Recent Stories

People

Local love story for Valentine’s Day

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This is the story of high school sweethearts, Priscilla and Jimmy, who met in his junior year and her sophomore year, at Hartford Public High School. A mutual friend set up a blind date to go to a drive-in movie in 1968. They continued to go out for the next five years and were married on June 9, 1973. We bought a house in Granby in December 1973, where I still live today!

Great Outdoors

Who doesn’t love hot fudge sauce?

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Just in time for your Valentine treats, this hot fudge sauce is a game changer! Perfect over ice cream, waffles or your dessert brownie, or a dip for fresh fruit. While mixing, it really does look like wet sand but as you gradually stir, it becomes smooth. Enjoy!

Town/Govt

DPW Winter Tips

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Winter storms and the resulting snow removal can be a challenge for all Granby residents. We do our best to keep the roads passable and safe. Please note these suggestions, ordinances and rules to ensure a safe winter season for all.

Granby Land Trust

Welcoming 2026 at Mary’s Rock

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Eighteen hardy souls braved 18-degree weather to enjoy the 18th Annual GLT New Year’s Day Hike at the snowy and beautiful Mary Edwards Mountain Property in North Granby. A big thank you to Hike Leader Fran Armentano, who has made this a special way to start the New Year for so many years!

Granby Land Trust

Help protect Granby’s heritage and future

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Join the Granby Land Trust and help protect some of Granby’s most cherished natural places—beautiful landscapes like the Mary Edwards Mountain Property, the Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve, the Western Barndoor Hill, and the Seth and Lucy Holcombe Preserve. For a full list, visit GranbyLandTrust.org

We depend on the generosity of members like you, and every membership makes a difference.

Events

GAA 25th Anniversary project

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Celebrating its 25th year during 2026, the Granby Artists Association has initiated a community arts project, Seasons of the Granby Oak. The GAA invites everyone to join a diverse study of the Granby Oak as part of nature and home to animal and plant life. The Granby Oak is an inspiration to all mediums and styles of art.

Great Outdoors

Grange receives generous donation

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The Granby Grange welcomed Connecticut State Grange Deputy Patrick O’Brien to its Dec. 14 meeting and included a special moment of fellowship as Life Member Nancy Silkey was formally welcomed into Granby Grange.

Events

Buy Big Y shopping bags in June

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The Big Y grocery store in Simsbury has selected the Citizens for a Better Granby (publishers of the Drummer) to receive a portion of the sales of its Community Bags during June. The $2.50 reusable bags both benefit the environment by reducing the use of paper and plastic bags and yield a $1 donation to CBG. That sounds like a WIN-WIN to us!

Fun & Rec

Gran-Bee celebrated its 20 years milestone in style

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Wells Road School’s Jim Whitten repeated his Master of Ceremonies duties at the April 25 Gran-Bee trivia competition at Granby Memorial High School. Funds from the trivia contest and auction benefit the Granby Education Foundation’s community grants program.

Bonus Pages

Gran-Bee celebrates 20 years in style!

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On April 25, the Granby Education Foundation (GEF) proudly celebrated the 20th Annual Gran-Bee—marking two decades of trivia, teamwork and transformative community giving. This beloved fundraiser, held at Granby Memorial High School, brought together friends, families and neighbors to compete in a spirited trivia competition and to bid on a buzzing silent auction—all in support of GEF’s mission to fund innovative educational grants in the community.

Bonus Pages

Chamber of Commerce golf classic teed up community spirit

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On Friday, May 16, the Granby-Simsbury Chamber of Commerce hosted its much-anticipated Annual Golf Classic at the picturesque Simsbury Farms Golf Course. With the early morning rain giving way to sunny skies, more than 100 local business leaders gathered for a day filled with camaraderie, competition and commitment to community.

Bonus Pages

Valley Pre-School celebrates 50 years with Nannie Brown

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For half a century, Nannie Brown has remained a dedicated and passionate presence at Valley Pre-School. Her wisdom and experience influenced countless children, parents and teachers since she took on the role of lead teacher in 1975. Brown served in this role until 2011, when she “retired” from teaching, but she did not go far!

Bonus Pages

Salmon Brook hosts annual rubber duck race

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The third annual Granby Grange Rubber Duck Race, sponsored by Lincoln Tech, was held on May 10 at Salmon Brook Park and was a tremendous success. With beautiful cold weather and high spirits, the event drew a lively crowd and community participation. Over $1,400 in prizes were awarded to the top 16 rubber duck winners and the last place winner.

Bonus Pages

The wrens return

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Two years ago, I purchased a bird house thinking how lovely it would look in my tiny garden. I wasn’t sure if birds would ever nest in it, but I followed online instructions on how and where to situate it and a few weeks later I saw twigs sticking out from under the roof. We had a nest in progress—a wren! She’s back this year and another nest was built.

Bonus Pages

Tree Swallow

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Jay Harder’s photo of a tree swallow is one of several by Granby Land Trust members during Spring Migration Walks in Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve.

Bonus Pages

Davis painting to hang at country club

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On April 23, Susan Regan of the Sylvia Davis Art Foundation presented an oil painting to Dick Zanini, director of history at the Wethersfield Country Club. The painting was completed by Sylvia Davis Patricelli in 1961 and reflects the practice tee at the 1961 ICO championship at the club.

Bonus Pages

Silver Street Glass at Wadsworth Atheneum

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Annukka Ritalahti and Mark Gottlieb were pleased to be invited to the Wadsworth Atheneum’s 42nd Fine Art and Flowers exhibit April 25–27. It was the pair’s second invitation to be part of the display of arts and crafts, paintings and sculptures throughout the museum. Live entertainment, including music, was part of the festivities.

Bonus Pages

Social Services — June 2025

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The focus of the Social Services Department is to coordinate existing federal, state, regional and local services, to increase community awareness of these services and to develop new programs to meet the needs of Granby residents.

About Town

News and Notes as of April 22, 2025

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As I write this column, it’s the morning after Granby voters approved the FY26 budget.
A direct budget vote on the operation of our town is democracy in action and an important act in the self-governance of our community. Of the more than 8,500 registered voters in Granby, 1,126 exercised their voting privilege.

Opportunity Knocks!

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The Granby Drummer seeks Part Time Managing Editor
For more information, please contact editor@granbydrummer.org