Dear Neighbor, 

 

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:

• Today in CT History
• State Update
• Community Resources
• Manchester Community Events 
• East Hartford Community Events

During the first half of the 19th century, as thousands of Americans journeyed westward in search of new fortunes, necessity became the mother of invention as would-be farmers were forced to adapt to new climates and topographies that were unlike anything they had ever seen before. Since the Great Plains generally lacked the forests and fast-moving streams found along the nation’s eastern seaboard, settlers became increasingly reliant on wind power to drive their granaries and pump their water wells. American inventors seized upon the trend, applying for dozens of windmill-related patents in the course of a single decade, from 1850 – 1859.

One innovative design stood out among the rest, however. On August 29, 1854, Daniel Halladay of Ellington, Connecticut received a patent for an adaptable “wind wheel” design that changed the direction of its sails when encountering different wind speeds without requiring any human oversight. This deceptively simple, self-adapting windmill revolutionized the fledgling wind-power industry in the United States: Before Halladay’s invention, windmills were routinely torn apart during periods of high winds and severe thunderstorms, which were much more common in the Midwest than in New England.

Soon after receiving his patent, Halladay founded the Halladay Wind Mill Company and moved his operations to nearby Coventry. Demand for his windmills was so high, however, that he soon sold his company at a handsome profit to the United States Wind Engine Company, which moved production westward to Illinois during the Civil War. “Halladay windmills” remained popular through the end of the century, with thousands being produced annually to grind grain and provide water for farms, towns, and even railroad companies.

Further Reading

“Halladay’s Revolutionary Windmill,” connecticuthistory.org

Daniel Halladay, “U.S. Patent 11629: Wind Wheel,” Google Patents Database

We had the pleasure of announcing that the Department of Veterans Affairs in Rocky Hill will be receiving federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to fully renovate 46 beds and living spaces in several housing units. This will provide veterans and their families with safe, secure, and updated housing. Thank you to Representative Wood, Commissioner Mosquera-Bruno, Commissioner Welch and the entire team at Department of Veteran Affairs for your incredible work on this project

Announcement of release of sixth annual Connecticut Grown magazine, a guide to the state’s farms, food and markets at Fernandes Farmstead in Manchester, featured on the cover of the 2024 edition.

With a new school year comes an important reminder to look out for students of all ages who will be walking to and from the bus stop. Some of our little ones may not always be looking both ways before crossing the street. Please SLOW DOWN and give those kids extra room on the roads! Their lives depend on it. We all want our students and schools to have great starts to the school year, and that starts with getting to and from school safely.

School bus guidelines:

• On a standard road (one lane going in each direction) if a school bus is stopped with flashers on and stop arm is extended, all vehicles in both lanes must stop.
• On a multi-lane road where there is a divider/median, vehicles traveling in the same direction as the bus must stop. Vehicles on the other side of the median travelling in the opposite direction are not required to stop but should be aware and use caution.
• On multi-lane roads where there is not a divider, all vehicles travelling in either direction must stop.
• At an intersection where a school bus has stopped to collect or discharge students, all vehicles must stop until the flashing lights have been turned off and the stop arm is no longer extended.
• No vehicle should ever pass or attempt to go around a stopped school bus that has their flashing lights on and stop sign arm extended.

Kids can be unpredictable and bus stops might not be obvious. Please use caution when driving near school buses. Thank you for doing your part to keep our kids safe! CLICK HERE for more school bus safety tips for drivers, parents, and children.

August 31^st is International Overdose Awareness Day, a global campaign to end overdose, remember those who have died, and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind.

 

Connecticut has dedicated many resources toward combatting this crisis in an effort to prevent, discourage, and destigmatize opioid addiction. The Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services launched its LiveLOUD communications campaign in 2019 directed to those who are actively using fentanyl, heroin, or prescription opioids, as well as their families and communities, to learn about this complex issue, get connected to support and treatment options, and learn how to become a LiveLOUD partner to help spread awareness.

 

Addiction is a disease, and we should treat it as such without prejudice or judgement. Anyone seeking treatment for addiction can visit www.ctaddictionservices.com or call 1-800-563-4086 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) to get connected to nearby services throughout Connecticut.

The Connecticut Youth Employment Program is an initiative designed to help young people ages 14 to 24 explore careers by providing opportunities to work alongside professionals who assist them in building career networks and receive on-the-job training while also covering participant salaries and other job-related expenses, such as uniforms and transportation to and from work.

