Recent Stories

Foxfield equine program a winner with veterans

A former member of the Coast Guard and U.S. Army, and Vietnam prisoner of war survivor enjoyed a farrier session while participating in Foxfield F.A.R.M.’s curriculum. For more info on Granby’s destination for veterans suffering with PTSD, visit: foxfieldrecoverymission.org where tax exempt donations can be made.

Foxfield F.A.R.M

Foxfield F.A.R.M recently received a donation of $5,000 from the Ceres Foundation of Charleston, S.C. whose mission is supporting programs that help to change individual lives. By expanding opportunities for disadvantaged youth and vulnerable families to develop and make full use of their potential, they will be able to pursue their highest ambitions, earn decent wages, enjoy healthy relationships, and fully participate in their communities.

2 Park Place, Part 3 — The Avery Years

Four generations of Avery’s lived at 2 Park Place from 1925 when Bertha Rice Avery bought the house, until it was sold in 2016 for business suites. George W. Avery came to Granby from Chenango Co.

Maple sugaring demonstration for kids

On Sunday, March 18, at 1 p.m., join Granby Land Trust Board Member Extraordinaire Dave Emery of Emery Farm for a hands-on demonstration of how maple sugar is made. Farmer Dave will follow an abbreviated process of sap collection, then transport through to boiling, filtering and bottling of the finished product. Each child should be accompanied by an adult and be prepared to taste some delicious Emery Farm maple syrup.

GMHS Athletes of the Month

Maddee McGee
Sports played: Basketball, Softball
Academic accomplishments: Honor Roll Student, Perfect Attendance 2015-16, Spanish Honor Society member, Young Educators Society member
Athletic Accomplishments:
All- Conference Honors NCCC Team 2016-17 -Girl’s Basketball (Sophomore)
All- Conference Honors NCCC Team 2016-17 -Softball (Sophomore)
All- Conference Honors NCCC Team 2017-18 -Girl’s Basketball (Junior)
Captain of Granby Varsity Girls Basketball 2017-18
AAU Basketball player (5 years)
How I prepare for a game/match/meet: Review game film, get to practice early to get shots up, stay after practice to get shots up, scout opponents, write out plays using my whiteboard, work out at the YMCA on weekends, check opponent records and stats, listen to music
Most memorable moment as a BEAR:
Basketball: Ellington Away Game Freshman Year; subbed in six minutes left in 4th qtr, down 28-36, scored 10 points to bring Granby back within one possession (missed buzzer beater)
Softball: Hitting two home runs in back-to-back at bats vs. Bolton (Spring 2017 Season)
Favorite athlete: Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder; Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury
Plans after high school: Attend a four-year university and play women’s college basketball/softball, while earning a degree in Education; play women’s basketball professionally, coach sports
Favorite quote: “Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.”– Michael Jordan

Kaleb Lillestolen
Sports played: Basketball, Track
Academic accomplishments:  Spanish Honor Society, Honor Roll
Athletic Accomplishments: Basketball Captain, four Varsity Letters
How I prepare for a game/match/meet:  pregame snack and relax
Most memorable moment as a BEAR:
Win over St.

Tension, Thread and Needles

Cathy Racine from the Charlton Sewing Center will give a humorous lecture on “Tension, Thread and Needles” at the March meeting of the Farmington Valley Quilters. The meeting is Wednesday, March 20, at 7 p.m. in Eno Memorial Hall, 754 Hopmeadow St, Simsbury.

Storyteller’s Cottage launches charming tea room

The Storyteller’s Cottage in Simsbury now offers a delicious variety of tea, coffee and pastries in its charmingly remodeled English Country Kitchen. During any of its standard operating hours, visitors may stop in and enjoy a romantic literary snack, either while chatting with friends, or while working on their writing projects (just like J.K. Rowling, who wrote the entire Harry Potter series while sitting in an Edinburgh cafe). 

