Recent Stories

Spring migration is underway!

Granby Land Trust Board Member John Weeks and his wife, Christine Chinni, led bird walks on six consecutive days in the GLT’s Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve in early May—some for the Land Trust, and some for other organizations, including the Hartford Audubon Society.

Earth Day hike

A young hiker is enthralled with a young tree on the Holcomb Tree Trail. Approximately 50 people gathered for a walk on the trail on Earth Day.

A look at tax relief programs

At this time of year most people have filed their income taxes and may be reviewing their personal finances to plan for next year. Similarly, the town’s elected boards and my staff have just completed the FY22-23 budget process. The input and questions posed by residents attending the Board of Finance Public Hearing in April was appreciated.

Memorial Day Parade plans

Granby’s annual Memorial Day parade and program will be held on Monday, May 30. Parade Marshal Kenneth Rafoss announced that the honorary parade marshal in absentia this year is James O. Hall, U.S. Navy Seabees.

Double rainbow over the Pease Family Preserve

This double rainbow over the Pease Family Preserve is a reminder to pause and give thanks to Bill and Jane Ann Pease, charter members of the Granby Land Trust, who looked out on this view for 60 years before their passing in 2013.

No Mow May: Good Idea?

Recently, a friend was reading the New York Times and saw an article on the No Mow May movement. She contacted me to see what I thought about “No Mow May.” Quite frankly, I responded, I didn’t know much about it, but promised to research it.

Tree Trail growing, and open to all

The Friends of Holcomb Farm Stewardship committee and volunteers have been maintaining trails and planting trees as our Tree Trail, launched in 2019, really begins to take shape. In addition to planting new trees, they have been freeing older trees, like apple trees, that were almost lost to overgrowth and invasives.

Victory Farming in Granby

This spring, the greenhouses full of seedlings and the freshly turned soil of the Salmon Brook flood plains at Holcomb Farm are providing a sense of normalcy in these unsettled times. Just as people turned to growing their own victory gardens in times of war, our community is counting on Granby’s own farm, under the stewardship of the Friends of Holcomb Farm—along with the whole local farming community—to fill tables with fresh produce.

GMHS HALO Award Nominations

Granby Memorial High School Performing Arts announced nominations for the HALO Awards that took place June 25 via Zoom. All nominations are for the fall production of James and the Giant Peach.

Drumrolls – July/August 2020

Becker College is proud to announce that Nakiska Vaughan,of Granby, has been named to the Alpha Chi honor society at Becker College. Vaughan is pursuing a degree in veterinary science, pre-veterinary concentration.

4th of July in Granby

A hundred years ago, Granby had the reputation of having the best 4th of July in the Farmington Valley. The town was also famous (or infamous) for the noise and mayhem produced by the “boys” of Granby.

Summer action and resources

This column has profiled an Invasive Plant of the Month since last October, providing season-specific information about seven damaging invasive plants that proliferate in town. This month covers summer strategies for gaining control over invasive plants and describes some key resources.

Newly commissioned

Zachary Ziemnicki, a 2016 graduate of GMHS, recently graduated from the University of New Haven with a degree in National Security and Criminal Justice minor.

Superman saves the day

Employees at the Granby Stop & Shop were treated—two at a time—to an ice cream social in the store’s break room recently.

Granby churches premiere Round in Common Time

Round in Common Time is a choral piece written this spring to express love, gratitude and support for the essential workers in the coronavirus pandemic. As a Granby musician and poet, I composed the piece as a song/prayer for those risking their lives to help the rest of us survive.

Gorgeous garlic

The Garlic Farm’s crops flourish on the Granby Land Trust’s new Wilcox Family Preserve on Simsbury Road in West Granby. The Garlic Farm, located at 76 Simsbury Road, opens for the season on July 10.

Favarh appreciates the Granby Community Fund

Favarh, which provides programs and services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in and around Granby, is very grateful and appreciative of the funding that we received from the Granby Community Fund during this difficult COVID-19 pandemic.

Lovely results from contest

The Granby Senior Center recently held a coloring contest with several members participating. Dorothy Dumond’s drawing (above) won first place.