Recent Stories

Communications plan is underway

A sincere thank you to everyone who participated in the district’s communications surveys and focus groups. Your feedback is critical to our work on the first goal for the school year.

High school roof update

Those who drove through Granby Memorial High School’s campus this past summer saw mountains of construction products stored throughout the parking lot. During the summer, approximately 90,000 square feet of roofing was replaced. After 22 years, the old roof was springing leaks and in need of replacement.

CTVV interviews Cheri Burke

Cheri Burke became the new superintendent of the Granby Public School System in July, coming to Granby from the Glastonbury School District where she was the assistant superintendent.

GMHS presents A Christmas Carol

The Granby Dramatic Arts’ production of A Christmas Carol is approaching. Charles Dickens’ classic holiday story of Mr. Scrooge, a somber and grumpy old man, is being brought to life on the GMHS stage.

Conservation Commission advocates for zoning reg change

Granby Conservation Commission members Zach Donais and David Desiderato provided a presentation to the Granby Planning and Zoning Commission in October on possible changes to the zoning regulations for landscaping on large project site plans to promote the use of only native, non-invasive plants.

1973 Field Hockey team receives its due

Two months ago, I wrote about the 1973 Granby field hockey team winning the first-ever field hockey tournament in Connecticut. After they won the title, all the players on the team were given dictionaries by the board of education. Today, if a Granby team wins a championship, they receive jackets for their accomplishment, as the field hockey team recentl

Humans of Granby

By Emma Smith Bryanna CanfieldAge 17Granby high school senior, varsity basketball team captain, debate club member and employee at Lite-N-Up Café Tell about a season you like…Fall is my favorite due to the colors of the leaves and flowers (mums). I love going to an orchard for apples and also enjoy visiting New York City in the fall. Recently I went to the Museum of Modern Art to see some of Salvador Dali’s works and truly appreciated them since we have been lear […]

Interested in helping Granby?

Granby Democrats are seeking people interesting in helping Granby by serving on an advisory board or commission.Vacancies on the Commission on Aging, the Agricultural Commission, the Conservation Commission and the Parks and Recreation Board will be filled by appointment, not election. Most of these bodies meet once a month, and provide advice and assistance to the operation of the town. The Democratic Town Committee will be interviewing interested candidates in early December for terms beginnin […]

Camera Club

The Granby Camera Club will meet on Monday, Dec. 5, at the Senior Center at 7 p.m. The program is “Your Christmas Wish List.” Please bring ideas to share. Also bring any equipment to sell or swap. The scavenger hunt words for December are doorway, luminous and favorite.For the Jan. 9 meeting, Gene Suponski will present a program on Black and White Photography. There will be a follow-up members’ workshop on Monday, Jan. 23 to experiment with cameras and differing software. To learn more abo […]

Cossitt Library News

Book Gift TreesPatrons and townspeople are invited to continue the tradition of sharing holiday cheer with gift books to children and seniors, distributed by Granby Social Services. Select a tag from the holiday tree in the Children’s Room, gender and age given, and/or from the Adult Room tree for a senior. Purchase and gift wrap a book(s) and return to Cossitt no later than Saturday, Dec. 10. The Friends of Cossitt Library thank you for your generous spirit and wish you holiday joy.Mini-F […]

Habitat for Humanity House Dedication

Please join Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity and Granby’s Wyman family on Saturday, Dec. 17, at noon for the Wyman’s home dedication ceremony at 259 West Granby Road. All are welcome to meet the family and tour the house. […]

LAFD hints for a safe and happy holiday season

Cooking and holiday decorating are big parts of the season, but they can also present fire hazards if you’re not careful.Here are some simple tips to keep you and your family safe:• Replace any indoor or outdoor light strings that are worn or broken• Use only UL listed lights approved for specific use (indoor or outdoor)• Choose a tree with fresh green needles that don’t fall off when touched• Make sure the tree is at least three feet away from fireplaces, radiato […]

Ninth annual holiday gift show at Holcomb Farm

By Sally Sargent MarkeyThe Granby Artists Association will host its ninth annual Holiday Gift Show Dec. 3 – 4 at the Holcomb Farm Learning Center. This is truly a “buy local” event! Eleven of the association’s talented members will have an array of items including paintings, prints, note cards, wooden lamps and bowls, jewelry, calligraphy, glass art bowl and ornaments.New member Scott Duncan has polished wooden plates, bowls, and pens. Jean-Luc Godard will show many […]

From script to screen with Giorgio Armani Frames of Life

By Alexis RoyAs a screenwriter, hearing that someone’s interested in your pitch is an incredible feeling—and seeing that pitch through from script to screen is on another level. For me, pitching and writing a script that would go on to represent Emerson College in the Giorgio Armani Frames of Life Campaign has truly gone above and beyond what I imagined I’d accomplish during my four years as a college student. The evolution of a vision—this vision, that I’ve ha […]

