Community News For The East Hartford Edition

East Hartford Enters Into Broadband Development Agreement

EAST HARTFORD — The town of East Hartford has entered into a development agreement with SiFi Networks to install a high speed fiber-optic network to all corners of East Hartford. Funded entirely by SiFi, this project will be the first network of its kind in New England, and will provide high speed broadband internet to all East Hartford residents and businesses through their Internet Service Providers.

The fiber-optic network installed by SiFi will enable speeds of up to 20 times faster than currently available internet. SiFi will install the network along town streets at no cost to the taxpayer and market Fiber Optic internet service to existing Internet Service Providers in East Hartford.

Senior Center News

EAST HARTFORD — The East Hartford Senior Center, 70 Canterbury St., is hosting the following events. Visit www.easthartfordct.gov or call 860-568-4281 for more information.

The senior center is looking for volunteers to help serve the noon meal, work as an office volunteer or join the special events group. Call the above number if you are interested.

A Dominoes group will take place at 1 p.m. Fridays.

Every Tuesday from 1 to 3:30 p.m., a group meets to knit and crochet. There is no need to sign up, just drop in with your own materials and join in.

Tap dance class began on Sept. 12 and will run through Nov. 14, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Cost to attend is $15 for residents and $25 for nonresidents, for all 10 classes.

Do you want to learn to line dance? Drop in on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. to try the latest dances.

Flu shot clinics will take place from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 20. Bring your insurance card and ID.

Do you know that the East Hartford Senior Center serves a hot lunch every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday? Call 860-569-5654 before noon on the day before you are coming to make a reservation. A full meal is served for a $2.50 donation.

A Genealogy Series sponsored by Aetna Retiree Services with Jennifer Zinck, a professional genealogist with more than a decade of research experience, will take place at 10 a.m. Oct. 20 and Oct. 27. Register in advance by calling the Senior Center.

Working Cities Challenge

EAST HARTFORD — East Hartford has been selected to participate, competing with nine other towns and cities across Connecticut, in the Working Cities Challenge. Developed by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, this Challenge is a multiyear, multistate funding initiative that is designed to foster economic growth in smaller industrial cities in New England, with community based efforts to tackle social and economic challenges.

The East Hartford Working Cities Challenge Team has been working on a design to meet the specific economic and social challenges of the Silver Lane Community. Key partners have been the Town of East Hartford, the United Way of Central and Northeastern CT, CT Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT), the Department of Labor, Goodwin College, Hall Keen Management of Summerfield Townhomes, and other key industry leaders and residents.

Residents may visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/working_cities_community_2017_2018 to take a community survey about employment and education experiences.

For more information, contact Paul Mainuli, Director of Business Services for the East Hartford Public Schools at 860-622-5135.

Fuel Up To Play 60

EAST HARTFORD — Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by New England Dairy & Food Council and the National Football League, in collaboration with the USDA, to help encourage today’s youth to lead healthier lives. Currently celebrating its 10th Anniversary the program has created a nationwide movement to get healthy, get active and dream big.

On Oct. 20 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Synergy High School, 40 Butternut Drive, will have a kickoff event featuring the Play 60 Playoffs challenging Synergy students to a variety of physical activity events and obstacles. Synergy students will celebrate healthy eating with fresh fruit and yogurt smoothies to help Fuel Up for success.

At 12:30 p.m., the Synergy Play 60 Playoffs between the top two male and female contestants at Synergy will take place. Around 1 p.m., the formal ceremony will begin. Principal Craig Outhouse will introduce Joseph Pearce to speak about the Play 60 activities. Additionally, Synergy’s future plans for an expansion of the Fuel Up to Play 60 will be shared.

Around 1:10 p.m., town and state representatives will be invited to participate in the presentation of the check from Amanda Aldred, Program Manager for New England Dairy & Food Council. Amanda will be presenting a check for nearly $4,000 honoring Synergy as a recipient of grant funding on behalf of the New England Dairy & Food Council and NFL. RSVP to harrison.dl@easthartford.org if you plan on attending.

Hillstown Grange Halloween Party

EAST HARTFORD — A Halloween party for all ages will take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, at the Hillstown Grange, 617 Hills St. There is no cost to attend.

