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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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CT Approved to Receive $43 Million to Expand High-Speed Broadband Access
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The White House approved Connecticut's plan to expand high-speed broadband access on Tuesday. The approval will bring $43 million in federal funding to support the expansion of affordable high-speed broadband internet, particularly in at least 10,000 low-income households and businesses that are currently lacking access.
Connecticut was one of five states to be approved for this funding, allocated though the American Rescue Plan Act. The funding will officially create the Connecticut Broadband Infrastructure Program, a grant program expected to launch early next year to help expand access and offer some subsidies to help pay for the service.
I would like to know, what do you think of this issue?
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CT Attorney General Reaches $60 Million Settlement with Frontier over Customer Complaints
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On Wednesday, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong announced a $60 million settlement with Frontier Communications. The settlement resolves a joint investigation by the Office of the Attorney General and Department of Consumer Protection into whether Frontier deceived or misled consumers in the marketing and sales of internet services.
Through the investigation, the offices reviewed over 1,400 consumer complaints concerning charges for equipment already returned, poor internet quality, unsatisfactory customer service, charges that exceeded promised rates, and charges that continued after services had been cancelled.
Per the settlement, Frontier must dramatically expand access to high-speed internet for Frontier customers in economically distressed communities, end a hidden monthly $6.99 internet surcharge, and force significant improvements in marketing and customer service.
Customers continuing to have problems with Frontier internet service should file a complaint online with the Office of the Attorney General here.
I would like to know, what do you think of this issue?
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Today in CT History: Connecticut’s Unknown Industrial Genius
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The largely unknown man at the center of Connecticut’s 19th century industrial greatness – Elisha King Root – died in Hartford today in 1865. Root’s machine tool genius first revolutionized axe production in Collinsville and then made the Colt Firearms Company a worldwide icon of precision manufacturing.
Born in western Massachusetts in 1808, Root became an apprentice at a local textile factory at age 10. He worked in various machine shops as a teenager. In his early 20s, Root moved to Canton, Connecticut to take a job at the world-famous Collins axe factory. There, he invented a unique die casting process and a series of precision machine tools that increased both the quality and speed of axes produced by the company.
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Root’s mechanical prowess quickly earned him a reputation as one of the finest mechanical minds in New England. When Samuel Colt opened his new firearms factory on the banks of the Connecticut River in Hartford in 1849, he hired Root as foreman and shop superintendent. In only a few years, Root completely revolutionized the way Colt firearms were made, transforming the manufacturing operation from a drawn-out process of putting together individually hand-made parts into a precise, streamlined, and cost-efficient assembly line. The sheer volume and diversity of patents issued in Root’s name while he was employed at Colt reflect the scope of his engineering genius: metal-stamping drop hammers, milling machines, precision gauges, rifle-boring machines, and even improvements on several models of Colt revolvers. The Colt Model 1855 Pocket Revolver was popularly known as the “Root Revolver” owing to the primary role Elisha K. Root had in its design.
After Samuel Colt died in 1862, Root became president of Colt Firearms, a position he held until his own death in 1865. Under Root’s tenure as engineer and president, Colt’s factory became the first one in the world to mass-produce firearms using a modern assembly line method, and the first to produce a revolver made with 100% interchangeable parts. One of the sharpest minds of the Industrial Revolution, Root passed into the history books, today in Connecticut history.
If you'd like to learn more about Elisha King Root and other interesting CT historical facts, click here.
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CEAP Applications Open Today
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The application period for the 2022-2023 winter season of the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) is opened yesterday, September 1. As colder days approach, this program supports vulnerable Connecticut residents - both homeowners and renters - with the costs of heating their homes.
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If you are interested, there are several ways to submit your application:
- Online at ct.gov/heatinghelp/apply.
- Call the office of your local community action agency and request assistance applying, or schedule an in-person appointment
- Download and complete the CEAP application, and mail the completed application with the required documents to your local community action agency.
The contact information and addresses of Connecticut's community action agencies can be found here.
Benefits are based on your household’s income and number of family members. Benefits are available for households with incomes up to 60% of the state median income, which equates to roughly $76,400 for a family of four.
Typically, benefits are paid directly to the utility company or fuel supplier. Households that heat with deliverable fuels like oil or propane may be eligible for multiple free tank fills.
Applications for the 2022-2023 winter season must be received by May 31, 2023.
If you’d like more information, click here, call 2-1-1.
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Manchester Announces Grant-Giving Program for 2023 Bicentennial
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Manchester has already launched planning efforts for its 2023 Bicentennial Celebration! As part of the celebration, the Town has announced its Bicentennial Grant Giving Program, facilitated by the Manchester Youth Commission.
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How do I qualify?
- The grant application must be completed in its entirety.
- Proposed initiative or project must be facilitated by a Manchester non-profit organization, club, or group.
- Initiative or project must fulfill the requirements of one of the funding opportunities stated in the application.
- Sponsoring organization must be able to establish accounting procedures to document the expenditure of funds.
