Community Access

iHeartCommunities is proud to partner with Dime Bank. We’ll be having monthly conversations about community banking, timely financial topics and industry trends. Follow us throughout the year at multiple community events and more! Our friend Nick Caplanson, President and CEO of Dime Bank will be here to share updates and good news like in our recent interview for the January podcast. Dime Bank: Community Giving for 2023, consumer banking trends, interest rates and the real estate market and what’s in store for 2024!

Take a listen as we speak with Brenda Watson, Executive Director for The North Hartford Partnership and two successful local businesses Ovelle Coffee and RastaRant who have found success at The Swfit Factory.

About Ovelle: Sasha Fay, Co-Founder of Ovelle coffee shares her personal story and how she and her husband, Ian Fey, came to the Swift Factory to share their Jamaican coffee with Connecticut!

“Bit of Jamaica to your Door Our mission is to provide premium coffee to all our customers. We believe that once you taste the smooth, sweet flavor of Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee, your everyday coffee experience will never be the same. Through our Direct Trade with the Jamaican Coffee Growers Association, we enusre fair wages and high quality coffee. And each order is roasted fresh so that you can be certain you are getting the best, from Crop to Cup! ​Take a Sip
Today!”

About RastaRant: Gigi and M.A. Lawrence share their story and partnership of RastaRant and what it means for the community and their family! Delicious Caribbean vegan cuisine is available to you curated by Chef Gigi!!!
“RastaRant was founded by Vegan Master Chef GiGi Lawrence who grew up learning how to cook at the tender age of 8 years old in Kingston, Jamaica. Over the years she mastered the art of preparing Delicious Caribbean Cuisine. RastaRant was created to help families discover their path to a healthier lifestyle. Our goal is to provide high vibrational, delicious, colorful, flavor filled meals for the entire family to enjoy.”

The North Hartford Partnership The North Hartford Partnership is a nonprofit organization working with the community to advance equitable social and economic development in North Hartford. The Swift Factory: an 80,000 square foot commercial & community campus in Hartford’s North East neighborhood.

Open House is approaching at the end of the month on Sunday, January 28th from 11:00-1:00 pm.Saint Paul School is currently accepting applications for the 2024-2025 academic year. All current and prospective families will be invited to the Open House to see an Art Show of all our students work and have a chance to visit classrooms, meet our dedicated teachers and hear from school families. Enjoy our interview with students: Andrew Glowicki Grade 5 and Emery Tarry Grade 8. Joining the students and Renee DiNino are teacher and administrator: Grade 5 teacher Charolette Planeta and Kelly Esposito, Director of Admissions & Marketing.

The 41st edition of the Business Women’s Forum, Connecticut’s premier leadership conference for women, will take place on Wednesday, February 21, 2024 from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville and will feature award-winning journalist Joan Lunden as the event’s keynote speaker.
Renee chats with Lynn Ward, President and CEO of the Waterbury Regional Chamber and the Business Women's Forum along with Susan Sprano, Chairwoman of the Business Women's Forum and the Advertising Director of the Republican American.

Voices of CT Veteran Grown
In this first segment of our special feature highlighting CT Veteran Farmers you'll hear from the Commisssioner of the Department of Agriculture Bryan Hurlburt and these Veteran farmers and locations:
Mountain View Farm in Farmington and Veteran Lorren Pogson
Sea Coast Mushrooms in Mystic & Stonington and Veteran Chris Pacheco
For more information visit: ctveterangrown.org

Welcome Home Hartford!
Take a listen to this very informative interview with Ebony Jackson-Shaheed, Director of Health and Human Services for the City of Hartford and Anthony Lawson, Project Manager for Welcome Home Hartford.
Everyone deserves a home of their own!

Today we’re speaking with Kerry Mattson and Laura Lyon from the Connecticut State Department of Education’s Regional School Choice Office or RSCO.The RSCO school choice application for the 2024-2025 school year is available now, and Kerry and Laura are here to tell us about all the great options that are available for families.Apply now during RSCO’S on-time application period at ChooseYourSchool.org

Listen to our interview with APRN Nick DeSorbo, founder of DeSorbo Health & Wellness. Head into the new year with a healthier you!About Nick DeSorbo: As a dual board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Gerontological Nurse Practitioner, the focus of my practice is to provide personalized services to patients of all ages at the time and place that best suits their health and wellness needs.

The Hometown Foundation, IHeartMedia and Channel 3 Cares present the second annual Hearts & Paws Gala on Saturday, Feb. 10. At the Farmington Polo Club. The event will honor K-9 officers & raise funds for K-9 units. For tickets and sponsorship opportunities, visit hometownfoundation.org.

The 41st edition of the Business Women’s Forum, Connecticut’s premier leadership conference for women, will take place on Wednesday, February 21, 2024 from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville and will feature award-winning journalist Joan Luden as the event’s keynote speaker.Individuals who purchase their tickets by Jan. 10, 2024 and use code “EARLYBIRD24” at www.ctbwf.com will save $30 on an admission ticket. The Business Women’s Forum is Connecticut’s longest running conference for women in the state devoted to professional and personal development. Throughout the day, attendees will hear from a variety dynamic speakers and trainers, get the opportunity to network with hundreds of other professional women, and get the chance to win prizes. New this year is a marketplace offering a selection of products from local artisans, crafters, independent sellers, and small business owners.