First Niagara Bank's on board as a major sponsor

     First Niagara Bank has become the latest major sponsor to support the Tolland 300th Anniversary Celebration in 2015.
     Through the leadership of Branch Manager Paula Wilson, First Niagara has pledged $5,000 toward the celebration and will be designated as a “Settlers Rock”-level sponsor.
      “On behalf of First Niagara, we are delighted to offer our support for this historical event,’’ Wilson said. “Not only do I work here in Tolland, but I also grew up here, so this celebration is very special to me.”  
     Celeste Senechal, a leader of the anniversary committee, said the committee and society are grateful for First Niagara’s donation.
     “Ms. Wilson and First Niagara Bank are important members of the community, and we are thrilled that they will be our partner in this celebration,’’ she said. “Their support helps us build more momentum as we get ready for 2015.”
     The anniversary committee and the Historical Society are planning months of events in 2015 so that the landmark will be remembered as an inclusive, townwide celebration.
     Events being planned include a Charter Day celebration on May 12, 2015 to mark the actual 300th anniversary of the day when the state granted residents a charter to form their own town. A gala is planned for May 16, 2015.
     A number of civic groups will hold 300th-anniversary-themed events and the Historical Society will publish an updated history of Tolland in the spring and summer of 2015. Other projects include a commemorative program, a heritage trail of historic markers, historic talks, lectures and concerts.
     The celebration will culminate on Sept. 19, 2015 with a large regional parade and a townwide picnic.
     Donations are being sought from businesses and residents who want to be a part of the celebration. Checks should be made out to the Town of Tolland, with “300th anniversary committee” in the memo line. Donations can be mailed to the Tolland 300th Anniversary Committee, Town Hall, 21 Tolland Green, Tolland, CT 06084.
     For more information on the fundraising effort, call Mary-Pat Soucy at 860-875-3794. To learn more about the celebration, visit Tolland300.org or “like” the 300th Anniversary Celebration on Facebook.
About First Niagara Bank First Niagara, through its wholly owned subsidiary, First Niagara bank, N.A., is a multi-state community-oriented bank with nearly 430 branches, approximately $37 billion in assets, $28 billion in deposits and approximately 6,000 employees providing financial services to individuals, families and businesses across Connecticut, upstate New York, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.