Organizational meeting open to all willing to help plan Connecticut’s 250th anniversary celebration
An organizational meeting to plan Bristol’s celebration of the state’s 250th anniversary will be held at the Bristol Historical Society on Thursday, Dec. 14 at 6:30 pm. All are invited and encouraged to attend to help plan events.
During the meeting, the following will discussed:
- review what the CT 250 Commission is and what it has been up to
- discuss who should be involved in the planning of events
- brainstorm ideas for events
- explore how to pay for events
- set up a schedule for future meetings
Lee McFadden, vice regent of the Conn. Daughters of the Revolution and the Bristol Historical Society are organizing the meeting. For information, contact McFadden at lee@gomcf.com.
Annual wreath laying ceremony at Lewis Street Cemetery set for next Saturday, Dec. 16, at noon
The graves of 39 veterans from Bristol who fought in the Revolutionary War and Civil War will receive wreaths as part of this year’s Wreaths Across American program.
Locally, the program is sponsored and run by the Katherine Gaylord Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The Wreaths Across America program lays wreaths at the foot of veterans of the Revolutionary and Civil wars. Top photos, last year’s local effort, sponsored by the Katherine Gaylord Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution drew 18 people for the ceremony. | Compliments of the local DAR chapter
The wreath laying ceremony will be Saturday, Dec. 16 at noon, coinciding with ceremonies across the globe. For information, email katherinegaylordchapternsdar@gmail.com.
Scoops fundraiser will benefit ‘Senior Citizen Prom’
The “Senior Citizens Prom” will benefit from a fundraiser at Bristol Scoops this coming Sunday, Dec. 17, from 2 to 9 p.m. Twenty percent of sales during these hours will be donated to event sponsor, The United Way of West Central Connecticut and its youth board for the event that will be held in the spring of 2024.
Bristol Scoops is located at 862 Farmington Ave.
Breakfast with Santa to benefit POW/MIA memorial
The Sons of the American Legion Squadron 209 will be holding a “Pancake Breakfast with Santa” at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Saturday, Dec. 16, from 8 to 11 a.m.
The breakfast, with pancakes, eggs, bacon or sausage; coffee, tea or orange juice, is $10 per person, children 4 year and younger are free. Santa Claus will be available for photos, too.
All proceeds will be donation to the POW/MIA memorial planned for Memorial Day 2024 with ceremonies the same day on Memorial Boulevard.
Second installment of real estate and personal property taxes due Jan. 1, 2024
The second installment of real estate and personal property taxes on the Grand List of Oct. 1, 2022, are due and payable on Jan. 1, 2024, it was announced by city’s tax collector. All tax bills become delinquent after Feb. 1, 2024.
The city does not rebill for second installments. The second installment coupon for was included in with the July bill.
Owners of motor vehicles registered between the dates of Oct. 2, 2022, and July 31, 2023, are also liable for a tax. Bills for these vehicles will be mailed out Dec. 29 This tax is due and payable as of Jan. 1, 2024 and is considered delinquent after Feb. 1, 2024.
Regarding payment, only current tax bills may be paid in person at any M & T Bank Branch starting Jan. 2, 2024, through Feb. 1, 2024; the branch does not have to be in Bristol. A current tax coupon is required along with payment of cash or check. There is no fee for this service and is available during the January collection month.
Paying in person at city hall is limited to check or cash. Credit cards will not be accepted. Recenlty city hall hours have changed and the new Tax Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday thru Thursday and 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday.
Payments may be mailed to the Tax Collector’s Office, P.O. Box 1040, Bristol, CT 06011-1040. The entire bill and a self-addressed stamped envelope must accompany the payment if a receipt is desired.
For essential information regarding municipal taxes, to keep up with important deadlines or to make a payment, please visit the Tax Office page at www.bristolct.gov.
Payments must be received or USPS postmarked on or before Feb. 1, 2024, or they will be considered delinquent. Delinquent payments are subject to interest at a rate of 1.5 percent per month starting from the due date of Jan. 1, 2024. The minimum calculated interest charge is $2 per state statute.
Please contact the Assessor’s Office at (860) 584-6240 if you have received a bill for a vehicle that you no longer have and for questions regarding assessments and exemptions.
‘Mantels for the Season’ runs through the end of December
This year’s “Mantels for the Season,” an annual exhibit that this year focuses on Bristol’s new Cultural District, which opened at the American Clock & Watch Museum last Friday will continue through Dec. 30.
Mantels and trees in the museum’s eight galleries will be decorated by businesses and organizations associated with the district, which includes historic Federal Hill and select downtown sections of the city.
The annual event, now in its sixth year, has become very popular, said the museum’s executive director Patti Philippon. She added that the event is fun for the staff since if provides them an opportunity to work with members of the community and allows the museum to display the clocks in unique ways.
The event is sponsored by Bristol Health and Coppermine Advisors, LLC. “Mantels for the Season” is included in the price of admission.
The museum is open Wednesday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve).
American Clock & Watch Museum sets Dec. 31 for children’s ‘Mad Hatter New Year’s Eve Tea’
A children’s Mad Hatter’s New Year’s Eve tea party will be held the American Clock & Watch Museum on Sunday, Dec. 31 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. There will be crafts, snacks, tea, and the chiming and ringing of the bells at noon.
The ticket price for the event is the same for adults and childrens, $10 per person. Seating is limited. Pre-registration and payment is required.
Call the museum to reserve/pay for your spot(s) at this special event–860-583-6070. Information is also available on the website www.clockandwatchmuseum.org. In case of inclement weather, please check the museum’s website.
The museum is open Wednesday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is an admission charge. For more information, call 860-583-6070 or go to www.clockandwatchmuseum.org.
New eligibility levels will allow nearly 10,000 additional people to receive SNAP benefits
Connecticut residents now qualify for Connecticut’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) if their monthly gross income is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level (for example, $2,430 for a single person and $5,000 for a four-person household).
Until October 2022, Connecticut’s limit was 185 percent of the federal poverty level ($2,248 for a single person and $4,625 for a four-person household). according to the announcement. The federal government allows monthly gross income limits up to 200 percent and Connecticut is now one of approximately 15 states to take full advantage of that allowance.
SNAP enrollees are issued electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards, which work like a debit card and are replenished for every month of eligibility. The cards can be used at thousands of participating food markets and grocery stores, convenience stores, farmers markets, and online at many retailers for food items approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service.
For more information on SNAP, visit www.ct.gov/snap.
Connecticut Energy Assistance Program accepting applications
The Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) is accepting applications through May 31, 2024. 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.
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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.
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