New Haven County | featured news

Melissa Singleton has never forgotten the welcoming, sheltering environment that was freely offered to her and many other kids from the Newhallville neighborhood by Joe Grate at his gas station, later expanded into a convenience store and outdoor barbecue pavilion."That gas station was home for us while we were growing up," Singleton told me.

In New Haven and across the country, it is graduation season - a time to celebrate the accomplishments of young people and the families and friends who have supported them. As a resident of New Haven for 36 years, I am privileged to introduce, on behalf of Yale University, the Register's annual "Senior Spotlight" series.

The Register Fresh Air Fund, founded by then-newspaper owner John Day Jackson, needs your help to carry on its mission to send inner-city kids to summer camp. One hundred percent of all donations received go directly to providing summer camp experiences to local underprivileged children. Help make it possible for a child to experience all the fun, friendships and adventures that summer camp has to offer.

NEW HAVEN >> For retired New Haven police Capt. Julie Johnson, a move to create a centralized service center for domestic violence victims in the region is a way to make communities safer.Johnson is behind the push to create a family justice center. From 2008 to 2012, Johnson was the commander for the department's special investigations unit, handling domestic violence and sexual assault cases (the unit is now called special victims).

NEW HAVEN >> A Silver Alert has been issued for Ally Ramirez, 14.Ally is a Latina female with black hair and unknown eye color. She weighs about 110 pounds and stands about 5 feet 5 inches tall.Ally was last seen Friday, wearing a red T-shirt and blue jeans.Anyone with any information on Ally's whereabouts should call police at 203-946-6321.

NEW HAVEN >> Nijija-Ife Waters, president of the Citywide Parent Team, has faith that everyone involved in the New Haven Public Schools system - administrators, faculty, parents and the community - genuinely want to support the growth and education of the city's approximately 22,000 children.The primary reason for heated disagreements and miscommunication at Board of Education meetings, she believes, is because these stakeholders are all coming from different directions in pursuit of the same goal: to do what's best for the children.

FAIRFIELD >> Today, parents of twins have certain advantages. Thanks to medical science, they know what they're getting ahead of time.They also have modern hospitals and medical care that can typically handle any problems that can arise during what is often a complicated birth.Tom and Sal Maniscalco's parents didn't have these advantages.

NEW HAVEN >> A procession to mark the upcoming merger of St. Mary and St. Joseph Roman Catholic churches will take place Sunday.The merged parish, which will be called St. Mary, will become official on June 29.

NEW HAVEN >> The busy final week of this year's International Festival of Arts & Ideas starts with a Jimmy Greene concert on the Green Sunday, moves to some intriguing ticketed events and includes not only a steady stream of tours and smart Ideas sessions but some Chinese-accented projects in planning for months.

GUILFORD >> Trish Karter doesn't listen to herself sometimes.But it's possible that in a recent decision the 60-year-old did listen to herself but chose to ignore her gut feeling. That is because she knows it's possible that maybe the 3,000-mile cycling marathon she will start Saturday is not something a human being should do.