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
Community Resources
This Week In Connecticut History
Manchester Community Events and Information
East Hartford Community Events and Information
State Update
Open Enrollment for Access Health CT's (AHCT) health and dental insurance remains on track to begin Saturday, Nov. 1 and end Monday, Dec. 15 for plans beginning at the start of next year. Residents can enroll until Thursday, Jan. 15 for plans beginning in February.
You may have received a letter in the mail warning of healthcare premium price increases starting Jan. 1 due to legislation passed in the U.S. Congress this year. Currently, the federal government is shut down as those price increases are debated and negotiated.
For those looking to enroll, please have the following information and documents prepared for you and anyone else in your household, even if they don't need coverage:
Dates of Birth
Social Security Numbers
Visa, green card, or immigration documents
Most recent W2 and/or Form 1040, 1099
Pay-stubs, Profit & Loss Statements or other employment information
Current insurance coverage (policy numbers for any current health insurance plans covering members of your household)
Access Health CT's staff remains a valuable resource to guide you through this process and to tell you what to expect during open enrollment. To get in contact, you can :
Visit AccessHealthCT.com and click “Get Help” for a list of places to get free, in-person help.
If you do not have a broker, find one on the Access Health CT website. Visit AccessHealthCT.com and click “Get Help” and “Find Certified Broker.” Brokers are free to work with, and they are trained and certified to help you find a plan that works best for you and your family.
Call at 1-855-805-4325 - help is available in over 100 languages. Customers who deaf or hearing impaired may use TTY at 1-855-789-2428 or call a relay operator. Hours of Operation are Monday-Friday 8am-4pm (Holiday hours may vary, check website for details)
Connecticut’s official health insurance marketplace will hold several enrollment fairs in November to help Connecticut residents shop, compare and enroll in health or dental coverage. They can also renew their coverage. Enrollment fairs are one-day events for customers to get in-person help from experts. The fairs will take place in Danbury, Manchester, Norwalk, Norwich, New London, Stratford and Willimantic. All help is free.
Open Enrollment begins Nov. 1, 2025 and ends Jan. 15, 2026.
When you enroll affects when your coverage starts. If customers enroll on or before Dec. 15, 2025, coverage will start Jan. 1, 2026. If they enroll between Dec. 16, 2025 and Jan. 15, 2026, coverage will begin Feb. 1, 2026.
The enrollment fairs will take place at the following places and times:
Danbury: Saturday, Nov. 1 at Latinos for Educational Advocacy and Diversity (LEAD), located at 358 Main Street, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Register here.
Stratford: Wednesday, Nov. 5 at Stratford Public Library, located at 2203 Main Street, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Register here.
Norwich: Thursday, Nov. 6 at Latinos for Educational Advocacy and Diversity (LEAD), located at 48 Franklin Street, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Register here.
New London: Saturday, Nov. 8 at Public Library of New London, located at 63 Huntington Street, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Register here.
Manchester: Wednesday, Nov. 12 at Community Y Recreation Center, located at 78 North Main Street, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Registerhere.
Willimantic: Thursday, Nov. 13 at the Generations Family Health Center, located at 40 Mansfield Avenue, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Register here.
Norwalk: Saturday, Nov. 15 at Norwalk City Hall, located at 125 East Avenue, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Register here.
“It’s important that our customers have access to in-person enrollment help no matter where they live, so we are increasing our outreach efforts this year,” said Access Health CT Chief Executive Officer James Michel. “By expanding our team of Mobile Enrollment Specialists, hosting evening and weekend enrollment fairs, and adding more Navigator locations, we’re making sure help is available when and where people need it. We also introduced a new enrollment appointment scheduling button on our homepage so people can get assistance from an expert at a convenient time for them.”
Free help to sign up is available online, in person and over the phone.
Customers can visit AccessHealthCT.com and click the “Get Help” button on the homepage to find the option that works best for them — including scheduling an appointment, finding a nearby Navigator site or attending an enrollment fair.
AHCT has expanded its Navigator program to include six locations around the state and introduced a new Mobile Enrollment Team that supports community events and assists with in-person enrollment available in English and Spanish.
To get help over the phone, customers can call 1-855-805-4325, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Customers who are deaf or hearing impaired may use TTY at 1-855-789-2428 or call with a relay operator. Help is available in over 100 languages.
