Mid-week roundup includes school choice and contest deadlines, Bristol Brass and Wind Ensemble concert and Veterans’ program at library

Posted By: David Fortier March 6, 2024

March 15 is the deadline for School Choice applications for the 2024-25 school year

Connecticut families with students entering prekindergarten through grade 12 have until 11:59 p.m. on March 15, to submit an on-time School Choice application for the 2024-25 school year at ChooseYourSchool.org through the Connecticut State Department of Education’s (CSDE) Regional School Choice Office (RSCO).  

Through RSCO’s school choice program, Connecticut families can apply to three different types of free, public schools in the Greater Hartford Region, including: 

  • 43 magnet schools incorporating specialized themes into the core curriculum, such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); computer science; visual and performing arts; Montessori; International Baccalaureate (IB); and dual language. There are approximately 20 different themes across the system that bring the core curriculum to life!   
  • Open Choice public schools in districts outside their town. This program is primarily for Hartford-resident students to attend schools in surrounding suburban communities.  
  • Three regional technical high schools that specialize in career and technical education. Students graduate ready for college or to enter directly into their chosen career.  

Placement notifications for families who submit an on-time application will begin in mid-April. Those who do not receive a placement offer in the first round will be able to view the size of waitlists in real-time and adjust their school preferences to increase their likelihood of a placement opportunity.  

Families who would like support or who have questions during the school discovery and application process can contact RSCO’s newly established Parent Resource Center (PRC). PRC staff are available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and for extended hours during the on-time application period by phone, email, in-app messaging, and in-person appointments. Extensive language interpretation and translation assistance is also available.  

Additionally, RSCO’s enhanced website and online application make it easy for families to explore their school choice options by grade level, location, academic theme, sports, and extracurricular activities, learn about transportation options, and track their application and placement status.  

For more information about school choice and to apply, visit ChooseYourSchool.org and follow RSCO on Facebook.

American Legion Post 2 to host Iwo Jima/World War II Veteran Reunion

The Iwo Jima/World War II Veteran Reunion will be held at the Bristol Public Library Sunday, March 10, at 2 p.m. Doors open at 1 p.m. The event is open to the public.

Presentations and displays include those by the Bristol Memorial Military Museum, World War II Legacy Foundation, Inc.’s Aaron Elison and guest speaker artist Don Scott, who is working on portraits of WW II veterans.

The event is hosted by the American Legion Post 2 and sponsored by the Bristol Public Library.

Wind and Brass Ensemble celebrates St. Patrick Day with free concert on March 12

The Bristol Brass and Wind Ensemble will present a St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Concert Tuesday, March 12, at 7 p.m. at Prospect United Methodist Church on Summer Street. 

The free concert will headline Bristol Brass and Wind Ensemble under the direction of Richard Theriault and assistant director Kyle Camerato. BBWE will be welcoming special musical guests, the Canal Street Irish Trio. The trio is an Irish traditional music trio that grew out of local sessions in Connecticut. 

Musical selections include “An Irish party in Third Class”; “The Irish Washerwoman” and “The Rakes of Mallow” by Leroy Anderson; Julia Delany’s “Reel by Strommen”; “Irish Tune” by Percy Granger. BBEW will also be playing a Charles Ives piece, “Variations on America” and “First Suite in E-flat” by Gustav Holst.

Public library offers free seed packets and gardening programs

In preparation for spring planting season, the Bristol Public Library is offering free seed packets, a workshop for beginning gardeners and a discussion group featuring gardening techniques.

Admission is free; however monetary donations are always greatly appreciated and accepted. For more information, please visit the BBWE web site at www.bbandwe.org/.

Bristol residents with a Bristol Public Library card are eligible for up to five see packages free of charge as part of the “Bristol Seed Library” program, which begins Monday, March 11, at 5:30 p.m.

Packages of vegetable, herb and flower seeds will be available in the main lobby of the Bristol Public Library on 5 High St. Library cards are also available at the library free of charge to Bristol residents.

A seed starting workshop will be held the same evening, Monday, March 11, at 6:30 p.m. Led by expert instructor Mark Gostkiewicz of Tri Gable Lea Farm, the “Seed Starting Success” class will guide participants through the basics of beginning a garden from seeds.

A gardening discusson groups will address garden tasks, techniques and accomplishments on April 15 and May 13, at 6:30 p.m. A number of resources will be available for participants to take home.