Prizes for best costumes will be awarded. Games will take place and refreshments will be served. Costumes are welcomed but not required. RSVP at hillstowngrange@aol.com or by calling 860-633-7897.

Social Services Thanksgiving, Christmas Sign-Ups

EAST HARTFORD — East Hartford Social Services will be holding combined sign-ups for low income East Hartford families with minor children only, requesting assistance with Thanksgiving food baskets, Christmas food baskets and holiday toys for their children, between the ages 0-10 years.

New this year: Sign-ups will be held on a walk-in basis (no appointments necessary), every Tuesday, between Oct. 3 through Oct. 24, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 3 p.m. Sign-ups will be held in the Social Services Department on the lower level of Town Hall, 740 Main St.

At the time of sign-up, the following information must be provided: Proof of East Hartford residency: photo ID with current address or current bill; Proof of current gross monthly income; Current budget sheet from DSS (for cash assistance only); Dates of birth for all family/household members; Long form birth certificates for all household members under age 18; and Proof of guardianship/custody, if applicable.

Food baskets are available for families with minor children only and are based on the amount of donations received. A completed application does not guarantee that assistance can be provided. Singles will be provided with referrals to other community resources.

Mobile Foodshare Schedule

EAST HARTFORD — The East Hartford Mobile Foodshare schedule for October 2017 is as follows. This program assists low income individuals and families.

Hockanum Park Complex, 75 Hamilton Road: 8:45 to 9:15 a.m.; Veterans Terrace Complex, 102 Columbus St., 10 to 10:30 a.m., Monday: Oct. 30. When Town Hall is closed or East Hartford Schools have a delayed opening or are closed due to bad weather, Hockanum Park and Veterans Terrace Foodshare will be canceled that day. Also watch Channel 3 news or check their website: www.wfsb.com for cancellations.

St. Isaac Jogues, 41 Home Terrace, 1:15 to 2 p.m., Monday: Oct. 23; When East Hartford Schools are closed due to bad weather, Mayberry Foodshare will be canceled that day. Note location change for winter distributions: Main & Burnside Mobile, 12 Rector St., 1:15 to 2 p.m. Wednesday: Oct. 25. When East Hartford Schools are closed due to bad weather, Main & Burnside Mobile will be canceled that day.

Flu Clinics

EAST HARTFORD — The Town of East Hartford is sponsoring flu clinics this fall for residents who have not yet received a flu vaccine. Clinics are available for residents age 50 and older.

The clinic for East Hartford’s senior residents will take place Friday, Oct. 20, at the South End Senior Center, 70 Canterbury St., from 1 to 3 p.m., sponsored by the East Hartford Health Department.

Clinics require Photo I.D. and insurance card for vaccination. There are no out-of-pocket costs and reservations are not necessary.

For more information about the clinics or for answers to other flu related questions, call the East Hartford Health Department at 860-291-7324.

2017 Road Improvement Project Update

EAST HARTFORD — The Town of East Hartford’s Road Improvement Project is underway. Contractor Tilcon Connecticut, Inc. will continue road improvement activities, including pavement reconstruction, new curbing installation, manhole adjustments, sidewalk ramp construction, pavement marking, etc. throughout the fall. Residents should be advised that no street has been fully completed. Work may return to their street through the fall.

The following status update for all 2017 Road Improvement Project streets is as of Aug. 25, 2017:

The first layer of paving and curb installation is complete for the following roads. Concrete work is underway for some driveways and accessible ramps. The final surface course paving is scheduled for September: Claremont Street, Deerfield Court, Deerfield Avenue, Edward Street,

Franklin Street, Linden Street, Maplewood Avenue, Oakland Avenue, Stanley Street, Sterling Road, Webster Street, and Woodbridge Avenue.

Columbus Circle has been reclaimed and will be paved once the road has been graded and compacted. Curbing will then be installed.

Drainage work is ongoing on the following roads, and is nearing completion. Then the road will be reclaimed to make the first layer of pavement: Adams Street, Murray Street, Vine Street, Springside Avenue, Rose Street, and Greene Terrace.