The call center will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Nov. 28, 2025, 8:00 a.m. to noon Dec. 24, 2025 and 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Dec. 31, 2025.
The call center will be open from 8:00 a.m. to midnight Dec. 15, 2025 and Jan. 15, 2026.
The call center will be closed Nov. 27, 2025, Dec. 25, 2025 and Jan. 1, 2026.
For free help online, customers can visit AccessHealthCT.com. They can also chat live with a customer service representative by clicking the “Live Chat” icon on the website. Live chat is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
As the federal government shutdown reaches the one-month mark, there are real concerns about programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps keep children and families, the elderly, and many veterans fed.
The situation before us is very fluid, so I'm sharing with you what we know at this time.
Late last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it won't use its $6 billion contingency fund to support SNAP during the shutdown, nor will it reimburse states if they cover the costs themselves. This means that effective Saturday, November 1, no new SNAP benefits will be distributed without federal action, impacting roughly 42 million low-income Americans, including 360,000 Connecticut residents. Unused funds on EBT cards are accessible through November.
Nationwide, many rely on these funds, including 16 million children, 8 million seniors, 4 million individuals with disabilities, and 1.2 million veterans. These are our neighbors - they are not "Illegals." These are people we know. People who will be struggling to find food and to feed their families.
On Monday, Governor Lamont announcedat CT Foodshare in Wallingford that the state would provide $3 million in emergency funding to help residents who are expected to lose access to SNAP benefits during the shutdown. The emergency funding will support Connecticut Foodshare’s participating partners and programs to provide food assistance to families and individuals facing food insecurity.
While the governor acknowledged $3 million would not fill the entire gap left by the loss of federal funds, he noted it represents the state’s commitment to supporting others during this crisis.
Connecticut Foodshare CEO Jason Jakubowski said the funding will help the nonprofit organization to buy additional food to distribute to agency partners and mobile pantries across the state over the next two weeks. With Foodshare's food-buying power, every dollar equals about 2 meals, equaling 6 million meals over the course of two weeks.
The governor, the CT Department of Social Services (DSS), which distributes the SNAP program, and other state agencies continue to monitor the impact of the shutdown and are exploring additional measures to support Connecticut residents.
CT DSS has reported that cash benefits like TFA and SAGA will still be issued normally.
For information on how to obtain food assistance from Connecticut Foodshare, as well as information on how to donate to this organization, visit www.ctfoodshare.org.
If you are able, please consider donating to your local pantry or to Connecticut Foodshare.
Community Programs About Hate Crimes
Commissioner Ronnell Higgins of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, cordially invites you to join us Thursday, November 13th from 5:00-6:30pm at the Riverfront Community Center, 300 Welles Street in Glastonbury, CT. Our program will discuss what hate crimes are, how to report a hate crime, and introduce the community to the Hate Crimes Investigative Unit. We are grateful to be joined by Glastonbury Chief of Police Marshall Porter, Connecticut State Police Hate Crimes Investigative Unit, and State's Attorney for Judicial District of Hartford Sharmese Walcott.
Time is running out to register to vote in the upcoming November 4th municipal election. First, are you eligible to vote? Check HERE. Registration can be done in a few ways: By mail: Applications must be postmarked or hand-delivered to the local Registrar's Office by October 17th.
OR Online: By using the Connecticut Online Voter Registration System (CVRS), which you can find HERE.] Same-Day Registration (SDR) is also available during the early voting period (Monday, October 20th, through Sunday, November 2), from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
There are extended hours on October 28th, from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. It can also be done at the designated Early Voting location in your town, which you can find HERE.
Resources
Energy Assistance
The Generation Power CT (GPCT) Emergency Energy Assistance Program provides a one-time grant of up to $500 to help eligible Connecticut households with electric, gas, or fuel expenses. Increasing energy costs are a challenge for many in the state, but through this program, GPCT has helped to provide families across Connecticut with secure access to heat, power, and water. All GPCT energy programs are available to income-eligible households making up to 75% SMI gross household income. Each income-eligible household that receives a GPCT Energy Assistance Award will receive up to $500 toward a future fuel delivery or toward a past-due utility bill. For the best chance of approval, and to make full use of this once-per-12-months grant, GPCT strongly encourages households to apply for assistance when you are most in need. GPCT has three upcoming Energy Assistance Application Cycles:
November 2-10
January 2-10
March 2-10
To learn more about eligibility requirements and application materials, go to:https://gpct.org/gethelp/
Dental Care for Greater Hartford Veterans
Connecticut Oral Health Initiative has received a $25,000 grant to provide free dental services for veterans in need. They are partnering with UConn Health Center and Tunxis Dental Hygiene School, who will be delivering the care. The program is open to veterans living in the Greater Hartford area, but they are flexible about the region as long as participants are willing to travel to Farmington. If you can, please help spread the word to any veterans who could benefit. Follow link for a flyer with a QR code and the registration link:www.ctoralhealth.org/salute.
