Let's Get Sappy 🍁

Maple Mayhem, Fire Fundraiser, Plus 33 Other Events!

Tyler DiGiovanni
March 25, 2025

Good morning, Tolland County! Today is Tuesday 3/25, and that means it’s National Tolkien Reading Day! It’s the perfect day to read about some Hobbits and their zany adventures (that sentence will really irk Lord of The Rings fans). Also, an acceptable way to celebrate today is to watch a Lord of The Rings movie with the subtitles on. That’s gotta count, right? Let’s get into what’s going on this week!

In Today’s Tolland County Buzz:

Eastern Maple Fest
Fundraiser For Disaster Relief
What’s in a Name?

Let’s dive in!

-Tyler DiGiovanni

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BRIEF BITES

New Digs - Landmark Properties just acquired a prime 1.56-acre spot near UConn's Storrs campus to build The Mark Mansfield—a stylish, 738-bed student housing community featuring upscale amenities and a new home for the beloved Huskies Tavern.
Affordable Living - A recent study looked at house prices in CT to find the 25 most affordable towns and a few from Tolland County made the list including Vernon Rockville & Stafford Springs. Check out the full list here.
Energy - Last week, residents from across Tolland County packed Town Hall, rallying against Eversource's proposed 38% natural gas rate hike—which would add roughly $45 to monthly bills—as the company tries to close a multimillion-dollar deficit. Local officials and residents slammed the increase, pointing to Eversource's recent record profits and CEO salary hikes, saying the move unfairly burdens families already struggling with rising costs.

THE HIVE’S PICK

Who doesn’t love a little maple (or in this case, a lot of maple)? The Eastern CT Maple Festival is taking place at E.O. Smith High School this weekend (3/29, 3/30) from 10am-4pm, both days. And no, this is not related to the Maple Fest last weekend in Hebron.

This maple-palooza will feature over 100 vendors showcasing maple in every way imaginable (maple cotton candy, maple chicken and rice, maple shortbread, the list goes on and on!).

There are also going to be food trucks providing some delicious fare for when you need a change from all the maple (a nice Caribbean roti is a great way to break it up). Along with all the food and vendor options, there will also be live music throughout the day. For a full list of vendors and events, you can click here.

Possibly the best part, I’ll be there both days, so you can swing by and say hi! I’ll have some vouchers to use on special discounts from participating vendors, so it’s worth coming over to say hello! Looking forward to seeing you all there!

ToCo TRIVIA 🤔

Which Tolland County town once hosted an experimental silk industry in the 19th century, part of Connecticut’s brief "silk craze"?

Last week’s answer: 34.88% got it right by answering Union. Burley Hill is a 1,316-foot (401 m) hill. It is the highest point in Tolland County and the highest point in eastern Connecticut!

BUZZWORTHY ACTIVITY 🐝

I’m showing a little hometown pride on this one. This Saturday (3/29) from 6-9pm at Yeoman’s Hall (323 Rte 87, Columbia), a fundraiser benefitting the Los Angeles fire victims and Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts is the place to be this weekend evening.

Two bands will be performing, Trumbull Highway at 6pm and then Nightshift taking over at 7:30pm, to the end of the night. Beer/wine/canned beverages will be available for purchase (CASH ONLY!) and there will be some mouthwatering eats to choose from, provided by Columbia’s own Twin Beaks Fried Chicken (it might be worth the trip just to grab some food from them, you can check out an older newsletter to see the feature we did on them. I still think about their sauces…daily) and Jayy’s Little Red Trailer (their food is no slouch either!).

Help support a worthy cause, listen to some great music, have an adult beverage (or several if you have a DD), and eat some unbelievable food. Sounds like a darn good Saturday night to me!

How Storrs Got Its Name:
Two Brothers, a Farm, & a Big Idea

Ever wonder how UConn ended up in a place called Storrs? It all goes back to a pretty clever move by two Victorian-era businessmen, brothers Charles and Augustus Storrs, who in December 1880 offered the state of Connecticut 170 acres of farmland and $5,000 to create an agricultural school. Not a bad way to leave your mark on history, right?

The state jumped at their offer, officially founding the Storrs Agricultural School on April 21, 1881, in Mansfield, CT. Here’s a cool detail: the original campus included a former Civil War orphanage and several buildings pre-standing (including the Whitney Family House)—talk about history baked into the grounds from day one!

Before the Storrs brothers stepped in, the area was just another part of Mansfield, originally named after colonial officer Major Moses Mansfield back in 1702, and even earlier known as "Ponde-Place," bought from the Mohegan tribe. But thanks to their vision (and more importantly, cash), the neighborhood soon became known simply as "Storrs," giving UConn's hometown its now-famous name. So next time you're enjoying ice cream at the Dairy Bar or cheering on the Huskies, remember—you're hanging out in a village named after two brothers who transformed a patch of farmland into Connecticut history.

BEE LINE EVENTS

TUESDAY (3/25)

Andover | Cookbook Club | 5:30pm - Andover Public Library (355 Rte 6) is holding their bimonthly Cookbook Club featuring Irish cooking. Questions? Email [email protected] or call (860) 742-7428

WEDNESDAY (3/26)

Ellington | Hug a Bunny | 6pm - Xen’s Critters is back at Hall Memorial Library (93 Main St), and she’s bringing bunnies! Event is for children 3-12. Register

Ellington | Reiki I Cert | 6-8pm $ - This kicks off a five-week course in becoming Reiki I certified at Voices of Enlightenment (19 Pinney St). Call/text Kathi at (413) 885-0038 for more details.

Hebron | All Levels Yoga | 9:15-10:15am $ - Join this weekly class at Gilead Church (672 Gilead St) for a yoga class welcoming to everyone. Can Jen for more details at (860) 531-2217.

