Unsung Heroes Of The Community

Good morning, Tolland County! Today is Tuesday 4/8, and that means it’s National Library Workers Day. Let’s take a minute to say thank you to those who point us in the right direction when looking for a book (including some solid book recommendations), organize amazing (mostly free) events, and do a million other things behind the scenes we never see. Stop by your local library to say thanks today!

In Today’s Tolland County Buzz:

• Rescue Rangers

• ToCo Trivia/History

• 36 Events

Let’s dive in!

-Tyler DiGiovanni

Last week ran a poll asking about featuring local pets and over 91.04% said “Show me the pets!” If you’d like to submit your pet to get featured in upcoming issues please fill out this form.

BRIEF BITES

• Burn - Get ready for some (controlled) flames! DEEP is planning prescribed burns this spring at Goodwin State Forest in Hampton, Mansfield Hollow State Park, and a 1-acre site in Vernon’s Belding area. The goal? To boost local grassland habitats and support native plants and wildlife.

• Award - Big cheers at Skinner Road Elementary in Vernon — Principal Bryan Kerachesky just earned the title of Principal of the Year from the Connecticut Association of Schools! In his eight years at the helm, he’s led the school to national blue ribbon status and continues to mentor other principals across the state.

• Cemeteries - Tolland County towns like Andover, Tolland, Union, and Vernon are getting a boost to help care for their historic cemeteries. Thanks to the Neglected Cemetery Account Grant Program, each town will receive $8,000 to preserve these resting places.

• Support - Local business Hops 44 (625 Middle Tpke, Storrs) is in the running for “Best Of” in five categories (chicken wings, burgers, beer bar, sports bar, & food truck) for CT Magazine. You can cast your vote here if you’d like to support this (or any) local business!

• Seeds - Tolland Public Library’s Seed Exchange is open! Grab up to 5 varieties of veggies, annuals, and perennials (total, not each) per visit.

THE HIVE’S PICK

While we normally feature businesses here, we wanted to do something a little different this week (although not too different). We wanted to put a spotlight on a not-for-profit organization located right in Ellington. At 110 Sandy Beach Rd, to be exact.

I’m talking about PawSafe Animal Rescue. My wife and I are big proponents of adopting rescues (our dogs now, were both rescues - the ones pictured above, as were our previous pups), so I want to help get the word out about this place.

I know that not everyone can take on another animal (or one to begin with), but there are other ways you can help if you’re looking to add some “good” to your karma. They graciously accept donations (pet food is not cheap!) as well as offer volunteer opportunities (always looking for people to walk the dogs, help out with adoption events, etc).

If you’re looking for a new furry friend, you should check them out (they have pictures of all the dogs available)! Oh, they also offer cat adoptions as well if that’s more your speed.

ToCo TRIVIA 🤔

Last week’s answer: 35.14% got it right, the Old Tolland County Jail was closed in 1968. The jail operated from 1856 to 1968! Learn more about it in our local history section below.

BEE LINE EVENTS

TUESDAY (4/8)

Storrs | Spring Cocktail Series | 6-8pm $ - Hops 44 (625 Middle Tpke) is celebrating all things Spring, including Spring-inspired cocktails and a selection of light-fare. Tix

Vernon | TCCC Business & Community Expo | 4-7pm $ - Tolland County Chamber of Commerce is holding a business expo at Modern Style Events (400-2 Talcottville Rd). Expo will open to the public at 5pm.

WEDNESDAY (4/9)

Hebron | All Levels Yoga | 9:15-10:15am $ - Head to Gilead Church (672 Gilead St) for a beginner-friendly yoga class. Call or text Jen at (860) 531-2217 for details.

Hebron | Wire Wrapped Necklace | 6:30pm $ - Make a wire wrapped necklace at The Flour Girl (14 Main St). Tix

Stafford Springs | Community Drum Circle | 5-6:30pm - Get ready to make some noise at this free event being held by Let’s Get Wired (64 Main St). More details

Storrs | Exhibition Walkthrough | 12:30-1:30pm - Come learn about the pottery of Minnie Negoro from a close personal friend at the William Benton Museum of Art (245 Glenbrook Rd). Register

Storrs | Chanticleer Performance | 8pm $ - Grammy-award winning male vocalist group Chanticleer is performing at Jorgensen Center (2132 Hillside Rd). Tix

Willington | Songwriter Showcase | 6:30pm - Every month, The Packing House (156 River Rd) features an evening of performances from five different regional musicians. This month, Tom Rotchford, Tom Stankiewicz, Terri LaChance, Bonnie Jacobson, and John Clark, are gracing the stage. Event is free, but donations are happily accepted.

THURSDAY (4/10)

Coventry | Spring Bunny Paint Night | 6:30pm $ - Cassidy Hill Vineyard (454 Cassidy Hill Rd) is offering a chance to choose from two projects (or do them both). More info/Tix

Ellington | Black & Orange Pre-Owned Event | 10am - Saturday - Old School Harley-Davidson (398 Somers Rd) is holding a pre-owned sale for three days. If you’re looking to buy a bike, this might be a great chance to do so.

Rockville | Children’s Cooking Class | 4-5pm - Rockville Public Library (52 Union St) is continuing their cooking series for children in grades 3-5. Call (860) 875-5892 Ext. 2 for availability.

Vernon | Group Qigong Class | 5:30-6:30pm $ - Forest Path Qigong (520 Hartford Tpke) is offering a class to enjoy this Chinese healing practice. Tix

TRIVIA

Hops 44 - Storrs | 7pm

FRIDAY (4/11)

Hebron | Run/Walk Club | 8-9am - The Hebron Run/Walk Club is meeting at The Flour Girl (14 Main St) to kick off a little physical activity.

