Recent Stories

Board of Ed Updates

Help shape the next five years

By |

The Granby Board of Education has started to develop a new five-year strategic plan that serves as the blueprint for its school districts’ priorities, goals and actions. The strategic plan outlines the goals and strategic initiatives for the BOE for the upcoming five years. In addition, the BOE is hoping to identify more concrete and measurable metrics to establish progress on those goals. The board invites input from students, families, staff and community members to help define the mission.

Town/Govt

ARPA projects complete

By |

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was signed into law in March 2021. It allocated almost $2 trillion for Covid relief and economic recovery. Granby’s share of this money was $3,405,503, which had to be officially allocated for specific projects by the end of 2024, and be spent by Dec. 31, 2026.

Fun & Rec

The YMCA: Building a stronger community—for all

By |

As 2025 comes to a close, the Farmington Valley YMCA is proud to reflect on a year filled with community impact, generosity and growth. Guided by our mission of serving for all, the Y continues to ensure that everyone—regardless of age, background or financial situation—has access to the opportunities, programs and support they need to thrive.

Events

Granby’s theater group returns!

By |

Join Good Company Theater for its triumphant return with the musical, A Man of No Importance. Step into 1960s Dublin, where an amateur theater group and their passionate leader, bus conductor Alfie Byrne, bring Oscar Wilde’s Salome to life against all odds. A Man of No Importance weaves a heartfelt tale of courage, love and the transformative power of theater.

Town/Govt

The budget—managing the beast

By |

Board of finance members often hear, “why does the mill rate seem to always go up while in most years rates don’t change for federal and state income taxes? From the revenue perspective, this reflects that the income base to which state and federal tax rates apply generally increases annually as income levels and taxable population steadily rise.

Town/Govt

Minutes for Town Meetings

By |

This issue of the Drummer does not have Highlights of the various Granby board and  commission meetings.

For those interested in reading the full minutes, please visit the Granby town website, granby-ct.gov, and click on the green Agendas and Minutes button.

Town/Govt

Granby Food Bank

By |

We currently need: Jarred spaghetti sauce, Canned meat ravioli, Canned chicken/chili, Knorr rice/pasta sides, Brownie/cake/cookie mixes, Applesauce/pineapple, Progresso soups, Bar soap/dishwashing soap, Tea/coffee

Opinion

Environmental policy deserves facts, not spin

By |

Last month, an opinion piece criticized my record on environmental issues. I agree with the writer on one important point, protecting our environment is essential—future generations depend on it. But her piece misrepresented my voting record. Legislators should be scrutinized, but that scrutiny should be based on facts, not selective scoring or political spin.

Board of Ed Updates

Granby Student Achievement: Year-over-Year Growth in State Assessments

By |

At the Sept. 17 meeting, the Granby Board of Education received test score results from the prior year’s Smarter Balance (SBAC) tests. These results, coupled with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) assessment and the PSAT and SAT scores provide guidance to the board—and more importantly the administration and the teachers—of what additional work or changes need to be implemented to help our students achieve their best.

Salmon Brook Historical Society

Our highways and byways evolved with the times

By |

Last month, I described how, as a result if the flood of 1955, Granby became an island when the bridges and roads on Routes 9, 189, 20, and 10 were washed out or badly damaged, so that no one could get in or out of Granby. Our town green was literally an island as it is surrounded by Routes 10, 20 and 189 (formerly known as Route 9). Here is a brief history of roads through picturesque Granby.

Drumrolls

John W. Conley

By |

Colonel John Conley, former resident of Simsbury and North Granby, passed away peacefully at his home in Mays Landing, NJ, on Friday, August 22, 2025 surrounded by his family, after a year-long battle with cancer. He was 69.

Events

Fall at Stony Hill Village

By |

Granby Homes for Senior Citizens, which operates Stony Hill Village, will hold its annual Friends of Stony Hill Village meeting on Thursday, Oct. 9, at 6:30 p.m. in the community room at 259 Salmon Brook Street.

Focus on Education

From standards to success: curriculum in Granby Public Schools

By |

Instruction in Granby Public Schools is guided by our Vision of a Graduate: we aim for every student to become a resourceful learner and an effective communicator who contributes positively at the local, national and global levels. Our curriculum is based on state standards that outline the knowledge and skills students should acquire during their K–12 education in order to graduate ready for college and career.

Animal Talk

Common toxin series: Anticoagulant rodenticides

By |

Having started my career as an emergency veterinarian, I still have a soft spot for toxin cases. There are a few household toxins that I saw many times at the ER and still see at Salmon Brook Vet. Over the next few issues, I will highlight some of the most common toxins we see, what they do and how we treat them.