Residents looking for work and skills training are invited to participate in the third session of the Professional Skills Academy offered by East Hartford CONNects and Goodwin University.
Classes begin online Monday, May 10. This training, called the Professional Skills Academy, offers three weeks of on-line sessions covering career readiness, basic Microsoft skills and financial literacy with a fourth week of sessions with employers and community resource providers.
Instruction is via live video classes while other courses utilize the 180 Skills virtual course selection and may be taken at a schedule that works best for the participant. Four hours or less of required coursework is required per day.
Cost is free of charge. Participants who successfully complete all required coursework are eligible for four credits from Goodwin University.
A high school diploma, GED or NEDP are required to participate, a resume is required (help available to create a draft) and a free device is offered to all accepted to ensure participation. Once completed, more advanced coursework and an introduction to manufacturing opportunities are available through CCAT and the American Job Center on Main St.
Additional support is available based on income, including transportation and childcare.
Once completed, career Coaching will be available for four months.
To set up a phone interview to enroll in the program, call 860-622-5507 and ask for Yadira about the Professional Skills Academy. Tell her you read it in the Gazette.
Dear Mayor Leclerc,
I am a business owner in town for over 20 years with a small fleet of vehicles. I am wondering if you are aware of the recent catalytic converter thefts in town. These thieves are targeting the small businesses with fleets; sometimes the thieves hit multiple times. The cost of repairing these vehicles is over $1500.00 for each time and vehicle.
Metals in the insides of the converters — palladium, rhodium and platinum — reduce toxic emissions. Due to demand, the value of those metals has skyrocketed. Palladium is currently valued at about $2,370 per ounce, a four-fold increase since 2016. Rhodium prices have surged more than 3,000% from about $640 an ounce five years ago to $21,900 an ounce this year, roughly 12 times the price of gold.
What is the Town of East Hartford doing to protect their businesses (tax base)? The cost of securing our vehicles is cumbersome; rather we are looking for a new location not right off the highway.
Pressure by local mayors should be put on local scrap yards to not buy stand alone catalytic converters. Some owners, such as Sims Metal Management in Hartford, have already implemented this policy. There are three scrap companies in our area: G & S Scrap Metal in South Windsor; A & B Scrap Metal in East Hartford and Ostrinsky Inc in Manchester.
While the crime is not violent, it is a financial hardship for East Hartford businesses. Do these thieves consider East Hartford businesses an “easy mark”? The East Hartford police department should not treat this crime as business as usual.
It is the responsibility of the town administration and the police department to make their best effort for the protection of citizens and business owners.
Ted Hsu, President
Horizon Services
250 Governor Street
East Hartford
860 291-1111