It's Snow Week in New Haven

Photos by Nykese Thomas, Ms. Katz, Gianna Elcuri, and Ms. Englart. Click here to post your photo...

Teen Writers Group at the Library

By Angel Estrada
     Hello all! As a creative writer here at Co-op, I’m proud to announce that the High School Writing Club will be a featured program at the downtown library along with the other successful programs. This program will take place every Thursday after school from 4-5 pm and will be run by my good friend, Angelina Carnevale, current teen services librarian. Students can feel free to come to this program after school to share their written pieces. Whether it’s poetry, non-fiction, novels, etc., bring it down for some feedback from peers. There’s no better criticism than constructive criticism. So come to the downtown library for a free program that offers growth in not only your writing, but social skills as well. As with any other bit of information here on Co-op Voices, feel free to spread the word about the opportunities around you.

Support for Nina

By Alicia Avitabile (12/3/13)
     Sixteen-year-old Nina Poeta, born and raised in Seymour, is a cheerleader for Seymour High School and talented gymnast who has ton of school spirit! She is a young, beautiful, and talented young girl who has hopes and dream to fulfill and it’s unfair for her to go through a life-changing experience like this. 
     Nina suffered from headaches which became severe, which led her family to believe something was wrong. She had an MRI done and within two days, her results came back. On November 21, 2013, she was diagnosed with brain cancer, with by a cancerous tumor located in her brain stem. She will be treated with radiation five days a week and is currently located at Smilow Cancer Center at Yale New Haven Hospital. According to her doctors, the tumor could either shrink or enlarge. 
     All we can do is pray for Nina and hope she fights this battle with love and support from family and friends. It would also mean a lot if everybody could donate: www.gofundme.com/5eirqo
    Her family and friends have reached their initial goal of $50,000 for her treatments and are now raising more. Please help raise the number! Please keep Nina in your prayers. Thank you!

CAPA Buys Shubert Theater

Shubert Celebrates 99th Anniversary with a New Owner

Interview by Laura Sadowski (12/20/13)
     On December 11, the Shubert Theater celebrated its 99th anniversary. The day was also a celebration for new owners Connecticut Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA). I spoke with Ms. Wuzzardo about the day and what this new ownership means.
     Explain a little bit about what this ceremony was for? On December 11, the city of New Haven held a press conference at the Shubert after the board of alderman voted to approve the ownership of the Shubert be given to CAPA. CAPA is a not-for-profit organization. We have been running the Shubert with the city of New Haven for about 10 years. With this ownership, we are now responsible for the upkeep of the Shubert. We can now fundraise in different types of ways. It is now our job to take the burden off of the tax payers. We also now have more access to the theater. Renovations are being planned; mainly building-related but also the lobby will be renovated and the offices will be changed. It is an exciting time. Not to mention it’s the 99th anniversary of the Shubert Theater. The Shubert brothers built theaters all over the country. Some have been renamed, but some have also stayed the same like the one in New York, Boston, and of course in New Haven. We get many calls from people trying to buy tickets to Matilda or some other Broadway show. If you want to find out more information, visit our Facebook page or go on the Shubert’s website www.shubert.com.
What does this new ownership mean for the Shubert Theatre? We only have a certain number of Lit Night’s. A Lit Night is when there is activity going on in the theater. Now, with renovations, we can build extra space for smaller things. For example, Bring It on: The Musical is coming and they have to build their sets here. So, with that extra space they can build the sets here. Our new ownership over the Shubert Theater will have an economic impact as well. There will be lots of activity going on in the building. Co-Op's dance recitals will be held at the Shubert--like the winter one coming up. People can rent space at the Shubert for things like corporate parties. We can now just have more programming. We hope to have a long term effect on the community.
How will the new ownership impact the City of New Haven? The City of New Haven has been financially responsible for the Shubert Theatre for a long time. The CAPA now has that financial responsibility. The theater has plans to prosper with the community. We will be having a ticket outreach program. The program allows people who might not be able to afford or have the opportunity to see a show to attend a performance. Also, we have a lot of community events planned for the 100th anniversary of the Shubert Theatre coming up next December 11th.
How does this impact Co-Op? Co-Op and the Shubert have a good status quo going on. We plan to continue that relationship. We hope to have more dance recitals at the theater. We plan to have more great shows coming to the theater and create great educational opportunities for all students. The usher program where students usher Co-Op and Shubert shows has had such a great turn out and response so we will continue that as well. Some students who have taken these tech classes and do tech for the shows even graduate and get jobs right away at places like the Shubert.
Lastly, what took place at the press conference? Mayor John DeStefano spoke and that can be seen on channel 8’s website, I believe. Kevin Burke Chairman of the CAPA CT Board of Directors and John Fisher the Shubert Theater’s executive director, spoke. There was a signing of the ownership over to CAPA from the City of New Haven. There is even a video of the mayor and John feeding each other cake like the newlyweds do at weddings. You can find the link on our Facebook page. All in all, it was a fun, exciting event.

Student Actors Shine Outside Co-op

Co-op students (Joey Mulvey, Joey Abate, and Jenna Dower) had significant roles in three plays (Aladdin, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and 42nd Street) produced by the Square Foot Theatre this summer. (Photos by Mrs. Esposito)

Fiddler on the Roof

You Go, Girls...

Congratulations to Ms. Wetmore and Mrs. Sargent on running (and finishing) the 2013 20K New Haven Road Race!

Toni Harp for Mayor

By Melanie Espinal
     On her campaign website, Toni Harp goes into depth about specific steps she plans to take to address the growing problem of crime in New Haven. She also includes statistics and percentages of budgets that would eliminate unnecessary middlemen so the city could afford better strategies for public safety. Among her many promises, Harp has highlighted reincorporating ex-convicts into society, rearranging existing resources in policing, and creating a center for chronically inebriated patients. 
     Harp believes that the re-integration of previously incarcerated people will decrease crime rates. Helping ex-offenders to play an active part in their communities encourages a stop to the vicious cycle of being in and out of prison. She wants to allocate resources to offer business course, and to help them start their own small businesses. 
     She not only wishes to reorganize current policing resources, to get the most out of police officers, but wants to instill long term strategies, such as retaining specialized units that deal with narcotics, arrest warrants, gang activity, and prostitution; all of which are huge problems in New Haven. 
     As New Haven citizens narrow down to crunch time, Toni Harp's campaign reminds us that not only does she have the best intentions; she intends to take action.