Granby Drummer (https://granbydrummer.com/page/2/)
We currently need: Dinty Moore beef stew; Assorted crackers (Ritz, Saltines, Town House); Canned peaches/pineapple/fruit cocktail; Applesauce; Ketchup/mustard/mayo/pickles/relish; Taco dinner boxes; Dishwashing soap
“Will my taxes go up?”
We know this is the question on everyone’s mind. We are here to assure you that a yes vote for the Library Expansion Bond will not raise your taxes.
Here’s how it works.
This fall, Granby teachers and the Board of Education will begin negotiating a new contract before the current agreement expires in June 2027. Most residents are aware that Granby educators are paid significantly less on almost every level than their counterparts in every Hartford County district, including the Hartford Public Schools.
On Sept. 11, the GMHS Bears football team defeated Ellington 34-0.
Merle Yoder was the photographer for the photos that accompanied “Granby Wildflower Meadow fall update: Roots, blooms and Open Farm Day” in the September issue.
Community members are invited to a nonpartisan forum where candidates running to represent Granby in the Connecticut General Assembly will address issues of local concern.
“Nobody is bigger than the G,” says Mike Dombrowski, head coach of the boys’ soccer team at Granby Memorial High School. Dombrowski motioned to the big G painted at the center of the soccer field, explaining that “the G is a symbol that reminds us we are part of much bigger community.”
With the new school year underway, I’d like to give our Granby Public School district families and broader community a window into the work the Board of Education is prioritizing, the impactful issues before us and how you can engage in the conversations that matter to you.
The Drummer is excited to announce three new options to businesses and nonprofits to support our mission, which is to continue to deliver our award-winning local newspaper to every household in Granby free of charge.
The Farmington Valley YMCA, the Granby Police Department and Granby Public Schools are proud to recognize one of their own as he prepares to run one of the world’s most iconic races while raising funds to support local youth.
District 23B Lions Clubs again offers all students in Hartford and Litchfield Counties in Grades 9-12 the opportunity to compete in the Student Speaking Contest. Students attending public, private or charter schools, being homeschooled, members of Leo Clubs or other youth groups are eligible.
Thrills and Chills at Historic Mansion, Fit intellectual stimulation into your schedule, East Granby Library Pro-grams, Holiday Craft Fair, Quilt Show and Craft Fair, Suffield Players plan exciting season, and Tag and Bake Sale
PFLAG Granby will present a free community concert on Sunday, Nov. 1, featuring the music of New England Pride 365. An intergenerational collective of queer artists and allies, the group is composed of vocalists, dancers, actors, musicians and poets who sing for those who cannot. Their repertoire includes music from a wide variety of genres, including Broadway musicals, pop, choral and blues.
Karen Doherty received an Honorable Mention from the Connecticut Press Club for her article, “Ride with the Granby Pony Club,” which appeared in the September 2025 issue of the Drummer.
Shirley Murtha has been writing for the Drummer since she retired from her career as a biology teacher in 1992. Since then, Murtha has published hundreds of articles, reporting on everything from the Board of Selectmen to the plight of fireflies, town governance to local farms and environmental issues.
A Cedar Waxwing perched on a fallen tree overlooking Spring Pond at the McLean Game refuge.
Last month, our introductory column started to re-explore virtues pushed out of our lives. Think of it as re-plowing a field for a new “crop” of thoughts. Per Ben Franklin’s recommendation last month, we’ll start with humility.
In the knitting and crocheting world, there is one word that divides us all: gauge.
In my last column, I covered the many options for flea and tick prevention. Heartworm disease is becoming more common in New England. We are not only seeing a lot of dogs coming from the southern US, where heartworms are endemic, but we also see many home-grown heartworm cases. Annual prevention is a fraction of the cost of treatment—and treatment is painful and can be dangerous in certain cases.
The 2026–27 school year is off to a wonderful start in Granby Public Schools.
Middle school students at the Salmon Brook Ecology Center have learned that the term “brown trout” might be a misleading common name for the species. Their scales include special, pigmented skin cells called chromatophores, which allow brown trout to routinely change colors.
The other day, a friend said to me, “I know this might sound silly, but could you teach me how to attach two boards together?” She wants to build a bookshelf eventually, but needs to start at the beginning. I started to answer quickly and then stopped, recognizing that it wasn’t a silly question at all and I needed to think through how I would teach what exactly goes into attaching one board to another. I can do it without thinking on my own, but I’m fluent in hardware. Her question asked me to go back to the nuts and bolts of building.
The Friends of Holcomb Farm welcomed its newest partner to the Fresh Access program this summer: New Horizons Village.
What a day! On Aug. 30, the Friends of Holcomb Farm welcomed hundreds of neighbors, families and friends to Holcomb Farm for the Holcomb Hoedown—a free afternoon filled with music, dancing, games, animals and plenty of good old-fashioned fun.
As summer comes to a close and families settle into a new school year, the Farmington Valley YMCA is getting ready for a busy fall. From youth programs and afterschool care to community events, fitness and opportunities to connect with others, there is something happening at the Y for everyone.
Please visit granby-ct.gov/517/Senior-Services or check your Center Life Newsletter for a complete listing of health services, support groups, clubs and ongoing activities.
Highlights from the meeting held on September 8th, 2026
Save the date! The Granby UNICO will hold a wine tasting event on Saturday, Oct. 10, 6–9 p.m., at Copper Hill Golf Club in East Granby.
Granby Public Schools is excited to welcome Ashly Darnell as the next principal of Granby Memorial Middle School. Darnell was selected from a robust pool of highly qualified applicants, and her depth of experience, student-centered leadership, and commitment to building strong relationships immediately rose to the top.
Spring Pond at McLean Game Refuge. Photo by Nina Jamison.