Tolland County Buzz
Posts
Twin Beaks Fried Chicken Discount!🐔

Twin Beaks Fried Chicken Discount!🐔

Painting For Prosciutto, Bring Your Kid To The Library Day, Ladies Pool Tourney

Tyler DiGiovanni
January 30, 2025

Good morning, Tolland County! Today is Thursday 1/30, and that means it’s National Croissant Day!

Fun fact: Croissants aren’t actually French! They originated in Vienna, Austria as early as the 13th century, and were known as kipferl.

There are conflicting stories on how it came to be a French staple, with some saying that Marie Antoinette (who was born in Vienna) longed for a taste of her homeland, and bakers began making them just for her. Others say a Viennese baker opened a shop in Paris and the rest is history.

Whatever you believe, go grab a croissant from a local bakery, and enjoyed some flaky, buttery goodness!

Email Sponsored By Dad’s Dough

In Today’s Tolland County Buzz:

Char-Cute-Rie Board 🌸🖌️
Day of the Library 📚
Play Like a Girl 🎱

Let’s dive in!

-Tyler DiGiovanni

BRIEF BITES

Addiction Help - Vernon residents can now access free drop-in support groups through the "Connection Beats Addiction" program, a partnership between the Hockanum Valley Community Council and the town of Vernon.
Honored - Ellington native Rear Adm. James Waters has been named a grand marshal for the 2025 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Waters, who took command of Navy Recruiting Command in 2024, will lead the event alongside top leaders from three U.S. military branches. A 1989 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he brings a lifetime of service to this prestigious honor.
Big Deal - The 2024 Deals of the Year & Impact Awards highlight game-changing investments, including TTM Technologies' expansion in Stafford and Stafford Springs. As a global leader in advanced manufacturing, TTM’s growth is set to generate $64.3 million in direct economic impact and $187.8 million in indirect benefits for Tolland County.
Nomination - Governor Ned Lamont has announced a wave of judicial nominations, including 13 new Superior Court judges. Among them is William H. Bright, Jr. from Columbia, for associate justice of the Supreme Court.
Grant Applications - The Tolland Greater Together Community Fund is now accepting grant applications to support programs that enhance the well-being of Tolland residents. Priority will go to initiatives that expand mental health resources, combat isolation, and foster healthy relationships through community collaboration. Grants range from $250 to $12,000, with applications due by March 15, 2025. You can learn more here.
Shark Tank Update - UConn alum Hayley Segar made a splash on Shark Tank, landing a $200,000 deal for her innovative swimsuit brand, onewith. Sharks Barbara Corcoran and Jamie Kern Lima saw the potential in her seam-free swimwear and secured a 20% stake in the company. Since launching in 2021, Onewith has racked up an impressive $2.3 million in sales—a true UConn success story!

Char-Cute-Rie Board 🌸🖌️

Image Courtesy of Arts Center East

There are two types of people in this world. Those who love charcuterie boards/flowers and liars (see what I did there?). Arts Center East (709 Hartford Tpke, Vernon) is hosting a morning of creativity on Saturday 2/1 from 9am-12pm. You’ll be using acrylics to paint a wooden charcuterie board with flowers in shades of pink.

You’ll get to use a variety of techniques to decorate the boards, and once finished, you’ll seal it with a water-based non-toxic coating. Everything you need to complete the board will be provided (including instruction and a place to practice before putting it on the board!).

The cost of the class is $55 for non-members and $50 for ACE members. You can register here.

A Day of Library Fun

I don’t know if you knew, but on Saturday 2/1, it’s “Take Your Kid To The Library Day.” That means libraries from all around Tolland County will be hosting events and activities for little ones (grown ones might even enjoy them) throughout the day. Luckily, someone had the foresight to make a website that has all the participating libraries in it (which you can find here).

I’m not going to list every event on here, but some highlights are a magician at Willington Public Library, a musical performance at Rockville Public Library, crafts and cocoa at Douglas Library (Hebron), a scavenger hunt and therapy dog at Andover Public Library, and a scavenger hunt at Booth & Dimock Memorial Library in Coventry. No offense meant to the other libraries participating, but these are the ones that perked my kid’s ears up.

This is the perfect day to show your kids what an amazing resource town libraries can be!

Play Like a Girl 🎱

Alright ladies, this one is for you specifically. Racks (500 Talcottville Rd, Vernon) is holding a ladies-only cash tournament on Friday 1/31 starting at 7pm. That’s right, it’s time to break out that cue and show everyone how to play like a girl.

The entry fee is $25, there will be an 8-ball race to 3, with alternating breaks. You’ll also need to call all of your shots. For 9-ball, it will be a race to 3, same situation with alternating breaks, and you’ll have to call the 9 ball. If that doesn’t make sense to you, this might be not the night to try to swim with the pool sharks. Good luck to everyone that’s taking a shot (couldn’t resist)!

BEE LINE EVENTS

1/31

Storrs | Puppet Theater Exhibit Opening | 6pm - The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry (1 Royce Cir) is debuting their exhibit of American Puppet Theater Today: The Photography of Richard Termine. Refreshments will be served.

Storrs | Todd Dulaney Jorgensen Performance | 6pm $ - GRAMMY-nominated singer Todd Dulaney (a former pro baseball player, believe it or not) is heading to Jorgensen (2132 Hillside Rd #3104) for an evening of Gospel music, featuring UConn’s Voices of Freedom Gospel Choir. Tickets range from $15-$30 and are free for UConn students.

2/1

Columbia | Mattress Sale | 10am-5pm - The PTO from Horace W. Porter (5 Schoolhouse Rd) is holding a mattress sale with prices 30-50% off of retail. Money raised will toward Horace W. Porter students.

