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.
We have an important election coming up on November 5th! Follow link below for information regarding deadlines, early voting locations, and election updates.
Exciting news! The Time to Own (TTO) program is back!
For a limited time, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority will offer the Time To Own - Forgivable Down Payment Assistance loan to help potential homebuyers cover the down payment and closing costs required to purchase their first home.
0% Interest rate with no monthly payment required
Financing to cover up to 20% down payment and up to 5% closing costs
Loan amounts up to $25,000
Ten percent (10%) of the principal balance will be forgiven annually, on the anniversary date of the loan closing, until the loan is fully forgiven on the tenth anniversary
Today in 1949, 10 long years after construction first began, the Wilbur Cross Parkway finally opened to the public following a formal ceremony at the brand-new West Rock Tunnel adjacent to the New Haven-Woodbridge town line. There, after a motorcade procession through the 1200-foot-long tunnel, Lieutenant Governor William T. Carroll proclaimed the newest stretch of Route 15 open. The newly opened highway was named after Connecticut’s popular governor Wilbur Lucius Cross, who led the state during the worst years of theGreat Depression.
After observing the success of the Merritt Parkway in Fairfield County — the first limited-access highway in the United States — the state of Connecticut decided to invest in extending its new highway system further northward into central Connecticut in 1939. Ten years later, after the Wilbur Cross Parkway was opened, motorists could drive a single stretch of highway from New York City to Hartford and beyond. A driver en route to Massachusetts could make it as far as Vernon before needing to exit and use local roads for the remainder of their trip.
The West Rock Tunnel, now known as the Heroes’ Tunnel, was by far the most expensive piece of the 68 individual projects that made up the Wilbur Cross highway, costing $2 million to build. Its twin barrels burrowed 1,200 feet through solid rock, 200 feet underneath the summit of West Rock. It was the first automobile tunnel in state history and the final link of the new parkway, which helped make the Constitution State a forerunner of the American highway era, beginning on this day in Connecticut history.
Learn more about the remarkable life of Governor Wilbur L. Cross on our GratingtheNutmeg.libsyn.com podcast Connecticut Yankee, Wilbur L. Cross .
A postcard from 1961 shows traffic passing through the West Rock Tunnel in West Haven, part of the Wilbur Cross Parkway.
The world-famous race, one of America’s largest and most popular turkey trots, will be held on Thanksgiving Day (November 28, 2024) at 10 a.m. It is run on a 4.737-mile loop course through Manchester’s central streets that starts and finishes on Main Street, in front of St. James Church.
The Committee has also announced that the non-profit Lutz Children’s Museum in Manchester will be the beneficiary this November of the road race’s annual “Honors Club” Program. For more information clickhere.
Free Shred Event Nov. 2
The Town of Manchester Public Works Department is hosting a FREE SHRED EVENT!
Don't miss out on this opportunity to declutter your space! All documents will be securely shredded on-site and the shredded paper will be recycled. The event will be held at the Public Works parking lot on November 2nd from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, OR UNTIL FULL.
This event is for Manchester Residents only. Proof of residency is required at check-in via a driver’s license or a Manchester Recycling permit. There is a 2 box maximum per resident.
The Cornerstone Christian School, 236 Main Street Manchester CT
Shop from over 40 crafters and vendors at The Cornerstone Christian School’s 10th Annual Craft and Vendor Fair on Saturday, November 2nd, from 10 am to 3 pm.
Early voting will be available for the General Election beginning October 21st at Town Hall (740 Main Street) second floor, Welling Conference Room.
Early voting hours will be: 10 am – 6 pm with the exception of October 29 and 31 where hours will be 8 am – 8 pm
The General Election will take place November 5, 2024 from 6am – 8pm. All polling locations will be open on Primary Day.
If you are not registered, but want to vote during the Early Voting period, you may register in person every day of Early Voting at the Early Voting location.
If you are not registered, but want to vote on Election Day, you may register in person on Election Day at your Election Day Registration site.
To receive important election updates text VOTE to 860.321.4221
The Town of East Hartford will begin the annual curbside leaf collection program on Monday, November 4, 2024.Leaves will be vacuumed Monday through Saturday starting November 4th continuously through December 14th, 2024.
The program consists of the vacuuming of leaves placed in piles on a tree belt. Leaves will be vacuumed along each street, weather permitting. The leaf collection program will commence on roads in the northwest corner of town in the area of Pitkin Street and then proceed north and east through the Burnham and Goodwin Street areas. Collection will proceed in a clockwise direction around town.
