Recent Stories

People

Honoring local Veterans – Granby Schools pay tribute

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Granby Schools held annual Veterans Day events on Nov. 11. Kelly Lane School, Wells Road Primary School and the Granby Memorial Middle School, held assemblies of their respective entire student bodies honoring several dozen Granby Veterans, some accompanied by family members. The veterans represented the services of World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam Conflict, and the Mid-East/Afghan Conflicts. Pictured is the tribute at Wells Road School.Photos by Lou Urban […]

The Arts

Awards given at annual Land Trust Art Show

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By Trish PercivalEach November since 2005, the Granby Land Trust and the Granby Artists Association have sponsored a juried art show. Thanks to the incredible generosity of the GLT’s friends, the show now offers a remarkable $5,000 in award money and the event has become something the community looks forward to each fall. This year, 178 pieces of original artwork were submitted; just 77 were selected to be in the show. Will Lustenader, an accomplished artist who teaches at Choate Rosemary […]

The Arts

Amahl and the Night Visitors comes to South Church

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By Laura Mazza-DixonOn Sunday, Dec. 4, at 4 p.m., the Bruce Porter Memorial Music Series welcomes the Hartt Opera Theater to Granby for a performance of Amahl and the Night Visitors, the enchanting mini-opera by Gian Carlo Menotti about a young boy and his mother who are visited by the Three Kings on their way to pay homage to the Child. Audience of all ages will appreciate the way the students of the Hartt Opera Theater bring this tender, lively, humorous and deep tale to life.Menotti wrote Ama […]

Town/Govt

BOE studies achievement gap issues

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By Kim BeckerThe Board of Education heard from new Director of Teaching and Talent Development Christopher Tranberg regarding new achievement gap data. The data was viewed by program: regular education students and special education students and by residence (Granby, Hartford, and Hartland). Because the 2014-15 report was given in the spring and the 2015-16 data was compiled early, little improvement was seen in the numbers. However, four areas bucked that trend are graduation rate, college cour […]

School & Sports

DAR Chapter presents Good Citizens awards

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The Abigail Phelps Chapter, of the NSDAR held its Good Citizens meeting in November to honor students and veterans. Karen DiMenna, Good Citizens Chair, introduced the three awardees, Shane SeeKamp, Simsbury High School, Morgan Pierce, Granby Memorial High School and Emily Farmer, East Granby High School. These outstanding students each received the NSDAR Good Citizens award by demonstrating the qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism. Each student received an award and a c […]

School & Sports

Trivia game night challenges attendees

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By Jim LofinkPolitical Trivia Game Night Out at Lost Acres Vineyard was a very successful fundraiser to benefit a graduating Granby Memorial High School senior. The event raised over $2,500 for the scholarship award presented by the Granby Democratic Town Committee.Captions:Top: Scholarship Chair Linda Markee and Congressman John Larson are thanked by DTC Chair Jim Lofink for their contributions. Above: Wayne Chapple calls out a challenging question on political trivia. Photos by Deborah Joyce […]

School & Sports

Focus on Education:  The new Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

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By Alan Addley, Ed. D.In November, the nation celebrated American Education Week. The first observance of American Education Week occurred back in 1921, with a resolution for: “An educational week… observed in all communities annually for the purpose of informing the public of the accomplishments and needs of the public schools and to secure the cooperation and support of the public in meeting those needs.” Annually, in the spirit of that original resolution, we opened up our school doors duri […]

Fun & Rec

Great day for Land Trust’s annual hike

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The Granby Land Trust held its annual meeting and hike on Oct. 23 at Holcomb Farm.At the meeting, the Mary Edwards Friend of the Land Trust Award, the land trust’s highest honor, was posthumously awarded to Ann Pelka, who left 143 acres of land in North Granby to the Granby Land Trust. Submitted photo […]

Town/Govt

Granby set some voting records in 2016

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So many records were broken during this tumultuous election season, here a few highlights:• Most new voter registrations processed in one year: 1,177 new voters• Most voter removals processed in one year: 689 removals• Most poll worker and moderator training sessions: 25 classes held, over 100 participants• Most voter registrations, new and changes, received in one day, on Nov. 1: 204(Includes the most online voter registrations received in one day, Nov. 1: 152)•Highest […]

Fun & Rec

What’s your favorite HOLIDAY movie? Movies to get you in the Christmas Spirit

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By Jesse StanhopeIt’s Christmas Time! And what does that mean? You guessed it: Christmas movies. Christmas movies are the pinnacle of the Christmas spirit. You may be thinking, “What about family dinners and presents?” Let me ask you this: Has a Christmas movie ever started an all-out brawl over the last piece of ham? Or has a Christmas movie ever put you in the uncomfortable situation of receiving a gift you already own and struggling to be thankful—but internally mappin […]

Letter to the Editor

Support for Simanski

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We have been blessed by the efforts of Bill Simanski working on behalf of the 62nd District of the State of Connecticut for a number of years. Prior to that he led Granby as First Selectman of Granby for eight years.

Letter to the Editor

Support for Simanski

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I am urging all the great people of Granby to vote to re-elect Rep. Bill Simanski to the Connecticut House of Representatives. I have served with Bill for several years and without a doubt he is a gentleman, well informed, and a tireless champion for the people of Granby and the rest of his district.

Letter to the Editor

Support for Simanski

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As a Granby and Connecticut taxpayer, I am writing to show my support for the re-election of Bill Simanski as our State Representative. He has worked hard for us for many years, first on Granby’s Board of Selectmen, including eight years as our First Selectman, and most recently as our representative in the Connecticut House of Representatives.

Letter to the Editor

Support for Simanski

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As a former life-long Democrat, I’m endorsing Bill Simanski for Representative of the 62nd District. This decision is based on many factors: Mr. Simanski’s in-depth working knowledge of the political system, proven diplomacy, his honesty and transparency.

Letter to the Editor

Support for Webster

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I am writing in support of Amanda Webster’s campaign as our new representative of the 62nd District to the Connecticut House of Representatives. As a 40-something lawyer, I was initially hesitant to support Amanda in her campaign, and I confess I judged her purely on age.

Letter to the Editor

Support for Webster

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My husband, two young children and I moved to West Granby just over four years ago. Through school activities, sports and community events, we’ve gotten to know the people of Granby to be diverse, hard-working, caring—and particularly, people who want to be heard—people who want to matter when it comes to the complex issues we’re facing today. 

In this spirit, it is apparent Granby is overdue for representation on the state level by someone who truly reflects our values and who will stand up and work for the issues important to our community.

Letter to the Editor

Support for Webster

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During last Tuesday night’s debate (Sept. 25) between Amanda Webster and Bill Simanski, organized and presented by GMHS Honors Civics Class, it was apparent that Bill is running on his record of helping the state accumulate 4.6 billon dollars of debt.

Letter to the Editor

Support for Webster

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As a member of Granby’s older generation, I can’t overstate how enthusiastic I am about Amanda Webster’s candidacy to be the 62nd District’s next State Representative. 

As I’ve grown older over the last few years, I have noticed that the elders of our town are more and more forgotten by our state and local representatives. There are significant issues on the horizon for us, from health care to transportation to rising taxes and the end of our work life.

People

Correction

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In the above photo from the October Drummer, the Stop & Shop employee on the right was incorrectly identified. She is Alyshia Barron.

People

Correction

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The author of the article about the Granby Library Association in the October Drummer was incorrectly attributed to Joan Russell. Amy Hatfield was the author.