Columbia | Opening Day Anarchy Custom Cycles | 9am-2pm - Anarchy Custom Cycles (22 Rte 66 E) is opening after a long wait. There will be coffee and donuts available. They are an authorized dealer for hundreds of motorcycle parts.

Coventry | Noah’s Closet Sale | 9am-1pm - Noah’s Closet (1746 Boston Tpke) is holding their $10-Stuff-a-Bag Sale. They sell gently used children’s clothing (newborn to size 10). Cash and checks are accepted (no cards).

Ellington | Group Exercise Demo | 7:15am-12:30pm - Indian Valley Family YMCA (11 Pinney St) is giving you the chance to try out a group fitness class for free! Registration is required. You can call (860) 871-0008.

Mansfield | Book Donation Drop-Off | 9am-12pm - Mansfield Public Library (54 Warrenville Rd) is accepting donations for their Friends Book Sale. Please limit what you bring to 2 bank box size boxes of books, CDs, DVD, and puzzles/games (no textbooks, magazines, tapes, or poor condition items).

Stafford Springs | Setback Night | 6-8:30p $ - Head to Stafford Cidery (68 Main St) to participate in their night of competitive Setback play. Team pairings are random, entry is $5/person.

Storrs | Imbolc 2025 | 11am-1pm - Honor the Irish Goddess Brighid at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (46 Spring Hill Rd). Offerings can be made during the rite (must be items that can be burned safely or left on the land). Bring a potluck dish and an offering if you choose.

Tolland | Creative Alignment Workshop | 2-3:30pm $ - Resonance Healing Arts (60 Hartford Tpke) is aiming to help you unlock your inner creativity. This experience combines creative exercises, gentle breathwork, and meditation. Tickets are $35.

Vernon | Reiki I Certification | 9am-4pm $ - Join Healthy Healing Hands (310 Hartford Tpke) for a one-day intensive Reiki course. Get your Reiki I cert in one day. Tickets are $200.

2/2

Somersville | Auditions | 6-8pm - The Somers Village Players are holding auditions at 55 School St, for a production of Eat Your Heart Out by Nick Hall. There will also be a second night of auditions on 2/4. You can find more info here.

Stafford Springs | Little League Activities | 10am-12pm - Come to the cage at Kealy Field (289 East St) for a UConn Club Baseball event. This is completely free for kids between the ages of 8-14. All levels of experience welcome.

Stafford Springs | Puzzle Swap | 2-4pm - Stafford Cidery (68 Main St) is holding a puzzle swap. Bring no more than 5 puzzles (complete ones, no missing pieces!). First hour, you can grab two puzzles. Second hour, go nuts. All leftover puzzles will be donated to Stafford Library. And don’t forget to buy a drink while you’re there!

Tolland | Reiki Share | 12-3pm $ - Resonance Healing Arts (60 Hartford Tpke) and Woodfaeries are holding a Reiki exchange. Register at [email protected] no later than Friday. $20 via Venmo or cash/check day of.

Live Music

1/31

2/1

2/2

⬢ JRego’s - Ellington | Acoustic Brunch | 10:30a-2p

Trivia

1/30

Rocking Horse - Vernon | 7p

2/2

The Spot Bar and Grill - Tolland | 5p

THE HIVE’S PICK

Image Courtesy of Twin Beaks Fried Chicken Instagram

Alright, so you know how you keep driving by a place and think to yourself, “I really need to stop there.”? Well, today I did. I stopped by Twin Beaks Fried Chicken (In the Landmark Building Parking Lot 326 Rt-87, Columbia) and am kicking myself for not coming sooner!

I got to chat with the owner Jefferson (who is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met in my life) and found out that the fried chicken that’s sold in their food truck is raised on their farm, right up the street (the same for their pork). The beef is sourced from a farm two towns away, and the potatoes are from a farm in next door Lebanon (talk about sourcing locally!).

The breading for their chicken is gluten-free (they also have gluten-free buns available), and the chicken itself, oh man, the chicken is fantastic (I got a chicken sandwich topped with spicy slaw, which was incredible in it’s own right), and the fries were delicious as well.

It’s super easy to write about a place like this because everything is just so darn good. I haven’t even got to the homemade sauces to accompany your food. I did try a tiny bit of each of them, and they all blew me away. I honestly can’t pick out one favorite, because they all were fantastic (they should be bottled and sold in my opinion. They are that good). Just a sneak preview of a few flavors: preserved lemon and black pepper, red cherry pepper relish, honey ginger, Carolina mustard, and spicy Toum (I’m not going to name them all, but you’ll be able to see them on an upcoming Facebook post).

I’m going to give you another reason to head there and try it out; until the end of February, you’ll get 10% off your order if you use the code LYNCHBUZZ. You’ll be able to use the code up to 3 times per customer! They are usually open from 12-6pm, but location may change. You can double-check by going to their website.

UCONN SPORTS

1/31 - Men’s and Women’s Track & Field @ Boston University

1/31 - Women’s Ice Hockey vs. Merrimack | 6p

1/31 - Men’s Ice Hockey @ Providence | 7p

2/1 - Men’s and Women’s Track & Field @ Boston University

2/1 - Women’s Tennis @ Army | 2p

2/1 - Men’s Ice Hockey vs. Providence | 3:30p

2/1 - Women’s Ice Hockey vs. Northeastern | 6p

2/1 - Men’s Basketball @ Marquette | 8p

2/2 - Women’s Tennis vs. St Bonaventure | 9a

2/2 - Women’s Basketball vs. Butler | 1p

That’s it for today’s Tolland County Buzz! If you got something out of today’s newsletter, please share it with someone that loves fried chicken!

See you next week,

Tyler

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign Up

Want to get your business features in Tolland County Buzz? Let’s Talk

Did I miss something? Let Me Know