Nursing students at Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU) now have a new and exciting opportunity to hone their craft in Willimantic. The school is partnering with Hartford Healthcare to launch a unique facility at Windham Hospital. Please read below to learn how this program fills a major need in our community.
Speaking of ECSU, students were thrilled to pet a friendly goat on campus last week. I'll let you know why the farm animal paid a visit and how it could make a big difference moving forward!
This is a great community effort for Windham, Eastern Connecticut, and the State of Connecticut.
The expanded ECSU nurses training program is a joint effort between Hartford Healthcare's Windham Hospital CEO for Eastern Connecticut, Donna Handley, and ECSU's President, Karim Ismali. It was a great honor to participate in this groundbreaking event and to see the support from Governor Ned Lamont, U.S. Congressman Joe Courtney, and several state legislators who were present.
This facility represents a new pathway for students to enter the medical field in Windham and Eastern Connecticut. Our region has the fewest licensed nurses in Connecticut, and ECSU's expanding nursing program will hopefully address this shortage at Windham and Backus Hospitals. This partnership will also encourage ECSU's nursing students to build a career in Windham.
Courtesy: Eastern Connecticut State University
The simulation lab contains interactive mannequins for students to train on where they can practice taking a pulse or temperature. The technology is the same as in hospitals, so students will be familiar with a real-world setting once they graduate. It’s the only simulation lab of its kind in the area.
Windham Mayor DeVivo, my co-host Dennis O'Brien, and I discussed the nursing program on my radio show, so please click on the video below to learn more.
ECSU's nursing program builds new partnership with Windham Hospital.
Opportunities for Thermal Energy
In the 2025 legislative session, we passed legislation establishing a TEN grant program, which provides funding to develop Thermal Energy Networks. These systems use shared, underground pipes to efficiently heat and cool multiple buildings in a neighborhood or campus with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Thermal Energy Networks for CT (TEN4CT) hosted a meeting with experts from Massachusetts and Connecticut to discuss geothermal network opportunities, feasibility studies, and much more. Click on the video below to listen to the recording.
Thermal Energy Networks for CT
Poetry in the Park
It was a pleasure to hear V. Penelope Pelizzon's powerful readings at the final Poetry in the Park event of the year. Pelizzon, a fantastic local poet who has earned numerous awards and scholarships, displayed her passion for the craft during her reading at the Windham Senior Center. The event was held there last week due to the rain. I would like to thank the Curbstone Foundation for sponsoring Poetry in the Park, all the poets who generously shared their work, and to everyone whose efforts made these gatherings possible.
Adorable Goat Visits Students
Students, faculty, and I were pleasantly shocked to see an adorable goat on the campus of Eastern Connecticut State University last week! The cute animal surprise campus visit is aimed to drum up support for volunteer opportunities at Blue Iris Farm in Lebanon, which serves as a dedicated animal rescue farm.
Additionally, the goat's pit stop may attract more students to the region's agriculture industry. Our local farms and food producers play a crucial role in keeping our community strong. This industry employs tens of thousands of residents across the state and plays a vital role in our past, present, and future.