Rockville | Family Crafternoon | 4-5pm - This family-friendly crafting event is taking place at Rockville Public Library (52 Union St). Recommended for children elementary-age.

Vernon | Bingo/Trivia | 7-9pm - The Rocking Horse (57 Hartford Tpke) is having their weekly Bingo/Trivia/Name That Tune evening.

Vernon | Networking Event | 5-7pm - The Tolland Chamber of Commerce is holding a networking event at Careco Shore Line Home Care (154 Talcottville Rd). Meet local professionals, and enjoy cocktails and appetizers. Register

THURSDAY (3/27)

Coventry | Baby Wearing Meet-Up | 10am-12pm - Interested in taking a no-hands approach to carrying your baby? Head to Booth and Dimock Memorial Library (1100 Main St) for some tips, tricks, and to meet other parents!

Hebron | Fundraiser | 8am-6pm - Head to The Flour Girl Bakery (14 Main St) and pick up some bread and baked goods. 10% of each sale on only those items will go toward the Flying Free Therapeutic Riding Center.

Somers | Sip & Paint | 6-8pm $ - Worthington Vineyards and Winery (359 Mountain Rd) is holding an evening of painting stemless wine glasses and enjoying their fantastic wines. Details

Stafford Springs | Tarot Learning Series | 5:30-7pm $ - Head to Let’s Get Wired (64 Main St) for the final class in this Tarot education. More details here

Tolland | Annual Blood Drive | 8:30am-6:30pm - Troop C and the American Red Cross are holding a blood drive in memory of TFC Kevin Miller at the Tolland Rec Center (104 Old Post Rd). Your donation may save a life!

Vernon | Fiber Arts Exhibit | 1-5pm - The Arts Center East (709 Hartford Tpke) has their exhibit of all things fiber arts for viewing until 3/29.

TRIVIA

Hops 44 - Storrs | 7-9pm

FRIDAY (3/28)

Bolton | DIY Terrarium | 5:30-7:30pm $ - Charhause Cookie (2795 Boston Tpke) is holding a terrarium building workshop. Included in the price is everything you need for your terrarium, as well as hot drip, tea, or hot chocolate, and a cookie or brownie. Tix

Ellington | Sound Healing | 6-7pm $ - Voices of Enlightenment (19 Pinney St) is holding a healing sound bath session. Call/text Kathi at (413) 885-0038 to register.

Hebron | New Owner Celebration | 6pm - The Greenleaf Cafe, more commonly known as Butterball’s (47 Main St) is celebrating their grand opening under new ownership.

Somers | Grand Re-Opening | 5pm - Harmonious Happenings (11 South Rd) is celebrating their re-opening in a new studio space.

Storrs | Opening Day | 3-8pm - The Adventure Park at Storrs (2007 Storrs Rd) is open for the 2025 season. Offerings

Tolland | Dance Like A Diva | 7-8pm $ - Shakeup Makeup (45 Industrial Park Road West) is celebrating women with a dance fitness class featuring music by pop music’s biggest divas. Tix

Union | Frontier Role Playing | 9pm $ - Ever wonder what life would’ve been like in the Dakotas in the late 1800s? You have a chance in this fully immersive role-playing weekend. More details

Vernon | Women’s Circle | 6:30-8pm $ - Celebrate the new moon at Sweet Lotus Yoga Studio (520 Hartford Tpke). More info

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Four Seasons By The Lake - Stafford | Jack Hammer Band | 7pm

SATURDAY (3/29)

Coventry | Tarot/Astrology Readings | 2-5pm $ - Head to KAL Consignment (44 Depot Rd) for a reading.

Hebron | Concert | 7pm $ - St Peter’s Episcopal Church (30 Church St) is bringing back their “Thinning of the Veil: songs to reconnect with the Lost” concert. More info

Somers | Purse Bingo | 6-10pm $ - Play for designer purses at Sonny’s Place (349 Main St). Proceeds go to support the Somers Booster Club.

Storrs | Maple French Toast Bake Fundraiser | 8:30-10am $ - Kick off your Maple Fest day, with a breakfast at E.O. Smith High School (1235 Storrs Rd). Tix

Tolland | New Moon Circle | 5-7:30pm $ - Resonance Healing Arts (60 Hartford Tpke) is holding a women’s circle to help set intentions for the new moon. Details

Tolland | Polar Plunge | 12pm $ - Help support the Special Olympics by taking a dip in some frosty waters (it has been kinda warm, maybe it won’t be too bad) at Crandall Park (120 Cider Mill Rd). Fundraising is encouraged! More info

Vernon | Holistic Healthfest | 10am-4pm $ - Head to Vernon Center Middle School (777 Hartford Tpke) for a day of everything holistic healing. You can check out vendors and more details here.

Willington | Women’s Gravel Series Kickoff | 10am - Join a group of like-minded women on an off-road bike ride starting at The Bike Shop (14 Tolland Tpke).

LIVE MUSIC

SUNDAY (3/30)

Bolton | Plant Swap | 11am-2pm - Take a trip to Cropley’s Garden Center (1262 Boston Tpke) for a chance to swap houseplants with other plant-lovers.

Ellington | Blood Drive | 9am-2pm - Here’s another chance to save a life. Donate blood at the Ellington Masons (141 Orchard St). Register for a time here

Storrs | Join a Choir | 3pm - Join the Storrs Congregational Church (2 N Eagleville Rd) community choir. No audition necessary, just willingness to learn some Celtic music.

MONDAY (3/31)

Hebron | Sound Bath | 6:30pm $ - Hebron Parks and Rec is teaming up with Douglas Library (22 Main St) for a gong-centric sound bath. More details

Well, that’s everything we got for this week! If you got something out of today’s newsletter, please share it with someone who loves all things maple!

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