City upholds residents’ right to raise up to six hens on private property

After some debate, the Board of Aldermen voted Tuesday to allow New Haven residents to raise up to six hens on private property. Ward 9 Alderman Roland Lemar sponsored the proposal, which bars roosters and requires that any hens be kept in an enclosed coop at least 15 feet away from a neighbor’s home. Ward 18 Alderman Arlene DePino led the opposition to the proposal, arguing that the restrictions on hens were too lax and didn’t provide neighbors enough authority to resist the potentially bothersome creatures. The board approved Lemar’s proposal 18 to nine. Following the vote, a woman presented Lemar with a crate of eggs, dubbing him the “chicken champion.” —Danny Serna

Yurway, a women’s clothier, takes the helm at former Clare Jones location

Though it may be difficult to notice the switch, Yurway, a women’s clothing and accessories boutique, has opened on the former site of Clare Jones on the corner of York and Chapel streets. Ronen Yuri bought the store in March after the former owner, who Yuri described as an aging businessman living on the West Coast, could no longer manage the store’s stressed finances. The store was never listed on the market, but rather was sold directly through mutual friends, Yuri said. While the exterior of the new boutique has remained largely unchanged, Yuri said he hopes the store’s new merchandise and jewelry collections will cater to local businesswomen and students alike. —Carmen Lu

Zoning board approves plans for Chapel Street hookah lounge

At its Wednesday-night meeting, the New Haven Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously to allow two young enterpreneurs to move ahead with plans for a new hookah lounge, by the name of La Sheeh, to set up shop across from the New Haven Green on Chapel Street. Ajim Khan, 25, and Zahed Sarwar, 24, said at the meeting that they have planned for the bar to provide a variety of flavors of herbal tobacco and nicotine-free varieties at the cost of $20 for two people. They said the lounge will not sell any food and drink but that visitors will be able to bring their own to dine on as they listen to Arabian and Hindi music. —Liane Membis

Gov. Rell outlines state’s plan for distribution of federal swine flu vaccine

Gov. M. Jodi Rell announced in a Wednesday press release that Connecticut residents most likely to contract H1N1 flu will be the first vaccinated once the vaccine is available. Rell convened a summit yesterday in Hartford to discuss state distribution and methods of prevention. Pregnant women, young children and health care and emergency medical services personnel who deal most with children and teenagers will be given highest priority. Rell stated that the federal government expects 45 million vaccine doses to be available by mid-October at no cost, with Connecticut at first receiving 500,000. —Tom Stanley-Becker

Accepting honor from labor movement, Kennedy Jr. speaks at AFL-CIO reception

Edward M. Kennedy Jr. FES ’91, son of the late Massachusetts senator, addressed the Connecticut AFL-CIO at the Omni Hotel on Wednesday night. The labor organization passed a resolution commemorating Sen. Kennedy’s contributions to the American labor movement during his decades-long career in government. Kennedy Jr., who lives in Branford, said he had no immediate plans to do run for political office but that he hasn’t ruled it out for the future, the New Haven Register reported yesterday. The address was one of Kennedy Jr.’s first public appearances since delivering a eulogy at his father’s funeral service Aug. 29. —Alon Harish

Some aldermanic candidates hit with fines after missing deadine for campaign finance reports

After missing the Sept. 8 deadline to file required campaign finance reports, four aldermanic candidates face a $100 fine if they wish to compete in the Democratic Party’s primaries Sept. 15, the New Haven Register reported yesterday. The candidates of Ward 24, 11-term incumbent Elizabeth McCormack and challenger Marcus Paca, along with LaShell Rountree in Ward 26 and Carlton Staggers in Ward 30 may see that fine increased to $200 if the reports are not filed by Oct. 1. —Carol Hsin