Recent Stories

History

Archivist Salmon Brook Historical Society – Historical Footnotes 11’16

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George Seymour GodardCossitt Library is celebrating 125 years April 2016 to March 2017. A series of historical articles about the library and North Granby will be featured here.The latter part of the 19th century saw a “generation of giants” emerge from the one-room schools in the farming town of Granby. Among them were William Mills Maltbie, Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court; Tudor Holcomb, prominent tobacco grower, dairy farmer, philanthropist; James Lee Loomis, insurance executiv […]

School & Sports

Buddy benches come to Kelly Lane and Wells Road schools

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The newly established Special Education Committee of the Granby PTO donated buddy benches at Kelly Lane and Wells Road schools. A buddy bench promotes kindness and inclusiveness among students at play. A child sitting on the bench signifies to others: I want to play but I’m having trouble getting involved. Any child can go over and say, “Hey, come play with us.” Students at both Kelly Lane Primary School and Wells Road Intermediate School enjoy the new Buddy Benches. A d […]

School & Sports

Kearns School study committee seeks input

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The Frank M. Kearns School Study Committee, appointed by the Board of Selectman, is exploring future uses for the facility and surrounding property. This property is located in the southern part of town at 5 Canton Road and was formerly a Pre-K to grade 2 school. The property is connected to public water, sewer and gas.The committee is interested in hearing from members of the community who may have ideas about the best use of the building. This will be done by two methods.Fill out the survey. Y […]

School & Sports

Sunset over Granby Memorial Middle School

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Carole Cipkas snapped this photo in early October when she was picking up her daughter from cross country practice at the high school. “The setting sun was reflecting on clouds to the east right over the middle school. It was so incredible, I thought I’d share for all residents to enjoy!” Indeed! […]

People

Local dancer featured on hit TV show Dance Moms

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Haley Huelsman, 14, will once again be featured on hit TV show Dance Moms this upcoming winter. Huelsman was hand-selected for season 5 and season 5.5 of Dance Moms after appearing on Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition. The filming for season 7 of Dance Moms began in Los Angeles in September and Huelsman was selected to be a member of the Candy Apple’s Elite Teen team. She continues filming for the duration of the seventh season all across the country. Huelsman trains in Granby at New […]

People

Transgender Day of Remembrance service planned for Nov. 20

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First Congregational Church of Granby will host a community event to commemorate the Transgender Day of Remembrance on Sunday, Nov. 20, at 5:30 p.m., followed immediately by a free dinner and informal Q and A session.The Transgender Day of Remembrance is an annual event that seeks to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice in the prior year. The first such event was held in the spring of 1999 in San Francisco as a memorial service to honor Rita Hester, whose […]

The Arts

Bruce Porter Memorial Music Series presents Farela

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By Laura Mazza-DixonThe Bruce Porter Memorial Music Series, in its 2016-2017 season, will present Farela: Folk Reimagined, with cellist Tanya Anisimova and pianist Pi-Hsun Shih, on Sunday, Nov. 6, at 4 p.m., at South Congregational Church, 242 Salmon Brook Street.The concert will include a new work by Japanese composer Masatoshi Mitsumoto, based on Pierre et Luce, a 1920 novel by the Nobel Prize-winning French author Romain Rolland. In addition, the duo will present the Suite Popular Espa&ntilde […]

The Arts

Copper Hill Concert

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Copper Hill Church celebrates 200th anniversary with musicThe Copper Hill United Methodist Church continued the celebration of its 200th Anniversary with a music concert on Sept. 25. Participants from at least eight different churches joined in with joyous instrumental, vocal and choral offerings.Music ranged from the 1848 Shaker tune, Simple Gifts, for flute and harp, to the contemporary style of vocalist/pianist Joanne Firla in Faithful, a song she wrote especially for the occasion. A patrioti […]

The Arts

The Miracle Worker is Nov. 3–6

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Granby Memorial High School Drama Club invites you to join us for its production of The Miracle Worker by William Gibson. Directed by Nikki Currie-Huggard and senior-student director Benjamin Swisher, The Miracle Worker tells the true, inspiring story of young Helen Keller (Anna Bourque) who struggled with deafness and blindness, and her journey toward speech with the aid of Annie Sullivan (Kate Hosack). Suitable for all ages, show dates are Nov. 3, 4 and 5 at 7 p.m. with a 3 p.m. matinee on Nov […]

The Arts

GAA hosts Winter Wonders Fine art sale

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By Annukka RitalahtiEighteen members of the Granby Artists Association will sell their artwork at the annual Winter Wonders fine arts sale, held at Lost Acres Vineyard, 80 Lost Acres Road in North Granby. This is a popular and inspiring event with artists working in a variety of mediums, including blown glass, pottery, sculpture, lamps, calligraphy, paintings and high-quality prints.Experience an evening of fine art, meet the artists and be the first to see their exciting new pieces on Thursday, […]

Town/Govt

Challenges and complexities in building 2018-19 budget

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As the boards near the conclusion of the budget-making process in preparation to send the final product on to Public Hearing for review and comment, they are faced with twin difficulties: managing the moderate but constant increase in the cost of doing business, and the uncertainty in state aid levels as seen throughout last year’s rollercoaster ride. Granby has experienced a nearly million-dollar reduction in state funding from last year’s state budget compared to what the Governor has proposed for the upcoming fiscal year.

