CT: Fiscal Stability, Economic Growth
GLASTONBURY — The East of the River Chambers of Commerce Association will hold a breakfast meeting on Wednesday, April 24, at the Hilton Garden Inn, 85 Glastonbury Blvd. The breakfast will begin at 8 a.m. and the meeting will take place until 10 a.m.
Jim Smith, co-chair and Fiscal Stability Leader and former CEO Webster Bank will present the Final Report of CT Commission on Fiscal Stability and Economic Growth. This report impacts every individual taxpayer and business owner in the state of Connecticut. ERCCA’s breakfast presentation allots the public an opportunity to get an overview of the proposal and ask questions of the commission co-chair.
Reservations are required. Attendees may register at crvchamber.org or by calling 860-659-3587. Cost to attend is $25 per member and $35 per non-member. Visit https://bit.ly/2pusQLS to view the full report.
House Of Heroes Ribbon Cutting
GLASTONBURY — On April 9, the CT River Valley Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for the House of Heroes Connecticut Chapter, welcoming them to the Chamber. The mission of House of Heroes, Inc. is to recognize and honor military and public safety veterans and/or their spouses who have served the country faithfully and sacrificially.
House of Heroes is raising support for its upcoming Rolling on the River Chili Cook-Off on Sunday, May 6, at Harbor Park in Middletown: They are seeking volunteers and sponsors. Visit https://bit.ly/2qjwoS4 for more information.
Meadows Walk
EAST HARTFORD — The Land Heritage Coalition will sponsor a Goodwin College Meadows Walk on Sunday, April 22, at 1 pm.
Contact coordinator and hike contact Charley Smith at 860-508-1844. Meet at Hockanum Elementary School, 191 Main St.
Difficulty of the hike is easy to moderate, depending on snow accumulations. Participants should be agile enough to wear snowshoes if warranted. Ground conditions may also be wet/muddy.
The length of the hike will be determined by docent/leader considering weather and snow conditions. The estimated hike distance is two miles. Access to the Goodwin property is behind the school off High Street.
Land Heritage Coalition of Glastonbury, Inc. focuses on local land use issues, seeking ways to foster support of farming, to acquire open space, and to protect wetlands, floodplains, surface and ground water sources. Visit www.lhcglastonbury.org for more information.
Bluegrass Night
EAST HARTFORD — Hillstown Grange #87 is holding its annual Bluegrass Night with the Yankee Bluegrass Jammers at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 26, at the Hillstown Grange Hall, 617 Hills St.
The concert is open to the public. There is no charge for admission and refreshments. The Hillstown Grange has served the Hillstown area of East Hartford, Glastonbury, and Manchester for over 100 years and is the oldest agricultural group in America.
For more information, email hillstowngrange@aol.com, call Helen at 860-568-6268 or Frank at 860-690-2845.
CT’s Earliest European Settlers
PRESTON — During the past three years, archaeologists and public field school participants have unearthed clues about Connecticut’s early colonial past at three archaeological sites. The first was undertaken after the unexpected discovery of a buried house cellar within the original John Mason home lot within the Pequot War-era Windsor Palisade.
The second site is a large buried farm complex associated with Lt. John Hollister of Glastonbury, dating between 1650 and 1715. The third is the homestead of Francis Stiles, later owned by the Ellsworth family of Windsor.
Join Dr. Brian Jones, Connecticut’s State Archaeologist who led these excavations, and discover what these recent archaeological explorations in Windsor and Glastonbury tell us about Connecticut’s earliest European settlers and how modern radar-based surveys are helping to find these long-forgotten sites.
The Preston Historical Society is sponsoring this program at Long Society Meetinghouse, 45 Long Society Road, Preston, on Saturday, April 21, at 1 p.m. A $5 donation is requested.
Museum On The Green
GLASTONBURY — Every spring, the Historical Society of Glastonbury’s Museum on the Green displays the work of a prominent local artist. This year, the Historical Society is proud to welcome the art images of Glastonbury resident, Don Nedd.
Nedd’s limited-edition serigraphs include a series of Hartford Landmarks: The Colt Dome, Capitol Dome, Phoenix Building, Old State House, and the Stegosaurus/Traveler’s Tower; a series of Connecticut in Four Seasons and Nantucket Landmarks: Brant’s Point Lighthouse, the Windmill, and a Daffodil. Additional serigraphs include Quoddy Head Lighthouse in Maine and a Swallowtail Butterfly.
