Big thanks again to Pet Supplies Plus for sponsoring Connecticut Buzz Mutt Madness and putting up a $100 gift card for the winner plus $50 for second place. We’ve had a strong turnout so far, and now Round 2 voting starts now with just 16 pups left in the bracket.

Also, quick heads-up: our voting software had a bit of a snafu last week, so some of the early votes ran into issues, but it’s all squared away now. Time to get back in there and keep the dog madness rolling.

Tolland County does not really do flashy maple season. It does the better version. Back roads, woodsmoke, little sugarhouses tucked into the trees, and people turning sap into syrup like it’s just another normal spring weekend. Also, the math is still ridiculous: raw sap is only about 2% sugar, so it takes roughly 40-plus gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup. Maple syrup is basically patience in liquid form.

Hurst Farm Sugar House | Andover
The farm stand sugarhouse combo that always feels like a win. You go for maple syrup and somehow leave with honey, jam, and a few other things you absolutely did not plan on buying.

River’s Edge Sugar House | Ashford
A legit Quiet Corner maple stop with strong old-school energy. Family-run, tucked off the road, and exactly the kind of place that makes you want to reroute your whole day around syrup.

Wilkinson Farm | Columbia
One of the county’s sturdier maple names. Family farm, maple syrup, open house energy, and the kind of place that feels built for a chilly March loop through the backroads.

Forest Mill Farm | Coventry
A little more under-the-radar, but very much legit. Their maple operation has a modern local-food feel to it, which is a nice reminder that syrup season is not stuck in 1847.

UConn Forestry and Wildlife Club | Mansfield / Storrs
This is the cool nerd maple stop in the best possible way. Student-run, rooted in UConn Forest tradition, and one of the more unique sugarhouse setups in the state.

Winding Brook Sugar House | Hebron
A large setup in Hebron and a machine cranking out up to 300 gallons of syrup, plus tastings and bottles for sale if you want to leave with the good stuff.

Wenzel Sugarhouse | Hebron
Small, classic, and very much part of the Hebron maple universe. This is one of those places that feels less like a business and more like Connecticut doing Connecticut things correctly.

Woodyacres Sugarhouse | Hebron
Another Hebron favorite with real sugarhouse charm. Quiet, local, and exactly the kind of place that makes maple season feel like a tradition instead of a marketing campaign.

Bradway’s Sugarhouse | Stafford Springs
Old-school maple done right - this Stafford Springs staple has been turning sap into syrup for generations, and they’re still selling pure maple syrup year-round like it’s just another Tuesday.

Bottom line: Tolland County maple season is not polished and that is exactly why it works. It is woodsmoke, muddy boots, sugar shacks, and little handwritten signs pointing you toward one of the best traditions Connecticut still has going.

🐶Adopt-a-pal: Meet Beatrice, a 2-year-old husky-collie mix with big adventure energy, a sweet personality, and just enough classic husky goofiness to keep life interesting.

🏡House of the week:Set on over 5 private acres, this Hebron home feels like your own mini estate - fully updated with a new kitchen, roof, and massive family room addition, plus space for two home offices if you’re trying to escape everyone in style. Check it out!

🔭Sky report: Clear March nights are putting on a solid little sky show over Tolland County this week. Look west after sunset for Venus glowing low on the horizon, while Leo climbs overhead and Jupiter hangs bright in the evening sky, turning a quiet backyard into a pretty decent planetarium.

Last chance to book your spot. Sign-ups close tonight at 6:30pm.

The next Connecticut Buzz Dinner Club is happening March 19th at 6:30pm in West Hartford, and this is your final window to get in. Take the quick quiz, get matched with five other Hive Members, then show up ready to eat, hang, and maybe unlock the optional after-party details shared during dinner.

After-party only: show up and you’ll get a free DELA Margarita shot - a smooth mix of artisanal tequila, blood orange, lime, and a rich citrus oleo finished with a hint of bergamot 🍹

Connecticut Buzz works with a small handful of local brands who genuinely care about this community.

Each week, we reach thousands of engaged locals through our newsletters and growing social channels. We’re here to connect neighbors, spotlight the good stuff, and keep CT feeling like CT.

Want in on the next wave of local media?

Hebron Maple Fest is basically Connecticut spring showing off. On March 21-22 from 10am-4pm, downtown Hebron turns into a full-on maple carnival with sugarhouse demos, local crafts, live entertainment, family stuff, and enough syrupy temptation to make you seriously consider buying way more maple candy than any reasonable person needs.

Also worth knowing: it’s Maple Weekend in Connecticut, so sugarhouses across the state will be open for tours, tastings, and maple product sales all weekend long.

Vernon | Ceramics: Build Your Own Dining Set | 6–8:30PM | ($) - Get your hands dirty and start crafting your own custom dishware in this multi-week ceramics series at Arts Center East (709 Hartford Tpke).

Coventry | Ladies Night Out | 6 PM | ($) - Networking event for women to connect and unwind at Lakeview Restaurant & Banquets (50 Lake St). Join the Fun

Coventry | The Forever Flower DIY Experience | 6:30 PM | ($) - Design your own wood flower arrangement or wreath at Wood and Word Blooms (21 Bread & Milk St). Get Crafty

Ellington | Movie: "People We Meet on Vacation" | 1 PM - Catch this rom-com adaptation on the big screen at the senior center (40 Maple St).

