Recent Stories

Lew McIntyre recognized for service

Granby resident Lew McIntyre was awarded a proclamation honoring his recent retirement after 25 years of service to the Stony Hill Village senior housing community.

VNA merger underway

The Farmington Valley Visiting Nurse Association will be merging with the Visiting Nurse and Hospice of Litchfield County.

Drummer receives special GCF grant

The board of directors of the Granby Community Fund (GCF) has announced the approval of a $2,000 special grant to assist the Citizens for a Better Granby (CBG) with the increased printing expenses of The Granby Drummer.

Local band performs at area Fourth of July Celebration

By Laura Miller The Variations, a Granby band, was selected to perform in the Battle of the Bands at the Enfield Town Celebration on July 11. The Variations played six songs, including two originals, and many fans of the band were in attendance. “When we started the band, we weren’t sure where it was going to go, but no doubt in the time we’ve been together playing music, we have certainly found and are continuing to develop our love of performing music individually and as a c […]

Stress less this September

With the end of summer approaching, some people look forward to resuming their regular autumn routines, while others find that stress and chaos begin when the summer ends. Settling the kids into their school schedule and the start of sports, dance and extracurricular activities takes an enormous amount of time and effort. Combining these endeavors while juggling jobs, personal needs and other responsibilities may inadvertently raise your blood pressure. Although stress is not traditionally cons […]

Local author’s book illuminates cultural awareness for special needs individuals

In her newly published book, Set Apart: A Mother’s Steps to Peace, available through Westbow Press, local author Martha Griffin-Weis speaks for the special needs population.  By illuminating the need for cultural awareness, with a light hearted, storytelling style.  Ms. Griffin-Weis creates an entertaining and engaging story for anyone who has ever known and loved a special needs individual. Some Granby landmarks are mentioned in this heartwarming and inspirational real-life page […]

Library News

Granby Public Library Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Tuesday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Friday, Saturday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Cossitt Public Library Tuesday, Thursday: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 3 – 8 p.m. Saturday: 12 – 5 p.m. Holiday Closing: Both libraries will be closed Sept. 5 through 7 for the Labor Day weekend. Find us online Town of Granby (www.granby-ct.gov); also, use the links to join us on our blogs, Facebook page and Pinterest boards. Phon […]

Services for David Hildreth

The family of David Hildreth will hold a graveside burial service Sept. 12 at 3 p.m. at Granby Cemetery. A reception will follow at South Congregational Church Parish House. The public is invited to come and share memories. […]

Huge Tag Sale

The Friends of Cossitt Library will offer terrific bargains at the gazebo on Saturday, Sept. 12 (rain date Sept. 19), 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. No early birds. Find a gas grill, guitar amplifier, tall ship, tools/hardware and more, more, more! […]

September Lunch for the Mind program – the People of Japan

By Eileen Longhi Would you like to learn more about how Japanese heritage shaped its peoples way of life or its challenges with a growing-older population? Or learn more about the traditional Japanese tea ceremony? If these, plus exploring Japan’s past and present culture and customs pique your interest, please join the Granby Civic Engagement Education Team’s Lunch for the Mind program on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 12:30 at the Granby Senior Center. A nita Ferron, lecturer at Manches […]

Summer Sizzler

MeadowBrook of Granby Hosts the Fifth Annual Senior Summer Sizzler On July 14, MeadowBrook of Granby hosted seniors from Simsbury, Granby, East Granby and other surrounding towns for its annual happy hour event. Guests enjoyed live entertainment and a buffet, which included barbeque beef brisket, barbeque pulled chicken and various side dishes. Folks were also treated to refreshing beverages and desserts. Door prizes were also awarded to several lucky guests. MeadowBrook of Granby is a Skilled […]

Help needed for Farmington River Clean-Up Sept. 26

By Aimee Petras The Farmington River Watershed Association’s (FRWA) 28th Annual Farmington River Clean-up is set for Saturday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The clean-up is a great community event designed to get people and groups of all ages involved in cleaning up litter along the banks of the Farmington River and its tributaries. Several meeting sites will be actively cleaning the banks of the River in Avon, Barkhamsted, Bloomfield, Burlington, Canton, Farmington, Granby, Simsbury […]

Camera Club

The Granby Camera Club will meet on Monday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m., at the Granby Senior Center. The guest presenter will be former GCC member pet photographer Penny Wills who specializes in pet portraits and agility. Visit www.pennyjwills.com to view her work. The scavenger hunt words for the night are: shadow, panning (the technique) and favorite photo. To learn more about the club visit www.GranbyCameraClub.com. […]

100,000 reasons to Thank Geissler’s Supermarkets

By Jen Bell On June 4, the Granby PTO hosted its final meeting of the school year at the Cambridge Brew House and honored Geissler’s Supermarkets for its ongoing support of the Granby primary and intermediate schools. In March of 2007, Geissler’s started a “give back” program that returned five percent of all pre-tax receipts of more than $35* to the Granby PTO. (* does not include alcohol, tobacco or lottery ticket sales.) Parents are asked to submit receipts to F.M. Ke […]

