Smokey the READ Dog, Staging Your Home, Shorter Feb. Vacation

Connecticut’s official State Groundhog Chuckles did not see her shadow yesterday morning, which hopefully means we can welcome an early spring. We certainly deserve one after a truly rough winter season so far. Find out how this weather might be impacting the school year at the end of this column.

Due to the storm over the last two days, Willimantic Waste was unable to pick up the garbage and recycling yesterday. All pick-ups will be postponed by one day this week, which means there will be pick up on Saturday. Some pick-ups around Grahaber Road, Bonair Hill Road, High Ridge Drive, Willie Circle, Shenipsit Lake and Ellington Road were unable to be completed on Tuesday due to the weather and will be picked-up today. 

If you’re still worried about the accumulation of snow and more on your roofs, please do not hesitate to contact a local roofing contractor or home repair professional—numbers are available in our piece on . There were way too many reports of building collapses yesterday—fortunately most of them abandoned, but one can never be too safe.

Moving on and moving forward:

Yesterday we introduced a few new weekly features, including our Grab and Go Kids Planner and a Frugal Family column. If you missed them, please take some time to check them out today. We hope they’ll help you , as well as, if you have kids, . Don't forget to nominate your Whiz Kid in time for next Wednesday!

Today, we’ll also be introducing several new columns that will: help you plot your weekend, introduce you to our own favorite places that you may come to love too and let you know what is going on in the local real estate market. We’re showing you a new way to look at the town from behind the Tolland Patch lens, and we’ve even scoped out some great places for you to catch this Sunday’s Super Bowl.

For more on the events going on in town today:

It’s Virtual Thursday at the senior center, where you can hone your at 9 a.m., or strike down some fun with at 1 p.m. Or if you play your numbers right, you’ve got at 1 p.m.

will be at the public library from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Children in grades 1 and above can sign up for 15-minute intervals to read aloud to the dog and help boost their reading confidence. Meet Smokey in the Young Adult books Alcove.

It’s a tough housing market out there, but Sandi Lanigan, a professional home stager will be on hand to give a presentation on how to . Lanigan will be at the Tolland Public Library Program Room, 6 p.m.-8 p.m.

originally scheduled for tonight at Crandall Lodge has once again been rescheduled to Feb. 17. It will be held at Tolland Middle School at 7 p.m.

Tonight the Board of Education is holding a special meeting to discuss shortening February Break to make up for school days lost due to the record-breaking snowfall we have already seen this winter. is at the Tolland High School auditorium at 7:30 p.m.