Good-News Friday: Feb. 15, 2013

Love was in the air this Valentine's Day in Windsor. A truly special tradition — being carried out for the 51st year — was continued at town hall. Couples were provided the opportunity to obtain wedding licenses for free, but several couples went a step further to make this Valentine's Day particularly memorable.

Not only did they take up the town clerk's office on its offer for a free certificate, they decided to get married at town hall (Is there really any better news than a wedding on Valentine's Day?).

Several couples decided to jump the broom Thursday, including Windsor residents Kerr-Michael Williams and Tanese Nelson — two local lovebirds who decided to get hitched after six months of courting.

"I feel happy," said Williams immediately after exchanging vows with his wife.

The ceremony was conducted by Anita Mips, justice of the peace and Windsor Democratic registrar of voters.

This Valentine's Day was also particularly memorable for one local business — Get Baked, which celebrated its one-year anniversary.

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Bakery owner Emily Woodward opened her Central Street shop, which specializes in freshly-baked bread, sweets and coffee directly from New London's Bean and Leaf, one year ago Thursday in honor of her late grandmother, whose birthday was Feb. 14.

Woodward didn't just open her doors Thursday for the one-year celebration and have one-day-only specials. She decided it would be a day to give back.

Woodward and her family — Get Baked is a family-run establishment — donated $2,221.09 to the National MS Society, representing all the tips receieved since opening her doors one year ago.

According to to Woodward, the decision to donate the business' tips was made upon opening, and the MS Society was chosen because her mother, Caryn, was diagnosed with MS.

Lisa Gerrol of the MS Society was at the shop Thursday afternoon to receive the check.

"Our goal certainly is to help people with MS in multiple ways... and the way that's possible is community volunteers like Emily Woodward, who has gone out of her way to help make a difference, and to raise money to suppor our work," said Gerrol.

According to Gerrol, there are more than 6,000 people in connecticut effected by the disease.

The MS Society has two offices in Connecticut — one in Hartford and another in Norwalk.