Recent Stories

School & Sports

GMHS choir singers to perform at All-Eastern Honors Ensemble

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Granby Memorial High’s music director Mindy Shilansky was stunned when she received notice earlier this year that not one, nor two but four students of her chorus students had been selected to perform at the 2023 National Association for Music Education’s All Eastern Honors Ensemble. The prestigious event was held in Rochester, New York on April 15 and 16, and featured the best high school vocalists and musicians from 11 eastern states.

School & Sports

Granby 4-H Robotics win award

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Granby’s own G-4s 4-H Robotics team attended the world’s largest robotics competition and brought home an award. Over 13,000 teams from more than 50 countries competed to earn one of 1,000 invitations to the 16th annual VEX Robotics World Championship held in Dallas in April.

Drumrolls

In Memory of…

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Murphy, Ruth Secor, 90, wife of the late Owen Philip Murphy and the late Lawrence Secor, March 29

Verse

Thoughts

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The fragile colors of early spring give way to the more vibrant colors of summer—children who began the school year last fall now talk of vacation plans and future endeavors. The seasons rush along. We cannot stop them.

Events

Deacon Arthur Miller, childhood friend of Emmett Till, to speak

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Granby will celebrate the federal holiday of Juneteenth on Saturday, June 17, 3 to 9:30 p.m., (rain date is June 18) in Salmon Brook Park. The hope is that in addition to a great showing of Granby residents, families will come from far and wide to enjoy this event.

People

The Granby Road Race is a Family Affair for the Koteens

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On May 6, after two weeks of non-stop rain, Mother Nature cooperated. The day was warm, sunny and the perfect weather for a race. Racers lined up at the start eager to begin. At exactly 8:30 a.m. the horn went off and the 53rd annual Granby Road Race began.

Great Outdoors

4H Fair

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4H Fair4-H Fair to be held in Somers By Rebecca Masse The 79th Annual Hartford County 4-H Fair will be held Aug. 14-16, at the 4-Town Fair Grounds on Egypt Road in Somers. The fair is run by the Hartford County 4-H Fair Association. This year the following Granby residents are serving as officers in the Fair Association: Albert Gilbert, president; Matt Hawthorn and Conor Smith, vice presidents; and Brandon Higley-Blair, secretary. The fair will feature 4-H livestock exhibits and shows, non-a […]

People

Granby Super Stop & Shop patrons provide “food for friends”

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Christine Willett, Store Manager of Granby Super Stop & Shop, presents a check to Incy S. Muir, executive director of the Farmington Valley VNA. Photo by Andrea Boyle  By Andrea Boyle The patrons of Super Stop & Shop in Granby have always displayed an abundance of generosity, particularly with the ongoing “Food for Friends” fundraising program to benefit local food pantries. The Farmington Valley VNA’s Granby Food Bank Program received the funds raised when patrons ma […]

People

Mario DeiDelori on Italy

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By George Lynch Granby resident Mario DeiDelori was the featured speaker at a Senior Men’s Breakfast. DeiDelori has made more than 30 trips to Italy and Sicily. His rapport with the people of Italy, his strong interest in Italian history and discovery of his personal heritage has accorded him what he refers to as a “minimal expertise” on the country and its culture.  He spoke of an Italian philosophy referred to as La Bella Figura. La Bella Figura literally means a beaut […]

People

Training a Guiding Eyes dog

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Amandine Lowderback and her daughter, Scarlette with Drew, the Guiding Eyes puppy they are raising. Photo by Betty Goldfarb By Lil Busse Guiding Eyes for the Blind puppy named Drew recently arrived in Granby and has been welcomed by his new puppy raiser—Amandine Lowderback and her daughter, Scarlette. When Amandine was a little girl, she had an adult friend who was also a guide dog user. She loved to help her friend and her dog and vowed to volunteer one day to help sight impaired individ […]

Fun & Rec

Granby girl is  semi-finalist in Girl Scout video contest

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Frontier Communications announced that 12 Connecticut girls have been chosen as semi-finalists for the “Tell Your Girl Scout Story” video challenge. Frontier and the Girl Scouts of Connecticut partnered for the challenge earlier this year, encouraging girls to upload short videos that described how Girl Scouts has supported them in the areas of leadership, technology or community to Frontier’s Facebook page. The semi-finalists received the most public votes on Facebook and wer […]

History

Granby 1888 to 1895 by James Lee Loomis

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Edited by Carol Laun For the next few months I am going to share a paper that James Lee Loomis presented to the Hartford Monday Evening Club in 1968. He was born in 1878, the only son of Chester Peck Loomis and Eliza Harger. Chester P. was co-owner of the Loomis Bros. Store that once dominated Granby Center. James Lee Loomis married Helen Bruce and was well known as an insurance executive, banker and author. He lived in the lovely family home built by his grandfather, Harrison Loomis, at 245 S […]

School & Sports

A way to honor teachers, administrators, volunteers and students

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By Deb Ranicar The end of the school year is one of the best times to honor exemplary students, favorite educators, and appreciated community members who have made a difference in education in the town of Granby. A tax-deductible contribution to the Granby Education Foundation (GEF) is the perfect way to recognize that person! As in years past, the GEF invites members of the community to acknowledge these special individuals through donations to the GEF via the Tribute Program. Each honor […]

