Recent Stories

Local girl competing in National American Miss pageant

Kenya Mouning, age 13, has been chosen to participate in the National American Miss Southern New England Pageant to be held July 23 – 25 at the Sheraton Springfield in Springfield, Mass. The National American Miss pageants are held for girls ages 4-18, and have five age divisions. Kenya will be participating in the Junior Teen age division, along with other outstanding young ladies from across  Southern New England. In 2015, Kenya entered her first pageant and won three awards: Top 10 […]

Letters to the Editor

Unsigned editorials are the consensus opinion of the editorial staff and publisher.  Commentary pieces express the opinion of the writer and not necessarily the opinion of the Drummer.Roundabout Project ObjectionIt seems to me that the state has the cart before the horse when it comes to the Five Corners roundabout project. A roundabout may turn out to be unnecessary if all that is needed is better visibility of oncoming traffic from the south side of Rte. 10/202. This suggests that the pro […]

In town focus

Historical Society ToursThe Salmon Brook Historical Society is open for tours on Sundays beginning June 5, 2–4 p.m. Special exhibits in each building focus on Granby children. Group or private tours are available upon request. For more information call 860-653-9713 and leave a message or email Ginny Wutka at ginny@lostacres.com.The society is located at 208 Salmon Brook Street. Admission: $5 for adults, $2 for children and seniors, family maximum $12, members free.Blood Pressure Screenings […]

There’s a new vet in town

By Shirley Murtha​Actually she arrived last July, but Dr. Caitlin Rothacker has gradually become known to the horse-owners of the greater Granby area as she slips into the shoes of retired veterinarian Liam O’Leary. Although small in stature, her experience prior to arriving in Granby more than qualifies her to fill those shoes! In fact, O’Leary notes that “Salmon Brook Veterinary Hospital is most fortunate to have such a talented highly educated and competent equine vete […]

Plan of Development latest draft presented to residents

By Shirley MurthaUnder the co-chairmanship of Paula Johnson and Eric Lukingbeal, the Plan of Conservation and Development Subcommittee presented its first draft of the 2015 plan to Granby residents on April 21. First developed in 1993 and updated in 2005, the plan is designed “to provide guidance and information to all of the town’s boards, commissions, public officials and residents.” It contains policies, goals and standards for physical and economic development and recommend […]

Art brings joy and pride to Valley Pre-School

By Kim BeckerAs the weather turns warm and the buds begin to bloom so does the Valley Pre-School Art Show. For over 10 years, the school’s four-year-old classes have spent the year creating masterpieces for the much-anticipated annual event. On display are pieces in an array of media, driven by a rich curriculum and the children themselves. The stones and other natural objects the children used to explore math concepts such as patterning, counting and sorting, inspired one installation of […]

HUMANS of GRANBY

By Emma Smith Rosemary Wolcott Rosemary WalcottAge 68English teacher 20 years, currently retired. Consultant- HS Sr. college application essaysTell us about your dreams…A recurring dream comes to me in September. It is the first day of school and I am assigned to teach a subject I have no background in for five periods a day to classes of 28+ students. There are no textbooks and the technology in the room is not working.My dreams for the future are that my children’s and grandchil […]

Grad Night 2016 art contest winners announced

​Granby Parents for a Safe Graduation has announced the winners of the 2016 art competition. The first place entry will be used to design the invitation for the Granby Memorial High School’s safe graduation party. The winning design is featured on the complementary grad night t-shirts which all seniors will receive. The grad night party is free to all graduating seniors and will be held this year on June 13 at the Farmington Valley YMCA in Granby.​GMHS Principal, Dr. Mary Gadd, […]

Granby Horse Council awards scholarship

By Joan DavisThe Granby Horse Council is proud to announce that James Novak of Granville, Mass. is the recipient of the 2016 Granby Horse Council scholarship. James has been riding horses since he was 7 years old. He is a senior at Westfield High School and will be attending Findlay University in Findlay, Ohio, in August. He is enrolled in the equestrian program with a focus on Western riding and training, specializing in reining.​  The council offers a $500 scholarship annually […]

BOE, town watch state budget woes closely

By Kim BeckerThe Hartford Courant reported that the state legislature and the governor have reached agreement over the state’s budget and response to a nearly $1 billion fiscal shortfall. This is necessitating across-the-board cuts, and as many as 2,500 state workers will likely lose their jobs. Of greatest immediate concern to towns and cities across the state are proposed cuts to municipal grants, education cost-sharing grants, and assistance with transportation and special education cos […]

Granby Youth Lacrosse holds successful jamboree

This year, 13 turned out to be a lucky number for Granby Youth Lacrosse when it held its annual Bantam Lacrosse Jamboree for the 13th straight year on Sunday, April 22, under sunny skies in Salmon Brook Park. Granby hosted teams of third and fourth grade boys and girls from Avon, Burlington, Canton, Cheshire, Ellington, Farmington, Middletown, South Windsor, Suffield, Vernon and West Springfield.

Life’s a bear in Granby

Bear sightings have filled local community Internet pages for the past few weeks, raising questions about keeping these large omnivores out of yards, away from our youngsters and pets and out of garbage bins.

Parks & Recreation

Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Open 24/7 at GranbyRec.com for program registration. Telephone: 860-653-8947 

Website: GranbyRec.com Accepting MasterCard/Visa/Discover.

Busy summer for Marquis of Granby

The Marquis of Granby Ancient Junior Fyfe and Drum Corps has a very busy summer planned. The kids have already performed in several parades and community events since the arrival of warm weather.

Guiding puppies toward lives of service

The National Eye Institute estimates that one million Americans were legally blind in 2015 and that number is expected to increase. According to the nonprofit organization Guiding Eyes for the Blind, every year in the United States, another 75,000 people will become blind or visually impaired.

A year in review, with pie and ice cream, too

The Friends of Holcomb Farm celebrated at its Annual Members’ meeting with a ribbon cutting at the refurbished CSA barn, a pie contest, ice cream and reports of another successful year for the nonprofit. With a mission to protect Tudor and Laura Holcomb’s gift of this farm to the Town of Granby, the board reported on successful farming programs, growing Fresh Access partnerships to provide fresh produce to people otherwise without access, and ongoing land stewardship to provide greater public access to the meadows and trails.

Heart Association, Hartford Healthcare join together to end stroke in Connecticut

The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA), along with Hartford HealthCare, are encouraging Connecticut residents to help end stroke, the state’s fourth leading cause of death. Despite claiming more than 133,000 lives annually in the United States and an average of 1,300 deaths a year in Connecticut, as many as 80 percent of strokes remain preventable.