Join your neighbors to celebrate over a decade of neighborhood festivals with live music, kid activities, vendors, and more! The International Festival of Arts & Ideas is proud to support this annual series of one-day festivals programmed by the Neighborhood Festival Committees, local arts and business partners, and volunteers.
See 94.3 WYBC at these upcoming Neighborhood Festivals
I was diagnosed with breast cancer on December 26, 2018.
I felt a mass under my left armpit in early December of that year. It was painful as I moved my arm. My previous mammogram and ultrasound were in September 2018 and showed no signs of any abnormalities.
I already had a scheduled appointment with my gynecologist in December before Christmas. After I told her what I felt, she examined me and told me to immediately go back to where I had my mammogram and ultrasound and not to leave until they saw me. For context, this was the week before Christmas. I assured her I would go as soon as I left her office, and I did! Dr. Russo did another mammogram and ultrasound, and I had several biopsies.
I received “the call” on December 26, 2018. I was at work at the time, and surprisingly, I was very calm. I told my staff and went home and told my aunt. I had Stage 2 breast cancer.
My doctor already had made an appointment for me for the next day. I met with the medical team to discuss my treatment plan. I had several tests and images done to locate the exact area and size.
I told my doctor I was a little OCD and always liked to be in control, so I took out my calendar to write down what, when, and where. I asked a lot of questions, including when my hair would begin to fall out, so I could make appointments with my hairdresser and barber.
My treatment consisted of chemotherapy which started in February 2019, surgery, a left mastectomy, and radiation. I waited a few years. and later had reconstruction on the right side to be more balanced. I was 48 years old at the time of my diagnosis. I am blessed to see 54 years of life. I’m currently enjoying my sixth year of survivorship.
Throughout my journey, I had my family, my faith, and my medical team by my side. My Oncologist was excellent, explaining everything along the way. And I asked a lot of questions.
A special thanks to my Aunt Pearl, who never left my side, accompanying me to all my appointments. She was my shoulder to lean on and my Rock.
94.3 WYBC and Art’s Television & Appliance want to test your R&B Trivia knowledge and get you ready the big college basketball tournament!
Throughout the month of March, listen weekday mornings to DeDe In The Morning with Darryl Huckaby. Each weekday morning starting Monday, March 4th to Friday, March 29tt, Huck will ask 3 trivia questions about R&B music. Be the right caller at 203-562-9430 and correctly answer all 3 questions.
If you do that, you’ll be automatically qualified to win the Grand Prize: a brand-new 50 inch big screen television from Art’s Television & Appliance!
Huck will announce the Grand Prize winner during DeDe In The Morning on Monday, April 1st.
So be listening for your chance to win! Good Luck!
I started my own business because I wanted to do what I love and I also wanted to be in control of my own destiny.
Why did you choose to start your business in New Haven?
I chose New Haven because I migrated from Jamaica and settled in New Haven. I would’ve have started my own business no matter where I lived and I had a fashion design company in Jamaica prior.
What challenges did you have to overcome in starting your business?
At the time I started my business funding was one of the major challenges, but now that I know better, experience was my biggest challenge. I have no regrets but for those who may be trying to start their own business. Get as much information as you can and make sure you can adjust your budget if you don’t meet your projections. Just find a way, dream big, act fast and never worry about failure. Starting a business in Connecticut was not easy but could have been easy if I had a more confidence and push the limits a little much more and not compromise. Stay true to who you are.
Deborah, working at New Haven Superior Court for Juvenile Matters, is the 94.3 WYBC Virtual Lunch Club winner for the month of February 2024! Deborah and her guest enjoyed a delicious lunch with Wanda Coppage on zoom, courtesy of D’Amatos Seafood on Whalley Avenue in New Haven!
Want to have a virtual lunch with Wanda? Go to our WYBC Contest Page and enter to win!
Business Name:MINI PNG, 77 Audubon Street, New Haven
Year Business was started in New Haven:
2022 – storefront
2019 – started making clothing online
Why did you start your own business?:
In 2019 as an 18-year-old, I was going to college for pre law in a whole different state! (Ohio State University) and I felt like the creative side of me was missing that had always been a part of me. In HS I wanted to go to college for fashion design after studying abroad in high school in Europe and getting inspired by fashion in general. BUT I wanted to go to college in NYC. I was told by my HS counselor that the field held no income for me. So, I went for my plan B major which was prelaw. I came back home transferring colleges after my first semester in Ohio trying to figure myself out after a horrible personal experience. I started making clothing and selling it online for fun and for extra money since I couldn’t hold a job with the prelaw program I was in. My designs went viral, and I took a step back from college in 2020 during the pandemic to really focus on what I loved.
Why did you choose to start your business in New Haven?:
My family is from New Haven! My Abuela immigrated from Puerto Rico – Brooklyn with family merging into New Haven. My grandmother went to ACES as a kid and the location of my shop with ACES being right next door was a full circle moment!
What challenges did you have to overcome in starting your business?:
One of my biggest challenges was dropping college. I’m a first gen student in my family (only child) and it was very pushed on me to be the one to follow the road to success “the right way.” I’ve always had support from my family, but it was more of an internal battle and the overall fear of failure/ that what if aspect of veering off the path that’s expected.
My business came to life with a storefront June 2023 but started at the end of the pandemic as an online store on Instagram, and with the help of market pop-ups and vending opportunities around the city it also boost my brand as well.
Why did you choose to start your business in New Haven?
I wanted to set up shop in New Haven where I grew up, it would only make sense to start this business where I’m most familiar and downtown was the ideal location to become the first black owned women vintage store that landed in the downtown area, also the first vintage store in New Haven owned by an African American woman.
Why did you start your own business?
I started this business out of love for timeless vintage clothing and the stories that came along with it, I’ve always been a person that loved old things there is such beauty in preserved treasures.
What challenges did you have to overcome in starting your business?
My challenges came about when it was time to fund my business, the difficulties of having a dream that you are passionate about with no money is the real reality, but I never gave up on believing that I would accomplish this someday, even as I got older…I kept that dream until it manifested, and now I am downtown with a beautiful shop, and I must say this it is never too late to follow your DREAMS! If you see it and dream it, you can have it. Never give up, yes it will get hard because running your own business is never easy!
Business Name:Woody’s Wings, 91 Church Street, New Haven.
Year Business was started in New Haven: December 2019 on Whalley Avenue for 3 years
Why did you start your own business?
I wanted to show my different training styles of cooking with a fast-food twist. I also wanted to show off my love of seasoning and flavors on wings.
Why did you choose to start your business in New Haven?
It’s my hometown!
What challenges did you have to overcome in starting your business?
The challenge for us was not knowing the business side. The cooking side was the easy part. If it wasn’t for the Small Business Resource Center of New Haven giving us the resources, we would be totally lost. Our biggest take away is not to be scared to ask questions. Knowledge is key!!!