Cupcakes for a Cause, Choir Festival, K-9 Corps, UConn Champions

In And Around Town

Looking for a sweet way to give to others? There will be a from noon to 5 p.m. at 
Tolland Middle School
. All proceeds benefit Adam’s Adventure, the non-profit organization dedicated to building an ADA-accessible playground at .

This is your last day to catch some of the finest work from Tolland High School  at the Arts Center of Tolland. So bring your appreciation for the fresh perspective of today’s youth, from noon to 4 p.m.

As we spring ahead with Daylights Savings Time, some may choose to dive in—to the swimming pools, that is. Star Hill Family Athletic Center hosts its hours for non-members, 3 p.m.-5 p.m. Slip into your suits, and remember to bring $5 per person (though there is a $20 maximum per family).

If being serenaded by joyful voices lifts your spirits, is hosting its . Area church choirs will gather in sacred song at 7:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. 

Today in History

• On this day in 1781, the English astronomer William Hershel discovered the seventh planet from the sun, which he dubbed Georgium Sidus, in honor of King George III of England. The planet was later renamed Uranus, an ancient Greek deity, to match the other classical mythology-derived names of known planets.

• On March 13, 1865, the Confederate States of America, facing a bleak road ahead in their battle against the larger Union armies in this last stage of the Civil War, consented to enlist black soldiers for their cause. Nearly 200,000 black soldiers fought for the Union compared to the several thousand eventually enlisted for the Confederacy.

• The United States Army began training dogs for the K-9 Corps on March 13, 1942. While millions of dogs served during World War I, including Rin Tin Tin, training dogs for military use fell out of vogue until the country entered WWII in December 1941. Then the American Kennel Association and the group Dogs for Defense asked owners to donate healthy dogs to the Quartermaster Corps of the U.S. Army. After obedience training, the canines were prepped for work in scouting or patrol, mine detection, as sentry or messenger dogs.

• Music fans rejoiced when Eric Clapton left The Yardbirds on March 13, 1965. By doing so, he not only created some of his greatest work, he also set the tone for the other rock guitarists who would pass through that British blues rock band—Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page—who would become legendary musicians in their own right.

Recipe of the Day

Eric Clapton later went on to form the band Cream, and tomorrow is National Potato Chip Day. So naturally today’s recipe of the day must be a dip. This Onion Dip from Scratch—with sour cream, onions and garlic—may give you a bit of dragon breath, but it will also earn you plenty of fans from those who taste it. And what better treat to have while counting down to March Madness? So dip in!

March Madness Approaches!

Five games in five days would be enough to fell the best of teams. But the UConn Huskies rose to the challenge, capping it off last night with a 69-66 victory over the Louisville Cardinals. Snagging the Big East Championship, this ties the most tournament titles in conference history for the UConn program and tops the most titles for a coach with seven for Jim Calhoun.

You’ve been waiting for it all season, and now it’s finally here—the NCAA Tournament bracket for men’s basketball will be unveiled at 6 p.m. today on CBS. Find out what’s new for the 2011 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship and what National Bracket Day is all about here.