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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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Community Investment Fund Board Approves Application for Church Corners Project
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On Tuesday, the Community Investment 2030 Fund Board met to approve applications selected to receive first round funding. Among those applications, the CIF Boards approved $2.5 million for the Church Corners project in East Hartford.
This fund is an opportunity to make transformational investments in historically underserved communities. The projects on Tuesday's agenda will enhance communities' vibrancy and resiliency and address growing infrastructure needs. The Church Corners acquisition and rehabilitation will pay dividends in terms of future development. As the gateway to Main Street, the preservation of this 100-year-old building will create safe, modern retail and housing space and will connect visitors to the heart of East Hartford. I am pleased to see this project move on to the next step of the funding process.
During Tuesday's meeting, the CIF Board approved applications totaling $76,477,835. Of the 183 applications submitted, only 26 were approved.
I would like to know, what do you think of this issue?
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New Report Shows Crime Rate Fell
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A recently released report from the State Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shows that Connecticut has returned to dropping crime rates following a small uptick in 2020. According to the report, violent crime dropped by 9 percent – from 184 to 168 offenses per 100,000 persons. Property crimes fell by 2 percent, and the overall drop in crime was 3 percent.
Despite the political rhetoric, the data is clear – crime is down in Connecticut. This does not minimize or take away from the very real incidents that have occurred, or the need to investigate and prosecute those cases. But this latest report shows that recent public safety measures are working. And additional measures are scheduled to go into effect starting tomorrow (more on that below).
I would like to know, what do you think of this issue?
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New Laws Taking Effective Oct. 1
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This weekend, several new laws in Connecticut will go into effect. These laws are a result of my colleagues' hard work during the 2022 session. Below are just some of the laws that will take effect and what they mean for you.
Establishing Juneteenth as a State Holiday
Public Act 22-128 designates June 19, known as Juneteenth Independence Day, a legal state holiday.
Juvenile Justice Reforms & Firearm Background Checks
To respond to pandemic-related crime, the Connecticut General Assembly passed Public Act 22-115. Provisions taking effect will streamline juvenile arrest and delinquency proceedings; create more intensive responses to juveniles with serious repeated charges, focusing on motor vehicle thefts; and the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) will notify local law enforcement if a resident fails a background check when trying to purchase a firearm.
Addressing Children's Mental Health Concerns
Public Act 22-47 is a transformative piece of legislation that takes steps to bolster Connecticut's children's mental and behavioral health system and improve the delivery and accessibility of services. Parts of this law will take effect to increase the number of qualified health care providers by permitting out-of-state providers to apply for edited licensure in Connecticut; create a statewide emergency service telecommunications plan addressing mental health, behavioral health, or substance use disorder needs; and expand Connecticut's emergency response team.
Connecticut Clean Air Act
Public Act 22-25 takes steps to cut transportation-related emissions, improve air quality, and realize a greener, more sustainable state for all. Parts of the law will go into effect:
- electrifying state vehicles
- establishing the "right to charge" allowing renters to request electric charging stations at their residences
- transitioning to zero-emission school buses
- prohibiting planned community associations from adopting rules that would prevent unit homeowners from installing solar panels
Fair Rent Commission Act
Public Act 22-30 requires municipalities with populations of at least 25,000 to establish a fair rent commission, where they conduct studies and investigations, hold hearings, receive rent complaints, and intervene in matters between tenants and landlords.
Timely Reporting by the Police of a Death
In light of an investigation of Bridgeport police officers who failed to properly notify the next of kin of two women who died in December 2021 and similar incidents across our state, the Connecticut General Assembly passed Public Act 22-61 to require the timely reporting of a death to the next of kin. Police officers will have 24 hours after identifying a victim to report the death. Failure to report a death as required will trigger an investigation by the Office of the Inspector General.
Written Consent from Patients Receiving Intimate Examinations and the Development of Endometriosis Data and Biorepository Program
Public Act 22-33 requires hospitals and outpatient surgical facilities to obtain a patient’s express written consent to an “intimate examination." The law also requires UConn Health Center to develop a plan to establish an endometriosis data and biorepository program.
I would like to know, what do you think of these issues?
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Today in CT History: The USS Connecticut Stars in America’s Debut as a World Power
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Today in 1904, the USS Connecticut was launched as the flagship of a new class of heavy battleships intended to show off a new era of American naval dominance in the early 20th century. These battleships were the hallmark of President Theodore Roosevelt’s signature initiative to modernize the American navy.
The USS Connecticut, a handsome vessel with beautiful, gilded scroll work adorning its white steel bow, was the fourth U.S. Navy vessel named after the state of Connecticut. It was formally commissioned on September 29, 1906, two years to the day after it was launched, and sponsored by the granddaughter of Gideon Welles, the Connecticut native who served as Abraham Lincoln’s Secretary of the Navy during the Civil War. In 1907, she led a flotilla of newly built Navy warships, colloquially known as the “Great White Fleet,” on a tour around the world intended to spread American goodwill and underscore the United States’ role as a major naval power.