This Week In Connecticut History
One of the most important symbols in Connecticut history is the Charter Oak – the giant, gnarled oak tree that represents Connecticut’s “steady habit” of self-rule and resistance against tyranny. Depictions and namesakes of the Charter Oak are plentiful throughout the state: schools, streets, social organizations, parks, Connecticut’s state quarter, and even a brewery proudly bear the Charter Oak name. But how did a tree come to symbolize such lofty, quintessentially American ideals?
The dramatic episode that created a state legend and gave the tree its name allegedly took place on October 31, 1687. Two years earlier, James II had come to power as the new King of England after the death of his brother, King Charles II — the monarch who had granted Connecticut its own royal charter; one that allowed the colony to elect its own government, largely free from British intervention. Connecticut’s charter was so liberal in its character that even when the American Revolution compelled most other states to draft new written constitutions, Connecticut merely eliminated any references to British royalty from the charter and continued governing under its venerable provisions.
A frieze on the exterior of the State Capitol building in Hartford depicts Joseph Wadsworth hiding the charter in the Charter Oak. (Library of Congress, Carol Highsmith photo collection)
With the 1685 ascension of James II to the throne, however, Connecticut soon found its self-governance under threat. James II attempted to combine New York, New Jersey, and all the New England colonies into one crown-controlled mega-colony: the Dominion of New England. Colonial Connecticans vehemently opposed the idea, refusing to surrender their charter to royal authorities. King James II then ordered Sir Edmund Andros to Connecticut with a company of armed troops to take possession of the document. On October 31, 1687, Andros and his men met with leaders of the Connecticut colony at Sanborn’s Tavern in Hartford. There, a lengthy and reportedly heated argument took place between the two parties, with the charter laid out on a table between them. The argument continued until dusk, when an exasperated Andros demanded possession of the charter. Suddenly, the candles in the room were extinguished. After they were relit, the charter had disappeared. In the midst of the chaos, someone was said to have handed the charter out a window to a waiting Joseph Wadsworth, who ran across town and hid the document in the hole of a giant oak tree. Andros and his troops were supposedly forced to leave Hartford, having failed in their mission.
In reality, the lack of a physical document did nothing to stop King James II from moving forward with his plans; Andros took control of the government on the King’s behalf without further resistance. Moreover, many of the officials who had resisted the royal takeover gladly signed on to well-paid positions in the new regime.
Nevertheless, the dramatic tale of resistance against the arbitrary usurpation of Connecticut’s sovereignty that occurred during Andros’ short regime (he was sent packing less than two years later) was forevermore associated with the venerable oak tree that had saved the royal charter from British authorities. When, in later years, crown authorities again tried to bend the independent-minded Connecticut colonists to their will by claiming Connecticut was now a crown colony, Connecticut’s officials claimed that since they had never willingly given up their old charter, they were still as independent as ever.
The Connecticut Department of Social Services has received notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Services that if the federal government shutdown continues into November, residents will not receive their November SNAP benefits.
As of today (10/27/2025), the Town of Manchester has not been made aware of a resolution, so we would like to advise Manchester residents of the following helpful resources and information: For information about local food and other resources please visit Senior, Adult and Family Services food resources page here If you need to check your EBT balance call 1-888-328-2666 or use MyDSS.ct.gov. For more information about SNAP and the shutdown please visitCT DSS's page For more comprehensive assistance and resources, please contact 2-1-1
Early Voting 2025
Through November 2 Mahoney Recreation Center Rear Entrance off Pleasant St., 110 Cedar St from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm*
Town of Manchester Upon arrival, voters will check in and receive a ballot and an envelope with a bar code. After completing the ballot, voters will place it in a sealed envelope and sign the envelope. The completed envelope will then be scanned and placed in a secure ballot box.
