Granby Drummer (https://granbydrummer.com/page/26/)
Early Voting, Voter ID, New voting machines, Election Day Nov. 4, Sample Ballots, and Calendar Review
Community Ham Dinner, Cozy up with Lifelong Learning, and Holiday Bazaar
Camera Club, Women’s Breakfast, Men’s Breakfast, Granby Center Plan, Bible Study, Holiday Farmers Mar-kets, and Civic Club is “buzzing”
Donna Daye (Wynings) Fenton, 81, of Granby and formerly of Bloomfield, CT, beloved wife of 60 years to Stephen R. Fenton, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, in Holden, MA.
Fifty years ago an iconic landmark, the Loomis Bros. Store in the center of Granby was torn down and with it a piece of the town’s sense of place and history disappeared.
Each Friday afternoon, a long line of cars waits off North Granby Road in front of the meetinghouse of Granby Congregational Church’s North Campus. On warm summer days, people mingle between the cars, and on frozen winter days, the windows are rolled up, but the line persists. When the clock strikes 3 p.m., Open Cupboard Pantry opens for business, and cars inch forward to a row of volunteers ready to load bags of groceries into the trunk of each vehicle.
Salmon Brook Veterinary Hospital (SBVH) will hold its annual pet food drive on Saturday, Dec. 20, from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Cat and dog food donations will go to aid local food pantries and to organizations dedicated to keeping pets with their owners.
As the leaves turn and we head into the season of gratitude, the Farmington Valley YMCA is reflecting on what truly matters—community, connection and compassion. November at the Y is a time to celebrate the heart of our mission: strengthening the foundations of community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.
The Quarry Road Bridge will be under construction starting on Monday, Nov. 3. The road will be shut down heading southbound from Phelps Road starting Wednesday, Oct. 29 to begin staging of materials and equipment.
The road is scheduled to be reopened by the last week of June 2026. Please follow the posted detour signs or plan an alternate route. Any questions about the project may be directed to Lee Corbert, director of public works 860-668-3280 or emailed to Lcorbert@suffieldct.gov
It’s summer and the living is easy! My husband’s grandmother, Matilda Guarco, was probably one of the best cooks I’ve ever met. She made a similar pasta dish to this and we all loved it. She never wrote anything down so I had to hunt down this recipe many years ago! Enjoy!
On June 4, more than 60 women were treated to a fashion show during the Granby Women’s Breakfast gathering. The program was designed cooperatively by the group’s program committee and Linda Linard-Ligsukis, owner of Designer Consigner, a consignment boutique in Southwick.
American black bear sightings increase dramatically in the spring, raising questions about keeping these large omnivores out of yards, away from our youngsters and pets and out of garbage bins.
Vinnie Secord and Emily Messenger are long time members of the Stony Hill Village community. Stony Hill was built in the 1970s and 1980s by the US Department of Agriculture’s Rural Assistance Program. Today, this vital community is home to residents aged 62+ and individuals with disabilities.
Next year marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of our nation. At the Salmon Brook Historical Society, a notable book in our library from our 200th anniversary in 1976 continues to offer insight into the early history of our republic. Trumpets of Glory, written by Henry Hawken, focuses on July 4th speeches and orations delivered between 1786 and 1861.
Rose-breasted grosbeaks are beautiful birds that return to New England from their winter homes in Central and South America to enjoy the fruits and berries that our summer vegetation provides.
Chris Levandowski says,“My family’s Granby roots date back six generations, and I’ve lived here for 79 years. One of my passions is the on-going construction of my family genealogy.”
“Whenever something strikes me, or I feel something or see something that stops me in my tracks, I write—it could be a poem, an essay or an article for the Granby Drummer,” says Cliff Gibson.
Summertime in New England brings loads of green plants and beautiful blossoms. We wait all year for those plants to come alive again, but not all of them are pet friendly. Summer brings an influx of toxicities to veterinary hospitals. This article will describe some common plants that are toxic to pets and what symptoms you may see if your pet has been exposed.
Who doesn’t love a good tomato, ripe off the vine, warm from the sun and juicy fresh—sweet and yummy? That’s what summer gardening is all about. Enjoying the fresh vegetables from your garden, picked daily, your own work of delicious art.
Granby 4-H continued its community service efforts last month. The club brought food donations for the Granby Food Bank and clothing and toy donations to Goodwill.
Natasha Miles, visual arts department head and equity team leader of the CREC Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts Half-Day Program accepted a valuable still life painting completed by Sylvia Davis Patricelli in 1964.
Founded in 1825, Liberty Bank is celebrating its 200th anniversary by supporting the communities it serves. Since its inception in 1997, Liberty Bank Foundation has awarded more than $21 million in grants to nonprofit organizations throughout the bank’s market area.
Elaine Girard photographed these cardinals outside her West Granby kitchen window in late May.
The McLean Game Refuge Headquarters Fund received a generous donation from David Peliz-zon, Squadron Capital president.
For this Drummer segment, let’s talk about the Granby Police Department (GPD). In October 2023, Police Chief Scott Sansom was hired to lead the GPD. Before his arrival and especially today, the GPD is well run, and while calls for service are up, crime year-over-year is down.
Over the past several months, the Granby Center Advisory Committee has been working with the consultant firm BFJ Planning to create a master plan for the Granby Center area. The goal of this study is to create a framework that supports a connected, healthy, vibrant and resilient center for businesses, residents and visitors that aligns with Granby’s Plan of Conservation and Development.
The late Jerry Dickerson started a program 26 years ago that has helped countless Granby residents prepare their taxes.
All dogs aged six months and older must be licensed by June 30 and must wear a collar and tags at all times.
Granby Grange #5 has begun preparing its large community garden as part of its ongoing commitment to service and community engagement in this, its 150th anniversary year. With the help of dedicated volunteers, including Cliff Burrell and Mark Bishop, the soil was recently tilled and made ready for planting.