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Chasing away the winter blues and No one fights this battle alone

Thankful for the word “BUT”

About ten years ago, a Granby man realized that the word “BUT” was very important to a cause about which he felt deeply.

Remembering Bill Hart—1922 to 2024

The Drummer staff was saddened to learn of Bill Hart’s death on Feb. 2. Bill was a long-time contributor to The Granby Drummer, served as Director of the Salmon Brook Historical Society and supported many other Granby organizations. His love of Granby and its history came from family roots in Simsbury and Granby that dated to the 1600s.

A sweet return for spring

After a cold, dark winter I look forward to spring when senses come alive again and there’s a delicious earthy fragrance in the woods. I find myself searching the hills for clouds of steam billowing from evaporators and envision myself surrounded by sweet-smelling maple steam inside warm, cozy sugar shacks.

Back Yard Friends

Watching the birds on a snowy morning
They come and go without any warning
Nibbling and fleeing, as flighty they are
Running away, but not very far.

Winter finally comes to Holcomb Farm

Photo by Peter Dinella(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3”; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));The trails at Holcomb Farm just got a “spruce up”. We encourage everyone to get out and enjoy this beautiful property, open to all.Posted by Holcomb Farm on Saturday, January 30, 2016 […]

​Seniors baking for seniors

For Valentine’s Day, every senior at Granby Memorial High School was given a bag of cookies from the Senior to Senior Cookie Bake project. (L to R) Judy De Nio, Jeanne Violette, Diane Hernsdorf and Vonnie Cianciulli, members of the Civic Engagement Team and members of the Granby Senior Center.  Submitted photo(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sd […]

Town manager feeling the pinch as budget presentation draws near

by Shirley MurthaTown Manager Bill Smith will present the budget at the BOS meeting on March 7. He reported that it is becoming more and more difficult as the years go by to meet the Board of Finance guideline and still meet the goals and objectives of the Board of Selectmen to maintain the staffing and services that town residents expect. The BOF wants the BOS budget to come in at a 2.5 percent increase, which would result in a two percent increase in the mill rate, but to meet that guideline t […]

Three-board meeting kicks off annual budget process

By Shirley MurthaThe 2016-17 Granby budget process began with public reports by the boards of selectmen, education and finance at the annual three-board meeting, held on Jan. 25. After thanking the members and staffs of all the boards for their diligent efforts to try to keep increases at a minimum, First Selectman Scott Kuhnly introduced Ron Walther, chairman of the Board of Education, who presented that board’s preliminary budget.Walther said that after much deliberation, the board had s […]

Superintendent spars with BOF and BOE on 2017 budget

By Kim BeckerDeclaring a budget decrease of 1 percent for FY 2017 “disappointing”, superintendent Dr. Alan Addley, expressed concern to the Boards of Finance and Education that “maintaining the status quo is going backward.” He stated he had promised families that the school reconfiguration would not harm services or programs. He now feels that the 1 percent decrease “doesn’t keep the quality of the system.” Addley’s original budget called for a .5 […]

STEAM projects foster learning during wonder week at Kearns

By Amy LupoliHave you ever wondered what STEAM stands for? The students at F.M. Kearns certainly did, and during wonder week they found out how much fun STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) projects can be.The week began with an all-school meeting to introduce young scientists to the fun and excitement of wondering about the world around them. Throughout the week students asked questions such as “I wonder why cats sleep all day?” and “I wonder if teeth are bon […]

Preparing the FY17 budget

By Alan Addley, Ed. D.On March 2, I will present the FY17 Administrative Budget to the Board of Education. The budget is a spending plan that is responsive to the slow-recovering economy; savings realized from the closing of the F.M. Kearns Primary School; board-approved goals; and, the budget guideline (-1 percent) established by the Board of Finance. The FY17 Administrative Budget is in the final stages of development. As of press time, the Administrative Budget is level funded (zero percent) […]

Letters to the Editor

Best use of tax dollars?In response to the letter to the editor in the February issue titled, Best use of Tax Dollars.Having a very strong opinion that the tax dollars of this town paid by taxpayers like you and me are not being used in a fiscally responsible manner, it does appear as if the financial decisions made by the DPW and our town are not made in the best interest of the taxpayers as much as they have been in the best interest of the DPW. Spending taxpayers dollars to replace an assigne […]

Kindergarten registration is March 21

Kindergarten registration for the 2016-17 school year and Community Connections will be held at F.M. Kearns Primary School, 5 Canton Road on Monday, March 21, anytime between 5 and 7 p.m.Children who will be five years of age on or before Jan. 1, 2017, must be registered for the 2016-17 school year. Parents choosing not to enroll their eligible child for kindergarten must complete an option form exempting their child from school attendance. Children do not have to be present for registration.All […]