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The emphasis on naval power as the expression of American prowess was largely a response to Alfred Mayer Mahan’s The Influence of Sea Power Upon History:1690–1783, published in 1890 while Mahan was President of the U.S. Naval War College. The book argued persuasively that a large and powerful navy was crucial to the rise of great nations and empires and sparked a global naval arms race. The Great White Fleet, and the battleship USS Connecticut, was the United States’ most visible expression of its desire to be viewed as a great world power.
After her global tour, the Connecticut was primarily used as a training vessel and — as the famous flagship of the Great White Fleet — for ceremonial purposes. During World War I, she made several transatlantic trips to bring U.S. soldiers back home from the battlefields of Europe. After the war, the Connecticut continued serving as a training vessel until her decommissioning in 1923. Because of the provisions of the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922, which set tonnage limits for the navy of every signatory nation, the U.S. Navy promptly sold the USS Connecticut for scrap mere months after she was decommissioned. After the flagship of Roosevelt’s Great White Fleet was dismantled, the state of Connecticut would remain without a namesake vessel until 1997, when the Seawolf-class nuclear submarine USS Connecticut (SSN-22) was launched.
If you'd like to learn more about USS Connecticut and other interesting CT historical facts, click here.
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Paused: East Hartford Small Business Assistance Program
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East Hartford Business Owners – please be aware that effective Friday, September 30, the town will be pausing the ARPA Small Business Assistance Program until further notice. This is being done to allow staff to properly review the overwhelming number of applications and ensure that the limited amount of funding can be allocated fairly and equitably.
No applications will be accepted after September 30. Any applications submitted by this deadline will be reviewed and staff will continue to work with applicants to gather additional information as necessary following the deadline as part of the review process.
Once staff have completed their review of the applications, if there is additional funding available, the town will reopen the program for additional applications. For more information, click here.
Please direct any questions to Jay Margnelli at (860) 578-3254 or jay@crvchamber.org.
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Registration Open Now for the Manchester Road Race
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It's that time of year again – the 86th Manchester Road Race is just a few weeks away! Registration is open now but register before October 1 to get a lower entry fee ($32) and a personalized bib with your name on it. After the deadline, the fee increases to $37. Race day is Thanksgiving Day – Thursday, November 24 at 10AM. Register now by clicking here – the last day to register is Tuesday, November 22.
Stay tuned – the "Little Manchester Road Race" for kids 12 and under will begin registering participants on October 1. The "Little Manchester Road Race" will be held on Saturday, November 19 at 10AM at the Manchester High School Track. Entries will be limited to the first 1,000 runners who sign up. There is no cost to participate in the event, but children are requested to bring two non-perishable food items to the race for donation to the M.A.C.C. Food Pantry.
For more information on the race and how to participate, click here.
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East Hartford Veteran Memorial Club House Available for Lease
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The Town of East Hartford is offering a beautiful event space for lease! East Hartford is looking for a tenant to operate the town-owned historic Veterans Memorial Clubhouse (VMC). The Town would prefer a lessee that intends to maintain VMC as a banquet hall and community event facility, but may approve additional/alternate usage, if allowed within the Town’s current zoning regulations.
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The Town has an open Request for Proposals (RFP) that has been extended until Tuesday, October 18 at 11AM. The RFP, including more detailed information about the property, is available on the Town’s Purchasing Department webpage.
Questions may be directed to George Psaras at (860) 291-7243.
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Construction Alert: Lane Closures Along Route 83 (Main Street & Oakland Street in Manchester)
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The Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced that the paving portion of the project to resurface Route 83 (Main Street and Oakland Street) between Center Street and Tolland Turnpike will begin on or around Sunday, October 9. This portion of the project should take about two weeks to complete (TBA last day – October 21).
During this time, motorists can expect lane closures on Route 83 from US 6 and 44 (Center Street) to the beginning overlap of Route 30 Deming Street in Manchester. The expected work schedule is Sunday-Thursday, 7PM-5AM.
Traffic control personnel and signing patterns will be utilized to guide motorists through the work zone. Motorists are advised to maintain safe speed when driving in this vicinity.
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East Hartford Fall Swim Lessons and Aqua Zumba Registration Now Open
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East Hartford Parks and Recreation has resumed their aquatics operations at the East Hartford Middle School Pool, offering opportunities for residents and non-residents to continue swimming during the school year. And now, Parks and Recreation is excited to announce that they are also offering Fall swim lessons and Aqua Zumba!
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Group Swim Lessons - Wednesday evenings or Saturday mornings beginning October 1 (8-week session); $40 for residents and $50 for non-residents
Semi-Private Swim Lessons – Tuesday and Thursday evenings; available for ages 4+; each session includes four 30-minute lessons; $59 for residents and $69 for non-residents.
