Dear Neighbor,

With schools back in session, I would like to wish all East Hartford students a safe, fruitful and fun year of learning and exploring. Education is the best gift one could have to help them become a self-sufficient and productive member of society. I am proud that East Hartford has some of the best schools that offer a high-quality education to all students. It prepares them for a successful life after graduation. Happy new school year!

-Mayor Michael P. Walsh

Suicide Prevention

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. We know, the COVID-19 pandemic added economic stress, social isolation, loss of loved ones, and hardships. It is time to raise awareness on this global health crisis and work to remove the stigma surrounding suicide. By simply learning more about mental health and suicide, you can make a difference. Take steps to decrease the stigma by changing how you talk about mental health and suicide.

Influenza Season

While seasonal flu viruses are detected year-round in the United States, flu viruses are most common during the fall and winter. Flu activity increases significantly in the month of October. The East Hartford Health Department would like to remind residents that the best way to protect against the flu and its potentially serious complications is with a flu vaccine. Almost everyone 6 months and older should get a seasonal flu vaccine each year, ideally by the end of October.

Monkeypox- Things You Need to Know

The East Hartford Health Department is advising residents to access educational resources and learn about preventing the spread of monkeypox. Since early May 2022, cases have been reported in more than 80 countries that normally don’t report monkeypox, including the United States. The Health Department compiled all valuable resources needed to help residents protect themselves.

Invasive Species - Spotted Lanternfly

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has identified a highly invasive species of insect called a Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) in the state and has declared a quarantine for any movement of any materials (e.g. brush, trees, firewood, pallets, really – anything) to try to prevent the its spread. If found, please kill the lanternfly and notify DEEP.

East Hartford Parks and Rec Offers Indoor Public Swim

East Hartford Parks and Recreation is excited to offer indoor aquatics programs at the East Hartford Middle School’s indoor pool this fall. The pool is located at 777 Burnside Avenue and is open to residents and non-residents starting September 6, 2022.

Ask the Mayor!

Mayor Mike continues to accept East Hartford-related questions from the community as part of his “Ask the Mayor” campaign. The questions are accepted weekly, Monday through Friday and answered in a video message on Wednesdays. The Mayor’s previous responses are available here.

Town Council Meeting

September 6, 2022 at 7:30 PM, Town Council Chambers, 740 Main Street.

Remote access: +1 929-235-8441; ID: 987824299#

Watch here.

Planning and Zoning Committee

September 14, at 7 PM, Town Council Chambers, 740 Main Street.

Town Council Meeting

September 20, 2022 at 7:30 PM, Town Council Chambers, 740 Main Street.

Remote access: +1 929-235-8441; ID: 910225663#

Watch here.

Economic Development Commission

September 22, 2022 at 5:45 PM, Welling Conference Room, 740 Main Street.

Inland Wetlands Commission

September 27, 2022 at 7:30 PM, Town Council Chambers, 740 Main Street.

September is National Senior Center Month! The East Hartford Senior Center will be celebrating it with a variety of free and exciting events and programs all month long!

To learn more or register for either program listed below, contact the East Hartford Senior Center at 860-291-7460.

Dads are Heroes!

Saturday, September 10; 11 AM - 2 PM, Alumni Park

To celebrate fathers, My People Community Services and the Town of East Hartford will host the 4th Annual Dad Hero Community event. Please join us in honor of all dads!

Hartford Steel Symphony
Saturday, September 10; 1 -2 PM

Bring a picnic for a lunchtime show on the library lawn!

Based in East Hartford, the Hartford Steel Symphony has been providing musical enjoyment to audiences since 1989, featuring soca, calypso, reggae, pop, classical, gospel and jazz tunes-all with an island rhythm. For all ages.

The Hartford Steel Symphony performance is made possible by funding support from the East Hartford Commission on Culture and Fine Arts. In the event of inclement weather, this program will be moved indoors.

Living History Program: Anne Pasquale with Liberty Belles

Sunday, September 18, 2022, 2-3 PM

Join Anne Pasquale for a living history program incorporating the stories of America’s female immigrants from many cultures. Accompanied by the very talented musician/actor Keith Herron, she will don the personas, sing the songs, and tell the stories of many unsung heroines from every point of Liberty’s crown, exploring the cultural diversity and common heritage that makes us all one. This program celebrates the contributions of immigrants. It is made possible through funding support from the East Hartford Town Council via the East Hartford Commission on Culture and Fine Arts.

Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) Signup Events

Wednesday, September 21, 2-3 PM

Parents and caregivers! Did you know that all families with students in East Hartford Public Schools qualify to save $30/month on internet at home? Register to join us at the library for a sign-up event for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). You’ll need to bring a copy of a recent report card and the Social Security Number or National ID of your student. Choose the event that is most convenient for your schedule. If you are interested in signing up for ACP, but do not have a student in East Hartford Public Schools, please contact us at digitalnavigators@easthartfordct.gov, or 860-471-1484.

Welcome Center Open Hours

Tuesdays, 6:30 – 7:30
September 20, October 18, November 15

Are you new to East Hartford? Join us at Welcome Center Open Hours, an informal meetup held in the library reference room on the third Tuesday of the month from 6:30 – 7:30 PM. Drop in when convenient, register for a reminder. Meet your neighbors and learn about what’s happening in town! Established residents also encouraged to attend.

Welcome Center Open Hours will be facilitated by community volunteer Brittney Cavaliere (pictured above), a third generation resident and a lifelong lover of East Hartford. After moving away for a decade, she returned home and laid new roots on Brewer Street in 2018. She is very involved in town, serving as the board chair of the East Hartford Alumni Association and Education Foundation, as a member of the Democratic Town Committee, and she coaches girls' basketball in the town Parks and Rec league during the winter. Brittney is passionate about East Hartford and its residents and is focused on creating community across town. When she's not at her full-time job with Connecticut Foodshare or volunteering around town, you can find Brittney walking her pup, Scout, riding her bike through town, or swimming laps at one of the town pools.

