|
|
|
|
| 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
|
|
| House of Representatives Will Welcome Three New Members Following Special Elections |
|
On Tuesday, special elections were held for three House seats in Middletown, Stamford, and Hartford/West Hartford opened by the death of Quentin Williams, and resignations of Dan Fox and Edwin Vargas Jr.
Unofficial results from the Secretary of the State showed strong wins by James “Jimmy” Sanchez of Hartford in the 6th District (325-198), Kai Juanna Belton of Middletown in the 100th District (1,716 to 776) and Anabel D. Figueroa of Stamford in the 148th District (584-373). |
|
| Eli Lilly Caps Out-of-Pocket Costs for Insulin |
|
On Wednesday, drugmaker Eli Lilly announced that it will cap the out-of-pocket cost of its insulin at $35 a month – a move that is expected to prompt other insulin makers in the U.S. to follow suit.
The decision from Eli Lilly comes only weeks following President Joe Biden’s State of the Union Address, in which he promised to tackle rising insulin costs. Additionally, it puts the drugmaker in line with a provision in the Inflation Reduction Act, which in January imposed a $35 monthly cap on the out-of-pocket cost of insulin for seniors enrolled in Medicare.
This change took effect immediately following the announcement. Individuals with private insurance will see the cap automatically applied, while people without insurance will be eligible if they sign up for Eli Lilly’s copay assistance program.
I'd like to know, what do you think about this issue? |
|
| East Hartford Takes Ownership of Silver Lane Plaza |
|
The Town of East Hartford is now the official owner of Silver Lane Plaza. This news comes just a couple of months after the Town acquired another blighted property - Church Corers Inn at 860 Main Street. I believe both projects will help to revitalize these sections of town and bring back some stability.
According to Mayor Mike Walsh, the next steps for the Silver Lane Plaza will be:
- Offering existing businesses located in the plaza three-month leases at the same lease cost as they currently have with month-to-month leases.
- Demolishing the larger main anchor building towards the rear of the property which is in very poor condition.
- The existing businesses in this building – Bare Bones Boxing and Je Mart – will work with the town on relocation plans.
- The two-story office building to the west and the single-story retail plaza will not be demolished.
- Issuing a Request for Proposal seeking a developer with a plan for the highest and best use of the Silver Lane Plaza 22-acre site.
Mayor Mike believes demolition is likely to take place by the end of summer and hopes to have the property turned over to a capable developer by the end of the year. If residents have questions, they can call (860) 291-7200.
I'd like to know, what do you think about this issue? |
|
| Today in CT History: A Great and Deadly Accident Finds a City Unprepared |
|
| Around 2:00pm on March 2, 1854, a deafening blast rocked the Dutch Point neighborhood of Hartford following the explosion of a massive steam boiler at the Fales & Gray Car Works factory. The force of the explosion blew out the eight-inch-thick brick walls encasing the factory’s boiler room, causing the roof to cave in and exposing nearly a third of the company’s 300 workers to injuries from flying shrapnel or falling rubble. It was the worst industrial accident in the rapidly-expanding city’s history.
A later report described a macabre scene as people rushed toward the wreckage that marked the site where the main factory building had stood just moments before:
“To paint the agony of the [spectators], whose relatives were sufferers, would be impossible. …In many instances, they failed to recognize their own relatives, so blackened, and distorted, and mutilated were the bodies, by the dirt, bruises, and fearful scalds. Some were so badly scalded, that on touching them the skin peeled off in the hand.” |
|
| The horrific accident of March 2, 1854 convinced Hartford residents that the justification for a public hospital went far beyond meeting the needs of medical students. The day after the Fales & Gray boiler explosion, a broadside was circulated around the city calling for a meeting to provide relief to accident victims and their families — and to begin a long-overdue conversation about establishing a hospital in Hartford.
Exactly two months after the fatal disaster, the citizens of Hartford voted to establish a public hospital, and by May, the state of Connecticut had granted a charter for the establishment of Hartford Hospital, the first institution of its kind in the greater Hartford region. Hartford Hospital opened its doors in 1859 and remains one of the area’s major hospitals over 150 years later. An iconic institution and enduring mission of mercy rose from the ashes of Hartford’s worst industrial accident, today in Connecticut history. |
|
| TOMORROW: East Hartford Habitat for Humanity Applicant Information Meeting |
|
| Are you in need of simple, decent, affordable housing? Do you earn a minimum of $38,000 per year? Then you may be eligible for affordable homeownership through Habitat for Humanity North Central CT! Learn more at an upcoming Applicant Information Meeting at Raymond Library on Saturday, March 4 at 10AM.