Fire department presents case for increase in budget

By Shirley Murtha​Lost Acres Fire Department Chief John Horr, Jr. presented an in-depth explanation of the cost of running the town’s all volunteer fire service. The department is an independent corporation that receives quarterly payments from the Town of Granby. For many years, these payments have kept pace with the department’s expenses but that is no longer the case. In the past 15 years, there has been in increase of 52 percent in costs, while the town’s payments to the department h […]

CT DOT sets information meetings to discuss major intersection improvements

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) will conduct a public informational meeting concerning the proposed major intersection improvements on Route 10/US 202 (Salmon Brook St.) at Route 20/189 (North Granby Rd./East Granby Rd.) and at Route 189 (Hartford Ave.) on Wednesday March 16, 2016, at 7 p.m. at the Granby Senior Center.The project is identified as Prospective State Project No. 55-TMP1.The purpose of this project is to reduce delays and queue lengths during peak travel periods […]

Community Scholarship Association of Granby announces scholarships

By Lisa HolmThe Community Scholarship Association of Granby (CSAG) offers annual scholarships to graduating high school seniors. Applicants must be Granby residents, soon-to-be high school graduates and accepted at an institution of higher learning approved by the selection committee. Our largest scholarship, The David A. Schupp, Jr. Memorial Scholarship, will be awarded to a student pursuing a major in science, technology, engineering or math. The primary basis for selection shall be scholarshi […]

Flat budget with slight tax increase for FY17

By Michael B. Guarco,Chair, Board of Finance​Each year as the spring budget process commences, the selectmen convene a meeting of the three Boards—Education, Finance, and Selectmen—for an open discussion on what the next year looks like in each board’s perspective. This helps the boards get a sense of what the operating boards are looking at, and what the fiscal ramifications and limitations are from the BOF perspective.In the aftermath of the Great Recession, the boards […]

Are you eligible to vote in the April 26 primary?

By Laura Wolf & Paul Willis,RegistrarsTo vote in the Democratic or Republican primary in April you must be a member of that party. In the past, many voters came to a primary only to be told that unaffiliated and minor party members can not vote in the primary. Residents who are currently unaffiliated have until noon the day before the primary to enroll. Same day registration does not apply to primaries, it must be done prior to the primary. To be eligible to vote in the presidential primary […]

1800s hotel is now business suites

By John R. Nieb​Two Park Place, a new venture offering rental business suites, single offices and shared spaces with all-inclusive services and amenities, recently opened in the center of Granby. The post-and-beam-construction building at 2 Park Place was built as a hotel around the 1820s and was recently updated and renovated to offer professional, user-friendly work spaces. It is located at the corner of Rte. 20 and Park Place on Granby’s center green.Suites, rooms, or shared space […]

Cabaret fundraiser benefits community kitchen

Waste Not Want Not Community Kitchen invites you to its third annual fundraiser extraordinaire. This year the Hungry Hearts Irish Cabaret and Gourmet Dinner will be held Saturday, March 12, at 6:30 p.m. in the parish center at St. Therese Church, 120 West Granby Road. Tickets are $35 each.​(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3 […]

​Are you wondering about the next chapter of your story?

By Denny MoonSouth Church has made a commitment to provide opportunities for people to determine their life direction for the next era. This year’s occasion is a Story Weaving Workshop led by Dr. Carol Burbank, a playwright, poet, creativity coach, journalist and fiction writer, whose professional life has led her to help many people find direction in their lives. She writes, “Our stories are the engines of our choices, hopes and connection with the world. If you had a car, and you n […]

​Time Travel to a Granby Farm in the 1960’s

By Emma SmithMost people would like to be able to vividly recall both the happy times and the difficult, challenging childhood events of their lives. Grandma Moses, a famous primitive artist, began painting at age 75 and, when asked what inspired her, she stated it was scenes from her childhood on a farm in upstate New York. She even placed herself in some of the artwork she created.Susan Jones is a former Granby resident who can think back to the past a little easier than the rest of us. Her da […]

​Salmon Brook music series offers line-up

By Carole BernardWith winter days continuing to shorten, and the warm days of spring still just a dream, there are a few things to look forward to. Anyone who enjoys live music and sharing time with others in a comfortable and family-friendly venue with homemade munchies will love the series presented by South Congregational Church.On Saturday, March 19, Roosevelt Dime rocks the house with their Empire State style. From Brooklyn to Granby, Roosevelt Dime’s blend of classic R & B with a […]

Northwest Community Bank branches consolidate In Granby

Northwest Community Bank has announced plans to consolidate the operations of its East Granby branch with the bank’s Granby branch on April 1 The branch located at 8 School Street in East Granby will close on March 31 and commencing April 1, East Granby and Granby customers will be served at the Granby branch located less than four miles away at 33 Hartford Avenue, Granby. The East Granby staff will relocate to Granby.Gayle Moraski, Vice President and Branch Administrator, states “Th […]