Recent Stories

Fun & Rec

Parks & Rec

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Office Hours: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Open 24/7 at www.GranbyRec.com.Telephone: 860-653-8947Website: www.GranbyRec.com. Accepting MasterCard / Visa / Discover for payments. The registration system and website allow you to register for programs at any time, find out if a program still has space available, check your account to see what activities your family members are signed up for, and print out a year-end receipt for tax purposes.Program/Trip Registration: All programs/trips are based on a firs […]

Town/Govt

Potential cuts in services and increase in taxes, town manager warns

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By Shirley MurthaAs the town prepared for the annual Three Board Meeting (Education, Finance and Selectmen) on Jan. 23, Town Manager Bill Smith noted that with the state budget in deficit, aid to towns will be greatly curtailed. For example, mid-2016 saw $50,000 worth of cuts to the Educational Cost Sharing program. Similar cuts will be seen across the board; towns will have to make up the differences by increasing local taxes and/or by cutting services.In preparing for the development of the Pl […]

School & Sports

School building committee recognized

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Members of the school building committee that oversaw the renovations of Kelly Lane and Wells Road schools due to the closing of Kearns School were honored by the Board of Selectmen at its Jan. 16. meeting. Under the chairmanship of Gordon Bischoff, the committee achieved its goals on time and within budget. From l., Stephen Royer, Bill Kennedy, Mark Fiorentino, James Sansone, Bischoff, 
and First Selectman Scott Kuhnly. Photo by Shirley Murtha […]

The Arts

Simsbury bank makes donation to granby camera club

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Simsbury Bank made an $800 donation to the Granby Camera Club in exchange for photos taken by club members that are featured in the bank’s 2017 full-color calendar. Simsbury Camera Club members and a Canton Artists Guild member also contributed photos in exchange for a donation from the bank.The bank has published a free calendar of local photos since 2003. It features beautiful images of local scenes and landmarks. Granby Camera Club members Pat Greenhalgh, Ed Hodgson and Gene Suponski co […]

People

Smoke alarm recall

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Significant recall of Kidde combination smoke / carbon monoxide alarmsThe Granby Building Department announces that there has been a recall of certain models of Kidde combination smoke/carbon monoxide alarms. These alarms, designed to be wired-in with an internal battery backup, are a very commonly used model and are present in many homes in the area. If you have one of these units in your home you may be eligible for a refund or replacement alarm. If you have an alarm that looks like the photo, […]

Events

February Activities

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February ActivitiesUnless otherwise noted, all events take place at the Granby Senior Center located within the Municipal Complex at 15 North Granby Road. Please call 860-844-5352 for additional information.Commission on Aging: Monday, Feb. 13, 9:30 a.m. The Commission on Aging proposes and evaluates programs and services for the elderly in the community, and assists the town staff in the development, initiation, coordination and implementation of programs and services for the elderly. Meetings […]

Town/Govt

State uncertainty clouds FY18 budget picture

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Michael B Guarco Jr., Chairman, Board of FinanceOnce again Connecticut faces a $1.5 billion deficit in each of the next two fiscal years. How it is handled with respect to state aid monies allocated to the municipalities will have a significant impact on local operations and taxation. The reluctance on the part of the state to tackle real structural budget reform continues to just kick the can down the road. Every two years, the state legislature’s majority party leadership and the governo […]

Town/Govt

BOS student liaison a girl for all seasons

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By Shirley MurthaThis year’s student representative to the Granby Board of Selectmen is Kelly-Anne Moffa, a senior at Granby Memorial High School. Having attended the school for three-plus, she felt she could do a good job bringing the student perspective to the board while becoming more connected with the Granby community in general. She intends to become involved with government in the future, planning to study both environmental science and political science in college. Being the liaiso […]

Fun & Rec

wildcats hockey team and alumni jamboree benefits wounded warrior project

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By Nick BoormanThe Wildcats hockey’s first alumni jamboree to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project on Jan. 6 was a huge success. The rink was filled with current and former student athletes and fans from Suffield, Granby, and Windsor Locks. Thirty alumni played in the jamboree. The current players chose the Wounded Warrior Project as a charity because they wanted to help our military troops and veterans. The Wildcats Hockey Booster Club coordinated the event raising $941 for the Wounded War […]

Town/Govt

BOE begins budget process

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By Kim BeckerThe new year rings in the beginning of the budget process for the board of education. Superintendent of Granby Public Schools Alan Addley presented the BOE with the Plus One, a five-year budget projection.Given the sharp decline in state funding, including cuts to Education Cost Sharing and the Academic and Social Support grant, Granby will lose $180,000. This funding directly supported programs like all-day kindergarten, summer school, and integrated preschool. Though the board has […]

Letter to the Editor

Granby schools NOT in decline

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After reading Kim Becker’s October letter to the editor, I must make a number of comments in support of the Granby Public School System. In her letter, she states that “Granby schools are not stagnant; they are in full decline.” Ms. Becker bases this opinion statement solely on the recent standardized test scores, namely, the SBAC and the SAT.

Letter to the Editor

Vote YES on Question 2

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Last month, Eric Lukingbeal wrote an important op/ed piece describing how, as it currently stands, the legislature can sell, swap or give away public lands such as state parks, forests and even state-owned farmlands without public knowledge or input. 

Protocol calls for a public hearing, but at the end of a legislative session, the rules can be ignored, and that is when many of these transactions take place. 

The only way to make sure there is a public hearing before any of our land is taken away is to amend the State Constitution to require the public hearing. The amendment also contains the clause that any proposed legislation must pass by at least two-thirds of the House and the Senate.

Letter to the Editor

Thanks from FOGPL

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The Friends of the Granby Public Library completed its 36th Annual Used Book Sale in September on a beautiful weekend that included other major events both in Granby and Simsbury. I am pleased to note that we had the best book sale ever, raising $10,600. 

We started with a record number of donations, a large and enthusiastic sorting staff that operated during June and July, and a board that worked side by side with all throughout not only the sorting time, but the sale itself.

Letter to the Editor

Kearns Community Center

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Our family is very excited about the proposed Kearns Community Center. We have spent some time with the members of the steering committee and the ideas they’ve generated are fantastic.

Letter to the Editor

Support for Democrats

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I recently heard a local talk show host suggest that most people cannot name their state representative or senator. If you live in Granby, your state representative and state senators have been in office for a very long time.

Letter to the Editor

Support for Republicans

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This is an extremely important election for the citizens of the State of Connecticut and for our town. For decades, our legislature has spent too much and saved too little to pay for the state’s obligations.

Letter to the Editor

Support for Hornish

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I write in support of the candidacy of Annie (Wosko) Hornish for the position of State Senator. Annie has demonstrated her qualifications for this position through her strong local commitment and her effective state experience. 

I was fortunate enough to work with Annie as a fellow commissioner on the Granby Charter Revision Commission.

Letter to the Editor

Support for Kissel

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State Senator John Kissel is a strong advocate for the rights of the disabled. Here are some of the ways that he has worked for these people. 

He chaired a committee studying transitional services for youth and young adults with autism spectrum disorder.

Letter to the Editor

Support for Kissel

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I want to encourage fellow Granbyites to support John Kissel for reelection this fall. It is no secret (even the Hartford Courant agrees) that our state faces a fiscal nightmare.

Letter to the Editor

Support for Griebel

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In this trying time for the state of Connecticut, I urge everyone to consider voting for Oz Griebel for Governor on Nov. 6.