As Thanksgiving approaches, I want to take this opportunity to wish residents a happy and healthy holiday season and to remind you that there are many exciting activities happening in the coming weeks. The holiday season is a special time in New Haven, as our theaters, museums, restaurants and merchants showcase what makes our city the cultural capital of Connecticut. I encourage residents to take advantage of the special events and extended hours that many of our businesses will be offering throughout the holiday season. For a full listing of holiday happenings, please visit: www.infonewhaven.com/holidays.

Here’s what else is happening in New Haven:

Tree Lighting on the Green

The City of New Haven will present its annual holiday tree lighting ceremony on the historic Green Thursday, December 2. The free family-fun event kicks off downtown’s holiday season at 5:30 p.m. with live performances by Katherine Brennan School, Mauro/Sheridan School, Nathan Hale School, Bishop Woods School and the New Haven Chorale. This year’s tree sponsored by Peoples United Bank is a 65-foot-tall Norway spruce donated by John Gagne in Northford. The tree will be illuminated with 20,000 sparkling energy-efficient LED lights in an array of colors. From 4-8 p.m., there will be a host of free activities for children to enjoy, sponsored by Yale-New Haven Hospital and Covidien.

Tax Notification

Tax bills for the second installments of real estate and personal property, as well as total supplemental motor vehicle bills, will be mailed in the month of December. If you would like to receive electronic notifications from the Office of the Tax Collector about when tax bills are mailed, how to receive a duplicate bill and when bills are due, please click here, select “My New Haven” then click on “Message Center.” Once you register your email address, you will have the option to select which newsletters from the City you’d like to receive.

Mayor’s Night In

On Tuesday, December 7 at 5 p.m., I will be hosting Mayor’s Night In. I encourage residents to stop by my office, where I will be available to answer questions and address any concerns you may have. The Mayor’s Office is located on the second floor of City Hall, 165 Church Street.

Green Tip

See how your neighborhood is doing in the New Haven Recycling Competition. The neighborhood with the highest recycling percentage from October 18 - January 28 will receive the new trash/recycling toter system this spring.

Cultural Events

November 19 to December 31—Annual Fantasy of Lights at Lighthouse Point Park. Sundays-Thursdays from 5 to 9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 5 to 10 p.m. For more information, please visit: http://newhavengoodwill.easterseals.com.

November 26 to November 28—“A Christmas Carol,” at the Shubert. Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2p.m. Prices range from $15 to $42. For more information, please visit: www.shubert.com/.

November 26 to December 18—World premiere of Bossa Nova. For more information, please visit: www.yalerep.org.

November 27—Common Ground Open Farm and Guided Hike at Common Ground from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, please visit: www.commongroundct.org/.

November 27—Orchestra New England Colonial Concert at United Church on the Green from 8-9:30 p.m. $5 Students/$20 General/$35 Reserved. For more information, please visit: www.orchestranewengland.org.

I hope you have a happy and healthy week!

Very truly yours,

John DeStefano, Jr.

Mayor

Contact Name: Jessica Mayorga

Contact Email: jmayorga@newhavenct.net

Contact Phone: 203-946-7660

[11/27/2010]