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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 Announces Launch of CareerConneCT Job Training Program
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Governor Ned Lamont officially launched 19 job training programs this week. Funded by CareerConneCT, the $70 million program is designed to support getting individuals whose employment was impacted by COVID-19 back to work. These statewide and regional programs will provide short-term job training through industry-recognized credentials that create pathways to employment in high-quality, in-demand careers.
Administered by the Connecticut Office of Workforce Strategy, funding for CareerConneCT comes from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. The programs to be launched are targeted toward populations most underrepresented in the workforce, including BIPOC, people with disabilities, the re-entry population, opportunity youth, and veterans, immigrants, and women.
To enroll in training programs or for more information on CareerConneCT, click here.
I would like to know, what do you think of this issue?
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FDA Finalizes Rule to Allow for Over-the-Counter Sale of Hearing Aids
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On Tuesday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finalized a rule allowing hearing aids to be sold over the counter. The move is expected to impact close to 30 million U.S. adults and result in nearly $3,000 in savings to families for a pair of hearing aids, in addition to giving people more choices to improve their health and wellbeing.
The rule will allow individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss the ability to purchase hearing aids “without the need for a medical exam, prescription or a fitting adjustment by an audiologist.” According to the Biden Administration, hearing aids available over the counter could be available as soon as mid-October in retail and drug stores.
I would like to know, what do you think of this issue?
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Today in CT History: Connecticut Man with a Rifle Enters Lincoln’s Office
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It would be easy to hold up Connecticut inventor Christopher Miner Spencer as an archetype of 19th century Yankee ingenuity: Not only was he a man who spent his whole life tinkering with machinery, filing patents, and aggressively marketing his creations, but as with so many other Connecticut inventors, his innovations changed the course of history.
As a young boy growing up in Manchester, Spencer lived with his grandfather, a Revolutionary War veteran, who encouraged him to pursue his hobbies of tinkering with machinery and firearms. Spencer never received a formal education but gathered plenty of hands-on experience repairing factory machinery as a young apprentice, first at Manchester’s famous Cheney silk mills, then at a number of firearms manufacturing companies (including Colt, in Hartford). During his lifetime, Spencer would obtain over 40 patents in his name, most of which were related to firearms improvement and manufacturing.
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In 1860, as the nation moved toward the Civil War, Spencer patented his Model 1860 rifle — the world’s first breech-loading military repeating rifle — and soon founded the Spencer Repeating Rifle Company in Boston to mass-produce them. Spencer tried for years to gain an audience with the War Department to prove the usefulness of his rifle for the Union Army but was stonewalled at every turn. Finally, Spencer took matters into his own hands: he contacted President Abraham Lincoln directly to pitch the utility of his new rifle for the U.S. military. On August 18, 1863, armed with a Model 1860 repeating rifle and carrying plenty of ammunition, he arrived at the White House in Washington, D.C., calmly walked past the sentries, and straight into the President’s office, where Lincoln was waiting for him.
Having grown up in rural Illinois, Lincoln himself was no stranger to firearms; after watching Spencer take apart and reassemble his creation, Lincoln invited him back the following day for a field demonstration. That afternoon, in a cornfield near where the Washington Monument stands today, Spencer and Lincoln took turns firing the Model 1860 rifle, using a a marked piece of wood as target practice. The President was quite impressed with the rifle’s speed and its ease of use; the Model 1860 could fire seven shots in rapid succession –10 times faster than a muzzle-loading rifle — before needing to be reloaded and was unlike any firearm the Confederate Army was known to possess.
The shooting match proved to be a mixed success for Spencer: While Lincoln forwarded a glowing recommendation of Spencer’s Model 1860 to the War Department, officials quietly ignored it at first, fearing that the repeating rifle would lead to impossibly high demands for ammunition. Less than a year later, however, the U.S. Navy became the first branch of the American military to place an order for Spencer’s rifles. The Army soon followed suit, and Spencer’s factory ended up producing over 100,000 repeating rifles for the U.S. military by war’s end. After the Civil War, Spencer’s repeating rifle and its shorter-barreled cousin, the repeating carbine, rose to fame as some of the most popular firearms used along the western frontier, only to be eclipsed in sales by another Connecticut firearms company — Winchester Repeating Arms — by the end of the 19th century.
