For our first Community Spotlight, I’m starting with one that hits close to home. Since 1983, the volunteer-run Windham Regional Arts Council has worked to make the arts accessible, celebrate local talent and give young musicians a place to build confidence.

MyFor our first Community Spotlight, I wanted to start with an organization that has spent decades making the arts feel like a real part of life here. The volunteer-run Windham Regional Arts Council supports local painters, photographers, performers, musicians and other creatives through exhibitions, competitions, scholarships and community programs.

This one is personal for me. Both of my parents were local music teachers, and my late father’s legacy lives on through WRAC’s annual Mr. D Scholarship Award, given to a promising young musician each year.

Organizations like WRAC do more than put art on walls or people on stages. They give local talent a place to grow, create and feel seen, while making our entire community a little more interesting.

KNOW A PERSON OR ORGANIZATION THAT DESERVES A LITTLE BUZZ? 🐝

Send us their name, town and one sentence about the good work they’re doing. It could be a teacher, volunteer, neighbor, nonprofit, community group, local business or even you. That’s all we need to get started.

We spend every Tuesday telling you where to go, so next Sunday we’re finally giving you a reason to hang out with us.

Join us at Quiet Corner Winery, 217 N Bigelow Road in Hampton, this Sunday, August 2 from 2–5 PM for a free Midsummer Meet Up with good drinks, exclusive Swarm discounts and plenty of fellow locals to meet.

Bring a friend, come solo or stay for one drink. There is no agenda, no networking nonsense and no awkward icebreakers. Just a relaxed summer afternoon with people who also enjoy discovering the Quiet Corner.

RSVP below for a chance to win a Conn-opoly board game, then come say hi.

There’s no trick that guarantees a score jump in 30 days. But if you’re preparing to buy a home, the right moves can matter.

Paying down card balances may lower reported credit utilization after the issuer sends the new balance to the credit bureaus. Reporting timing varies, so your payment due date is not necessarily the reporting date. You do not need to carry a balance or pay interest to build credit.

Review your reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute legitimate errors. The score in your banking app may not be the mortgage score a lender uses.

Connecticut buyers should also ask about CHFA’s Time To Own program. As of July 20, 2026, $23.4 million remained available, with eligible buyers able to receive up to $25,000 in forgivable assistance.

Before closing cards or opening new credit, contact Kimberly Joy at PrimeLending for a mortgage-specific game plan.

🐶Adopt-a-pal: Meet Rome, a scruffy, adventure-ready goofball who loves kids, other dogs and the great outdoors, and he’s looking for a family ready to match his energy.

🏡House of the week: This 3-bedroom, 2-bath contemporary packs 2,520 square feet onto 14 private acres, complete with a pond, gardens, fruit trees, barn and room for horses. Inside, soaring ceilings, walls of windows and a massive fieldstone fireplace make it feel more like a tucked-away retreat than a regular house. Check it out!

🔭Sky report: The Buck Moon rolls in Wednesday (7/29), just as two meteor showers reach their late-July peak, because apparently the sky enjoys bad timing. The moon will drown out most of the faint streaks, but the Alpha Capricornids can still deliver a slow, bright fireball between 2 a.m. and dawn on July 30 or 31. Face south and use a tree or building to block the moon for your best shot.

🇵🇷 La Casita de la Picadera just opened at 45 High St, Willimantic, bringing empanadillas, tostones, pernil, Puerto Rican sandwiches and plenty of late-night-worthy munchies to 45 High Street.

Ashford | The Patty Tuite Band | 6:30 PM - Blues and soul band brings the groove to Tremko Lane (25 Tremko Ln).

Ellington | Happy Wanderer's Group Hike - Steele Crossing | 9 AM - Join a guided group hike through scenic trails at Steele Crossing (40 Maple St). Hit the Trail

North Grosvenor Dale | Mini Succulent Terrariums | 5:30 PM - Create your own tiny terrarium with succulents at this hands-on workshop (934 Riverside Dr.)

Willimantic | Word & Image | July 28–31 and August 3, 12–4 PM - This ECSU exhibition explores the connection between words and visual art. Open at The Art Gallery at Eastern, (83 Windham St). Deets

Andover | History to Legend to Myth: Remembering the Revolution | 6:30 PM - Lecture exploring how Connecticut remembers the Revolutionary War (355 Route 6).

Bolton | Bolton Summer Concert Series with Nightshift | 6:30 PM - Classic rock band Nightshift performs at the outdoor summer series (104 Notch Rd).

