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Good morning, Tolland County! Today is Monday 2/3, and that means it’s National Carrot Cake Day! If there’s one dessert that can split a room, it’s a carrot cake. Whether you take it with nuts, raisins, cream cheese or buttercream frosting, today is your day to enjoy a slice (or entire cake, you live your life!). Also, it has carrots in it, so it must be healthy! Want to make your own? We recommend one from America’s Test Kitchen, you can find the recipe here.

In Today’s Tolland County Buzz:

• Champagne & Crafting 🥂

• A Woman’s Role In Winning The Revolutionary War

• Scented Sachet 🪻

Let’s dive in!

-Tyler DiGiovanni

BRIEF BITES

• School Lunches - Ellington officials are urging Congress to improve the quality of school lunches, emphasizing the need for healthier options to enhance student health and focus. They believe that better food in schools will help students concentrate better and perform well academically.

• Housing - Affordable housing is getting a much-needed boost in Stafford Springs with the opening of a new 79-unit development. Designed for seniors and people with disabilities, the apartments are a major upgrade, with rents ranging from $900 to $1,200—or just 30% of income for some residents.

• Art Exhibit - The William Benton Museum of Art at UConn has unveiled a new exhibit showcasing the ceramics of Minnie Negoro, a pioneering artist and former professor who founded the university's ceramics program. The display not only highlights Negoro's artistic contributions but also delves into her experiences during World War II, when she and her family were incarcerated in American concentration camps due to their Japanese heritage. Visitors can explore her works and learn about this significant chapter in history until July 27, 2025.

• Tree Trimming - Eversource is kicking off tree work across Hebron to remove dead and dying trees that could pose a risk during storms. The focus is on trees damaged by drought, disease, or invasive species along state and town roads.

Champagne and Crafting 🥂

We’re big proponents of crafting at Tolland County Buzz (thanks mom, for always having a project going. In fact, she’s most likely already started working on this year’s tablescape for Xmas eve), so here’s an event that looks like it could be a lot of fun.

Rough Cut Cider House (351 Goose Ln, Tolland) is holding a “Bubbly with your Bestie” evening on Tuesday 2/4 from 6:30-8pm. While just sitting there and drinking champagne with your best friend sounds like a good enough time, you’re actually going to be creating a Valentine’s Day centerpiece while you sip.

For $40, you’ll get everything you need to create the centerpiece, a glass of champagne, and a sweetheart mocktail. If interested Venmo Missy Jamieson @ Missy-Jamieson-7, or call (860) 870-5202.

Hannah Bunce Watson: The Revolutionary Woman Who Fought the British with Ink and Grit

Hannah Watson didn’t just break barriers—she smashed through them with a printing press. When her husband died in 1777, most people probably expected her to quietly fade into the background. Instead, she took over the Connecticut Courant (now the Hartford Courant), making her one of America’s first female newspaper publishers. And this wasn’t just some sleepy town gazette—Watson was running one of the most important papers of the Revolution, printing bold, unfiltered news that kept Connecticut’s patriots fired up. If you were looking for updates on the war, government policies, or just some good old-fashioned British-roasting, Hannah’s paper was the place to get it.

What made her even more of a badass? She didn’t just keep the paper alive—she expanded it. In 1778, she invested in a new printing press, doubling the size of the Courant and ensuring that the colonies got their news faster and louder. This was at a time when most women weren’t even allowed to vote, let alone run a newspaper that directly influenced Revolutionary War sentiment. The British might have had cannons and redcoats, but Watson was out here arming the people with information, and that was just as powerful.

Hannah Watson proved that journalism wasn’t just a man’s game, and her legacy is still rolling strong today. The Hartford Courant remains the oldest continuously published newspaper in America, and none of that would have been possible without a woman who refused to let history pass her by. While soldiers fought with muskets, she fought with ink—and in a war where public support was everything, that might have been the most dangerous weapon of all.

Scented Sachet 🪻

We have another crafting option for you. Tuesday night (2/3) seems to be the time for creativity, because the Ellington Depot Cafe (1 Crystal Lake Rd, Ellington) is inviting you to come for an evening (6-8pm to be exact) of sipping and stitching (sort of).

You’ll be making a relaxing, lavender-scented heart-shaped sachet (that’s a fun group of words to say!). All the supplies you’ll need to create a calming craft will be provided. It’s BYOB, but there will be beverages and food available for purchase if you forget everything at home.

An RSVP is required, so call (860) 558-2145 ASAP, if you think this might be the event for you!

