Home Care In Windsor Locks, CT

Local Non-Profit and its Social Enterprise Continues Economic Development Mission with the Opening of Second Coworking Space

Express Strategies, Community Contributor

Bromleigh Enterprises, a non-profit organization focused on supporting small business growth throughout Greater Hartford and beyond, has opened its second coworking and community hub, Windsor Worx, located in the heart of downtown Windsor.

Windsor Worx and its sister location, West Hartford Cowork located on the Hartford-West Hartford line, aim to achieve sustainable economic development, elevate ailing corridors and breathe life into neighborhoods in transition, its professionals, entrepreneurs, small and micro-businesses, and non-profits. Once a thriving manufacturing facility, 41 Mechanic Street in Downtown Windsor – Connecticut’s first community – is the newly redesigned home of Windsor Worx.

Under Managing Director, Annisa Teich, both locations are part of a larger mission to expand the entrepreneurial ecosystem by encouraging and developing creative and collaborative programming for the community. During the press conference, Annisa announced the launch of a new incubator program – The Neighborhood. This hands-on, grant-supported program will guide 10 new Windsor-based businesses through the essentials of starting their business. Applications went live during the announcement - entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply via WindsorWorx.com.

An exciting quarterly initiative called the “Artist in Residence” program was announced, providing a platform for creative entrepreneurs to exhibit their work within a vibrant hub alongside the Windsor Arts Center. South Windsor-based Kristen Greenier has been selected as the program's inaugural featured artist. Her work is on display and available for purchase at Windsor Worx. Applications for the artist program our forthcoming.

“We are just getting started on our mission to ‘light up’ stagnant communities within the region,” Annisa Teich explained. “We are always on the lookout for ways to develop the entrepreneurial ecosystem in areas that need a boost and have the placemaking ingredients needed to support it. We recognize the burdens and challenges small businesses face, but our work is focused on helping entrepreneurs squeeze all they can out of the opportunities this region has to offer.”

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

"Windsor Worx will offer a home for the region’s entrepreneurs to not only grow their own businesses but collaborate with and support other entrepreneurs, fellow professionals, and veteran small business owners,” said Connecticut Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz. “With the expertise provided by Managing Director, Annisa Teich, I am confident that Connecticut’s small business owners and professionals will achieve their goals right here at Windsor Worx."

“Utilizing and maximizing space, time and money is essential when it comes to running a business,” said State Senator Doug McCrory, whose district includes Windsor. “Windsor Worx is an interesting concept designed to provide opportunities for entrepreneurs to create, grow and run their businesses efficiently. I join our community in welcoming Windsor Worx.”

At a well-attended Grand Opening of Windsor Worx on Wednesday, multiple local Chambers of Commerce were on hand for a collaborative ribbon-cutting, including the Windsor Chamber of Commerce, CT River Valley Chamber of Commerce, and West Hartford Chamber of Commerce, underscoring the cross-region economic development potential of Windsor Worx and the expanding portfolio of Bromleigh Enterprises.

“I am so excited that Windsor Worx chose Windsor as its home,” offered State Representative Jane Garibay. “We share the same vision of building an atmosphere where business and people can grow. Their space, support, enthusiasm, and well-thought-out plan will give people a place to realize their dreams!”

The Bromleigh Enterprises - Windsor Worx team worked closely with the Town of Windsor’s Economic Development staff in establishing the space and incubator program, which has quickly begun to attract new and existing businesses.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and I'm delighted to see Windsor Worx here to support the new and growing businesses of Windsor,” said Windsor Town Council Member Ojala Naeem. “The business support programming provided at Windsor Worx will help fill gaps that our businesses currently have and strengthen them for success in the marketplace.”

Windsor Worx offers private offices as well as daily workstations, meeting room rentals, and virtual mail, all at affordable rates developed for remote professionals, entrepreneurs, and small businesses. Amenities include access to the Kitchenette, Lounge Area, Outdoor Patio, High-Speed Wi-Fi, Copying and Printing, and free on-site parking.

“Windsor Worx is so much more than a workspace. It is a community hub where local entrepreneurs can collaborate and thrive alongside the support of fellow professionals, including remote workers and teams, and veteran small business owners. Our creative and collaborative programming brings more businesses to life and helps them successfully reach important milestones,” explained Annisa Teich.

West Hartford Coworking, in operation since 2016, and the Small Business Collective, a full-service marketing agency founded in 2017, are two additional ventures led by Teich and her growing team of local staff. Bromleigh Enterprises focuses on four categories of impact: Social Enterprises, Community Hubs, Grassroots Campaigns, and Economic Development.

For additional information, visit www.windsorworx.com, www.westhartfordcoworking.com, and www.bromleighenterprises.org.

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

The “chicken people” were back in force at Windsor Locks Town Hall on Monday night as the debate continued on how and why the town should regulate backyard poultry.