At the end of each early voting day, all completed ballots will be delivered to the Town Clerk and secured in a vault until Election Day.
Ballots will be opened and counted on Election Day. Same-day registration will be available during early voting, and an accessible voting system will also be provided.
We encourage all eligible voters to take advantage of this opportunity to cast their ballots early and avoid potential lines on Election Day.
Manchester Youth Commission: Mini Grant Application
The Manchester Youth Commission is requesting proposals for Mini Grants of up to $1000 per application to Manchester community groups which are either led by, or intended to benefit, youth in Manchester. Qualifying candidates must plan to facilitate a project or program which fulfills one of three categories: Out of School Time/After School Initiatives, Service-Learning Initiatives, and Arts and Culture Initiatives. Grant money may not be used for religious instruction or materials, capital expenses, or donations to other organizations.
Applications for the Manchester Youth Commission Mini Grant Program are available online and must be completed and received by the Manchester Youth Services Bureau by no later than 11:59PM on December 5th, 2025. A letter of support or recommendation is also required. Grant recipients whose proposals have been selected for funding will be notified by the end of January. Decisions will be based on recommendations of the Manchester Youth Commission Philanthropy Committee and the availability of funds. Applying does not guarantee selection. Getting funded one year does not guarantee funding another year.
For additional information, please contact Samantha Bell at the Manchester Youth Service Bureau at (959) 221-0780, or e-mail sbell@manchesterct.gov.
Road Race Registration Open
Runners Will Make Strides to Fight Food Insecurity
Registration for the 89th Manchester Road Race opened on September 1st, and race organizers said that the thousands of runners who are expected to compete in it will all be making strides to alleviate hunger in Connecticut.
Dr. Tris Carta, President of the Manchester Road Race Committee, announced that food insecurity will be the primary charitable focus of this year’s road race, which will be held at 10 a.m. in Manchester on Thanksgiving Day (November 27, 2025).
According to Carta, the race committee voted to suspend in 2025 its practice of annually awarding grants from the event’s net proceeds to a number of diverse charities and nonprofits. Instead, those funds will be earmarked this year for two organizations that provide food to those in need, Connecticut Foodshare and Manchester Area Conference of Churches Charities.
Connecticut Foodshare is a food bank serving the people of Connecticut, and is a member of Feeding America’s nationwide network. It distributes healthy food through a network of more than 650 food pantries, community kitchens and meal programs and operates mobile food distribution centers across the state.
MACC Charities operates a “Community Kitchen’ serving lunches during the week and an emergency food pantry that distributes groceries.
“There is a pressing need at Connecticut’s food banks right now, and we’re hoping that our road race can make a substantial contribution to address it,” Carta said.
Carta also indicated that the committee has designated MACC Charities as the beneficiary of the road race’s annual Honors Club Program. Each year, the race sets aside bibs for up to 120 runners who each pay $100, instead of the traditional entry fee. All of those funds are donated to a single designated charity, which this year will be MACC Charities.
Registration for the 4.737-mile Thanksgiving Day Run is available on-line at www.manchesterroadrace.com.
This year’s entry fee will remain $32 for runners who sign up on-line at www.manchesterroadrace.comprior to 11:59 pm EST on Sept 30. The entry fee subsequently increases to $37 on October 1st and to $42 on November 22.
Registration for the race will close completely on November 25, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. EST. No entries will be accepted on the day of the race.
Runners will once again have the option to either pick up their bibs in person, or have them delivered. The race committee has scheduled a number of times and dates prior to the race when bibs can be picked up in person at no additional cost. Details about the schedule and locations of the in-person pickup dates, and the fee that will be charged for delivery, will be available at www.manchesterroadrace.com when registration opens on September 1st.
Race officials are reminding runners that there will not be bib pickup on the morning of the race.
“We’ve been working on plans for this year’s race since last winter, and we believe it is going to be another world-class event,” Carta said. “We anticipate another exciting race with a large field, and we are urging everyone to register as soon as they possibly can.
Carta also said that race officials are once again offering a Virtual Manchester Road Race option for those who can’t attend the event in person. Participants can download a GPS-enabled app to their smartphones and have their times recorded as they run the MRR course distance at any location in the world.
On-line registration for the virtual run also begins on Sept. 1st and closes on Nov.25th. The registration fee is $30 and more information is available at www.manchesterroadrace.com.
