Recent Stories

Martha Kane—a lifetime with birds

Raised in Westfield, Mass., in the late 50s/early 60s, Martha Kane knew instinctively from early childhood that things were not going well for many of the planet’s plants and animals. Environmentalists were few and far between and politicians had not yet instituted Earth Day, so most people were unaware of any serious problems with the way humans were interacting with the natural world. Young Martha decided she would become a scientist and do her best to help nature.

Class of 1975 to hold 50th reunion

The 1975 graduating class of Granby Memorial High School is pleased to announce its 50th reunion, starting with an informal gathering Friday, Oct. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the Cambridge House in Granby.

Granby-Simsbury Chamber of Commerce Spotlight

Lindsay Sanchez serves on the board of directors for the Granby-Simsbury Chamber of Commerce, where she has chaired multiple committees and led projects that included the Celebrate the Valley and Spooktacular community events.

Support the Drummer

The Granby Stop & Shop has again selected the Citizens for a Better Granby (publisher of The Granby Drummer) to benefit from the sales of reusable shopping bags at the Granby store.

Scents and salamanders, the early signs of spring

For me the scent-sational start of spring is the smell of the rich, damp forest floor awakening. It’s actually geosmin, a Greek word meaning earth and smell, a soil-based compound produced by bacteria and blue-green algae. I take deep breaths to revitalize my winter-weary senses.

Browse & Borrow — April 2025

Registration is required for library programs unless indicated. To register visit granby-ct.gov/Library, and click on “Register for a Program” or call the library at 860-844-5275. To learn more about upcoming programs, sign up for the library’s monthly eNewsletter. For the most updated information on dates and programs, refer to the library’s online calendar.

Pastor leaving Simsbury United Methodist Church

Members of Simsbury United Methodist Church (SUM) are preparing to bid a heartfelt farewell to their beloved pastor, Gene Ott, as he transitions to a new appointment on July 1. For nearly eight years, Ott has been a pillar of faith, guidance and compassion, leaving an indelible mark on the church and its members.

April Thoughts

Sticks, leafless and devoid of life, turn into the overflowing, yellow glory of the forsythia.

Mike Walsh was East Hartford’s marshal at St. Patrick’s Day parade

The facts that he is Irish and that he is the guy who “got things done” in his previous job as mayor of East Hartford, led the Central Connecticut Celtic Cultural Committee to select Granby’s town manager, Mike Walsh, as the honorary marshal to lead the East Hartford delegation of the 2025 St. Patrick’s Day parade in Hartford.

Meet me at the Center — April 2025

Please visit granby-ct.gov/senior-services or check your Center Life Newsletter for a complete listing of health services, support groups, clubs and ongoing activities.

Kathleen Scranton fashions vintage books into one-of-a-kind purses

Kathleen Scranton, an artist from Coventry, fashions vintage hard-cover books into distinctive purses. As guest speaker at the Granby Woman’s Breakfast meeting in March, Scranton described the process she follows during the 10 to 15 hours required to bring about her unique form of magic: transforming old books into purses, purses that many would also consider pieces of fine art.