VOLUME 136, NO. 25 Thursday, June 24, 2021 Crafted from the finest local ingredients since 1885 1406 Main Street, East Hartford, Connecticut 06108 860-289-6468 [email protected] website: ehgazette.com Peppers JAMAICAN BAKERY THRIVES, SURVIVES NESAC marks OK’s 25 years EHHS Peppers Jamaican Bakery East Hartford High School and Jerk center is celebrating (EHHS) has been re-accredited 25 years in business with their by the New England delicious authentic Jamaican Association of Schools and cuisine. Colleges (NEASC) according to With locations in East Anne Marie Mancini, Assistant Hartford and Bloomfield, they Superintendent of Schools. are known througout the region The high school completed for their first-class catering and NECAS's decennial evaluation takeout services. in February. "It recently Owners George and Opal received confirmation of its Scott - along with their employ- successful outcome along with ees - work tirelessly to promote feedback and next steps," noted their brand. Mancini in a press release. George Scott worked in his Howver the organization, family restaurant business for when contacted, did not several years before opening divulge any details of what the his first restaurant in East high school's overall grade was or what the recommended Hartford in 1996. PHOTO BY LAWRENCE JAGGON With strong support from IN FRONT of Peppers Jamaican Bakery, 603 Burnside Avenue offering a cool drink on a hot day is the bakery’s "next steps" are. his Wife, Opal, they were able manager with owners George and Opal Scott, at right. The longest-serving regional to convert a former church accrediting association in New building into a profitable suc- England, NEASC oversees the cessful entity. With expert Lunch ladies to make $15 an hour accreditation of more than planning and significant risk 2,000 schools in six states. The ers in other areas of the indus- working on the EHPS account the team expanded into East Hartford schools have release of its accreditation try to consider a career in currently earn at or just above Bloomfield by purchasing what boosted the minimum wage for reports is up to school admin- school foodservice, as well as the current minimum wage of was Scott's Jamaican Bakery, all foodservice workers to $15 istrators. retaining valued employees $12 per hour. EHPS and re-naming it 'Peppers'. an hour, effective July 1. Mancini's announcement did who have built relationships Sodexo is also increasing wages Peppers became the first Connecticut’s minimum wage not mention the accreditation with our staff and students and for all hourly employees that Jamaican bakery in East will increase to $13 per hour details, only that NEASC's web- have become an invaluable part currently earn above the new Hartford and successfully August 1 and will incremental- site declares it “serves the pub- of our school communities. We base rate of $15/hr. as well. endured the pandemic to ly go to $15 per hour in 2023. lic and the educational commu- appreciate the flexibility and “Connecticut has become a proudly say it has now been The school system's Chief nity by (1) establishing and endurance our foodservice leader in the movement to operating for a quarter century. Operations Officer Benjamin maintaining high standards of staff has shown throughout the increase minimum wages, and The second Peppers location Whittaker explained several educational excellence and (2) pandemic, and we realize how our commitment to exceed in Bloomfield is also the reasons for the decision to utilizing accreditation process- “essential” this portion of our statutory rates will increase longest operating Jamaica bak- accelerate the phase-in of new es, which focus on self-improve- workforce really is.” the quality of life for those who ery and restaurant, and one of minimum wage requirements. ment through effective peer Fourty three percent of the serve our students,” stated the oldest tenants, in the “EHPS and Sodexo hope to review. Schools and colleges town's food service contractor, Nathan Quesnel, EHPS famous Copaco shopping cen- improve recruitment efforts by which voluntarily demonstrate incentivizing foodservice work- Sodexo’s, hourly employees Superintendent of Schools. See PEPPERS THRIVES, pg. 6 See EHHS REACCREDITED, pg. 6 Stay informed during water and sewer emergencies. Sign up by visiting the MDC website, www.themdc.org 2THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021 THE GAZETTE AROUND TOWN Sign up before July 22 for EH man inadvertent victim of city shooting Hartford police arrested two 37, was killed and another man been used in the shooting. They back-to-school shoes, coats occupants of an SUV which was shot in