Town/Govt

A community bands together

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“When something happens to someone in your community, when you live in a small town, you band together and do what you can,” said Rebecca Lobo on NBC News Connecticut. Rebecca was referring to Katherine “Katie” O’Neill, 10-year-old Granby resident who was seriously injured over the long Presidents’ Day weekend when a dead tree fell on her as she was walking with a group (including her brother, PJ) in the McLean Game Refuge.

Town/Govt

Registrar of Voters Calendar

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Wednesday, April 4: Spring Voter Registration Drive at Granby Memorial High School

Monday, April 9: public hearing for the town budget at the GMHS Auditorium

Monday, April 23: town budget referendum – voting is between noon and 8 p.m. at Town Hall

Monday, May 7: potential date for a second revised budget referendum from noon to 8 p.m. at Granby Town Hall, should the budget fail to pass on the first vote. Voter registration is a public record and it’s easy to confirm your voter registration by going to the State’s website or visiting the registrars at Town Hall.

Town/Govt

Bischoff named Republican of the Year

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Mark Neumann, Granby GOP Chairman, introduces Gordon Bischoff as the Republican of the Year, 2018 at the Lincoln Day Dinner held by the 7th Senatorial District on March 16, in Windsor Locks. Gordon was recognized for his more that 20 years of service on the boards of Education, Finance, building committees and Holcomb Farm.

Letter to the Editor

Appreciation for art display

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The Painting Study Group would like to express its heartfelt thanks to the Granby Library for allowing us to display our artwork at the main library for the month of February. We appreciate the opportunity to share our art with the greater Granby community.

Support for candidate

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I am exceptionally proud to offer my support to Valerie Eastwood, Democratic candidate for the CT 62nd Congressional District, and here’s why:

Valerie has a strong professional background. As an attorney with specific experience in tax law, health care law, and the complicated intersection of Federal versus State laws, she is ready to write effective legislation on day one.

Letter to the Editor

Don’t sell East Street farmland

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I urge townspeople to ask the town not to sell our land at 107 East Street—the Evonsion farm. The Selectmen are debating doing that, along with selling the development rights to the State.

Letter to the Editor

Town vote wanted

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I am writing in support of a town-wide vote on the proposals for 107 East St. Our Selectmen are to be commended for their time and dedication but the implications of this decision are far reaching and the responsibility should be borne by all town residents, not just the five Selectmen.

Letter to the Editor

Let the voters decide

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The Town of Granby has received an unsolicited offer to purchase the Evonsion Farm located at 107 East Street. This property was purchased by the town for $2.5 million, and is currently leased to two farmers who raise corn on it for their cattle.

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.

Town/Govt

Town of Granby Meeting Calendar

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Board of Selectmen, 7:30 p.m., Town Hall, Mondays, November 2, November 16

Board of Finance, 7:30 p.m., Police
Community Room, Monday, November 23

Board of Education, 7 p.m.,
Central Office, Wednesdays, November 4, November 18

Planning & Zoning, 7 p.m., Town Hall
Tuesdays, November 10, November 24

Inland Wetlands & Watercourses,
7 p.m., Town Hall, Thursday, November 12

Development Commission, 7 p.m.,
Town Hall, Monday, November 9

People

Cemetery Association seeks members

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The Granby Cemetery, Inc., which serves the residents of Granby as a private cemetery, invites those interested in the cemetery to become members of the Cemetery Association. You may become a member of the cemetery if you have a plot in the cemetery or have an interest in the cemetery.

Op-Ed

Granby needs a marketing plan

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The premise of this op-ed reflects my observations during my attendance at public referendum presentations, meetings of Granby’s BOS, BOF, Planning and Zoning, Parks and Recreation, Board of Education, budget workshops, discussions with the office of Community Development and recent review of Granby’s most recent Plan of Conservation and Development. I hope it will stimulate Granby residents to contribute, vocally or in writing, to the town’s fiscal and quality-of-life issues.

Local Voices

Wear red on April 10, Equal Pay Day

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Recognize Equal Pay Day on April 10 to symbolize how far women and minorities are “in the red” with their paycheck. On Tuesday, April 10, women across the United States will join in a national day of action called Equal Pay Day.

Local Voices

Comments on Evonsion property

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Residents voiced their opinions on the RFPs for the former Evonsion property at the March 5 and 19 Selectmen’s meetings

Susan Regan – disappointed that the RFP did not include anything but agriculture; would like to see an extensive marketing plan, believing that the property could sell for much more than the $1.25 million, that money then being used to pay off long-term debt. Bob Miller – surprised to see that sale of the property is even being considered as former First Selectman John Adams stated that the purchase of the property to be sure it remained open space.

School & Sports

Helpful study tips for students

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As we pass the week of midterms at GMHS, you may have been hoping for a better grade on some of your exams. This article may help give your grades for future tests and final exams a little boost, as it will suggest tips you have never used before, or may help you bring your current strategies to the next level. Whether you are a freshman or an experienced upperclassman, it is always helpful to learn new last-minute study tricks or try out some entirely different strategies.