This week I will attend the National League of Cities Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida. Aside from representing our City, I will also be learning about innovative ideas other Cities have implemented that may benefit New Haven. We should be very proud to have been chosen to be one of only 50 cities to participate in the NLC’s innovation showcase. Thanks to the great work and success of our Street Outreach Worker’s Program, we will enjoy the opportunity of teaching hundreds of other cities about what we’ve accomplished in our efforts to reach at-risk youth in our City.

The National League of Cities is the oldest and largest national organization representing municipal governments throughout the United States. The annual meeting is the premier skills building and knowledge sharing event for city officials and employees. At this year’s meeting, I will participate in workshops, discussions, and panels with leaders from cities across the nation. We will discuss issues vital to all of our communities such as the mortgage crisis, transportation infrastructure and sustainability, and more. Through such discussion, we can help find solutions to strengthen all of our communities.

New Haven Celebrates First-Ever Restaurant Week

This year marks the first ever New-Haven Restaurant Week. From Sunday, November 9th to Friday, November 14th, 18 of New Haven’s finest restaurants will serve mouth-watering prix-fixe menus for lunch ($16.38 - the year New Haven was founded) and dinner ($29). Restaurant Week honors the culinary renaissance that has taken place in New Haven over the last years and highlights the variety of fine-dining right at our doorsteps. The reduced menus of Restaurant Week offer everyone an opportunity to enjoy the gourmet delights our restaurants have to offer. Please visit http://www.infonewhaven.com/restaurantweek for more information about participating restaurants and reservation booking.

Holiday Poinsettias for sale!

For the 5th year, New Haven residents can purchase holiday poinsettia plants from The Sound School. Those who purchase their poinsettias from The Sound School support the school’s agricultural programs and the work of the school’s students and the staff of the New Haven Department of Parks, Recreation & Trees. Revenues from sales will be used to support future horticultural programs of the City/Sound School partnership. For more information on how to order your plants, please call 203-946-6465.

Assistant Police Chief Stephanie Redding honored at 6th Annual Public Safety Awards Reception

This Tuesday, the New Haven Rotary Club and American Medical Response recognize Assistant Chief Redding for her outstanding work in the police department. The reception is a fundraiser that provides scholarships to the children of those recognized at the event. Through the Rotary Club’s Charitable Trust, Chief Redding and the other honored individuals will receive scholarship funds to ensure the continued education of their children after graduation from New Haven schools. The City of New Haven congratulates Chief Redding and gives thanks to the New Haven Rotary Club for its dedication to increasing educational opportunities for New Haven students. For more information and for tickets, please contact Officer Joseph Avery at 946-5915.

Town Hall Gathering for Seniors

New Haven seniors will have an opportunity to hear their State legislators address issues affecting them during a town hall meeting November 13th at from 10 a.m. until 12 noon at Gateway Community College’s North Haven Campus located at 88 Bassett Road. The City’s General Assembly delegation has been invited to attend the session which is sponsored by the New Haven Department of Elderly Services, Gateway Community College and the Connecticut Commission on Aging. To register and to request additional information, please contact Dr. Karen Kelsey at Gateway at 203-285-2151.

Have a Happy and Healthy Week!

Very Truly Yours,

John DeStefano, Jr.

Mayor