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Dear Neighbor,
I want to share some highlights including state and local updates. |
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| Wishing all communities of faith peaceful celebrations and spiritual introspection as they observe their religious traditions this month. |
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| If you’d like to participate in the virtual office hours, sign up for a time slot by clicking here.
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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Banner Lodge: A Vacation Playground for an Excluded Population
Welcome to Banner Lodge sign - Courtesy of Ken Simon
By Nancy Finlay
The Roaring Twenties are often depicted as an era of hedonistic pleasure-seekers attending extravagant parties at exclusive private clubs and grand hotels. It was also an era when middle-class families began taking summer vacations, often staying for weeks at cottage communities or resorts at the shore or in the mountains.
There was, however, a dark side to this pleasant picture. Signs at many of the hotels read “Gentiles Only,” or, only a bit more subtly, “Clientele Carefully Selected.” Antisemitism was perhaps not as pervasive in Connecticut as it was in some states, but it was not entirely absent either. In 1922, resorts such as Sunny Field Farm in Farmington advertised in the Hartford Courant that it was “A Good Place to Spend Your Summer Vacation. Gentiles Only.” In Connecticut, as elsewhere, Jewish entrepreneurs reacted by establishing resorts specifically to cater to the Jewish population.
Vacation Resorts for a Jewish Clientele
Tennis courts and daily calisthenics at Banner Lodge – Courtesy of Ken Simon
In 1922, Samuel Banner purchased a 135-acre farm in Moodus (a village in the town of East Haddam) and moved there with his wife and family. Banner, a Jew from Austria, had arrived in New York in 1899; his wife Rose, a Russian Jew, had immigrated in 1896. East Haddam and the neighboring town of Colchester were already home to large Jewish communities, primarily made up of recent immigrants from eastern Europe.
Shortly after acquiring the farm, Banner and his son Jack began welcoming vacationers there, much as Sunny Field Farm catered to vacationers in Farmington—but this time, Jews were not excluded. The Banners began developing the property as a resort, eventually expanding it to over four hundred acres. By 1933, they were able to offer swimming, boating, dancing, tennis, baseball, hot dog roasts, and chicken dinners.
From the 1930s to the 1970s, Banner Lodge was one of the most popular vacation destinations in Connecticut. At first promoted as a “vacation paradise for adults,” the lodge later expanded its program to include activities for families with children. It added a large theater in the 1940s and a nightclub in the 1950s. Featured performers included Joel Grey and Zero Mostel—Jack Banner’s first cousin, who appeared regularly at Banner Lodge while blacklisted during the Red Scare in the 1950s due to his supposed Communist sympathies. The lodge added an Olympic-sized swimming pool in 1954. In 1961, it first offered “new deluxe air-conditioned motel-style rooms with individual parking” as an option to the original rustic knotty pine cabins. Still later, the lodge upgraded with a day camp, an 18-hole golf course, and snowmobiling in the winter. The resort boasted two large dining rooms which could seat three hundred guests at a time, as well as a coffee shop and an extensive picnic area for outdoor barbecues.
Not Just for Vacationers
Jack Banner (center), Paul Newman (left), and Joe Duffy (right) – Courtesy of Ken Simon
In addition to vacationers, Banner Lodge became a popular destination for business outings. The employees of Hartford’s G. Fox Department Store held their annual outing at Banner Lodge in 1933. Other Jewish-run businesses and organizations, such as the Jewish War Veterans and the predominately Jewish Furriers’ Guild and Pharmacists’ Association, held encampments and conventions there, but the resort was popular with non-Jews as well. Over the years, all the big Hartford insurance companies and many other local businesses held outings there.
Banner Lodge was also the site of political gatherings and fund-raising events. Jack Banner was active in both local and state politics—a driving force behind the rescue and restoration of the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam and one-time chair of the State Development Committee. Abraham Ribicoff, John Dempsey, and Ella Grasso all frequented the lodge. (Dempsey’s son spent one summer at Banner Lodge working as a lifeguard); and Paul Newman hosted at least one fund-raising event there.
