Recent Stories

Drumrolls

Nathan Griswold, of Granby, was named to the fall dean’s list at Western New England University.
Luke Bilodeau, of East Granby, graduated from University of Wisconsin-Madison, College of Letters and Science, with a B.A. economics.

Chamber Golf Classic is May 15

Friday, May 15 is the date for this year’s Granby-Simsbury Chamber of Commerce Golf Classic, to be held at Simsbury Farms. Cost for players is $150, which includes golf, breakfast, barbecue lunch, drink tickets, beer keg, raffle, auction and driving range.

Spring and summer programs at the Y

Spring is an exciting time at the Farmington Valley YMCA as we look ahead to warmer weather, outdoor activities and opportunities for families to connect and stay active together. As the season changes, the YMCA is excited to offer several programs and events that bring the community together while helping kids and families build healthy habits.

When hair wreaths were the rage

The Salmon Brook Historical Society has two framed hair wreaths in the parlor of the historic Weed-Ender House. These two hair wreaths were made in the mid- to late-nineteenth century and were crafted in memory of members of the Emmons-Case families as well as the Messenger family. During the Victorian Era, hair art was a common way for families to preserve the memory of a loved one.

Minutes for Town Meetings

This issue of the Drummer does not have Highlights of the various Granby board and  commission meetings.

For those interested in reading the full minutes, please visit the Granby town website, granby-ct.gov, and click on the green Agendas and Minutes button.

Granby Food Bank

We currently need: Jarred spaghetti sauce, Canned meat ravioli, Canned chicken/chili, Knorr rice/pasta sides, Brownie/cake/cookie mixes, Applesauce/pineapple, Progresso soups, Bar soap/dishwashing soap, Tea/coffee

Environmental policy deserves facts, not spin

Last month, an opinion piece criticized my record on environmental issues. I agree with the writer on one important point, protecting our environment is essential—future generations depend on it. But her piece misrepresented my voting record. Legislators should be scrutinized, but that scrutiny should be based on facts, not selective scoring or political spin.

Granby Student Achievement: Year-over-Year Growth in State Assessments

At the Sept. 17 meeting, the Granby Board of Education received test score results from the prior year’s Smarter Balance (SBAC) tests. These results, coupled with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) assessment and the PSAT and SAT scores provide guidance to the board—and more importantly the administration and the teachers—of what additional work or changes need to be implemented to help our students achieve their best.

Our highways and byways evolved with the times

Last month, I described how, as a result if the flood of 1955, Granby became an island when the bridges and roads on Routes 9, 189, 20, and 10 were washed out or badly damaged, so that no one could get in or out of Granby. Our town green was literally an island as it is surrounded by Routes 10, 20 and 189 (formerly known as Route 9). Here is a brief history of roads through picturesque Granby.

John W. Conley

Colonel John Conley, former resident of Simsbury and North Granby, passed away peacefully at his home in Mays Landing, NJ, on Friday, August 22, 2025 surrounded by his family, after a year-long battle with cancer. He was 69.

Fall at Stony Hill Village

Granby Homes for Senior Citizens, which operates Stony Hill Village, will hold its annual Friends of Stony Hill Village meeting on Thursday, Oct. 9, at 6:30 p.m. in the community room at 259 Salmon Brook Street.

From standards to success: curriculum in Granby Public Schools

Instruction in Granby Public Schools is guided by our Vision of a Graduate: we aim for every student to become a resourceful learner and an effective communicator who contributes positively at the local, national and global levels. Our curriculum is based on state standards that outline the knowledge and skills students should acquire during their K–12 education in order to graduate ready for college and career.

Common toxin series: Anticoagulant rodenticides

Having started my career as an emergency veterinarian, I still have a soft spot for toxin cases. There are a few household toxins that I saw many times at the ER and still see at Salmon Brook Vet. Over the next few issues, I will highlight some of the most common toxins we see, what they do and how we treat them.

Granby Police Department achieves milestone accreditation

The Granby Police Department has achieved all three tiers of state accreditation through the Connecticut Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POSTC). In Connecticut, the state’s police accountability legislation requires all law enforcement units to attain multi-tiered state accreditation by the end of 2026.