Recent Stories

The Arts

Local artist chosen to lead class in Windsor

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By Shirley MurthaLocal artist Bill Simpson has been invited to teach a class in oil painting at the Windsor Art Center Studios on Central Street in Windsor. The small group (maximum seven students) will meet Thursdays, Oct. 20 through Nov. 17. Simpson will help painters refine their composition, color and drawing to better focus their work, but he also will stress how to relax and have fun while painting, thus opening the way to more intuitive work. For more information about the class and to re […]

Town/Govt

Amendments made to LAFD tax abatement program

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by Shirley MurthaThe Lost Acres Fire Department recently was granted an update to the rules that enable firefighters to attain tax abatement, a program that has been in effect in Granby since 2008. Chief John Horr presented the reasons for requesting the amendments to the Board of Selectmen, who consequently approved the proposal.A town ordinance allows firefighters with 20 or more years of service to retire and receive the tax abatement as long as they own property in the town and meet all the […]

Great Outdoors

A Perfectly Simple Apple Pie

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By Susan Accetura“Good apple pies are a considerable part of our domestic happiness.” (Jane Austen)It’s apple season here in Connecticut. From a pomologist’s perspective, this has been a challenging year. A mild winter resulted in apple blossoms swelling a bit early, subject to damaging spring frosts, and a rainy blossom time in May wasn’t motivating to the pollinating bee brigade. The summer drought has kept some varieties on the smaller side, but at least all of t […]

School & Sports

Kearns School Study Committee forms

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The Frank M. Kearns School Study Committee will begin meeting regularly to discuss the future of the now-vacant building. The five-member committee was appointed by the Board of Selectmen and is charged with evaluating and exploring opportunities for the use of the Kearns building and surrounding property.The committee is interested in hearing from members of the public who may have ideas about the best use of the building and, to that end, will also be scheduling a public informa […]

The Arts

Interactive theatrical experience #trending coming to First Church

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In Medias Arts is proud to bring its interactive theatrical experience, #trending, a choose-your-own adventure story for social media lovers, to Connecticut for a one-night-only event as it prepares for the Charm City Fringe Festival in Baltimore, Md. The show will be at First Congregational Church of Granby, 219 North Granby Road on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 7:30 p.m.Tickets are available at the door. Admission is free and donations will be accepted.Christi McLain and Jerron Jorgensen are featured […]

People

Humans of Granby 

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by Emma Smith Father Thomas E. PtaszynskiAge 70Pastor at St. Therese ChurchTell about a powerful memory…That is easy; it would be the day of my ordination into the priesthood, May 26, 1973. This was held at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Hartford. It was the most important milestone in my life.On a less serious note I do remember that I cut a mole on my lip early that morning. After the ceremony the priests then gave first blessings to their families and closest friends. The fami […]

Fun & Rec

Student earns HERO Sports Division III preseason First Team All-America honors

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Coming off a historic season a year ago, Springfield College senior Lauren Holt was chosen to the HERO Sports Division III Preseason All-America First Team. Holt was one of 21 student-athletes from across the nation to be recognized and was one of seven to be named to the first team.A key reason why Springfield earned its sixth-straight trip to the NCAA Championship, Holt registered 295 kills at a sensational .401 clip, which not only led the conference, but was also the fifth best hitting perce […]

Fun & Rec

Holland hikes the Appalachian Trail raising money for juvenile diabetes cure

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By Ann McGinleyLocal resident Michael Holland (GMHS 2009) has been hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT) since April in an effort to raise money to help find a cure for juvenile diabetes. Holland was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 10 just after moving to Granby over 15 years ago. He and his family have participated in the annual “Walk to Cure Diabetes” fundraiser ever since but this year Michael wanted to do something different and more meaningful.Being an avid outdoorsman he deci […]

Fun & Rec

High Meadow donates to GCF

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The Granby Community Fund is grateful to High Meadow Day Camp for donating the proceeds from its Penny Carnival to the fund. Many thanks to Ben Chaback, camp director, the campers, counselors and staff who put the event together. The Granby Community Fund distributes donations to 15 organizations providing programs and services to the residents of Granby. Learn more or make a donation by visiting its website at www.granbycommunityfund.com. […]

People

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

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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.

