Recent Stories

History

​McLean resident tracks family roots back to the 1700s

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By Ellen Meuser​When McLean Resident Michael Gorman heard about the wonderful work that Media Center Coordinator Stephen Root was doing in genealogy, he seized the opportunity to learn more about his family’s history. “It turned out to be even more interesting than we initially thought it would be,” said Michael, as he explained his project that spanned several months to complete.Michael’s mother and father both grew up as a single child, so their family unit was sm […]

People

Evans Automotive Holds Open House

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By Shirley Murtha​A new automotive repair shop—Evans Automotive—held its open house in early August. Partners Steve Couchon and Dean Evans bring different areas of expertise to the business. Evans is the ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certified mechanic, specializing in Hondas and Acuras, having worked at Acura Avon in Canton for 23 years. Couchon brings his management, marketing and finance background to the new business, having owned a very successful house painting comp […]

Fun & Rec

​New England Dance Centers wins big at national competitions

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By Ashley WilliamsOver the summer, the dancers at New England Dance and Gymnastics Centers (NEDC) in Westfield, Mass. and Granby, took home national titles and made their mark on the dance world. The competition teams headed to Star Systems National Dance Competition in Myrtle Beach, S.C. to compete against the best dancers in North America.  New England Dance Centers’ Mini National Dance Champions. Submitted photo The mini gym team, The Wizard of Oz, was named the highest scoring […]

People

​Habitat wall-raising kicks off house construction

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By Don Shaw, Jr.​ On July 16, on an expertly prepared site ready for volunteers, hammers were in full swing building walls for a brand new Habitat for Humanity house under construction at 259 West Granby Road. On Habitat site supervisor Stan’s count—”One. Two. Three. LIFT!”— undaunted by the stifling heat and humidity, a volunteer crew of 12 from Granby’s First Congregational and South Congregational churches raised the home’s first wall.This house is Hartford Habitat&rsqu […]

People

​Three local cyclists ride 192 miles to raise funds for cancer research

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Terry Nolan from West Granby, center, rode 190 miles in the Pan Mass Challenge Aug.6-7, raising $8,000. He is joined at the finish by his wife, Donna; son John; daughter Maria; son Tim; and nephew Chris Nolan. Donna, John, Maria Tim and Chris volunteered at the finish line in Provincetown, Mass., helping riders put their bikes away and serving food to the riders at the finish. This was Terry’s third year riding the PMC. He started three years ago in honor of his brother Rich, Chris’ dad, […]

School & Sports

New pole at Granby Memorial High School symbolizes peace

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By John R. Nieb​ The Peace Pole is a recent addition to Granby Memorial High School property to symbolize world peace. It is a hand-crafted monument displaying the message, “May Peace Prevail on Earth” on each of its sides. Some Peace Poles have four sides while others have eight sides. The message is usually in different languages.“There are tens of thousands of Peace Poles in 180 countries all over the world dedicated as monuments of peace,” said Bruno Longhi, a 2 […]

People

​Squadron Capital owner partners with the Farmington Valley YMCA to change lives this summer

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By Brian LissFor parents and kids, summer vacation may mean different things.  Parents are concerned with ensuring that their children are safe, supervised, and engaged in activities that keep their minds and bodies active when school lets out for the summer. Youngsters eagerly anticipate the free time, and simply want to have fun and learn something new. Thanks to the generosity of Granby-based Squadron Capital, LLC, and its president Dave Pelizzon, the Farmington Valley YMCA and Camp Chas […]

Fun & Rec

​Adventure, discovery, and the thrill of flight

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Have the adventure of a lifetime in a single afternoon! From simulators to supersonic jets, from flying machines to the space age, the New England Air Museum has three hangars with over 80 aircrafts and over 150 years of aviation history.The New England Air Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday during the winter season. Admission is $12.50 for ages 12 and up, $11.50 for seniors 65 and up and $7 for ages 4 to 11. […]

Fun & Rec

District Champs!

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East Granby/Granby/Windsor “Granbeast” juniors softball team won the District 6 Championship game on June 24. The team went on to play in the state championship round in Orange and came in third place overall. Great way to end a season! The team is coached by Steve Hall, Zach Hall and team manager Karen Young. Pictured are: Madison Latonie, Madisen Domin, Hazel Porter, Madison Kidd, Lexi Nichols, Grace Hall, Denise Ruiz, Ashley Thompson, Leah Langhoff and Diana Goldman. Submit […]

People

Humans of Granby

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By Emma SmithSarah BennetAge 15Granby High School SophomoreJV Volleyball, JV Track, trying for Varsity, Horseback riding Tell something you are proud of…I have a really strong work ethic and am self-motivated. I’m proud of my grades in school. When I completed a presentation for a recent Intro to Business class I got a 96. I interviewed a manager at Peaberry Café in Simsbury and was then able to do a thorough write up of their business plan.Tell about something you wi […]

People

Simsbury-Granby Rotary donates to Community Fund and Holcomb Farm

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Last month the Simsbury-Granby Rotary Club presented checks from its Happy Dollar fund to the Holcomb Farm and to the Granby Community Fund. As club president Patrick Slater said as he presented the checks, “This is my favorite part of this job.”

The local Rotary has several fund raising events throughout the year, but the club’s Happy Dollar source is unusual.

People

Volunteers needed for airport’s information center

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The Connecticut Airport Authority and Travelers Aid has announced that in October, Travelers Aid International began serving the passengers of Bradley International Airport as the operator of the guest service volunteer program at the airport. Travelers Aid now operates the Information Center in Terminal A on the lower level, which is the baggage claim level.

Letter to the Editor

Veterans’ tribute concert

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I wish to thank the Granby Senior Center, especially Lori Blackburn, and the Valley Brook Community Church for the special veterans’ tribute concert featuring the Governor’s Foot Guard Band on Nov. 8.

People

McLean Hospice welcomes new volunteers

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McLean graduated ten new volunteers in October, adding to the dedicated team that supports the McLean Hospice program. The McLean Hospice Volunteer program currently includes 50 volunteers from varied backgrounds who want to contribute purposefully to the com- munity.

School & Sports

Wells students thank veterans

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November is a special time for Wells Road School, when we invite veterans who may be either family members or members of the community to come for breakfast and be a part of our assembly. The students practiced the official song for each branch of service, which they sang to honor guests on Nov. 12.

School & Sports

Safe Grad Night needs your help

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The GMHS Grad Night event, held at the Granby YMCA every year on graduation night, offers a free, funfilled, substance-free celebration. This can’t happen without volunteers to help with food, room set up, decorations and chaperoning.

School & Sports

PTO Corner

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The PTO Executive Board would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Kelly Lane and Wells Road families, teachers, staff, and administrators, as well as the Granby community at large, for supporting the PTO’s fundraising efforts with the 2018 Jog-a-Thon/Fall Fest. Over 200 families participated in the run on Oct.

Events

Farmington Valley Chorale holiday performances

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The Farmington Valley Chorale with Ellen Gilson Voth, artistic director, will perform excerpts from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Oratorio (Weihnachts-Oratorium) in two December concerts in Granby. The oratorio relates the Christmas story in dramatic style and contains many familiar themes that have been used by other composers in Christmas music settings.