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Step inside a reborn 1837 Greek Revival — once a church, now a one-of-a-kind sanctuary for living and gathering. With soaring cathedral ceilings, wavy-glass windows, and a dramatic 30x40 great room, it offers more than a place to sleep — it’s a place to connect.

Perfect for weekend escapes, family celebrations, creative retreats, or simply enjoying time with friends, this historic home adapts to your needs. Three bedrooms, a full kitchen, and timeless architecture blend comfort with character, making every stay unforgettable.

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I asked ChatGPT to roast every town in Tolland County; playful, not mean. Grab a Dunkin and let’s laugh at ourselves.

Andover - “Date night: two lawn chairs, a citronella candle, and the hum of Route 6.”

Bolton - “Bolton Lake sunsets fix everything except I-84 at 5 p.m.”

Columbia - “We don’t have a downtown, just “see you at Rec Park.”

Coventry - “Nathan Hale is our blue check.”

Ellington - “Gym day is counting cows—high reps, low rest.”

Hebron - “We train all year for the Hebron Fair like it’s the county Olympics.”

Mansfield (Storrs) - “Half the town is Huskies; the other half is avoiding game-day traffic.”

Somers - “Main Street cruises like it’s 1998 and nobody told it otherwise.”

Stafford - “If your shocks survive Route 190, you’re officially local.”

Tolland - “Town green events = pretending you didn’t just hit Big Y in pajamas.”

Union - “Population: you, your neighbor, and that moose you swear you saw.”

Vernon (Rockville) - “Rockville mills: history with a built-in Instagram filter.”

Willington - “Half our social life happens at I-84 exits.”

Hit reply and tell me if ChatGPT nailed your town
or drop your own spicy local one-liners, I’m all ears.

Put your news where neighbors actually look. Reach 9,000+ locals across Hartford, Tolland & Windham Counties with a sponsored spotlight.

SUNDAY 10/5

Vernon | Sunday Fun-Day | 10am-2pm - Strong Family Farm (274 West St) is embracing the fall season with a scarecrow display (vote on your favorite), mini cows (not really festive, but I mean, how adorable do they sound?), pumpkins for decorating, scarecrow crafts, fall BINGO, pumpkin checkers, and more family fun. Best part? 100% free to attend.

🐶Adopt-a-pal: Meet Bambi, a 5-year-old Shepherd/Blue Heeler mix with endless fetch energy and a big heart. At 40 lbs, she’s housebroken, crate trained, great with kids and dogs, and ready to bring nonstop fun to her forever home in CT.

🏡House of the week: A rustic 1800s farmhouse reimagined with open-concept living, soaring windows, and a wrap-around porch that says “front-porch dreams.” On 10+ acres of fields and woods, it’s a perfect mix of character, space, and countryside peace. Check it out!

🥾Trail of the week: Fenton-Ruby Park & Wildlife Preserve (Willington)
Do the 3-mile Ruby Loop; woodsy, quiet, and easy-to-moderate with ~200–250 ft of rolling gain. Park at the small trailhead lot on Moose Meadow Rd and follow the well-marked loops; you can tack on Taylor Pond or Julia’s Trail if you want extra mileage.

🔭Sky report: Your headline act is the Harvest Full Moon; peak illumination Mon, Oct 6 (basically full both Oct 6 & 7). Bonus: on Oct 5, the bright Moon cozies up to Saturn, a pretty naked-eye pairing for an easy “wow.”

Hebron | Sunshine Kid’s Golf Tournament | 11am $ - Get a round in at Blackledge Country Club (180 West St) and support a great cause. Sign Up

Tolland | Pollinator Meeting | 6-7:30pm - Looking to get involved helping pollinators? Join the Tolland Pollinator Pathway at Tolland Public Library (21 Tolland Green)

Vernon | Gravel Ride | 5-7pm - Loom City Cycles (520 Hartford Tpke) are continuing their gravel rides, starting in the back parking lot. Make sure to bring a light!

Columbia | Bulb Lasagna | 6:30pm - Learn all about how to layer flowering bulbs for a spring-time display that will keep on giving with Master Gardener Deb Fiducia at Saxton B. Little Library (319 Rt 87). Register by calling (860) 228-0350, or email [email protected]

Storrs | UConn Puppet Program Alumni Forum | 7pm - Ever wanted to know what people do with a puppetry degree from UConn? The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry (1 Royce Cir) is hosting several of its alumni, to tell you all about what they’ve been up to after graduation. If you have little kids, one of the speakers plays a huge part on the kids show Donkey Hodie (my kids were big fans).

LIVE MUSIC

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

Somers | Wine & Design | 6pm $ - Our friends at Wood & Word Blooms are teaming up Worthington Vineyards (359 Mountain Rd) for a night of fall creativity with wooden flowers. A glass of wine is included in the price. Tix

Tolland | Pour Your Own Candle | 6-8pm $ - Tolland Red & White (46 Tolland Green) and Outbound Candle Co. are going to teach you the basics of candle pouring in a festive pumpkin jar. Tix

TRIVIA

Rocking Horse - Vernon | 7pm

Coventry | Contra Dance | 7:15pm $ - Get your called dancing, on at Patriot’s Park Lodge (172 Lake St). More info

Hebron | Taylor Swift Charcuterie | 6pm $ - Taylor Swift and meat/cheese fans shouldn’t miss this charcuterie class with a T Swift soundtrack at The Flour Girl (14 Main St). You need to register by 9/30!

