Mini-Donut Discount (Gluten-Free Options Too!)

Good morning, Tolland County! Today is Monday 12/23, and that means it’s Festivus! While popularized on Seinfeld, Festivus was actually started in the 60’s as a way to air out grievances you’ve had with family members throughout the year (there’s no way that could end badly, right?).

You could also celebrate it with Festivus miracles (which are small, seemingly insignificant occurrences, such as: remembering why you walked into a room, or carrying all the groceries inside in one trip without dropping anything). Whichever you choose to do, we hope you have a low-stress run up to the holidays!

In Today’s Tolland County Buzz:

• Mansfield Foodshare

• Christmas Eve Blood Drive

• Vernon Community Donation Drive

Let’s dive in!

-Tyler DiGiovanni

BRIEF BITES

• Award Winning - Windham Hospital has received the 2024 Leapfrog Top Hospital Award, celebrating its excellence in patient safety and quality care. This esteemed national recognition underscores the hospital's dedication to providing outstanding healthcare services.

• Senior Center Expansion - The Vernon Town Council has approved a $1.8 million expansion project for the Vernon Senior Center. The project aims to enhance facilities and services for the town's senior citizens.

• Skating - The Town of Vernon is reopening the popular ice skating rink at Henry Park for the winter season. Water is being added and once the cold weather does its magic and the ice is deemed safe then it will open to the public. You can check the updates here.

• Complex Upgrades - The restrooms and snack shack were installed Thursday at the Windermere Avenue Athletic Field Complex shared by Vernon and Ellington. Acquired in 2022, the former farmland now features three fully grass-covered fields, with seeding completed this year. A crane placed the 86,000-pound restroom building near fields 2 and 3

• Columbia HVAC - Columbia voters approved a referendum Tuesday night to increase funding for HVAC and indoor air quality upgrades at Horace W. Porter School, raising the budget from $6.2 million to $8.4 million. The measure also increases the town’s bonding capacity for the project from $3.4 million to $5.5 million.

• Donations Galore - The Somers Holiday Toy Shop, organized by Somers Human Services, is thriving this year thanks to generous private donations and successful Stuff-a-Cruiser events. Over 100 children have signed up so far to receive gifts, with a wide variety of toys collected, including bikes, dolls, games, Legos, and gift cards. Youth Services Coordinator Jen Griger emphasized the drive’s dual mission of helping families and fostering a spirit of community generosity.

Mansfield Food Share

Well, it’s officially winter. The coldest time of year (and worst for many), and food security can be an issue for a lot of people. The kind folks at Mansfield Human Services are offering a food share on Thursday 12/16 from 11:30am-12pm. This is, sort of, a farmers market type of food distribution. If you are in need of food, please remember to bring a bag or box with you to carry your food. Due to the nature of the provisions, this is a “you-get-what-you-get-and-you-don’t-get-upset” situation.

The food share will take place at the back of the parking lot (303 Maple Rd) between the Senior Center and the Housing Authority Apartments. There’s no need to register, all are welcome.

Xmas Eve Blood Drive

The Tolland Rec Department is holding a blood drive on Tuesday 12/24. What better way to spread some holiday cheer than donating blood? I mean, unless you have a crippling fear of needles, then you may want to skip this one.

The blood drive is being held at the Rec Department (104 Old Post Rd) from 8am-1pm. So that means you’ll still have plenty of time to hit the liquor store, get dinner going, wrap presents, and do everything else you were supposed to get done over the weekend. As an added bonus, that glass of wine will get the job done a little quicker and make hearing that story you’ve heard 100 times a little more bearable.

But in all seriousness, if you are able to, giving blood can save someone’s life, and there really isn’t a better Christmas/Hanukkah present than that!

Vernon Community Donation Drive

Donate your unwanted clothes, shoes, sporting goods, and whatever else that’s in good shape that you’re looking to get rid of. This monthly donation drive is falling on Saturday 12/28, the perfect time to free up some closet space for all the new clothes you got for the holiday.

Be honest, you’re probably not going to wear that sweater again, and the chances of you getting back on the tennis court after a 20-year hiatus are slim to none (no judgement here, I still have some sports equipment that I haven’t used since high school), so why not give them to someone who will get some use out of it?

If you do feel like donating, you can head to the Vernon Transfer Station (12 Hockhanum Blvd) from 9am-12pm.

