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.
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As the 2024 legislative session begins, I would like to hear from you! Connecticut faces many challenges, including the economy, inflation, rising cost of living and access to quality healthcare. I’d like to know your views on all the various issues facing our state. I would like to hear your opinion on a variety of topics so I can better represent you and our community in Hartford. I hope you will take a few minutes to complete this survey.
The 2024 Miss Puerto Rico of Greater Hartford cultural pageant is now open for registration. Don't miss this incredible opportunity to represent your culture and make lifelong memories. Secure your spot and prepare to embark on an amazing journey, by clicking on the link below.
Please join me and my colleagues as we host our pre-session town halls. Town hall events are opportunities to share what matters most to you.
I hope to see you there!
Today In CT History
Today in 1802, Gideon Granger of Suffield took office as the nation’s fourth postmaster general, ushering in a new era for the U.S. postal service — for better and for worse. A Yale graduate, Granger practiced law in his hometown of Suffield and served in the Connecticut General Assembly beginning in 1792. Following an unsuccessful 1798 bid for Congress, Granger caught the attention of President Thomas Jefferson through essays he wrote supporting the President’s Democratic-Republican political policies. Jefferson appointed Granger Postmaster General, a position he assumed on January 26, 1802 and held until 1814, making him the longest-serving Postmaster General in U.S. history.
After the 1803 Louisiana Purchase nearly doubled the size of the country at a pen-stroke, Granger placed a high priority on establishing postal service — no matter how rudimentary — to America’s new Western settlements. Many of his ideas, including establishing cheaper postal rates for newspaper delivery and sub-contracting out rural postal routes to private couriers, helped strengthen the early federal Post Office Department and earned Granger much contemporary acclaim. Today, however, Granger is best remembered for his most ignominious idea: his advocacy for a national ban that prohibited African-Americans from carrying the mail.
Sculpture of Gideon Granger by Gleb W. Derujinsky at the Ariel Rios Federal Building in Washington, D.C. (Carol Highsmith collection, Library of Congress)
When Granger took office in 1802, what is now known as the Haitian Revolution was still going strong in the Caribbean, and like many of his fellow Democratic-Republicans, Granger deeply feared the possibility of a bloody slave uprising occurring in the United States. Although African Americans (mostly slaves) had been known to carry local mail since colonial times, Granger considered the practice far too dangerous and lobbied Congress to ban it. In a letter to a southern Senator, he detailed his concerns: Since only “the most active and intelligent” slaves were sent on mail-carrying errands, the odds that they could secretly orchestrate an uprising and communicate it to their fellow enslaved brethren were too great to risk. “One able man among them,” Granger wrote, “…might lay a plan which would be communicated by your post riders from town to town and produce a general and united operation against you.”
Granger’s words convinced a concerned Congress to pass an act in May 1802 that stated “No other than a free white person shall be employed in carrying the mail of the United States.” The ban remained in placed for nearly sixty years — by far the most infamous and far-reaching part of Gideon Granger’s legacy as the country’s longest-serving Postmaster General. A few steps forward for the U.S. Post Office at the expense of one giant leap backward for black Americans, today in Connecticut history.
Open to the public--bring a sturdy grocery bag! This program is made possible by Foodshare and Winn Residential - Resident Service Program. For more information call 860-646-1280.
Squire Village, 48 Spencer Street, 06040 (1st parking lot off Imperial Drive #78)
January 30th 9am-9:30am
February 13th 9am-9:30am
February 27th 9am-9:30am
Faith Tabernacle – Manchester 110 Utopia Rd, Manchester, CT 06042
February 15th, 1:00pm – 1:30pm (Cancelled)
February 29th, 1:00pm – 1:30pm
New River Community Church -314 Woodbridge St, Manchester, CT 06042
February 7th 12pm-12:30pm
February 21st 12pm-12:30pm
Get mobile pantry updates in your area by texting the word Foodshare to 85511.
Please note that workshops will be held in the Lincoln Center Hearing Room at 5:30 p.m.
NOTE: Workshop #2 on March 12 is scheduled for 5:00 instead of 5:30 and is followed by the Public Hearing at 7pm, same location.
The Budget Adoption is scheduled for Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at 7pm in the Lincoln Center Hearing Room.
