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.
If you're struggling to pay utility bills, Operation Fuel may be able to help.
Operation Fuel's energy assistance program opened this week for the Winter/Spring season. Applications will be accepted until March 1 unless available funds run out before that date.
Households with incomes that do not exceed 75% of the State Median Income Guidelines may qualify for assistance. These households include - but are not limited to - the elderly, disabled, working families, or individuals facing a financial crisis.
Eligible clients may apply for energy assistance (gas, electric, oil, or other deliverable fuel) ONCE per year and receive a grant of UP TO $500.
For utility assistance (electric & gas), clients must show they made at least four payments in the past 12 months, must owe a past due amount, andprovide at least four weeks of income information.
Operation Fuel is accepting applications for water and energy bill assistance for:
Electric: Eversource, United Illuminating (UI), and Norwalk Public Utilities
Gas: Eversource, UI, Yankee Gas, Southern Connecticut Gas (SCG), and Connecticut Natural Gas (CNG)
Water: CT Water and The Metropolitan District (MDC)
Operation Fuel has been assisting Connecticut residents for 46 years. In that time, Operation Fuel has distributed millions of dollars in assistance to help thousands of Connecticut households.
For more information and to apply for assistance, click HERE.
Legislative Town Halls
Please join me and my colleagues as we host our pre-session town halls. Town hall events are opportunities to share what matters most to you.
Born in Hartford in 1873, lifelong civil rights activist Mary Townsend lost both her parents at the age of 15, and was adopted into the family of local black activist and Civil War veteran Lloyd Seymour. A few years later, she married one of his sons, Frederick Seymour, and the newlyweds settled in the south end of Hartford. Following the elder Seymour’s example, both Mary and Frederick became heavily involved in the African-American community around them, even opening their home to neighbors and local workers who needed a place to stay. In 1917, Mary Townsend Seymour played a formative role in the establishment of the Hartford chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, shouldering the lion’s share of the administrative work in order to keep the fledgling chapter running in its early years.
The only known photograph of Mary Townsend Seymour, date unknown.
The 1910s and 1920s proved to be a crucible for Hartford’s African-American community: World War I saw many of the city’s black men leave to fight overseas, and community relations became stressed as Hartford experienced a massive influx of southern blacks during the Great Migration, whose lifestyle and mannerisms were markedly different than their native Connectican counterparts who had been living in Hartford for generations. The relatively sudden increase in the city’s black population also strained city resources and made many white Hartfordites nervous, sparking talk of segregating the public schools.
In these difficult times for Hartford’s black community, Mary Townsend Seymour rose to meet as many of these challenges as she could. When the Hartford NAACP chapter’s first president, William Bell, joined the military and was dispatched to fight overseas during World War I, Seymour became the chapter’s official spokesperson. She joined the American Red Cross and helped form a local chapter of the Circle for Negro War Relief, which assisted black veterans returning home from overseas military service. After the war’s end, Seymour co-authored a nationally-published exposé on wage discrimination for African-American women who worked in Connecticut’s tobacco fields, an experience that inspired her to seek a seat in the Connecticut General Assembly as a member of the Farmer-Labor party in 1920. While unsuccessful, her campaign made Mary Townsend Seymour the first African-American woman in Connecticut history to seek statewide office.
Seymour remained socially active throughout the remainder of her life, advocating for worker’s rights, African-American civil rights, and women’s suffrage. She wrote tirelessly to prominent American suffragists, imploring them to be inclusive of black women in their efforts to secure the right to vote. On January 12, 1957, after a long life dedicated to improving the lives of those around her, Mary Townsend Seymour passed away in her hometown of Hartford. Today, her grave in Hartford’s Old North cemetery is an honored spot on the Connecticut Freedom Trail. Her lifelong work with the underprivileged women of Hartford, teaching them how to cook, sew, and manage a household, inspired the city to name one of its new affordable housing complexes “Mary Seymour Place” in her honor in the 1990s.
The life of one of Hartford’s most dedicated Civil Rights leaders and luminaries remembered, today in Connecticut history.
Please arrive early to be in line for 9:00 am as the truck leaves promptly at 9:30 am. 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)
January 16th 9am - 9:30am
January 30th 9am - 9:30am
Faith Tabernacle – Manchester 110 Utopia Rd, Manchester, CT 06042
January 18th 1pm –1:30pm
February 1st 1pm -1:30pm
New River Community Church - 314 Woodbridge St, Manchester, CT 06042
January 24th 12pm -12:30pm
Get mobile pantry updates in your area by texting the word Foodshare to 85511.
