Recent Stories

Meet me at the Center

Please visit granby-ct.gov/senior-services or check your Center Life Newsletter for a complete listing of health services, support groups, clubs and ongoing activities.

A study in contrasts: Dana McSwain

If you’re lucky enough to have encountered Dana McSwain over the 18 months since she and her husband Winston moved from Cleveland to Granby, then you’ve been warmed by her radiant smile. Perhaps you’ve seen her walking Simon and Pippi, her standard poodle puppies.

Coach Terri Ziemnicki honored with prestigious award

Granby Park and Recreation Department’s Recreation Supervisor Terri Ziemnicki is the 2024 recipient of the Thomas R. Monahan Award, one of the highest awards given by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association.

Memorial Day Parade planning is underway

Granby’s Memorial Day Parade is one of the town’s biggest events of the year. The American Legion Shannon-Shattuck Post 182 partners with organizations throughout the area to honor those who paid the ultimate price — like Philip Shannon and Glen Shattuck for whom the post is named.

Granby Public Library

Monday, Wednesday and Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Sundays, Nov. to March: 1 to 4 p.m.Cossitt Public LibraryTuesday and Thursday: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 3 to 8 p.m.Saturday: 12 to 5 p.m.Pre-registration is required for many programs. Call 860-844-5275 (GPL Main Desk); 860-844-5284 (GPL Children); 860-653-8958 (Cossitt)ClosingsBoth libraries will be closed on Feb. 20 for President’s Day.To register for any program call 860-844-52 […]

Local chorus delivering valentines

By Jennifer LudginOn Valentine’s Day let the Sound of New England Chorus deliver your heartfelt message with songs—in person or in a video.On Tuesday, Feb. 14, the chorus will deliver or send Singing Valentines—a cappella musical messages of love and friendship—to your loved ones in-person or as an e-gram. For in-person deliveries, quartets will travel throughout Greater Hartford and surrounding towns between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Quartets can be scheduled to go to offices, p […]

Local musician publishes poetry collection

A celebration of the publication of Laura Mazza-Dixon’s new book, Forged by Joy, will be held on Feb. 11 at 4 p.m. (Snow date is Feb. 18 at 4 p.m.). at South Congregational Church Fellowship Hall, in Granby.  Published by the local press, Antrim House Books, Forged by Joy is a collection of poems written over the course of the author’s life.Music, the life of the spirit, political activism, poetry, and the natural world are Laura Mazza-Dixon’s passions. Religious and medit […]

Lost Acres Orchards comforter project continues

By Shirley MurthaAt the 29th annual Fall Quilt Happening at Lost Acres Orchard on Dec. 3, guests were amazed to see the more than 56 comforters that had been made for distribution to the victims of this fall’s devastating Tennessee fires. Around 70 volunteers contributed their time and effort to foster this program’s success. Some donate fabric, thread or batting, some cut fabric squares, others sew the squares together and still others layer the tops with batting and backing and &ld […]

Multi-business handyman helps keep Granby homes in shape

By John R. NiebWhen you need work done around your house, but don’t know how to do it or need a pro, give Brett Flagg a call. Flagg owns three businesses that can help: Free Flow Sewer and Drain, Handy Home Improvement and Full of Rubbish. He works with homeowners, businesses, farms and towns. Flagg and his colleagues work in a fast, professional and efficient manner to keep homes and businesses in good shape.Free Flow Sewer Drain specializes in plumbing, such as clearing slow running, blo […]

Parks & Rec

Office Hours: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Open 24/7 at www.GranbyRec.com.Telephone: 860-653-8947Website: www.GranbyRec.com. Accepting MasterCard / Visa / Discover for payments. The registration system and website allow you to register for programs at any time, find out if a program still has space available, check your account to see what activities your family members are signed up for, and print out a year-end receipt for tax purposes.Program/Trip Registration: All programs/trips are based on a firs […]

Potential cuts in services and increase in taxes, town manager warns

By Shirley MurthaAs the town prepared for the annual Three Board Meeting (Education, Finance and Selectmen) on Jan. 23, Town Manager Bill Smith noted that with the state budget in deficit, aid to towns will be greatly curtailed. For example, mid-2016 saw $50,000 worth of cuts to the Educational Cost Sharing program. Similar cuts will be seen across the board; towns will have to make up the differences by increasing local taxes and/or by cutting services.In preparing for the development of the Pl […]

School building committee recognized

Members of the school building committee that oversaw the renovations of Kelly Lane and Wells Road schools due to the closing of Kearns School were honored by the Board of Selectmen at its Jan. 16. meeting. Under the chairmanship of Gordon Bischoff, the committee achieved its goals on time and within budget. From l., Stephen Royer, Bill Kennedy, Mark Fiorentino, James Sansone, Bischoff, 
and First Selectman Scott Kuhnly. Photo by Shirley Murtha […]

Simsbury bank makes donation to granby camera club

Simsbury Bank made an $800 donation to the Granby Camera Club in exchange for photos taken by club members that are featured in the bank’s 2017 full-color calendar. Simsbury Camera Club members and a Canton Artists Guild member also contributed photos in exchange for a donation from the bank.The bank has published a free calendar of local photos since 2003. It features beautiful images of local scenes and landmarks. Granby Camera Club members Pat Greenhalgh, Ed Hodgson and Gene Suponski co […]