If you'd like to learn more about Christopher Miner Spencer and other interesting CT historical facts, click here.
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Use State Food Assistance Programs at a Local Farmer’s Market
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Did you know that the state’s food assistance programs have expanded over the last two years to ensure that households of all income levels have access to nutritious, fresh, locally grown food? And we've done that while also supporting local farmers!
Check out these benefits at one of the great farmer's markets in our communities:
- East Hartford Farmer's Market (840 Main Street, East Hartford) – Fridays, 9AM-12:30PM until October 28
- DeLuca Family Farm (711 Silver Lane, East Hartford) – Wednesdays-Sundays, 9AM-3PM until October 31
- Manchester Farmer's Market (1088 Main Street, Manchester) – Saturdays, 8AM-12:30PM until October 29
Learn more about programs, services, and grant opportunities by clicking here.
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Job Posting: East Hartford Senior Center Hiring a Bus Driver
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Looking for a part-time job? The East Hartford Senior Center is now hiring a part-time driver, responsible for operating the senior center bus/van for the Town’s Transportation Program and providing customer service to riders as needed, including assisting passengers on and off the bus and securing wheelchairs.
A qualified candidate should have:
- High School diploma or GED
- 2+ years of experience driving a CDL vehicle or related work experience
- Must have and maintain a valid CDL with passenger and air brake endorsement
This is a unique opportunity to engage with members of the Senior Center and to better our East Hartford Community! For more information on the job or to apply, click here.
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Seeking Your Feedback – Take the Manchester NEXT BIG IDEAS Survey
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Manchester NEXT is the Town of Manchester’s Plan of Conservation and Development update, a 10-year plan to guide the town over the next decade. Thanks to all those who attended "Planapalozza," "On The Table," and other engagement opportunities, the town gained a significant amount of community input.
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To enter the next phase, Manchester NEXT is seeking input on the BIG IDEAS results:
Overarching Goals
- Ensure that all public places, transportation modes, and natural and cultural resources are available, welcoming, and accessible to all demographics and populations.
- Emphasize sustainable development, climate resilience, and a long-lasting built environment.
- Retain the small-town charm, scale, and character of the community to ensure a high quality of life in future development and redevelopment.
Specific Goals
- Develop a dependable, connected, multi-modal transportation network plan which strengthens mobility between neighborhoods, nodes, and town-wide amenities through all forms of transportation (walking, biking, motor vehicles).
- Utilize current civic destinations and town branding strategies to create a stronger sense of place and community.
- Diversify and update Manchester housing stock to meet the needs of current and future residents of all ages and income groups.
- Enhance, promote, and connect local museums, libraries, and parks while retaining the small-town charm, scale, and character of the community to ensure a high quality of life.
- Use Green Infrastructure tools such as bioswales, stormwater planters, and bioretention basins to provide sustainable and attractive stormwater features in neighborhoods and downtown.
- Plan for alternative energy solutions such as car charging stations, electric buses, and solar panels.
- Strengthen parks and trails system by investing in maintenance, streamlining and centralizing volunteering, and connecting the parks and facilities master plan across multiple plans and initiatives.
- Be prepared and aware of funding cycles and future costs for infrastructure.
- Establish resiliency hubs in key accessible locations.
Focus Areas
Downtown
- Make downtown more accessible and safer through multimodal transportation options and an enhanced pedestrian streetscape.
Spencer street
- Improve spencer street corridor by utilizing suburban retrofit and allowing infill and mixed-use development.
- Upgrade the safety and aesthetics of the existing streetscape.
- Reimagine the Manchester landfill property as a sustainable Town resource.
Buckland Hills
- Plan for and accommodate the redevelopment of Buckland Hills Mall in a purposeful and quality manner that meets the needs of residents, businesses, and visitors.
Midtown
- Elevate the Midtown area by aiding infill development compatible with Manchester Memorial Hospital.
- Upgrade the safety and aesthetics of the existing streetscape.
