Recent Stories

Town/Govt

Dates set for budget hearing and referendum

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Public Hearing is April 11; Referendum is April 25The annual Budget Public Hearing will be held on Monday, April 11 at 7 p.m. in the GMHS auditorium.​Granby residents will vote on the Town Budget at the Budget Referendum on Monday, April 25, from noon to 8 p.m. at the Town Hall Meeting Room. Residents must bring a valid form of identification (photo ID preferred) to vote. If you are not registered to vote, but own property in Granby and are otherwise eligible to vote, you may receive a ballot […]

Town/Govt

Town manager presents “below reasonable” budget

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​Board Of Selectmen Report By Shirley MurthaTown Manager William Smith began his presentation of the proposed 2016-2017 budget by explaining the procedures and policies that are undertaken in developing the budget. These include computer modeling, audit reports, studies of debt management, internal controls and risk management, the town’s growth in economic development, and purchasing methods—especially with an eye to regional cost sharing.Smith showed a series of slides i […]

Town/Govt

BOE acquiesces to 1 percent budget cut; Superintendent disappointed

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By Kim BeckerThe Board of Education unanimously voted to cut two new certified teaching positions and the increased computer software assistance to meet the Board of Finance’s demand for a 1 percent decrease in the overall education budget.Superintendent of Granby Public Schools, Dr. Alan Addley, strenuously objected to the cut throughout the budget process. Addley originally gave BOE a budget with a .5 percent increase. He was told by the board to make the budget flat. The BOF then pushed […]

School & Sports

Flocking flamingos for a good cause!

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By Thérèse MulveyIt’s time to get flocking and help raise money for the 2016 Safe Grad Night! This 30-year-old event is a well-loved GMHS tradition but it takes donations to make it work. You may have noticed some lucky people in Granby with pink flamingos roosting on their lawn and thought, “WOW! I wish I could put a flock of Pink Flamingos on my friend’s lawn.” Well you can! And you will be supporting a great cause too. All that’s needed to participa […]

The Arts

Into the woods with Scott Duncan 

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by Barb BlanchetteGranby is home to many artists and among them is one whose art form gives new life to nature’s fallen sentinels. From the large limbs of the Granby Oak felled by the November 2011 storm, to pieces of a carefully preserved 1000-year- old redwood, North Granby resident Scott Duncan, turns pieces of these trees into works of art. For almost ten years he has been artfully, passionately and literally “into the woods.”When Scott was a small boy, […]

People

Women’s February Breakfast

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At the February Women’s Breakfast, Carol Bielefeld, as Abigail Adams, presented a lively portrait of one of the most fascinating and remarkable women in our nation’s history. Over 80 women enjoyed her presentation and the delicious breakfast catered by Lost Acres Orchard. Photo by Joan Ducharme […]

Great Outdoors

Winter finally comes to Holcomb Farm

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Photo by Peter Dinella(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3”; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));The trails at Holcomb Farm just got a “spruce up”. We encourage everyone to get out and enjoy this beautiful property, open to all.Posted by Holcomb Farm on Saturday, January 30, 2016 […]

Fun & Rec

​Seniors baking for seniors

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For Valentine’s Day, every senior at Granby Memorial High School was given a bag of cookies from the Senior to Senior Cookie Bake project. (L to R) Judy De Nio, Jeanne Violette, Diane Hernsdorf and Vonnie Cianciulli, members of the Civic Engagement Team and members of the Granby Senior Center.  Submitted photo(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sd […]

Town/Govt

Town manager feeling the pinch as budget presentation draws near

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by Shirley MurthaTown Manager Bill Smith will present the budget at the BOS meeting on March 7. He reported that it is becoming more and more difficult as the years go by to meet the Board of Finance guideline and still meet the goals and objectives of the Board of Selectmen to maintain the staffing and services that town residents expect. The BOF wants the BOS budget to come in at a 2.5 percent increase, which would result in a two percent increase in the mill rate, but to meet that guideline t […]

Town/Govt

Three-board meeting kicks off annual budget process

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By Shirley MurthaThe 2016-17 Granby budget process began with public reports by the boards of selectmen, education and finance at the annual three-board meeting, held on Jan. 25. After thanking the members and staffs of all the boards for their diligent efforts to try to keep increases at a minimum, First Selectman Scott Kuhnly introduced Ron Walther, chairman of the Board of Education, who presented that board’s preliminary budget.Walther said that after much deliberation, the board had s […]

Town/Govt

Vaughan withdraws proposal for 107 East Street

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Town Manager John Ward received a letter on April 3 from resident Tom Vaughan withdrawing his proposal for an organic dairy farm to be developed at 107 East Street. He cited a lack of action from the Board of Selectmen and the fact that his family was being exposed to unpleasant comments and actions from town residents, both in person and on social media.