Smoke alarm recall

Significant recall of Kidde combination smoke / carbon monoxide alarmsThe Granby Building Department announces that there has been a recall of certain models of Kidde combination smoke/carbon monoxide alarms. These alarms, designed to be wired-in with an internal battery backup, are a very commonly used model and are present in many homes in the area. If you have one of these units in your home you may be eligible for a refund or replacement alarm. If you have an alarm that looks like the photo, […]

February Activities

February ActivitiesUnless otherwise noted, all events take place at the Granby Senior Center located within the Municipal Complex at 15 North Granby Road. Please call 860-844-5352 for additional information.Commission on Aging: Monday, Feb. 13, 9:30 a.m. The Commission on Aging proposes and evaluates programs and services for the elderly in the community, and assists the town staff in the development, initiation, coordination and implementation of programs and services for the elderly. Meetings […]

State uncertainty clouds FY18 budget picture

Michael B Guarco Jr., Chairman, Board of FinanceOnce again Connecticut faces a $1.5 billion deficit in each of the next two fiscal years. How it is handled with respect to state aid monies allocated to the municipalities will have a significant impact on local operations and taxation. The reluctance on the part of the state to tackle real structural budget reform continues to just kick the can down the road. Every two years, the state legislature’s majority party leadership and the governo […]

BOS student liaison a girl for all seasons

By Shirley MurthaThis year’s student representative to the Granby Board of Selectmen is Kelly-Anne Moffa, a senior at Granby Memorial High School. Having attended the school for three-plus, she felt she could do a good job bringing the student perspective to the board while becoming more connected with the Granby community in general. She intends to become involved with government in the future, planning to study both environmental science and political science in college. Being the liaiso […]

wildcats hockey team and alumni jamboree benefits wounded warrior project

By Nick BoormanThe Wildcats hockey’s first alumni jamboree to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project on Jan. 6 was a huge success. The rink was filled with current and former student athletes and fans from Suffield, Granby, and Windsor Locks. Thirty alumni played in the jamboree. The current players chose the Wounded Warrior Project as a charity because they wanted to help our military troops and veterans. The Wildcats Hockey Booster Club coordinated the event raising $941 for the Wounded War […]

BOE begins budget process

By Kim BeckerThe new year rings in the beginning of the budget process for the board of education. Superintendent of Granby Public Schools Alan Addley presented the BOE with the Plus One, a five-year budget projection.Given the sharp decline in state funding, including cuts to Education Cost Sharing and the Academic and Social Support grant, Granby will lose $180,000. This funding directly supported programs like all-day kindergarten, summer school, and integrated preschool. Though the board has […]

Honoring local Veterans – Granby Schools pay tribute

Granby Schools held annual Veterans Day events on Nov. 11. Kelly Lane School, Wells Road Primary School and the Granby Memorial Middle School, held assemblies of their respective entire student bodies honoring several dozen Granby Veterans, some accompanied by family members. The veterans represented the services of World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam Conflict, and the Mid-East/Afghan Conflicts. Pictured is the tribute at Wells Road School.Photos by Lou Urban […]

Awards given at annual Land Trust Art Show

By Trish PercivalEach November since 2005, the Granby Land Trust and the Granby Artists Association have sponsored a juried art show. Thanks to the incredible generosity of the GLT’s friends, the show now offers a remarkable $5,000 in award money and the event has become something the community looks forward to each fall. This year, 178 pieces of original artwork were submitted; just 77 were selected to be in the show. Will Lustenader, an accomplished artist who teaches at Choate Rosemary […]

Amahl and the Night Visitors comes to South Church

By Laura Mazza-DixonOn Sunday, Dec. 4, at 4 p.m., the Bruce Porter Memorial Music Series welcomes the Hartt Opera Theater to Granby for a performance of Amahl and the Night Visitors, the enchanting mini-opera by Gian Carlo Menotti about a young boy and his mother who are visited by the Three Kings on their way to pay homage to the Child. Audience of all ages will appreciate the way the students of the Hartt Opera Theater bring this tender, lively, humorous and deep tale to life.Menotti wrote Ama […]

BOE studies achievement gap issues

By Kim BeckerThe Board of Education heard from new Director of Teaching and Talent Development Christopher Tranberg regarding new achievement gap data. The data was viewed by program: regular education students and special education students and by residence (Granby, Hartford, and Hartland). Because the 2014-15 report was given in the spring and the 2015-16 data was compiled early, little improvement was seen in the numbers. However, four areas bucked that trend are graduation rate, college cour […]

DAR Chapter presents Good Citizens awards

The Abigail Phelps Chapter, of the NSDAR held its Good Citizens meeting in November to honor students and veterans. Karen DiMenna, Good Citizens Chair, introduced the three awardees, Shane SeeKamp, Simsbury High School, Morgan Pierce, Granby Memorial High School and Emily Farmer, East Granby High School. These outstanding students each received the NSDAR Good Citizens award by demonstrating the qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism. Each student received an award and a c […]