Our First Roundup!

Welcome to the Roundup!

Good morning, West Hartford!

Welcome to the very first edition of the WeHa Roundup! We're excited to be your new source for a smattering of everything happening in our amazing town. We know that we are kicking off this newsletter during the quieter dog days of August, when many residents are enjoying summer escapes, but there’s no time like the present. We look forward to keeping you connected year-round.

August tends to be a quieter month for news, but future editions will dive deeper into West Hartford's amazing restaurants, local businesses, and cultural scene. Whether you're looking for weekend plans, want to save money on back-to-school shopping, or need to know about increased traffic enforcement around town, we've got you covered.

- Justin

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In This Week's Roundup:

• 💰 Connecticut's sales tax-free week starts Sunday - save on back-to-school shopping

• 🚔 Police step up traffic enforcement with 106 violations detected in single day

• 🥟 New gluten-free dumpling restaurant opens on Park Road

• 📸 Assessment staff photographing all properties for 2026 revaluation

• 🌽 Both weekend farmers markets continue at Town Hall due to construction

• And lots more!

THE ROUNDUP

💰 Save Big on Back-to-School Shopping This Week

Connecticut families can save serious money starting this Sunday, as the state's annual Sales Tax-Free Week runs from August 17 through August 23, 2025. Most clothing and footwear items priced under $100 are exempt from Connecticut's 6.35% sales tax during this period.

"Our annual sales tax holiday gives Connecticut consumers some extra savings during the busy back-to-school retail season," Governor Ned Lamont said. "I encourage everyone to take advantage of these savings and, as always, support our many locally-owned small businesses." The exemption applies to online purchases too, as long as payment is made during the week.

This is Connecticut's 26th year offering this back-to-school savings opportunity, and with West Hartford's excellent shopping options at Blue Back Square, West Hartford Center, and Bishops Corner, families can easily stock up on everything from school clothes to sneakers without leaving town. The timing couldn't be better as most schools gear up for September openings.

🚔 Police Crack Down on Traffic Violations in Major Enforcement Push

West Hartford police issued 75 tickets and detected 106 total violations during an intensive 8-hour traffic enforcement operation last week, according to We-Ha.com. The coordinated effort covered six different locations throughout town from 10 AM to 6 PM, targeting speeding, cell phone use, and other traffic violations.

Assistant Chief Larry Terra confirmed that "this type of traffic enforcement will continue throughout West Hartford at varying times and locations," signaling a new approach to road safety. With the scale of violations detected in just one day, all drivers should expect increased enforcement and plan accordingly.

🥟 Gold Dumpling Brings Gluten-Free Innovation to Park Road

Gold Dumpling soft opened this Monday at 278 Park Road, bringing handmade dumplings with a remarkable gluten-free focus to West Hartford's dining scene. After getting a hot tip on social media, I dropped in for lunch and was immediately impressed. Yes, I ordered the potentially lamest combination ever – pork bao buns and chicken and broccoli – but hear me out: chicken and broccoli is the perfect test dish, and Gold Dumpling absolutely hit the mark.

Everything was really fresh, generous portions, and reasonably priced. The restaurant has already earned an immediate spot in my Thursday night takeout rotation, and I can't wait to explore more of their menu.

What makes Gold Dumpling special is their five years of development creating gluten-free dumplings that can be boiled, steamed, pan-fried, or deep-fried – plus they use natural plant-based colors to code their dumplings by filling (green for vegetarian, blue for beef, yellow for pork). It's a welcome addition for anyone seeking authentic Asian cuisine, especially those with dietary restrictions who've been missing out on traditional dumpling experiences.

📅 THIS WEEK

Thursday, August 14:

• Jazz in the Square: 12:00-1:30 PM at Webster Walk, Blue Back Square. More info

• Hartford Yard Goats vs. Harrisburg Senators: 7:10 PM at Dunkin' Park. Tickets here

Friday, August 15:

• Jazz in the Square (Rain Date): 12:00-1:30 PM at Webster Walk, Blue Back Square. More info

• Pratt Street Night Market: 5:00-9:00 PM in Hartford. More info

• Hartford Yard Goats vs. Harrisburg Senators: 7:10 PM at Dunkin' Park. Tickets here

Saturday, August 16:

• West Hartford Farmers Market: 9:00 AM-1:00 PM at Town Hall parking lot. More info

• Hartford Yard Goats vs. Harrisburg Senators: 6:10 PM at Dunkin' Park. Tickets here

Sunday, August 17:

• Blue Back Farmers Market: 10:00 AM-1:00 PM at Town Hall parking lot. More info

• Sales Tax-Free Week begins!

🏛️ AROUND TOWN

Assessment Staff Photographing Properties Throughout Town

If you've noticed someone with a camera taking photos of your property from the street, don't worry – it's likely one of two West Hartford Assessment Office staff members working on a major town-wide project. The Assessment Office began photographing all 22,481 real estate parcels in West Hartford this spring and will continue through October 2026 in preparation for the next state-mandated property revaluation.

Assessment staff members Martyna Srebrna and James Williams are conducting the work, taking high-resolution photos from public areas that will be integrated into the town's assessment database. The photographers wear identification and drive vehicles marked with the "Town of West Hartford" logo. Photos are typically taken from the street, and staff won't enter private property without attempting to notify the property owner first.

Connecticut requires municipalities to conduct property revaluations every five years, with West Hartford's next revaluation scheduled for 2026. The last revaluation was completed in 2021. Questions about the photography project can be directed to the Assessment Office at 860-561-7418.

Both Weekend Farmers Markets Continue at Town Hall

West Hartford families continue to enjoy twice-weekly opportunities to shop local with both Saturday and Sunday farmers markets operating from the Town Hall parking lot. The West Hartford Farmers Market runs Saturdays from 9 AM-1 PM (temporarily relocated from its usual Arapahoe location due to LaSalle Road construction), while the Blue Back Farmers Market operates Sundays from 10 AM-1 PM.

Between the two markets, residents can choose from 35+ local vendors offering fresh produce, artisanal foods, and seasonal specialties. One standout is Olmo Bagels, which makes the trip up from New Haven each Sunday with what might just be Connecticut's best bagels. Olmo started as a high-end restaurant but pivoted to bagels during the pandemic, recognizing that New Haven was a "bagel desert." The gamble paid off spectacularly – last year they beat out New York City and Montreal shops to win "Best of Show" at the NYC BagelFest.

If you haven't tried them yet, you're missing out – their everything bagels have this perfect chewy texture, and the Cacio E Pepe bagel is also a must-try.

🔮 LOOKING AHEAD

Save These Dates:

• Pooch Plunge: Monday, August 18, 4:00-6:45 PM at Beachland Park pool. Annual dog swim event raising funds for a permanent dog park. Info and tickets here

• Back to School Bash: Saturday, August 23, 4:00-7:00 PM at Blue Back Square - Free family event with 300 backpacks for West Hartford families. More info

• Speed Management Program Meeting: Wednesday, September 3 - Public information meeting about potential speed camera locations. More info

Weather Preview

Hot and sunny conditions expected for the weekend, with temperatures reaching the low-to-mid 90s and mostly clear skies. Perfect weather for the farmers markets and outdoor activities!

Thanks for reading! We hope you enjoyed this inaugural issue of the WeHa Roundup. Have a story tip, event suggestion, or just want to say hello? We'd love to hear from you with what you liked, what you’d like to see more of, and any tips you may have about local goings-on.

Lastly, please forward to anyone you think might enjoy, especially if they’re a local business owner.

Until next week,

Justin