The Word On Elm Street: Scrapped Violin Saved

(Updated) A sidewalk-discarded violin may soon have a new life in the hands of a public school student musician.

That’s thanks to East Rock resident and New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) parent Wendy (who shared only her first name with the Independent for this update article.)

On Wednesday morning, Wendy swung by the Independent’s Elm Street office to pick up a violin that just a day earlier appeared destined for the garbage. 

Wendy read Tuesday’s Word on the Street article about getting ready for bulk trash pickup on Maple Street (see below) and had reached out to the Independent to save the instrument.

She told the Independent on Wednesday morning that she’ll be bringing the violin to Kevin Chapin, a luthier on Quinnipiac Avenue, to see if he can fix it up. She said her daughter plays the violin in the city public schools through programs like the Music in Schools Collaborative and the All City Orchestra.

Keep an eye out for the next update to this article about whether or not the local luthier can work his magic and get this violin back in playing condition.

See more below for Tuesday’s original Word on the Street article.

The Word On Maple Street: 1 Last Look At Dad’s Gaskets

A quarter century of memories welled up in Yanira Romero as she helped her mother and brother haul out bulk trash Tuesday.

There were the bicycles her father Nelson Romero and grandfather Benito Velez rode. Everyone knew Benito: He ran multiple stores in town as well as a car dealership.

There were the piled-up car parts from the Columbus Avenue body-work shop where Nelson and Yanira worked side by side ​“until I got sick and lost it” thanks to Crohn’s disease, Yanira said during a conversation on the ​“Word on the Street” segment of WNHH FM’s ​“LoveBabz LoveTalk” program.

Yanira has recovered enough still to work as a landscaper and on some construction jobs. And ​“I pick up garbage and dump it in New Haven dumpsters, so everybody knows me.” She lives in the Kimberly Avenue area of the Hill.

She took Tuesday off work to help her mother Norma Romero (pictured) and brother Nelson haul old boards and the bicycles and broken-apart furniture and old rugs …

… and a porcelain throne …

… and a no-longer-used niece’s violin out of their garage and apartment on the first floor of a three-story house at the corner of Maple Street and Winthrop Avenue. They piled the debris by the curb on Maple for a scheduled Wednesday bulk trash pick-up. (The violin was subsequently retrieved; anyone interested in it can contact the author at the above ​“email the author” button at the top of this story.)

The family arranges bulk pick-ups annually, Yanira said. But this year’s was different, a bigger job, for two reasons: A new owner of the house where Yanira’s mother has lived for 25 years did extensive renovations. ​“The whole house got remodeled. A lot of things changed,” Yanira said.

And the family, which came here in the 1980s from Arecibo, Puerto Rico, decided finally to throw away the car parts (including seats) left behind by her father, who owned a towing business in addition to working at the body shop.

He died almost nine years ago.

“There’s things we didn’t want to get rid of,” Yanira said. ​“They meant something for a long time. We’re breaking furniture that was here for a long time.”

She paused and mentioned about how nice it felt to think about her father. That, she said, already made it a good day.

Click on the video to watch the full conversation with Yanira Romero on the ​“Word on the Street” segment of WNHH FM’s ​“LoveBabz LoveTalk” program.

Click here and see below for other​“Word on the Street” episodes.