The Decline of Moodus Resorts
Guests eating a meal at picnic tables outside – Courtesy of Ken Simon
Banner Lodge had always catered primarily to Connecticut residents, attempting to adapt to their changing tastes. As more people acquired automobiles and air travel became more affordable, however, Americans began venturing farther afield on their vacations, and resorts such as Banner Lodge began to suffer.
Nevertheless, in June 1979, Jack Banner claimed that business was better than ever, with increased bookings for the summer season. Throughout the summer, he advertised aggressively in the Hartford Courant. He announced plans to convert some of the smaller cabins to vacation condominiums, to serve the increasing number of retirees who were spending winters in Florida and returning to Connecticut during the summer months. But in November, Banner died suddenly, and by the early 1980s, a New York development firm had bought Banner Lodge. They built some of the condos, but for decades the project suffered from poor management and financial problems. Today, the property is known as Banner Lodge Estates, touted as “New England’s most charming golf community,” where one can “live, golf, swim, and dine, just footsteps from one’s own home.”
Though Banner Lodge was the largest of the Moodus resorts, it was not the only resort in town. Others included the Grand View Resort, run by the Pivnick Family; Klar Crest, run by the Klar family; Orchard Mansion, operated by Herbert and Rose Krabatznick; and Ted Hilton’s Elm Camp, later known simply as Ted Hilton’s, then as the Frank Davis Resort, and finally as the Sunrise Resort. All are gone now, but live on in the memories of those who attended outings or spent their summer vacations there.
Nancy Finlay grew up in Manchester, Connecticut. She has a BA from Smith College and an MFA and PhD from Princeton University. From 1998 to 2015, she was Curator of Graphics at the Connecticut Historical Society.
Learn More
Websites
East Haddam Historical Society & Museum. “It Was a Beautiful Banner Day.” East Haddam Stories, n.d. Link.
Books
Hoffman, Betty N. A History of Jewish Connecticut: Mensches, Migrants and Mitzvahs. Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2010.
Articles
Donohue, Mary M. “The Connecticut Catskills.” Connecticut Explored, Summer 2018. Link.
Similar
Timeline: Settlement of the Colony of Connecticut
Katharine Hepburn Born – Today in History: May 12
The Hartford Wheel Club: Disparity in the Gilded Age
Lake Compounce: Bringing Amusements to the State’s Residents Since 1846
Connecticut Residents Did Not Let Veterans Day “Go Commercial.”
Semi-Pro Baseball in Sharon – Who Knew?
G. Fox & Co. Destroyed by Fire – Today in History: January 29
A Hip Road Trip
Video – When Disaster Struck: The Flood of 1936, Part 2
Beatrice Fox Auerbach: Retail Pioneer Led Iconic Family Department Store
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Wednesday, April 12
11:00 AM
SENATE SESSION (SENATEC)
Location: Senate Chambers
Appropriations Committee Public Hearing
4/13/23 10 AM
Agenda
Friday, April 14
10:00 AM
Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee Public Hearing (2E-ZOOM)
Location: Room LOB 2E and Zoom
Broadcasting on YouTube Live FIN
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House Votes in Favor of Pandemic
Bonuses for State Workers
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Around 36,000 state employees who worked in-person through the early pandemic will receive bonuses under a $49 million arbitration agreement approved Wednesday by lawmakers in the House. The resolution cleared the House on a bipartisan, 129 to 15 vote after a short floor debate. The state Senate is expected to raise the agreement for a vote next week.
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| Follow Legislation in Progress |
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| The link below is a dynamic list of legislation I have introduced or cosponsored this session. Please keep checking back as I add to the list and, using the bill tracking function, you can sign up and receive alerts on the progress of legislative items. |
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| Sexual Assault Awareness Month |
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April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and I want you to be aware of the resources available to you in our community. If you need help, you can call (888) 999-5545 anytime to speak with a certified sexual assault crisis counselor in English. Dial (888) 568-8332 to speak with an expert in Spanish.