Approximately 400 volunteers from the Manchester Road Race Committee organize the annual Thanksgiving Day Run, with support from the Town of Manchester. More details are available on the road race website.
Navigating the Government Shutdown: SNAP & Food Resources
And How You Can Help We understand that many East Hartford families will be impacted by the Federal Government shutdown and the disruption to SNAP benefits. We hope that the information below is helpful for those looking for supplemental assistance as well as anyone able to help during this time of need. What We Know:
If you have a balance from previous months, you will still be able to use it after November 1st. Carryover benefits already on EBT cards remain accessible.
No new benefits will be added to cards until the shutdown ends. This means that starting November 1, households will not receive their regular monthly SNAP allocation.
Connecticut Department of Social Services is still accepting and processing SNAP applications. If someone is approved for benefits for October, those benefits will appear on their card when the federal government reopens.
$3 million in emergency funding will help Connecticut Foodshare expand its capacity to meet urgent needs.
DSS is working closely with Connecticut Foodshare and partners across the state to ensure no one falls through the cracks.
DSS will continue to monitor the situation and coordinate our response with food security partners statewide.
How to Check SNAP Balances:
Call 1-888-328-2666
Use MyDSS online
Access the DSS SNAP work rules pre-screener. Starting December 1, 2025, all towns in Connecticut will now follow special SNAP work rules for adults. Please use this SNAP Work Rules Pre-screener to understand if these new rules apply to you.
Friendship Soup Kitchen Hot "Grab & Go" (New Covenant United Methodist Church located at 6 Church Street, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 3:30pm to 5:30pm)
The Electors of the Town of East Hartford are hereby notified to meet at their respective polling places in said town on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, for the following purposes: To cast their votes in the Municipal Election for Mayor, Town Council, Treasurer, Board of Education, Board of Education (to Fill Vacancy for Two Years), Selectman, and Constables
Absentee Ballots will be counted at the following central location: East Hartford Town Hall, Welling Room, 740 Main Street, East Hartford, CT. Voting tabulators will be used. The polls will be opened at six o'clock in the morning (6:00 a.m.) and will remain open until eight o'clock in the evening (8:00 p.m.). During the 14-day early voting period before said election, the hours and location of early voting will be as indicated below. Each early voting location will also offer Same-Day Registration (SDR).
The Town of East Hartford will begin the annual curbside leaf collection program on Monday, November 3, 2025.Leaves will be vacuumed Monday through Saturday starting November 3rd continuously through December 13th, 2025.
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, 2025 and Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2025.
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 cancellation 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 leaf piles collection has already been completed in your area, please click on the road centerline, which will indicate if the street has been completed. Once leaf vacuuming in your neighborhood has been completed, if you still have additional leaf piles, we encourage to bag your leaves. We will make every attempt to come back around, weather permitting. In order to best accommodate for weather disruptions, bagged leaves will increase likelihood of pickup.
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 3, 2025 through December 13, 2025 on your regular waste collection day, weather permitting.
Please place your bagged leaves at the curb two (2) days before your regular trash and recycling pickup day.
Leaves must be placed 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. We will aim for leaf bags to be collected within two weeks of you placing them on the curb. If you bring them back inside, you may be at risk of missing the collection.
*NEW* for 2025: Once your leaves are bagged and ready, you can submit a ticket through My East Hartford app or website. We will aim for leaf bags to be collected within the week, after the request is received.
OPTION 2: Resident Transport to the Transfer Station for FREE Disposal
Residents may bring their leaves to the Transfer Station on Ecology Drive:
Regularly scheduled transfer station hours:
Monday, Tuesday and Friday 7:15 a.m. to 2:35 p.m. (closed for lunch between 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)
First and third Saturday of the month from 8:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Additionally, the transfer station will be open for LEAF DROP-OFF ONLY on the following Saturdays: November 8, 22, 29, and December 13
Leaves in plastic bags will not be accepted. For any additional information, please call Public Works Administration (860) 291-7374.
Main Street Survey
As part of our participation in Connecticut Main Street Center’s Accelerator program, we are engaging in community outreach to learn about the best way to spend a $5,000 grant to improve Main Street.
The Town of East Hartford is conducting a survey to learn the opinions of the community regarding arts and businesses in the downtown Main Street area. Data will be used to help guide upcoming initiatives.
We ask that you please complete this survey by October 31, 2025.
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.
