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VOLUME 136, NO. 8 February 25, 2021 Crafted from the finest local ingredients since 1885 1406 Main Street, East Hartford, Connecticut 06108 860-289-6468 [email protected] website: ehgazette.com Builder BUILDING FOR VETERANS Mayor proposes pitches in $201M budget said Friday in a Microsoft to help By Bill Doak Teams virtual press conference Thanks to an additional $4.5 from her office. The mayor said A network of veterans are million in municipal aid to the teaming up to help their broth- she and town Director of town East Hartford taxpayers Finance Linda Trzetziak said ers and sisters who served this will pay less in taxes under country transition back to civil- the budget holds the line on Mayor Marcia Leclerc’s pro- spending with a 2.1 increase ian life. It's a unique concept posed $201.1 million budget for embraced by Newington-based overall, in the town side of the the next fiscal year. budget, in line with the rate of Enterprise Builders as it pro- The mill rate, the amount gresses with its build out for inflation. The Board of per $1,000 at 70 percent of Education budget will see a the $2.5M Easterseals Veterans assessed value, will decrease Rally Point at its Norwich facil- $1.5 million increase, or 1.6 from 49.92 to 49.35 – a saving percent increase. Additional ity. The 18,000-square-foot state- on real estate and personal of-the-art facility serves veter- funds for schools, as much as property. That would be $68 $9 million, are not included in ans and their families, and four less for the average home of the subcontractor companies the $94.2 million for education. assessed at $114,600. It is the With the town’s mill rate working on the project are vet- first time th3e town reduced eran-owned—a labor of love. maxed at 45 mills on motor the mill rate since 2007 and vehicles, counting year-over "This community project is a avoids what Mayor Leclerc win-win for everyone. Not only year depreciation in value the called “the shock” of the 50 mill mayor said the average taxpay- is this helping change people's number. lives who served our country er with two cars would see a “This was a very difficult decrease of $119 in taxes. but it's putting veterans to work process under the circum- through subcontracting oppor- East Harford is slated to stances, and I could not have receive over $73 million in state tunities, so there is a lifestyle done it without my directors and economic benefit," said aid in total although the state and the staff of the front office” has not finalized municipal aid. Eric Lamore, Superintendent, EAST HARTFORD’S ERIC LAMORE, Superintendent, Enterprise Builders, at East Hartford Town Hall she Enterprise Builders, who is is overseeing the Norwich Rally Point project and is a veteran himself. Legislative leaders vow do that overseeing the project. The East earlier. Following a March 3 Hartford resident is a veteran public hearing, the Council will himself. State’s AP test scores tops in nation vote on the budget March 9. "The partnerships we have Finance Director Trzetziak established with multiple veter- Governor Ned Lamont is average, Connecticut saw – deserves access to an educa- noted that the town opted to an-owned subcontractors are applauding the announcement noticeable increases in the tion that prepares them to lead reduce the anticipated rate of sustainable and hopefully will made by the College Board class of 2020 with respect to successful careers," Governor return on the town employees lead to more work for them in showing that Connecticut – for exam participation and per- Lamont said. "The success we trust fund, and increase the the future based on the connec- the first time ever – ranks best formance among students from are seeing in Connecticut's edu- town contribution. The half-per- tions they make as part of this in the nation on student per- low-income families, and Black cation system is credited to the cent lowering of the rate of project." formance of advanced place- and Hispanic students. The amazing teachers, faculty, staff, return translates into an addi- Some features of the build- ment (AP) exams. According to total number of the state's volunteers, and parents who tional $1.4 million into the fund out, which will culminate in a a report released today by the graduating class who took an dedicate themselves to the next which had a negative return ribbon cutting in the Fall of College Board, 34.5 percent of AP exam in high school generation of students. These against the projected rate for 2021, include a commercial 2020 high school graduates in increased by over five percent kinds of reports, which show the last two years. If the town grade kitchen and computer lab Connecticut earned a score of 3 in the last five years. our state leading the nation, lowered the rate of return to or more on an AP exam. "Every