Danielson | Super Animal Senses (Ages 4-12) | 5:30 PM - Kids discover how animals use their senses through interactive activities (25 Westcott Rd). Explore

Dayville | Sip & Suds: Goat's Milk Soap Workshop | 6 PM | ($) - Make artisan goat's milk soap while enjoying craft brews at Black Pond Brews (1001 Hartford Pike). Get Crafty

Ellington | Movie: "Feel My Voice" | 1 PM - Free afternoon film screening at the Ellington community center (40 Maple St).

Willington | Tribute to Bruce John | 6:30 PM - Bruce Springsteen tribute kicks off Willington Summer Concert Series at River Road Athletic Complex (511 River Rd).

Coventry | Sip & Script | 6 PM | ($) - Learn modern calligraphy while sipping wine at Cassidy Hill Vineyard (454 Cassidy Hill Rd). Create Away

Somers | Somers Summer Concert Series with Nightshift | 6 PM - Classic rock band Nightshift plays Somers' outdoor concert series (Battle St).

Storrs | Summer Concerts on the Square: Hawk in the Nest | 6:30 PM - Live music at Betsy Paterson Square in downtown Storrs (2 Dog Lane).

Ellington | Connecticut Boys at the Battle of Gettysburg | 6 PM - Historical presentation on CT soldiers at Gettysburg at the Ellington Historical Society (70 Main St). Discover

Putnam | Music on Main | 5 PM - Live outdoor music kicks off the weekend in downtown Putnam (88 Main St).

Putnam | Disney's Frozen The Broadway Musical | 7 PM | ($) - The hit Broadway adaptation comes to the Bradley Playhouse (30 Front St). See the Show

Stafford Springs | Sea Glass Window Workshop | 6:30 PM - Craft a sea glass suncatcher at Stafford Cidery (68 Main St). Make It

Stafford Springs | Rockoustic at Four Seasons by the Lake | 8 PM - Acoustic rock covers lakeside at Four Seasons By The Lake (51 Old Springfield Rd).

Vernon | Rocking Horse | 7 PM | ($) - The Namedroppers present live music in Vernon. Listen Up

Willimantic | The Zaccai Curtis Super-Trio | 7:30 PM | ($) - Latin jazz trio brings Afro-Caribbean grooves to Willimantic (50 Riverside Dr). Hear It Live

Chaplin | Little Treasures Farm Gymkhana | 11 AM | ($) - Horseback riding games and competition for all ages (22 North Bear Hill Rd). Saddle Up

Coventry | Christmas in July | 11 AM - 3 PM - Holiday-themed summer celebration at Cassidy Hill Vineyard (454 Cassidy Hill Rd). Celebrate

Danielson | Herbal Medicine Making 101 | 10 AM | ($) - Learn to craft your own herbal remedies at Black Sun Farm (731 Upper Maple St). Discover

Hebron | Sourdough Tasting with The Flour Girl | 6 PM | ($) - Sample artisan sourdough breads with baker Michelle Nicholson (14 Main St). Savor It

Putnam | The Beatles Candlelight Experience | 6:30 PM | ($) - Beatles tribute concert by candlelight in downtown Putnam. Catch the Show

Putnam | Acoustic Jazz Combination | 1 PM - Swing jazz ensemble brings classic sounds to the Stomping Ground.

Woodstock | Echo Farm's Locally Grown Day Fair | 10 AM - 4 PM - Celebrate local agriculture with vendors, demos, and farm fun (1051 Route 169). Join the Fun

Woodstock Valley | Touch-A-Tractor | 3-6 PM - Kids can climb and explore real farm tractors up close (88 Kenyonville Rd).

Central Village | Neighbors Against Cancer Poker Run | 11 AM - Motorcycle poker run fundraiser starting at Music Lady Cafe (6 Green Hollow Rd).

Plainfield | Historical Musical Presentation | 3 PM - Musical journey through history at the Plainfield VFW (7 Winsor Ave). Take a Seat

Stafford Springs | Acoustic Sundays with Josh Scussell | 2 PM - Live acoustic music pondside at Mill Pond Country Store (220 East St).

Bolton | Bolton Heritage Farm Yoga Series | 6:30 PM - Outdoor yoga every Monday in August at the scenic heritage farm (258 Bolton Center Rd).

Windham | Self-Guided Historic Tour Maps | Anytime - Explore Windham Center’s old homes, cemeteries, landmarks, and Revolutionary War routes with free self-guided tour maps. Grab them here