Recent Stories

Town/Govt

Ethics exploratory committee seeks input

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A group of citizens is seeking input from the community regarding establishing an ethics committee for the town of Granby. It has posted a survey on its website: www.granbytaxpayers.orgAn article in last month’s Drummer asked for participation, but there has been a relatively small response. The majority, 69 percent of respondents, answered “yes.” Comments included, “thank you for this” and “pleased if there were a forum to pose inquiries on legitimate topics […]

Verse

Volunteers needed for annual book sale

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By Kathleen MackThe Friends of Granby Public Library (FOGPL) are gearing up for the 2017 Annual Used Book Sale at Holcomb Farm, but your help is needed!As always, the success of the 35th Annual Used Book Sale will be due entirely to the generosity of donors and volunteers. This year, the Friends are looking for volunteers who can help in a variety of ways, such as: collecting sturdy boxes (boxes with covers, like copy paper boxes is a plus), sorting and boxing donated items at Holcomb Farm throu […]

Verse

GEF has grand plans for the Gran-Bee

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By Kim Becker“Hiving” a hankering for trivia? “Bee-ing” grumpy about the winter weather? The “buzz” that has people thinking Spring is the 14th Annual Gran-Bee on April 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Trivia questions on topics ranging from Granby, music, and history plus jokes, and silly costumes make a fun family event.Want to “bee” a part of it? There is still time to register your swarm, um, team of friends, colleagues, or civic […]

Verse

Generous neighbors provide food for friends

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By Andrea BoyleThe Farmington Valley VNA would like to publicly acknowledge and thank every individual, family, community, civic and student group, business, and association for their recent outpouring of generosity toward the Granby Food Bank Program and call attention to several of those groups.The Granby Ambulance Association, the Gables Homeowners Association, and the Farmington Chapter of UNICO were kind enough to take up collections of food and funds at their annual holiday parties. A $500 […]

School & Sports

Granby students promote investment in public school education during “A Day on the Hill”

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Granby students joined over 200 public school board members, superintendents and students from Connecticut Public Schools to meet with legislators during the annual Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE) “A Day on the Hill” event to voice their opinions about the importance of investing in public school education.“Public school systems throughout Connecticut are facing very serious consequences if the Governor’s proposed budget passes as is,” stated R […]

Events

Granby Camera Club

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The Granby Camera Club will meet on Monday, April 3, at the Granby Senior Center at 7 p.m. Jay Harder will lead a program on taking panorama photographs. The scavenger hunt words for this month are colors, sweet and favorite. To learn more about the club, visit www.GranbyCameraClub.com. […]

Events

46th annual Granby Road Race is May 6

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By Scott WoodamanRace ChairmanThe Granby Road Race celebrates its 46th year on Saturday, May 6, at 8:30 a.m. at Granby Memorial Middle School. Seven 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.  Granby is fortunate to have one of the oldest road races in Connecticut right in its own backyard. The Granby Road Race is a 5K and 10K race that is run on road and trails. B […]

Events

April Happenings

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Lunch for the Mind, Fifteen Minutes to Live: Wednesday, April 19, 12:30 p.m. Presented by Jason Scappaticci, lecturer from Manchester Community College. Understand the events surrounding the sinking of the RMS Lusitania. The sinking turned public opinion in many countries against Germany and contributed to the American entrance into WWI. Register by calling 860-844-5350. Cost is $5, bring your own lunch, desserts and beverages provided.Medication Management: Thursday, April 27, 1 p.m. Presented […]

Town/Govt

LAFD: It’s brush fire season!

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By Tim RickisDid you know that Forest/Wildfire season is upon us? Lost Acres Fire Department wants to keep you safe during brush fire season. Because leaves and grass have not greened yet, there is an abundance of dried-out and exposed materials that are ideal for wildfires. It’s also when residents begin yard cleanup, cookouts and campfires, all of which can easily ignite the dried leaves, twigs and grass.Granby requires a permit from the Open Burning Official for open burning, and there […]

People

A bond, a gift and a legacy – the Holcombes and Dr. Werner

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By Peggy LareauA vibrant legacy has emerged from a strong bond between Seth and Lucy Holcombe and their veterinarian and friend, Harry W. Werner, VMD. With an estate gift of over $5 million, the Holcombes of North Granby endowed an academic chair and innovative equine center at the University of Pennsylvania veterinary school (Penn Vet) in the name of Dr. Werner, an alumnus. Dr. Werner operates Werner Equine with his wife and practice manager Susan, based at their mini-farm in North Granby.&ldqu […]

People

Local woman to join STEM education leaders at the White House

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Rachael Manzer, a Hartland resident and STEAM Coach at Winchester Public Schools, was recently invited to attend the first-of-its-kind State-Federal Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Education Summit hosted by The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) on June 25-26, in Washington, D.C.