Stephen J. Dunn to lead the Ethel Walker School as Interim Head

Stephen J. Dunn will serve as Interim Head of The Ethel Walker School for the 2015-2016 school year. He succeeds Elizabeth “Bessie” Speers, who served as Head of School from 2007 through June 30 of this year. Most recently, Mr. Dunn served as Walker’s Assistant Head of School. He came to the school in 2007 from The Brookside Group in Acton, Mass,.where he was Chief Technical Officer. Prior to that he was Chief Operations Officer for Healthcommunities.com. Preceding his work in the bus […]

Jodi Okenquist named 2015 Granby Teacher of the Year

By Robert F. Gilbert The Granby Public Schools proudly recognized Jodi Okenquist as the 2015-16 Teacher of the Year at the district’s closing ceremonies on June 18. An overwhelmed Jodi was joined on stage by her family members to celebrate this wonderful honor. Jodi Okenquist is a talented, dedicated and passionate seventh grade social studies teacher who has worked at Granby Memorial Middle School for the past seven years. Jodi has deep roots in Granby. She grew up in the town, attended […]

GMMS Honor Roll 4th Quarter

Granby Memorial Middle School Honor Roll 4th Quarter 2014-2015 GRADE 8 HIGH HONORS Ryan Antkowiak, Rachael Badeau, Emily Bennett, Sarah Bennett, Denise Blake, Brian Boyle, Jalyn Brown, Catherine Bystrowski, Haley Clark, Lindsay Courser, Jenna Dauria, Anthony DelPrincipe, Jack DiMeo, Sydnie Dorman, Mackenzie Dowd, Elizabeth Escudero, Michael Favolise, Emma Fetridge, Madison Flebotte, Jonathan Hacia, Parker Hansen, Cailin Hesketh, Evan Holm, Katherine Hosack, Mckenzie Huot, Lucy Jacobs, Britt […]

2016 Granby Safe Graduation Party Meeting

By Thérèse Mulvey Safe Graduation Party Committee for the class of 2016 is meeting on September 14 at 7 p.m. at the GMHS Media Center For more than 28 years, the Safe Graduation Party Committee has hosted a party for graduating seniors. The Safe Graduation Party offers a fun-filled, safe, substance-free event the evening of graduation. It is an awesome event complete with great prizes, delicious food, volleyball, games, massages and more. It is always well attended because it is […]

Granby Memorial High School Homecoming Weekend Begins September 24!

By Deb Ranicar The 2015 Granby Memorial High School Homecoming Weekend, sponsored by the GMHS Athletic Booster Club, is set to begin on Thursday, September 24, and plans are already underway so that students, families, and the entire community will have the opportunity to witness some of the most exciting competitions of the high school fall sports season! Fans will enjoy home games and a meet with our Cross Country, Field Hockey, Volleyball, Football, and Boys and Girls Soccer T […]

DTC Scholarship awarded

The annual Granby Democratic Town Committee Scholarship was awarded to Kevin Bates during the Senior Awards ceremony held in June. Kevin will be attending the University of Connecticut, and has been accepted into UConn Special Program in Law. Each year the DTC scholarship is awarded to a deserving Granby Memorial High School senior that has demonstrated positive engagement in the political process and exemplifies the DTC mission of Making Granby a Better Community.  Kevin’s applicat […]

Animal Talk

There is a new field in veterinary surgery that is exciting and growing called Interventional Radiology (IR) and Interventional Endoscopy (IE). These are useful tools in human medicine that are now being applied to companion animals.  I recently became aware of these new methods when my son (who is a veterinary student) worked for the summer as an IR research assistant at the Animal Medical Center (AMC) in NYC. The AMC is the first veterinary facility to offer a complete service in these te […]

July meetings resolved permit issues

July 14 Meeting The Planning and Zoning Commission heard three public hearings at its July 14 meeting and approved all special permit applications The owner of 163 Hartland Road requested a special permit for an accessory apartment for his mother, who will be living with him. The existing ranch-style home, constructed in 1959, contains 1500 square feet with three bedrooms and 1.5 baths. The accessory apartment will be located within a proposed addition of 560 square feet connected to the front […]

Grounds keeping is his specialty

By Shirley Murtha Have you noticed how attractive and well-kept Granby’s municipal properties are? Back in June and July, the “Blue Billow” and pink “Invincibelle” hydrangeas that border the main entrances to the Town Hall and Meeting Room were worthy of inclusion in Better Homes and Gardens. Plantings behind the police station and along the driveway next to it are also stunning, and not just in high summer. These delights are the work of one very special Public Works employee, Chris Lesiak. […]