How do I apply?
How can I use the funds?
- Supplies, materials, and other expenses that are directly involved with your project and are necessary to making it a success.
What can’t I use the funds for?
- Capital Expenses
- Donations to other organizations, religious instruction, religious literature or materials, worship services, etc.
If approved, what do I need to do?
- Complete a Bicentennial Program Information Form (you will receive this upon notification of award and must complete prior to receiving funds).
- Implement your program or project between 4/1/23 and 12/31/23.
- Submit the completed Final Budget and Program Summary after completion of your program (no later than 12/31/23).
Applications will be accepted online only from September 19 to November 14 and can be found here. Additional questions regarding your grant application or eligibility for your project should be directed to Heather Wlochowski at heatherw@manchesterct.gov or Nurun Nahar nnahar@manchesterct.gov.
Click here for more information.
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Celebrate National Senior Center Month at the East Hartford Senior Center
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Happy September! Did you know it's National Senior Center Month? Celebrate all month long with a variety of free and exciting events and programs at the East Hartford Senior Center.
Group Exercise Classes: The Senior Center will be offering free group exercise classes for the month of September! Residents are invited to try a new class or continue one they already love – be sure to sign-up as space is limited. Call (860) 291-7460 to sign-up now.
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Fun and Exciting Programs: September will be a month full of fun at the Senior Center, check out the exciting program happening this month –
- Big Bucks Bingo – Tuesday beginning September 6, 5:30PM: Each card will be $2, with a 5-card minimum. You must register in advance for Bingo as seating is limited. To register, call (860) 291-7460.
- "Home" Cooked Meal – Wednesday, September 14, 12PM: Enjoy a "home-cooked" meal of BBQ chicken, corn salad, baked beans, and cornbread. This lunch is free of charge, but seating is limited, grab a ticket for this meal during normal hours at the Senior Center (Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM).
- Indoor Carnival – Wednesday, September 14, 1PM: Come and have some fun with the Senior Center and play some fun carnival games. There will be prizes for the winners of the games, and refreshments will be served.
- Trivia Night – Thursday, September 15 at 5:30PM: Join the Senior Center for a fun-filled game of trivia! Trivia questions will be on a wide variety of topics, so there will be something for everyone.
- One-Year Anniversary Party – Wednesday, September 21, 1PM: Celebrate the Senior Center's 1st Anniversary with hors d’oeuvres, mocktails, and entertainment! Enjoy music from Jim Harkins, featuring familiar songs made famous by Willie Nelson, The Beatles, Dean Martin, Jim Croce, Michael Buble’, Johnny Cash, and many others.
- Pasta & Meatball Dinner – Thursday, September 29, 5:30PM: Stop by for a delicious dinner and entertainment by the Guinea Pigs. Tickets are $10 for Senior Center members and $12 for non-members. Seating is limited, grab a ticket for this meal during normal hours at the Senior Center (Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM).
Extended Hours: As of yesterday, the Senior Center will be extending hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays until 7:30PM and on Saturdays from 9AM-12PM.
Seeking Volunteers: To accommodate the new extended hours, the Senior Center is seeking volunteers to cover evening (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5PM-7PM) and Saturday shifts (9AM-11:30AM). If you are interested in running the café or instructing a class, please call Ruth at (860) 291-7498 or stop by the East Hartford Senior Center to fill out volunteer paperwork.
Learn more about the Senior Center and any of the above activities or programs by clicking here.
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4th Annual Rotary in Motion on October 1
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Join the Rotary Clubs of Manchester, East Hartford, and Rockville for the 4th Annual Rotary in Motion on Saturday, October 1, beginning at 9:30AM in Charter Oak Park. An all-abilities community outing, there are so many ways to participate:
- 17-mile or 30-mile bike routes or take the mountain bike option!
- Take a 2-mile guided walking tour of the historic Cheney Mill District with Town Historian Susan Barlow
- Or enjoy rickshaw and golf cart tours of Charter Oak Park
Plus, great activities like watching the Ebony Horsewomen start off on their equestrian ride up to Case Mountain, a Kid's Costume Parade through Music Garden with the Lutz Children's Museum, and so much more!
The Manchester and East Hartford Police Departments will enhance safety along the bike routes. Manchester Cycle and Farr’s Sporting Goods will provide SAG support for the cyclists. TiTrikes will again display their adaptive bikes with an opportunity for demo rides. And stay for the ringing of the Rotary Bell as the cyclists return to Charter Oak Park.
For more information, email rotarymanchesterct@gmail.com.
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Save the Date: East Hartford Parks and Recreation Annual Fall Festival on October 8
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The East Hartford Parks and Recreation Annual Fall Festival is back on Saturday, October 8 from 11AM-3PM on the East Hartford Town Green (1047 Main Street). Fall Fest is one of the Town’s largest events, averaging over 2,000 participants and packed with loads of fun activities for the entire family!
Entry to the event is free, and a $5 fee to get unlimited access to attractions, games, and a pumpkin decorating activity that participants will get to take home.