You can also contact any of the member sexual assault crisis programs in our state by clicking on THIS LINK and scrolling down to the “Need Help” section. These non-profit organizations provide free, confidential service in a safe, caring environment.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month is a time to focus our attention on the prevalence of sexual assault in our communities, uplift the voices of survivors, and commit ourselves to putting an end to sexual violence.
This year's theme for Sexual Assault Awareness Month is “Drawing Connections: Prevention Demands Equity.” The campaign calls on all individuals, communities, organizations, and institutions to change ourselves and the systems surrounding us to build racial equity and respect. CLICK HERE for more information.
As always, if you need additional information, please feel free to contact me. |
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East Hartford Greater Together
Community Fund Advisory Committee |
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| East Hartford Greater Together Community Fund Advisory Committee is now accepting applications for committee members. The purpose of the Greater Together Community Fund is to support the East Hartford community in taking ownership around town needs that will be most beneficial or have the greatest impact on residents. The Community Fund also strives to encourage broad and inclusive civic engagement. To be eligible, you must be a resident of East Hartford, at least 14 years of age and not a current elected official of East Hartford. Previous experience in community organizations or in grant-making is not needed.
The deadline for applications is April 28, 2023. After the application period is closed, the committee will schedule interviews for potential members.
Individuals who are interested in applying can visit the link below to find more information or to fill out the Google Form.
hfpg.org/easthartfordcf |
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| Manchester Budget Process |
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| The Town will hold a special meeting to adopt the budget on Tuesday, April 11 at 7PM in-person at the Lincoln Center Hearing Room. The meeting can also be watched live on Silk City TV, Facebook Live, or Cox Channel 16. For more information, click here. |
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Manchester
Please arrive early to be in line for 9am as the truck leaves promptly at 9:30am. Open to the public; Bring a sturdy grocery bag! This program is made possible by Foodshare and Winn Residential - Resident Service Program. For more information call 860-646-1280.
Squire Village, 48 Spencer Street, 06040 (1st parking lot off Imperial Drive #78)
- Tuesday, April 11, 2023 | 09:00 AM - 09:30 AM
- Tuesday, April 25, 2023 | 09:00 AM - 09:30 AM
- Tuesday, May 09, 2023 | 09:00 AM - 09:30 AM
- Tuesday, May 23, 2023 | 09:00 AM - 09:30 AM
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East Hartford
The Connecticut Foodshare truck will be in the parking lot to distribute the food. Please bring your own bags and be prepared to possibly wait in line.
Mayberry Village –St. Isaac Jogues Church Parking Lot (41 Home Terrace East Hartford) |
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| Reminder: Free Learning Opportunity for East Hartford Residents |
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| East Hartford Works and Goodwin University will host a 5-week Professional Skills Academy focused on manufacturing beginning Tuesday, April 18. Classes will run Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evening from 4PM-9PM at Goodwin University. Participants will earn continuing education credentials from Goodwin in: Enhanced Shop Math, Introduction to Blue Print Reading, Enhanced Metrology and OSHA 10.
This is a free program for East Hartford residents. Participants must have a High School Diploma or GED. Supports will be made available for childcare and transportation. Registration is open now and space is limited so reserve your spot by calling Yadira Jeter at (860) 290-4345. |
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| COVID-19 Updates & Upcoming Vaccine Clinics |
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| Moderna, Pfizer, and J&J vaccines will be available to all eligible Connecticut residents 6 months and older. No insurance, ID, or appointment required. Additionally, Griffin will offer free health screenings including A1C (diabetes) and blood pressure checks at each clinic. |
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| The East Hartford Health Department offers regular vaccination services at the Community Cultural Center. Both the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 bivalent boosters, as well as Flu, will be offered for all ages 12+. Appointments are required and will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10AM-2PM. To schedule an appointment, call (860) 291-7324 (option 1). |
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For any questions regarding pediatric COVID-19 vaccines, booster dose eligibility, or to schedule an appointment at an upcoming clinic, contact the East Hartford Health Department at (860) 291-7324. If transportation is needed to get to and from a clinic site, please contact the Health Department for assistance.
