Severance and Willis feted at retirement breakfast

A phenomenal breakfast spread on the morning of Sept. 14 honored the retirement of two of Granby’s important contributors: Kirk Severance of Public Works and Paul Willis of the Registrar’s office. Members of both Granby and East Granby public works were present in addition to Granby officials and friends of the honorees.

Town increases support for Granby Ambulance Association

Before the Granby Ambulance Association existed, a Cadillac station wagon kept in a barn responded to motor vehicle accidents and household injuries. The late Cal Heminway and other concerned citizens put an end to that and established a trained volunteer service to handle such emergencies. That was in 1963.

End of an era as director of public works retires

You can’t be much more of a native than to be born in a town and to live there all your life, but that is the case for retiring Director of Public Works Kirk Severance. His childhood education, grades 1–12, was right here, as were many of his early jobs. For the rest of his education, he never got far from home, taking classes at the University of Connecticut Transportation Institute and engineering and management classes at the University of Hartford.

Granby’s other special white oak

In the last issue I wrote about Connecticut’s white oak and its place in the history of our state charter. That issue also contained information from the Granby Land Trust about the Dewey Granby Oak on Day Street. In this issue, I’ll tell you about another very special white oak. It is located on Holcomb Farm’s Tree Trail.

White oaks celebrated in statewide 250 events

Cared for and revered by many, the Dewey-Granby Oak on Day Street is a white oak. The white oak is the Connecticut state tree, formally designated as such by the state’s General Assembly in 1947. It was a choice made easy considering the importance a white oak played in protecting our independence.

Town honors Michael Leamy

At its June 1 meeting, the Granby Board of Selectmen honored long time public works employee Michael J. Leamy on the occasion of his retirement. Leamy served the town as a Public Works Maintainer for 33 years before being promoted to Fleet Mechanic. In this capacity, he was responsible for more than 60 pieces of equipment of all sizes.

Ray Haack honored at BOS meeting

At the April 20 Board of Selectmen meeting, First Selectman Mark Fiorentino presented Granby’s long-time and much beloved UPS driver, Ray Haack, with a plaque honoring his 24 years of service to the people of Granby.