For more information, click here or contact Family Service by phone at (860) 541-2208 ext. 2210 or by email at janaya@hfhncc.org. |
|
| East Hartford & Manchester Encourage Residents to Participate in FY 2024 Budget Process |
|
The Towns of East Hartford and Manchester are once again in the process of adopting their annual budgets for the fiscal year 2023-2024 – and they want to hear from you!
To help residents better understand how East Hartford plans its spending every year and how residents can get involved, the Town has broken down the key steps to the budget planning process into a series of budget workshops.
This week, budget workshops were held on the following topics: Mayor's Summary of Budget, Public Works, Board of Education, Police Department, Public Safety Complex, and Fire Department. (Click on any of those topics to find recordings of the workshops). Upcoming budget workshops include:
Saturday, March 4, beginning at 8:30AM – will cover Boards and Commissions and Development before breaking for lunch around 12:30, and then continuing with Executive.
Monday, March 6 beginning at 6:30PM – will cover Health and Social Services, Parks and Recreation, Finance, and Five Year Capital Improvement Plan.
Budget workshops will be presented in a hybrid model – either participate in person at the Community Cultural Center (50 Chapman Place) or call-in with the access details listed on the public meeting calendar.
Following the workshops, the Town will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, March 8 at 7PM, and a special meeting on Monday, March 13 at 7PM.
For more information, click here.
|
|
Manchester process of workshops and meeting will begin next week with the following schedule:
Wednesday, March 8 at 5:30PM – Budget Workshop #1 (Board of Education)
Thursday, March 9 at 5:30PM – Budget Workshop #2 (General Government, Fixed Miscellaneous, Human Services)
Wednesday, March 15 at 5:30PM – Budget Workshop #3 (Public Works, Sanitation)
Tuesday, March 21 at 5:30PM – Budget Workshop #4 (Police, Fire)
Wednesday, March 22 at 5:30PM – Budget Workshop #5 (Board of Education Follow-Up, Leisure Services)
Thursday, March 23 at 5:30PM – Budget Workshop #6 (Water & Sewer)
Thursday, March 28 at 5:30PM – Budget Workshop #7 (as needed)
Following the workshops, the Town will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, March 14 at 7PM, and a special meeting to adopt the budget on Tuesday, April 11 at 7PM. All meetings will be conducted in-person at the Lincoln Center Hearing Room and can be watched live on Silk City TV, Facebook Live, or Cox Channel 16.
For more information, click here. |
|
| Reminder: Free Learning Opportunity for East Hartford Residents |
|
| East Hartford Works and Goodwin University will host a 5-week Professional Skills Academy focused on manufacturing beginning Tuesday, April 18. Classes will run Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evening from 4PM-9PM at Goodwin University. Participants will earn continuing education credentials from Goodwin in: Enhanced Shop Math, Introduction to Blue Print Reading, Enhanced Metrology and OSHA 10.
This is a free program for East Hartford residents. Participants must have a High School Diploma or GED. Supports will be made available for childcare and transportation. Registration is open now and space is limited so reserve your spot by calling Yadira Jeter at (860) 290-4345. |
|
| Deadline Approaching – Submit Feedback on Manchester NEXT |
|
A public draft of Manchester Next, the Town of Manchester’s Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD), is now available for review. Those who live, work, or visit Manchester are encouraged to submit feedback during the public comment period now through March 15.
Your voice matters – public comment will be utilized to finalize the plan. Review the plan and submit comment by clicking here. If you have any questions or require additional information, call the Planning and Development Department at (860) 647-3044. |
|
| Join Manchester’s Community Emergency Response Team |
|
Are you interested in getting more involved in supporting community members in times of crisis? Manchester’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) CERT is looking for more volunteers to join their ongoing efforts of keeping the community safe.
As a member of CERT, you’ll be trained to assist first responders and provide critical support during emergencies and other town-wide operations such as the annual Road Race.