The YWCA Hartford Region is one of the many partners statewide hiring youths under the program, overseen by the Connecticut Department of Labor, and administered by the state’s five Workforce Development Boards.

The Connecticut Youth Employment Program runs year-round. Youths who want to enroll can contact their region's Workforce Development Board by clicking HERE. More information can be found on the Connecticut Youth Employment Program webpage HERE.

Town Resources

https://www.easthartfordct.gov/residents

 

Town Newsletters

Pulse of East Hartford     

East Hartford Public Schools

East Hartford Works

Lead Service Replacement Program

The Manchester Water Department is pleased to announce that financial assistance is available to qualified applicants through the Town’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for water service line replacements. Single and multi-unit residential properties with water service line materials consisting of lead or galvanized materials may apply to have their water service lines replaced at no charge to the owner.



Assistance is available for a limited number of income-eligible residents on a first come first served basis who meet the grant criteria. Applications must be received no later than September 9, 2024, and construction must occur by October 1, 2024.



Residential buildings with seven or fewer dwelling units where at least 51% of the units are income-eligible (or 1 of 2 units in a 2-family) and for which rents cannot exceed the annually adjusted fair market levels established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The property owner must be current in mortgage payments (if applicable) and on all local taxes, fees and assessments including real estate, and water and sewer charges.



The Town reserves the right to deny assistance to any property whose owner has a record of tax or mortgage delinquency and cannot provide documentation of a loan modification agreement.



For more information or to complete the application packet, please visit our website at https://manct.us/lead or contact the Water Department at 860-647-3115.

If you are not sure if you have a lead or galvanized service line, follow the instructions at https://manct.us/lead and email a picture of your service line, along with a description of your findings, to waterandsewer@manchesterct.gov.

WWLM Warehouse Loading Dock, 16 Brainard Place, 06040

We’re happy to announce a new session of our Citizen Police Academy! This is your chance to learn about the inner workings of local law enforcement, understand the challenges officers face, and gain valuable insights into community safety. Attending the academy will enhance your knowledge of police procedures, foster stronger community-police relationships, and empower you with the ultimate knowledge and skills to contribute positively to public safety. Don’t miss out! Space is limited and seats fill up quickly. Join us and be part of the change! Click here to apply

The Town of East Hartford Farmers’ Market is open Tuesdays through October 29 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Town Green / Alumni Park (1047 Main Street).

CALL FOR FARMERS’ MARKET VENDORS:

Are you a farmer or market vendor who produces honey, milk, eggs, bread, other foods, or locally produced crafts who wishes to be part of the East Hartford Farmers’ Market? Are you a business or non-profit organization looking to promote your services? Please visit the East Hartford Farmers’ Market website for guidelines and to access the vendor application (both online and printable options are available). There is no cost to participate as a vendor and individuals are able to request space for specific dates or the full market season. Once your application is submitted, organizers will review and determine if your product or service is appropriate for the farmers’ market.

DONATE TO BECOME AN EH FARMERS’ MARKET PARTNER!

The Town of East Hartford is asking for donations from residents, community organizations, and businesses to support our market programs that fight food insecurity right here in our community. Your support will help residents buy fresh, healthy foods from farmers that support our market. Donations will help the Town provide additional support to SNAP, WIC, and SFMNP recipients through farmers’ market matching vouchers.

Donations can be made online by visiting the Social Services Donation Program website and choosing the “Farmers’ market partner program” option. Alternatively, cash or check donations can be dropped off to East Hartford Youth & Social Services Division located at the Community Cultural Center at 50 Chapman Place. Checks should be made payable to the Town of East Hartford Youth & Social Services Division with “Farmers Market” noted in the bottom left. Any amount helps!

For more information regarding the various benefit programs and the Social Services donation program, please visit East Hartford Farmers’ Market website.

The East Hartford Public Library is excited to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a lineup of programs celebrating the rich histories, art, stories and contributions of those whose ancestry can be traced back to Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. All programs will be held at the Raymond Library located at 840 Main Street, East Hartford.



"Capture the Flag" Scavenger Hunt

Find flags (along with some fun facts!) representing all 21 nations celebrated during Hispanic Heritage Month with this scavenger hunt throughout the Raymond Library. Pick up the scavenger hunt form at the Circulation Desk to begin. Available during library open hours.



