Recent Stories

Time for the Friends Used Book Sale Collection

As the memories of winter fade away and spring cleaning is in full bloom, the Friends of Granby Public Library are looking for your gently used books and learning toys for the organization’s 33rd annual used book sale. Volunteers will be working throughout the summer at Holcomb Farm, sorting, boxing and storing donations as they come in. Items are reviewed for acceptability, since the Friends have developed a strong and loyal following at our book sale for the high quality and high value […]

Vineyard special permit approved

By Elaine Jones The application for a special permit to modify the existing permit for Lost Acres Vineyard was approved by a unanimous vote at the May 4 Planning and Zoning Commission regular meeting. Compromises were reached as Commission members debated the requests of Vineyard owners Michelle Niedermeyer and Kevin Riggott and the concerns of adjacent property owners Carol Day and John Jenkins. The most contentious concerns expressed at previous P&Z meetings included hours of operation, […]

Racial profiling data determined to be flawed

By Shirley Murtha At its April 20 meeting, the Board of Selectmen was asked by two residents (Gerald Ledger and Mark Migliaccio) to look into the Central Connecticut State University study indicating that Granby engaged in racial profiling in conducting traffic stops. Town Manager Bill Smith subsequently met with members of the university department who collected and evaluated the data, collected from October 2013 through October 2014. The discussion made it clear that some errors in compiling […]

That was then—this is now! 

Students of Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Moon’s Valley Preschool Class reunited to reenact their class photo from the year 2002.  The students are all now Seniors in high school and graduating in June. It was the first time many of the students had been back to the classroom and they fondly remembered many of the stories, and experiences such as their “trip to Florida,” and even sang some of the songs!  Mrs. Brown, their teacher when they were 4 years old said “It was po […]

Land Trust acquisition paved the way for beneficial relationship with Hartford Foundation

By Shirley MurthaIn addition to providing Granby with 225.59 acres of preserved open space, the 1975 and 1982 donations of the Stanley K. Dimock properties introduced the Granby Land Trust to the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, and set the stage for a long term beneficial relationship between the two organizations. Donated by Dimock’s wife Bertha as a living memorial to her husband’s love of nature, the property is located on Legeyt Road at the Granby/Barkhamsted town line. It is compris […]

June 02nd, 2015

Fond Memories of Bike Barnes By Put Brown Byron C. “Bike” Barnes, one of Granby’s most colorful men, died peacefully in his sleep on April 12, 2015. Bike, also know as “Biker,” was born almost 93 years ago in his family’s center-chimney house overlooking the West Branch of the Salmon Brook. He was a sure shot, a keen tracker and an experienced woodsman. He took delight in the natural wonders he found all around him, trapping and fishing on Tudor and Laura Ho […]

Ride On: Help yourself and the environment

By Stosh Dlugolenski Granby is a great place for outdoor play and a wonderful town to see by bicycle. Beautiful vistas are the reward for trekking up challenging hills and the center of town lends itself well to touring at a leisurely pace. Recreational bike riding is a safe, low-impact, aerobic activity for people of all ages, so whatever your pleasure, you and the environment will reap the benefits. Did you know: ·    A short, four-mile round trip by bicycle keeps about […]

School District Faces Shortfall

By Kim Becker Due to rising special needs costs, the district will need the town to forgive an estimated $129,000 for the current fiscal year. According to the statement of accounts presented to the Board of Education in March, the general fund forecast changed by $52,000 because of a revised special education cost forecast and a freeze in spending in substitutes, purchased services, conferences, supplies, books, and library books. The district also had several unanticipated expenses including […]

Granby Robotics Club goes to St. Louis to compete in nationals

By John R. Nieb Qualifying for the national robotics championship in St. Louis, held this year from April 22–27, was a first for the Granby Robotics Club. When the club competed at the Pioneer Valley and Hartford Regionals, they finished in 11th place out of the 175 teams in the New England region, which qualified them to compete in the nationals. The group spent the first three days competing in the competition and the last day seeing the city of St. Louis. The pits, competition, openin […]

VNA Executive Director selected for 2015 Nightingale Award

 Incy S. Muir, Executive Director of the Farmington Valley Visiting Nurse Association, was among the 100 nursing professionals recognized at the 13th Annual Hartford Regional Nightingale Awards for Excellence in Nursing Gala. The annual event, hosted by Hartford HealthCare at Home, was held on May 7 at the Connecticut Convention Center. Ms. Muir has worked in nonprofit VNAs in Connecticut and Massachusetts since 1981, and has served as the Farmington Valley VNA’s Executive Director […]