When
Tuesday, March 05, 2024 | 07:30 AM - 08:30 AM
Wednesday, March 06, 2024 | 05:30 PM - 06:30 PM
Tuesday, March 12, 2024 | 05:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Thursday, March 14, 2024 | 05:30 PM - 06:30 PM
Tuesday, March 19, 2024 | 05:30 PM - 06:30 PM
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 | 05:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Thursday, March 21, 2024 | 5:30 PM - 6:30PM
Thursday, April 4, 2024 | 5:30PM - 6:30PM
Clearing Sidewalks Reminder
As snow continues to cover neighborhoods, we remind you to shovel your respective sidewalk to ensure passage for all. It is recommended that residents wait until the snow has completely stopped and roads are cleared before clearing sidewalks.
The CT Snow & Ice Removal from Sidewalks Ordinance requests:
24-hour requirement for snow removal and 12-hour for ice removal.
Clearing around fire hydrants
Sidewalk ramps for access to crosswalks
Access to bus stops
Town staff are quickly and actively pursuing uncleared sidewalk complaints around town and encourage folks use the online Mark Ittool to report any uncleared sidewalks they come across.
Ladies, if you would like to have fun and make new friends while helping the community, then we are looking for you! Check out the Manchester Women’s Club, we meet the 3rd Monday of the month 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. at Center Congregational Church - 11 Center Street (next door to the Town Hall. Park in the town hall lot, go in the church 'Office' door, then toward your right and downstairs - signs posted).
We do a wide variety of volunteer activities to help others in the community, such as Little Free Libraries for children, projects for Vets and MACC, as well as social activities to get to know each other. We have speakers come in from the community on a variety of topics. We would love to have you join us!
Each year, we honor and celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., one of the most prolific activists of the Civil Rights era and the movement for racial justice. Dr. King’s unwavering leadership in fighting against injustice through nonviolent means paved the path of equity and equality for all in our nation. This year, the Department of Race and Equity will be joining the Manchester Youth Service Bureau in hosting the Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration! Every year, this event honors students in our district who are continuing Reverend King’s legacy. The DRE is excited to join the host of this event, the Manchester Youth Commission, a youth advisory board consisting of 23 high-school-aged students who work to empower the voice of youth in local government.
The 39th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration will be hosted on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, at the Manchester High School Bailey Auditorium at 6 pm. Nominees are individual students or groups of students from the Manchester Public School community who uphold Dr. King’s values of racial and social justice, equity and equality,peaceful protest, and the fight against racial oppression. These students will receive the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. award to celebrate their contributions to our community.
Not So "YA" Book Club- January 2024
Our January selection is "Chain of Gold" by Cassandra Clare. Copies of the book are available at both library buildings. This is a free book discussion program and no registration is required. For more information call Reference and Adult Services at 860-645-0821.
Cordelia Carstairs is a Shadowhunter, a warrior trained since childhood to battle demons. When her father is accused of a terrible crime, she and her brother travel to London in hopes of preventing the family’s ruin. Cordelia’s mother wants to marry her off, but Cordelia is determined to be a hero rather than a bride. Soon Cordelia encounters childhood friends James and Lucie Herondale and is drawn into their world of glittering ballrooms, secret assignations, and supernatural salons, where vampires and warlocks mingle with mermaids and magicians. All the while, she must hide her secret love for James, who is sworn to marry someone else. But Cordelia’s new life is blown apart when a shocking series of demon attacks devastate London. These monsters are nothing like those Shadowhunters have fought before—these demons walk in daylight, strike down the unwary with incurable poison, and seem impossible to kill. London is immediately quarantined. Trapped in the city, Cordelia's friends discover that a dark legacy has gifted them with incredible powers—and forced a brutal choice that will reveal the true cruel price of being a hero.
The Department of Leisure, Family, and Recreation Winter/Spring Program and Event Guide is here!
Mayor Martin invites you to attend the Annual Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 6:30 PM. The meeting will take place in the Auditorium of the Community Cultural Center, located 50 Chapman Place.
Come hear Mayor Martin's vision for the community and an update on all the exciting initiatives that are in the works. The presentation will include an extensive list of projects and objectives covering several areas of operation that are designed to move East Hartford forward.
In addition to the Mayor, the community will have an opportunity to meet Town of East Hartford directors, get to know their local government and ask questions.