Town Offices will be closed on Monday, January 15 in observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Please visit the Library, and Sanitation Dept. for information on their specific holiday schedules, including curbside trash and recycling schedules.
Ladies, if you would like to have fun and make new friends while helping the community, then we are looking for you! Check out the Manchester Women’s Club, we meet the 3rd Monday of the month 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. at Center Congregational Church - 11 Center Street (next door to the Town Hall. Park in the town hall lot, go in the church 'Office' door, then toward your right and downstairs - signs posted).
We do a wide variety of volunteer activities to help others in the community, such as Little Free Libraries for children, projects for Vets and MACC, as well as social activities to get to know each other. We have speakers come in from the community on a variety of topics. We would love to have you join us!
Each year, we honor and celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., one of the most prolific activists of the Civil Rights era and the movement for racial justice. Dr. King’s unwavering leadership in fighting against injustice through nonviolent means paved the path of equity and equality for all in our nation. This year, the Department of Race and Equity will be joining the Manchester Youth Service Bureau in hosting the Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration! Every year, this event honors students in our district who are continuing Reverend King’s legacy. The DRE is excited to join the host of this event, the Manchester Youth Commission, a youth advisory board consisting of 23 high-school aged students who work to empower the voice of youth in local government.
The 39th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration will be hosted on Tuesday, January 16th, 2024, at the Manchester High School Bailey Auditorium at 6 pm. Nominees are individual students or groups of students from the Manchester Public School community who uphold Dr. King’s values of racial and social justice, equity and equality,peaceful protest, and the fight against racial oppression. These students will receive the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. award to celebrate their contributions to our community.
The Department of Leisure, Family, and Recreation Winter/Spring Program and Event Guide is here!
Overnight parking is not allowed on public streets or municipal parking lots between the hours of 2:00 AM and 6:00 AM from December 1st to April 1st. Parked vehicles are one of the biggest obstacles to effective snow removal. Please support our efforts by parking your vehicle in conformance with the winter parking ban.
Anyone violating this ordinance shall be fined fifteen dollars ($15.00).
The Chief of Police may also declare a parking ban if a significant snow event is forecast or in progress. Residents are asked to remove vehicles from the street when a snowstorm is occurring.
Mayor Martin invites you to attend the Annual Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 6:30 PM. The meeting will take place in the Auditorium of the Community Cultural Center, located 50 Chapman Place.
Come hear Mayor Martin's vision for the community and an update on all the exciting initiatives that are in the works. The presentation will include an extensive list of projects and objectives covering several areas of operation that are designed to move East Hartford forward.
In addition to the Mayor, the community will have an opportunity to meet Town of East Hartford directors, get to know their local government and ask questions.
Town of East Hartford Offices Closed on
Martin Luther King Day
All town offices, including the East Hartford Transfer Station will be closed Monday, January 15, 2024, in observance of Martin Luther King Day.
All town offices will reopen on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, for regularly scheduled hours of operation.
Curbside trash pickup and recycling will run on schedule without delays.
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.
East Hartford Parks and Recreation Offering
Winter Adult Classes
East Hartford Parks and Recreation continues to offer adult programming beginning in early January 2023.
Adult Aqua Zumba
Aqua Zumba will be held on Mondays and Thursday evenings from 5:30pm – 6:30pm at the East Hartford Middle School pool. The winter session will include 16 classes and is $64 for residents and non-residents. Classes will begin on Monday, January 8, 2024. Registration is required online at www.ehparks.org, and registration is open now for residents and non-residents. Class instructors are from Eliza’s Energy Source.
Adult Zumba and Yogalates
Adult Zumba and Yogalates will be held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at the Sunset Ridge Middle School Gymnasium. Zumba will be from 6pm – 7pm and Yogalates will be from 7:15pm – 8pm. The winter session will include 20 classes and is $80 for residents and non-residents. Classes will begin on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. Registration is required online at www.ehparks.org, and registration is open now for residents and non-residents. Class instructors are from Eliza’s Energy Source.
East Hartford Parks and Recreation is offering two fun programs: Open Gym for East Hartford residents in Grades 7 through 12 and Adult Drop-In Basketball.
