In a number of ways, today is a monumental day in history globally, nationally and locally. I write to you from Washington, D.C. where I have the privilege of taking part in the Inaugural festivities. I invite you to catch up on what I’m seeing and hearing in my daily diary entry in the New Haven Register at www.nhregister.com. I’m also capturing this experience on video as I attend events and meet many people from around our nation who have traveled long distances to witness this series of events. I invite you to view my videos on the City’s website or at: http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2009/01/20/

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Today also represents a historic day for New Haven and New Haven Public Schools as the new Cooperative Arts and Humanities Magnet High School opens for its first day of classes Downtown. Co-Op is an interdistrict magnet high school with 60.5% of its students from New Haven and 39.5% of its students from 21 area towns. Enrollment will increase from 446 to 650 in the next few years. Co-Op is one of only two full-time creative and performing arts high schools in Connecticut.

The new school contains a 350-seat multi-purpose theater, a black-box theater, a scene shop, an 85-seat lecture/film viewing hall, two dance studios, 2D and 3D arts studios, creative writing labs, a video production studio, choral and instrumental rehearsal spaces, a photography lab, seminar rooms, a cafeteria, a library and a gymnasium, all on the lower level or first and second floors. The top two floors include other academic classrooms.

With the opening of Co-Op this month, following the opening of Troup and Columbus Schools in September, 28 new and renovated schools have been completed since 1998 under the $1.5 billion Citywide School Construction Program. Five more schools are in construction and several more are in planning and design.

This Week’s Green Tip

Save on your hot water heating bill by wrapping your tank-style hot water heater with an inexpensive heating blanket. An average household will save $50 or more per year, quickly paying back the low initial cost (usually < $20). Together, New Haven residents can save over $1.5 million!

Do you know someone who might want to receive my weekly message but isn’t on my mailing list? If so, please e-mail a request to: jmayorga@newhavenct.net from the e-mail address you’d like us to add on. Requests will generally be processed within 48 hours of receipt.

When it snows...

Property owners in the City are reminded that clearing the snow on the sidewalks and around your homes is your responsibility. This rule applies to both commercial and residential property owners and it requires that sidewalks be cleared within 24 hours of the end of a storm.

I wish you a happy and healthy week!

Very truly yours,

John DeStefano, Jr.

Mayor