HUMANS OF GRANBY

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By Emma Smith

Sarah Bennet
Age 15
Granby High School Sophomore
JV Volleyball, JV Track, trying for Varsity, Horseback riding

Tell something you are proud of…

I have a really strong work ethic and am self-motivated. I’m proud of my grades in school. When I completed a presentation for a recent Intro to Business class I got a 96. I interviewed a manager at Peaberry Café in Simsbury and was then able to do a thorough write up of their business plan.
Tell about something you wish you could change…
Sometimes it seems like the television news, is too concerned with talking about stereotypes. To me, the issue of who uses what bathroom isn’t a news concern. The LGBT community’s use of bathrooms as a news article seems silly. I think I’d like to live in a world where people are equal in each other’s eyes and that acceptance of different cultures and religions is just plain normal.
Tell something you like about Granby…
I have mixed feelings about Granby. It is small but frustrating because there is not that much to do like shopping or going to movies. It’s nice that it is a tight knit community with good neighbors. I am interested in farms and agriculture. I can ride my horse at Sunflower Equestrian Center which is only five minutes away.
Liné Burke
Age 68
Clerk at Village Health in Granby Center
Mother of two grown children
Tell about something you are proud of…
I’m proud that I raised two successful children; one lives in East Granby and the other in Southington. I am blessed with six grandchildren.
I enjoy taking ceramics classes at AC Moore. The last item that I made was a ceramic Christmas tree that involved the use of many different colors.
I’m also proud that I take good care of my health. My “interviewer” told me that I look more than 10 years younger than my actual age!
Tell about something you wish you could change…
When I think about the world we live in today I wish I could change the way that some people interact with each other. I wish people in general were more open to new friendships and less critical or judgmental of each other. I also feel that it would be better if we were a bit more open to talking about what’s bothering us. This way people could work on solving problems together.
Tell something you like about Granby…
I like the fact that there is more interest today in taking care of one’s health. We are fortunate to have the Village Health store where there is a wide variety of products and food items. I learn something new every day as a clerk here; for example, our smoothies have unusual, changing recipes for me to keep up with.
Bruce Allen
Age 60’s
Project Manager for Westinghouse
Tell about something you are proud of…
Years ago my goal was to find a job in a place where I would not have to move around. When I was a child my family moved every five years since my dad worked for General Electric and this was required of him. We lived in four different states: Washington, New York, Massachusetts and Oklahoma. I’m proud that I have been a resident of Granby for 35 years and feel a sense of community here.
Tell about something you wish you could change…
I wish I had started earlier in life to raise a family. My son was born when I was 36 but if I had started my family earlier it would have been easier as I would have been a bit stronger and had more energy.  In this manner I could have had grandchildren while still young enough to enjoy them. Kids today often wait until they are in their 30’s to have children and I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. Younger parents can have fun with their kids since they are physically stronger.
Something you like about Granby…
The best thing about Granby is that we have Salmon Brook Park. When you are raising a family the perfect thing the kids can have is an ample, significant park. There are great ball fields, places where older kids can meet their friends, concerts, and opportunities for many different activities and for all ages.  I think that its sheer size is impressive and believe it was once a golf course some 50-60 years ago.

Editor’s note: Doc Pendleton’s golf course stretched from Salmon Brook St. to Barndoor Hills Road. It closed in the 1940s because of WWII gas rationing, making it difficult for golfers from Hartford to make the drive to Granby.