Depot Square & HOP river innovation park
- Utilize current innovation park to attract new and innovative business endeavors.
- Diversify workspaces by allowing mixed-use, maker spaces, and live/work buildings.
To submit your feedback on the results and BIG IDEAS that have stemmed from this process answer the survey found here.
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Traffic Advisory: Lane Shift & Temporary Ramp Closure in East Hartford
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The Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced a lane shift of Route 2 Westbound starting just east of the Willow Street Bridge beginning on Thursday, August 25, weather permitting.
The temporary lane shift of Route 2 Westbound is necessary as part of the safety and operational improvements on Route 2 in East Hartford, Hartford, and Glastonbury. The lane shift is being implemented between Exit 5A and Exit 4 to facilitate the reconstruction of the Willow Street Bridge.
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Additionally, DOT announced the temporary ramp closure of the High Street On-Ramp (Exit 5A) to Route 2 Eastbound through Sunday, August 28. The closure is necessary as part of necessary as part of the safety and operational improvements on Route 2 in East Hartford, Hartford, and Glastonbury.
Traffic will be detoured onto Carter Street, then onto Main Street, then onto Maple Street, and finally onto Route 2 Eastbound.
Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed and remain alert when driving in these areas.
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Upcoming Manchester Household Hazardous Waste Collection on August 27
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The Capital Region East Operating Committee (CREOC) is hosting a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Event in Manchester at the regional HHW facility on the following Saturdays, 8AM-1PM:
- August 27
- September 24
- October 29
- November 12
HHW is generally defined as a household waste that is toxic, flammable, reactive or corrosive. Common HHW includes oil-based paints, thinners, pool chemicals, pesticides, mercury fever thermometers, and gasoline. To find a list of acceptable items click here, and for a list of unacceptable items click here. All materials must be left in their original containers.
Be sure to bring your driver's license, and a tax bill or car registration to prove residency. All cars must be in line by 1PM to be serviced. Cars arriving after 1PM will not be serviced.
For more information, click here.
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Invasive Species Alert: Spotted Lanternfly
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The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has identified a highly invasive species of insect called the Spotted Lanternfly in the state and has declared a quarantine for any movement of any materials (brush, trees, firewood, pallets, really – anything) to try to prevent the spread of this invasive insect.
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So far, only a few individual adults have been spotted in Connecticut, but a potential infestation could be devastating to Connecticut’s agricultural industry. If you believe you have found a Spotted Lanternfly, DEEP recommends:
For more images of Spotted Lanternflies at different stages of its life cycle and examples of the many different signs of possible infestation, click here.
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Monkeypox Updates & Vaccine Information
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Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus – at this time there are 71 reported cases in Connecticut. Symptoms of monkeypox can include fever, headache, muscle aches and backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and a rash. Monkeypox can spread from person-to-person through:
- Direct contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids
- Respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact, or during intimate physical contact
- Touching items (such as clothing or linens) that previously touched the infectious rash or body fluids of an infected person
- Pregnant people can spread the virus to their fetus through the placenta
Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is not recommending widespread vaccination against monkeypox. However, vaccination may be recommended for some people who:
- Are closer personal contacts of people with monkeypox
- May have been exposed to the virus
- May have increased risk of being exposed to the virus due to occupation
If you currently have symptoms, vaccination is NOT recommended. Vaccine is also available to people who meet ALL the following:
- Gay, bisexual, or other man who has sex with men, and/or transgender, gender non-conforming, or gender non-binary
- Have had multiple or anonymous sex partners in the last 14 days
- Age 18 or older
- Connecticut resident, regardless of immigration status
For those who meet the eligibility requirements, the vaccine will be available at the following health centers in our area by appointment only:
The monkeypox vaccine, Jynneos, requires two shots and takes a total of 6 weeks to become fully effective. To review the CT-DPH Jynneos Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions, click here.
More information can be found here.
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COVID-19 Updates & Upcoming Vaccine Clinics
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UConn Extension and the Town of East Hartford are working to build excitement and trust around COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. The collaboration is looking to create a 'why I got vaccinated' campaign with stories from East Hartford residents. If you are 18+ and would like to share your experience getting a COVID-19 vaccine, please fill out this short form found here. This short survey should take no more than 5 minutes to complete, and selected stories may appear on a social media post!