FREE-PLAY BASKETBALL
For Middle and High School students in grades 7 – 12
East Hartford residents or students attending East Hartford Middle or High School can participate in Basketball Open Gym on Mondays and Fridays. The program starts runs through Friday, March 8th from 6:30 – 8:45pm at East Hartford Middle School. Grade 7 and 8 will be in the Lower Gym and Grades 9 – 12 will be in the Upper Gym. The program is FREE, but all participants must be registered at www.ehparks.org and have a Town ID or EHHS/EHMS ID at the program. There will be no program if there is no school or school is let out early due to inclement weather.
ADULT OPEN BASKETBALL
For adults ages 18 & up
East Hartford Parks and Recreation is offering Adult Open Basketball at Goodwin Elementary School. All participants must complete a registration form the first evening they attend or register at www.ehparks.org for a season membership. The program is Monday and Thursday nights and will run through Thursday, March 7th. Residents can purchase a season pass for $20 or $2 an evening. Non-residents can purchase a Season Pass for $40 or $4 an evening. The program time is 6:30 to 9:30pm. Basketball sneakers are mandatory. There will be no program if there is no school or school is let out early due to inclement weather.
For more information, please call the Parks and Recreation office at 860-291-7160.
Officer Brian A. Aselton Memorial Snow Dash Postponed
Due to the impending Winter Storm Aspen, the 31st running of the annual Officer Brian A. Aselton Memorial Snow Dash 5K Road Race has been postponed for the safety of participants and staff. The new race date is Sunday, January 28, 2024 at 1:30 PM. Thank you for understanding. The event is sponsored by the East Hartford Parks and Recreation Department and the East Hartford Police Department.
The race will start and finish at Langford School located at 61 Alps Drive. Over 200 runners are expected to participate in the race that is run in tribute to Officer Brian A. Aselton. Proceeds benefit the East Hartford Police Department Child Safety and Crime Prevention Programs and the Officer Brian Aselton Scholarship Fund. Commemorative award plaques will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each division for men and women. Divisions include 17 & under, 18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, and 80 & up. Discount Trophy generously provides the awards. Official race apparel is available race day.
On January 23, 1999, Police Officer Brian A. Aselton gave his life in the line of duty protecting the citizens of East Hartford. The tragic loss of Officer Aselton devastated the community. Officer Aselton was only 26 years old when his brilliant life was extinguished; yet, his spirit lives on in those who remember him. Proceeds from the race will benefit the Officer Brian A. Aselton Memorial Scholarship Fund and East Hartford Police Child Safety and Crime Prevention Programs. Sine the inception of Brian's scholarship fund 314 scholarships have been awarded.
Originally, the race was developed in 1993 to benefit the East Hartford Police Department’s Community Outreach Division. The Community Outreach Division operated youth programs throughout town in areas such as Veterans Terrace, Hockanum Park, Mayberry Village and East Hartford Estates. The race was renamed for Officer Aselton in 2000. In 2001, the Quality of Life Division took over these responsibilities. In 2005, Child Safety and Crime Prevention Programs became the race’s beneficiary. Hundreds of East Hartford children and teens annually participate in these programs.
***To register for the race online follow this link: click here
Online registration is open. Same day registration must be completed online. There will be no paper registration race day.
On Jan. 28, 2024, police officers will be directing traffic throughout the run. The following streets will be temporarily affected with road closures:
Long Hill Street (between Burnham Street and Goodwin Street), Leverich Drive, Alps Drive, Yale Drive, Goodwin Street (between Long Hill Street and University Avenue), Prestige Park Road, University Avenue, Colby Drive, Bay Path Drive, Andover Road, Temple Drive, Syracuse Drive, and Purdue Lane.
For more information, please contact Recreation Supervisor, Jonathan Cooper, at 860-291-7164.
East Hartford Parks and Recreation
Offering Winter Swim Lessons
East Hartford Parks and Recreation continues to offer opportunities for residents to swim and now we are excited to announce another session of swim lessons beginning in early January 2024.
Group Swim Lessons at the Middle School Pool
The winter session of Group Swim Lessons will be held on Wednesday evenings beginning January 3rd, or on Saturday mornings beginning January 6th. Lessons are offered as an 8-week session and the fee for the session is $40 for residents or $50 for non-residents. Registration is required online at www.ehparks.org, and registration begins Tuesday, December 5th at 9am for residents and Tuesday, December 12th at 9am for non-residents.
East Hartford Middle School is located at 777 Burnside Avenue, but the pool is only accessible from the school entrance on Scotland Road.
For more information on our swim lessons, or to review the pool rules please visitwww.easthartfordct.gov/parks-recreationor call our office at 860-291-7160.
Winter Programs at East Hartford Public Library
Please visit their online calendar for event listings:
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.
