Recent Stories

The Arts

Good Company to present Putnam County Spelling Bee

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By Jessica PietrosantiGood Company Theater has started rehearsals for its hilarious fall production of 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. In a school auditorium, home of the Putnam Porcupines, six peculiar students compete in a spelling bee, guided by three adults who have their own personality quirks, as each character attempts to deal with the struggles of growing up. Nate Strick, Jason Maur, Luis Hilerio, Cliff Gibson, Danielle Lawrence, Julia Bussell and Karen Vinic rehearse fo […]

The Arts

Granby Artists annual open studio tour is Oct. 14-15

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By Debby ReelitzThe Granby Artists Association will hold its annual Open Studio Tour Saturday and Sunday, October 14-15, at home studios throughout Granby. In addition, Lost Acres Vineyard will host oil painter, Alexander Anisimov, on both days of the tour. Anisimov, a classically trained Russian artist, will be creating charcoal and sepia portraits for visitors. The portraits will take 15 to 20 minutes and cost only $25. Reservations are highly recommended and can be made at: 860-408-1671. […]

The Arts

​October Art show to support Granby Land Trust

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By Trish PercivalThe Granby Land Trust and the Granby Artists Association are in their 12th year of showcasing inspiring art for an important cause—to help protect the land, water, and wildlife of Granby. To date, the Land Trust has protected more than 2,500 acres of open space, forests, wildlife habitat, agricultural land, water buffers, ecologically sensitive areas, and scenic vistas in Granby.Celebrating New England’s Natural Beauty is the theme of this extraordinary juried show; […]

Great Outdoors

At House of Hayes, the cows are milking themselves

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By Shirley MurthaIf you weren’t among the many visitors to the House of Hayes dairy farm (Sweet Pea Cheese) on Open Farm Day, you owe it to yourself to drive over to observe the new robotic milking process. Seemingly out of a science fiction novel, the cows now milk themselves 24/7, relieving the Hayes family of the chore that used to take 3 1/2 hours twice a day.It takes just a little training to teach the cows to enter the milking station, which they happily do repeatedly to enjoy the gr […]

Fun & Rec

MeadowBrook residents adopt Phoebe the bunny

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With a special welcoming ceremony, MeadowBrook of Granby residents welcomed Phoebe the Bunny to their home. Phoebe has a long soft coat and loves to be held and brushed. She is calm and sensitive. She loves fresh vegetable and yogurt treats, and will bring smiles to the face of residents at MeadowBrook of Granby for many years to come. Dorothy Annulli and Director of Therapeutic Recreation Nicole Matson with Phoebe the bunny. MeadowBrook of Granby offers a wide variety of pet therapy […]

Fun & Rec

Youth Services Bureau: Fall is here!

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The Youth Service Bureau is looking for local students interested in picking up extra cash helping other community members stay on top of Fall clean ups. Call to register for the Youth Employment Service.StressRX, a program focused on teaching both relaxation techniques as well as targeted study skills, is still being offered. Check out the YSB website or Facebook page to find the dates the program will be offered throughout the school year.Takes a Village parent support group will be meeting th […]

Verse

Human of Granby

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Stanley HayesCo-owner with son and wife of House of Hayes farm(Sweet Pea Farm)Age: 59Where did the name “Sweet Pea Farm” come from?Years ago my wife acquired a herd of goats. At that time my mother used to grow Freezonian peas. Since every herd was given a name, hers became Sweet Pea because these goats liked to eat the sweet Freezonian peas. Our farm actually dates back to the 1830s and the Hayes families were some of the first settlers in Granby during the 1690s to early 170 […]

School & Sports

Let’s not throw out the baby with the bathwater

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By Alan Addley, Ed. D., Granby Superintendent of SchoolsLike many other Connecticut residents, my eldest son is currently planning to leave the state and relocate to North Carolina for a more prosperous future. Meanwhile, here we are again, another month has passed, school is up and running and, at the time of this article going to print, the State Legislature and Governor have still not been able to pass a budget. Given the Governor’s promise to veto the most recent Republican budget prop […]

School & Sports

YMCA 200 meter medley relay swim team crushes state record

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By Shawneen BuckleyThe Farmington Valley YMCA Tsunami Swim Team completed its summer season with stellar team and individual performances marked by individual, team and state records, state and regional championships, and national achievements. The successful May to August summer season, included short-course (25-yard pool) and long-course (50-meter pool) swim meets requiring exceptional commitment and dedication by coaches and team members.At the Connecticut Long Course Age Group Championships, […]

