This past Wednesday, I joined Hillhouse High school students and members of city’s Police and Fire Departments to launch the New Haven Public Safety Academy (PSA). The program, piloted in Hillhouse High School, is the product of collaboration between the New Haven Board of Education, Gateway Community College (GCC), the NHFD, and the NHPD. Twenty six freshmen make up the first class.

The New Haven Public Safety Academy program has the potential to serve as a pipeline for New Haven students into public safety careers right here in New Haven. Students career skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, information technology, interpersonal communication, and writing, while at the same time gaining valuable technical training.

The 4-year school-to-career program includes academic training provided through the Humanities, Education, Law, and Public Service (HELP) Small Learning Community at Hillhouse High School

Students enrolled in the program will receive academic training in normal subjects and technical training through public safety courses.

PSA students will be exposed to an in-school advisory program during their 9th and 10th grades and begin after-school training and certification work

Upper-class PSA students will take public safety courses and gain professional certifications such as EMT, Firefighter I&II, Electronic Telecommunications, and Private Security. PSA upper-class students will also have the opportunity for dual-enrollment at GCC, affording them earned college credits in subjects such as Criminal

Successful graduates from this program earn students credentials and certifications that most entry-level professionals working in the field obtain, giving them a leg up when applying for jobs or higher education programs.

Recycle Your Old Electronics

On Friday I joined the New Haven Office of Sustainability and WeRecylce! to announce the start of a statewide ewaste recycling contest sponsored by WeRecycle. Each city in Connecticut will compete against one another for scholarships and prize packages.

Residents can drop off their electronic wastes at the transfer station at 260 Middletown Avenue Monday-Saturday from 9 AM- noon. For more information, visit:

www.cityofnewhaven.com/Sustainability

The contest ends November 8th with the winners being announced on November 15th, National Recycling Day. The Ewaste Roundup is being held to increase participation at the recycling centers, keep the ewaste out of landfills and to give citizens the opportunity to win some cash for their town.

The winner of the contest will be determined by who collects the most ewaste over the contest timeframe. This will be measured as total weight collected per capita. The total pounds per capita will be reflected on the WeRecycle website, on the CT specific page. Non-residential waste can not be counted towards this contest.

The city that comes in first place will receive a $3,000 scholarship as well as first choice of the prize packages which include a transfer station makeover, an electronic prize package or a tickets package. Second place will receive a $2,000 scholarship and second choice on a prize package, while third place receives a $1,000 scholarship and third choice of prize packages. The most organized ewaste recycling center will also receive a gift card.

Acceptable electronic waste includes the following; desktop computers, laptops, keyboards, power cords, chargers, mice, small electronics (VCR’s, DVR’s, DVD players, cable receivers, digital converter boxes, games consoles), PDA’s, digital music players, televisions, computer monitors, printers, fax machines and scanners.

Health Matters!

Exercise and diet—A great deal of research has shown that exercise can enhance your memory and a healthy, calorie-restricted diet has been shown to help the memory performance of healthy elderly adults.

Green Tip of the Week

The statewide electronic recycling contest is being held until November 8th so bring your electronic wastes to the transfer station!

Here’s what else is happening in the Elm City…

Oct. 6. New Music New Haven Morse Recital Hall. 8pm. www.music.yale.edu

Oct. 6-15. East Rock West Rock Music Festival Venues throughout New Haven www.eastrockwestrock.com/

Oct. 7. Smoking Gun Research Agency: Secrets of New Haven Tours New Haven Museum. 5:30pm www.newhavenmuseum.org

Oct. 7-8/13, 14. Peasant from El Salvador. Bregamos Theater. Fair Haven Middle School Auditorium. 8pm.$12. www.bregamos.org

Oct 7. Salsa outdoors. Artspace Lot, 812 Chapel St. 6-7 pm (weather permitting). $10/$5 12 & under.

Oct 7. Erik Friedlander’s Bonebridge. Firehouse 12. 8:30pm & 10pm. $18/$12.firehouse12.com.

Oct. 8. DOCOMOMO Tour Day - The New Haven Medical Center: A Mecca for Modernism. 11am. Pre-register (203) 562-5919. www.nhpt.org

Oct. 8. Guided Hike to Judges Cave. Common Ground. 12:30-2pm. www.commongroundct.org.

Oct. 8. Boleros & Flamenco Lyric Hall. 6pm. 860-508-1068

Oct. 9. Peter Frankl & Friends Morse Recital Hall. 4pm. www.music.yale.edu

Oct. 9. Hymn Festival Woolsey Hall. 5pm. www.music.yale.edu

Very truly yours,

John DeStefano, Jr.

Mayor

Contact Name: Adam Joseph

Contact Email: AJoseph@newhavenct.net

Contact Phone: 203-946-8200

[10/3/2011]