the leg, according spotted the vehicle on the city's It’s barely summer, but par- application process with the fled their pursuit following a to Hartford police. Lake-Sudan C-4 system of surveillance cam- ents have to start planning for Coats for Kids event scheduled fatal shooting on Bedford may not have been the intend- eras around 10:30 a.m. and Back-to-School shoes and coats. for Oct. 17. Street in the city early ed target of the shooting, they attempted to stop the vehicle. The East Hartford Social To apply go online to Wednesday morning. said. The driver took off resulting Services is now accepting appli- www.easthartfordct.gov/social- The SUV came to rest on its Responding to a ShotSpotter in a chase through the streets cations the for the town's Back- services/pages/back-to-school- roof after a collision at the activation at 1:48 a.m. Hartford of Hartford Wednesday morn- to-School Shoes and Coats for programs. Download the intersection of Farmington police found the two victims, ing, ending in a high-speed Kids programs. Both programs application, sign and return Avenue and Sigorney Street. one a man in his 20s who was crash outside Aetna head- depend on the number of dona- to Town Hall by July 22. Or Inside two handguns were wounded and had fled the qurters in the city's Asylum tions received by the town. call 860-291-7248. recovered. scene. He was taken to the hos- Hill neighborhood. Qualifying parents are pro- Please provide copies of a In addition to the gun pital. The driver was identified as vided with a Walmart gift card photo ID and proof of current charges, the shooting claimed Detectives investigating the Chan Williams-Bey Jr., 25. to purchase a new pair of well- address in the form of a cur- the life of an East Hartford shooting later developed leads Williams-Bey was charged with fitting shoes for their children rent lease, bill, mail or rent man. Siddhartha Lake-Sudan, on a vehicle that may have murder, first-degree assault entering grades K-12. The East receipt. Proof of current house- and carrying a pistol without a Hartford Rotary Club funds the hold monthly gross income, permit. His bond was set at Coats for Kids program. DSS budget sheet, dates of Food drive-thru every Tuesday $1.75 million. The passenger in Children from age 1 through 16 birth for all household mem- the vehicle was not charged, FREE FOOD DISTRIBUTION MENTOS GRATIS, OLD SHOW- Hartford police said. are now eligible following the bers, copy of the long form takes place at the OLD SHOW- CASE CINEMA, 615 SILVER birth certificates, proof of CASE CINEMA site, 936 SIL- LANE, LOS MARTES, 8:30 AM CLASSIFIEDS guardianship/custody, if appli- VER LANE, EVERY TUESDAY - 12:00 PM. cable. from 8:30 a.m. until noon. La última distribución en HELP: Dependable and honest Remember that this pro- The last distribution at this esta ubicación es el martes 31 gram is for residents only. The person for occasional trans- location is Tuesday, August 31. de agosto. portation, errands, msc. house- number of requests granted One allocation of food per car Una asignación de alimentos also depends on the amount of to ensure that we have enough por automóvil para garantizar hold chores. 860-869-1820. donations received. Not all food for everyone. que tengamos suficientes ali- Please call after 2 p.m. applications will result in a gift FMI go to www.ctfood- mentos para todos. card or coat. WANTED a dog 5ft play yard or bank.org, www.foodshare.org FMI: 860-286-9999 or go to large Guinea pig cage; patty DISTRIBUCIÓN DE ALI- www.foodshare.org 860-289-2380 For sale: the game of Scattergories; recommended ages 12 to adult; 2 to 4 players; brand new condition $10. Patty 860-289-2380 For sale: ‘Airhead' game by Mattel; ages 4 to 10; 2 to 6 play- ers; $5. Patty 860-289-2380 For sale: ‘Don’t Break the Ice' game by Milton Bradley; ages 5 and up; $5. Patty 860-289-2380 For sale: ‘Grabbin Exp. 7/31/21 Grasshoppers' game by Tyco; ages 5 and up; $5. Patty 860- 289-2380 Domino Rally Game by Pressman. For Ages 6 and up. $10 OBO 860-289-2380 Game of the States by Milton Bradley Recommended for ages Burn Oil 7 - 14 $10 or best offer Cash only 860-289-2380 C O M P A N Y Domino Rally Dealer by Pressman Works with all (860) 295-9046 Domino Rally Sets Residential & Commercial Heating Oil Recommended Ages 6 and up $5 cash only 860-289-2380 Senior & Volume Discounts Where in the Wild Game by liv- Minimum No Pre-buys ing & learning The challenging 100 game of nature I-Spy. Delivery GALLONS! Available Recommended ages 6 - Adult $5 - NO CONTRACTS NEEDED - H.O.D. cash only 860-289-2380 - COD DELIVERY AVAILABLE - #1087 Hop * Pop Game by Schaper A Lively Game of Funny Animals P.O.