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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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The Town of East Hartford, with Griffin Hospital, will host free COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics at Raymond Library (840 Main Street) on the following dates:
- Saturday, August 20 – 10:30AM-1:30PM
- Friday, August 26 – 9AM-1PM
All three brands of the vaccine will be available to all eligible CT residents ages 6 months and up. No insurance, ID, or appointment required.
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Additionally, the Town of East Hartford has partnered with Intercommunity Inc. to host a Back-to-School Health Care Clinic at East Hartford High School for all school-aged children in East Hartford on Friday, August 19, 8AM-4PM.
The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine will be available to children 5 and older – appointments are required for COVID-19 vaccines. To schedule an appointment call (860) 569-5900. Additional services included at the Back-to-School Health Care Clinic includes back-to-school physicals, sports physicals, and other immunizations. If you are new to the East Hartford school system this year, please bring a copy of your child’s health history, including immunizations.
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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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It's the final week of Manchester's Department of Leisure, Family, and Recreation "Rec on the Run" program, a mobile pop-up creative arts, sports, and games vehicle offering programs and activities to Manchester residents in neighborhoods and parks around our community.
For the week of August 22, the theme is "Hats Off 2 Summer." We hope everyone has had a wonderfully creative time this summer. For the final week, use a variety of hats, caps and visors for you to make your own. Activity boxes can be picked up on a first-come, first-served basis at the following locations and times:
- Northwest Park (448 Tolland Turnpike) – Mondays, 5PM-7PM
- Westside Oval (110 Cedar Street) – Tuesdays, 5PM-7PM
- Market Field (163 Spruce Street) – Wednesdays, 5PM-7PM
- Center Memorial Park (41 Center Street) – Thursdays, 5PM-7PM
For more information, click here.
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Join The Academy of Martial Arts and Personal Development at Manchester Public Library on Monday, August 22 at 6:30PM to learn some simple strategies to help defend themselves should it ever become necessary. The techniques are easy to perform, they don’t take a lot of practice, and are easy to remember and use if one ever needs them. Registration is required for this free event for adults – to reserve your spot, call the Reference Room at (860) 645-0821.
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The Manchester Latino Affairs Council and their community partners welcome community members of all heritages and backgrounds to join a celebration of hope on Saturday, September 24, 11AM-3PM at the Leisure Labs at Mahoney Center (110 Cedar Street). The event feature live music, dancing, food trucks, a resource and cultural market, and fun for the entire family. Please note, this event is rain or shine.
For questions regarding this event, please contact the Department of Leisure, Family, and Recreation at (860) 647-3084 or click here.
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The East Hartford Police Department, in conjunction with Elexio's Barbershop (918 Main Street) invite you to participate in the second annual Haircut with a Cop event. Elementary, Middle and High School students will be able to receive FREE back to school haircuts on Monday, August 22 9AM-12PM. Walk-ins are welcome; participants will receive school supplies and backpacks, while supplies last.
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Mayor Mike Walsh is inviting you to the 2nd Kickball Event at Martin Park (307 Burnside Avenue) on Saturday, August 27 from 11AM-3PM. Enjoy a great game of kickball, food trucks, music and more! Pre-registration is not required. For more information, contact Daron Ross at (860) 569-9169.
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The East Hartford Police Department is now accepting applications for the 2022 Citizen Police Academy! This is a unique opportunity for citizens to learn about their police department and the work we perform in the community. Participants will get an overview of police operations, practices, and objectives.
Classes will run every Thursday from 6PM-9PM for eight weeks, starting on September 15 in the East Hartford Police Department’s Training Classroom. The deadline to apply is Friday, September 2 – apply now by clicking here. Applicants will be contacted by the Police Department with next steps. For more information, contact Officer Marc Caruso (860) 528-4401, ext. 7606, or email mcaruso@easthartfordct.gov as well as Officer Ted Branon at 860-528-4401, ext 7547, tbranon@easthartfordct.gov
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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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