Recent Stories

Friends of Holcomb Farm — June 2024

Farming News, Shop at Our Farm Store All Summer Long, SNAP? Double SNAP!, Connecticut Trails Day, New Trees on the Tree Trail – Thank You to Our Funders!, and Notes from the Farm Office (aka Cat’s Corner): The Collaborative Nature of Our Community

Southwick launches a new land trust

Southwick landowners seeking to preserve their property have a new option. The Southwick Land Trust, a non-profit, non-governmental organization of community volunteers, was formed in 2024 to conserve important ecological, scenic, historic and agricultural land.

Tree Trail honors Arbor Day

On April 27, Holcomb Farm Tree Trail members and master gardeners Barry Avery and Eric Lukingbeal led a group of interested folks on a walk that culminated with the planting of a tree in honor of Arbor Day 2024.

Granby Libraries Book Sale July 26-28, Donations start late June

This year, Friends of the Granby Public Libraries (FOGPL) 41st annual Used Book Sale will be held at Holcomb Farm, 113 Simsbury Road, West Granby. Preview Night is on Friday, July 28 5–8 p.m. with a $10 entrance fee. The regular sale is on Saturday, July 29 from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Last chance sale is on Sunday, July 30 from 11 a.m.– 2:30 p.m. with $10 per bag or donation.

Woodworker’s solar kiln featured in Fine Woodworking magazine

While some of us learned how to make sourdough bread or became Wordle aficionados during the COVID-19 pandemic, Brenon Plourde and his family built a solar kiln. The construction of the kiln was recently featured in a lengthy spread in Fine Woodworking magazine, which Brenon describes as “like being in Rolling Stone.”

Lifestyle changes to improve memory and cognition

Exercise. Healthy diet. Socializing. How many times have we heard these behaviors affect cognitive functions? We find it easy to rationalize that the damage is done and nothing will make a difference, but health experts disagree.

Help plant wildflowers on June 4

The Friends of Granby Wildflower Meadow will host a Plant-In as its inaugural event on June 4 (rain date June 5) at the five-acre parcel located along Rte. 10/202 across from Maple View Farm. Over 1,200 plug plants have been ordered to be placed in a section of the field.

Women’s shelters receive donations

The customers of Granby’s Stop & Shop supermarket donated health and beauty products to three women’s shelters, in Hartford, New Britain and Waterbury in March.

Town planning enhanced citizen communications effort

Do you want better communication from your town and more of it? Your town boards and town manager want to deliver more news to your email, home phones and social media. Enhancing communications with residents is a priority. But you need to sign up to receive our messages.

Granby and Simsbury Chambers of Commerce approved to merge

Granby and Simsbury Chambers of Commerce have announced that their memberships voted to approve a merger between the two organizations. The merged organization will officially begin June 1 with the first event being the 3rd Annual Granby and Simsbury Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament on June 13 at Hop Meadow Country Club.

Affordable Housing

Appearing on the first page of the March 2022 edition of the Drummer was an article entitled: Granby answers state call for Affordable Housing Plans. The name(s) of the author(s) are missing.

Federal funding for cultivated meat research

With China including cultivated meat in its latest five-year agricultural plan, the United States should make sure it isn’t left behind by not investing heavily into cellular-agriculture development.

Town of Granby Meeting Calendar

Check Town of Granby website or call Town Manager’s office to verify date, time, location, and get information on how to participate on Zoom, if needed.

Affordable housing plan needs a closer look

Connecticut’s Section 8 statute has been equitable in providing low-income families with rent and affordable housing. We do not need section 8 30-J or G, Public Act 21-29 (aka House Bill 6107).

Scholarships

Citizens for a Better Granby, Inc., publishers of the Granby Drummer will award a $1,500 college scholarship to a graduating high school senior.

All About the Buzz…

Hive you been hankering for a night out with friends? Looking to show off your queen bee costume skills? Does trivia sweeten the honey jar? The 17th (not quite) Annual Gran-Bee flies into view on Friday, April 22, at 6:30 p.m. in the GMHS Auditorium.

The Forsythia’s Endurance

Throughout the long winter months, I’ve waited for spring and for my beloved forsythia to blossom again.