Recent Stories

Fun & Rec

2016 Safe Grad Party a Great Success

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By Laura FetridgeThe 2016 Safe Graduation Party, a fun-filled, substance-free annual event, was held at the Farmington Valley YMCA in Granby on the evening of June 13, after graduation ceremonies. This year’s class was one of the largest in Granby history and a record 81 percent of graduates (154 students) attended the party. Lots of fun was had by all!The night began at 9:30 p.m. when graduates boarded buses at Granby Memorial High School (GMHS) to be shuttled to the YMCA where a variety […]

Fun & Rec

45th Granby Road Race runs strong

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By Scott WoodamanOn May 7, Granby celebrated the 45th Granby Road Race 5K and 10K. This race has a course that involves road and trail to make beautiful running scenery for over 225 runners. The Farmington Valley YMCA has had the pleasure of hosting this race for six out of the 45 years. The event is the second oldest race in Connecticut, after the Manchester Road Race. This event would not be possible without the dedication of over 20 community volunteers and a race committee that worked tirele […]

People

Tasting Rome via Torta Rustica

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By Susan AcceturaSomewhere between an impulsive creative nature, a nettlesome need to question any directive, and the likelihood that I’m missing a key ingredient (or five), I’ve never quite been able to follow a recipe exactly as written.  With a few decades of professional cooking experience under the old apron strings, you can’t help but develop some knowledge of how ingredients are likely to come together. You’d think after so many years one wouldn’t need t […]

Fun & Rec

Granby has gone to the dogs

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By Karyn CordnerPeople are beginning to understand more about the good work Therapy Dogs do, and there is a trio of them helping school kids right here in Granby. James, an Australian shepherd, Ted, a long-haired dachshund, and Raven, a German shepherd, come to Kelly Lane School every week. For three hours each week, James, Ted and Raven nestle on the floor with students and patiently listen to stories read to them by the kids. The young students have an opportunity to practice their literacy sk […]

Fun & Rec

Lunch for the Mind: Ready for kitchen witchin’?

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By Eileen LonghiJoin the Civic Engagement Education Team at the Granby Senior Center on Wednesday, June 15, at 12:30 for a unique program, Kitchen Witchery – Making Food Your Medicine presented by herbalist, Lisl Huebner.  Huebner is an expert in diagnosing patterns of imbalance according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TMC) using pulse and tongue diagnosis and sets up herbal protocols and dietary recommendations for individuals. TMC is a comprehensive medical system that has bee […]

Fun & Rec

Local girl competing in National American Miss pageant

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Kenya Mouning, age 13, has been chosen to participate in the National American Miss Southern New England Pageant to be held July 23 – 25 at the Sheraton Springfield in Springfield, Mass. The National American Miss pageants are held for girls ages 4-18, and have five age divisions. Kenya will be participating in the Junior Teen age division, along with other outstanding young ladies from across  Southern New England. In 2015, Kenya entered her first pageant and won three awards: Top 10 […]

Local Voices

Letters to the Editor

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Unsigned editorials are the consensus opinion of the editorial staff and publisher.  Commentary pieces express the opinion of the writer and not necessarily the opinion of the Drummer.Roundabout Project ObjectionIt seems to me that the state has the cart before the horse when it comes to the Five Corners roundabout project. A roundabout may turn out to be unnecessary if all that is needed is better visibility of oncoming traffic from the south side of Rte. 10/202. This suggests that the pro […]

Events

In town focus

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Historical Society ToursThe Salmon Brook Historical Society is open for tours on Sundays beginning June 5, 2–4 p.m. Special exhibits in each building focus on Granby children. Group or private tours are available upon request. For more information call 860-653-9713 and leave a message or email Ginny Wutka at ginny@lostacres.com.The society is located at 208 Salmon Brook Street. Admission: $5 for adults, $2 for children and seniors, family maximum $12, members free.Blood Pressure Screenings […]

People

There’s a new vet in town

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By Shirley Murtha​Actually she arrived last July, but Dr. Caitlin Rothacker has gradually become known to the horse-owners of the greater Granby area as she slips into the shoes of retired veterinarian Liam O’Leary. Although small in stature, her experience prior to arriving in Granby more than qualifies her to fill those shoes! In fact, O’Leary notes that “Salmon Brook Veterinary Hospital is most fortunate to have such a talented highly educated and competent equine vete […]

Town/Govt

Plan of Development latest draft presented to residents

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By Shirley MurthaUnder the co-chairmanship of Paula Johnson and Eric Lukingbeal, the Plan of Conservation and Development Subcommittee presented its first draft of the 2015 plan to Granby residents on April 21. First developed in 1993 and updated in 2005, the plan is designed “to provide guidance and information to all of the town’s boards, commissions, public officials and residents.” It contains policies, goals and standards for physical and economic development and recommend […]

Animal Talk

Shaping Up For Spring

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As the snow melts (and mud season ensues), we all start thinking about getting back in the saddle. Literally.

