ToCo Buzz Giveaway!

Good morning, Tolland County Swarm! Today is Tuesday 4/29, and that means it’s time for your favorite newsletter (fingers crossed that it’s us). We’re making a few adjustments to the newsletter, which you can check out below. Let’s get to it!

In Today’s Tolland County Buzz:

• Newsletter Updates

• Giveaway

• 36 Events

Let’s dive in!

-Tyler DiGiovanni

UPDATES

Meet Up: Last week we asked about setting up an in-person meet up and the response was an overwhelming “yes, let’s have some fun”. The two most voted activities were a nature walk (outdoor activity) followed by a happy hour. So, I’m setting up the first ever Buzz IRL event of getting outdoors as the nice weather rears its head. I’ll keep you posted on potential date, time and place.

🗞️Brief Bites: Seeing how you are spread throughout Tolland County, I think covering positive news in specific towns isn’t relevant to all readers so I’ll only be including news if it’s something big or impacts many people throughout the county.

🛣️Last Week’s Trivia: 31.37% got it right with just over 25 miles of I 84 through Tolland county towns. Fun fact: I84 is just over 230 miles in length starting in Dunmore, PA and ending in Sturbridge, MA.

🤔Word Scramble: I’ll be adding some fun word scrambles into the newsletters, check out the first one in this newsletter.

OPENINGS

🍖Little Mark's BBQ & Grill is making a comeback on April 30th, located at 346 Kelly Road in Vernon.

☕7 Brew Coffee finally opened its doors yesterday (4/28). The viral drive thru coffee spot is located at the Tri-City Plaza (35 Talcottville Road, Vernon).

Special Giveaway

We’re teaming up with the Rockville Elks #1359 (22 Ellington Ave, Rockville) to bring you a chance to win two tickets to see Wastin’ Bullets perform this Saturday, 5/3 at 6:30pm. If you dig Country music then this is your jam. Wastin' Bullets ain’t your average pop-country cover band — they’re bringing the gritty, real-deal Texas honky-tonk sound to CT, covering legends like Cody Jinks, Sturgill Simpson, and Merle Haggard.

We’ll email the winner to let you know if you won or not on Wednesday, and all you’ll have to do is show up on Saturday and tell them your name. Pretty simple, right? Vote yes “I’m in” or “No, I don’t like live music” below.

ToCo Scramble 🤔

PET OF THE WEEK

Meet Bingo, a 1-year-old kissy monster with a soft spot for Romaine lettuce, storytime, and his favorite blanket. He was rescued from a hoarding situation in New Jersey with his brother Buzzy—a wannabe astropig inspired by Buzz Lightyear—and now lives a pretty sweet life with his human, Karen. His room? Immaculate. His speed? Impressive. His heart? Bigger than the tiny white one on his forehead. Oh, and he’s learning piano from his big sis Bella—because of course he is.

Want to get your get featured?

BEE LINE EVENTS

WEDNESDAY (4/30)

Tolland | Wood Flower Arrangement | 6-8pm $ - Craft a floral arrangement that won’t wilt or need to be thrown out at Tolland Red and White (46 Tolland Grn). Tix

THURSDAY (5/1)

Coventry | Women’s Leadership Council | 12-1pm - Meet with other female business owners, entrepreneurs, employers, managers, and more at this lunch held by the Windham Region Chamber of Commerce at Lakeview Restaurant (50 Lake St). RSVP

Ellington | Bingo Night | 5pm $ - Celebrate Uno de Mayo with an evening of bingo and a taco buffet at The Ivy (123 West Rd). Cash prizes. Raffle and bake sale to raise money for Alzheimer’s research. RSVP by calling (860) 993-4898.

Rockville | Adult Nutrition Class | 4-5:30pm - It’s never too late to learn about eating right. Head to Rockville Public Library (52 Union St) for a class on nutrition that also features a cooking demo. Register

Somers | Wood Flower Wine/Design | 6pm $ - Get your wood flower arranging on, this time with a glass of wine included! The workshop is being run by Wood & Word Blooms at Worthington Vineyards (359 Mountain St). Tix

Stafford Springs | Pottery Painting | 6-7:30pm $ - Paint a little pottery (stemless wine cup) and enjoy a delicious cider at Stafford Cidery (68 Main St). You can grab your tickets from Firestone Art Studio.

Storrs | Foodshare | 11:30am-12pm - Mansfield Human Services (303 Maple Rd) is holding their food distribution for those in need. Make sure to bring something to carry your food home in.

Tolland | History Talk | 7-10pm - Learn all about the history of Company D, comprised mostly of young men from Rockville at the New England Civil War Museum & Research Center (14 Park Pl).

FRIDAY (5/2)

Andover | Spring Barn Sale | 10am-3pm - She Shed Creations (200 Hebron Rd) is sliding open that big barn door to give you a chance to find some great vintage, new, used, upcycled, and handcrafted items.

Hebron | Walking Club | 8-9am - Start your Friday off on the right foot (pun absolutely intended) with a walking club that meets at The Flour Girl (14 Main St).

Stafford Springs | Setback Night | 6-8:30pm $ - Play a really fun card game, with the possibility of winning some money, at Stafford Cidery (68 Main St). Have a cider or two and make some new friends (or enemies, depending on how the games go).