Word On Platt Street: Pop Pops In With The Crew
Word On Sherman: Make Way For Mogul
Word On College Street: Future Doc Makes A Pit Stop
Word On Howe: EbLens, Through A Lens
Word On Whalley: Terry & Bobby See Their Way Clear
The Word On Willis: Beauty Pokes Its Head
The Word on York Street: Fast & Steady
Sprung From Work, Nick Samples City’s Buzz
Angel Drives, Delivers Toward Easter
Word On Sherman: Candy Looks Beyond Mandy
Word On Chapel: MonaLisa Steps Up
The Word On Edgewood:​“Maintenance Guy” Comes To The Fore
Word On Fountain: Let The Sunshine In
Word On Winthrop:​“It’s A Ford”
Texan Teacher Kvells
Word On Whalley: Justice Rides
Word On Nicoll Street: Big Picture Comes In Focus
Word On Kensington Street: Paintbrushes Pass Down
The Word On Maple Street: STEM?​‘Snow Sweat
Word On Crown Street:​“Warehouse Guy” Hops In The Truck
Word On The Street: Ashes Mark New Life Chapter
The Word On County Street: Greg Weighs His Next Move
Surprise Drop-Off Turns Bottle Man East
Word On Boulevard: Love’s On The Menu
Old-School Chainsaw Comes Through
During Dwight Detour, Dominique Discovers Eden
Dreams Flagged on Ellsworth
Word On The Street: ICU Crew Lands At Bella’s
Pizzeria Raises Dough For Turkish Earthquake Victims
Word On Springside: Hot Pile, Cooler Planet
Park Trees Preserved
Word On Winthrop: Mom/Daughter TCBs
Word On Whalley: Wings Rise; Neon Fades
Word On Beers Street: That’s The Drill
Word On The Street: Sisterhood Is Wow-erful
Word On The Street: 1st Step Taken
Word On The Street: New Loos Arrive
Word On The Street: Kash Starts Fresh
Word On The Street: The Gig Cycle Spins
Word On The Street: Dumped Trash Disappears
Word On The Street: Job Interview Awaits
Word On The Street: Callaghan Suits Up
Officer McKernan Refuels For Double Duty
Word On The Street: Fred Keeps Moving
Word On The Street: Mimosa Mania
Word On The Street: Terry Hands Over The Brakes
Safety Hunter Keeps Eye On The Rising Tiers
Leather’s Grandson Returns To The Soil
Jorge Opens A Door
Word On The Street: Dad Awaits The Call
Word On The Street: Bridgette Beats The Sun
Word On The Street:​“Blessed,” & Ready For Busy Barber Season
The Word On Brownell Street: Call Luciano
Nana Readies Leaf Bag #32
Word On The Street: Groom Plans Hectic Holiday, Needs Car Back
The Word On Garden Street: Turkey Times Two
Dr. J Clears The Way
Estelita Makes The Journey Back Home
Butts, Burger King Wrappers Vanish At Wendy’s Drive-Thru
Skateboard J Does A 360
Word On The Street: The Banana Vote Emerges
Word On The Street: Sprinkler Heads
Word On Orchard Street: Cheap Gas
Word On The Street: Keep On Truckin’
Martin Readies 1 Last Bridge To Nature
Word on the Street: Call Her​“Queen”
Word on the Street: Coach Lance Called It
Word On Dixwell: Scooter Saves Gas
Budding Architect’s Word On The Street: New Haven’s More Laid Back Than Hong Kong
Word On Street:​“Smell Good In Your Hood”
Blood (Pressure) Talk Comes To Barber’s Chair
Word On Street: Rizzo Can Stand The Heat
The Tomato Plot Thickens
Without Illusions, Lamont Stewart Makes The Most Of His Morning Walk
Pro-Punk Poet Prof Starts Summer Stretch
Barista Soaks Up New Hometown Flavor
Word On The Street: Park Pre-Work Workout Sets The Tone
Homeless, & Working Exit 5 
Aldo Salazar Does The Circuit
Brisa Mendoza STEMs The Graduation Tide
Timmy Turner Takes The Long View
Bike To Work Week Pulls Up To State Street Station
He’s Making Sure Soldiers Won’t Be Forgotten
Legion Ave. Rite Aid Closing; Actor Bummed
Word On Church St.: Drugs Are Everywhere
Indoor​“Sunrise” Breakfasts Resume For The Hungry & The Homeless 
​“VillaFame” Has Designs On The World
Cherry Trees & NFTs Blossom In Wooster Square
9th Square Grows On New New Havener
Warbler Watcher Waits In The Woods
Reggie Gibson Makes A Clean Sweep
Sorry, Wooster Street: This New New Havener Has His Eye On Whalley Pie
Demons Stalk Methadone Run
Surveyor Bundles Up
Grandpa Boyd’s Toes Froze
Jay Jordan Shows Up Early For First Day At Mickey D’s
Track Champ Sets Sights On Firehouse
Can Collector Seeks Redemption
Reborn Stetson Library Opens Its Doors
Mom Prays To Pause Violence
Commuter Rolls With Switch To Train
Word on the Street: Math
Word At The Barber Shop: Ukraine Needs Our Help
Word On The Street: Pain At The Pump
Hamden’s Female Leadership Team Marks International Women’s Day
Taylor Picks Up Her Step
Wednesday’s Word on Grand:​“Survival”
Turbocharged Community Soup Kitchen Plans Return To Indoor Dining
Prof On Track To Put Pain Behind Him
Word on The Street: New Beginnings
Lyric Hall Goes With The Flow
1 Valentine’s Day Later, Love Survives
Budget Airline Celebrates 100 Days At Tweed
Bobby’s Not Snitching »Grill Goes Cold After Inspector’s Visit
(Waste)Water St. Report: Omicron Still Fading
Word On The Street: Love Rides On Metro-North
Strolls Keep Soulmates On Life’s Path »Word on the Street: Where’s There’s Smoke …
Dude, Where’s His Car?
Word On The Street:​“Level Up”
Word On The Street: Paying Rent, Staying Safe
Word On The Street: Brrrr!
Word On The Street: Caffeine
Word On The Street: 10 AM Georgia Hots