BEE LINE EVENTS

Ellington | Documentary Showing | 10:30am-12:10pm - The Ellington Senior Center (40 Maple St) is screening the documentary Inside The Mind of a Dog today 12/23, which I think you might be able to infer what it’s about.

Vernon | Scrooge Scramble 5K | 10:30am - Looking to spend Christmas morning working off all those holiday cookies you’ve been taking down this month? Head to 15 Prospect St in Vernon to participate in this jolly 5K. You can register up until race time here.

Library Happenings

Ellington | Knit and Natter | 10am-12pm - Interested in needlework/knitting? Want some great conversation? Beginners to pros are invited to the Hall Memorial Library (93 Main St) for some handcrafts on Tuesday 12/24.

Hebron | Knit Wits | 6-8pm - Join the weekly get together of fellow knitters and crocheters at Douglas Library (22 Main St) every Monday, including today 12/23.

Mansfield | Movie and Ballet | Different Times - The Mansfield Public Library (54 Warrenville Rd) is offering up a double-dose of activities this week. Today (12/23), is a showing of The Wild Robot (Rated PG) from 1-3pm. Bring a comfy blanket and wear your PJs, fresh popcorn, hot chocolate, and other treats will be provided. On Saturday 12/28, experience a little culture with a visit from Thread City Classical Dance. They will be putting on a special winter ballet story time and dance performance. It’s geared toward kids 3-7, but all are welcome to check it out at 10:30-11:30am.

Somers | Movie Matinee | 1-3pm - Unlike the other movies on this list, this one is for the adults. Somers Public Library (2 Vision Blvd) is showing the movie Nebraska on Friday 12/27.

Stafford | Last Minute Movie | 2-4pm - Looking for a fun way to get your kids primed for the upcoming holiday? Stafford Public Library (10 Levinthal Run) is holding a showing of Elf, today 12/23. Snacks will be provided.

Vernon | Unplugged Game Night | 5pm - Rockville Public Library (52 Union St) is holding their weekly analog game night for kids in 9-12th grade on Thursday 12/26. Have your teens spend some time disconnected from their phones, and enjoy board games like we all used to as kids.

Willington | Kid’s Dance & Movie Night | 5:30-8:30pm - Kids 8 and under are invited to join the Willington Public Library (7 Ruby Road) on Saturday 12/28, for an evening of dancing and an age-appropriate movie. Costumes are encouraged, email Jamilee Bravard ([email protected]) for more details.

Live Music

⬢ 12/28 | Spare Time - Vernon | The Score | 7:30pm
⬢ 12/29 | Four Seasons By The Lake - Stafford | Cold Train | 2pm

THE HIVE’S PICK

This week’s Hive Pick is none other than Dad’s Doughs in Mansfield (483 Storrs Rd). If you haven’t heard of them (it’s time to come out from underneath that rock), they specialize in mini-donuts (or doughnuts, however you want to spell it) and drip coffee sourced from Baronet Coffee Roasters (Windsor, CT).

Launched this year and helmed by a Tolland County native, Dad’s Doughs has become a must-visit location for anyone that enjoys a little something sweet in their day. Don’t worry, that includes you, my gluten-free friends! There’s a rotating list of flavors available, so each visit might bring something new, as well as the mainstays (Dad style, a classic strawberry frosted with sprinkles should be ordered every time you go, in my opinion).

One of the coolest aspects of this place is the giant window where you can see the donuts being made (going from batter to golden brown rings of deliciousness) and that also includes seeing workers make your specific order in front of you!

When you decide to make a great decision and head down there, make sure to tell them you heard about them in the Tolland County Buzz. You’ll get 10% off your order until the end of the day (1/1/2025)! If you want to skip the line and pre-order, you can use the coupon code “BUZZ” (make sure it’s all in capital letters!) and still receive the discount on your order.

UCONN SPORTS

12/28 - Football vs. UNC* | 11am

12/28 - Men’s Ice Hockey vs. Alaska** | 2:30pm

12/29 - Women’s Basketball vs. Providence | 1:30pm

*Wasabi Fenway Bowl - Boston, MA
**Kwik-Trip Holiday Face-Off - Milwaukee, WI

Thank you for reading today’s newsletter! If you got something out of it, please share it with someone who thinks Christmas Eve is better than Christmas Day. Since we’re only doing one newsletter this week, Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to everyone! We’ll see you next week on Monday 12/30!

Tyler

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