On March 7, COBS Bread at the Stratford Mall donated $2 from every six-pack of hot cross buns sold to support local charities through its Doughnation Day initiative. From Feb. 7 to March 7, the bakery also accepted in-store monetary donations.

Stratford Arts and Lectures hosted another fascinating evening at the Bruce Hotel, this time with bestselling, award-winning author Tayari Jones, who has written an unforgettable novel, Kin, that reads with wit, intelligence and deep feeling about two lifelong friends whose worlds converge after many years apart in the face of a devastating tragedy.

What was initially reported as a man carrying a handgun in Stratford last month turned into something quite different – but not before prompting a large police response and raising ongoing concerns about realistic replica firearms in the community.