Recent Stories

Award Correction

The Drummer would like to clarify that both Trish Percival and Shirley Murtha received the Connecticut Press Club’s award for their tribute to Jenny Emery published in the Drummer’s November 2025 issue under the byline “By Trish Percival and Shirley Murtha.” We congratulate both of them on this much-deserved recognition from the Connecticut Press Club.

Granby Food Bank — November 2026

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, and dishwashing soap

Fire Marshal reaches out to residents

Granby Town Hall was the site for an excellent display by the Fire Marshal’s Office in October. Besides good information for adults on smoke alarms, the display also featured informative coloring books for kids.

Vintage Press is back in business

For a while, it seemed as if evil forces were working against Peggy Chapple and her daughter Meghan Peterson. They just couldn’t get the stars to align and complete the transformation of the former print shop on the corner of Hartford Avenue and Salmon Brook Street into the little coffee house of their dreams.

Salute to new Granby businesses

This month, we are offering a salute to new Granby businesses. Starting a business requires long hours, copious planning and nerves of steel. Historical data from the U.S. Small Business Administration indicates approximately 32 percent of new employer-based businesses do not survive beyond their first two years.
To celebrate their success, we want to recognize the businesses that opened in Granby since 2023 and have beaten the odds by continuing to thrive in the Granby community.

WARNING OF SPECIAL TOWN MEETING AND REFERENDUM BOND REFERENDUM

All electors and persons qualified to vote in town meetings of the Town of Granby, Connecticut (the “Town”), are hereby notified that the Board of Selectmen of the Town are convening a Special Town Meeting to be held at the Senior Center Community Room, 15 North Granby Road, Granby, CT 06035. The Special Town Meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. on December 1, 2026.
The Referendum Vote will be conducted on Tuesday, December 8, 2026, at Granby Town Hall Meeting Room, 15 North Granby Road, Granby, CT 06035, with polls opening at 8:00 a.m.

Fall Fire Safety

On Sunday, Nov. 1, daylight savings time will end at 2 a.m., and we will all be setting our clocks back one hour. During this time of year, it’s a good reminder to replace the batteries in smoke alarms—Change Your Clock / Change Your Batteries. It is also a good time to check the age of smoke alarms. The life expectancy of smoke alarms is 10 years. If you are unsure as to the age of your smoke alarms, it would be a good idea to replace the unit.

Meet me at the Center — November 2026

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.
The Senior Center will be closed Nov. 11, 26 and 27.

Puzzle Slam Word Search

Hey, Puzzlers! We thought your brains might enjoy this while waiting for the 2027 Puzzle Slam to be held Feb 6, 2027. Have fun and we’ll see you in February!

Granby nonprofits’ advertising funded by GCF grant

Is your nonprofit looking to spread the news about a fundraiser? Or is your group seeking new members or leaders but don’t know how to get the word out?
Last year, Citizens for a Better Granby (publisher of the Drummer) received a generous grant from the Granby Community Fund (GCF) in order to help other Granby nonprofits raise their visibility within the community. The CBG Board uses the grant funds to finance advertising for nonprofit organizations that are based in Granby and operate with a small budget.

Hot and easy for the holidays

This Hot Vidalia Onion Dip is truly one of the easiest recipes—and receives rave reviews every time! It is a perfect addition to any appetizer menu, any event and, most importantly, a delicious addition for any and all holiday gatherings in the coming months! 

In The Margins — Women and books and libraries

A particular kind of mood is conjured up in November: a book read beside the stove, a novel tucked into a bag, a warm kitchen, a skirt drying beside the radiator, a poem read before bed. A domestic scene, perhaps, but not exclusively. An inner life can extend beyond the household. But many times, that’s where it all begins.

Friends of Granby Libraries’ upcoming events

The Friends of Granby Public Libraries are still accepting donations of gently-used baby, children and teen books—published in the last ten years, no rips or stains, books only—through end of day Wednesday, Nov. 4, at Granby Public Library in advance of the Fourth Annual Granby Children’s Book Festival.

SBHS restoring Granby Cemetery gravestones

Three years ago, the historic gravestone restoration service Beyond the Gravestone began an important project at the Granby Cemetery: restoring the many tombstones that had cracked, broken or begun to lean with age. Since then, owners Will Cornell and his wife, Lisa, and their crew have made remarkable progress, bringing many of these historic markers back to life.