Private Swim Lessons – Monday and Wednesday evenings; available for ages 4+; each sessions includes four 30-minute classes of one-on-one personalized instruction; $100 for residents and $110 for non-residents
Adult Aqua Zumba – Monday and Thursday evenings, 6:30PM-7:30PM; fall session includes 16 classes; $64 for residents and non-residents
Pre-registration is required for all the above sessions, and registration is open now for both residents and non-residents. Before registering, users must create an account at www.ehparks.org, even if they had one before.
For more information on any of the above sessions or public swim at the Middle School Pool, click here.
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Still Time to Order – Manchester Compost Bin & Rain Barrel Sale
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There's still time to place your order for Manchester's Fall 2022 Community Compost Bin and Rain Barrel Sale! Backyard Composting is an excellent way to reduce trash going to landfills and incinerators and make your own nutrient rich compost, And Rain Barrels can help reduce water costs, save our precious drinking water, and provide a natural source of water for plants and gardens.
As the Town is purchasing in bulk, residents can get compost bins, rain barrels, and accessories at a reduced price. Plus, Manchester residents will receive an additional $20 off each container – use code Take20 at check (limit one per resident).
Orders must be placed by October 14 and picked up on October 15 from 9AM-1PM at the Town of Manchester Public Works Administration (321 Olcott Street). For more information or to place your order, click here.
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Monkeypox Updates & Vaccine Information
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Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus – at this time there are 125 reported cases in Connecticut. Symptoms of monkeypox can include fever, headache, muscle aches and backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and a rash. Monkeypox can spread from person-to-person through:
- Direct contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids
- Respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact, or during intimate physical contact
- Touching items (such as clothing or linens) that previously touched the infectious rash or body fluids of an infected person
- Pregnant people can spread the virus to their fetus through the placenta
Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is not recommending widespread vaccination against monkeypox. However, vaccination may be recommended for some people who:
- Are closer personal contacts of people with monkeypox
- May have been exposed to the virus
- May have increased risk of being exposed to the virus due to occupation
If you currently have symptoms, vaccination is NOT recommended. Vaccine is also available to people who meet ALL the following:
- Gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men, and/or transgender, gender non-conforming, or gender non-binary individuals
- Have had multiple or anonymous sex partners in the last 14 days
- Age 18 or older
- Connecticut resident, regardless of immigration status
For those who meet the eligibility requirements, the vaccine will be available at the following health centers in our area by appointment only:
The monkeypox vaccine, Jynneos, requires two shots and takes a total of 6 weeks to become fully effective. To review the CT-DPH Jynneos Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions, click here.
More information can be found here.
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COVID-19 Updates & Upcoming Vaccine Clinics
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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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Join professional dancer Tere Luna at Mary Cheney Library on Saturday, October 1 at 10:30AM for an interactive program for children celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. Children will learn and enjoy Mexican folk music and dance with Tere during this program. Call the Children’s Room at (860) 645-0577 for more information.
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The community is invited to participate in the 47th Annual History Walk in the Cheney Brothers District on Saturday, October 8 at 1PM. Manchester Community College (MCC) Professor Christopher Paulin will present a lively history of the area, and the Town Historian Susan Barlow will present information about the Cheney Family.
The walk will meet at the front steps of the former Cheney Office Building (146 Hartford Road – now Fuss & O'Neill). No rain date, but extreme weather will cancel the event. For more information, click here.
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Manchester Recreation Division will host the Northwest Park Annual Fall Festival on Tuesday, October 11 and Thursday, October 13, 5PM-7PM and Friday, October 14, 5PM-8PM. Activities are as follows:
October 11 & 13, 5-7PM
Pumpkin Carving & Decorating at the Northwest Park Pavilion – carving tools will be supplied as they last.
October 14, 5-8PM
Fall Festival – join the fun in your best Halloween costume for a fun evening of activities including pumpkin painting, local vendors, Jack-O-Lantern Zombie Walk, viewings of Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, Rec on the Run mask making, bounce houses, and a Scarecrow Village.
For more information, click here.
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The East Hartford Department invites you to stop by for "Coffee with a Cop" at the Dunkin' on 639 Main Street on Wednesday, October 5 from 8AM-10AM. Come out to discuss issues and learn more about each other. No agenda, no speeches. Talk with police about your neighborhood, ask questions, share concerns, or stop by just to chat. Learn more by clicking here.
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Do you need something a little spooky for your shelves? Stop by the East Hartford Public Library on Wednesday, October 5 at 6PM to create a one-of-a-kind book nook diorama for your bookshelf with a glimpse into a haunted forest using natural items and recycled materials. This activity is best suited for teens and adults, registration is required – register now by clicking here.
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A town-wide favorite returns on Saturday, October 8, 11AM-3PM. Celebrate autumn with the Town of East Hartford's biggest annual event – Fall Fest! Admission is free, but you can purchase a $5 attraction band to get unlimited attractions, games, and a pumpkin decorating activity. For more information, including parking advisories and a complete list of events, click here.
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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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