School & Sports

Rebecca rocks the Hall of Fame

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By Shirley MurthaBy all accounts, the acceptance speech given by Granby’s Rebecca Lobo was one of the best ever; certainly the best of that night, September 8, 2017. That was the night the women’s basketball player, now WNBA analyst, was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield. Accompanied by her family and escorted to the podium by her college coach, UConn’s Geno Auriemma, Lobo used humor and poignant stories to describe what this accolade me […]

Events

Holiday Art & Marketplace debuts at Holcomb Farm

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Granby Artists Association and Granby Recreation are pleased to present its first collaborative Holiday Art and Holiday Marketplace Event at Holcomb Farm, 113 Simsbury Rd, West Granby, Saturday, Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Sunday Dec. 2, from noon. until 4 p.m.. 

Events

Almost Sunrise Premiere

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Almost Sunrise tells the inspiring story of two young men, Tom Voss and Anthony Anderson, who, in an attempt to put their haunting Iraq combat experiences behind them, embark on an extraordinary journey – a 2,700 mile trek on foot across America.

People

Preventing colds and flu

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Cold and flu season typically runs from November until April, with the season’s peak in December through February. Having a flu shot, practicing preventive measures and being prepared to provide supportive care will minimize illness. 

Colds 

More than 200 different viruses can cause the common cold, with symptoms that include a sore throat, runny nose, chest congestion and cough.

People

Update on Kearns Community Center

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The proposal for the Kearns Regional Community Center (which will cost the towns zero dollars and provide savings to Granby of $50,000 per year) continues to be well received. In the last month, the Steering Committee has started speaking publicly about the Community Center to churches, senior breakfasts, community dinners, councils on Aging, Celebrate Granby and people running for office in the region.

Town/Govt

You Are Needed

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Granby residents are needed to fill vacancies on the Agricultural Commission and the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission.

Op-Ed

State facing $2 billion annual structural deficits next two years

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No matter who becomes our next governor or which party controls the legislature at the state capitol in Hartford, they will have their work cut out for them. While the bipartisan two-year state budget passed last year made some progress in helping to flatten the cost curve going forward, it is still the case that there are anticipated structural deficits of $2 billion and $2.6 billion respectively in the upcoming two fiscal years that will significantly test the mettle of state legislators and the executive branch.

Op-Ed

Granby needs a blueprint for its future

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Over the past several months, my husband Bill Regan and I have made written and oral comments, as well as commenting at public sessions, all directed to the Board of Selectmen relevant to various projects and their processes that impact the town’s economic and development future. The core of these comments and observations was to stimulate a marketing plan as recommended in Granby’s Plan of Conservation Development (POCD) instituted and submitted to the state in October 2016.

Letter to the Editor

Granby Community Appreciated

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“The water is warm” were memorable words to us as we embarked on the journey of owning goats. It is time to acknowledge Granby 4H and all the families we have encountered during our journey with “barn life” and I figured a letter to the editor was the most appropriate venue.

Letter to the Editor

Concern for poor school performance

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Every fall, school districts receive the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) and SAT test scores and use them to measure both the previous year’s success and the long-term trends of their schools. Sadly, Granby did not fare well again.

Letter to the Editor

Support for Hornish

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As a member of the Board of Finance, I know that investments in education and access to healthcare grow our economy and make our state attractive to businesses. As a father, I want my children to find opportunities in Connecticut that make them want to stay in our great state.

Letter to the Editor

Support for Hornish

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Retirees want to see Connecticut do well and we want our children and grandchildren to love this state as much as we do. However, many of us are struggling with finances due to threats to our promised pensions and healthcare benefits.

Letter to the Editor

Support for Webster

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In 1972 my mother was elected to our state legislature (in Maine), and as a result, awareness of political issues has remained a constant for me. I remember campaigning with her and watching her listen to her future constituents.

Letter to the Editor

Support for Webster

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As a resident of Granby for the last 15 years, I find it refreshing to have a candidate as dedicated as Amanda Webster running for State Representative in the 62nd District. Amanda continues to impress me by working tirelessly to get to know Granby, Barkhamsted, New Hartford and Hartland residents, and understand the issues that mean the most to them.

Letter to the Editor

Kudos for Kearns committee

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I have been very excited to hear news of the proposed Kearns Community Center. In times like these, where there are more and more ways to connect with people online from all around the world, we can still feel isolated and not even know who our neighbors are.