Granby Drummer (https://granbydrummer.com/page/13/)
By the time you read this, Chris Fisher’s photography exhibit at Lost Acres Vineyard will probably be closed, so you will have to go to the libraries in East Granby (September), Simsbury (October) or Avon (November) to experience it, but it will be well worth the drive. He started taking pictures on a seven-week summer Eurail trip in 1971 and hasn’t stopped since!
Seventy years ago, the state of Connecticut and the town of Granby experienced the worst flood in its history.
Collaboration and Community, Meet the Farm Crew!, and Upcoming Events
The Granby Public Library wrapped up another unforgettable Summer Reading Program, this year themed Mystery and Mayhem. More than 500 patrons of all ages took part in the excitement—solving riddles, cracking codes and getting lost in thrilling whodunits, all while earning raffle tickets for a chance to win great prizes, all for reading.
More than twenty-five years ago a group of people gathered with a desire to help more people know and grow with God. That group included Pastor Clark Pfaff and his family and dozens of families from the Granby and the greater Farmington Valley area.
In 2023 when Gabrielle Galiatsatos decided to expand her flower-growing hobby to better serve the community, she told her neighbor Michelle Neidermeyer, part owner of Lost Acres Vineyard with her husband Kevin Riggott, about her “crazy idea.” Neidermeyer enthusiastically offered the use of a segment of the Vineyard property and within a week, wood was delivered for the raised beds and a massive tulip bulb order was placed.
Granby Open Farm Day 2025 is September 6th.
For the second year in a row, Shirley Murtha has won an award in the Connecticut Press Club’s 2024 annual competition. Her article, How the loss of insect populations affects bird life, placed second in the Green/Environmental category.
How electricity is supplied to our town of Granby is not something everyone thinks about. But for Reinhard Maier, Granby resident for 37 years, the field of electricity is his bailiwick. He holds certification from the state of Connecticut as a licensed professional engineer with more than 50 years of experience in the electric power generation industry.
The Granby UNICO held its annual golf tournament June 6 at the Simsbury Farms Golf Club, which offered a challenging and fun day filled with raffles and prizes. A delicious buffet and beverages followed for all participants.
Mock traffic stops can be valuable experience, Bradley Regional Chamber of Commerce Busi-ness Symposium, Celebrate summer at the Mark Twain House, Hartford Chorale holding open auditions, Volunteers needed at historical society, Suffield Players announces 2025–26 season, and Celebrate Children’s Day on June 1
On May 9, the Youth Service Bureau’s Youth Action Council, in collaboration with the Farmington Valley YMCA, hosted an 8th-grade dance for the future Granby Class of 2029!
Camera Club, Men’s Breakfast, Civic Club, SBHS News, Women’s Breakfast, and CT Trails Day
The Youth Service Bureau is piloting an after-school chess drop-in starting late July on Thursdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. If you have someone in grades 6 to 9 that would like to grab a friend and a board and join us, please contact AnneMarie at the YSB to register. Ahcox@granby-ct.gov or call 860-845-5355.
If there is enough interest, we will start the last week of July. With sufficient participation, we will continue into the next school year.
A new chapter of PFLAG is being established this month to serve members of the LGBTQ+ community and their families and friends. The group’s first in-person meeting will be an informal cookout on Sunday, June 22 at 3 p.m.
The workshop will be held Saturday, June 7, 2 to 4 p.m. at The Whisk’s new location, 15 Hartford Avenue, Granby.
Registration is required for all library programs unless otherwise indicated. To register, visit granby-ct.gov/Library, and click on “Register for a Program” or call the library at 860-844-5275. To learn more about upcoming programs, sign up for the library’s monthly eNewsletter. For the most updated information on dates and programs, refer to the library’s online calendar.
The Granby Artists Association presents its annual All Members Show at East Granby Public Library from June 5 to June 26. Since 2002, the association has worked to create a vibrant and supportive community for the arts in Granby. This show features work by your favorite artists as well new people, including Granby high school students, which brings an exciting diversity to the 2D and 3D presentations.
Granby Racial Reconciliation (GRR) invites you to join them on Saturday, June 14 to celebrate Juneteenth!
The Granby-Simsbury Chamber of Commerce (GSCOC) held its Annual Meeting on May 1 at Holcomb Farm, drawing more than 75 local small business owners and community members. The evening celebrated the region’s entrepreneurial spirit, recognized key leaders and ushered in the chamber’s leadership for the upcoming year.
The students of Granby Memorial High School are coming together in a powerful show of support for one of their own. On Friday, June 20, from 6 to 9 p.m., GMHS will be the site of a special benefit concert for Jake Rossi, a cherished senior currently undergoing treatment for cancer.
Please visit granby-ct.gov/senior-services or check your Center Life Newsletter for a complete listing of health services, support groups, clubs and ongoing activities.
One year ago, Karen Young showered kudos on Granby’s community garden in an article entitled, It takes a village to make a garden grow, published in The Granby Drummer in May 2024.
David Desiderato’s column, NOT WANTED, has appeared in The Granby Drummer since 2020. His writings identify invasive plant species and suggest eradication methods, warn of “bad bugs” like the spotted lanternfly, and commiserate with fellow gardeners who recoil from the dreaded jumping worm.
Photo by Jim Watso during the GLT Spring Migration Walks at Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve.
Textile volunteers at the Salmon Brook Historical Society happened across a blue wool military coat last year. The coat appeared to be from the Civil War era. A detailed search of our records found no information about this coat, but a handwritten signature was discovered inside its left sleeve. In flourishing cursive, it states “C. A. Coffin, Co. A.”
In the final days of the school year, students at Granby Memorial High School receive their yearbooks and flip through the pages filled with memories, signatures and well wishes. It is a beloved tradition that has endured for generations.
I recently found a small book, The American Soldier’s Creed, in my grandfather’s papers. My grandfather, Elmer C. Vreeland, proudly served in WWI and the creed (reprinted in this article) depicts the ideals for which his generation was fighting.
So delighted to share this recipe—I made it many moons ago for a Cook sister’s gathering and birthday celebration for our mom. Horseradish is a great addition, just enough to add spice and flavoring but not enough to send tears down your face! This is a perfect salad for summer gatherings or barbecues, and might taste even better the next day—if there is any leftover.