Henry Genga

For those observing Holy Week, I hope you have a meaningful and peaceful time of reflection, renewal, and spiritual connection. May these days be filled with moments of quiet contemplation, gratitude, and hope as you journey through this sacred season. Wishing you strength, grace, and a deep sense of purpose as you commemorate its significance.
 

Affordability remains a major challenge in our state. Alongside proposals to increase Education Cost Sharing (ECS) funding and ease pressure on local property taxes, several other bills are focused on tackling the broader financial strains that families face every day.

• Senate Bill 1: An Act Concerning Affordability includes several proposals aimed at lowering everyday costs, including eliminating the sales tax on clothing and shoes under $100, school supplies such as backpacks, and certain grab-and-go grocery items like sandwiches and coffee purchased from supermarkets. It also creates a caregiver tax credit for eligible expenses incurred while caring for a homebound family member. And for many seniors, its full exemption of Social Security benefits from state tax is one of the most significant proposals this session.
  Senate Bill 513: An Act Concerning Structural Efficiency in the Collection of State Revenue would allow employees to elect having the employer pay their payroll taxes, helping to reduce employees’ federal taxable income, while employees receive a refundable credit on their state taxes. The goal is to lower overall tax liability for working residents.
• House Bill 5114: An Act Establishing a Refundable Credit Against the Personal Income Tax for a Portion of Annual Rent Payments Made by a Taxpayer for a Primary Residence in the state would provide renters with a property tax credit of up to $2,500 per year, recognizing that renters also feel the strain of Connecticut’s high cost of living and deserve meaningful relief.
• House Bill 5538: An Act Concerning a Study of State Finance Policies is part of a broader effort to make Connecticut more competitive with neighboring states and create an environment where businesses can grow and succeed here. 

Together, these proposals reflect a focused effort to ease the financial pressures facing Connecticut families, from lowering everyday costs and providing tax relief, to supporting seniors, caregivers, renters, and working residents.

Millstone Nuclear Power Station

Governors of all six New England states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont) issued a joint statement to explore advanced nuclear energy by:
 

• Maintaining existing nuclear plants by directing state energy offices to work with ISO New England, plant owners, and federal partners to ensure safe, reliable, and affordable operation
• Exploring advanced nuclear energy in willing communities, including financing models, federal support, public-private partnerships, and consumer protections
• Prioritizing local input, emphasizing community-led decisions on potential sites

Regional electricity demand is projected to rise over 40% in 20 years, with winter peak demand doubling by 2045 (per ISO New England). In 2025, Governor Ned Lamont further advanced Connecticut’s leadership in nuclear energy via Public Act 25-173, which enables towns to opt into hosting new nuclear generation by supporting development at Millstone, and funding early planning. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) will be conducting a statewide public engagement effort to guide future advanced nuclear deployment that is slated to launch later this year.

The Bottom line: New England is preparing for major energy demand growth by preserving current nuclear power and cautiously advancing next-generation nuclear with strong local involvement.

How to Spot the Scam

• Links that look unusual or misspelled
• URLs that do not include the official company name
• Messages creating urgency or asking for quick action

Stay Safe, if something doesn’t look right, trust your instincts. When in doubt, go directly to the company’s official website instead of clicking any links.

The East Hartford Veteran Banner Program honors the brave men and women who have selflessly served our country through a touching banner display in the heart of East Hartford. 

Each banner will display the name, photograph, branch, major wars or conflicts, and one or two major awards of the veteran. You will need a color or black and white photo in a jpg format at maximum quality settings. The banners will be showcased along East Hartford's Main Street, along with who sponsored the Veteran and will be displayed Memorial Day through Veterans Day. The banner will then be given to the sponsor, the honored Veteran or their family.

The banners are entirely funded by a $200 donation by sponsors that will cover the printing, shipping, and an additional framed photograph of the banner for the sponsor to display or gift to the Veteran or their family. 
  
CLICK HERE TO SPONSOR 

If you would like make a donation towards the program, please make checks payable to:

EAST HARTFORD VETERAN BANNER PROGRAM
Attn: Ekaterine Tchelidze, Senior Secretary to the Mayor 
East Hartford Town Hall
740 Main Street
East Hartford, CT 06108

These donations will go towards sponsoring Veterans who do not have a sponsor that we are made aware of.

If you have a Veteran that you would like us to add to “needs a sponsor” list, please send an email to Ekaterine Tchelidze at etchelidze@easthartfordct.gov.

The Passport to Connecticut Libraries program is back will take place from April 1–30.

Starting April 1, visit your local library to pick up your official program passport along with a list of participating libraries across the state. Then the adventure begins, explore as many libraries as you can throughout April!

Visit at least five different participating libraries and collect stamps from those locations (only official participating libraries count, be sure to check your list). Then, once you’re done, be sure to return your completed passport by May 11 to be entered into a prize drawing.

With nearly 200 public libraries in Connecticut—plus school, college, museum, and even church libraries—there’s an incredible variety to discover. Each library offers something unique, and this program is a fun way to experience all the amazing things libraries across the state have to offer.

So grab your passport and start exploring, your next favorite library might be just around the corner!

Save a Life Day is a Connecticut local health department initiative to educate residents about how to recognize and respond to an overdose situation and how to administer Narcan.

Tuesday, April 7 is East Hartford's Save a Life Day at the Wickham Library (656 Burnside Ave) from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m..
 
The training is free and each participant will get a free Narcan kit! To register, please call the East Hartford Health Department (860) 291-7324 or click here to register online.