Jason Doucette

It's almost here! The 87th Manchester Road Race will be held at 10 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

Online registration is available at manchesterroadrace.com. There will also be in-person registration on Tuesday from 5-8 p.m. at Urban Lodge Brewery, 47 Purnell Place in Manchester.

For Information on parking/traffic, which includes the overnight period of midnight on Wednesday until approximately 1 p.m. on Thursday, please read more at manchesterroadrace.com/page/news.

The Town of Manchester seeks feedback on its concept for the Downtown Manchester Improvements Project, also known as the “Downtown Streetscape Project” or “Downtown for All.” It is the next phase in Manchester's recent efforts to make Downtown and its adjacent neighborhoods more vibrant.

Leveraging a $7.5 million grant from the State of Connecticut that was awarded in March 2023, this project will represent a significant investment in Downtown that will benefit the entire community, complete necessary upgrades of the Main Street corridor, and address multiple community needs previously identified in various engagement efforts spanning the past decade.

For more information about the plan concept, please visit yvmmct.com to review project details, ask questions directly to the project team, review FAQs, and subscribe for project updates.

Last Wednesday, MARC, Inc. of Manchester held its annual Evening of Gratitude at the Ann Mazur Senior Center, which is always one of my favorite nights of the year!

The Evening of Gratitude is dedicated to thanking our donors, volunteers, community partners, awarding the people served for their years of service at MARC, and initiating the new generation of MARC ambassadors. 

It's a true privilege to attend this event! 

Had a fun morning recently watching Manchester’s new tree get planted ahead of resuming the Holiday Tree-Lighting Ceremony at the Center Congregational Church on the night of Dec. 9. Thanks to Tom Topping for making this happen and to Newcity Builders for their generous donations!

Join Santa at Silk City Coffee for hot chocolate and caroling from 4:15-4:45 p.m. and carol all the way to the church where Mayor Jay Moran and Santa will lead everyone in more song and to light the Christmas tree!

Carols will be available for download, or a booklet provided onsite. Free family fun for the whole family!

Had a fun day recently participating in the Connecticut Education Association's “Bring Your Legislator to School Week.”

First, I was at Highland Park Elementary School with Mrs. Kilgus and Mrs. Chenette’s kindergartners, and then at Glastonbury High School with Mr. Johnson’s Biology class and Ms. Basiaga’s Physics class!

Thanks to Connecticut's strong, fiscally responsible policies at the state level: 

We have a great deal to look forward to in the upcoming days with Thanksgiving celebrations, being together with loved ones, and Small Business Saturday just around the corner. This is a great opportunity to support our local entrepreneurs, artisans, and small businesses that make our community unique and vibrant.

Some of these businesses are still working to recover from the pandemic. Your support can make a significant difference in helping your favorites shops, bookstores, or restaurants bounce back and thrive. The resilience they've shown during such challenging times is truly admirable.

By choosing to shop local, we're not just making purchases; we're investing in our community's vitality and ensuring that these businesses can continue to create jobs, offer unique products and services, and help stimulate our local economy. Let's come together this holiday season to celebrate and support them. It's a powerful way to show solidarity and make a difference.
 
My colleagues and I doubled down by supporting small businesses during the 2023 legislative session.

With the holiday season quickly approaching, you may want to consider buying gift cards and certificates from a local business. According to Boost Suite, there are 350,376 small businesses in our state, which make up 99% of all businesses in Connecticut. To find small businesses in your area, please click here. 
 
In Manchester, Holiday on Main celebrates Small Business Saturday and kicks off the holiday shopping season with this fun annual event.

Hop on the Holiday Shuttle to travel up and down Main Street for shopping, dining, and fun! The shuttle will run from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Be sure to stop by one of three North Pole Post Offices to write and mail a letter to Santa! Include a self-addressed envelope and Santa will write back!

Thank you for supporting locally owned businesses!

Access Health CT's Open Enrollment Period for 2024 is underway and during this time, individuals can enroll for the first time, renew their coverage, and explore the various policy options to see which will be the most beneficial. 

If you are interested, and have questions about the program, there are several ways to receive free assistance:

• In-person: There are in-person enrollment locations and events taking place across Connecticut. Find more information at accesshealthct.com/enrollment-events/.
• Online: Visit accesshealthct.com. You can learn more about the different plans and find free help online using the "live chat" feature.
• By phone: Call (855) 805-4325. Help is available Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. Customers who are deaf or hearing impaired may use TTY at (855) 789-2428 or call with a relay operator.
• Work with a Broker: To find a Certified Broker or Enrollment Specialist, visit accesshealthct.com/get-help/

If you or your family need quality, affordable healthcare please don't miss this opportunity. Click here to learn more.

Heads up! Scam calls, typically targeting seniors, seem to be popping up again, including winning an exorbitant amount of money from Publisher's Clearing House. Help me spread the word with these reminders: