Recent Stories

The Garden Corner

Welcome to April. April finds us looking forward to spring cleaning, watching the robins return to the dormant grassy fields and putting away the shovels and snow boots. But today, while still cool outside, we are thinking “planting time!”

News from the Granby Grange

Granby Grange #5 continues to rebuild its membership and programs in Granby and was recently honored by National Grange as the first-place winner in the Community Garden contest for 2023. In addition to Grange activities, members volunteer at Waste Not Want Not, Stony Hill Village, Salmon Brook Historical Society and several other community groups.

Granby Grange #5 updates

Phase One of the Granby Grange Hall renovation project is almost completed thanks to a generous donation from the Pomeroy-Brace Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.

All are welcome at June 29 festival

On Saturday, June 29, Granby Racial Reconciliation (GRR) will host the first Granby Racial Unity Festival at Granby Memorial High School. This will be an interracial arts and education festival that allows us to learn/appreciate our differences and celebrate/embrace our similarities. The concept of racial unity is meant to drive collaboration, friendship, equity, access and social justice.

It’s time for Irish soda bread

I have fond memories of my mom’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations—March 17th was a big holiday in my house! If it’s time for the wearin’ of the green, then it’s time for soda bread.

News from Town Hall

With spring approaching many updates and announcements have come from various departments at Granby Town Hall.

Puzzle Slam Dunk!

On Feb. 3, the Drummer hosted its inaugural fundraiser, the Granby Puzzle Slam, a speed jigsaw puzzle contest.

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 […]

Granby Football captions

Clean getaway!Jack Hauser (Granby’s top rusher) breaks away for a 87 yard touchdown run vs. Lewis Mills at a recent home game. Photo by Jay HarderTim Nolan drops back for a pass vs. Lewis Mills. Photo by Jay Harder Photo by Jay Harder […]

Land Trust facilitates the health of the Salmon Brook watershed

By Shirley MurthaThe Granby Land Trust’s acquisition of many significant pieces of property, whether outright gifts or conservation easements, has played an important role in maintaining the health and viability of the Salmon Brook watershed. By keeping development away from many of the streams feeding the watershed, the water remains free of fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, road salt and myriad other chemicals.This was one of the main points of a lecture given by retired Kingswood-Oxf […]

Hockey team library service

Hockey team scores goals with library patronsThe Granby Field Hockey players took time after practice to move lots of boxes of books for the Friends of the Granby Public Library (FOGPL) at Holcomb Farm to in preparation for the FOGPL annual book sale. Pictured are the Granby field hockey varsity, junior varsity and freshman team members. […]

Holcomb Farm offers turkeys for holiday meals

Holcomb Farm CSA is again offering fresh, locally grown, pasture raised turkeys for your holiday meal on a pre-order basis. These are fresh, not frozen, turkeys. Due to our limited cooler space, pre-ordered birds must be picked up on Tuesday, Nov. 22, between 3 and 7 p.m. We cannot hold turkeys overnight.Ekonk Hill Farm can supply turkeys from 10 pounds to 40 pounds—you decide and order the size that works best for you. Ekonk will match your order as closely as possible but there is no gua […]

Archivist Salmon Brook Historical Society – Historical Footnotes 11’16

George Seymour GodardCossitt Library is celebrating 125 years April 2016 to March 2017. A series of historical articles about the library and North Granby will be featured here.The latter part of the 19th century saw a “generation of giants” emerge from the one-room schools in the farming town of Granby. Among them were William Mills Maltbie, Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court; Tudor Holcomb, prominent tobacco grower, dairy farmer, philanthropist; James Lee Loomis, insurance executiv […]

Buddy benches come to Kelly Lane and Wells Road schools

The newly established Special Education Committee of the Granby PTO donated buddy benches at Kelly Lane and Wells Road schools. A buddy bench promotes kindness and inclusiveness among students at play. A child sitting on the bench signifies to others: I want to play but I’m having trouble getting involved. Any child can go over and say, “Hey, come play with us.” Students at both Kelly Lane Primary School and Wells Road Intermediate School enjoy the new Buddy Benches. A d […]

Kearns School study committee seeks input

The Frank M. Kearns School Study Committee, appointed by the Board of Selectman, is exploring future uses for the facility and surrounding property. This property is located in the southern part of town at 5 Canton Road and was formerly a Pre-K to grade 2 school. The property is connected to public water, sewer and gas.The committee is interested in hearing from members of the community who may have ideas about the best use of the building. This will be done by two methods.Fill out the survey. Y […]

