Markeshia Ricks Photo
Storm sends first night of Hi-Fi Pie Fest indoors.
A short but violent storm took down tree branches around town, roughed up cemeteries and sent the first night of a summer “Hi-Fi Pie” Fest indoors.
The thunderstorm popped up at about 5 p.m. Monday and tore down tree branches throughout the Hill neighborhood, particularly on Columbus Avenue, according to Rick Fontana, who oversees emergency response for the city.
Fontana said that one person at a housing complex on Quinnipiac Avenue was struck by a falling branch. Fire and emergency medical personnel were dispatched to the scene and transported the person to the hospital for treatment.
Becky Bombero, who heads the city’s parks department, said she had two tree crews and a supervisor out handling storm-related problems on streets and sidewalks throughout the city. She said there were several other problems with branches that had to be referred to the state because they happened on state roads.
Bombero also said that the Saint Bernard’s and Evergreen cemeteries suffered some damage because of the storm. The cemeteries are private property. Fontana also said that there was a transformer knocked out in the East Morris Cove area.
Heitmann, hailed.
The Westville Village Renaissance Alliance had to call off the first night of a weekly Beecher Park Summer Concert Series because of all the rumbling weather The concert was to be held immediately after WVRA’s annual meeting, which was held at Mitchell Library.
Donius.
The meeting still went on and attendees got to say a fond and hearty farewell to outgoing WVRA Executive Director Chris Heitmann and hello to interim Director Lizzy Donius, and two of the three incoming board members elected at the meeting.
New board members Rozewski and Akbar.
The new WVRA Board of Governance members are Maysa Akbar, executive director of the Integrated Wellness Group; Mark Rozewski, executive vice president of Finance and Administration for Southern Connecticut State University; and Valencia Goodridge, who is a real estate professional and current president of National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. Board of Directors.
Tasty fun for all.
Attendees also still got to eat pie and listen to a little live music provided on the fly by Neighborhood Music School faculty and violinists Gretchen Frazier and Bethany Wilder. The next outdoor Beecher Park concert and Hi-Fi Pie Fest date is scheduled for July 25.