Youth Services Bureau

Summer programs at the YSB

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For Tweens and young teens: 

Too old for day camp but still bored? Try four-week Circle programs.

Boys: Tuesdays, 6-8 p.m., and Thursdays, 5-6:30 p.m., beginning July 17

Girls: Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. beginning July 16

For Boys: Ages 9-14 Blending outside play, hiking and games with some guided self-exploration participants will examine competition, bullying, emotions and being a boy, the unspoken rules of being a boy, the expectations of being a boy vs.

School & Sports

Chamber of Commerce scholarships

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This year the Granby Chamber of Commerce has awarded three scholarships to 2018 high school graduates. The recipients were Aaron Belletsky, Northwest Catholic High School, who will be attending the University of Connecticut, Ethan Schock, Granby Memorial High School, who will be attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Simon O’Neil, Granby Memorial High School, who will be attending the University of Hartford.

The Arts

What’s for Supper?

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It’s a question we are all faced with daily. Whether the choice is what to make or what restaurant to go to, we all have to answer this question 365 nights a year!

People

Join Girl Scouts with extended-year membership

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New members can join for a 16-month membership with a discounted price. For the first time ever, Girl Scouts has introduced an extended-year membership opportunity for NEW members. Both girls and adults who have not joined Girl Scouts before can register for a 16-month, $35 prorated membership that allows them to begin Girl Scouts during the summer then transition right into the traditional troop experience in the fall. That’s nearly 16 months of membership versus 12 for one, low promotional price—sweet.

Out of Town

Nationally recognized Summer STEM program coming to Simsbury

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Camp Invention, a nationally recognized, nonprofit summer enrichment camp program, is coming to Simsbury Public Schools the week of July 9 – July 13. A program of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, in partnership with the U. S. Patent and Trademark Office, Camp Invention challenges children in grades K-6 to find their inner inventor by learning the process of innovation.

Out of Town

Scoundrels who made America great

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The Noble & Cooley Center for Historic Preservation (NCCHP) museum, 42 Water Street in Granville, Mass., hosts Martin Henley, author and professor emeritus of Westfield State University, for a presentation on the heroic acts of some of America’s most notorious scoundrels on July 18 at 6:30 p.m.

Americans like heroes to wear white hats and villains to wear black. Henley takes a fresh view of heroism by using dramatic events in the life of each scoundrel to illustrate how disreputable labels can obscure heroic deeds. 

Come hear what Benedict Arnold had in common with John Brown, Tokyo Rose and other scoundrels in America’s history.

In Town Focus

Band Members Needed

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A funky swing band director is forming a community jazz band in Granby, and seeking members to play at venues in the Granbys, Hartlands and Simsbury. The director received the entire set of music from the Valley Swing Shift Big Band upon its retirement and is set to share this glorious music with other volunteers interested in sustaining the rich heritage.

In Town Focus

Songwriter Concerts

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The seasonal songwriter concert series at West Granby United Methodist Church, 87 Simsbury Road, will be on Saturday, July 14, 7–8:30 p.m. Mark your calendars and plan to enjoy an evening featuring Nick Depuy, Julia Davis and Carrie Johnson. Enjoy a night of original acoustic music performed by these acclaimed songwriters as they share their songs and stories.

In Town Focus

MS Support

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The Granby Multiple Sclerosis Support Group meets at the Senior Center at 1 p.m., on the second and fourth Monday of each month. For more information, please contact Meaghan at 860-428-2463.

In Town Focus

Volunteers Needed

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Mary’s Kitty Korner, Granby’s no-kill cat shelter, is looking for volunteers to help care for its kitties until they find their “fur-ever” homes. If you love cats and have some time to spare on a weekday morning or evening or on a weekend morning or afternoon please contact the shelter.

In Town Focus

Learn About Skin Cancer

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On Thursday, July 19, at 1 p.m., Jean Pickens, RN at Farmington Valley Visiting Nurse Association, will speak at the Granby Senior Center on A Guide to Skin Cancer Awareness. Identification, prevention, and treatment of skin cancers will be presented.

In Town Focus

Volunteers in Psychotherapy

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Volunteers In Psychotherapy allows you to earn strictly private therapy (no reports to insurers of your private discussions) in exchange for volunteer work you supply, privately and independently, for the charity of your choice. VIP’s local service has been granted awards and funding from the Connecticut Psychological Association.

Events

Salmon Brook Park Sounds of Summer concert series

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Get ready to rock and roll this summer. The Granby Recreation Department has announced the lineup for its free Sounds of Summer concert series that will take place Thursday nights at 6:30 p.m. in Salmon Brook Park for three weeks in July. Everyone is invited to bring a chair or blanket and enjoy ample parking, the concession stand and great live music in the park this summer.