I hope you’re all preparing for a wonderful Thanksgiving week. As you’ve heard, I was in New Orleans last week receiving the Gold Municipal Excellence Award given by the National League of Cities (NLC). The NLC recognized New Haven for our work in the area of immigration, specifically, the success of the Elm City Resident Card. This is a great honor that we can all be proud of. We were selected over 168 other applicants in our category. Congratulations on this achievement!

New Haven Police Provide Meals for Needy Families

As part of an annual tradition, New Haven Police officers will be visiting homes throughout the City tomorrow making sure families have enough to eat on Thanksgiving. Officers will be delivering food donations to families in need in an effort to ensure that all families have a safe and healthy Thanksgiving.

Bella Vista Thanksgiving Celebration

In collaboration with our Department of Elderly Services, I’ll be sponsoring a Thanksgiving dinner celebration for seniors at Bella Vista tomorrow. The dinner will begin at 5:30 p.m. We’ll be offering a full, traditional Thanksgiving feast for more than 200 elderly residents at no charge. The event will take place in the Victoria Room at the Bella Vista housing complex on Eastern Street.

Here’s what’s happening in New Haven Public Schools this week:

The Athletics Department has scheduled the following football games and events for the week:

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2007, 1:00 P.M.: Wilbur Cross Athletic Complex,

181 Mitchell Drive,3rd Annual Harvest Bowl, North Branford High School -

"Thunderbirds' vs. Hyde Leadership - "Howling Wolves." The game ticket cost is $5.00 per ticket.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2007, 1:00 P.M.: Middle School "All-Star" Game,

Historic Bowen Field, Admission: FREE

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 21 2007, 4:30 - 6:30 P.M.: JAMES HILLHOUSE HIGH SCHOOL CAFE, 480 Sherman Parkway, Pre-Thanksgiving annual reunion for past graduates as well as present players of the Play It Smart Program. Contact Tom Dyer, Head Football Coach at 946-8484 for more information.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2007, 8 A.M. - 10 A.M.: NEW HAVEN ATHLETIC

CENTER, 480 SHERMAN PARKWAY: 23rd Elm City Bowl Thanksgiving Breakfast,

Ticket Cost: $ 10.00 per person (children and adults) Followed by the 23rd annual Elm City Bowl Football Game, James Hillhouse vs. Wilbur Cross, Bowen Field, Kick-off time 10:30 a.m. Ticket cost for the game only, $5.00. Limited number of tickets sold for the breakfast, so get your tickets early. Tickets Can Be Purchased At: Hillhouse High School - Athletics Office, Wilbur Cross High School - Main Office, Athletics Office at Gateway Center and at the Roberto Clemente K-8 School.

Next week we can look forward to our annual tree lighting ceremony on the New Haven Green. I hope to see you there.

Enjoy a happy and healthy Thanksgiving week!

Very truly yours,

John DeStefano, Jr.

Mayor

[11/18/2007]