EASTCONN

06/11/2026

WHAT A NIGHT! 🎸🎷🎺 Last night, the historic Capitol Theater at EASTCONN's Arts at the Capitol Theater was electric - and the sold-out crowd knew they were witnessing something truly special.
Dr. David "Lefty" Foster & The Shaboo All-Stars delivered a world-class performance for the ages - from "Soul Man" to "Ain't No Sunshine" and so much more - the audience was on their feet and dancing in the aisles!
This unforgettable reunion was more than a concert - it was a celebration of musical history, community spirit, and the power of the arts to bring people together. All proceeds benefited Willimantic Renaissance, Inc. and their incredible work revitalizing downtown Willimantic. 💙
A heartfelt thank you to Chris Beaudry, Executive Director of Willimantic Renaissance, "Lefty" Foster, and every member of the Shaboo All-Stars for returning to Willimantic and giving us a night we will never forget. 🌟🎶
Willimantic's 3rd Thursday Street Fest The River Room - Willimantic

06/11/2026

In a world where children are growing up online, keeping them safe is everyone's responsibility.
GEER's latest free professional learning resource, Keeping Our Children Safe on the Internet, gives early childhood educators the knowledge and tools to protect children's privacy and security - both in and out of the classroom.
https://tinyurl.com/GEERpractices
You'll explore:
✅ What personal information should never be shared - and why
✅ Age-appropriate content ratings and how to use them
✅ Safely downloading apps on classroom devices
✅ How to strengthen device security with privacy settings and two-step authentication
✅ Common internet scams to watch out for - spam, phishing, spoofing, and more
Informed educators make safer classrooms. Explore this free resource today!
https://tinyurl.com/GEERpractices

EASTCONN is a public, non-profit agency that has been serving the education needs of northeastern CT's schools & communities since 1980. We provide a broad range of services & learning opportunities across a 33-town, 36 school district region.

06/10/2026

Monday night, EASTCONN's Arts at the Capitol Theater was the setting for an important and powerful evening - the 100 Days of Summer: Teen Safe Driving Symposium.
We were especially proud of three ACT seniors who stepped up to share their voices on the panel:
🌟 Millyhon Stoney from Willimantic
🌟 Autumn Jacques from Willimantic
🌟 Izabella Garceau from Lebanon
These young people showed up, spoke up, and helped make the case for safer driving during the most critical 100 days of the year.
Thank you to all who attended, and to our moderator, Wayne Norman from Good Company WILI 1400 & 95.3, our partners at the State of Connecticut DMV, Willimantic Police Dept., CiCi Petri, AAA, CT Children's Injury Prevention, and UConn for bringing this vital program to our community. 💙

06/10/2026

FROM EASTCONN FOOD SERVICES:
Summer Meals offered at Brooklyn Cares Community Center (Quebec Sq.), 31 Tiffany St., Brooklyn, CT
FREE for Kids & Teens 18 and under
Location: Lower Parking Lot, Side Entrance towards rear of building
Tuesday-Thursday; July 7th-July 30th
Breakfast: 8am- 8:45am; Lunch 11am- 11:45am
TIMES AND LOCATION MAY CHANGE:
Be sure to check the Meal Location Finder at the following website: MEAL FINDER: http://www.ctsummermeals.org/

Summer Meals offered at Brooklyn Middle School
119 Gorman Road, Brooklyn, CT
FREE for Kids & Teens 18 and under
Location: Parking and Cafeteria Entrance are in the rear of the Middle School building, look for the signage towards the rear left of the building.
Monday-Friday; July 6th-August 14th
Breakfast 8:30am-10am
Lunch 11:30pm-1pm
TIMES AND LOCATION MAY CHANGE:
Be sure to check the Meal Location Finder at the following website: MEAL FINDER http://www.ctsummermeals.org/

06/08/2026

TONIGHT! Know a teen driver - or a teen about to become one? This one's important...Join us for 100 Days of Summer: A Teen Safe Driving Symposium - a powerful evening of education, expert insight, and community collaboration focused on keeping young drivers safe during the most critical 100 days of the year.
🗓️ Monday, June 8th | 6:00 PM
📍 EASTCONN's Arts at the Capitol Theater, 896 Main St., Willimantic
This event is FREE and open to the community - please share with families who have teen drivers at home. It could make all the difference. WINY Radio

06/08/2026

GEER: How much screen time is too much - and does it even matter what kind?
GEER's video for parents and caregivers, How Much is Too Much? Managing Your Child's Screen Time, helps families make sense of the screen time conversation with practical, age-appropriate guidance from Common Sense Media and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
https://tinyurl.com/GEERscreentime
You'll explore:
✅ The four types of screen time - and why they're not all equal
✅ Age-by-age recommendations from birth through preschool
✅ What to look for when evaluating apps, games, and programs
✅ How to set healthy boundaries and model good media habits at home
The goal isn't to eliminate screens - it's to use them with intention. Watch today and feel confident in the choices you make for your family! https://tinyurl.com/GEERscreentime

EASTCONN provides schools and communities in northeastern Connecticut with educational programs, professional development, and student services.

06/05/2026

We've been riding the high all week! 🌟 The 2026 EASTCONN Annual Meeting last Tuesday was everything we hoped for - and then some. From a stunning student art gallery to flawless logistics, our team brought their A-game from start to finish. The real showstoppers? Our student presenters, who were so polished they drew comparisons to Broadway performers! We were also honored to welcome State Representative Jennifer Leeper as our keynote speaker, who left genuinely impressed by the good work and teamwork happening here at EASTCONN.

The evening also gave us the opportunity to celebrate our Service Recognition honorees and recognize 11 deserving recipients of the Commitment to Excellence Award - a true highlight of the night.
Congratulations to all of our honorees! 🎉
Huge thanks to everyone who made it happen. 📸 💙

06/05/2026

What a night! Thank you to everyone who joined us for the "Inspired by Nature" Student Art Gala - families, staff, and community members who filled our conference rooms and celebrated the remarkable talents of EASTCONN student artists.

From acrylics and ceramics to photography, markers, and stunning 3-D costuming (and frogs!) - last night's exhibition was a true showcase of creativity, hard work, and student voice.
Raffle winners went home happy - and we went home inspired.

A heartfelt thank you to our student artists, their teachers, and everyone who made the evening possible. 💚

06/04/2026

🎨 It's TODAY! Come experience the "Inspired by Nature" Art Gala - a free public exhibition featuring student artists from our EASTCONN school programs.
From ceramic bowls to Willimantic frog sculptures, mixed-media knights to expressive abstracts, painted canvas to photography - today's gallery showcases the remarkable range and talent of young artists from across northeastern Connecticut.
📅 Today! Thursday, June 4
🕓 4:00–6:00 p.m.
📍 EASTCONN Conference Center, 376 Hartford Turnpike, Hampton
Plus - food, a raffle, and a special silent auction. Free and open to the public. No registration needed.
Come for the art. Stay for everything else.