The White House relaunched the program making free at-home, rapid COVID-19 tests available to every U.S. household. Just as before, you can order tests through COVIDTests.gov and enter your shipping information. Every U.S. household is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests.
The Administration will also make tests available to individuals who are blind or have low vision through this program. People who have difficulty accessing the internet or need additional support placing an order can call +1 (800) 232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) to get help in English, Spanish, and more than 150 other languages – 8AM-8PM E.T., Monday to Friday and 8AM-5PM E.T. on weekends.
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. |
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| Check ‘Em Out Book Club will meet in person for its April book discussion on Monday April 10th, 2023 at 6:30PM to discuss Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng. Copies of the book are available for check out at both library buildings. No registration required for this free in-person program. For more information call the library at 860-645-0821 or visit our website at: manchesterct.gov/library |
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Household Hazardous Waste Collection April 15
Online Appointments are now mandatory!
8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Manchester regional center for household hazardous waste collection.
For complete details and to schedule your appointment visit HERE
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Manchester Art Association's (MAA) newest exhibit opened on March 24 at the Manchester Town Hall located at 41 Center Street. This exciting exhibit is entitled “The Poetry Project” as it features artwork in a variety of mediums inspired by the poets of "Wit and Wisdom", a Manchester poetry club. The exhibit can be seen at Manchester Town Hall during normal business hours or online at https://www.manchesterart.org/poetry and will end on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. For information on visiting Manchester Town Hall, please see their website: https://www.manchesterct.gov/Home
Summer Camp Online Registration Begins...April 3rd at 9AM!
Summer Day Camp registration is held online beginning at 9:00 AM on April 3rd. In order to register online you must have an active account in our system. If you are unsure if you have an active account, please give us a call at (860) 647-3084 to find out!
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The Teen Center is Back!
Manchester YSB is opening the center on Wednesdays from 12:30 PM to 6:00 PM and Thursdays 2:30-6pm. Learn more here!
Attend 10 or more times to be eligible for prizes! Pizza is served after group discussion.
Read more here: TEENCENTER-incentive.pdf
- Thursday, April 13, 2023 | 02:30 PM - 06:00 PM
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Camp Registration and Summer Employment
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Warm weather is just around the corner and that means that summer program registration is coming up fast! Summer camp registration begins on Monday April 3rd with the full list of summer programs released Monday April 24th.
Take the opportunity to review some of the most frequently asked questions concerning camp registration, and to review some of our other opportunities for young adults outside of day camp!
For those looking to lead from the front there is still time to complete an employment application with the Department of Leisure, Families, and Recreation. The department is already interviewing for seasonal positions but openings for counselors, camp directors, and lifeguards are still available so submit your application today!
For more information click here |
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Registration is open now for OAKC Together We Tee! This program is offered to local Black and Brown youth of all genders ages 9-12 and their parent/guardian to introduce kids to the game of golf. The Manchester Country club will be providing all participants with lessons by golf professionals, fee waivers, and equipment.
The program will run on the following dates: Wednesdays, July 12, July 19, July 26, August 2, August 9, and August 16 with golf instruction from 5PM-6:30PM, followed by a family style dinner from 6:30PM-7:30PM. The program is limited to 10 participants, so register today by clicking here.
If you have questions or would like additional information, call Senior Recreation Specialist Calvin Harris at (860) 647-3088 or Recreation Supervisor Taylor McBride at (860) 647-6039. |
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The East Hartford Parks and Recreation is now accepting registrations for our fun-filled April Break Camp for students in grades 1-6.
Camp will be held Monday, April 10th through Friday, April 14th from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Participants may register for the whole week or just for a day or two; the fee is just $20 per day for East Hartford residents.
Daily camp activities include crafts, a variety of indoor/outdoor games, and time to play and socialize with friends.