Drainage work has started on Jayce Street and Park Avenue. Both will be milled and repaved starting in September. Drainage work has also begun on Barbonsel Road and Godar Terrace, both of these streets will be reclaimed and repaved.

Questions can be directed to the East Hartford Public Works Department, Engineering Division at 860-291-7380, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Visit http://www.easthartfordct.gov/engineering for more information.

Blue Star Flag Flies For Deployed Firefighters

EAST HARTFORD — Continuing a long standing tradition, the East Hartford Fire Department is flying the Blue Star Flag at each fire station to recognize the overseas service of two of its members. Lieutenant Nicholas Calsetta and Firefighter/Paramedic Darrel Hanrahan are both deployed overseas with units of the Connecticut Air National Guard.

A tradition lasting to the First World War, the Blue Star Banner and its associated flag is a federally recognized symbol indicating that a family member is serving overseas in the Armed Forces. The East Hartford Fire Department has flown the flag for each deployment of a department member since 2010. Visit https://www.legion.org/troops/bluestar for more information about the Blue Star Banner.

Mental Illness Support Groups

EAST HARTFORD — The Manchester affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness will hold a support group on the first Thursday of the month at the Crossroads Community Cathedral, 1492 Silver Lane, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The NAMI Family Support Group is a peer-led support group for family members, caregivers and loved ones of individuals living with mental illness. Gain insight from the challenges and successes of others facing similar circumstances. Contact Dama at dayma436@gmail.com or Sandra at 860-461-6695 for more information.

Donations Sought: Back-To-School Program

EAST HARTFORD — The East Hartford Social Services Division will be transitioning their Back-to-School Supplies Program to a Back-to-School Shoe Program.

Donations are currently being sought for the newly established “Payless Back-to-School Shoe Program.” These funds will be used to purchase discounted Payless Shoe gift cards to distribute to the students previously served by the “Back-to-School Supplies Program.”

The goal of the program is to provide parents with a $25 one time use gift card to Payless ShoeSource. Any individual, organization or group wishing to find out more about this program or make a donation are encouraged to contact Social Services at 860-291-7248. Checks should be made payable to: Payless Back-to-School Shoe Program and are fully tax deductible.

Smoke Alarm Installations

EAST HARTFORD — The Connecticut American Red Cross and the East Hartford Fire Department are offering free smoke alarms and installation to residents in East Hartford. Installations took place on Friday, Aug. 4. Residents can schedule a visit on the Connecticut Chapter of the American Red Cross’s website or by calling 877-287-3327 and choosing option 1 on the menu to request a smoke alarm installation.

Visit http://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/fire/prevent-home-fire for fire safety tips.

Farmers Market

EAST HARTFORD — The East Hartford Farmers Market begins its 25th year of operation. The market will be open Fridays through Oct. 27, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Raymond Library, 840 Main St.

All Connecticut farmers markets are affiliated with the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Farmer’s Market Coupon Program. They are authorized to accept their produce and vegetable vouchers.

The Farmers Market is Co-sponsored by East Hartford Health Department and the East Hartford Public Libraries. These organizations and other agencies will conduct health, education and outreach activities at the market, and representatives from the Health Department’s Community Nursing Services Division, the VFW, East Hartford Childplan and First Choice Community Health Center will be there. Special events will be announced as the season progresses.

New Taxes Billing System

EAST HARTFORD — Tax Collector Iris Laurenza is reminding residents that the first installment of real estate, motor vehicle and personal property tax for the fiscal year was due effective July 1.

Residents wishing their payment to be marked as on time should complete or postmark payment on or before August 1, 2017. Late payments are subject to an interest charge of 1 1/2 percent per month from the due date of July 1, 2017, with a minimum interest payment of $2.

Residents are reminded that failure to receive a tax bill does not excuse residents from paying the tax or added penalties. Residents with questions about vehicles which were sold, stolen or destroyed should contact the East Hartford Assessor’s Office at 860-291-7260. Residents requesting a receipt with mailed tax payments should include a self-addressed stamped envelope.

The Town has an online billing system, InvoiceCloud, which saves time, reduces errors, and allows paperless billing. Residents will be able to access their bill at any time, from anywhere. Residents who register can take advantage of payment scheduling and auto-pay features which save time and prevent missed bills. The new system can also send payment reminders by email or SMS text message and includes pay by text functionality for those who have set up a profile with a payment method. Residents can choose from a range of online payment options, including credit, debit, ACH and Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). Please note that there may be fees associated with different online payment methods.