Vineyard special permit approved

By Elaine Jones The application for a special permit to modify the existing permit for Lost Acres Vineyard was approved by a unanimous vote at the May 4 Planning and Zoning Commission regular meeting. Compromises were reached as Commission members debated the requests of Vineyard owners Michelle Niedermeyer and Kevin Riggott and the concerns of adjacent property owners Carol Day and John Jenkins. The most contentious concerns expressed at previous P&Z meetings included hours of operation, […]

Racial profiling data determined to be flawed

By Shirley Murtha At its April 20 meeting, the Board of Selectmen was asked by two residents (Gerald Ledger and Mark Migliaccio) to look into the Central Connecticut State University study indicating that Granby engaged in racial profiling in conducting traffic stops. Town Manager Bill Smith subsequently met with members of the university department who collected and evaluated the data, collected from October 2013 through October 2014. The discussion made it clear that some errors in compiling […]

That was then—this is now! 

Students of Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Moon’s Valley Preschool Class reunited to reenact their class photo from the year 2002.  The students are all now Seniors in high school and graduating in June. It was the first time many of the students had been back to the classroom and they fondly remembered many of the stories, and experiences such as their “trip to Florida,” and even sang some of the songs!  Mrs. Brown, their teacher when they were 4 years old said “It was po […]

Land Trust acquisition paved the way for beneficial relationship with Hartford Foundation

By Shirley MurthaIn addition to providing Granby with 225.59 acres of preserved open space, the 1975 and 1982 donations of the Stanley K. Dimock properties introduced the Granby Land Trust to the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, and set the stage for a long term beneficial relationship between the two organizations. Donated by Dimock’s wife Bertha as a living memorial to her husband’s love of nature, the property is located on Legeyt Road at the Granby/Barkhamsted town line. It is compris […]

June 02nd, 2015

Fond Memories of Bike Barnes By Put Brown Byron C. “Bike” Barnes, one of Granby’s most colorful men, died peacefully in his sleep on April 12, 2015. Bike, also know as “Biker,” was born almost 93 years ago in his family’s center-chimney house overlooking the West Branch of the Salmon Brook. He was a sure shot, a keen tracker and an experienced woodsman. He took delight in the natural wonders he found all around him, trapping and fishing on Tudor and Laura Ho […]

Ride On: Help yourself and the environment

By Stosh Dlugolenski Granby is a great place for outdoor play and a wonderful town to see by bicycle. Beautiful vistas are the reward for trekking up challenging hills and the center of town lends itself well to touring at a leisurely pace. Recreational bike riding is a safe, low-impact, aerobic activity for people of all ages, so whatever your pleasure, you and the environment will reap the benefits. Did you know: ·    A short, four-mile round trip by bicycle keeps about […]

School District Faces Shortfall

By Kim Becker Due to rising special needs costs, the district will need the town to forgive an estimated $129,000 for the current fiscal year. According to the statement of accounts presented to the Board of Education in March, the general fund forecast changed by $52,000 because of a revised special education cost forecast and a freeze in spending in substitutes, purchased services, conferences, supplies, books, and library books. The district also had several unanticipated expenses including […]

Granby Robotics Club goes to St. Louis to compete in nationals

By John R. Nieb Qualifying for the national robotics championship in St. Louis, held this year from April 22–27, was a first for the Granby Robotics Club. When the club competed at the Pioneer Valley and Hartford Regionals, they finished in 11th place out of the 175 teams in the New England region, which qualified them to compete in the nationals. The group spent the first three days competing in the competition and the last day seeing the city of St. Louis. The pits, competition, openin […]

VNA Executive Director selected for 2015 Nightingale Award

 Incy S. Muir, Executive Director of the Farmington Valley Visiting Nurse Association, was among the 100 nursing professionals recognized at the 13th Annual Hartford Regional Nightingale Awards for Excellence in Nursing Gala. The annual event, hosted by Hartford HealthCare at Home, was held on May 7 at the Connecticut Convention Center. Ms. Muir has worked in nonprofit VNAs in Connecticut and Massachusetts since 1981, and has served as the Farmington Valley VNA’s Executive Director […]

Free Lunch

Matt continues to host the $5 Monday Night Jams (5 p.m. kids and 6 p.m. adults) and Drawing and Painting for Teens (Fridays at 4–6:30 p.m.) Questions? Contact Matt at CES Design Studios: Free Lunch Studio Dept., 860-305-6621 or mryan@freelunchcomics.com. […]