Workshop #1:
Leading with Compelling Storytelling
Sunday, September 25, 3-4 PM

In this workshop, teens and adults will learn the importance of storytelling in general, and especially in business and leadership. In addition, they will be introduced to different ways of publishing their stories- traditional, self, or hybrid publishing.

Renters Rebate Program

Did you know, the State of Connecticut provides a reimbursement program for Connecticut renters who are elderly or totally disabled, and whose incomes do not exceed certain limits?

Persons renting an apartment or room, or living in cooperative housing or a mobile home may be eligible for this program.

The deadline to apply is October 1, 2022.

Emergency Food & Shelter

Did you know, East Hartford Social Services Division offers an Emergency Food & Shelter program? Funds can be used for a broad range of services, including support for food pantries and food banks, utility bill payments to prevent cut-offs, rent/mortgage payments to prevent evictions/foreclosures, and transition assistance from shelters to stable living conditions.

Book Selection Service

Looking for something new to read? Stuck in a reading rut? Try our Book Selection Service to receive personalized suggestions from our library staff! Based on your input, we will select books that we think you will like. Once we've pulled the titles from the shelf, you will receive an e-mail notification with instructions to pick up the items at the library.

Fight the Blight with
“My East Hartford”

Help us fight the blight. Report any issues of concern through “My East Hartford” – the town’s customer relationship management platform for a prompt and timely resolution.

Special Olympics Fall Bowling

Saturdays, Sept. 17-November 19th; 10 AM - noon

Registration is now open for our Special Olympics Fall Bowling. This program is open to individuals with special needs ages 8 and up. Returning and new athletes can now register online at www.ehparks.org.

The fee for the program is $90 for residents or $99 for non-residents. The fee includes 2 games of bowling and shoes at each practice.

Dress Up Party!

Thursday, September 29; 10 -11 AM

We love to party and hope you do, too! Wear your favorite dress-up clothes to have fun with friends. We’ll have stories, songs, games, and more on the library lawn. Best suited for ages 2 years and older accompanied by caregivers. In the event of inclement weather, this program will be moved indoors to the children’s room. For more program listings for children and families, visit our online events calendar.

Dilligence Training

275 Park Ave, East Hartford, CT

Hours:

Monday- Friday: 5:30 AM - 8 PM
Saturday- 8 AM - 12 PM
Sunday - CLOSED

TEL: (860) 292-0068

Owner: Devonté Dillion & Terrell Huff

WEBSITE: www.dilligencetraining.com

SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

East Hartford has launched a COVID-19 Small Business Assistance Program to help eligible East Hartford businesses respond to and recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This program will provide financial grants, reimbursements, or in-kind services for specific purposes related to counteracting the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

You must be:

• Located in East Hartford or have an intent to relocate to East Hartford

• Currently in operation and have been in operation since January 1, 2019

• In “good standing with the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services

Priority will be given to certified minority/women-owned business enterprises, certified small business enterprises and veteran-owned businesses.

Be a vendor at the Fall Fest!

East Hartford Parks and Recreation is seeking food and craft vendors for the 2022 Annual Fall Festival.

Sign up for town notifications!

Would you like to receive emergency and non-emergency timely notifications from the Town of East Hartford? Sign up for East Hartford Alert system.

EHPD Welcomes New Officers

The East Hartford Police Department welcomed two new police officers on August 18. Officers Mathew Lallier and Daniel Jamieson were sworn in at the Public Safety Complex and began their academy training.

EHFD Receives FEMA Grant

The East Hartford Fire Department was awarded $875,000 as part of FEMA's Assistance to Firefighters Grant. This grant will allow the department to purchase much needed Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus and Automated CPR compression devices. It will also allow to offer staff additional training to improve their ability to protect critical infrastructure.

EHFD Hires a Fire Marshal

On August 22, John Pelow was appointed and sworn in as the new Fire Marshal for the Town of East Hartford. Throughout his time with the East Hartford Fire Department, he has demonstrated outstanding knowledge and expertise, which allowed him to perform his duties to the highest standards, making him the best candidate for this position.

Message from the Fire Chief

Did you know that sleeping with your bedroom door closed could save your life?

Recent research has shown that fires burn hotter and faster than ever before in history. This is driven by modern furnishing being made of synthetic materials such as plastics and foams. In your grandparent’s home, the furniture was made from wood, leather, and natural fibers. Look around your home now, it is full of plastic furnishing we call “solid gasoline”. As these materials are heated by fire, they begin to melt into combustible liquids, producing superheated environments and toxic, incapacitating smoke. Sleeping with your bedroom door closed will prevent the fire from overwhelming you while you sleep and slow the spread of toxic smoke.

Fires will travel the path of least resistance. If you sleep with your bedroom door open and a fire starts, there’s nothing preventing it from rendering you unconscious in seconds. This concept is especially important if you are sleeping on an upper floor as superheated smoke from fires rise quickly.

What can you do to keep you and your family safe?

• Have working smoke detectors and change the batteries when you change your clocks.

• Have working carbon monoxide detectors.

• Sleep with your bedroom doors closed.

• DO NOT leave cooking unattended.

• Do not attempt to fight a fire in your home, get out immediately and call 911!

• Have an escape plan and practice it.

If a fire breaks out in your home, let the responding fire personnel know if anyone is still inside the home. This includes pets, they are important to us too!

The Fire Marshal’s Office has smoke detectors and batteries for residents free of charge. Contact 860-291-7405 to schedule an installation.