School & Sports

Students can register now for Red Cross summer scholarship program

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 This summer, high school and college students can win a scholarship by hosting an American Red Cross blood drive through the Leaders Save Lives program. Registration is now open to host a participating blood drive between June 1 and Aug. 31. The program encourages community-minded 16-24-year-olds to host blood drives to help maintain the blood supply over the summer months. Students who participate as a blood drive coordinator are eligible to win a scholarship up to $2,500 for higher edu […]

Events

Strawberry Festival 

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A strawberry festival will be held at West Granby United Methodist Church on Saturday, June 27, 12 – 4 p.m. There will be fun for the entire family: food and refreshments, live music from local artist Carrie Johnson, and a guest appearance by African drummer Mollishmael Gabah from Ghana. Also face painting, pony rides, a bounce house and other outdoor games and activities. For more information, call 860-653-7437 or visit www.westgranbyumc.org. […]

Events

Strawberry Festival 

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A strawberry festival will be held at West Granby United Methodist Church on Saturday, June 27, 12 – 4 p.m. There will be fun for the entire family: food and refreshments, live music from local artist Carrie Johnson, and a guest appearance by African drummer Mollishmael Gabah from Ghana. Also face painting, pony rides, a bounce house and other outdoor games and activities. For more information, call 860-653-7437 or visit www.westgranbyumc.org. […]

Events

Annual Youth Tag Sale

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The Youth of Pilgrim Covenant Church are holding their annual Tag Sale on Saturday, June 6, 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the church, 605 Salmon Brook Street. All proceeds benefit youth activities and missions. The PCC Junior High Youth Group meets Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m., and the Senior High Youth Group meets Thursdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Youth Pastor Matt Gillis can be reached at 860-392-8160 or matt2ured@yahoo.com. […]

Events

Strawberry Supper at First Church

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First Church of Granby is hosting a Strawberry Supper Fundraiser on Saturday, June 13, 5 – 7 p.m, at the church, 219 North Granby Road, in Cook Hall. Dinner will be prepared by parishioners of the church in the newly renovated church kitchen. There will be two sittings at 5 and 6 p.m. Proceeds will go towards the mission of First Church in the community and in the world. The menu will include baked ham, potato salad, baked beans and Connecticut grown strawberries on homemade biscuits wit […]

Events

Harpist at the Gazebo

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Marcie Swift, a therapeutic harpist who performs for hospice and other venues, will give a concert at the gazebo next to Cossitt Library on Sunday, June 28 at 2 p.m. (rain date). This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of Granby Public Library and the Friends of Cossitt Library. […]

Events

Civic Club 

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The Granby Civic Club will meet at Lost Acres Orchard for luncheon on Thursday, June 18 at 12 p.m. It has been the Club’s tradition to hold the final meeting of the year at the orchard—dining, discussing current town events, electing officers and planning for the future. The ladies enjoy a great time of food, fun, and fellowship as they gather under the apple trees or on the new farm store porch. The cost for the luncheon is $12pp.  The club invites all women of Granby to join […]

Great Outdoors

Friends of Holcomb Farm Progressive Dinner

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Please join us on Saturday, June 20, for an evening of good food and friendship as the Friends of Holcomb Farm host its annual Progressive Dinner. See the inside of the newly renovated and constructed Three Season Pavilion as the evening begins with beverages and appetizers in the North Barn. Guests will then proceed to an assigned host’s home for small group dinners that include fresh Holcomb Farm produce. The event culminates with dessert for all, hosted by Jenny and Dave Emery at Emery Farm […]

Great Outdoors

Granby’s Four Season Farm

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CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, and it is the best way to support your local farm and improve your own health. CSA members pay wholesale prices before the season begins, giving the farm much-needed income to purchase seeds, supplies and hire staff, and guaranteeing members a weekly supply of fresh vegetables from June to October. Beyond Organic …. Our growing methods are best described as holistic. We are not “certified” organic because our standards far exce […]

Town/Govt

12 students graduate from Granby Ambulance EMT program

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By Matt Heubner The Granby Ambulance Association congratulates this year’s EMT program graduates! These 12 students have dedicated the last five months to studying emergency medicine, which included observing and caring for patients in the St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center Emergency Department, and spending dozens of hours assisting with patient care in the back of Granby’s ambulances. This year’s class included students from East Hartland, Granby, Simsbury, Somers, Stafford […]

Verse

Time for the Friends Used Book Sale Collection

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As the memories of winter fade away and spring cleaning is in full bloom, the Friends of Granby Public Library are looking for your gently used books and learning toys for the organization’s 33rd annual used book sale. Volunteers will be working throughout the summer at Holcomb Farm, sorting, boxing and storing donations as they come in. Items are reviewed for acceptability, since the Friends have developed a strong and loyal following at our book sale for the high quality and high value […]

Town/Govt

Vineyard special permit approved

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By Elaine Jones The application for a special permit to modify the existing permit for Lost Acres Vineyard was approved by a unanimous vote at the May 4 Planning and Zoning Commission regular meeting. Compromises were reached as Commission members debated the requests of Vineyard owners Michelle Niedermeyer and Kevin Riggott and the concerns of adjacent property owners Carol Day and John Jenkins. The most contentious concerns expressed at previous P&Z meetings included hours of operation, […]

Town/Govt

Racial profiling data determined to be flawed

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By Shirley Murtha At its April 20 meeting, the Board of Selectmen was asked by two residents (Gerald Ledger and Mark Migliaccio) to look into the Central Connecticut State University study indicating that Granby engaged in racial profiling in conducting traffic stops. Town Manager Bill Smith subsequently met with members of the university department who collected and evaluated the data, collected from October 2013 through October 2014. The discussion made it clear that some errors in compiling […]