Storrs | A Night of Constellations | 5:30-7pm $ - Start the evening off at William Benton Museum of Art, checking out the art of Maureen McCabe, followed by a show at UConn Planetarium. Tix

Vernon | Dueling Pianos | 8:30pm $ - Rocking Horse Bar & Grill (57 Hartford Tpke) is hosting the always unforgettable Dueling Pianos. If you haven’t been to one of these nights, you are seriously missing out. Tix

Vernon | Firehouse Tour | 10am - To honor Fire Prevention month, members of the Fitton Hose Company Firehouse (5 Prospect St) will take visitors on a tour of the oldest surviving firehouse in Vernon. It’s a fantastic way to see what the amazing volunteer firefighters take such great pride in - and get a little history lesson in too!

Vernon | Haunted Laser Tag | 8pm-12am $ - Spare Time (350 Talcottville Rd) is kicking off haunted laser tag on Fridays and Saturdays in October. No reservation needed.

Vernon | Yoga For Runners | 5-7pm $ - Go on a short trail run and follow it up with a yoga class designed specifically to help with aches and tension usually felt by runners, at Sweet Lotus Yoga Studio (520 Hartford Tpke). Tix

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Greenleaf Cafe - Hebron | Karismics | 8:45-11:30pm

Andover | Hispanic Heritage Month Stories & Bingo | 11am - Andover Public Library (355 Rt 6) is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with some stories and bingo for elementary-aged kids.

Bolton | Fall Festival & Puppy Adoptions | 11am-3pm - Cropley’s Garden Center (1262 Boston Tpke) is hosting another fall festival with vendors, a food truck, and adoptable doggies from PawSafe Animal Rescue!

Coventry | Walking Tour | 10am-12pm - Learn all about historic Coventry Village with a walking tour through Main Street. Coventry Town Historian John Holmy will give you all the Coventry information you can handle. More info

Ellington | Farmers Market | 9am-12pm - This week’s theme at the Ellington Farmers Market (72 Maple St) is celebrating all things apple! Special apple treats, local cider, fresh apples, live music, and much more.

Ellington | Free Lunch | 9am-4pm - Check out some motorcycles at Old Scholl Harley-Davidson (398 Somers Rd), and more importantly grab a free hot dog while you’re there.

Ellington | Pet Adoption Event | 11am-1pm - Ellington Agway (74 West Rd) is hosting Superior Energy’s 11th Annual Pet Adoption event with the CT Humane Society. Meet some adorable pups and kitties, possibly take one home, and if you’re feeling generous, you can make a donation that will be a huge help.

Ellington | Pickleball Fundraiser | 8:30am-5pm $ - Satisfy your competitive spirit and put money towards a great cause at the Ellington Racquet Club (55 Lower Butcher Rd). Proceeds will go toward supporting Special Olympics CT.

Manchester | Spinfest | 9:30am - Alright, so this one is in Hartford County, but, our friends at the Vernon Rotary Club will have a snack table and information at the Hop River Trail on Church St in Vernon. If you’re a cyclist, this 16 mile ride should be up your alley. Register

Mansfield | Cider Pressing | 1:30-4pm - Ever wonder how they used to make apple cider? Joshua’s Trust and Atwood Farm (624 Wormwood Hill Rd) are bringing you demonstrations of traditional cider pressing, along with blacksmithing techniques, and weaving/spinning. Weather dependent - rain will cancel the event.

Mansfield | Fall Book Sale | 9am-4pm - This Mansfield Public Library (54 Warrenville Rd) has returned once again. Stock up on books, puzzles, and more.

Rockville | Bird Migration | 10-11am - Learn all about bird migration at Rockville Public Library (52 Union St) with Jane Seymour (no, not that one). Drop in, no registration needed.

Stafford | Setback Night | 6-9pm $ - Play some cards, enjoy some hard cider, and make some new friends at Stafford Cidery (68 Main St). $5 cash only entry fee to play - winning team splits half the pot, the other half goes to a non-profit.

Storrs | Farmers Market | 3-5pm - Weekly reminder of the goodies at the Storrs Farmers Market 94 S Eagleville Rd).

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Jorgensen - Storrs | Joni Mitchell Tribute | 8pm $
⬢ Italian Club on the Hill - Vernon | Good Vibes | 7-10pm
⬢ The Hidden Still - Ellington | The Peet Trio | 9pm-12am
⬢ Four Seasons By The Lake - Stafford Springs | Backlash | 7-11pm

Columbia | Fall Festival/Halloween Spooktacular | 1-4pm $ - Kindred Spirits is holding a a Halloween event at Peck’s Farm (16 Chowanec Rd). Horse/pony costume parade, trick or treating, costume contest, face painting, lawn games, music, and more. Children under 5 get in free.

Coventry | Farmers Market | 11am-1pm - This week’s Coventry Farmers Market (2299 South St) is al about apples and fire prevention. Not sure about that combo, but here we are.

Coventry | Sunday Matinee | 2pm - Stop by Booth & Dimock Memorial Library (1134 Main St) for a screening of the 70s gothic ghost story DON’T LOOK NOW.

Mansfield | Grist Mill Guided Tour | 1-5pm - Listen, I keep on putting the guided tours at Gurleyville Grist Mill (Stone Mill Rd) in this newsletter because you haven’t gone yet. There are only a few left, so take advantage while you can!

Somers | Piglets & Pilates | 11am-12pm $ - Get a yoga session in, with some adorable piglets at Worthington Vineyards (359 Mountain Rd). You’ll also get a beverage token to use after class! Tix

Ellington | 32nd Annual Golf Tournament | 10:30am $ - The Network Against Domestic Abuse is holding their 32nd annual golf tournament at Ellington Ridge Country Club (56 Abbott Rd). 18 holes, cart, lunch, on-course refreshments, dinners, contests, and prizes all included. Tix