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| In this email you'll find updates on district resources and news. Please click the links below to read the section that corresponds with the highlighted headline.
A NOTE: If you're having trouble clicking through the following links, open this email in a browser, use a computer or scroll through this email to the relevant section.
The topics covered are as follows:
On Legislative Business
On Community Resources
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| Governor Lamont Launches CTpass Program |
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On Tuesday, Governor Ned Lamont announced the launch of "CTpass," a new program that will offer group rates to eligible organizations to access public transportation. Organizations that are eligible to participate in CTpass include but are not limited to:
- Organizations that provide a training program listed on the Connecticut Department of Labor Department’s Eligible Training Provider List;
- Apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship program sponsors;
- Providers of an alternate route to a certification program that the Connecticut State Board of Education has approved
- Institutions of higher education;
- Private occupational schools;
- Private employers;
- State or municipal agencies; and
- Public or nonprofit social service providers in Connecticut.
The initiative is yet another way we are working to support workforce development amid our recovery efforts. Increasing access to public transportation will allow us to not only better utilize our bus and rail systems but aid workers in getting back to their jobs.
The initial application is available now and can be found here. Any questions or requests for additional information about the CTpass Program and application process may be emailed to DOT.CTpass@ct.gov.
I would like to know, what do you think of this issue? |
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| Attorney General's Office Launches Cyber Breach Reporting Form to Help the Public |
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Data breaches are becoming an all too common occurrence. Under Connecticut law, businesses are required to provide notice to the Attorney General no later than the time when impacted residents are notified of a data breach, and with recent upticks in breaches this has become a challenge. To better support companies in the state and help them conform to recent amendments to Connecticut’s data breach notification statute, this week Attorney General Tong launched a new, standardized form to help companies that have experienced a data breach meet reporting requirements.
To access the new form and for more information on reporting data breaches to the Office of the Attorney General, click here.
I would like to know, what do you think of this issue? |
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| Special Master Holds Virtual Hearing to Discuss Congressional Map |
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The court-appointed special master held a virtual hearing on Monday with members of the bipartisan Reapportionment Commission to review congressional maps submitted by Democrats and Republicans on the commission. Special Master Nathaniel Persily was tasked by the Court last month to find a map that equalizes the population of the five districts while respecting current boundaries to the greatest possible extent.
Persily has been instructed by the court to present a redistricting plan by Tuesday, January 18, and the court expects a decision to be submitted to the Secretary of the State's Office by Tuesday, February 15.
I would like to know, what do you think of this issue? |
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| Today in CT History: Four Explosion Tragedy at the Hazardville Gunpowder Mill |
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The community of Hazardville, Connecticut unintentionally lived up to its name today in 1913, when an errant spark of unknown origin caused a deadly chain reaction of four massive explosions at the Hazard Powder Company.
Situated on the banks of the Scantic River in the southern half of the town of Enfield, the Hazard Powder Company reigned as one of the largest and most successful gunpowder manufacturers in America for the better part of the 19th century. Historically, Hazard couldn’t have picked a more favorable time to enter the gunpowder business: conflicts along the American frontier, the Crimean War in Europe, and mining operations driven by the quest for gold in the western United States dramatically increased demand for gunpowder in the 1840s and 1850s. |
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The DuPont company bought out the Hazard Powder Company in the 1870s but continued producing gunpowder in Hazardville and marketing it under the Hazard name until 1912, when an antitrust lawsuit forced DuPont to split and rebrand most of its assets.
In a twist of fate, the rebranded Hazard Powder Company had been operating under its new name – the Hercules Powder Company – for only a few months when the worst accident in its history forced it to close its doors for good. On January 14, 1913, a series of four massive explosions ripped through the heart of the gunpowder mill, killing two men and injuring dozens of others. Even though the mill buildings were specially designed to mitigate the force of accidental explosions, the blasts that occurred that day were too strong for them to handle, blowing out massive stone walls and damaging the buildings and machinery beyond repair. Nearby homes, churches, and even the town post office had their windows blown out and also endured severe damage from the shock waves. The blasts were so enormous that residents in Hartford and Willimantic – over 25 miles away – reported hearing booms and observing their doors and windows rattling.
Following the deadly accident, the DuPont company concluded that the blast damage was far too extensive to justify the massive costs of rebuilding the Hazardville factory. Instead, the company moved its powder-making operations to upstate New York, marking the end of a long and successful era of gunpowder manufacturing in northern Connecticut. The gunpowder business was booming in Hazardville – albeit in the worst possible way — today in Connecticut history.
