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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.
The topics covered are as follows:
On Legislative Business
On Community Resources
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Governor Lamont Retroactively Enhances Earned Income Tax Credit
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On Wednesday, Governor Ned Lamont announced that he will direct the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services to retroactively enhance the 2020 Connecticut Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) from 23% of the federal credit to 41.5%. Supported through federal coronavirus funds, the additional state tax refund will offer much needed support to nearly 200,000 low-to-moderate income working individuals and families.
The enhancement will benefit households that earned up to $56,844 in 2020 and filed for that year’s EITC. The amount of each enhanced credit will be based upon need and depends on the size of the federal credit received by the household, which the IRS calculates based on taxpayers’ income, marital status, and number of qualifying children.
The Connecticut Department of Revenue Services plans to issue checks for the additional credit to eligible households before the end of February.
I would like to know, what do you think of this issue?
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CT GDP Ranks 2nd Highest in New England; Growth Outpacing National Average
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We continue to get positive economic news! According to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the state's economy grew by 2.7 percent in the third quarter of 2021– outpacing the U.S. average and earning the state the rank of 15th-fastest growing economy in the nation. The growth was attributed to steady gains in the manufacturing and professional and technical services, as well as finance and insurance industries. These gains made up for losses in wholesale, retail trade, and construction.
Connecticut’s current-dollar gross domestic product (GDP) now stands at $299.8 billion, the second highest in New England after Massachusetts.
I would like to know, what do you think of this issue?
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State Supreme Court Hires Nathaniel Persily to Draw Congressional Map
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Following the impasse declared last week by the Reapportionment Commission, the state Supreme Court has hired political scientist and law professor, Nathaniel Persily to redraw the revised congressional map for the state. With a deadline of Tuesday, January 18, Special Master Persily must create a map that respects the existing districts and ignores any political considerations such as "residency of incumbents or potential candidates or other political data, such as party registration statistics or election returns."
Special Master Persily is no stranger to this process – he was the one appointed to revise the congressional map 10 years ago. Once a map is presented by Special Master Persily, interested parties will have an opportunity to make suggested changes until Monday, January 24. The last part of the process will come on Thursday, January 27 when the justices will hold a public hearing, followed by the justices' adoption deadline on Tuesday, February 15.
I would like to know, what do you think of this issue?
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Today in CT History: A Winter Mutiny at “Connecticut’s Valley Forge”
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When Americans think of the hardships faced by starving, shivering Continental Army troops during the harsh winters of the Revolutionary War, they usually remember the infamous winter encampment at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania in 1777–1778. What few realize, however, is that the eastern division of the Continental Army under the command of General Israel Putnam endured virtually identical trials and tribulations one year later while encamped in the vicinity of Redding, Connecticut.
The choice of Redding was a strategic one for Putnam’s division of troops: they had spent the previous months patrolling and skirmishing along the crucial Hudson River Valley, and from their camp in western Connecticut, they could still easily dispatch troops or couriers to West Point, Westchester County, New York City, or the interior of New England. Once the troops settled in for the winter in November 1778, however, what little energy they had left became fully devoted to surviving the same type of brutal winter conditions suffered by their compatriots at Valley Forge the year before. Compounding the harsh winds, snows, and frigid temperatures was a critical lack of supplies, including food, blankets, and winter clothing.
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All of these miseries, and the frustrations that came with them, culminated in an attempted mutiny which took place at the Redding encampment on December 30, 1778. That day, a large number of troops decided to abandon the camp and march on Hartford to demand relief from the state General Assembly. Sometime that morning, General Putnam got word of the forthcoming uprising, and rode his horse to where the disgruntled troops were gathering. There, according to several sources, he rode among them and delivered a rousing speech, rebuking them for deserting their country in its hour of need and appealing to their sense of patriotism and honor.
Putnam’s inspiring speech to his starving troops worked well enough to restrain them from carrying out the planned mutiny. And having regained control of his command, Putnam was lenient on the mutineers.
While the uprising of December 30th was narrowly prevented, the grueling winter and terrible conditions continued, with only limited relief in the form of food and supplies. The Connecticut encampment was plagued by threats of desertion and mutiny for the entire length of the troops’ stay in Redding, which later acquired the fitting nickname of “Connecticut’s Valley Forge.”
Learn more about Connecticut’s Valley Forge and other interesting CT history facts by clicking here.
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New Year, New Laws: Here's What's New on January 1
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I wanted to make you aware of a few new laws that will take effect in Connecticut at the start of the new year. My colleagues and I worked hard during the 2021 legislative session to listen to your concerns and advocate for meaningful change in our state. We look forward to getting back to the Capitol soon to continue in those efforts.
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Please see below for a list of laws that go into effect on January 1, 2022:
- Parental Rights – The Connecticut Parentage Act is about equity in our laws. It provides equal treatment under the law to children born to same-sex couples and modernizes the definitions and other legal provisions relating to parenting and maternity.