Mansfield | Drive-In Open | Evenings - We missed it last week, but the Mansfield Drive-In (228 Rt 32) is officially open for the season! Pack your vehicle and enjoy a double-feature like the olden days.

Somers | Friends of the Library Book Sale | 4pm-The Weekend - Somers Public Library (2 Vision Blvd) is holding their Spring book sale. Add to your personal library for great prices!

Stafford Springs | Photography Show | 6-8pm - Stafford Cidery (68 Main St) is featuring photography from Carly Rae Brunault and Jackie Sidor’s travels are part of Arts on Main. Grab a cider and check out some great pictures.

Storrs | Spring Puppet Slam | 8pm - The Ballard Institute of Puppetry (2152 Hillside Rd) will feature new and experimental works by professional puppeteers.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Basil’s - Stafford | Lead Singer Disease | 7:30pm
⬢ Four Season’s By The Lake - Coventry | The Brat Pack | 8pm $

SATURDAY (4/12)

Andover | Sri Lankan New Year | 10am - Celebrate Sri Lankan New Year at the Connecticut Meditation Center and Buddhist Temple (131 Rt 6). Everyone welcome, bring traditional dishes and traditional garb.

Bolton | Wildlife Rehab Info Session | 1-2pm - Learn what to do if you come across injured wildlife. Led by Brenda Cataldo at Cropley’s Garden Center (1262 Boston Tpke).

Ellington | Kloter Farms Customer Appreciation | 11am-3pm - Kloter Farms (216 West Rd) is continuing their April customer appreciation. Stop in for a train ride, snacks, and fun!

Ellington | Easter Festival | 3-5pm - Ellington Baptist Church (264 Pinney St) is holding a day of Easter fun, including, snacks, games, prizes, and most importantly, an Easter egg hunt.

Ellington | Spring Earth Day Eggstravaganza | 1-3pm - Indian Valley Family YMCA (11 Pinney St) is holding a day of family activities like crafts, face painting, pictures with the Easter bunny, and an egg hunt. Registration is necessary

Mansfield | Easter Bunny Pictures | 10am-3pm $ - Come have your pictures taken with the Easter bunny at Eastbrook Mall (95 Storrs Rd). Proceeds go to the Windham Cares Program.

Stafford Springs | Adult Pajama Party | 5pm - Come have a drink (or several if you have a DD) at Stafford Cidery (68 Main St) while wearing your favorite PJs! Finally, a place to not be judged for wearing your jammies out and about.

Stafford Springs | Book Sale | 12-4pm - Stafford Memorial Hall (275 Orcuttville Rd) is holding a book sale to help benefit the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 26. Find a new book to read and help support veterans!

Stafford Springs | Easter Egg Hunt | 11am-2pm - The Stafford Fire Department is holding their annual Easter egg hunt at Stafford Motor Speedway Driving Range (55 West St) for kids in Kindergarten up through 5th grade. Hunt starts promptly at 11:30am.

Stafford Springs | Truckfest Season Opener | 2-8pm $ - If you love diesels and muscle cars, head to Four Seasons by the Lake (51 Old Springfield Rd) for vendors, food, or just to show off your ride.

Storrs | Egg Hunt in the Trees | 10am-8pm $ - The Adventure Park at Storrs (2007 Storrs Rd) is adding a little adrenaline to Easter egg hunting, by making you search up in the trees. More info

Storrs | Story Time | 11am $ - The Ballard Institute of Puppetry (1 Royce Cir) has invited Dusty & Dott for a journey into storytelling. Tix

Tolland | Meditative Healing Session | 11am-12:15pm $ - Resonance Healing Arts (60 Hartford Tpke) is inviting you to come and relax in a guided meditation. More info/Tix

Vernon | Tree Walk | 9:45am - The Rockville Public Library is working with certified arborist Devin Savoy for a morning exploring Valley Falls Park (300 Valley Falls Rd). Learn a little about trees and get some exercise in too! Register

Willington | Intro To Gravel Series | 10am-12pm - The progressive bike series continues, helping people make the crossover from traditional riding to mixed-terrain route. They meet at The Bike Shop (14 Tolland Tpke).

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Four Seasons By The Lake - Stafford Springs | Beyond Purple/Zep&Co | 8pm
⬢ Sonny’s Place - Somers | SHYNE | 7-10pm
⬢ Rocking Horse - Vernon | Raise Your Hands/W.O.W. | 8:30-11:30pm

SUNDAY (4/13)

Coventry | Matinee at the Movies | 2-4pm - Booth & Dimock Memorial Library (1134 Main St) is showing the movie The Straight Story, a movie based on a journey across Iowa and Wisconsin…on a lawn mower.

Somers | Horse Schooling Show | 9am $ - The Connecticut Color Breed Association is holding a whole slate of classes at Shallowbrook Equestrian Center (247 Hall Hill Rd). Message for more info

Stafford Springs | Mandala Bookmark Workshop | 2-4:30pm $ - Make a one-of-a-kind bookmark while enjoying some delicious ciders (first one is included in the price!) at Stafford Cidery (68 Main St). Tix

Willington | Sip & Wrench | 11am-12:30pm - This one is for the ladies. One Love Outdoors (14 Tolland Tpke) is working in collaboration with Women on Wheels to connect with other women who enjoy riding/do some maintenance on your bike/have a Q&A session.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Joannas - Somers | Jim Blanch and Boot Hill | 5-8pm

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 dogs!

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