Friday, January 23, 2009

FREE Workshops! FIRST-TIME HOMEOWNER AND CREDIT COUNSELING

With Rosa Carrero of Liberty Bank

Wednesdays, February 4, 11, 18, and 25th, 6pm-8pm

Rosa Carrero from Liberty Bank present four info sessions designed to help people take the first steps toward buying a home. Topics include credit counseling (Session 1), finding the right home (Session 2), the lending process (Session 3) and understanding Legalities (Session 4). Participants in all four will receive A certificate of completion that meets one eligibility requirement for The City Of Middletown grant and down payment assistance, CHFA and CHFA Down payment assistance programs.


All workshops are FREE and open to everyone, though registration is required. All workshops are being co-presented by the North End Action Team and the Green Street Arts Center. All workshops will take place at the Green Street Arts Center. Childcare is available upon request. Please request childcare when registering for class.


For more information, or to register, call the NEAT office at 860-346-4845 or email at neat@neatmiddletown.org. Or, come on in!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

FREE Workshops! BUILDING COMPUTER BASICS

Wednesdays, February 4, 11, 18, and 25th from 6:30pm—8pm

The North End Action Team and Green Street teaching artist Shawn Hill present a short, free introduction to computer basics. Learn how to create writing samples in Microsoft Word and explore the possibilities of budgets and lists in Microsoft Excel. By the time you have completed all four sessions, you will have the building blocks needed for adding a new skill to your job application, or for organizing your household bills. Absolute beginners, and people with all levels of computer experience, are welcome.

All workshops are FREE and open to everyone, though registration is required. All workshops are being co-presented by the North End Action Team and the Green Street Arts Center. All workshops will take place at the Green Street Arts Center. Childcare is available upon request. Please request childcare when registering for class.

For more information, or to register, call the NEAT office at 860-346-4845 or email at neat@neatmiddletown.org. Or, come on in!

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Get Your Taxes Done for Free

Free income tax assistance by IRS trained and certified volunteers is available at the local volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site for people with incomes under $42,000.

By Appointment Only!
To schedule an appointment
call 860-347-0337 on:
• Mondays & Tuesdays, 11:30 am — 7 pm
• Wednesdays & Thursdays, 9 am — 4:30 pm
Appointments will be made from February 5 — April 11
for Thursday evenings, 5—7:30 pm and for Saturday
afternoons, Noon—4:30 pm

The VITA site is located at the Literacy
Volunteers office on Court Street,
next to Russell Library in Middletown.

What you need to bring with you to your appointment:
• Valid picture ID
• Social Security cards or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) for you, your spouse and any dependents living with you born before Dec. 31, 2008
• Birth dates for you, your spouse and dependents
• Income documentation including W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, etc., from all employers
• Interest and dividend statements from banks or other financial institutions (Forms 1099)
• Total paid for child care. Bring day care provider’s address and tax identifying number (the provider’s Social Security Number or business Employer Identification Number)
• A copy of last year’s Federal and State income tax returns, if available
• Current year’s tax package, if you received one

Bring a blank check from your checking account for direct deposit of your refund.

If you have a savings account, bring a statement from your bank or your passbook with your bank
account name, number and the 9-digit American Bankers Association (ABA) routing number. Contact
your bank if you need assistance identifying the ABA number.

You could qualify for the
Earned Income Credit (EITC)
and Child Tax Credit as much as $4,824!

The quickest way to get your refund —usually within a week— is through DIRECT DEPOSIT to your bank account. Ask us if you need information about setting up an account. This needs to be done BEFORE your appointment with the VITA tax preparer.



Sponsored by the Middlesex VITA Coalition, a consortium of agencies including Middlesex United Way, Community Renewal Team, Middlesex Coalition for Children, Literacy Volunteers of Central Connecticut, Women & Families Center, Easter Seals Goodwill Industries, Russell Library, and the Connecticut Association of Human Services (CAHS).

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Monumental Day at Macdonough

I was lucky enough to be with the kids at Macdonough Elementary School this afternoon to watch the innauguration of President Barak Obama. There were ample cheers and claps and I noticed (and not just from myself) a few tears. It was a really moving day. If you want to see some more pictures, click here.


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Middlesex Community College Chosen as College Goal Sunday Site

Middlesex Community College (MxCC) has been chosen as one of the 12 sites for Connecticut’s second annual College Goal Sunday, being held on January 25, 2009. The college’s main campus in Middletown100 Training Hill Road) will be open from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. to assist prospective college students and their parents in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Financial aid administrators offer this service at no charge. In addition to receiving assistance in filling out the FAFSA, participants will receive general information regarding state and federal financial aid programs.

The Connecticut College Goal Sunday program is an effort by hundreds of volunteers from across the state who will come together on Sunday afternoon, January 25, with the common goal of making sure the process of applying for college financial aid does not become an obstacle that would keep any person from pursuing an education beyond high school.