- Paid Family and Medical Leave – Applications are already being accepted at ctpaidleave.org, where you can explore details of the groundbreaking family and medical leave program.
- Insulin Costs – Capped 30-day supplies of insulin at $25 and cap costs on supplies such as syringes, pumps, and blood sugar meters at $100 a month for people who have coverage through state-regulated insurance plans.
- Health Equity – The Department of Public Health will develop educational materials on pulse oximeters (electronic devices that detect blood oxygen levels) to ensure that healthcare providers are aware of this critical information.
Click here for a complete list of laws that will go into effect on Jan. 1.
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Christmas Tree Disposal Guidelines
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Getting ready to get rid of the Christmas tree? In East Hartford, Public Works crews are picking up Christmas trees now through Friday, January 7, 2022, weather permitting. Collection of the trees generally occurs on the same day as trash collection. Trees should be placed on the curb near trash bins with no plastic bags or decorations. If curbside collection is delayed due to snow or unforeseen circumstances, residents are asked to leave the trees at the curb. Please do not remove them from the curb.
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Residents are also encouraged to bring their Christmas trees to the Transfer Station on Ecology Drive for disposal. Residents are not required to have a bulky waste permit when only delivering Christmas trees. Normal Transfer Station hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, 7:15AM-12PM and 12:30PM-2:45PM and Saturdays 8AM-1:45PM on first and third Saturdays of the month, holidays excluded.
If you have questions or require additional information, please call East Hartford Public Works at (860) 291-7374.
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In Manchester, residents can leave Christmas trees our for curbside pickup through Friday, January 14 – trees must be out at the curb by 6AM on your regular trash collection day. In the event of an anticipated snowstorm, please remove your tree from the side of the road prior to the storm. After January 14, trees must be brought to the Landfill Transfer Station for recycling at the organics management site. Please note that trees are ground into wood chips, therefore, please remove any plastic bags, ornaments, lights or stands from your tree before you place it at the curb.
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New Hours for 2022 at East Hartford Public Library
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Winter Sunday hours are coming in the new year at the East Hartford Public Library! Beginning on Sunday, January 9 and running through Sunday, March 27, the library will be open from 1PM-5PM. Monday-Saturday hours will remain the same: Monday/Friday 9AM-5PM, Tuesday-Thursday 9AM-8PM, and Saturday 10AM-2PM. For more information, click here.
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COVID-19 Updates & Upcoming Vaccine Clinics
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On Monday, Governor Ned Lamont announced that the state plans to distribute three million COVID-19 at-home rapid tests and six million N95 masks to residents in an effort to help curb the spread of COVID-19. The first allocation will include the distribution of 500,000 iHealth kits. Each town will receive at-home tests based on their population size and determine their own plan for distribution. On Thursday, Governor Lamont provided an update that shipping and warehouse delays have caused a delay to the initial distribution plans forcing towns to quickly edit their plans.
As of my drafting of this email, the distribution plans in our communities have been postponed as a result of the shipping delays. Distribution events will be rescheduled as soon as town officials are confident the supplies will arrive. You can check Manchester’s town website and East Hartford’s town website for updates as the situation continues to unfold.
***I will post updates on the distribution plans for both towns on my Facebook page as I receive updates.***
This week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced updated isolation recommendations for asymptomatic people who test positive for COVID-19, and for those who have been exposed to the virus. Per the new guidelines, anyone, regardless of vaccination status, who tests positive for COVID-19 and is asymptomatic, should isolate themselves for at least five days. If, after the five days, you continue to have no symptoms you may leave isolation if you "continue to mask for five days to minimize the risk of infecting others." However, if symptoms, such as a fever, are present, you should continue to stay home until your fever, or the other symptoms, resolve. Once free of symptoms or you are without a fever for 24 hours, you are free to leave your house with a mask on. If you are fully vaccinated and boosted, you do not need to be quarantined but should still wear a mask for 10 days, following the exposure.
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For those that have been potentially exposed to COVID-19, and are unvaccinated, not yet fully vaccinated or boosted, the CDC now recommends that you quarantine for five days, followed by "strict mask use" for five days after your quarantine. If a five-day quarantine is not feasible, the CDC said it is "imperative" that an exposed person wear a well-fitting mask at all times and when around others, for 10 days after exposure. If symptoms do occur, the CDC stressed that you should immediately quarantine, until a negative test confirms that the symptoms are not due to COVID-19. All individuals who have been exposed are recommended to get a COVID-19 test around five days after exposure.
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The best defense against COVID-19 continues to be a good offense. It's so important that we continue the precautions that have worked: observe social distancing, wear a face mask when social distancing is not possible or indoors, wash your hands thoroughly and regularly, get tested if you were in contact with anyone who's tested positive, etc. But, most importantly – please consider getting vaccinated if you haven't already or getting a booster if it's been six months since you're last COVID vaccine.