Town/Govt

Armentano ends 32-year career in Granby

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Walking out the door of the Building Department office in the town hall on April 13 was bittersweet for retiring Community Development Director Fran Armentano and all the staff who have interacted with him for the past 32 years. Right-hand man to the town manager, procurer of grants, integral advisor to the Planning and Zoning and Development Commissions and always willing and able to step in wherever help was needed, his absence will be greatly felt by many.

Events

47th annual road race is May 5

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The 2018 Granby Road Race, presented by Murphy, Laudati, Kiel and Rattigan, LLC Attorneys at Law, celebrates its 47th year on Saturday, May 5, at 8:30 a.m. at Granby Memorial Middle School. Eight years ago, the Granby Road Race merged with the Farmington Valley YMCA as the organization’s premier fundraising event in memory of David Schupp, Jr.

The Granby Road Race offers both 5K and 10K races that are run on a combination of road and trails.

Events

Seth and Lucy Holcombe Preserve to open June 3

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Granby Land Trust volunteers have been hard at work readying the GLT’s new Seth and Lucy Holcombe Preserve for its official opening to the public on Connecticut Trails Day (June 3). The 154-acre property was bequeathed to the GLT by Seth and Lucy Holcombe, two loyal and generous friends of the Land Trust who shared a love of nature, a passion for outdoor recreation and a commitment to land preservation.

Town/Govt

Granby participates in Neighborhood Assistance Act Program

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The Connecticut Department of Revenue Services has announced the 2018 Connecticut Neighborhood Assistance Act Tax Credit Program that provides tax credits to businesses that make cash investments in qualifying community non-profit programs. Projects approved in the past have come from public service departments such as police, fire, ambulance, health service agencies, land trusts and more. Requests have included energy saving measures such as new windows, boiler replacement and fuel-efficient vehicles; programs for youth, parents and seniors.

Town/Govt

You are needed

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A Granby resident is needed to fill a vacancy on the Park and Recreation Board. If you are interested in serving your town on this board, call the Democratic Town Committee Chairman Jim Lofink, 860-810-0274; Republican Town Committee Chairman Mark Neumann, 860-653-9668; or Town Manager John Ward, 860-844-5300.

Letter to the Editor

East Street Decision

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I am angry and extremely disappointed with the actions of both the Town Manager and the Board of Selectmen regarding the property at 107 East Street. Please note that this anger is not directed at either the Vaughan or the Hayes families, who have both been subject to false accusations and animosity.

Letter to the Editor

East Street Decision

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There is only one way to move forward with respect to the broken RFP process regarding 107 East Street. The Board of Selectmen must invite Westmeadow Farm back to the RFP process and confirm that from this point on, the procedure will be governed by fairness.  At that point, Westmeadow’s proposal should go to a Town vote.

Letter to the Editor

Support for Webster

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As an “experienced” voter in Granby, I have consistently noted the lack of candidates for state office on our ballots. Amanda Webster plans to change that in November.

Letter to the Editor

Support for Webster

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It has been a privilege to watch Amanda Webster as a candidate for Connecticut’s District 62 representative. She has shown commitment to meeting with, talking with, and understanding the residents of the four towns she hopes to represent.

School & Sports

College Scholarship Deadlines

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Granby Lions Club – May 1

Community Scholarship Association of Granby – May 1

Citizens for a Better Granby (Granby Drummer) – May 1

Democrat Town Committee – May 4

Students should contact Ms. Caruso in the high school guidance department for applications.

Town/Govt

FY19 budget discussed at public hearing

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Between 75 and 80 residents attended the Public Hearing on the 2018-2019 budget held at the Granby Memorial High School auditorium on April 9. The $45,254,588 budget represents a 2.78 percent increase in expenditures over the current budget, leading to a 1.98 percent increase in the mill rate.

Town/Govt

Webster slate wins Granby Democratic caucus

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The Amanda Webster Slate was voted to attend the Democratic Connecticut House of Representatives convention this May by the Democratic voters of Granby. All registered Granby Democrats were invited to attend and vote for the slate of delegates pledged to their preferred candidate.

Town/Govt

Public Works

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Trash Holiday: Monday, May 28, 2018 – Memorial Day is a holiday for Paine’s Inc. All trash pickups will be delayed by one day the week after the holiday. Paine’s notifications: Did you know you can sign up for email alerts from Paine’s?  Don’t worry they won’t swamp your inbox.

School & Sports

Minutes • Board of Education Meeting April 4, 2018

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Congratulations to Addyson Earl, a 6th grader at GMMS, who was a finalist in a PBS talent competition that had over 1,000 entries. Middle school students Kylie Coxon, Galen Platt, Alexa Becker, Caelum Janski, Jason Brown, and Alec Jedamonov participated in a regional history day competition at Manchester High School and will advance to the state contest in April.