By attending a College Goal Sunday event, participants will receive free hands-on assistance in completing the FAFSA, and will leave the event with a completed financial aid application for the 2009-2010 school year and the satisfaction of knowing they have accomplished one of the major steps in getting ready to go to college.

Irene Martin, Director of Financial Aid at MXCC, advises, “Now is the time to start your financial aid application process. It can take as long as four to six weeks but if your financial aid hasn’t come in before the start of the semester, the college offers flexible installment plans to carry you until your aid comes through.”

For more information on College Goal Sunday at MxCC, contact Irene Martin at 860-343-5740 or imartin@mxcc.commnet.edu.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Schedule of Community Conversations

Middletown Community Conversations
On January 20, 2009, please join your neighbors at one of the following conversation locations so that we can speak and listen to each other as we ask questions and find answers.

Organization Location Time Open to:

American Association of Retired St. Pius Church, 1:30 members
Persons (AARP) 310 Westfield Street

American Association of Wesleyan Wasch Center, 7:00 members and students
University Women 51 Lawn Avenue

Dunkin Donuts South Main South Main Street 7pm the public

Eddy Shelter The Connection Offices 11:30 staff and clients
955 South Main St.

First Church & Jonah Center 190 Church Street 6 pm the public

Green Street 51 Green Street noon the public

Healing Racism Coalition Firehouse Steakhouse 11:30am the public
412 Main St.

Heritage Commons 38 Boston Rd noon & 8pm Residents, families, Seniors

Middlesex Community College Chapman Hall, 100 Training Hill noon & 6pm the public
Rd

Middlesex County Community Wadsworth Mansion 5pm speaker & discussion
Foundation (this is a fund raiser -admission is $20)

Middletown City Hall Dekoven Dr. Council Chamber noon & 6pm the public

Middletown Public Schools various various Students and staff

Public Restaurant 337 Main Street 7 – 10 pm Jazz & discussions.
Donations to benefit the food pantry

Russell Library – Hubbard Room 123 Broad Street noon & 6pm the public

Senior Affairs Senior Center, 150 Williams St. noon seniors

Village at South Farms 645 Saybrook Rd pm residents

Wesleyan Usdan Center Wyllys Avenue 10 am the public

North End's Community Conversation

Last night at the Green Street Art Center, North End residents and stakeholders gathered to discuss issues facing Middletown and our community in a community conversation.

As one of many conversations being held around town inspired by the upcoming inauguration of Barack Obama, we discussed the need for a community policing model, ways to build the North End's image, education in the North End and Middletown as a whole, job development and even a renewed sewing club.

On Inauguration day, January 20th, Community conversations will be held across Middletown. There will be two conversations held at Russel Library at 12pm and 6pm on inauguration day. This is a great opportunity to make the North End's voice heard. To check times and places for other community conversations go to: www.middletowncommunityconversations.blogspot.com

Community Conversation

Last Night at the Green Street Art Center, 20 North End residents and stakeholders gathered to discuss issues facing Middletown and our community in a community conversation. As one of many conversations being held around town inspired by the upcoming inauguration of Barack Obama, we discussed the need for a community policing model, ways to build the North End's image, education in the North End and Middletown as a whole, Job development and even a renewed sewing club. On Inauguration day, January 20th, Community conversations will be held across Middletown. To check times and places for other community conversations go to: www.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Solar Energy Information Session: Spin Your Meter Backwards!

The Sunlight Solar Energy Group is sponsoring a free solar energy session to find out more about affordable ways to make your home more energy efficient.

Learn about solar electricity and how to take control of your increasing energy costs. Better yet, find out about solar incentives available in Connecticut homeowners, including CT Solar Lease Program. So grad your neighbors and join us to take advantage of community pricing!

Food and beverages provided.

Date: Jan 17th
Time: 11am-1pm
Location: Middlesex Community College
Chapman Hill Rm. 808BCD
Middletown, CT 06457

For more information or to register call (203) 878-9123 or email diana.bercury@sunlightsolar.com

Friday, January 9, 2009

January Membership Meeting: Jan 14th 7pm

Just a reminder, NEAT's membership meeting will be held next Wednesday, Jan. 14th at 7 PM at the Green Street Arts Center. Please note the time change. Childcare will be provided and there will be pizza for the kids.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

NEAT Schools Committee

NEAT's Schools Committee used it January monthly meeting to set our priorities for the upcoming year. We are currently focused on monitoring the 2009-2010 School Budget process and ensuring the upkeep of Donovan Park (the Macdonough School playground). Schools committee representatives attend regular Board of Education meetings each month. January's Board of Education meeting will address the budget and will be next Tues, Jan 13 at 7pm. Anyone who is interested in coming as a NEAT member, please call the NEAT office (346-4845).

The next NEAT Schools committee meeting will be Wednesday Feb 4th at 7pm at the NEAT office.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Happy New Year

NEAT would like to wish everyone a happy 2009. We apologize for only having a few posts over the last couple weeks. We are now back in full swing and getting prepared for a productive year.

Don't Forget the next NEAT Membership Meeting is Wed January 14th, 7pm at Green Street Arts Center.