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:

• Today In CT History
• State Update
• Manchester Community Events and Information
• East Hartford Community Events and Information

By the time the U.S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries first assigned a resident scientist to study Connecticut’s shellfish industry in the 1920s, Connecticut residents had been harvesting oysters and clams from the waters of Long Island Sound for hundreds of years. Created in the late 19th century, the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries’ mission was to study and promote American fishing industries, and the Connecticut shoreline town of Milford, home to a number of commercial oysteries and located near the midpoint of Long Island Sound, proved to be an ideal place for their scientists to conduct research. Working out of temporary buildings, scientists carefully monitored the the Long Island ecosystem which housed Connecticut’s oyster farms and worked with local fishermen to promote more efficient and sustainable harvesting methods.

In 1938, Congress approved $65,000 worth of federal funding to establish a permanent research laboratory and pier in Milford, thanks in a large part to lobbying conducted by Charles “Shang” Wheeler, a well-known local oysterman. The new Milford Laboratory contained seawater tanks, a photography darkroom, a library, and living quarters for resident scientists. Eleven years later, the Milford Lab secured funding for its very own state-of-the-art research vessel, which took its maiden voyage on March 28, 1951. Named the Shang Wheeler after the man who tirelessly promoted both Connecticut’s oyster industry and the significant work done by the Milford Lab, the research vessel expanded the lab’s scientific mission to include deep-water research and monitoring of pollutants in the waters of Long Island Sound. The Shang Wheeler plied the waters of Long Island Sound on its research mission for 50 years before being retired, and was instrumental in establishing the Milford Lab as one of the preeminent aquaculture laboratories on the East Coast.

Today, under the aegis of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center, the Milford Laboratory remains a vitally important research site, employing nearly two dozen permanent staff members. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, the research facility “continues to conduct state of the art science today that informs management for the sustainable expansion of aquaculture, supports the shellfish aquaculture industry and advances new technologies, and maintains the Laboratory’s standing as a world leader in aquaculture science.” The ongoing quest to promote healthy and sustainable aquaculture in Long Island Sound took a giant step forward, today in Connecticut history.

Further Reading

“Milford Lab History,” NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center website

George Sennefedler, “The Milford Laboratory: Oysters, Clams, Scallops, and Fish, Too [PDF],” Wrack Lines Magazine

William McDonald, “Charles Edward ‘Shang’ Wheeler,” Milford Hall of Fame

Town Resources 
https://www.easthartfordct.gov/residents
 
Town Newsletters
Pulse of East Hartford     
East Hartford Public Schools
East Hartford Works

MCSC Meetings

PLEASE JOIN US:  9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

LOCATION:   Midwest Food Bank (440 Adams Street, Manchester)

 NETWORKING:  Please join us at 8:45 a.m.

FOR YOUR SAFETY:  If you require parking close to the building, please arrive early and use the spaces next to Midwest's main entrance. You may park directly behind cars already parked there, for the duration of our meeting. In the event of snow cancellations, MCSC follows Manchester Public Schools' schedule. 

www.manchesterct.gov/mcsc

About the Manchester Community Services Council: 

Founded in 1972, MCSC provides a forum to address the needs of the Manchester community. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to supporting community alliances that remove barriers to human services as a critical component for enhancing the quality of life for all Manchester residents. Interested citizens, agencies, nonprofits and businesses are welcome to attend monthly meetings, mostly on the first Thursdays of September through May. Learn more at manchesterct.gov/mcsc.

When

·         Thursday, April 03, 2025 | 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM

·         Thursday, May 01, 2025 | 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM

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.

The meeting will be open to the public, and we encourage residents to attend 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  

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is announcing exit number revisions on I-291 from Windsor to Manchester. This project is scheduled to occur on starting on March 30, 2025.

The project 0171-0481 consists of the replacement of signs and sign supports along the entirely length of I-291 (Windsor to Manchester)., and the limited-access section of CT Route 187/189 in Bloomfield. The new signs and sign supports will be installed in accordance with the latest Federal and State standards and guidelines. The types of signs that will be replaced include, but are not limited to, large overhead and side mounted guide signs, on-ramp entrance signs. Additionally, two variable message signs will be installed on I-291, one northbound in Manchester, and one southbound in Windsor. Exit numbering is revised to be mileage based per Federal requirements.
 

 
There will be temporary lane and shoulder closures on I-291 east and westbound as needed. Traffic control personnel and signing patterns will guide motorists through the work zones. Work for the project is scheduled from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Sunday and Monday.

Please be aware that modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions. Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed when driving in this area.

To learn more about this project, visit Exit Renumbering

Hop into spring with the Town of East Hartford Parks and Recreation Department!
Our annual Egg Hunt at McAuliffe Park (30 Remington Road) is BACK on Saturday, April 5, 2025. There will be thousands of pieces of candy, treats, and stuffed plastic eggs. While children are waiting, we’ll have free crafts for the kids, too! This event is for children ages 10 and younger (and their accompanying parent/guardian.) Participants will be grouped by age and there will be staggered start times:

• Ages 3 and under 1:00 – 1:20 PM (parent/guardian can accompany child on the field)
• Ages 4-5 1:30 – 1:50 PM
• Ages 6-10 2:00 – 2:20 PM

Each child should bring their own bag or basket to collect eggs and candy. Please note that the parents/guardians of children ages 4 - 10 are not allowed on the field during the egg hunt. 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 www.facebook.com/ehparks.

The event is FREE for East Hartford Residents. For more information, please call East Hartford Parks and Recreation Department at 860-291-7160.

East Hartford, CT— The Town of East Hartford in collaboration with the East Hartford Veterans Commission are excited to announce that the third annual East Hartford’s Memorial Day parade and series of events will take place Monday, May 26, 2025 at 10 AM.

The event will consist of three parts, including a parade, program at the Fallen Star Memorial and celebration of East Hartford. The parade will begin promptly at 10 AM, proceeding from 9 Riverside Drive to the Fallen Star Memorial located at Goodwin University. The parade will be followed by a program at the Fallen Star Memorial and a family-friendly celebration of East Hartford with food trucks, music and activities.

PARTICIPANTS:

• Those who would like to march in the Memorial Day Parade are asked to register by Monday, May 5, 2025. Participant Registration

VOLUNTEERS:

• If you are interested in volunteering at the 2025 Memorial Day Parade, please register by Monday, May 5, 2025. Event Volunteer Registration

SPONSORS:

• To make the event possible, the town would like to extend sponsorship opportunities to local businesses and organizations. Those who wish to sponsor the event or offer in-kind services, please fill out the electronic form below by Monday, April 14, 2025. Sponsorship Information

VENDORS:

• If you are interested in being a vendor at the 2025 Memorial Day Parade, please register by Monday, May 5, 2025. Vendor Booth Registration

To receive the latest updates on the Town’s news and events, visit www.easthartfordct.gov and subscribe at www.easthartfordct.gov/subscribe.