Alebrijes & Paper Flowers

Tuesday, September 17, 5:00 – 7:00 PM, Raymond Makerspace

We will be making giant celebration flowers and alebrijes (brightly colored Mexican folk-art sculptures of fantasy creatures or animals) out of paper. This program is open to everyone of all ages. Register for a reminder.

 

Miguel Jose Matos: Meet the Artist

Thursday, September 19, 6:00 - 7:00 PM, Raymond atrium

Meet the artist Miguel Jose Matos and view his exhibition in our Atrium. With no formal art training or education Miguel began painting around 2017.  He “lets his hand follow the brush” and never goes into a piece knowing what the end result will be, since sketching does not replace improvisation. It now has become a routine adventure, sometimes painting 3-5 canvas pieces weekly. Drawing inspiration from artists like Jean Michel Basquiat, who remains one of Matos’ biggest artistic influences, has led this talented prolific Puerto Rican creator to master his own style and produce a growing body of work consisting of at least 250 canvas paintings and numerous wooden sculptures. For adults and teens. Register for a reminder.

The culture of Japan will be center stage for a week-long series of programs from October 5 – 11 at the East Hartford Public Library. Japan Week is organized by East Hartford resident Toshiko Uchino along with members of the US and Japan Society of Connecticut. Funding support for Japan Week is provided by the East Hartford Commission on Culture and Fine Arts.

 

Saturday, October 5

Kick off Japan Week at 1 PM with a calligraphy class! Create an ema with calligraphy artist Michiko Imai in the Raymond Library Makerspace. For adults and teens. Registration required.

 

An exhibition by Michiko Imai will be on display at Raymond Library during Japan Week. Meet the artist and view her show at an after-hours reception from 5 – 7 PM. Enjoy light refreshments and take a moment to check out the Kokeshi wooden doll exhibit being shown concurrently. Register for a reminder.

 

Sunday, October 6

At 2 PM, children and families are invited to learn origami together! Join us at Raymond Library for an afternoon of paper-folding and an elementary-level Japanese language lesson presented by Riho Hirohashi and friends from Old Greenwich, Connecticut. Best suited for ages 8 and up. Please register.

 

Michiko Imai will return on Sunday for a brush-stroke calligraphy floor demonstration at 3 PM. This dramatic and exciting program is best suited for all ages. No registration required.

 

Monday, October 7 @ the Senior Center

Japan Week moves to the Senior Center for a showing of “Perfect Days” at 1 PM. Hirayama feels content with his life as a toilet cleaner in Tokyo. Outside of his structured routine, he cherishes music on cassette tapes, reads books, and takes photos. Through unexpected encounters, he reflects on finding beauty in the world. Directed by Wim Wenders. Rated PG. Run time: 2 hours, 5 minutes. To attend a program at the Senior Center, you must be 55 or older and a resident of East Hartford. Register by calling the Senior Center: 860-291-7460

 

Let’s Wrap and Roll Rice!

Instructor Yutaka Iwabushi from Maruichi Food & Deli in West Hartford will present two cooking programs on the theme of “Let’s Wrap and Roll Rice!” On Wednesday, October 7 at 6:30 PM at Raymond Library, she will teach the class how to make onigiri, Japanese rice balls. Register here for the Wednesday program. On Thursday, October 8 at 6:30 PM at Raymond Library, she will teach the class how to make futomaki, thick Japanese sushi rolls. Both programs are best suited to adults and teens. Register here for the Thursday program.

 

Friday, October 11 @ Wickham Library

Enjoy a movie afternoon at the Wickham Library! Japan Week will conclude with a 2 PM showing of “Ikiru,” directed by Akira Kurosawa. Mr. Watanabe suddenly finds that he has terminal cancer. He vows to make his final days meaningful. His attempts to communicate his anguish to his son and daughter-in-law lead only to heartbreak. Finally, inspired by an unselfish co-worker, he turns his efforts to bringing happiness to others by building a playground in a dreary slum neighborhood. When the park is finally completed, he is able to face death with peaceful acceptance. Not rated. Run time: 2 hours, 5 minutes. Register for a reminder.

 

Stop by anytime during library open hours to view the exhibitions, and browse our book displays on the main level for more information on Japanese culture.  

 

For more information on Japan Week, and to register for programs, visit our website: www.easthartfordct.gov/library or call the Raymond Library at 860-290-4330. Raymond Library is located at 840 Main St., East Hartford.

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