Donuts - 1,027 of them - and free-flowing urns of steaming hot coffee will be available for the taking Wednesday morning, beginning at 7 a.m., as the University's first parking garage raises its gates for the first time.

All but 400 of the 1,027 spaces will be available for hourly parking, at 75 cents for each of the first two hours, and 50 cents for each additional hour, up to a maximum charge of $5. Two hundred spaces will be reserved for long-term 24-hour, 7-day-a-week parking for University employees and 200 for commuter student.

For information on long-term parking passes, call (860) 486-4930. Pay by check or use a payroll deduction form, available on the Parking Services website. The deadline to apply for payroll deduction for a pass is January 23.