West Hartford Community Interactive Launches Community Birdhouse Art Exhibit & Auction to Support Local Community Media—November 8, 2025

West Hartford Community Interactive (WHCi), the town’s own cable station (Comcast Channels 5, 95 & 96) and the YouTube channel (@whci) is excited to announce a special event.

What is it? It’s a unique Community Birdhouse Art Exhibit and Auction. This fun-filled event brings together artists, students, organizations and businesses to sponsor and decorate birdhouses.

Early bird bidding begins online on October 30, 2025 at www.whci.online Browse the array of beautiful, functional and whimsical birdhouses, symbolizing the vibrancy of West Hartford. The birdhouses can be seen in person at GastroPark on Saturday, November 8th, beginning at 4 pm. The bidding, all online, closes at 8 pm that night.

The Birdhouse Community Art Exhibit and Auction celebrates creativity while showcasing participating artists and sponsors.

Proceeds from the auction will benefit WHCi, West Hartford’s civic bridge and storytelling hub dedicated to fostering local engagement and community initiatives. WHCi gives the community access to local meetings, sports and events and is available around town and around the world.

An Evening of Inspiration and Giving

On Saturday, November 8th, come together as neighbors, friends, and supporters at GastroPark from 4-8 pm for the final round of bidding and enjoy the exhibit. Discover beautifully crafted birdhouses—each one a unique reflection of our community’s diversity and creativity. Whether whimsical, artistic, or traditional, every birdhouse tells a story and symbolizes the vibrant voices that make our community special.

Why Birdhouses? Why not? Just as birds communicate through songs and signals, community media platforms serve as the “calls” that bring us closer—sharing local stories, highlighting diverse voices, and fostering civic engagement. Our first annual Birdhouse Auction is a celebration of this spirit of communication, adaptation, and community-building.

Adapting to Change… Just as environmental changes affect birds and all creatures, the changing media landscape is affecting WHCi and our community. Because of shrinking cable revenues, we have to look for other funding sources. We have been expanding our online and social media presence to make sure local stories and voices continue to be heard. Your support enables us to continue to be resilient, innovative, and dedicated to serving West Hartford’s dynamic and diverse community—now and into the future.

A Message from Our President:

"For over 45 years, WHCi has been a conduit for local stories to be told, voices to be heard, and connections to be made. As we adapt to changing media and declining cable revenue, our commitment to serving the community remains stronger than ever. Our Birdhouse Community Art Exhibit and Auction is a celebration of that legacy and the creativity that keeps us flying…To that end, we humbly ask for your help." — John Sablon, President, WHCi Board of Directors

For More Information:

Jennifer Evans

Executive Director, West Hartford Community Interactive: Jennifer@westhartfordct.gov

Office: 860-561-7955 Cell: 860-560-6878

Birdhouse Auction

A Community Media Art Exhibit and Auction