Events

HF joins others in securing state grants

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With support from the Town Administration, the Friends of Holcomb Farm have been awarded a Connecticut Department of Agriculture Farm Viability Grant. The project, to begin in April, will bring further improvements to the CSA barn and Farm Store (next to the Church on Simsbury Road) and expand our dry and cold storage to meet the growing demand from our CSA, restaurant, retail, and Fresh Access partners.

Waypoints

Have Zebco, will travel

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I fish a lot, sometimes alone, sometimes with my kids or friends. Sometimes in local bass tournaments, I’ve traveled great distances to fish, working to fulfill my dream of fishing in every state with my son.

Fun & Rec

A special warm-up

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The Playstrong Group LLC from Simsbury held a welcoming warm up class for the Special Olympics athletes as they took on competition at the International Skating Center. Athletes enjoyed fun warm up and stretching exercises before their competitions in figure skating and speed skating at the rink.

Town/Govt

The Works

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Household Hazardous Waste: This year, Granby will again work with local towns to host hazardous waste collections.  The first collection will be Saturday, April 21 from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. at 10 Monteith Drive, Farmington, CT. For a list of accepted items, please check the Public Works page on the Town of Granby website granby-ct.gov. During 2018, there will be two additional hazardous waste collections held in Simsbury.

People

Granby Community Fund appreciates community support

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The members of the Granby Community Fund Board of Directors would like to thank the community for its support of the 2018 Annual Community Campaign. The GCF, a 501(c)3 organization since 1960, meets monthly in preparation of a town-wide mailing to help support the many valuable programs and services offered to local citizens.

Events

Chorale announces spring concert programming

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The 110-member Farmington Valley Chorale and Artistic Director Dr. Ellen Gilson Voth will present Passages – the Seasons of Life on Friday, April 20, in Avon. The program, according to Dr. Voth, “explores how we experience the passage of time at different stages of life.” In addition to several shorter pieces and songs, the Chorale will perform Brahms’ profound Nänie, and John Corigliano’s musical setting of the Dylan Thomas poem, Fern Hill, with soloist mezzo-soprano, Meredith Ziegler.

Health Notes

Identifying Worrisome Memory Loss

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It is easy to find information in the newspaper or popular magazines about the incidence and devastating effects of Alzheimer’s Disease. We also see TV commercials for medications that may help to slow the progression.

Events

Intrigue! Mystery! Murder! Wine!

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Join the Good Company Theater, on April 6 and 7, at Lost Acres Vineyard for a fundraiser: the third annual Murder Mystery Dinner, catered by Lite ‘N Up Eatery. The menu will feature French-inspired foods to entertain your palate while the group members perform, creating a unique dinner theater experience.

Great Outdoors

Residents speak out against town’s use of glyphosate

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The Herbicide and Pesticide Study Committee held a public information session on March 14 to gather input from Granby residents on the use of glyphosate (commonly known as Round-up) by the Public Works Department on roadways and near waterways. The first use by the DPW was in 2017, done with a boom truck whose spray width was five feet.

Verse

April Thoughts

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A miracle of Spring, the tiny yellow flowers of the forsythia greet us all over town. Daffodils, so bright their yellow color, appear in the yards and along the sides of the road — planted there by others that we may enjoy them today.

School & Sports

GMHS Athletes of the Month

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Kyle Desjardins
Sports played: Baseball

Academic accomplishments: During the Summer of 2017, I committed to Nichols College where I’ll be attaining an Accounting degree with a minor in Sports Management. The Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants awarded me with the High School Accounting Student Certificate of Merit in recognition of excellence in accounting.

School & Sports

Granby Lions Club Scholarship

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Granby Lions Club Scholarship applications for Granby resident high school seniors attending Granby Memorial High School or any other accredited high school, must be completed and returned to Ms. Julie Caruso, Guidance Department, GMHS by May 1. Scholarships will be awarded to high school students planning to further their education by attending a college, university, technical or trade school.

School & Sports

Community Scholarship Association of Granby

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Community Scholarship Association of Granby (CSAG) offers annual scholarships to graduating Granby Memorial High School seniors. Applicants must be Granby residents who are soon-to-be high school graduates accepted at an institution of higher learning approved by the selection committee.

School & Sports

Democratic Town Committee Scholarship 2018

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The Granby Democratic Town Committee (DTC) is accepting applications for $1,000 scholarship awards to recognize a Granby student, or students, who best exemplify its mission, Making Granby a Better Community, and who have demonstrated engagement in the political process. As a part of the scholarship application, students are asked to prepare an essay or multimedia presentation on the following topic:

“The second amendment of the Constitution of the United States was based on English common law and was adopted December 15, 1791.