Camp is held at the Goodwin Elementary School Gymnasium, 1235 Forbes St.
Pre-registration is required and space is limited.
Participants should dress seasonally appropriately for outside play. Please pack snacks, lunch and a water bottle. You can register at www.ehparks.org.
For more information, please call the Parks and Recreation Department at 860-291-7160.
PUBLIC WORKSHOP April 11th, 2023 4 PM - 7 PM
Brief Presentations: 4:30 & 6 PM
Raymond Public Library 840 Main Street East Hartford, CT 06108
The Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) has initiated a study to identify the preferred alignment of the East Coast Greenway through the last remaining 12-mile gap in the Capitol Region in Simsbury, Bloomfield, Hartford, and East Hartford. The East Coast Greenway is an off-road walking and biking route stretching 3,000 miles from Maine to Florida. In Connecticut, the East Coast Greenway consists of a 200-mile route between the Rhode Island state line at Sterling, Connecticut and the New York state line at Greenwich. In Connecticut, the completed portions of the East Coast Greenway utilize a series of trails including the Air Line Trail, the Hop River Trail, and the Farmington Canal Trail.
Check out our first NEWSLETTER for more information!
Public Workshophttps://crcog.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/East-Hartford-Flyer-4-11-23-Workshop.pdf
Maphttps://www.greenway.org/states/connecticut 
East Hartford Senior Center invites individuals 55 and older to a Petting Zoo & Smoothies event on May 6th at the Senior Center (15 Milbrook Drive).
In addition to a petting zoo, attendees will be served smoothies or coffee and a pastry. The café will open at 9:00 am. The Petting Zoo will begin at 10:00 am.
Come alone or bring your grandchildren and great grandchildren to enjoy our petting zoo. We will have pigs, sheep, goats, ducks and rabbits.
Registration for this event will begin on Monday March 27th. You must register in person at the Senior Center. Cost is $3.00 and admission for children under 10 is FREE. One adult guest and three children per senior center member. Seating is limited.
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| All town offices, including the East Hartford transfer station, will be closed on Friday, April 7, 2023 in observance of Good Friday. All town offices will reopen on Monday, April 10, 2023 for regularly scheduled hours of operation.
Please be advised that curbside waste pickup schedule will remain unchanged. Weekly trash and recycling collection will occur based on your regular schedule.
The normal transfer station schedule is as follows: Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 7:15 a.m. to Noon and 12:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. (holidays excluded), and the first and third Saturdays of the month from 8:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. (holidays excluded). The transfer station is closed on Wednesday and Thursdays.
For information regarding curbside waste collection, please call All American Waste at 860-289-7850 from 7 am – 5 pm or visit All American Waste | Waste Disposal & Recycling | Dumpster Rentals (aawllc.com).
For any information regarding recycling collection, please continue to call Trash Away at 860-225-1206.
To contact the East Hartford Public Works, please call 860-291-7374.
Full Schedule
Holiday Schedule |
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April Vacation Programs at East Hartford Public Library
Looking for something fun to do over April vacation? Check out our complete lineup of April vacation programs. We’ve got something for everyone, from toddlers to teens! For the full schedule and more information click here. |
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| Do you have a business card? How about a website? Are you looking for help? At Drop-in Digital Navigation hours, the East Hartford Public Library will work with small business owners to develop the technology skills you need to make your business technology work as hard as you do. Business owners at every stage of development are encouraged to attend. Drop-in hours will be offered on Fridays from 10:30AM-12:30PM (March 3, 10, 24, & 31; April 14 & 27; and May 5, 12, &26). For more information, click here. |
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Calling the young people in our community – it's not too early to be thinking about summer employment or learning opportunities! Gain valuable work experience and get paid this summer by signing up for the Summer Youth Employment and Learning Program (SYELP).
SYELP connects youth between the ages of 14 and 24 with career exploration opportunities and paid work experience each summer. Applications are open now! Sign up by clicking 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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