Questions for State Democrats
With all the donation solicitations I receive daily, including those from other politicians in areas I am unfamiliar with, it is hard not to notice we have an election in a few months.
To bring this idea home to Granby, I am not looking forward to the usual debate at the high school where our own Mark Anderson, who represents District 62, will be running against Kim Becker for a third time. These debates are an affront to any citizen seriously interested in local and state government. I attended the first one in 2022, there was none in 2024, and I was embarrassed by the quality of questions that the candidates are asked.
This can no longer be acceptable to Granby voters. We have a Democratic party that is pushing Democratic Socialism and a governor who is protecting illegal alien criminals to foster our sanctuary state status. The current Democratic Party that supports Kim Becker has become openly antisemitic. I would like her comments on this hot button issue and the other anti-American positions the Democrats stand for.
Local Democrats need to respond to why Connecticut has the 47th highest electric rates in the country, the 46th highest personal income taxes and the 30th highest corporate taxes while they have a super majority in the legislature. Certainly, these are the types of questions the Democrats running for office need to be forced to answer and not the “friendly” softball questions posed at high school debate night.
Robert Moss
July 4th Parade
Congratulations to the Granby America 250 Committee for organizing an outstanding Fourth of July parade and celebration at Salmon Brook Park. Community events like these don’t happen in a vacuum. They require months of planning, careful attention to logistics, countless volunteers, and an extraordinary amount of coordination. We also extend our thanks to the Town of Granby and its staff, whose behind-the-scenes work helps ensure events like these run safely and smoothly.
On a smaller scale, we would also like to recognize those who helped make it possible for the Drummer to participate in the parade. We are immensely appreciative of our friends at Clark Farms for generously providing their apple cart, as well as Zach and his tractor to keep us safely moving along the route. Our thanks also go to our colleagues at Signs Plus, who always come through with a quick turnaround and have our backs when pickup plans go sideways.
The Fourth of July is a celebration of community, and this year’s parade was a wonderful reminder of what can be accomplished when neighbors come together. Thank you to everyone who helped make it happen.
On behalf of The Granby Drummer,
Jen Bell, Board member,
Citizens for a Better Granby
Thank you for your support
I would like to sincerely thank the entire Town of Granby for the support that has been shown to me throughout the years. I have truly enjoyed leading the Public Works Department and serving under the town managers and Boards of Selectmen during my career.
Being born and raised in Granby has made it especially meaningful to serve the community I have always called home. I have been fortunate to work alongside so many dedicated residents, volunteers, board and committee members and fellow employees. Those relationships have been among the most rewarding aspects of my career.
Now it is time to begin a new chapter and step away from the rewarding challenges of this position. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the town through snow and ice storms, hurricanes, flooding, budget challenges, emergency responses and the many responsibilities entrusted to the Public Works Department. While these experiences have been both demanding and fulfilling, I now look forward to the opportunities and priorities that lie ahead.
Thank you again for the opportunity to serve the town of Granby. I am deeply grateful for the trust that was placed in me throughout my career. I wish you, the town’s employees, elected officials and all of Granby’s residents continued success in the years ahead.
Kirk A. Severance
Support for Anderson
I would like to support the re-election of Mark Anderson for the 62nd District. Representative Anderson has supported measures to conserve and protect the Farmington River (PA 26-101, PA 26-62). In addition, he has worked to lower the tax burden on farmers through reduced assessments on forest land, protecting agricultural land and the farmers’ market nutrition programs (PA 26-75).
Representative Anderson also supported educational and general aid funding via the Pequot and Mohegan Fund in the amount of $696,479 (PA 26-68), thus providing some property tax relief. The state still needs to improve town funding to prevent the multiple budget votes we just experienced.
As a veteran himself, Representative Anderson supported bills providing our military and families healthcare, child services and veteran assistance (PA 26-35). As a protector of our individual freedoms, he has spoken out against bills for unfunded mandates, homeschooling controls, forced vaccines on those with religious objections and additional restrictions on law abiding firearm owners.
Representative Anderson also looks for accountability in state DDS programs as well as green energy programs. An avid outdoorsman, you can find him in all of the towns in the district (Granby, Barkhamsted, New Hartford, Hartland) fishing, hiking and on the water. I’ve known Mark for decades. He cares deeply for his family and community.
When he comes to your door, please thank Mark and give him your vote. Question? Ask him and he will give you an honest and thoughtful answer.
J. Ward Mathis
Support for Granby Public Library expansion
My wife and I moved to Granby because of the strong sense of community here and the care residents show for one another and for the town. One of the first things we did was visit the library to learn more about our new community. We were welcomed by wonderful librarians and impressed by its resources, but we were surprised by how small the library was, given how many people rely on it.
Anyone who has attended a library event, brought a toddler to story time, or used the computers or quiet spaces knows that our main library is undersized for our town. It can be difficult to accommodate larger groups and provide the spaces our residents need.
Maintaining Granby’s strong sense of community requires places where residents of all ages can connect, learn, and build relationships—and where children and young people have a safe, welcoming place to grow. Libraries are critical to making that possible. Unfortunately, our library’s current space and resources limit what it can provide.
I fully support the library expansion proposal. It will help preserve the sense of community that brought so many to Granby and has kept generations of residents here. And because our approved town budget already includes debt service on bonds that support capital improvements, the library expansion can provide this crucial resource without raising taxes or adding to residents’ financial burden.
Our library is an investment in the future of our community. I hope we will make it.
Kyle Barrette