Recent Stories

Granby 4-H contributes and helps

Granby 4-H continued its community service efforts last month. The club brought food donations for the Granby Food Bank and clothing and toy donations to Goodwill.

CREC receives Patricelli painting

Natasha Miles, visual arts department head and equity team leader of the CREC Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts Half-Day Program accepted a valuable still life painting completed by Sylvia Davis Patricelli in 1964.

Community Kitchen receives donation from Liberty Bank

Founded in 1825, Liberty Bank is celebrating its 200th anniversary by supporting the communities it serves. Since its inception in 1997, Liberty Bank Foundation has awarded more than $21 million in grants to nonprofit organizations throughout the bank’s market area.

Recognition for Granby Police Department

For this Drummer segment, let’s talk about the Granby Police Department (GPD). In October 2023, Police Chief Scott Sansom was hired to lead the GPD. Before his arrival and especially today, the GPD is well run, and while calls for service are up, crime year-over-year is down.

Center Master Plan Workshop held on May 15

Over the past several months, the Granby Center Advisory Committee has been working with the consultant firm BFJ Planning to create a master plan for the Granby Center area. The goal of this study is to create a framework that supports a connected, healthy, vibrant and resilient center for businesses, residents and visitors that aligns with Granby’s Plan of Conservation and Development.

Grange garden getting ready for growing season

Granby Grange #5 has begun preparing its large community garden as part of its ongoing commitment to service and community engagement in this, its 150th anniversary year. With the help of dedicated volunteers, including Cliff Burrell and Mark Bishop, the soil was recently tilled and made ready for planting.

Local nurseryman wins prestigious award

On Nov. 21 John O’Brien received the 2024 Gustav A.I. Mehlquist award, the highest honor given annually from the Connecticut Horticultural Society at the society’s annual meeting. Established in 1987 the award honors Mehlquist’s extraordinary contribution to horticulture.

Heaven’s End

This may be the last picture of the grandparent Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) at Holcomb Farm. A notable tree by any definition, three feet across, it was probably intentionally planted decades ago directly across the field from the Holcombs’ front door.

Simpson painting made permanent in Waterbury museum

Local artist William (Bill) Simpson has had one of his charcoal drawings accepted into the permanent collection at the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury. The piece, Fishing with Nick, was a visitor favorite during the 2022 Juried Members Show at the museum, so much so that Simpson was invited to return it and three additional drawings in December 2023 as part of a group show titled Connecticut Artists Depict Trees and Forests.

Art Foundation donates portraits

The Sylvia Davis Patricelli Art Foundation recently donated two portraits painted by Patricelli to a West Hartford church and a local country club.

Mark Williams wins award

As January arrives each year, The Granby Drummer submits articles published during the preceding year to the Connecticut Press Club’s annual communication contest. Writers, editors and other media professionals across Connecticut vie for awards in over 60 categories.

Save the Date

Granby’s annual Empty Bowls dinner will be held on Friday, March 28, 5 to 7 p.m. in GMHS cafeteria. All proceeds benefit the Granby and Hartland food banks. See March issue for details!

Winter is here!

December view of the North Marsh on the GLT’s Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve in North Granby.

Feathered visitor—or hunter?

John Dewey photographed this broad winged hawk sitting on a plastic owl, watching birds at the feeder at his house on Hungary Road. It was taken during one of January’s many windy days so its feathers were ruffled from the wind.

Wrap up 2024, look ahead to 2025

By the time you read this, Thanksgiving Day will be in the rear-view mirror as we enter December, the holiday season, with the new year upon us in the blink of an eye!

GMHS volleyball player Jayne Hiatt achieves 1,000 “kills”

Granby Memorial High School senior Jayne Hiatt (#21) set a new record this season when she racked up her 1,000th kill in volleyball. Her achievement marks the first time in Granby volleyball’s 18-year history that a player has accomplished this amazing feat.

Puzzle Slam returns on Feb. 1

If you love jigsaw puzzles, then this is the event for you! Grab three friends or come with your family for a fun and lively puzzle competition! The Drummer’s second Puzzle Slam will take place on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at the Granby Memorial Middle School gym. (The snow date is Feb. 2.)

Perron named to BOF

Ben Perron was recently appointed to the Granby Board of Finance. Perron is replacing Al Wilke who resigned after serving on the board since 2003.

Supporting the Drummer still matters!

Thank you, thank you and thank you! To everyone who donated in response to our “Your Support Matters” letter in last month’s Drummer, we can’t say enough about how much your support means to us. Your donations help us fulfill our unwavering commitment to provide an independent platform to bring Granby’s news to you and all of your neighbors. We appreciate your willingness to invest in our efforts.

Town Hall Happenings

The December holiday season is fast approaching. Let us be thankful for the many town employees, staff and volunteers who all work to make this season joyful and bright. Read on for news and upcoming events from various departments at Granby Town Hall.

Shop our community—it makes a difference!

This 32-page December issue is full of so much information—town news, youth sports, upcoming holiday events, advice on celebrating safely and messages from our area advertisers. We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed putting it together.