Winter & Holiday News

[WoosterSqWatch]

Greetings Neighbors: 

Here are a few updates on City Warming Centers, Holiday celebrations Downtown and in Wooster Square, and Sunrise Cafe's Anniversary Breakfast. 

City of New Haven Warming Centers

City of New Haven Winter Warming Centers are now open and available to residents experiencing homelessness and housing instability. Beginning last week and continuing through mid-April, the City of New Haven, working in partnership with local non-profits and social service providers, opened four Winter Warming Centers that are available to anyone who needs a warm and safe place to stay on cold winter nights. The Warming Centers will operate on a walk-in basis, 7 days a week, generally between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., with extended hours during extreme weather. Their locations are as follows: 

• Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen (DESK) 266 State Street, New Haven, CT
• The 180 Center 438 East Street, New Haven, CT
• Upon This Rock Ministries 882 Grand Avenue, New Haven, CT
• Varick Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church 242 Dixwell Avenue, New Haven, CT

At the Warming Centers, immediate needs are met – shelter, safety, food – and trained staff and volunteers work to help address long-term needs as well, including permanent housing, employment, and other support services. These Warming Centers also complement the City’s existing network of homeless services, navigation hubs, and shelters, which can be accessed by calling 2-1-1.

Additional information about these services can also be found on the City’s website: www.newhavenct.gov.

Tree Lighting on the Green: Thursday, December 1 from 4 to 8 pm

One of New Haven's best holiday events of the year is this Thursday! The New Haven Tree Lighting is a free event kicking off the holiday season in downtown. From the city's Facebook event: "The annual celebration geared to the young and young at heart takes place on the city's historic Green and features live performances and a variety of children’s activities. Children can visit with Santa, take a hayride, ride the carousel, visit the NHFPL Readmobile (get your library card! check-out a book!), ferris wheel, touch-a-truck, or enjoy holiday crafts. We will again be partnering with NHFD/Toys for Tots and Wells Fargo/Food Bank to collect toys and food for those in need. The evening is highlighted by the illumination of the tree. Food and refreshments available from Sugar Bakery, Shoreline Prime Meats & Deli, The Cheese Truck, YACK and the Jitterbus."

Tree Lighting in Wooster Square, Friday, December 2 at 6pm

🎄🎄🎄

Come join the Historic Wooster Square Association for the annual tree lighting of our very own tree in Wooster Square. 

When: This Friday, December 2, 2022 at 6:00pm 

Where: In Wooster Square Park (near the entrance at Chapel Street across from DePalma Court)

Menorah Lighting in Wooster Square, beginning Sunday, December 18

Look for an update soon about the Menorah Lighting to celebrate the 8 nights of Chanukah in Wooster Square! 

Sunrise Cafe Special Breakfast on Friday, December 9 from 7-10am - Neighbors are Invited!

Help Sunrise Cafe broaden its network of friends and join them for a celebration of eight years of Sunrise Cafe and an introduction to their new Executive Director on Friday, December 9 between 7 am and 10 am. Their new ED, Geralynn McGee, and Chef Duff will be there along with several board members.  Neighbors are welcome to meet staff and volunteers, tour the kitchen and enjoy a delicious breakfast. Bring a friend. If you can, bring a gift of warm socks or gloves for our guests. The Sunrise Cafe has been serving breakfast without charge to New Haven’s unhoused and food insecure since 2015. Each weekday morning, the Cafe welcomes 80 - 120+ guests to the undercroft of St. Paul and St. James, near Wooster Square and three blocks south of the New Haven Green, with white tablecloths, flowers and a fresh, warm, nutritious, home-cooked breakfast.

Sunrise Cafe is a community center where friends who are hungry (and often unhoused) gather each weekday morning for conversation, warmth and a delicious healthy breakfast. Sunrise gives guests, staff and volunteers from diverse backgrounds, experiences and economic circumstances the welcoming no-judgement space to get to know one another, to care for one another, to learn from one another.  At Sunrise there is trust and mutual respect and an honor code to not bring drugs or arguments into the space.

Be safe and well as we enter the holiday season! 

Sarah 

Sarah B.  Greenblatt

Wooster Square Watch

http://woostersquarewatch.com

Wooster Square Watch brings together Wooster Square neighbors through sharing information to enhance public safety, address quality of life issues, and promote rewarding, neighborly relationships.

Numbers to Keep Handy:

City of New Haven Health Dept. COVID-19 Info Line - 203-946-4949
NON-EMERGENCY Police Service – 203-946-6316
NON-EMERGENCY Fire Department – 203-946-6990

ANONYMOUS TIPS - 866-888-TIPS (8477) or 203-946-6296

New Haven Police/Downtown/Wooster Square District Manager - 

Lt. Brendan Borer -  bborer@newhavenct.gov

City of New Haven Snow Information Line: 203-946-7669

City of New Haven Emergency Operations:  203-946-8221

CAR TOWED? Call City Non-Emergency Police Service - 203-946-6316

Public Works & Parks – 203-946-7700 (Pothole Repair, Recycling, Bulk Trash or Appliance Pick-Up; Park needs)

Traffic & Parking - 203-946-8055
Livable City Initiative (LCI) – 203-200-8350 or anat...@newhavenct.gov (Arthur Natalino, Downtown/Wooster Sq) 

New Haven Public Schools/Choice & Enrollment – 475-220-1431

Tree Trimming –  203-946-8004

Connection to Social Services: dial "211" from any phone http://www.211ct.org/
Elderly Services – 203-946-7854

Historic Wooster Square Association - www.historicwoostersquare.org