Free-Play Basketball and Adult Open Gym
East Hartford Parks and Recreation is offering two fun programs: Open Gym for East Hartford residents in Grades 7 through 12 and Adult Drop-In Basketball.
FREE-PLAY BASKETBALL
For Middle and High School students in grades 7 – 12
East Hartford residents or students attending East Hartford Middle or High School can participate in Basketball Open Gym on Mondays and Fridays. The program starts runs through Friday, March 8th from 6:30 – 8:45pm at East Hartford Middle School. Grade 7 and 8 will be in the Lower Gym and Grades 9 – 12 will be in the Upper Gym. The program is FREE, but all participants must be registered at www.ehparks.org and have a Town ID or EHHS/EHMS ID at the program. There will be no program if there is no school or school is let out early due to inclement weather.
ADULT OPEN BASKETBALL
For adults ages 18 & up
East Hartford Parks and Recreation is offering Adult Open Basketball at Goodwin Elementary School. All participants must complete a registration form the first evening they attend or register at www.ehparks.org for a season membership. The program is Monday and Thursday nights and will run through Thursday, March 7th. Residents can purchase a season pass for $20 or $2 an evening. Non-residents can purchase a Season Pass for $40 or $4 an evening. The program time is 6:30 to 9:30pm. Basketball sneakers are mandatory. There will be no program if there is no school or school is let out early due to inclement weather.
For more information, please call the Parks and Recreation office at 860-291-7160.
Officer Brian A. Aselton Memorial Snow Dash Postponed
Due to the impending Winter Storm Aspen, the 31st running of the annual Officer Brian A. Aselton Memorial Snow Dash 5K Road Race has been postponed for the safety of participants and staff. The new race date is Sunday, January 28, 2024 at 1:30 PM. Thank you for understanding. The event is sponsored by the East Hartford Parks and Recreation Department and the East Hartford Police Department.
The race will start and finish at Langford School located at 61 Alps Drive. Over 200 runners are expected to participate in the race that is run in tribute to Officer Brian A. Aselton. Proceeds benefit the East Hartford Police Department Child Safety and Crime Prevention Programs and the Officer Brian Aselton Scholarship Fund. Commemorative award plaques will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each division for men and women. Divisions include 17 & under, 18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, and 80 & up. Discount Trophy generously provides the awards. Official race apparel is available race day.
On January 23, 1999, Police Officer Brian A. Aselton gave his life in the line of duty protecting the citizens of East Hartford. The tragic loss of Officer Aselton devastated the community. Officer Aselton was only 26 years old when his brilliant life was extinguished; yet, his spirit lives on in those who remember him. Proceeds from the race will benefit the Officer Brian A. Aselton Memorial Scholarship Fund and East Hartford Police Child Safety and Crime Prevention Programs. Sine the inception of Brian's scholarship fund 314 scholarships have been awarded.
Originally, the race was developed in 1993 to benefit the East Hartford Police Department’s Community Outreach Division. The Community Outreach Division operated youth programs throughout town in areas such as Veterans Terrace, Hockanum Park, Mayberry Village and East Hartford Estates. The race was renamed for Officer Aselton in 2000. In 2001, the Quality of Life Division took over these responsibilities. In 2005, Child Safety and Crime Prevention Programs became the race’s beneficiary. Hundreds of East Hartford children and teens annually participate in these programs.
***To register for the race online follow this link: click here
Online registration is open. Same day registration must be completed online. There will be no paper registration race day.
On Jan. 28, 2024, police officers will be directing traffic throughout the run. The following streets will be temporarily affected with road closures:
Long Hill Street (between Burnham Street and Goodwin Street), Leverich Drive, Alps Drive, Yale Drive, Goodwin Street (between Long Hill Street and University Avenue), Prestige Park Road, University Avenue, Colby Drive, Bay Path Drive, Andover Road, Temple Drive, Syracuse Drive, and Purdue Lane.
For more information, please contact Recreation Supervisor, Jonathan Cooper, at 860-291-7164.
Winter Programs at East Hartford Public Library
Please visit their online calendar for event listings:
My office is always open if you or your family are in need of assistance. Please do not hesitate to contact me by email atJason.Rojas@cga.ct.govor by phone at 860-240-8541.