There will be a reception open to the general public from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 22, at the Museum on the Green, 1944 Main St. The show will continue for one week during regular museum hours: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and ending Saturday, April 28, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
There is no admission fee for either the exhibit or reception. A percentage of the sale will benefit the education programs and preservation efforts of the Society.
Beginner’s Gardening
GLASTONBURY — A beginner’s gardening series titled ‘Planning, Planting and Picking: From the Earth to Your Table in Three Fun and Informative Sessions’ will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. April 19 and May 3, at Wind Hill Community Farm, 3006 Hebron Ave.
The April 19 topic is on picking plants and plotting the garden. On May 3, the topic is production, pests and harvesting. Cost is $10 per session and $25 for all three. Complimentary seed samples, seedlings and compost tea bags for participants will be provided.
Visit www.windhillfarm.org for more information and email windhillfarmcom@gmail.com to register.
Energy Assistance Program
AREA — Connecticut’s Community Action Agencies (CAAs) are accepting energy assistance applications for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding. At this time, the program has been funded at 90% of its overall allocation of LIHEAP funds. For Connecticut, that amounts to a little over $67 million. The Connecticut Department of Social Services oversees the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) and it is administered by the CT CAAs.
Connecticut residents struggling to pay their utility bills this winter can apply for home heating assistance through their local CAA (see attached list). Connecticut’s Community Action Agencies are the only nonprofit agencies administering this critical home heating assistance program to Connecticut’s most vulnerable residents. Each CAA has application intake sites throughout their service regions and may include town halls, so those interested should check with their local CAA for a complete site listing.
CAAs are certifying assistance for those who heat with oil, propane, and deliverable fuels. May 1, 2018, is the last day households can apply for benefits unless the household is utility heated and has a shut off notice for its primary source of heat. May 15, 2018 is the last day a utility heated household with a shut off notice for its primary source of heat can apply for benefits.
There are other potential benefits to customers who come in for energy assistance: weatherization services; matching payment program with utilities; and, heating system repair and replacement. Additionally, the CAA staff works with customers around accessing other benefits for which they may be eligible including SNAP, child care, financial counseling, and other programs and services the agency may offer.
Connecticut’s poorest families struggle each and every year to heat their homes in this a state with one of the highest utility rates in the country. Often times, customers are forced to choose between heating and eating or heating and paying for their medicines. CEAP allows them to not only cover high home energy costs and keep warm during the cold winter months, but gives limited income families the opportunity to address other critical, basic needs, rather than having to choose between them. Any resident who needs help paying their heating bill this winter should contact their Community Action Agency immediately.
For more information on Connecticut’s Energy Assistance Program, how to find your local CAA to apply, or to make a donation, visit www.cafca.org or contact the Connecticut Association for Community Action (CAFCA), 144 Clinton Street, New Britain, CT, 06053, 860-832-9438. Each CAA’s energy department below contact number is below.
Seeking Hospice Volunteers
AREA — Friendly volunteers are welcome to join the Hartford HealthCare at Home Hospice Care team to visit hospice patients, provide respite for weary caregivers, be a listening ear, connect with patients’ goals, assist with bereavement or spiritual support, share gifts of music or art, visit as a registered pet therapy team or help with clerical projects.
The Hartford HealthCare at Home volunteers provide 400 hours each month to individuals and families in central and Eastern Connecticut. Volunteers visit based on their individual schedules.
Free training is provided so volunteers can be educated and feel valued in their role by understanding the history and philosophy of hospice, clinical aspects of dying, communication skills, family dynamics, issues of spirituality and religion, and grief and bereavement.
Visitors are needed to connect with hospice patients in Berlin, Cheshire, Danielson, East Hartford, Enfield, Glastonbury, Groton, Hartford, Manchester, New London, Newington, Norwich, Plainfield, Putnam, Waterbury, Waterford, Watertown and Wolcott. Volunteer clerical support is needed in Southington.
For more information, call John Roush, volunteer coordinator, Hartford HealthCare at Home & Hospice, at 860-951-6997.