There will be no leaf collection on two (2) Town-observed holidays—Veterans Day, November 11, 2024 and Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2024.
The map will show completed areas as well as the areas where leaf collection is anticipated the following week. Residents should note that the map is tentative and dependent on the weather and the speed of collection and should not be considered a set collection schedule. Progress of the collection is weather-dependent and will be affected by rain or snow. Snowfall before mid-December may cause a suspension or cancelation of leaf collection. The map will be updated with address-specific collection information, such as whether collection has been completed or is anticipated by close of business on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Residents, please look for leaf program lawn signs! Leaf collection lawn signs will be posted in neighborhoods to notify residents that curbside leaf pickup is coming, and to encourage raking to the tree belt and paper leaf bag collection.
Please do not block storm drains and catch basins with leaves to prevent flooding issues.
The Map will show your property- click on it to pull up the anticipated collection week.
To find out if the leaf collection has already been completed in your area, please click on the road centerline, which will indicate if the street has been completed.
Residents also have two (2) additional options for leaf disposal:
OPTION 1: Curbside Brown Bag Collection for six (6) weeks
Town crews will pick up leaves placed in biodegradable brown paper bags beginning November 4, 2024 through December 14, 2024 on your regular waste collection day, weather permitting. Leaves, in biodegradable brown paper bags only. No grass clippings, branches or other waste items can be placed in the paper bags nor will the Town collect leaves in plastic bags. In the case of any delays, please leave your bagged leaves out on the curb, and they will be picked up as soon as possible. If you bring them back inside, you may be at risk of missing the collection.
OPTION 2: Resident Transport to The Transfer Station for FREE Disposal
Residents may also bring their leaves to the Transfer Station on Ecology Drive between 7:30 AM to 1:45 PM on the following days:
Every Saturday in November
First three Saturdays in December
Please note: The Transfer Station will be open on November 9th, 23rd, and 30th for leaves only.
Leaves in plastic bags will not be accepted.
For any additional information, please call Public Works Administration, 860-291-7374.
Town of East Hartford Recreation Programs Survey
We Want to Hear From You!
We encourage residents to share their feedback with us, which will help shape the future of East Hartford's recreation programs and services.
EAST HARTFORD PILOTS FALL, WINTER, and SPRING HOURS PROGRAM:
VARIATION ON SUMMER HOURS PILOT PROGRAM PREVIOUSLY TESTED
Beginning October 28, 2024, the Town of East Hartford will launch a pilot program featuring revised hours of in-person Town Hall (740 Main Street) and Community Cultural Center (50 Chapman Place) services.
This pilot program will run through June 28, 2025 and is a variation on the Summer Hours Pilot Program implemented by the Town earlier this year. A primary adjustment made in response to feedback from both residents and employees is the further extension of Thursday evening hours, to better accommodate resident services.
In order to account for extended hours Monday-Thursday, employees of participating departments will observe a half-hour lunch break, rather than the traditional hour-long lunch period. The program will also continue to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a shortened workweek, with participating offices closing at 11:30 am on Fridays.
The pilot program will run from October 28, 2024 through June 28, 2025, with offices operating with the following hours:
Monday 8:30am to 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am to 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am to 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am to 6:30pm
Friday 8:30am to 11:30am
There are two weeks that will not be affected by the pilot hours: the week of December 22 2024, and the week of April 13, 2025.
Please note, this does NOT impact early voting. Early voting hours will be: 10 am – 6 pm with the exception of October 29 and 31 when hours will be 8 am – 8 pm.
The pilot program impacts the following municipal departments: Assessor's office, Building and Inspections, Corporation Counsel, Development, Engineering, Finance, Grants, Health and Human Services (to include Youth Services/Social Services), Human Resources, Mayor’s office, Parks and Recreation office, Public Works office, Purchasing, Registrar of Voters, and Tax office.
The following departments and services will not be included in the pilot program and will retain their standard hours of service: East Hartford Libraries, Senior Services, both Fire and Police departments, Public Works operations, Parks and Recreation operations, Probate Court for the District of East Hartford, Town Council office, and WIC (which is housed in the Community Cultural Center).
The Town currently offers and continues to expand online services, such as paying taxes, applying for permitting, and looking up property assessments. These online services, which are available any day of the year, at any time, help to improve efficiency and overall accessibility.
The goal of this pilot program is to assess the feasibility of flexible work arrangements, with the long-term intention of implementing a permanent 4-day work week in the Town of East Hartford.
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.
