Granby Drummer (https://granbydrummer.com/page/4/)
It’s June and, as every gardener knows, a wet spring means a wild world of weeds.
Weed is a catchall term, imprecise and subjective—plants growing where they’re not wanted! Lots of weeds are annoying but controllable without chemicals. Others are maddening—no matter what we do, they come back and back and back. Some of the worst are truly invasive—on the state Invasive Plants list.
On May 15, the Men’s Breakfast Group was entertained by Paul and Stacey Konopaske talking about their hiking experience along the El Camino de Santiago—great stories!
In the spring of 2025, visitors to the Granby Land Trust’s Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve noticed something unusual at the North Marsh: an industrious group of beavers had built a dam directly beneath the footbridge. As a result, water levels rose, the marsh began to resemble a pond, and the altered flow threatened the bridge’s integrity.
The Granby Land Trust was faced with a challenge: how do we protect the marsh, and our bridge, without harming the beavers?
The Drummer is looking for volunteers, including experienced and aspiring writers, photo editors, proofreaders, copy editors and folks to assist with our marketing and production teams. We offer training to anyone looking to learn new skills and give back to their local community. If you are interested in volunteer opportunities, we’d love to hear from you!
Transfer Station: The transfer station will be closed on Saturday, July 4. The transfer station is open Wednesday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon.
The effort to modernize and expand the Granby Public Library took a significant step forward last month when community members gathered for a town hall forum to explore what a renovated library could look like—and how it would be paid for.
An initiative has been introduced at GMMS this year to promote a more inclusive and respectful school environment.
74th Annual Strawberry Festival, East Granby Library’s Programs, Air museum to hold WWII weekend, Porter-Phelps Huntington Museum News, Barn concert sessions, and Concert for fans of CSNY
Nonprofit organizations in Granby are invited to announce upcoming events—free of charge—here on the In Town Focus page. According to Drummer readers, this calendar page is the first one they read, so take advantage of this free, no strings-attached option to let the community know what is happening in your organization.
PFLAG Granby is pleased to announce a series of film screenings to celebrate Pride Month. On June 7 at 4 p.m., the chapter will host a screening of Tomorrow’s Too Late, about British artist Dylan Holloway, formerly known as Lots Holloway, who stepped away from the spotlight during the 2020 lockdown to begin his gender transition. Once a rising star on the UK’s X-factor, Holloway now faced a profound personal and professional crossroads as hormone therapy could irreversibly change the voice that defined his career.
Every Memorial Day for the past 14 years my husband and I have risen at dawn and made our way to the Over the Mountain Burial Ground in West Suffield (OTM) to watch the Marquis of Granby. We first entered the hallowed grounds 15 summers ago to consider final resting spots for our daughter and Marquis member, Jacky, and ever since the Marquis has kept vigil with us.
Construction progress continues, FOHF Annual Meeting is June 28 in the New Farm Store, News from around the Farm, Meet the Farm Crew: Farm Store Manager Melody Smith, and Coming events
If you’re not familiar with the Holcomb Farm Tree Trail located on the hill across from the entrance to the North Barn event facility, this would be a good time to check out its newest addition. It’s not a new tree—it’s a kestrel nest box placed 12 feet in the air, on the right a short way up the entrance trail.
June is bear season in Granby.
According to Connor Hogan, director of the McLean Game Refuge, there are currently at least three sows with cubs in the eastern portion of the Game Refuge and likely at least one more mother bear with cubs in the west.
There is a day in June celebrating yellow, appropriately named Yellow Day. In the psychology of color, yellow is linked to joy, and “the happiest day of the year” was started by psychologist Cliff Arnall to balance Blue Monday, the saddest day of the year, which occurs on the third Monday of January.
I always enjoy sharing tried-and-true favorites from my recipe box, and this one has become a longtime favorite for good reason. I first brought this salad to a friend’s Labor Day picnic years ago, and after several people immediately asked for the recipe, I knew it was a keeper!
Near the center of town, community gardeners work the soil in the tradition of Granby’s agricultural past. On Hungary Road, in Ahrens Park, kids enthusiastically play ball near the south entrance while gardeners use the next entrance for the Granby Community Gardens. Just as enthusiastically they plant, water and care for their little bit of nature.
“Companion planting” is a good way to think about relationships in the kitchen garden. This is a method of gardening where plants are situated alongside one another for mutual benefit: tomatoes and basil, marigolds and squash, cabbage and thyme, cucumbers and radishes for a few. Each relationship offers something different, whether it’s pest control or shading the soil, attracting pollinators or improving soil fertility.
More than 100 people volunteered their time to help clean Granby’s roadsides as part of the Granby Land Trust’s 2026 Earth Day Roadside Cleanup.
School Superintendent Burke and Town Manager Walsh will be issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) seeking an independent consultant to examine how the Town of Granby and Board of Education (BOE) operations could benefit from a “Centralized Administrative Unit” (CAU) that would serve both the Town and BOE administrative functions.
The motion to approve the 2026-27 budget DID NOT PASS, with 1,166 YES votes and 1,539 NO votes.
The board of directors of Citizens for a Better Granby (CBG) is pleased to announce the hiring of Josh Anderson as the new managing editor of the Drummer. He began his duties on April 1, and he succeeds Heather Lockwood who will continue as a Drummer volunteer.
Something significant is taking root at Holcomb Farm—and an open invitation to the entire community.
Granby Artists (GA) presents its annual All Members Show at the East Granby Public Library, 24 Center Street, June 3–28, with an Artists Reception on Thursday, June 12, 5–7 p.m.
The Connecticut Press Club, founded in the 1970s, is composed of writers, editors, authors and other media professionals. Each year media outlets throughout the state are invited to submit pieces of their published work in a variety of categories. In January, the Drummer submitted 13 articles written by its volunteers in 2025 for consideration—and in April were notified that nine of its writers received awards.
Next Steps, Upcoming events, High School Registration Drive, and Poll workers are needed
The 250th Declaration of Independence anniversary warrants a look at the “riddle” of Thomas Jefferson. His resumé as a Founding Father includes being the key writer of the Declaration and the third president. The first amendment’s freedom of religion and the wall of separation between church and state also bear his “mark.”
The largest litter of bear cubs ever recorded in Connecticut was spotted in Granby this April. After a long, cold winter, a mother black bear emerged from the woods with a litter of five cubs.