Sunset over Granby Memorial Middle School

Carole Cipkas snapped this photo in early October when she was picking up her daughter from cross country practice at the high school. “The setting sun was reflecting on clouds to the east right over the middle school. It was so incredible, I thought I’d share for all residents to enjoy!” Indeed! […]

Local dancer featured on hit TV show Dance Moms

Haley Huelsman, 14, will once again be featured on hit TV show Dance Moms this upcoming winter. Huelsman was hand-selected for season 5 and season 5.5 of Dance Moms after appearing on Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition. The filming for season 7 of Dance Moms began in Los Angeles in September and Huelsman was selected to be a member of the Candy Apple’s Elite Teen team. She continues filming for the duration of the seventh season all across the country. Huelsman trains in Granby at New […]

Transgender Day of Remembrance service planned for Nov. 20

First Congregational Church of Granby will host a community event to commemorate the Transgender Day of Remembrance on Sunday, Nov. 20, at 5:30 p.m., followed immediately by a free dinner and informal Q and A session.The Transgender Day of Remembrance is an annual event that seeks to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice in the prior year. The first such event was held in the spring of 1999 in San Francisco as a memorial service to honor Rita Hester, whose […]

Bruce Porter Memorial Music Series presents Farela

By Laura Mazza-DixonThe Bruce Porter Memorial Music Series, in its 2016-2017 season, will present Farela: Folk Reimagined, with cellist Tanya Anisimova and pianist Pi-Hsun Shih, on Sunday, Nov. 6, at 4 p.m., at South Congregational Church, 242 Salmon Brook Street.The concert will include a new work by Japanese composer Masatoshi Mitsumoto, based on Pierre et Luce, a 1920 novel by the Nobel Prize-winning French author Romain Rolland. In addition, the duo will present the Suite Popular Espa&ntilde […]

Copper Hill Concert

Copper Hill Church celebrates 200th anniversary with musicThe Copper Hill United Methodist Church continued the celebration of its 200th Anniversary with a music concert on Sept. 25. Participants from at least eight different churches joined in with joyous instrumental, vocal and choral offerings.Music ranged from the 1848 Shaker tune, Simple Gifts, for flute and harp, to the contemporary style of vocalist/pianist Joanne Firla in Faithful, a song she wrote especially for the occasion. A patrioti […]

The Miracle Worker is Nov. 3–6

Granby Memorial High School Drama Club invites you to join us for its production of The Miracle Worker by William Gibson. Directed by Nikki Currie-Huggard and senior-student director Benjamin Swisher, The Miracle Worker tells the true, inspiring story of young Helen Keller (Anna Bourque) who struggled with deafness and blindness, and her journey toward speech with the aid of Annie Sullivan (Kate Hosack). Suitable for all ages, show dates are Nov. 3, 4 and 5 at 7 p.m. with a 3 p.m. matinee on Nov […]

GAA hosts Winter Wonders Fine art sale

By Annukka RitalahtiEighteen members of the Granby Artists Association will sell their artwork at the annual Winter Wonders fine arts sale, held at Lost Acres Vineyard, 80 Lost Acres Road in North Granby. This is a popular and inspiring event with artists working in a variety of mediums, including blown glass, pottery, sculpture, lamps, calligraphy, paintings and high-quality prints.Experience an evening of fine art, meet the artists and be the first to see their exciting new pieces on Thursday, […]

So Church concert

PhotosDon’t Miss Dave Gunning and Noah Miller at South ChurchBy Carole BernardAs a Canadian import, Dave Gunning tops the list. With a list of awards and recognition too long to repeat, he is as varied and impressive as he is extensive. With 11 albums and 20 years of performance experience under his belt, Dave has gathered a passionate following in Canada and the United States. After receiving a warm welcome in Australia, Dave has planted the seeds for another branch of his fan-club with t […]

October 26th, 2016

By Kim BeckerChristopher Tranberg, the new director of teaching and talent development, presented the district’s standardized test scores for the 2015-16 school year. As the state has refined its curriculum standards in the core subjects, the standardized tests have changed as well. The elementary school levels received Smarter Balance or SBAC testing in grades 3-8 and the CMT/CAPT science test in grades 5, 8, and 10. Eleventh grade students took the math and reading portions of the SAT in […]

Cossitt Library celebrates 125 years

Dedication plaque is in recognition of 125 years of continuous service to the residents of Granby, gift of the Friends of Cossitt Library. Photos by Kelly Marszycki Lila Inness, former children’s librarian; Pat Bossler, former member of the Friends of Cossitt (FOC) board; Bruce Sullivan, treasurer of FOC; Holly Johnson, program and outreach coordinator; Lynn Stewart, branch supervisor; Deborah Woodsome, former president of FOC, and library technical assistant, Roberta Sullivan, curr […]