Town/Govt

BOS takes no action on East Street property

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At the May 10 Board of Selectmen meeting, Town Manager John Ward recapped the history of the Requests for Proposals on 107 East Street, noting that the information gathering stages were complete. At this time, the board could accept the Hayes proposal, in which case a series of steps pursuant to the Granby town charter and to state law would follow, or it could reject the proposal, or take no action.

Events

Library used book sale preparations begin

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Spring is here and the Friends of Granby Public Library are eagerly preparing for donations to the Granby Public Library’s 36th annual Used Book Sale. Donations of gently used goods will be accepted starting Saturday, June 2, through Saturday, Aug. 4, at several convenient Granby locations during their normal business hours: Geissler’s Supermarket, 9 Bank Street; Farmington Valley YMCA, 97 Salmon Brook Street; Granby Public Library, 15 North Granby Road.

Letter to the Editor

Pick up after your dog!

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We recently tried to take our grandchildren fishing at Christensen’s Pond on Wells Road, a beautiful place where adults and children are welcome to walk and fish. Because of irresponsible, lazy dog owners, the pond’s shore and approach were littered with piles of dog feces.

People

Granby Food Bank

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We currently need:

canned fruit
jelly/jams
spaghetti/pasta
sauces
salad helper
condiments
crackers
hamburger helper

Donations can be dropped off at the VNA office on Salmon Brook Street

Town/Govt

Residents’ comments on East Street from April 1 BOS meeting

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The following comments expressed during the public session of the April 1 Board of Selectmen meeting were inadvertently omitted from the May Drummer. Nelson Toussaint is upset that resident’s questions cannot be answered in the public session of board meetings; was disturbed that the town’s purchase of 107 East Street was not a separate line item in that budget vote; doesn’t agree with the process as it is being carried out now.

Notes from Board of Ed May 2 Meeting

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Teaching and Learning

Jeff Stanwood, business teacher at the high school, along with student DECA members Jenna Dauria, Marile Marzo, Jacob McDonald, David Migliaccio, Owen Plourde, Andrew Quagliaroli, Jillian Thrall, and Joseph Wix presented to the board after attending the DECA International Career Development Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.. DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in entrepreneurship, marketing, finance, hospitality and management.

Town/Govt

P & Z minutes April 24, 2018

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The public hearing of an application seeking approval of a Special Permit for a restaurant with alcoholic beverages and live entertainment at 261 Salmon Brook Street opened at 7 p.m.

Timothy Brignole, Trustee of the Kimberly Edith Maynard Trust that owns the property, presented the application. He stated the current owner of Vito’s on the Water, located in Windsor, would relocate to Granby.

Drumrolls

In Memory of . . .

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Jackson, Elliott Birnie, 60, former husband of Pamela Jackson, April 13 Dickey, Shirley (McClain), 83, wife of Donald Dickey, April 21 Ransom, Margaret (Peggy) P., 86, April 26 Raye, Paula (Parker), wife of John Raye, May 2 Ferolano, Joseph G., 70, husband of Marie (DelSanto) Ferolano, May 14

Town/Govt

P & Z minutes May 8, 2018

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Public Hearings
The continuation of the public hearing of a Special Permit for a rear lot subdivision with proposed excavation in excess of 5,000 cubic years of earth material for property located at 292 Granville Road. Tim Coon, PE with J.R. Russo and Associates, presented the application and provided a summary of the application to date.

School & Sports

Granby 4-H members win VEX competition

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Six youth from the Granby 4-H Club won the State VEX Robotics competition and qualified to represent Connecticut at the VEX Robotics World Championship, April 29-May 1, in Louisville, Ky. At Worlds, the youth competed in teamwork, programming and driving competitions.