For more information about the online bill payment system or to pay your bill, visit http://www.easthartfordct.gov/tax-collector.

Bulky Waste Permits

EAST HARTFORD — Residents may begin purchasing bulky waste permits for the next fiscal year of 2018. All current year permits expired on June 30.

New permits and ticket books may be purchased at the Public Works Administration Office located at 61 Ecology Drive. Permits may also be obtained by mailing a completed application, along with a check and a copy of the resident’s photo ID or other document showing proof of residency, to Town of East Hartford Public Works, 740 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 06108.

Residents should be aware that, due to the popularity of the Bulky Waste program, there may be delays in purchasing permits at the DPW office. Residents are advised to visit the Public Works Office prior to their arrival to obtain pertinent information and forms to assist in processing their application and avoid delays. The office is open Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Being prepared with the proper documentation can also speed up the process. Residents are reminded that a valid Connecticut driver’s license (or non-driver ID), as well as a tax bill and/or utility bill as documentation of residency is needed to complete the application. Residents can also print and fill out the Bulky Waste permit application from the Town website which will expedite the process. The application can be accessed at the following link: https://www.easthartfordct.gov/waste-services

Annual permit fees are $15 for senior residents and $35 for all others. Permit holders will receive a book of five tickets for use at the transfer station and two appointments for curbside service. Supplemental books of five tickets each may be purchased for $30 each. Supplemental tickets will not expire, but the user must have a valid permit to access the Transfer Station. Owners of 1-6 family properties and renters are eligible. Accepted forms of payment include cash, check or credit/debit card, with a $3 fee.

Residents may continue to drop off recyclables including leaves and grass, cardboard, single stream items, waste oil, textiles, Paint Care approved paint products, mattresses and electronics at the Transfer Station free of charge without a permit by showing an East Hartford photo ID.

Questions about the bulky waste program and fees may be answered by calling 860-291-7363. Information is also available on the Internet at www.easthartfordct.gov.

Thrift Store Volunteer Opportunities

EAST HARTFORD — The East Hartford Senior Center’s ‘New to You’ thrift store is seeking volunteers to help with two positions. The first is testing a variety of donated electronics, everything from flashlights to computers.

The store is also looking for someone to manage Craigslist postings: photography, descriptions, pricing, and meeting buyers will be done by staff. For information about volunteering, contact Kathy Kane at 860-569-5659. Proceeds directly benefit Seniors through the East Hartford Senior Center, 70 Canterbury St.

CoDA Meets Tuesdays

EAST HARTFORD — Co-Dependents Anonymous, CoDA, is a 12-step fellowship of men and women whose common purpose is recovery from co-dependence and the development and maintenance of healthy relationships. The local CoDA meetings are on Tuesdays, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church, 1120 Silver Lane. Call Dan at 860-836-6566 for details.

Operation Fuel Offering Energy Assistance

HARTFORD — Operation Fuel’s statewide network of fuel banks started taking energy assistance applications on Wednesday, July 5, from households that are in financial crisis and are in danger of having their utility services terminated.

Individuals who need energy assistance should call 211. The annual winter moratorium, which prevents households from having their electricity and gas shut off, ended on May 1 and will not resume until November 1, 2017.

Energy affordability is a year-round problem for more than 322,000 Connecticut households. Operation Fuel is Connecticut’s only statewide nonprofit energy assistance program. For the fiscal year, which ends June 30, Operation Fuel has provided over $3.3 million in energy assistance to more than 7,830 households. This includes $2.1 million in energy assistance for the 2017 winter program and $1.2 million in energy assistance last summer.

Now in its 40th year, Operation Fuel is a statewide nonprofit program that provides emergency energy assistance year-round to lower-income working families and individuals, the elderly, and disabled individuals who are in financial crisis.

For more information on Operation Fuel or to make a donation, go to www.operationfuel.org. Donations also can be sent to Operation Fuel, 75 Charter Oak Avenue, Suite 2-240, Hartford, CT, 06106.