Recent Stories

Stony Hill Village celebrates 50+ years

On Sept. 6, Stony Hill Village celebrated its 50+ year anniversary with  attendees including residents, State Representative Mark Anderson, First Selectman Mark Fiorentino, Selectmen Kelly Rome and Dr. Fred Moffa, former Board Chair Ted Christensen, and many community members.

Social Services — October 2023

The focus of the Social Services Department is to coordinate existing federal, state, regional and local services, to increase community awareness of these services and to develop new programs to meet the needs of Granby residents.

Tutorial on the DME loaner closet

The Granby Senior Center manages a Durable Medical Equipment (DME) loaner closet at Holcomb Farm. Citizens of Granby and surrounding towns can borrow, at no cost and for an indefinite period, equipment as needed for themselves and their families.

Jack O’ Lanterns at Old New-Gate

This October, the mine at Old New-Gate Prison and Copper Mine in East Granby will be illuminated by over 300 professionally carved Jack O’ Lanterns. 

Live Classical Chamber Music

On Thursday, Oct. 12, starting at 10 a.m., the Musical Club of Hartford presents a program of live classical music.
On Thursday, Oct. 19, starting at 10 a.m., the Musical Club of Hartford’s Jolidon Concert Series presents acclaimed pianist Henry Kramer in recital, performing Schubert’s Piano Sonata in A Major, D. 664; The Mendelssohn (both Fanny and Felix) Songs Without Words, and Ravel’s Tombeau de Couperin.

Holly Boutique Craft Fair

The 29th Annual Holly Boutique Craft Fair and Luncheon will be held Oct. 19, 20 and 21 at the North Canton Community United Methodist Church Hall, Route 179 and 3, Case St. in North Canton.

Book Festival

The Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association (CAPA) will hold its second-annual book festival on Saturday, Oct. 7, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the West Hartford Conference Center.

IWWC public hearing continued to Oct. 11

The Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission held its second public hearing on the Vessel RE Holdings’ application for a permit in connection with a proposed 48-unit apartment building at 37 Hartford Avenue on Sept. 13.

In Town Focus — October 2023

Senior Fall Social, Men’s Breakfast, Trunk or Treat, Civic Club, Women’s Breakfast, SBHS News, 4-H Sign-up, Camera Club, and UNICO Comedy Night

Local girl competing in National American Miss pageant

Kenya Mouning, age 13, has been chosen to participate in the National American Miss Southern New England Pageant to be held July 23 – 25 at the Sheraton Springfield in Springfield, Mass. The National American Miss pageants are held for girls ages 4-18, and have five age divisions. Kenya will be participating in the Junior Teen age division, along with other outstanding young ladies from across  Southern New England. In 2015, Kenya entered her first pageant and won three awards: Top 10 […]

Letters to the Editor

Unsigned editorials are the consensus opinion of the editorial staff and publisher.  Commentary pieces express the opinion of the writer and not necessarily the opinion of the Drummer.Roundabout Project ObjectionIt seems to me that the state has the cart before the horse when it comes to the Five Corners roundabout project. A roundabout may turn out to be unnecessary if all that is needed is better visibility of oncoming traffic from the south side of Rte. 10/202. This suggests that the pro […]

In town focus

Historical Society ToursThe Salmon Brook Historical Society is open for tours on Sundays beginning June 5, 2–4 p.m. Special exhibits in each building focus on Granby children. Group or private tours are available upon request. For more information call 860-653-9713 and leave a message or email Ginny Wutka at ginny@lostacres.com.The society is located at 208 Salmon Brook Street. Admission: $5 for adults, $2 for children and seniors, family maximum $12, members free.Blood Pressure Screenings […]

There’s a new vet in town

By Shirley Murtha​Actually she arrived last July, but Dr. Caitlin Rothacker has gradually become known to the horse-owners of the greater Granby area as she slips into the shoes of retired veterinarian Liam O’Leary. Although small in stature, her experience prior to arriving in Granby more than qualifies her to fill those shoes! In fact, O’Leary notes that “Salmon Brook Veterinary Hospital is most fortunate to have such a talented highly educated and competent equine vete […]

Plan of Development latest draft presented to residents

By Shirley MurthaUnder the co-chairmanship of Paula Johnson and Eric Lukingbeal, the Plan of Conservation and Development Subcommittee presented its first draft of the 2015 plan to Granby residents on April 21. First developed in 1993 and updated in 2005, the plan is designed “to provide guidance and information to all of the town’s boards, commissions, public officials and residents.” It contains policies, goals and standards for physical and economic development and recommend […]

Art brings joy and pride to Valley Pre-School

By Kim BeckerAs the weather turns warm and the buds begin to bloom so does the Valley Pre-School Art Show. For over 10 years, the school’s four-year-old classes have spent the year creating masterpieces for the much-anticipated annual event. On display are pieces in an array of media, driven by a rich curriculum and the children themselves. The stones and other natural objects the children used to explore math concepts such as patterning, counting and sorting, inspired one installation of […]

HUMANS of GRANBY

By Emma Smith Rosemary Wolcott Rosemary WalcottAge 68English teacher 20 years, currently retired. Consultant- HS Sr. college application essaysTell us about your dreams…A recurring dream comes to me in September. It is the first day of school and I am assigned to teach a subject I have no background in for five periods a day to classes of 28+ students. There are no textbooks and the technology in the room is not working.My dreams for the future are that my children’s and grandchil […]

Grad Night 2016 art contest winners announced

​Granby Parents for a Safe Graduation has announced the winners of the 2016 art competition. The first place entry will be used to design the invitation for the Granby Memorial High School’s safe graduation party. The winning design is featured on the complementary grad night t-shirts which all seniors will receive. The grad night party is free to all graduating seniors and will be held this year on June 13 at the Farmington Valley YMCA in Granby.​GMHS Principal, Dr. Mary Gadd, […]

