The weather cooperated and over 40 community volunteers gathered for the spring Stony Hill Village Community Serve Day on Saturday, April 18. Even a black bear was curious to see the tractor, wood chipper, 20-foot dumpster and two large trucks for hauling away brush that were instrumental in our accomplishing so much.
Sponsored by the members of Granby Homes for Senior Citizens and coordinated by the Rotary Club of Simsbury-Granby, many volunteer groups came to help with specific tasks in this special affordable housing village in the center of Granby. Groups included the Rotary Club of Simsbury-Granby, Stony Hill Village Board of Directors, members of Granby Homes for Senior Citizens, members of the Stony Hill Village Tenants Association, Granby Lions Club, Granby Community Fund, Valley Brook Community Church, Granby Conservation Commission, members of the Board of Selectmen, and the Granby Men’s and Women’s Breakfast Groups. A special, heartfelt thanks to the seven Simsbury High School students who came to help on their Junior Prom Day.
Volunteers rebuilt a fallen fence, cleared several truckloads of brush and debris, moved tenants’ items to the donated dumpster, power washed railings within the village, planted and refurbished flower beds with donations from Monrovia and planting soil donated by Horses and Hounds.
They also helped tenants spruce up gardens and made the village shine. Volunteers sanded and stained the bench in front of the Community Center with stain donated by Maher’s Paint and Wallpaper. All residents were invited to request volunteer support and all requests were satisfied from helping to install a patio umbrella to clearing an entire porch.
Last year, a new board of directors assumed leadership of Stony Hill Village, Granby’s primary affordable housing project. The new board chose to restore the village to its original vision of quality affordable homes for those in need. “We are blessed to have passionate board members and friends who want to preserve a quality village right in the heart of Granby,” said Dave Roberts, Stony Hill Village Board of Directors Chair. “And we are grateful to everyone who participated in this event and want to give a special shout-out to both Sandy Flagg, president of the Stony Hill Village Tenants Association and board of directors, and Karen Young from the Rotary Club of Simsbury-Granby, who took leadership of this spring cleanup to help us accomplish so many tasks in such a short period.”
Stony Hill Village is located at 259 Salmon Brook Street and contains 49 federally financed homes for the elderly and disabled including 39 one-bedroom units and 10 large efficiencies. Income guidelines apply, and currently the waiting list has over 120 prospective tenants. For more information about living at Stony Hill Village, please call its office at 860-398-5425.