In a somewhat quieter session compared to previous hearings, residents and town planning officials took on questions like: How many chickens are too many? Are roosters necessary? Are backyard fowl bad for your health?

About three dozen people attended the special meeting of the Windsor Locks Planning Commission to take part in the public hearing, most in favor of laxer rules on backyard flocks. After two hours of discussion, the planners agreed to postpone a decision on new regulation until August, pending consultation with the town attorney on legal issues around enforcement.

The decision to delay a vote stirred some grumbling in the crowd, overwhelmingly against more restrictions on backyard flocks.

Seeking to update 1980s-era town rules that require a 100-foot setback from chicken coops to neighboring property lines, residents worked with the town to draft a new ordinance earlier this year that would require only a 25-foot setback.

At issue now are new regulations added in the planning process that would limit the number of birds to six, require larger properties to keep poultry and prohibit roosters.

MaryAnn Moskey, a resident who partnered with town officials and other poultry fans to draft the new ordinance, asked the planners to amend some of the added restrictions on Monday night. Limiting flocks to six birds is not realistic considering egg-laying cycles, she said.

“Chickens stop laying eggs after a while, they get older. They kind of retire. And we don’t want to have to put down our retired chickens,” Moskey said.

Later speakers at the hearing evoked Windsor Locks’ historically rural character and extolled the economic and educational benefits of backyard flocks.

More for you

The lone anti-chicken speaker on Monday night complained of a neighbor’s roaming hens and called backyard poultry “ghetto.”

Another point of debate was proposed new rules that would ban poultry on properties smaller than 0.46 acres — putting chickens out of reach for three-quarters of the town’s single-family home dwellers, according to data presented by Town Planner Jennifer Valentino.

The backyard chicken debate reflects ongoing growth and change in Windsor Locks, which is considering a new proposal to convert former farmland on Old Country Road into a $225 million warehouse complex. That plan is on the Planning and Zoning agenda for a special meeting scheduled for July 20.

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

WINDSOR LOCKS — Putting their spin on an old riddle, officials in town aren't pondering why the chicken crossed the road. But they do continue to question how often the birds might navigate the municipality's thoroughfares.

Chicken owners, many of whom have been waiting for a resolution to this debate for nearly a year, will have to wait a bit longer for new rules about keeping poultry on their properties now that a resident's proposed ordinance failed to get officials' approval Monday.

The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously voted against an amended ordinance proposed by resident MaryAnn Moskey that would have changed the regulation of enclosures for poultry, rabbits, and similar small animals to be at least 25 feet from neighboring properties, rather than the previously required 100 feet.

Moskey worked with the town's current regulation and said she just changed the distance that coops could be from neighboring properties. She kept the current requirement that chicken enclosures be 75 feet from the street and the animals are not allowed to wander onto adjacent properties. Her proposed amendment also included the current rules that roosters are prohibited and poultry products cannot be sold to the public.

The PZC, however, did not find her amended ordinance to be complete enough and is planning to hold a workshop during a special meeting soon to discuss what would best suit the town insofar as a new regulation.

"The initial regulation offers a base for what needs to be done," PZC member Alan Gammuscio said, who advised denying Moskey's proposed amendment, adding that in the future, the PZC should discuss what needs to be incorporated into the regulation.

Moskey, who has been advocating for months that the town update its rules that date back to the 1980s for keeping domestic livestock, worked closely with Town Planner Jennifer Valentino and residents to draft the new ordinance.

More for you

After the decision on Monday, Moskey said the version that PZC members ultimately decide upon could be better than what the town rules say now or could be worse.

Moskey said her worst fear would be that PZC members tighten up the regulations to a 50-foot setback for coops from neighboring properties.

"Twenty-five feet is better than what we have now, but even that isn't good enough," she said about her proposed amendment.

Had she known about how few properties in Windsor Locks are in compliance for keeping chicken under current regulations, Moskey said she would have proposed 10 feet from other properties instead of 25.

"There are 9,000 residences in town that are less than a third of an acre," Moskey said about the current regulations that allow keeping poultry on residential properties. "I didn't know at first how many people keep chickens but there are a lot and the majority of them need to be on properties that are at least a half acre."

Moskey said in her application for the updated zoning regulation that the change will let more families produce fresher, more nutrient-rich eggs, and allow domestic poultry to be kept as pets, show birds, 4-H, and vocational agriculture projects, and be raised to preserve heritage breeds in danger of extinction.

"More sustainable living would be achieved by providing bug control, nutrient-rich fertilizer, and by poultry consuming food scraps, leaves, and grass," she wrote.

The issue has long been discussed at PZC and Zoning Board of Appeals meetings by residents who keep chickens on their properties.

Last winter, resident Heather Nicholson received a letter from the town requesting voluntary compliance of the zoning ordinance after a neighbor complained about her chickens wandering onto other properties.

Nicholson appealed the request for voluntary compliance to the Zoning Board of Appeals but lost.

