New Haven Independent

The New Haven Parking Authority’s Bill Kirpatrick and Paul Wessel of the New Haven Department of Traffic and Parking were joined by Brian McGrath, there to represent Chapel West. “Muffy” Satin of the Wave Gallery was there to accept accolades for her creative shop windows. John Wareck and Tony Schaffer (C.A. White and a commissioner), real estate owners and developers, mingled with the crowd. Harold Roth and Robert Orr, New Haven devotees and Yale School of Architecture professors, were really there for the speakers. John Fisher, exec of the Shubert Performing Arts Center, watched as Sheri Kaplan, the theatre’s director of operations and a commissioner, took the spotlight for her chairmanship of the Nominating Committee. Barbara Lamb, the director of the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs, chatted amiably with Elizabeth Herlihy, business development executive with the Chamber and Tony Rossley of Citizen’s Bank. Both Tony Rescigno and Susan Godshall represented the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce.

Jean Kelly and Jean Handley (among all of her incredible credentials is that of being the first woman admitted for membership at the Q during her days as a SNET vice-president) were there. Harvey Koizim of the Yale Law School and resident of Wooster Square, was visiting with Lindy Gold (State Department of Economic and Community Development). Steve Paganelli represented The Convention and Visitors Bureau. The usually gregarious, bon vivant of the Bar Association, Jack Colleran, wondered why the law offices of Whitney Avenue should share in the escalating tax burden of the District.

Chris Nicotra, commission chairman (Olympia Properties), and Scott Healy (executive director), co-anchored the business meeting and awards.

To soften the blow of an increased tax levy, which was passed by a huge plurality, they introduced the “Clean Team” and “Downtown Ambassadors” (pictured with Healy) and award winning staffer Jennifer Lahert (manager of INFO New Haven). Daisy Abreu, the assistant director, did an admirable job of “meet and greet”. Additional awards were presented to Chip Croft (Sea TV and outgoing commissioner) and Bill Christian (Bentara, Central Steak House, real estate developer and outgoing commissioner). Gratitude was expressed to Anne Worcester for all of her work with Market New Haven.

A special award was presented to Gideon Gebreyesus (pictured), owner of Caffé Adulis and La Piazza and longtime host extraordinaire.

The feature of the meeting was a panel discussion by Patrick Pinnell, architect, author, educator and town planner, Steve Maun, developer and Smart Growth practitioner, and Robert Sitkowski, attorney and expert on form-based code. To their credit, they espoused and explained the “New Urbanism” in a way that everyone could appreciate and understand. They left the audience wanting to learn more.

Skin and Grin and Lifelong Learning — a perfect evening with a worthwhile theme —
ALL FOR THE GREATER GOOD!!