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 Connecticut History
State Update
Manchester Community Events and Information
East Hartford Community Events and Information
Today In Connecticut History
Today in 1800, the abolitionist John Brown was born in a humble saltbox house on a farm in Torrington, Connecticut. One of the most controversial figures in United States antebellum history, Brown was, and still is, a polarizing figure. Some see him as a social justice visionary, prepared to do whatever was needed to end the scourge of slavery; others, as an unstable, obsessive zealot who ruthlessly killed others in pursuit of a misguided vision of revolution.
The fourth of eight children, Brown left Torrington at the age of five when his family moved to the Western Reserve of Ohio. As a young man, Brown returned to Connecticut to attend the Morris Academy in Litchfield in hopes of becoming a minister, but had to drop out because of illness and financial struggles.
John Brown, circa 1847.
John, like his father before him, spent most of his adult life wrestling with financial insolvency and moving from place to place in search of steady work. His ardent anti-slavery views began to crystallize in the late 1830s, following the murder of abolitionist preacher Elijah Lovejoy by a pro-slavery mob in Illinois. This radicalized Brown, and in 1846, he moved to Springfield, Massachusetts, where he became deeply involved in the city’s abolitionist movement. Four years of giving speeches, supporting the publication and dissemination of abolitionist literature, and bolstering the Underground Railroad networks that ran through western Massachusetts, convinced Brown that the national stain of slavery could be destroyed only through violent means.
In the 1850s, near Pottawatomie, Kansas, John Brown first attempted to turn this belief into a self-fulfilling prophecy. He led a party of armed abolitionists on a raid that resulted in the killing of five pro-slavery settlers in cold blood. Brown’s Pottawatomie raid triggered several months of bloody retaliations between pro- and anti-slavery settlers that became known as “Bleeding Kansas.”
In October 1859, Brown orchestrated his most extreme plan to end slavery through violence. He attempted an armed takeover of the federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia. Brown intended to use the arms and munitions stored there to start a massive armed slave uprising that he hoped would consume the entire South. A contingent of U.S. Marines thwarted his efforts, and Brown was subsequently captured, tried, found guilty of treason, and hanged on December 2. His influence, however continued. He was mourned by many as an antislavery martyr whose “truth goes marching on”; reviled by others as the symbol of the North’s stop-at-nothing violent intentions against the South.
A vintage postcard depicts John Brown’s Torrington birthplace before the house was destroyed by fire in 1918.
The original Brown family homestead burned down in 1918, but the foundation is still visible in Torrington — a visual reminder of the humble beginnings of one of America’s most controversial figures in the years leading up to the Civil War. The site is actively maintained by the Torrington Historical Society and became a stop on the Connecticut African-American Freedom Trail in 1997.
Improvements to Firefighters Cancer Relief Program
House Democrats voted Wednesday to approve critical updates to the Firefighters Cancer Relief Program, reaffirming their commitment to supporting first responders. The legislation expands the types of cancers covered under the program to include skin cancer and authorizes workers’ compensation administrative law judges to review appeals of denied benefits. Taking care of our first responders is always a legislative priority and these changes ensure that firefighters receive the support and protections they deserve when facing occupational health challenges.
Warehouse Quotas
House Democrats took action on Wednesday to make sure that warehouse workers are treated with respect by passing legislation that limits and provides clarity when employers use production quotas.
The legislation also ensures that:
✅ Employers must provide quota information upon hiring an employee ✅ If quotas change, workers must be notified ✅ Employees cannot be retaliated against for requesting work records ✅ Quotas cannot be used to inhibit workers from using the restroom or taking an entitled break
Valuing people over profits is good public policy.
Attention Gardeners! Did you know that Manchester Residents can get free leaf compost at the Transfer Station? Bring your own shovel and containers and come help yourself! A Recycling Permit is required. Get your free permit here: https://ow.ly/cCRK50VIR7V
The Manchester Town Clerk's Office is excited to host a Spring Gift Basket Giveaway for local dog owners. All entries must be submitted by May 30th. All entries will be displayed in the Town Clerk's Office, where visitors can vote for their favorite furry friend.
The dog with the most votes will be crowned Manchester's Top Dog, and the winner will receive a special Spring Gift Basket. The winner will be announced and contacted at the end of June. Don't miss out and show off your furry friend, and join the fun.
Visit our website for more information on how to submit and more!
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.
The Town of Manchester is excited to officially unveil Manchester Now, the new program guide publication for the Department of Leisure, Family and Recreation, the Manchester Public Library, the Manchester Senior Center & Manchester Public Schools.
Celebrate the incredible work of our Public Works Team at this year's Public Works Day! Discover how they keep our community running smoothly and learn about the essential services they provide.
Event Details:
- Date: May 21st - Time: 10a-12p - Location: 321 Olcott St - Activities: Equipment displays, informational materials, kids' activities, and more!
Bring your family and friends for a fun and educational day.
The Town of East Hartford invites residents, businesses, and community members to join Mayor Martin’s team for a Community Cleanup Day. This annual cleanup day celebrates pride in East Hartford and brings together members of the community to roll up their sleeves and help invest in our town. This year, the Community Cleanup Day will take place on Saturday, May 17 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. In conjunction with Armed Forces Day, volunteers will help clean veterans’ headstones at Hillside Cemetery. Non-hazardous biodegradable chemicals will be used, EH Public Works Department will provide protective wear but please plan accordingly.
Lunch will be provided following the cleanup. Dietary restrictions? Bring your own picnic lunch! Register to volunteer—every hand helps! Register to volunteer—every hand helps! Registrations close Friday, May 9th.
All volunteers who sign up will be issued additional details closer to the event. Be sure to fill out the participation waiver in addition to the primary registration form.
Event will be held drizzle or shine, cancellation in case of storms will be announced by May 16.
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
We are adding the finishing touches to our giant caterpillar for the Memorial Day Parade. Come in and help on Tuesday, May 20, at 6:30 PM, or Friday, May 23, at 2:00 PM! Make your own smaller version of the caterpillar you can operate on your own. For all ages.
Rabies vaccination clinic. Dog & cats. $20.00 cash only Out-of-town residents welcome Licensing is available for EH residents
Mayor Connor S. Martin and East Hartford Veterans Commission invite you to the East Hartford Military Banner Viewing Ceremony, celebrating the 34 veterans being honored in the inaugural year of this program. Attendees will have the opportunity to view the banners up close before they are installed along East Hartford Main Street.
The veterans banners will be installed the week of May 19th and will be displayed through Veteran's Day 2025.
The 2025 Vendor-in-Place (VIP) Road Paving List encompasses 10.13 total miles of rehabilitation and/or resurfacing of streets throughout town. These roads were selected based on their overall condition and the need for repairs. The project includes the following streets, which can be foundHERE. Streets with an "*" will need CNG to complete gas services first. If completed in 2025, the Town will mill and pave.
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.
