mail or email—we would be very much grateful if you’d put in a small notice about this new endeavor. It’s something we believe the city should be proud to have—as proud as we are to be part of this city.

A small notice could read as follows or you can write your own:

For those looking for good book recommendations from fellow New Haven resident, go ahead and take a look at the New Haven Review at www.newhavenreview.com. It is edited by long-time New Haven residents who looked at book review publications in New York and Boston and decided—why not New Haven? New Haven Review is looking for subscribers and donors, too. Even though the publisher and editors—even the writers—all volunteer their time and effort, there are still printing costs, so it’s for a good cause.

Appreciatively yours,

Bennett Lovett-Graff
Publisher
New Haven Review
203-494-7018

Bellevue Road Block watch meeting tonight!

Hi, neighbors,

Just a reminder that our next meeting is Tues. at Sue and Gene's at 7 pm at 47 Bellevue Rd. Our agenda will include:

1. Update from Lt. Costin

2. Report of Management Team meeting re: prisoners released on Whalley Ave, etc.

3. News re: Beaver Pond Park from Nan

4. Other business, next meeting date and place

Let me know if you have anything to add to the agenda.

See you Tues.

Rhoda

Edge of The Wooods Workshop/ Mubarakah Ibrahim

Edge of The Woods Food Store E-Reminder
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Dear Friends

We at Edge of The Woods Food Store take pride in the fact that our customers are proactive in improving their health and wellbeing, by taking the necessary steps to seek alternative paths to wellness.

We are happy to announce our affiliate relationship with BALANCE fitness Studio and its owner Mubarakah Ibrahim as our community wellness educator. Mubarakah (pronounce Moo-ba-ra-ka), brings her energy, thirst for knowledge and love of health and wellness together with area health professionals that will inform, enlighten, guide and us through the many paths we have to choose from.

Please join us for our Wednesday evening bi-monthly series of workshops beginning in January of 2008. In addition you can stay connected and updated by joining our e-list and blog.




Dear Monti

March is GO GREEN MONTH
GO GREEN month is a national month of recognition and reminder for everyone to make more effort being environmentally conscious. Just as we make effort to remember the contribution of African American during February Black History Month. This month we should make effort to remember ways to help improve and save the enviornment.

How can you help save the environment and save money at the same time?
Did you know that eating and buying local produce helps boost the local economy and the dollars in your pocket. We save on emissions that are created by trucks carrying foods across the country, which in turns makes the food less expensive.

Imagine that! Eating healthier can benefit your health and your bank account.

Find out more this Wednesday!

Wednesday March 5, 2008
7:pm-8:pm Edge of the Woods Food Store Upstairs Lounge
363 Whalley Ave, New Haven CT
Is the Grass is Greener on Your Own Side
Sustainable Agriculture
Does local resources really decrease our dependence on foreign oil? Is CT grown vegetables that better than those grown in sunny California? Can allergies be improved by eating locally? These and other questions are up for discussion with local farmers George Hendinger and Vincent Kay

Winter Workshop Calendar
Wednesday Evenings 7:PM-8:PM

Wednesday January 23, 2008
The Truth About Weight Loss
Eating Healthy but Still Can't Lose Weight?
Are you eating whole grains, lean proteins, and lots of fruits and vegetables and still can't seem to lose weight? Can your whole wheat bread can be causing your fat belly? Will switching to a vegetarian diet really help you lose 20lbs? Are there really a such thing as "fat burning' foods. The truth about these and more will be reveled as we have a dialog with certified personal trainer and fitness counselor Mubarakah Ibrahim.

Wednesday February 6, 2008
Nurturing Generations
Pre-and postnatal Health
Herbs, homeopathy and natural healing . . . is it safe during pregnancy? There is a New birthing center coming to New Haven...find out when and where. Can what you eat give your infant allergies? Discuss these and more with our panel of experts. Dr. Amanda Levitt, Mid-wives Janet Spinner and Vicki Marnin, and Rachael Light MD.

Wednesday February 20, 2008
Living with Vitality
Vitality: The Chiropractic Link
Studies show that decreased stress to the nervous system can increase your longevity and vitality. This evenings talk will explain how Chiropractic can make this possible. Join
Dr. Katey Confrenscesco as she exposes groundbreaking technology in the realm of mind body healing that plays a vital role in longevity.

March GO GREEN MONTH
Wednesday March 5, 2008
Is the Grass is Greener on Your Own Side
Sustainable Agriculture
Does local resources reallydecrease our dependence on foreign oil? Is CT grown vegetables that better than those grown in sunny California? Can allergies be improved by eating locally? These and other questions are up for discussion with local farmers George Hendinger and Vincent Kay


Wednesday March 19, 2008
CT: A part of a Global Village
Is CT contributing to global warming?
Ozone layer, alternative fuel, animal extinction, global warming... what does little CT has to do with this global problem and its solutions? Are we apart or the solutions or part of the problem? An enlightening conversation for anyone who care about our planet. Come discuss how we as individuals and a community can make a difference in our global village with Environmentalist Brandy Love.

