Recent Stories

Sally Carr Smith

Sally (Carr) Smith, 89, of Granby, CT, beloved wife of the late Walter H. Smith, passed away at her home on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. Sally was born on July 7, 1936, In Winthrop, MA, daughter of the late Preston A. and Annette E. (Sears) Carr.

Holiday gift sale and book gift tree at Granby Library

For the month of December, the Friends of the Granby Public Libraries will have several tables set up for gift giving this holiday season. The sale begins Monday, Dec. 1 at the Granby Public Library and will continue during regular open hours throughout the month while supplies last.

Common Toxin Series: Chocolate

Most people who have pets know that chocolate is toxic to dogs. It is the most well-known toxin as well as a very common one. Chocolate is also toxic to cats, though we do not see our feline friends ingesting chocolate as often as our pups. But why is chocolate toxic?

75 years loving horses

Betty Hart, a Granby native, is pictured with a horse 75 years ago side-by-side with a photo taken this year by her granddaughter, Granby Police Officer Nichole Abalan.

Where the windows glow

There’s a moment in December when the world seems to pause. Long gone are the warm afternoons of autumn. We can all feel that first cold day. There are fewer pedestrians on the streets, dusk pulls in earlier and puffs of white drift across the hills and valleys. After a snowfall, a sacred silence settles in.

Town Hall Happenings

It is the season to recognize the U.S. military personnel who have died while serving in our Armed Forces.

Summer Safety Tips

According to the National Fire Protection Association the peak months for grill fires are June and July with 20 percent of these fires due to grills not being cleaned. Grill fires involve an average of 9,000 home fires per year resulting in an average of 22,000 patients treated in emergency rooms.

Drummer readers deserve a bonus!

We couldn’t do it without you! The Drummer thrives on the voices, images and happenings of our community, and this month we reaped a bountiful harvest!

2026 Plan of Conservation and Development update needs committee members

Every ten years, as required under Connecticut State Statute, municipalities must prepare and adopt a plan of conservation and development (POCD). A POCD is a document that outlines policies, goals and standards for the physical and economic development of a municipality. It recommends the most desirable uses of land within a municipality for residential, recreational, commercial, industrial, conservation, agricultural and other uses.

Granby Food Bank

We currently need: Jarred spaghetti sauce, chicken and beef broths, strawberry jam/jelly, as-sorted crackers/cookies, bread crumbs/flour, cooking oil, ketchup, and dishwashing soap/facial tissues

Questioning Mark Anderson’s legislative agenda

At the beginning of this year’s state legislative session, local Representative Mark Anderson sponsored House Bill 5717. This legislation proposed to eliminate capacity limits on firearm magazines, remove all requirements to register large capacity magazines, and would require the state to destroy any records accumulated that document the location of large capacity magazines.

Eleanor Marie (Zito) Grant

Eleanor Marie (Zito) Grant, wife of 67 years to the late Edward T. Grant (2014) of Granby, passed away peacefully at the age of 97, on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at Apple Rehab of Avon.

Public Works — June 2025

Hazardous Waste: A household hazardous waste collection will be held Saturday, June 7, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Simsbury DPW facility, 66 Town Forest Road, Simsbury.

The Cosmic Poet

Emily Dickinson, Maya Angelou, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Amanda Gorman and Sappho. All were young women poets, who in their respective eras, impacted the spirit and culture of the time. Each became well-known for their poetic contributions, and for moving hearts and minds with their words. To any follower of poetic history, their life stories and writings are great sagas.

The school year is coming to a close

As we move into June, the energy in our schools is palpable. From spring sports and field trips to concerts, prom and senior celebrations, students and staff are in full swing with end-of-year activities. These cherished traditions reflect the joy of learning and the vibrant spirit of our schools.

Corey Rewenko the benevolent

Corey Rewenko is the dean of students at Granby Memorial High School. It is his first year in the district, but he appears to already have it all figured out.

BOS honors student representative

The Granby Board of Selectmen would be the first to tell you that they have had very fine student liaisons over the years, including the most recent representative, Ben LaVigne, who has set the bar quite high. In fact, it took several minutes for First Selectman Mark Fiorentino to read the proclamation at the May 5 BOS meeting listing his many accomplishments in academics, sports and community involvement.