Storrs | Zumbathon | 6-8pm $ - Help support Safe Grad for E.O. Smith (1235 Storrs Rd) students with an evening of movement and fun! Tix

Willington | Lion King Jr. | 6pm $ - Support Hall Memorial Students (111 River Rd) as they put on a production of Disney’s Lion King Jr. Tix/showtimes

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Greenleaf Cafe - Hebron | Blue Mountain Haze | 8:30pm
⬢ Basil’s - Stafford Springs | Shawn Layne | 7pm
⬢ Rocking Horse - Vernon | Aquanett | 7:30pm $

SATURDAY (5/3)

Bolton | May Day Celebration | 10am-4pm - Celebrate Spring with a trip to Cropley’s Garden Center (1262 Boston Tpke). Vendors will be in attendance, as well as some alpacas to meet and feed, a food truck, and some puppies looking for forever homes from our friends at PawSafe Animal Rescue.

Bolton | Town Wide Tag Sale | 8am-4pm - Find treasure in someone else’s junk (no judgement, you might see me out there too) in the town-wide tag sale. Someone made a handy Google Map with the participating addresses.

Coventry | Town Wide Tag Sale | 8am-4pm - Coventry is also holding a town wide tag sale, keep an eye out on the Coventry Parks and Rec page which should have maps starting on Fri 5/2.

Coventry | Floral Watercolor Greeting Card | 2-3:30pm - Head to Wood & Word Blooms (21 Bread and Milk St) to create a beautiful hand painted card. More info

Ellington | Designer Bag Bingo | 5:30pm $ - The Windmere PTO is holding an evening of Bingo with designer bags as the prize (Kate Spade, Michael Kors, etc.) at the Ellington Ridge Country Club (56 Abbott Rd). Deets

Ellington | Farmers Market | 9am-12pm - This marks the first outdoors farmers market of the year at Market Park (72 Maple St), shop local and enjoy the day!

Ellington | Vintage and Antique Market | 8am-2pm - The Ellington Historical Society is holding a unique market specializing in older items at the Nellie McKnight Museum (70 Main St).

Mansfield | Maypole Celebration | 2-4pm - Celebrate spring with a boogie around the May Pole at Joshua’s Trust Atwood Farm (624 Wormwood Hill Rd). Deets

Rockville | Author Visit | 10:30-11:15am - Janet Lawler will be at Rockville Public Library (52 Union St) to read her book The Prehistoric Games, and afterwards kids can participate in dinosaur-themed activities.

Rockville | Ladies Range Day | 8am - Fish and Game Rockville (90 Fish and Game Rd) are inviting women to visit the range and shoot a variety of firearms, for those who have been curious about them. Email [email protected] to reserve your spot.

Stafford Springs | Power of Play | 4pm - Red Balloon Children’s Center (7 Park St) is inviting families to celebrate playful learning and creativity. Flex your creative muscles with your family!

Stafford Springs | Comedy Show | 9pm $ - Stillwater Grill (328 East St) is hosting another comedy night. Grab some grub and some laughs. Tix

Tolland | Art Show Opening | 1-3pm - Arts of Tolland (22 Tolland Grn) wants you to join them for ‘An Exhibition of Shadow and Light’, featuring painter Nancy Cooke Bunnel and photographer Kim Bova.

Tolland | Ear Acupuncture | 10-11:30am $ - I’m as intrigued by this as you are. Resonance Healing Arts (60 Hartford Tpke) is offering ear acupuncture to promote relaxation, emotional release, and inner balance.

Vernon | Free Shirts | 5:30am-11pm - Buy a large drink at 7 Brew Coffee (35 Talcottville Rd) and get a free 7 Brew T-shirt!

Vernon | Nurses Day Celebration | 12-3pm $ - Utsav (575 Talcottville Rd) is holding a lunch featuring the Indian Nurses Association of Connecticut. Questions? Call Dr. Aisha Chahal (203) 417-9551.

Vernon | Town Wide Tag Sale Rain Date | 9am-3pm - Since it got rained out last week, Vernon is trying their luck again with their town-wide tag sale.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ The Packing House - Willington | Frank Viele | 7:30-10pm Tix
⬢ Rocking Horse - Vernon | Savage Brothers Band | 8pm
⬢ Four Seasons by the Lake - Stafford | Wild Heart Tribute | 8-11pm Tix
⬢ Sonny’s Place - Somers | Trailer Trash | 8:30-11pm

TRIVIA

Stafford Cidery - Stafford Springs | 6:30pm

SUNDAY (5/4)

Stafford Springs | Cinco de Mayo Cookie Class | 2pm $ - Celebrate the upcoming festive holiday with a cookie decorating class at Stafford Cidery (68 Main St). Each ticket includes a glass of cider. More info

Stafford Springs | Reiki Share | 2-4pm $ - Get a little energy healing in at Let’s Get Wired (64 Main St). Tix

Tolland | Opening Day | 10am-1pm - The Tolland Green Market (59 Tolland Grn) is celebrating their first market of the season.

Tolland | Walk For Epilepsy | 9am-12pm $ - Help support the Epilepsy Foundation Connecticut with their Walk For Epilepsy. Don’t want to walk, but still want to help? You can donate here.

Union | Spiritual Hike | 10am-12pm $ - Join Mandee Rose at Bigelow Hollow State Park for a walk through nature designed to help you reconnect with yourself. Email [email protected] for more info.

Vernon | Grand Opening | 2-5pm - Help welcome Reputation Athletics (8 Gerber Blvd) to the area and take a tour of their facilities, and maybe sign up for a gym membership.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Mill Pond Country Store - Stafford Springs | Second Helping | 2-4pm
⬢ Rocking Horse - Vernon | Forever December/RELIC/Burn The Brand/ONE | 1-6pm

SCRAMBLE ANSWER: GURLEYVILLE GRISTMILL

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 a good giveaway!

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