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If you are looking to get a COVID-19 test following a holiday outing, please be advised that many of the state-sponsored sites, which offer no cost testing, will have adjusted hours of operations on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. To check the hours at a state-sponsored testing site, click here.
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Be mindful – the most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, fatigue, sore throat, congestion and new loss of taste or smell. You should seek immediate medical attention if you have any of the following: trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, confusion, or inability to wake or stay awake. For more information on the approximately 400 COVID-19 testing sites throughout the state, call 2-1-1 or click here.
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Manchester Community College (MCC), with the State Department of Public Health and Griffin Health, is offering a free vaccine clinic on Saturday, January 8 from 8AM-12PM at the Arts, Sciences and Technology Center SBM Charitable Foundation Auditorium at MCC. All three brands will be available. 1st dose, 2nd dose and boosters will be available. If you are receiving a booster, you need to have your original card with you. No appointment, insurance, or ID required; vaccines will be available to all those 12+.
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A reminder for those that don't want to carry around their paper CDC cards or who lost them, CT residents can now utilize "SMART Health Cards" to securely show proof of being vaccinated. The digital card can be obtained via a QR code that you can find here. To get more info on SMART Health Cards, or how to access them and download to your smartphone device, click here.
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For more information on receiving the COVID-19 vaccine or to locate an appointment near you, click here or locate a DPH Mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinic by clicking here. Those without access to the internet can call the Connecticut’s Vaccine Appointment Assist Line, available seven days a week from 8 AM to 8 PM, at (877) 918-2224.
For East Hartford-based COVID-19 updates and resources, click here. And, for Manchester-based COVID-19 updates and resources, click here.
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Get ready to enjoy all the fun of a "snow day" with Manchester Youth Service Bureau on Thursday, January 6 from 10AM-2PM. Children ages 10-14 can participate in cold weather activities such as sledding, crafts, and maybe a movie. This is a free vacation program, if you have questions or require additional information, email sdouglass@manchesterct.gov.
For more information on the Youth Service Bureau's Vacation Day programming and upcoming days and themes, call Catrina at (860) 647-5213 or email cbelton@manchester.gov.
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It's 2nd Saturday Open House at WORK_SPACE on Saturday, January 8 from 10AM-2PM. Artists and art lovers are invited to gather, meet each other, learn from each other, and talk about the creative renaissance happening in and around Manchester during Creative Community Networking from 11AM-12PM. Then, attend a free-spoken word writing workshop with Manchester's own Poet Laureate, Ryan Parker from 12PM-2PM. Registration is required for the workshop, click here to save your spot.
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Manchester Public Library, in partnership with the African American and Black Affairs Council, is proud to present this special event of "edutainment," or education through entertainment. On Monday, January 10 at 6:30AM, celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr. through music, art, poetry and more. This is a hybrid program; attendees may participate in person or via Zoom – whatever makes you most comfortable! This free program is best suited for adults. Register to participate by calling the Reference Department at (860) 645-0821.
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The 29th Annual Officer Brian A. Aselton Memorial Snow Dash is back on Sunday, January 9 at 1:30PM! Over 200 runners are expected to participate in the race that is run in tribute to Officer Brian A. Aselton, with proceeds benefitting the East Hartford Police Department Child Safety and Crime Prevention Programs and the Officer Brian Aselton Scholarship Fund.
Online registration is open now through 1:30PM on January 9 – same day registration must be completed online. No paper registration race day. Hard copies of registration are available at the Parks and Recreation office located at the Community Cultural Center (50 Chapman Place).
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East Hartford Parks and Recreation, in partnership with Special Olympics CT, is offering the opportunity for special needs athletes to participate in weekly practices and showcase their skills and abilities in state competitions. The Parks and Recreation Department will offer the following Special Olympics programs this winter:
- Special Olympics Bowling, Saturdays, January 8 – February 26, 10:30AM-12PM at Hall of Fame Silver Lanes: $65 for residents, $75 for non-residents
- Special Olympics Swimming, Saturdays, January 8 – February 26, 8:45AM-9:45AM at EHMS Pool: $55 for residents, $65 non-residents
- Special Olympics Basketball, Wednesdays, January 12-March 23, 6:30PM-7:30PM at CCC Gymnasium: $55 for residents, $65 for non-residents
Please note that all programs will be adhering to the Special Olympics of Connecticut COVID-19 guidelines. Mask must be worn while in the bowling facility. Click here for more information and for the list of mandatory forms.
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Calling my fellow local history buffs! Join the East Hartford Public Library on Thursday, January 13, at 6:30PM for a night of East Hartford trivia. Come and show your town spirit by battling the Quizmaster on local lore. To participate, you’ll need two devices: one to access the Zoom program, and one to run the Kahoot! app (or website). Registration is required for this virtual program, save your spot today by clicking here. Activity is best suited for adults and teens.
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My office is always open if you or your family are in need of assistance. Please do not hesitate to contact me by email at Jason.Rojas@cga.ct.gov or by phone at 860-240-8541.
Sincerely,
Jason Rojas
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