Community Corner

Robotics, an Urban Survival Seminar, a Jazz Jam, and More in Tolland This Weekend

Check out what is going on in the region this weekend.

Greene Room Productions, Inc. Presents: Sweeney 
Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Friday, 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. - “In the 19th century, Benjamin Barker, a skilled barber, returns to London assuming the alias "Sweeney Todd," accompanied by sailor Anthony Hope. Fifteen years earlier, Barker had been falsely charged and banished by the corrupt Judge Turpin, who had lusted after his wife, Lucy. At Mrs. Nellie Lovett's meat pie shop on Fleet Street, he learns that Lucy poisoned herself with arsenic after Turpin raped her. Todd's teenage daughter Johanna is now Turpin's ward and, like her mother before her, is the object of Turpin's lust. Todd vows revenge, reopening his barber shop in the upstairs flat after Mrs. Lovett returns his old straight razors to him.” Tickets are $22 in advance and $22.50 the day of the show. This show is all ages.

FIRST LEGO League Tournament
Saturday, 9 a.m. - On Saturday, 18 FIRST LEGO League (FLL) teams from middle schools around central Connecticut will gather at Tolland High School to compete for bragging rights and a chance to participate in the Connecticut State FLL Championship. The 14th Annual East of the River FLL Tournament is sponsored each year by RAGE (Robotics And Gadget Engineering), a high school robotics team who participates in the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). This year marks the first time being held at Tolland High School, having been located at Vernon Center Middle School and Rockville High School in past years. The theme of this year’s FLL challenge is “Nature’s Fury.” Area FLL teams, composed of up to 10 middle school students, are tasked with building a robot out of LEGO and LEGO Mindstorms that will autonomously run “missions” on the competition table, a 4’ x 8’ table with markings and game pieces. Teams learn more about some of the extreme weather the world has been experiencing in recent years, and how to prepare and deal with it. Scenarios include hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and so forth. Teams also research these weather phenomena and create a project and presentation to show how they might prepare for natural disasters. A panel of judges rates the team on numerous criteria and provides members with feedback. The competition is free and open to the public. Opening ceremonies take place at 9 a.m., followed by a full day of table-top robotics matches and project presentations and judging. Awards should be complete by about 4:30 p.m.

Bittersweet Advanced Workshop
Saturday, 9 a.m. - Did you know that you can actually build health and get in shape while the holidays are still in full swing? Join us at a life-changing health workshop that will help you restore sanity to the holiday season. Learn how to alleviate stress and substantially boost your energy, eat well without sacrificing all your favorite holiday treats, boost your immune system naturally to prevent disease, and avoid holiday weight gain with a time-saving exercise program.

Urban Survival Seminar

Saturday, 10:30 a.m. - Wilderness expert Kevin Estela will be hosting a Urban Survival Seminar at Integrated Personal Defense. Estela has recently been featured on WFSB's Better Connecticut training Scott Haney on survival techniques. This seminar will feature survival skills for the modern sheepdog. What's a sheepdog? Well, you are either a sheep, a wolf or a sheepdog (Still curious? Look up Col. Grossman) Learn to be respected through the development of practical survival skills and be prepared for just about whatever life throws at you. Basic wilderness and urban skills, preparation and combatives (kali, striking, improvised weapons) will be taught. Designed for all experience levels, this seminar will improve your survivability. The cost is $50.

New England Ringers Concert
Saturday, 7 p.m. - New England’s premier handbell ensemble rings in the season with your holiday favorites. Adults are $15 and children/youth are free. A reception will follow the concert. For more information, visit www.tumcwindsor.org.

Jazz Jam
Saturday, 7 p.m. - MCC on Main will host the Manchester monthly jazz jam featuring vocalist Theresa Wright. Bring your instruments and sign up at the door to perform with our house band and/or drop in to listen and meet local musicians. Free admission. There will be wine and beer from bin228. Contact Sara Vincent at svincent@manchestercc.edu or call 860-647-6030 to reach the MCC on Main front desk.


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