Recent Stories

The Granby Oak

Our iconic Granby Oak looks dramatic in all seasons, but there is nothing like the crispness of a cold winter day to bring out its amazing architecture, captured here by photographer Don Shaw, Jr.

Registrars’ Office

Avoid heartache at the Presidential Preference Primaries!, and Granby Democrat and Republican Town Committees will hold Party Caucus

Granby Land Trust begins 2024 with New Year’s Day Hike

On the morning of Jan. 1, more than 30 GLT members started the year with a hike on the GLT’s spectacular Mary Edwards Mountain Property. What better way is there to start a new year than with fresh air, exercise, the company of others, and time spent in nature?

To Granby, with Love: A heartfelt tribute to Carol Laun’s legacy

n To Granby, with Love, author Faith Tyldsley takes readers on a poignant journey through the history-rich writings of Carol Laun. This editorial tribute is dedicated to the memory of Laun, an extraordinary woman who was viewed by many as “Granby’s history personified.”

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum theft revisited in new film

Mark Guiod, Granby resident and former Air Traffic Chief for the FAA at Bradley International Airport, has a new role — film producer. Through his son David’s post-film school connections, Guiod became a producer for a new independent feature film, Art Thief, that is making the rounds of film festivals across the country. The film will be screening Feb. 1 at the Cabot Theater in Beverly, Mass., and a local screening is also being planned.

Granby Racial Reconciliation brings race, religion and politics workshops to Granby

Granby Racial Reconciliation is hosting a series of four 1.5-hour workshops to discuss the intersection of race, religion and politics. The hope is that, in the year of a national election, these guided conversations will enable participants to better understand the dynamics of these social forces at work in our nation, enabling them to better participate in our democracy.

Hospice Volunteers needed in Farmington Valley

Are you a compassionate person who loves to provide companionship, provide a listening ear, and help someone smile? Consider being a hospice volunteer with the Visiting Nurse and Hospice of Litchfield County. We are currently looking for volunteers in the Farmington Valley area.

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

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 […]

Mario DeiDelori on Italy

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 […]

Training a Guiding Eyes dog

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 […]

Granby girl is  semi-finalist in Girl Scout video contest

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 […]

Granby 1888 to 1895 by James Lee Loomis

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 […]

A way to honor teachers, administrators, volunteers and students

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 […]

Students can register now for Red Cross summer scholarship program

 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 […]

Strawberry Festival 

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. […]

Strawberry Festival 

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. […]

Annual Youth Tag Sale

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. […]

Strawberry Supper at First Church

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 […]

Harpist at the Gazebo

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. […]

Civic Club 

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 […]

Friends of Holcomb Farm Progressive Dinner

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 […]

Granby’s Four Season Farm

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 […]

12 students graduate from Granby Ambulance EMT program

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 […]

Time for the Friends Used Book Sale Collection

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 […]

Vineyard special permit approved

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, […]

Racial profiling data determined to be flawed

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 […]

That was then—this is now! 

Students of Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Moon’s Valley Preschool Class reunited to reenact their class photo from the year 2002.  The students are all now Seniors in high school and graduating in June. It was the first time many of the students had been back to the classroom and they fondly remembered many of the stories, and experiences such as their “trip to Florida,” and even sang some of the songs!  Mrs. Brown, their teacher when they were 4 years old said “It was po […]