Second restaurant signs on for Storrs Center development

Moe's Southwest Grill. Courtesy photo.

The Mansfield Downtown Partnership announced Friday that a second restaurant has signed on for the Storrs Center development

The newest tenant for the first phase of the project is Moe’s Southwest Grill, a Mexican cuisine franchise.

Executive Director of the Mansfield Downtown Partnership Cynthia van Zelm said, “We expect Moe’s to have a wide appeal to UConn students and faculty, as well as local residents and visitors. Their reputation for relaxed dining at a reasonable price should make them an ideal destination at Storrs Center.”

Moe’s Southwest Grill is a “quick serve” restaurant serving burritos, quesadillas, nachos, salads and fajitas.

Owned by Atlanta-based Focus Brands Company, the operation has franchises across the country. In Connecticut, restaurant locations include West Hartford, New Haven, South Windsor and Milford.

Vice President of Planning and Development for the project’s master developer LeylandAlliance, Macon Toledano said, “We welcome the early commitment from Moe’s Southwest Grill. They exactly match one of the restaurant profiles targeted through our ‘casting’ process. Moe’s will be a great addition to the commercial/retail tenant mix at the new Storrs Center Main Street.”

Last month, Vanilla Bean Café also signed a letter of intent for Storrs Center.

Posted June 6, 2009

Stock up on summer reading at Friends of Mansfield Library book sale

Here’s your chance to find quality books at can’t-be-beat prices – the Friends of the Mansfield Library Book Sale, this Saturday and Sunday, June 6 and 7.

The sale runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday at the Buchanan Center/Mansfield Library, 54 Warrenville Road (Route 89) in Mansfield Center.

Selections include books on gardening, cooking, home improvement projects, crafts, nature, health and fitness as well as popular fiction and mysteries, classics, children’s books, reference books and so much more.

Also take your pick of CDs and DVDS, as well as videotapes and music on cassettes.

Most hard cover books and oversize paperbacks sell for $1.

Regular paperbacks sell for 50 cents.

Children’s books are even less.

A “specials” area of particularly good, high-value books will be set up in the library for just a bit more than $1.

Coffee and other refreshments may also be purchased at the sale.

Posted June 6, 2009

Something new from your Storrs Farmers Market

Fresh vegetables, free-range eggs, thick and creamy goats-milk yogurt, wholesome local meats, fresh-baked pies and more will be on sale today, Saturday June 6, at the Storrs Farmers Market.

The market sets up shop at the Mansfield town hall parking lot (at the corner of Routes 195 and 275-South Eagleville Road) from 3 to 6 p.m. The market is open every Saturday from now through November – and offerings change throughout the season. (For a sneak peak at what will be at the market, sign up for weekly emails by writing to  StorrsFarmersMarket@gmail.com)

And something new – beginning June 27, the town’s Agriculture Committee and Parks and Recreation Department will co-sponsor a “Farmers Market Kitchen” with Rebecca Canfield.

This series of five farm-to fork cooking demonstrations and tastings will offer simple, delicious recipes made with fresh ingredients from local farms.

An hour-and-a-half program will be presented on the last Saturday of the month, from June through October, just before the Storrs Farmers Market opens.

Rebecca Canfield is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, and a Food Services manager at UConn where she promotes eating local food through the Local Routes program.

Residents and nonresidents can register for one or more of these programs at the Community Center, or by visiting www.MansfieldCT.org and clicking on the Community Center logo.

For more information, contact Jennifer Kaufman at KaufmanJS@MansfieldCT.org

Posted June 6, 2009

Police report woman attacked on Horsebarn Hill Road

Horsebarn Hill Road on the UConn campus. ----------

Earlier this week, a woman reported to University of Connecticut Police that she had escaped from a struggle with an armed man who attacked her while she was in a field at the north end of Horsebarn Hill Road.

The attack occurred at about 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 3 and is still under investigation.

Police said the woman, who is not a UConn student, wasn’t injured in the struggle.

The woman reported that a man – described as black, in his late teens or early 20s, and medium height and weight – came from behind the woman, showed a handgun and restrained her.

The victim was able to break free, and her assaulter ran into a wooded area. The man was wearing dark clothes and gloves.

Anyone with information that might help the investigation is asked to call UConn Police at 860-486-4800.

Posted June 6, 2009