Baked goods are provided by Popover’s Bistro of Simsbury, and are inspired by classic books and the favorite dishes of literary celebrities.  The variety changes from week to week, but guests may find dishes such as Hobbit Cake (a poppy seed cake that Bilbo loves), Turkish Delight (Edwin’s downfall in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe), or gingerbread cake made from Beatrix Potter’s favorite recipe. 

The Storyteller’s Cottage Tea Room is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

Women take flight at Air Museum

The New England Air Museum will hold its annual Women Take Flight event on Saturday, March 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in commemoration of Women’s History Month and in conjunction with Women of Aviation Worldwide Week. Visitors of all ages are invited to celebrate women’s contributions to aerospace history through a variety of hands-on activities, special events, and lectures. 

This year’s keynote speakers include Shaesta Waiz, Founder and President of Dreams Soar, Inc. In 2017, Waiz became the youngest woman to fly solo around the world in a single engine aircraft when she completed a journey that took her to 22 countries in 145 days.

Author talk and book signing

Come meet Nan Rossiter, New York Times best selling author on Wednesday, March 6, at 6:30 p.m. at the Farmington Valley YMCA community room.  Free and open to the public. Rossiter is an award-winning adult and children’s book author often compared to Nicholas Sparks, Elin Hildebrandt, and Nancy Thayer.

Camera Club

The Granby Camera Club will meet on Monday, March 4, at the Granby Senior Center at 7 p.m. The guest speaker for the evening will be Mark Battista, a freelance artist and fine art photographer. Mark’s photography has been influenced by his paintings and he enjoys creating a “visual dialogue” between the two disciplines.

MS support

The Granby Multiple Sclerosis Support Group meets at the Senior Center at 1 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month. For more information, please contact Meaghan at 860-428-2463.

Hartt Chamber Choir at South Church

The Hartt Chamber Choir will be joined by the Hartt Chorale in an eclectic program of works from the Renaissance period at 4 p.m., March 10, at South Congregational Church, 242 Salmon Brook Street. Bruce Porter Memorial Music Series concerts are free to the public, with a suggested donation of $10.

Swedish Pancake Breakfast and More

The youth at Pilgrim Covenant Church will host a Swedish Pancake Breakfast and Scandinavian Bake Sale on Saturday, March 9, from 8 to 10 a.m. at Pilgrim Covenant Church, 605 Salmon Brook St., just before the Massachusetts state line. Swedish pancakes, lingonberries, bacon, sausage and breakfast beverages will be served.

Women’s Breakfast Beauty Bunch

On Wednesday, March 7, the Granby Women’s Breakfast Group will host a “The Expressive Beauty Bunch’ featuring Andrea Cortex from Tainted Beauty Studios. The event will take place at the Granby Senior Center. Be prepared for an entertaining and informative session.

Granby chamber presents awards

The Granby Chamber of Commerce honored Bob and Joy Marx of Landmark Tours and Cruises as their “Business Persons of the Year” and Tim and Deb Lenihan as their “Humanitarians of the Year” at its annual Awards Banquet and Annual Meeting on Feb. 7 at Hop Meadow Country Club in Simsbury.

Land Trust considers nesting birds

At a recent board meeting of the Granby Land Trust, a discussion occurred regarding dog walking on Land Trust properties. Leashed dogs have been and are always welcome, but board member and veteran birder John Weeks brought “secondary scent-vectored predation” to the table at a recent board meeting.

Guarco elected UNICO governor

Brian Guarco, a longtime Granby resident and owner of State Line Propane/Oil, has been elected Eastern Regional District Governor by UNICO National, the nation’s largest Italian-American service organization. Guarco will assist and consult with all UNICO districts and chapters in the eastern U.S. from New England to Florida.

Silver Jubilee for Toni Ann’s

One of life’s simple pleasures is going out for breakfast. Choices far exceed what’s on offer at home, and the luxury of being served is an affordable indulgence.