Since then, a number of residents who also have chickens have been attending meetings to ask for rules that would allow more residents to keep on their properties.

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT — Eight individuals who made significant contributions to sports in Windsor Locks will be honored Nov. 24 with induction into the town’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

This year’s inductees are Jessica Berube, Jordan English, James McKenna, Debbie Munson, Scott Shaw, Robert Sheehan and Tim Sheehan. Fred Salvatore will be honored as a Fan of the Game.

A dinner ceremony will take place at La Notte, 17 Thompson Road, East Windsor. Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m., and a buffet dinner at 6:30. Tickets are $50 and may be purchased at Windsor Locks Park and Rec, 50 Church Street, or through Dave Farr at [email protected].

Here is a brief look at the Class of 2023:

Jessica Berube - a 4-sport athlete who played soccer, basketball and softball at Windsor Locks High School for two years, making All-NCCC in softball. She transferred to Kingswood Oxford so she could play ice hockey, and scored 34 goals in her senior year. Played for Team Connecticut in 2002, which won the national title.

Jordan English - a 2007 WLHS graduate who made All-NCCC four times in baseball, and All-State three times. Compiled batting averages of .375, .403, .487 and .532, with 97 runs batted in and 130 hits, including 50 for extra bases. A member of the 2005 and 2006 Class S championship teams, he went on to be a 3-year starter at Bryant University.

James McKenna – known as “Mac,” he was a longtime secondary school physical education teacher who also coached many sports. He was the first swim team coach at the high school, helped Coach Dan Sullivan with the 1970 and 1971 state championship soccer teams, and coached Raider softball. In his first year, his softball team reached the quarterfinals in the state tournament, and in 1978, they captured the Class M championship, knocking off top-seeded Farmington and No. 2 Daniel Hand in the process.

Debbie Munson - a 3-sport athlete playing soccer, basketball and softball who earned eight letters before graduating in 2002. Made All-State three times in softball, slugging 29 home runs. She went on to play Division I college softball at Central Connecticut State University, and was selected All-New England as a catcher in her senior year.

Scott Shaw - a 1992 graduate was an outstanding runner, lettering 12 times in cross country and indoor and outdoor track. He won the state championship in the 3200 meter run outdoors as a junior, and made All=NCCC teams twice outdoors and once indoors. He continued his running career at Bentley College, where the team won the New England cross country championship and three conference titles.

Robert Sheehan - played basketball and baseball in high school, excelling as one of the outstanding pitchers in the 1940s. He routinely struck out at least 10 batters a game, and compiled seven career shutouts with the Raiders. He was one of the top hurlers on the 1942 Post 36 State Legion championship team, then played for two local teams in the Farmington Valley League and had a stint in Canada.

Tim Sheehan – He and his dad are the second father-son duo to be inducted the same year into the Hall of Fame. A 1979 WLHS graduate, he was a 3 -sport athlete, playing soccer, basketball and baseball. He was a 2-time All-State selection in soccer, scoring four goals in a game against Newington despite being primarily a defender. He played one year of post-graduate baseball at Williston Academy.

Fred Salvatore – recipient of an award created for a fan that followed players through youth sports and high school, often without having a son or daughter involved. He was often seen at a park with his old reliable chair to take in another ballgame. He was also part of history, as he and John Carnevale helped scout opposing teams for the 1965 Little League World Series champions.

WINDSOR LOCKS-EAST WINDSOR, CT — Residents of Windsor Locks and East Windsor planning to put up a live Christmas tree this year certainly have options from area tree growers.

Here are a few places to start, courtesy of the Connecticut Christmas Tree Growers Association:

Hartford County

Tolland County

Those who want a live tree but don't want to venture out to cut it can visit several fire departments in the area, which annually sell trees as fundraisers.

Last year, the median price for trees purchased directly from a grower was about $93, according to PickYourOwnChristmasTree.org. About 26 million live trees were sold last year, compared to 27.4 million in 2018.

A survey by the American Christmas Tree Association, an industry trade group, shows that of the 94 percent of Americans who plan to put up a Christmas tree this year, 23 percent will display a live tree.

Last year, live tree prices increased about 10 percent, largely due to inflation and drought, according to industry experts.

Years of extreme weather — drought conditions in some parts of the country and excess moisture in others — are expected to translate to slightly higher 2023 Christmas tree prices, according to a report from Country Folks Grower, a business-to-business publication serving fresh market and ornamental crops.

“A lot can happen in a half dozen years that can change the outlook for a Christmas tree crop from one season to the next,” the report said. “Farmers will be facing challenges in the 2023 Christmas tree season brought about by developments over the past several years.”

At any given moment, about 350 million Christmas trees are growing on tree farms across the country.

It typically takes a tree between six and eight years to grow to the desirable height for decorating. Large trees — those 7 feet and taller — may be in short supply because sales of smaller trees have been strong in recent years, the report said. Also, people may need to settle for a different species than they’re accustomed to buying.