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Dear Neighbor,
I hope this email finds you well. Below, you'll find updates on district resources and news. Please feel free to reach out to my office if you have any questions or concerns.
The topics covered in this e-newsletter are as follows:
- State Update
- Manchester Community Events and Information
- East Hartford Community Events and Information
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| Silk City Coffee Recognized Among the World's 100 Best Coffee Shops |
Manchester, CT, is officially on the world coffee map, and the Town of Manchester is proud to celebrate this outstanding achievement! Silk City Coffee has earned a prestigious spot on the inaugural World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops list, revealed at Coffee Fest in Madrid, Spain over the President's Day weekend. Among the 100 coffee shops recognized globally, only 14 are located in the United States, making this an extraordinary achievement for Manchester’s beloved community café.
“The Town of Manchester congratulates Silk City Coffee for putting our community on the global stage and showcasing the excellence of our local businesses”, said Mayor Jay Moran “This achievement highlights the economic and cultural vitality that makes Manchester a great place to live, work, and visit.”
The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops list celebrates excellence in coffee culture, evaluating establishments based on key criteria such as coffee quality, barista expertise, customer service, innovation, ambiance, sustainability practices, food and pastry quality, and overall consistency. A combination of expert evaluation and public voting determined the final selections, with industry professionals applying rigorous Specialty Coffee Association standards and the public recognizing the community impact of each café. |
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“Congratulations to Silk City Coffee in Manchester, CT, for being named one of the top 100 coffee shops in the world!”, said Town Manager Steve Stephanou. “Your dedication to brewing excellence and fostering a warm, welcoming atmosphere truly sets you apart and is one of many factors contributing to the continued revitalization of Downtown Manchester.”
“We credit this distinction to our amazing staff who lead the charge in providing both an excellent product and outstanding hospitality to our customers every day.”, said Tammy Gerhard, Co-Owner of Silk City Coffee. “We could not be more honored to have received this prestigious award and value what it communicates to the world about the quality of coffee culture in Connecticut!” |
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Silk City Coffee has long been a local favorite, known for its exceptional coffee, warm and welcoming atmosphere, and dedication to community engagement. The Town of Manchester recognizes and appreciates the invaluable contributions of local businesses like Silk City Coffee in fostering a vibrant and connected community. This international recognition underscores what Manchester residents have known for years—Silk City Coffee is a true gem, not just for its expertly crafted coffee but for its role as a gathering place that brings people together.
For more details, visit the official list at World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops.
Forward this link to share this notice and sign up for future
Manchester Matters e-newsletters: https://bit.ly/manchestermatters
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Capitol Visit With Trinity College Students
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I had the opportunity to speak with students from Trinity College who are interested in exploring a path in government. I was joined by some amazing colleagues who each bring unique perspectives to the field. Mike Carone, the DCF liaison, shared his insights into navigating government systems and building meaningful relationships within the sector. Paul Nunez, a lobbyist at DNP, discussed how his work influences policy through advocacy and coalition-building. Natalie Diaz, a lobbyist with Penn Lincoln, gave an in-depth look at the strategic side of lobbying and the importance of understanding both policy and politics. Together, we highlighted the many different roles within government, emphasizing the varied paths that led us all to where we are today.
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End Homelessness Caucus Press Conference
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I had the privilege of joining Representative Kadeem Roberts (D - Norwalk) and Representative Sweet (D - Hamden), Chair and Vice Chair of the newly formed Ending Homelessness Caucus, at their inaugural press conference to discuss ways the caucus will be supporting policies and securing funding to combat homelessness across the State of Connecticut. The sole mission of this caucus is to identify and implement strategies that will bring an end to homelessness—a problem that is solvable. This is why it’s so critical to have as many voices as possible leading this effort. As evidenced by the many dedicated individuals gathered at the press conference, I may be a prominent voice, but I am certainly not the only one.
I am especially encouraged by the new representatives stepping up to tackle this issue, because homelessness is a challenge we can overcome. Together, if we unite our efforts, we have the power to make a lasting impact. But we must do more. Let’s work together to create the change that will truly make a difference for the people of Connecticut.
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The Office of United States Senator Richard Blumenthal and State House Square Management will Welcome the U.S. Passport Agency *and* TSA Pre-Check
For ON SITE SERVICES!
When: Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Where: 90 State House Square, 10th Floor, Hartford, CT 06103
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
*To schedule an appointment please email – casework@blumenthal.senate.gov
*Walk-ins are welcome!
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My Constituent Survey is Still Open – We Want to Hear From You!
Your valuable input through my constituent survey plays a vital role in shaping the decisions I make as your State Representative. I encourage you to take just a few minutes to complete the survey, as your voice matters.
As always, I’m here to assist you, your family, or our neighbors in any way I can. It’s a true honor to represent you at the State Capitol, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on how we can continue to make Connecticut a place where individuals, families, and businesses can thrive.
Thank you for being an essential part of this process!