If you’re interested in making an impact in the community, please contact Don Janelle by email at djanelle@manhcesterct.gov or by phone at (860) 647-5259. |
|
| COVID-19 Updates & Upcoming Vaccine Clinics |
|
Griffin Hospital has partnered with the Town of East Hartford to offer COVID-19 vaccine clinics on the following dates at Raymond Library (840 Main Street):
- Sunday, March 12, 2P-5PM
- Tuesday, March 21, 3PM-7PM
- Thursday, March 23, 3PM-7PM
- Tuesday, March 28, 3PM-7PM
Moderna, Pfizer, and J&J vaccines will be available to all eligible Connecticut residents 6 months and older. No insurance, ID, or appointment required. Additionally, Griffin will offer free health screenings including A1C (diabetes) and blood pressure checks at each clinic. |
|
| The East Hartford Health Department offers regular vaccination services at the Community Cultural Center. Both the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 bivalent boosters, as well as Flu, will be offered for all ages 12+. Appointments are required and will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10AM-2PM. To schedule an appointment, call (860) 291-7324 (option 1). |
|
For any questions regarding pediatric COVID-19 vaccines, booster dose eligibility, or to schedule an appointment at an upcoming clinic, contact the East Hartford Health Department at (860) 291-7324. If transportation is needed to get to and from a clinic site, please contact the Health Department for assistance.
The White House relaunched the program making free at-home, rapid COVID-19 tests available to every U.S. household. Just as before, you can order tests through COVIDTests.gov and enter your shipping information. Every U.S. household is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests.
The Administration will also make tests available to individuals who are blind or have low vision through this program. People who have difficulty accessing the internet or need additional support placing an order can call +1 (800) 232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) to get help in English, Spanish, and more than 150 other languages – 8AM-8PM E.T., Monday to Friday and 8AM-5PM E.T. on weekends.
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. |
|
Join the Manchester Historical Society on Sunday, March 5 from 1PM-4PM at the History Center to celebrate the "Women of the Cheney Homestead" exhibit. The celebration will feature MIT Professor Margery Resnick's talk about MIT’s first female graduate, Professor Ellen Swallow Richards (1873), and her student, Margaret Swan Cheney, who was born at the Cheney Homestead in 1855.
Following the presentation, guests may visit the Cheney Homestead to view the exhibit room dedicated to the women of the Cheney family who lived at the Homestead during its 238-year history. Refreshments will be served. Click here for more information. |
|
Learn Blackletter Calligraphy at Whiton Memorial Library on Wednesday, March 15 at 6PM! It is a classic, dramatic, lettering style and a great way to introduce yourself to the broad edge nib. Calligrapher Debby Reelitz will teach you the basics, provide you with guidelines and lettering samples you can trace, and she will guide you through a project.
This program is for adults only age 18 and up. Space is limited and registration is required, so call the library at (860) 645-0821 to reserve your spot. |
|
Registration is open now for OAKC Together We Tee! This program is offered to local Black and Brown youth of all genders ages 9-12 and their parent/guardian to introduce kids to the game of golf. The Manchester Country club will be providing all participants with lessons by golf professionals, fee waivers, and equipment.
The program will run on the following dates: Wednesdays, July 12, July 19, July 26, August 2, August 9, and August 16 with golf instruction from 5PM-6:30PM, followed by a family style dinner from 6:30PM-7:30PM. The program is limited to 10 participants, so register today by clicking here.
If you have questions or would like additional information, call Senior Recreation Specialist Calvin Harris at (860) 647-3088 or Recreation Supervisor Taylor McBride at (860) 647-6039. |
|
| Do you have a business card? How about a website? Are you looking for help? At Drop-in Digital Navigation hours, the East Hartford Public Library will work with small business owners to develop the technology skills you need to make your business technology work as hard as you do. Business owners at every stage of development are encouraged to attend. Drop-in hours will be offered on Fridays from 10:30AM-12:30PM (March 3, 10, 24, & 31; April 14 & 27; and May 5, 12, &26). For more information, click here. |
|
East Hartford Parks and Recreation Department’s Annual Egg Hunt at McAuliffe Park is on Saturday, March 25 at 12PM. There will be thousands of pieces of chocolates and stuffed plastic eggs for children ages 10 and younger (and their accompanying parent/guardian).
Participants will be grouped by ages and directed to designated areas: ages 3 and under, ages 4-5 and ages 6-10. Each child should bring their own bag or basket to collect eggs and candy. Please dress appropriately for the weather. In case of inclement weather or poor field conditions, updates will be posted on our website and Facebook page
This is a free event for East Hartford residents. For more information, click here.
|
|
Calling the young people in our community – it's not too early to be thinking about summer employment or learning opportunities! Gain valuable work experience and get paid this summer by signing up for the Summer Youth Employment and Learning Program (SYELP).
SYELP connects youth between the ages of 14 and 24 with career exploration opportunities and paid work experience each summer. Applications are open now! Sign up by clicking here.
|
|
| 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 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