BEE LINE EVENTS

2/3

Mansfield | Senior Center Chorus | 1pm - Mansfield Senior Center (303 Maple Rd) is holding a Meet & Greet for people 55+ (you don’t need to be a Mansfield resident) who might be interested in joining like-minded people who love to sing.

Vernon | Scrapbooking Night | 5pm $ - Union Church (3 Elm St) is holding a scrapbooking evening. There are different tiers for what donations will get you. You can find all the information here.

2/4

Ellington | Acrylic on Canvas | 9:30-11:30am $ - The Ellington Senior Center (40 Maple St) is running a painting class (Winter Moon). The class is $18. Sign-up and payment are due by 2/3. Call for more details (860) 870-3133.

Rockville | Close-Up Photography Seminar | 6pm - Join Fred Bird at the Rockville Public Library (52 Union St) for a lesson in close up photography. Registration is a must.

Storrs | Arctic Shifts Talk | 12:45pm - A short animation will be presented at the William Benton Museum of Art (245 Glenbrook Rd) about possible futures of the arctic climates. Dr. Alice DuVivier and Anna Lindemann will be presenting the animation.

Tolland | Somatic Circle | 5-6pm $ - Resonance Healing Arts (60 Hartford Tpke) is holding a part support group, part education, and part experiential session. A ticket for the class can be bought here.

Vernon | Travel Basketball Fundraiser | 4pm-Close - If you dine at Square Peg Pizza (226 Talcottville Rd) and mention that Vernon Travel Basketball, a portion of your payment will go towards supporting this local team at no extra cost to you!

2/5

Ellington | Movie Screening | 1pm - The Ellington Senior Center (40 Maple St) will be showing the movie Here starring Tom Hanks and Robin Wright.

Hebron | All Levels Yoga | 9:15-10:15am $ - Wise Warrior Yoga is inviting people of all skill levels to participate in this yoga class. It’s being held at Fellowship Hall at Gilead Church (672 Gilead St). $15 for a drop-in class. Call/text Jen to register (860) 531-2217.

Rockville | Valentine Making | 3:30-5:30pm - Drop by Rockville Public Library (52 Union St) to create something special for that someone special. No registration necessary.

Tolland | Valentine Cookie Decorating | 6pm $ - Tolland Red and White (46 Tolland Grn) is holding a class on decorating like a pro. You’ll learn basic piping and flooding techniques, and will take 5 cookies home. $55 per person, no refunds.

2/6

Columbia | Puzzle Swap | 2pm - This kicks off Saxton B. Little’s (319 Rte 87) puzzle swap event. Bring old puzzles (with all the pieces) and swap it out for something new. This event also runs on 2/7, 2/8, and 2/10.

Mansfield | Foodshare | 11:30am-12pm - Mansfield Human Services (303 Maple Rd) is running their foodshare. Bring a box or bags to carry your food.

Stafford Springs | Open Studio Drawing Session | 6-8pm $ - Three Graces Vintage (2 River Rd) is holding a weekly session to help refine your drawing skills. Each week will be a different subject matter. It’s $20 to participate.

Tolland | All Levels Yoga | 5:30-6:30pm $ - Resonance Healing Arts (60 Hartford Tpke) are holding an all levels yoga class. Tickets are available here.

Live Music

2/5

⬢ Bidwell Tavern - Coventry | Tino & Malone | 6:30-9:30p

Trivia

2/6

Hops 44 - Storrs | Hot Fingers Trivia | 7-9p

THE HIVE’S PICK

So, something you may not know about me, is that I absolutely love crystals and gemstones (believe whatever you want, but you can at least admit that they are pretty to look at)! That’s why I wanted to feature the very cool, very unique, Let’s Get Wired (64 Main St, Stafford Springs). Open Wednesdays-Sundays from 11am-6pm, this spiritual shop showcases wares from local artists, creators, and crafters.

Right now, there is some amazing window art, done by Tolland County’s very own Heather Herindeen (who also has some art for sale in the store). It’s worth heading to the store just to pick up on all the positive vibes going on there (once again, whether you believe it or not, it’s hard to walk out of there not in a better mood).

But Let’s Get Wired is more than just a store, they also run Reiki sessions, Sound Baths, and other energy healing sessions. I would say, “if you’re in Stafford Springs, you should stop by”, but in this case, it’s worth making the drive just for them! If you’d rather browse their wares online, you can do that too! For 10% off your purchase online, or in store, use code: TCBSPARKLES.

UCONN SPORTS

2/3 - Men’s Golf @ West Palm, Florida

2/4 - Men’s Golf @ West Palm, Florida

That’s it for today’s Tolland County Buzz! If you got something out of today’s newsletter, help us grow by sharing it with someone you know that loves crystals!

See you on Thursday,

Tyler

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