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List of Bills
If you would like to follow the list of bills I’ve submitted you can find it here
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Town Meetings
Regular Board of Directors Meeting
March 4th, 2025, 7:00 PM
Lincoln Center Hearing Room (494 Main Street)
Board of Directors
Board of Education Regular Meeting
February 24th, 2025 7:00 PM
Lincoln Center Hearing Room (494 Main Street)
Board of Education
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The Budget Adoption is scheduled for Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 7pm in the Lincoln Center Hearing Room.
View the Full Schedule of FY26 Budget Workshops & Meetings by clicking here(PDF, 13KB).
Please note that workshops will be held in the Lincoln Center Hearing Room at 5:30 p.m.
Note: Workshop #2 Tuesday March 13, 2025 starts at 5:00 PM
The Public Hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. in the Lincoln Center Hearing Room.
The meeting is a public meeting and as such members of the public can also attend the meeting in-person or remotely by means of video conferencing. Individuals who wish to speak remotely must complete a Request to Speak form by 4:00 p.m. the day of the meeting. The meeting link will be sent to registered individuals prior to the meeting.
Request to Speak Form
Meetings will be conducted in person with remote access optional via Zoom.
Full Budget Schedule
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Complete the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan Survey
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Make Your Priorities Count: Complete the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan Survey!
The Town of Manchester receives federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to improve housing, public services, and infrastructure for low- and moderate-income residents. Every five years, the Planning & Economic Development Department updates the Consolidated Plan, which serves as a strategic guide for using these funds. We need your input to help set priorities for the 2025-2029 cycle.
Help shape Manchester’s future! Take this 10-minute survey today and share it with your networks.
If you need a paper copy, don't hesitate to get in touch with Emma Petersen, Principal Comprehensive Planner, at epetersen@manchesterct.gov to coordinate.
English
Spanish
জনসাধারণের জরিপ - বাংলা
Visit the Project Page
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Winter/Spring Program and Event Guide 2024-2025
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The Department of Leisure, Family, and Recreation Winter/Spring Program and Event Guide is here!
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African American and Black Affairs Council (AABAC)
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The African American Black Affairs Council (AABAC) invites you to a special screening of The Six Triple Eight on February 22nd from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Mahoney Recreation Center, 110 Cedar Street, Manchester, CT.
Please arrive on time, as the screening will start promptly.
From 4:15 PM to 5:15 PM, join us for a panel discussion with Black women veterans as we honor the legacy of the 688th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black, all-female battalion to serve in WWII. Refreshments will be provided!
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East Hartford Residents: The Town is looking for your input!
Help shape our community! The Town of East Hartford is collecting feedback on how to allocate federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Share your priorities by completing the CDBG Needs Survey by February 28, 2025.
Take the survey online: https://survey123.arcgis.com/.../73d823cd96e94e7888b8786d...
Pick up a hard copy at Town Hall, the Senior Center, Raymond Library & Cultural Community Center!
Your voice matters! #EastHartford
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East Hartford Invites Residents to
Participate in the FY 2026 Budget Process
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The Town of East Hartford is in the process of adopting its annual budget for the fiscal year 2025-2026. The Town encourages all residents to participate in the budget workshops and provide valuable feedback.
Understanding how the Town plans its spending every year is essential for our community. The budget planning process is an open and transparent opportunity for all residents to learn about the Town’s priorities and contribute their input. Below are the key details for the upcoming budget workshops and meetings.
- The workshops will be held in the Town Council Chambers on the second floor of Town Hall (740 Main Street)
- Call-in options are unique to each workshop. Access details are listed on the public meeting calendar on the Town Council webpage here.
Residents are invited to engage in these meetings, where the Mayor and town directors will present and discuss the proposed budget for FY 26. The Mayor's recommended budget book will be available on the East Hartford Finance Department webpage. Once adopted, the book will be updated.
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Community Branding Initiative:
Your Input Needed!
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The Town of East Hartford has recently begun a community-wide branding initiative. Why? In an increasingly competitive and mobile world, communities must present what they stand for to their residents, prospective residents, visitors, and businesses to give each of these audiences confidence in choosing the community. It's a matter of ensuring long-term economic health and vibrancy.
While this is a branding project for the Town of East Hartford as a municipal government, the Town’s brand must reflect East Hartford’s identity both as a government and as a community. The East Hartford story is defined by the people who spend their time here—living, working, and exploring. Each individual plays a part in defining this town, and their stories help us uncover the unique identity of East Hartford. As we build the East Hartford brand, we will rely on a strong foundation of research to inform creative outcomes and implementation planning. We are currently in the Research portion of the project and look forward to uncovering and creating the East Hartford brand.
Help us shape the brand, (how people talk about us) by responding to our community survey here.
The survey is available in both English and Spanish. You can also find paper copies of the survey at Town buildings (Town Hall, CCC, both libraries, Public Safety, and the Senior Center) beginning Friday, December 13th. The community survey will close on February 28th, 2025.
Learn more about the Community Branding Initiative and how YOU can get involved by visiting chooseeasthartford.com.
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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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