Cowboys Fans Bring Bikes, Toys & Football Love To Preschool

Essence Bennett gets a brand new bike from the CT Cowboys Fan Club.

Friday, Dec. 22, 2017 - 

Essence Bennett arrived at preschool on Thursday expecting a regular day of reading, singing and naptime.

The Newhallville 5-year-old left preschool at the end of the day with a free new bicycle, courtesy of a local group of hardcore Dallas Cowboys fans who are as dedicated to community service as they are to professional football.

On Thursday afternoon at the Harris and Tucker School, a preschool, afterschool and childcare center on Newhall Street near the Hamden border, the CT Cowboys Fan Club held their first ever toy drive and bicycle give away.

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Newhallville Marches For Youth Jobs, End to Violence

Ice the Beef Youth’s Carmon calls for a new Newhallville youth center.

Sunday, September 24, 2017 - Standing alongside the mother of Tyriek B. Keyes, a 14-year-old dancer who was shot dead in Newhallville this summer, Ice the Beef Youth President Chaz Carmon demanded a safe recreational space and better employment opportunities for the neighborhood’s youth.

“In the Hill, they have the Boys and Girls Club,” the local dance group organizer said. “In the Kensington neighborhood, they have the YMCA. In the Foote Street-Dixwell neighborhood, they’re gearing up for the new Q House. In the Goffe Street-Orchard Street neighborhood, they’re gearing up for the new Escape teen center. But what about Newhallville?”

“Some say this is the worst neighborhood in New Haven,” he continued. “I don’t think so. The Ville just needs help. We need to give the Ville a safe space for our youth.”

Such was one of the prevailing messages of the Jobs for Youth / Jobs for All rally that wound its way through Newhallville on Saturday morning, culminating in a series of speeches outside of the former state Department of Social Services (DSS) building at 194 Basset St. That building has been vacant since June 2013, when DSS moved to a new office space at 50 Humphrey St.

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Wheelies, Helmets Abound At Kick-off Bike Block Party

Omarhie Wilson gets a new brain-colored bike helmet.

Monday, May 8, 2017 - As Vanessa Wilson and her son Omarhie crossed Ivy Street on their way to pick up food for breakfast, they stumbled upon a treasure trove of biking goodies: a bicycle repair station, a pop-up bike lane, a table full of seat covers and reflectors, and plenty of tips on how to bike safely in New Haven.

By the time they resumed their grocery shopping trip a half hour later, the Newhallville mother and son were the proud owners of two new bicycle helmets, and were already looking forward to their next family bike trip up the Farmington Canal.

“This is wonderful,” Vanessa said. “I take the kids on the bike trail all the time, and I was just talking with Omarhie about his bike because his light recently fell off.” Omarhie, who is in second grade at Lincoln-Bassett School, looked up with a smile, tugging lightly at his new brain-patterned headgear.

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