Children's Book Fair & Opening of Early Childhood Center

October 3, 2024


Your kids have a great opportunity to meet children's authors and bring home books! There will be a free children's book fair on Saturday with all kinds of activities. Please read below to learn more about this fantastic event.

Our community is celebrating the opening of the new and improved Windham Early Childhood Center. I'll break down how this facility distinguishes itself as an amazing place for our children.
 
Windham Hospital has opened its huge hydroponic garden that will help feed those in need. Keep scrolling to learn how this green space produces so many vegetables for Windham.

Here are the sections in today's email:

  • Let's Talk About It: Children's Book Fair
  • Opening of Windham Early Childhood Center
  • Hospital Garden Feeding Those in Need
  • Final Third Thursday Street Festival
 
Let's Talk About It: Children’s Book Fair
We got a closer look at the fourth annual Children’s Book Fair on my weekly radio show “Let’s Talk About It.” Nancy Pettit, the president of Friends of the Willimantic Public Library, previewed the free event, which will take place on Saturday, October 5 from 10 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. at Windham Senior Center at 1 Jillson Square in Willimantic.

Pettit informed us there will be six Connecticut children’s authors at the book fair. Each will read from their book, provide a presentation, answer questions, and sign their books. Every Windham family will get a free book from the author of their choice. One of the authors, Nohra Bernal, is bringing her husband who illustrates her books. He will draw for the kids on Saturday. The book fair will also include other activities such as crafts and a puppet show.
We also dug deeper into the other authors who will be in attendance, when to start reading to your kids, and how to get sign up for the 1,000 books before kindergarten program. Please click on the video below to listen to the entire show!
Nancy Pettit previews the fourth annual
Children's Book Fair at the Windham Senior Center.
 
Opening of Windham Early Childhood Center
The community celebrated the grand opening of the Windham Early Childhood Center (WECC). The new WECC is part of the "Renovate Windham High School as New" project. I want to provide a huge thanks to the entire Windham High School Building Committee for their time and effort. Additionally, I am very grateful to have State Senator Mae Flexer working with me to get a 95% reimbursement rate for this beautiful Windham High School redevelopment project.
The NEW and permanent WECC has been an objective of our Windham Board of Education and our Superintendent for several years. The facility is relatively unique because it serves all children from birth to the first grade. Many communities do not have educational continuity for their little ones.

The WECC provides the necessary long term relationship with students to help them transition from early childhood services to elementary school. This bond represents an important educational start for our youngest students.
Click here to learn more
 
Hospital Garden Feeding Those in Need
I am proud to announce that Willimantic is increasing access to healthy food for those who need it most. I was honored to attend a ribbon cutting at Windham Hospital celebrating the fresh garden there. The food that is growing in the 3,000 square foot hydroponic garden will produce thousands of pounds of fresh vegetables for hospital workers and members of the community who are in need. Currently, the garden contains cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, and squash.
In case you were wondering, a hydroponic garden uses tubes to deliver water and nutrients to the plants instead of soil. Experts say this process allows the vegetables to grow faster year-round no matter the weather.

This is a fabulous addition to our community that will support physical health, children’s development, and sustainability. Eating healthy plays a vital role in preventing disease, and for children it’s essential for proper growth and development. Lastly, focusing on healthy food access often aligns with sustainable agricultural practices, benefiting both the environment and local economies.
 
Final Third Thursday Street Festival
It was a delight to take part in the last Third Thursday Street Fest of the year. The food was scrumptious, the music was lovely, and the atmosphere was amazing. You can see that some volunteers dressed up for the occasion! Organizers told us this event was the largest one ever with 145 vendors, merchants, and bands.

Thank you to all the organizers who put on a great show for every Third Thursday Festival in 2024! We appreciate your time, effort, and passion in creating an inclusive event for our community.