Meeting minutes: February 2020

[Christel Manning]

The Economic & Community Development group met on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020, from 6 – 7 pm at Quinnipiac Marina, 315 Front Street. Present: Kathleen, Christel, Natalie, Margaret, Lee, David, Lisa, Kirk.

 

RIVERFEST: Kathleen, our non-profits coordinator, reported on various groups that want to do tables at Riverfest. These include NH Land Trust Growing Entrepreneurs, Schooner Camp, Sound School, IRIS, Greenwave, and others. We have a limited number of tables, so Kath will encourage groups to bring their own. Margaret, our vendor coordinator, has a list of last year’s arts and crafts vendors. She will invite them to come back; depending on how many do, we may invite additional vendors. Vendors will pay a reservation fee for tables; non-profits will not. Kirk, our library liason, will check if the Book Mobile can come back. Natalie, our grant writer and furniture coordinator, successfully applied for a Community Foundation grant to support our festival. Lisa, our food and beverage coordinator, reported that a new restaurant will be opening in the marina soon. They will create a limited menu for us so that food prep will go quicker and we avoid the lines we had last year. Lisa also confirmed that East Rock Brewery will be back to provide beer tastings. Lee, our chief fundraiser and PR man, has updated the Riverfest website and will be doing social media advertising. He will print a limited number of paper posters for anybody who wants to distribute them. Christel, our boating, banners and music coordinator, has posted our Riverfest banner painting event on CSNA website. She reported that Martin from Parks Department has agreed to provide canoes and staff. Everything is looking good!!!

 

STRONG SCHOOL: There will be a meeting on Friday, Feb. 21, at 1 pm, between leaders of our neighborhood (David, Lee, and others) and City of New Haven urban planning leaders to discuss a new RFP for Strong School.

 

SOUP NIGHT AND DINING OUT NIGHTS: Next soup night will be Sunday, March 1, 5-7 pm, at Junta for Progressive Action to benefit earthquake victims from Puerto Rico. CSNA has raised more than $400 from neighbors to help buy soup, and remaining funds will go to Junta. Event will be covered by local TV station.

 

OTHER MATTERS: David reported on negative news media coverage of Fair Haven. There was a dispute over the Hartford Archdiocese wanting to consolidate 3 Catholic elementary schools, and some ex-police chief trashed our neighborhood because he opposes having kids from East Shore go to school here. Many of the stats he cited are old but Register readers wouldn’t know that. On the positive side, the Junta event may get us some positive coverage.