student – no matter have an impact on our overall the recommended number of Compared to the national their family income or zip code See ‘RALLY POINT, Page 10 See ‘SAT SCORES, Page 10 See ‘PROPOSED BUDGET, Page 10 Stay informed during water and sewer emergencies. Sign up by visiting the MDC website, www.themdc.org 2THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021 THE GAZETTE AROUND TOWN State issues warning on eating soft cheeses Next round of work, skills The CT Dept. of Public the previous recall of Feb. 19 Lindo distributed in NC and Health expanded its warning to that included a recall of only MD. consumers, restaurants and Queso Fresco style cheese to The products were distrib- training begins May 10th retailers not to eat, serve or sell now include all fresh cheese uted through Feb. 16 and were any soft cheeses produced by products with expiration dates available in supermarkets, Residents looking for work El Abuelito Cheese Company of through March 28, 2021. wholesale and retail stores. and skills training are invited Paterson, NJ due to laboratory The cheese products are Listeria monocytogenes is to participate in the third ses- findings that confirm the prod- marketed under the El Abuelito an organism which can cause sion of the Professional Skills uct is the source of a multistate Cheese brand, and are distrib- serious and sometimes fatal Academy offered by East outbreak of foodborne bacteria uted in CT, NJ, PA, NY. Also infections in young children, Hartford CONNects and called listeria monocytogenes. included is the Rio Grande frail or elderly people, pregnant Goodwin University. Classes begin online This update issued Food Products brand, distrib- women and others with weak- ensure participation. Once Wednesday, Feb. 24 expanded uted in VA, NC, MD; and Río ened immune systems. Monday, May 10. This training, called the Professional Skills completed, more advanced Academy, offers three weeks of coursework and an introduc- Town may benefit from data center incentive on-line sessions covering career tion to manufacturing opportu- readiness, basic Microsoft skills nities are available through Gov. Ned Lamont Governor Lamont said. "Data Locate in the State" offers state CCAT and the American Job Wednesday applauded the state centers are the backbone of the incentioves for locating in eco- and financial literacy with a fourth week of sessions with Center on Main St. Additional House for approving a measure digital age, and with this grow- nomically distressed areas, support is available based on designed to encourage develop- ing need we are witnessing a such as those already defined employers and community resource providers. Instruction income, including transporta- ment of new data centers in the significant period of national as opportunity zones. Most of tion and childcare. Once com- state. growth to build these infra- the town has been so designat- is via live video classes while other courses utilize the 180 pleted, career Coaching will be The data centers will be structures and create the cor- ed by the state after the town available for four months. required to be located in feder- responding jobs that support and Mayor Marcia Leclerc Skills virtual course selection and may be taken at a schedule To set up a phone interview ally recognized opportunity their operations. Connecticut applied for the opportunity to enroll in the program, call zones, such as East Hartford, needs to get in the game and zone program here. that works best for the partici- pant. Four hours or less of 860-622-5507 and ask for which could help spur invest- bring this industry to our state. For decades East Hartford Yadira about the Professional ment and development. This is a once-in-a-generation had hosted large financial data required coursework is required per day. Cost is free of Skills Academy. Tell her you "Seeing the Connecticut opportunity to show the tech- centers in the South Meadows. read it in the Gazette. House of Representatives nology industry that Nearby Pitkin Street businesses charge. Participants who suc- approve this measure in a Connecticut supports this sec- are along a fiber optic data con- cessfully complete all required On the Deans List bipartisan way is exactly what tor and we welcome their devel- nection. East Hartford's Main coursework are eligible for four our residents want to see when opment in our state." Street also has a non-interrupt- credits from Goodwin Faith E. Asikoko of East it comes to our commitment to House Bill 6514, "An Act abe power loop assuring com- University. Hartford made the Wichita economic growth and continu- Concerning Incentives for puter users of immunity from A high school diploma, GED State University dean's honor ing our Connecticut comeback," Qualified Data Centers To brownouts, shoulc those ever or NEDP are required to par- roll for fall 2020.