There is no charge for these programs, but the library requests participants R.S.V.P at bristollib.com, in-person at the library, or by calling: (860)584-7787 ext. 3.

eesmarts Student Contest registration deadline is March 22

Registration for the 19th annual essmarts Student Contest is March 22, Energize Connecticut announced in an updated release.

Students in Grades 9-12 are being asked to produce a persuasive image in words or pictures, such as a short poem (125 words or less) or cartoon strip (12 cells or less) that advocates for an energy topic as part of this year’s eesmarts Student Contest.

Entries will be evaluated based on scientific validity and concise and convincing imagery.

Students in Grades K-8 are asked to submit their entries in the form of a poster (Grades K-2), limericks (Grade 3), outdoor billboard (Grade 4), fictional story with an energy-saving character (Grade 5), persuasive letter (Grade 6), comic strip (Grade 7), or social media post (Grade 8).

Contest registration is open until March 22. Project submissions are due on March 29. All work must be completed by the individual submitting the entry. No group projects are being accepted this year.

Finalists in all categories and grade levels will be honored at a special awards ceremony to be held in May 2024. Winners will receive a certificate and an Amazon gift card.

For nearly two decades, the contest has invited Connecticut students in grades K-12 to answer grade-level-specific prompts on how they would promote energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable solutions.

For more information about the contest, please visit EnergizeCT.com/student-contest.

Bristol Veterans Council fundraising for POW/MIA monument

The Bristol Veterans Council continues to raise funds for a POW/MIA monument to be installed on Memorial Boulevard. The six-foot high, 10-inch thick and three-feet wide gray granite monument will honor each branch of the military. The goal for the installation is Memorial Day 2024.

Donations may be sent to Bristol Veterans Council, Inc., P.O.W./ M.I.A. Fundraiser, c/o Stanley J. Piotrowski–Treasurer, P.O. Box 2634, Bristol, CT 06011-2634.

Lamont announces new one-stop-shop portal for jobseekers

The launch of Connecticut’s new jobs portal, jobs.ct.gov was announced by Gov. Ned Lamont last week, in a release from the governor’s office. The portal is aimed at assisting Connecticut residents and those seeking to move to the state in the process of finding a job.

Jobs.ct.gov joins health.ct.gov and business.ct.gov as the next service category to be developed in the new digital, one-stop government ecosystem. Some of the resources available through the jobs portal include:

  • Powerful job search tools;
  • Job search tips and personal help;
  • Free and low-cost training, certificate, and classroom programs; and
  • Resources to help employers hire, train, and retain employees.

Yard waste barrels available from Public Works

Public Works is accepting applications for yard waste barrels for the 2024 yard-waste season.

New customers are ones who do not currently have a yard-waste barrel on site, and are required to pay a $90 yard-waste fee, plus a $50 barrel deposit fee per barrel.

Renewal customers are ones who already have a yard-waste barrel on site, even if from a previous owner, and are required to pay the $90 service fee.

The 2024 season will begin Monday, April 1, and will run through Friday, Dec. 6. The online form that must be filled out with all forms of payment may be obtained here: https://bristolct.seamlessdocs.com/f/yardwaste2024.

For more information on the city’s yard waste program, click here: https://ct-bristol2.civicplus.com/240/Yard-Waste.

Connecticut Energy Assistance Program accepting applications

The Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) is accepting applications through May 31. CEAP helps Connecticut residents afford to heat their homes. Applications for CEAP typically take 30-45 minutes. Basic benefits towards heating bills range between $180 and $530. Benefits are usually paid directly to the utility company or fuel supplier. Households that heat with deliverable fuels like oil or propane may be eligible for additional free tank fills.

Connecticut residents that meet the following may be eligible: already receive food stamps (SNAP), SSI, TANF or other benefits from the Department of Social Services and have an annual household income falls at or below 60 percent of the state’s median income.

In Bristol, CEAP applications are available at HRA, 55 South St., (860) 356-2000. Email: energyapp@hranbct.org.

All TBE readers, supporters and donors                

The Bristol Edition will be limiting the number of stories non-members and free readers may access each week. This decision is based on our financial projections and, most certainly, to remind people that TBE is serious about providing accurate, timely and thorough reporting for Bristol. To do this we have devised a financial support structure that makes unlimited access extremely affordable, beginning with a $6 monthly donation.                

  • Non-members will be able to access four (4) articles per week.                
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Note: Donors may have to contact TBE if they find they are being limited, since we will need to set up a membership account for you. Email editor@bristoledition.org for instructions. Sorry for any inconvenience. People with financial difficulties may write editor@bristoledition.org to be considered for free access.