Learn more about Hazard Powder Company and other interesting CT history facts by clicking here. |
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| WalletHub Ranks CT Among the Best States to Raise a Family |
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More good news for our state - in a new report by WalletHub, Connecticut ranked 7th in the nation of "Best States to Raise a Family." The report compared all 50 states across five key dimensions: family fun, health and safety, education and childcare, affordability, and socioeconomics. Among those dimensions, Connecticut ranked 1st in the nation in affordability, 7th in health and safety and education and childcare, 29th in family fun and 38th in socioeconomics.
Check out the complete report and see how other states compared by clicking here. |
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| State & Local Offices Closed in Observance of MLK Day |
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A reminder that Monday, January 17 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In observance of the holiday, state and local offices will be closed in observance of the holiday – please plan accordingly.
In East Hartford, all town offices, including the East Hartford transfer station, will be closed Monday and will reopen on Tuesday, January 18 for regularly scheduled hours of operation. As a result of the closure, curbside waste pickup schedule will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week. For more information, click here. |
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| In Manchester, all town offices will be closed on Monday and will reopen on Tuesday for regularly scheduled hours of operation. There will be no deal in curbside collection. For more information, click here. |
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| Manchester Seeking Assistant General Manager |
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The Town of Manchester is seeking an Assistant General Manager to join its Executive Leadership Team. The Assistant General Manager works alongside the General Manager, Board of Directors, Department Heads, municipal employees, community partners, and residents to support efforts to further grow and develop a thriving, inclusive and sustainable community.
For more information on how to apply or to find other town employment opportunities, click here. |
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| East Hartford Seniors can Book a Free Dial-a-Ride Program Today! |
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The East Hartford Senior Center has partnered with the Hockanum Valley Community Council to provide free transportation for East Hartford Seniors. Open to East Hartford residents 60 and older, the program will provide free transportation Monday through Friday, 8:30AM (first pickup) – 4PM (last return) to the following locations: doctor’s appointments in East Hartford, Glastonbury and Manchester, work, banks, post office, pharmacies, and grocery stores. Transportation is available to and from the Senior Center (15 Milbrook Drvie).
To reserve your ride, call East Hartford Dial-a-Ride at (860) 870-7940. Please note that at this time due to COVID-19 precautions, bus capacity is limited to six passengers for any given trip. For more information on this or other transportation opportunities for East Hartford Seniors, click here. |
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| Skip the Trip, Pay Motor Vehicle Taxes Online |
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| Amid the ongoing surge, towns are encouraging taxpayers to consider remote payment options or utilizing drop-off locations at Town Hall. For East Hartford residents, motor vehicle tax payments can be made by mail, drop box located outside Town Hall, or online. To locate payment history or make a payment online, click here, there is a fee for using this service. For more information, click here. If you have questions, email the Tax Office at Tax@easthartford.gov. |
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| For Manchester residents, motor vehicle tax payments can be made safely and accessibly via mail, online, or using the drop box located at Town Hall. To pay online, click here – and then click "Online Tax & Water Payments", then "Tax Payments." There is no additional fee to pay motor vehicle taxes online. If you have any questions, please contact the Assessor's Office at (860) 647-3016, or Tax Collector's Office at phone: (860) 647-3018, or email collector@manchesterct.gov. |
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| COVID-19 Updates & Upcoming Vaccine Clinics |
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On Monday, President Joe Biden's administration announced that beginning Saturday, private health insurers will be required to cover up to eight home COVID-19 tests per month for people on their plans. Through the policy, residents may purchase home testing kits for free under their insurance or submit receipts for reimbursement, up to the monthly per-person limit. For more information on this initiative, click here or here.