Election Today!

Hi All:

Today is the Election for Ward 28 Town Committee representatives.

I ask that everyone please take a few minutes and vote for

Don Walker &
Connie Perkins.

They are fine people who really listen to the Ward and I hope that you will join me in supporting them in their efforts.

Yours,

Off topic but cool

Strange Mind

"fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too Cna yuo raed tihs?
Olny 55% plepoe can. i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrdwaht I was rdanieg.
The phaonmneal pweor of thehmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at CmabrigdeUinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr theltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng istaht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae.
The rset can be a taotl mses and you cansitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm.
Tihs is bcuseaethe huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef,but the wrod as a wlohe.
Azanmig huh? yaeh and Iawlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

The Mayor's Budget Roadshow

Hi All:

The Mayor is going on his anual budget roadshow. If you are intrested in the way your taxes will look this spring GO & ASK QUESTIONS! Moti

Budget Community Meeting

Please join the Mayor this Thursday, February 28th at 6pm at the Main Branch of the New Haven Free Public Library on Elm Street. This will be the first of four community meetings focusing on the budget. The presentation touches on our most recent local economic concerns such as taxes, city resources, services, shared responsibilities the State's role in our budget and more. We encourage you to attend and voice your questions and opinions about the fiscal topics that concern you most. If you can't make it to this Thursday's meeting, please join us at one of the following:

March 27 at 6pm, St. Aedan's Church Hall
April 9 at 6pm, Pilgrim Congregational Church Hall
April 24 at 6pm St. Bernadette Church Hall

Balance fitness boot camp

Local CT Fitness Guru Offers Unique Alternative to Boring Exercise and Weight Loss Programs: Best Of all it's FREE To Women and Girls who Reside in the New Haven County!
New Haven CT - February 26, 2008
Local fitness guru unveiled the most unique solution for fitness and weight loss boredom yet - BALANCE Outdoor Fitness Boot Camp for women! This alternative to crowded gyms, bogus diets, and clunky home exercise equipment is the fastest growing fitness trend today and because it works - it's here to stay. "Most people have tried the fad diets and trendy fitness gimmicks and have failed. I got tired of seeing that. So I created the most exciting fitness adventure ever. Who doesn't want to burn up to 500 calories per workout and have a ton of fun in the process? And our Free Saturday Boot Camps are just the way to do it!" says Mubarakah Ibrahim, owner of BALANCE fitness Studio for women and head boot camp trainer.
In the U.S., an estimated 60 percent of all adults are overweight, and 20 percent are obese or 100 pounds over their ideal body weight. More men are overweight but more women are obese. Overweight and obese people are more at risk for many chronic and devastating diseases. Boot Camps are designed to encourage women in CT to focus on health and fitness as the national obesity rates grows at an alarming rate. It's a fun "team" training program designed to give participants that extra boost they need. The activities include fun exercises, and team relays specifically designed to burn calories and tone the body. "In addition, the participants will have spent an hour outdoors in a beautiful community park. That doesn't' happen much these days! Honestly, I can't think of a better way to spend my weekend than having an energizing workout and burning some serious calories in a team setting" say Ibrahim, also known as "the Muslim Trainer". To make is even better it's a fun way for me to give back to the community and to help hundreds of local residents get back the body that they deserve," explains Ibrahim.
The FREE Fitness Boot Camps for women will take place every Saturday morning in April at 8:00 am - rain or shine, in a beautiful New Haven Area Park.
Boot Camp Date & Time: Every Saturday at 8:00 AM (Rain or Shine!)
Camp Cost: FREE to New Haven County residents
All participants must register the Thursday at 6:PM before the day of Boot Camp
For information: www.balanceCT.com or
Contact: info@balanceCT.com Phone: (203)-624-9999
Client Results

"I lost 14 lbs (with six weeks of Boot Camp)"
----K. Mcavoy
"I can tell everything is shaped better"
----H. Tarikti
"I can fit in size 8 again"
---A. Gay.
About BALANCE fitness
BALANCE fitness Studio for women is New Haven's Only All woman personal training studio who offers one on one personal training, partner training and outdoor fitness Boot Camp programs. BALANCE fitness owner and head trainer has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show, WTNH, WTIC, and the front page of the Hartford Current and Chicago Tribune.

Mubarakah Ibrahim
BALANCE fitness Studio for Women Owner and Head Trainer