Granby Horse Council awards scholarship

By Joan DavisThe Granby Horse Council is proud to announce that James Novak of Granville, Mass. is the recipient of the 2016 Granby Horse Council scholarship. James has been riding horses since he was 7 years old. He is a senior at Westfield High School and will be attending Findlay University in Findlay, Ohio, in August. He is enrolled in the equestrian program with a focus on Western riding and training, specializing in reining.​  The council offers a $500 scholarship annually […]

BOE, town watch state budget woes closely

By Kim BeckerThe Hartford Courant reported that the state legislature and the governor have reached agreement over the state’s budget and response to a nearly $1 billion fiscal shortfall. This is necessitating across-the-board cuts, and as many as 2,500 state workers will likely lose their jobs. Of greatest immediate concern to towns and cities across the state are proposed cuts to municipal grants, education cost-sharing grants, and assistance with transportation and special education cos […]

Passport to Connecticut Libraries “eminently rewarding”

By Virgil PaggenNot long after I moved with my family to North Granby, I happened upon the Frederick H. Cossitt Library, a small outpost in comparison with the West Hartford library I previously frequented. It didn’t take long for Margaret Vastoff, librarian, to acquaint me with all that Cossitt offered; it quickly became a valued resource.Among the 50 states, Connecticut ranks 48th in size; only Delaware and Rhode Island are smaller. However, with more than 260 public libraries, I found t […]

Third and fourth graders learn more about their own interests

​By John R. NiebWith enrichment clusters, third and fourth graders in the Granby schools can learn more about their areas of interest. Enrichment clusters are collaborative learning environments where students can investigate and learn about areas of interest that they have and want to learn more about. They are a multi-week cooperative learning experience for students.“They provide a process for students who may be gifted in different ways to show their strengths and learn from and […]

A new way to donate to the Community Fund

The Granby Community Fund is introducing a new way for donors to contribute to favorite local organizations. Online shoppers may go to smile.amazon.com, where they will find the exact same low prices and selection as Amazon.com, with the added bonus of one-half percent of the purchase price being donated to the GCF.Whether shopping for graduation, wedding, holiday, baby or birthday gifts, a percentage of your purchase will help the following Granby non-profit organizations: Granby Parents for a […]

Gran-Bee is a grand success

By Kim BeckerOn April 22, the Granby Education Foundation presented one of the town’s favorite family-friendly community events, the Gran-Bee. Twenty eight teams competed to see which one knew the most trivia (see panel for sample questions). With families and kids of all ages playing along, each Swarm was cheered as the finalists flew to the top.With Scott Kuhnly, Granby’s First Selectman, confidently emceeing, team Bee S, sponsored by Tony Bussman Painting Co., dominated the hive t […]

Wells Road community bonds through One School One Book Program

By Kim BeckerIn late February, dollar signs and other weird symbols appeared on the walls of Wells Road School. In March, Mrs. Frost, the media specialist, came to a school assembly dressed in a lemon costume. It definitely wasn’t going to be an average school day!After seeing a One School One Book program in action during a school visit, Dr. Anna Forlenza-Bailey, school principal, suggested to the staff that Wells Road should try the program, too. With a generous grant from the Granby Edu […]

​Town to continue recycling and waste reduction efforts

By Shirley MurthaTo continue encouraging residents to recycle and reduce landfill waste, the Board of Selectmen approved the Town Manager’s request to appropriate $18,722 from the Solid Waste Fund to be used in four major areas.1. Hazardous Waste Collection: Granby manages this initiative independently. It was previously managed in collaboration with the Metropolitan District Commission and the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority.2. Compost Bins: Encourages residents to reduce the town’ […]

Students explore the wonder of natural sciences at Valley Pre-School

By Jodi D’AngeloFrom learning how plants store energy to make food, to examining skulls to determine what different animals eat, each month unveils another chapter of the natural world at Valley Pre-School.“My goal is to inspire curiosity, develop observation skills, expand the horizon of a young child’s view, and create an ongoing connection with the natural world,” said Nannie Brown, the natural sciences teacher at Valley Pre-School. Although Brown retired as a lead teacher at the scho […]

​South Congregational Church is the new location for Granby Farmers Market

The Granby Farmers Market is making a comeback at a new location right in the center of town. Community members will be able to get their fresh produce directly from farmers, as well as purchase local crafts, soaps and more while enjoying incredible live music and participating in special events. The market will run every Tuesday this summer from 3 to 6 p.m. beginning on June 7 and ending on August 30 at South Congregational Church. Local college students, Amanda Zyzdorf and Danielle Sturge […]

​Sign up for Memorial Day activities

The Granby Memorial Day Association invites town officials, the fire department and its auxiliary, Scout units and other civic and social groups to take part in the annual parade and program on Monday, May 30. First-time parade participants, and organizations wishing to have a concession on the green must be registered with Parade Marshall James O. Hall (860-653-3819).The honorary parade marshall will be Maurice J. Brassard who served with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. The parade […]

Principals selected as Kearns closes

By Kim BeckerSuperintendent Dr. Alan Addley announced his choices for principals  for the revamped district. Kim Dessert will stay at the primary level (Pre-K–Grade 2) at Kelly Lane School. Dr. Anna Forlenza-Bailey and Susan Henneberry will remain at Wells Road Intermediate School (Grades 3–5) and the Middle School (Grades 6–8), respectively. The surprise comes at the high school. Dr. Mary Gadd, the current principal, will be replaced by Mike Dunn, the popular principal of Kelly Lane […]