The Connecticut State Department of Education announced the second phase of test kit and mask distribution will be to all public and private schools throughout the state. During the Phase II, kits (which include two tests per kit) will be made available for pre-K-12 students and school staff, and an additional allocation of N-95 masks for staff members. The test kits are to be used to screen students and staff who are symptomatic to determine who should not be present in school. Each district or school will distribute available tests to staff and families based on need. At the time of drafting this email, we are expecting the following distribution to our districts:
- East Hartford School District: 51 test kits, 5,200 masks
- Manchester School District: 51 test kits, 5,400 masks
The best defense against COVID-19 continues to be a good offense. It's so important that we continue the precautions that have worked: observe social distancing, wear a face mask when social distancing is not possible or indoors, wash your hands thoroughly and regularly, get tested if you were in contact with anyone who's tested positive, etc. But, most importantly – please consider getting vaccinated if you haven't already or getting a booster if it's been six months since you're last COVID vaccine. |
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| As we continue to battle the current surge, be mindful – the most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, fatigue, sore throat, congestion and new loss of taste or smell. You should seek immediate medical attention if you have any of the following: trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, confusion, or inability to wake or stay awake. For more information on the approximately 400 COVID-19 testing sites throughout the state, call 2-1-1 or click here. |
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| Manchester Community College (MCC), with the State Department of Public Health and Griffin Health, is offering a free, vaccine clinic on Saturday, January 29 from 8AM-12PM at the Arts, Sciences and Technology Center SBM Charitable Foundation Auditorium at MCC. 1st dose, 2nd dose and boosters of all three brands will be available. If you are receiving a booster, you need to have your original card with you. No appointment, insurance, or ID required; vaccines will be available to all those 12+. |
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The Town of East Hartford Health Department, with the State Department of Public Health, will be offering vaccine clinics at locations across town through the end of the month. The upcoming clinics are as follows:
- Tuesday, January 18, 2PM-5PM: East Hartford Senior Center (15 Millbrook Drive)
- Thursday, January 20, 10AM-1PM: Raymond Library (840 Main Street)
- Monday, January 24, 3PM-7PM: Stone Academy (745 Burnside Avenue)
- Tuesday, January 25, 2PM-5PM: East Hartford Senior Center
- Tuesday, January 25, 4PM-7PM: Raymond Library
- Thursday, January 27, 3PM-7PM: Stone Academy
First, second, and third/booster doses of both Moderna and Pfizer for those 12 and older will be available at all clinics. No ID or insurance required; clinics are open to all CT residents. Walk-ins will be accepted, but appointments are preferred – to reserve your spot, call the Health Department at (860) 291-7324. |
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| A reminder for those that don't want to carry around their paper CDC cards or who lost them, CT residents can now utilize "SMART Health Cards" to securely show proof of being vaccinated. The digital card can be obtained via a QR code that you can find here. To get more info on SMART Health Cards, or how to access them and download to your smartphone device, click here. |
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For more information on receiving the COVID-19 vaccine or to locate an appointment near you, click here or locate a DPH Mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinic by clicking here. Those without access to the internet can call the Connecticut’s Vaccine Appointment Assist Line, available seven days a week from 8 AM to 8 PM, at (877) 918-2224.
For East Hartford-based COVID-19 updates and resources, click here. And, for Manchester-based COVID-19 updates and resources, click here. |
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| Join Manchester Public Library on Tuesday, January 18 from 3PM-4PM to learn basic coding skills and meet other coders! The program will use Scratch and Ozoblockly and is available for students in grades 6-8. This program meets monthly on the third Tuesday. To register call (860) 645-0821 or stop by the reference desk. |
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Ready to start a career in manufacturing? The Precision Manufacturing certificate, available at Manchester Community College, is designed to provide students with a valuable skill set in just six months. Learn more about the program at an info session on Tuesday, January 18 from 3PM-4PM at MCC's Arts, Sciences and Technology Center. Pre-registration is recommended, click here to reserve your spot.
Students who complete the program are qualified for an entry-level position as a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine operator. Students who complete the program earn both a non-credit and credit certificate and earn up to 30 credits that can be applied toward an associate in science degree in Technology Studies - Industrial Technology Option. |
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| Author, artist, and art therapist Kimberly Heil will lead participants through a simple yet impressive weaving project from the comfort of their own home on Thursday, January 27 at 6:30PM. The class is $15 and includes art kit to be picked up at WORK_SPACE. Must RSVP by Jan. 21st so we can order supplies. RSVP now by clicking here. |
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| Want to change the world? Join East Hartford Public Library's coding club and learn computer science skills from your peers and library staff on Tuesdays in January and February from 6PM-7PM. Participants will learn to code from fun and simple online coding tutorials from Girls Who Code, build community through interactive activities, and learn about inspiring role models. No coding experience necessary, all are welcome, best suiting for students in grades 6 – 12. Register by clicking here. |
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| East Hartford Mayor Mike Walsh is inviting residents to attend a Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, January 19 at 6PM. This is a great opportunity to hear Mayor Mike's vision for East Hartford, and for residents to meet him personally. The meeting will be available virtual and in-person. For more information or to get remote access details, click here. |
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Looking for a new career or opportunity to connect with new networks of employment support? Then the Professional Skills Academy, presented by East Hartford CONNects and Goodwin University, might be right for you!
Starting Tuesday, February 22, the Professional Skills Academy is a 4 week, part-time, career skills training that will cover everything from resume development to computer skills and financial literacy. Additionally, graduates can earn up to 4 continuing education credentials from Goodwin University.
The program is offered free to East Hartford resident with a high school diploma, GED, or NEDP. Space is limited, apply today by calling (860) 622-5507. |
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| My office is always open if you or your family are in need of assistance. Please do not hesitate to contact me by email at Jason.Rojas@cga.ct.gov or by phone at 860-240-8541.
Sincerely,
Jason Rojas |
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