Vernon | Acrylics Workshop: "My Garden Shed" | 6 PM | ($) - Paint a charming garden scene with step-by-step instruction at Arts Center East (709 Hartford Tpke). Paint

Amston | Monthly Restorative Yoga | 6 PM | ($) - Gentle stretching and deep relaxation to ease tension at 269 Church St (Lower Level). Breathe In

Ellington | Photography Basics with Fred Bird | 1 PM - Learn camera fundamentals from a local expert at the senior center (40 Maple St). Call 860-870-3133to sign up.

Stafford Springs | Cider & Shine | 6:30 PM | ($) - Sip cider while crafting glittery creations at Stafford Cidery (68 Main St). Create

Vernon | Trivia Night | 7 PM - Test your knowledge with friends at Spare Time Vernon (350 Talcottville Rd).

Willington | Book-to-Film Book Club: Wuthering Heights | 6:30PM - Read one of the most iconic novels ever, then come swap thoughts and hot takes with fellow book lovers at Willington Public Library (7 Ruby Rd).

Coventry | Low Cost Veterinary Wellness Clinic | 10 AM | ($) - Affordable pet care including vaccines and checkups at 172 Lake St. Register

Ellington | Spring Equinox Celebration | 6:30 PM - Welcome the new season with music and ceremony at Voices of Enlightenment (19 Pinney St). register now with
Kathi Call/text- 413-885-0038.

Hebron | Maple by Moonlight Gala | 6:30 PM | ($) - Evening fundraiser celebrating maple season at Colebrook Village. Fun!

Hebron | Yes We're Twins at Blackledge Country Club | 6:30 PM - Live music duo performs classic hits at Blackledge Country Club (180 West St).

Stafford Springs | Baskets & Blooms | 6 PM | ($) - Create a beautiful spring floral arrangement at Stafford Cidery (68 Main St). Make

Vernon | Restorative Sound Healing Workshop | 6:30 PM | ($) - Relax and recharge with therapeutic sound vibrations in Vernon. Breathe

Vernon | March 2026 Mini Retreat | 10AM - Spiritual gathering at First Congregational Church of Vernon (695 Hartford Tpke). Learn More

Coventry | Watercolor Workshop: Paint a Fruit Tart | 10 AM - Create a delicious-looking still life painting at Mill Brook Place (1267 Main St). Create

Ellington | Easter Egg Hunt & Pictures with the Easter Bunny | 11 AM - Kids hunt for eggs and snap photos with the bunny at 74 West Rd.

Ellington | Party w/WOW at The Hidden Still | 8 PM - Live music and dancing all night at The Hidden Still (87 West Rd).

Hebron | Tap Into Nature 2026 | 10 AM | ($) - Maple sugaring adventure and outdoor activities at 25 Pendleton Dr. Explore

Hebron | Gilead Church's Maplefest Craft Fair | 2 PM - Local artisans and maple treats at Gilead Congregational Church (672 Gilead St).

Mansfield Center | March Book Donation Day | 9 AM - Drop off gently used books for the library sale at 54 Warrenville Rd.

Mansfield Center | Spring Equinox Celebration | 11 AM - Welcome the first day of spring at UU Fellowship of Storrs (46 Spring Hill Rd).

Somers | Permanent Jewelry Party | 5 PM - Get custom welded bracelets and anklets at The Bra Ladies Boutique (635 Main St).

Stafford Springs | Setback Night at the Cidery | 6 PM - Classic card game tournament with prizes at Stafford Cidery (68 Main St).

Stafford Springs | Bill Ludwig + Jon Tarbox | 7 PM - Live acoustic duo performs originals and covers at 83 Main St.

Stafford Springs | 20th Annual St Jude Benefit Pasta Dinner | 5 PM | ($) - All-you-can-eat pasta supporting childhood cancer research at West Stafford Fire Dept (144 W Stafford Rd). Reserve your tickets by calling (860)684-9438.

Storrs | “She Thinks She’s Queen Elizabeth But She’s Dirty Gerts To Me” Puppet Show | 11AM & 2PM $ – A wildly creative puppet show at the Ballard Institute. Fun

Tolland | Harlem Wizards Game | 5 PM | ($) - Basketball tricksters take on local players at Tolland High School. Cheer On

Union | RV Maintenance Seminar | 10 AM - Learn to keep your rig road-ready at Traveland USA (2 Mashapaug Rd). RSVP

Vernon Rockville | Savage Brothers Band | 8 PM - Rock and roll covers all night at Rocking Horse Bar & Grill (57 Hartford Tpke).

Coventry | Chris Marolda | 6:30 PM - Live acoustic performance at The Bidwell Tavern and Cafe (1260 Main St).

Ellington | Soup & Chili Cook-off/Brownie Bake-off | 11:30 AM - Sample homemade soups and vote for your favorite at Ellington Congregational Church (72 Main St).

Hebron | Hebron Lions Pancake Breakfast | 8 AM | ($) - Fluffy stacks with fresh maple syrup for a good cause at 347 Gilead St. Dig In

Somers | Easter Tote Bags | 11 AM - Decorate festive spring tote bags at Somers Public Library (95 S Rd). Make

Storrs | Bunny Brunch | 10 AM - Breakfast with the Easter Bunny for the whole family at 625 Middle Turnpike. Yum

Stafford Springs | Gardening Basics | 6 PM - Get your spring garden started right at Stafford Library (10 Levinthal Run).

Vernon | Ceramics: Clay Houses | 6 PM | ($) - Sculpt adorable miniature houses from clay at Arts Center East (709 Hartford Tpke). Ceramics