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If you are a vendor interested in participating in the event, please fill out a vendor application form below or call Parks and Recreation at (860) 291-7160 by the application deadline on Monday, October 3:
In the event of inclement weather, the Fall Festival will be moved to Sunday, October 9, 11AM-3PM. For more information, call (860) 291-7160 or click here.
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Tickets on Sale Now: Rebuilding Together Manchester Comedy Fundraiser
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Tickets are now on sale for a Comedy Fundraiser featuring local comedians to benefit Rebuilding Together Manchester! The fundraiser will be held on Thursday, October 20 at Manchester Elks Lodge #1893 (30 Bissell Street) - doors will open at 6PM and the show starts at 7PM.
This is an event for the whole family - bring your own snacks, enjoy a cash bar, and check out the raffles and auctions! Tickets are $20. To purchase tickets, donate, or sponsor, click here. For more information, please contact Molly at (860) 338-1612.
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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 91 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 men who have sex with men, and/or transgender, gender non-conforming, or gender non-binary individuals
- 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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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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The National Alliance of Mental Health (NAMI) Manchester support groups are again offering in-person for September! The new schedule for September is as follows:
- Thursday, September 15, 7PM-8:30PM: NAMI Family Support Group – in-person at Center Congregational Church (11 Center Street)
- Monday, September 19, 7PM: NAMI Spouse/Partner Support Group – via Zoom (meeting ID: 853 8277 7538, contact Pat at admin@namict.org for the password), available on the third Monday of each month
- Thursday, September 29, 7PM-8:30PM: NAMI Family Support Group – via Zoom, get link by calling Tina at (860) 906-7385 or emailing Roberta at rcluby@comcast.net
- All Month Long: NAMI Young Adult Groups (for ages 18-29) – choices of Support, Creative, Expressions, Self-Discovery, Game Night, and more! To join, contact Val at vlepourte@nami.org or Sarah at sarah.poutre@gmail.com
For more information on NAMI support groups, click here.
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Join the Manchester Historical Society on Saturday, September 17 at 1PM for a visit to the Civil War monument in Center Memorial Park (41 Center Street). Hosted with the Cheney Brothers National Historic District Commission, participants will learn more about the Statue of a Young Soldier on the 145th Anniversary of its unveiling. Participants will also learn more about the other memorials in the park with a walking tour lead by Town Historian, Susan Barlow. Extreme weather will cancel this free event, but the walk will be held if only light rain.
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The Manchester community and surrounding towns are invited to read and then meet the author during the 2022 One Book, One Town event on Thursday, September 29 at 6:30PM at the SBM Charitable Foundation Auditorium at Manchester Community College. This year's selection is The Other Black Girl, by Connecticut native and New York Times Best-Selling Author Zakiya Dalila Harris. No tickets or registration is required for this free event for the public.
Harris will speak on her career, inclusion, and more. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing by Book Club on the Go. Refreshments will be provided by Brown Butter Creations and GRDN KTCHN. Learn more by clicking here.
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Bring the kids to stretch, sing, dance, and explore music together at the East Hartford Public Library on Tuesdays, 6PM-6:30PM on the following dates: September 6, 13, 20 & 27, and October 4 & 11. Meet outside on the lawn, weather permitting. Bring your own shakers or borrow one from the library. This activity is best suited for kids ages 2-6 and their grown-ups – siblings are welcome! Register now by clicking here.
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In honor and celebration of fathers and dads, My People Community Services and the Town of East Hartford will host the 4th Annual Dads Hero Community Event on Saturday, September 10, 11AM-2PM at East Hartford Town Green (Alumni Park, 1021 Main Street). Enjoy a day packed with free field day games, entertainment, food, drinks, and tons of fun.
This event is made possible with the support from My People Community Services, the Town of East Hartford, The Village for Families and Children, Gengras Volvo, the Department of Children and Families, Bets Sigma Lambda Educational Foundation Inc., and others. For more information, click here.
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Registration is now open for the Fall 2022 East Hartford Youth Services (EHYS) Groups and Programs:
- Zentangle – Weekly via Zoom on Tuesday, October 4-December 20, 6PM-7PM: This is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. Zentagle is appropriate for almost all ages, but younger kids will need more hands-on help – great for families and individuals! Register by clicking here.
- Boys Council – Weekly In-Person Group on Wednesdays, October 5-December 14, 6:30PM-7:45PM: Boys Council is a group approach to help boys explore and learn about themselves, others, and the world. Both facilitators, Alex and Carlos, are bilingual (Spanish and English). For boys 12-15 years old. Space is limited to 12 participants, register here.
- Jr. Adventure Club – Weekly In-Person Group on Wednesdays, October 5-December 14, 6:30PM-7:45PM: A social-emotional learning group that uses experiential education to help youth learn and practice important life skills. For all youth ages 7-11. Register by clicking here.
Learn more about the about programs and other available resources from EHYS here.
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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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