Funding approved for Route 20 pedestrian crosswalk beacon

The State Bond Commission approved a Department of Transportation request to spend $300,000 to install a High-Intensity Activated crossWalK (HAWK) beacon at the Route 20 crosswalk of the greenway/rail trail. Though the crosswalk on the busy road is well marked, a flashing yellow light creates ambiguity about whether motorists need to stop. Rear-end collisions and pedestrian versus auto near-misses aren’t uncommon.State Rep. Tami Zawistowski (R-61) and State Sen. John A. Kissel (R-7) applau […]

School Renovation Committee issues final report

By Shirley MurthaGordon Bischoff, representing the School Renovation Committee that was charged with overseeing the infrastructure changes to the elementary schools following the closing of Kearns, gave the committee’s final report to the Board of Selectmen on Nov. 7. The bottom line of the two-page memo was that the work came in under the original $800,000 budget. Even the additional $40,000 contingency granted by the board when more asbestos was discovered, was not needed.Bischoff praise […]

Senior Center not just for seniors!

By Shirley MurthaMisconceptions abound! No, you don’t have to be a senior to take part in any of the Senior Center programs. You do have to become a member, however, but that’s easy. You can go to the center in the Municipal Complex on North Granby Road or send in a check to Granby Senior Center, 15 North Granby Road, 06035. The annual fee is $5 for residents and $10 for your friends who may be non-residents. The membership year goes from September to September. If you wait until May […]

Small Stuff

By Susan AcceturaSome folks count to 10, some take a few deep breaths. When life starts getting to me, I start counting my blessings: our health, our family, our friends, our home, this town; children laughing, a warm fire, fresh eggs from the chickens, good coffee. Don’t sweat the small stuff—celebrate the small stuff. Treasure the small stuff. And our town, our little town, is overflowing with priceless trinkets—McLean Game Refuge, Cossitt Library, Salmon Brook Park, scenic r […]

Thanksgiving Tree at Library

A tree at Granby Public Library has been growing leaves, not shedding them. Visitors have been adding leaves marked with things that make them thankful. Lots of thanks-giving in Granby!Caption: Photo by Deborah Kulwich […]

Clothes Closet opens to meet local needs

By Kim GaudreauValley Brook Community Church held its first Clothes Closet on Oct. 4. The Clothes Closet offers free clothing, shoes and accessories for men, women and children at no cost. The idea came about after Valley Brook member, Donna Crombez assisted with the Salvation Army Clothing drive at the church last year. Crombez said, “It was always on my mind and my heart to reach out and help others in our community. There are many people in Granby and other surrounding towns who cannot […]

Go see The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!

Don’t miss a chance to share this funny, heartwarming play with your whole family. Start the season off with good cheer and this show produced by Good Company Theater. Performances are Saturday, Dec. 3, at 3 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 4, at 2 p.m. at South Church, 242 Salmon Brook St. Tickets are $12 and are available at GoodCompanyTheaterCT.org, at Granby Pharmacy and at the door.Caption: Photo by Audrey Laird […]

Valley Pre-School buzzes with bee knowledge

By Andrea BurnsChildren at Valley Pre-School (VPS) learned how bees help fruits like apples grow, during a visit from local beekeepers.“Honeybees are big helpers in the apple orchard,” said Joyce Custer of West Granby. “The honeybee flies from one apple blossom to another and spreads the blossom’s pollen around.”The visit from the beekeepers is timed each year with a field trip to Lost Acres Orchard so the children can see the connection first hand. The beekeepers a […]

Granby residents celebrate Thanksgiving in many different ways

By John R. NiebSince the first Thanksgiving in 1621, holiday traditions have been passed down and some have changed. Granby families each have their own special traditions.Arleen O’Meara celebrates Thanksgiving with her husband, Lawrence, her three children and two grandsons. O’Meara’s celebration is held at her house or one of her children’s houses. They cook and serve traditional Thanksgiving fare of turkey and all the fixings. O’Meara’s daughter makes the p […]

Scout Troop 125’s excellent adventure at Quonochontaug Salt Pond

By Chris Kardys,Senior Patrol LeaderThe canoe outing, put on by Boy Scouts Troop 125, was a great success. The troop explored the Quonochontaug salt pond behind Quonochontaug Beach in Charlestown, R.I. The Scouts launched their canoes at the state boat launch. There were seven canoes and nine scouts and four adults. They paddled out to the flats around the salt marsh and saw bluefish blitzing. The water was boiling with bluefish chasing a school of baitfish. The fish quickly swam under the canoe […]