Recent Stories

Meet me at the Center — May 2025

Please visit granby-ct.gov/senior-services or check your Center Life Newsletter for a complete listing of health services, support groups, clubs and ongoing activities.

Thank You to our loyal Advertisers!

Simply put, without our advertisers, the Drummer would not exist.
The amount of advertising determines the length of each issue of the paper, and local support pays for printing, technology, postage, and other costs associated with publishing a newspaper.
If your business advertises with the Drummer, we thank you.
If you are a customer of one of our advertisers, we hope you will thank them.

Life coach mom and son connect through recording Advice is Optional podcast

Nestled against Granby’s northern border near the Southwick notch, is Kristal Fiorentino’s yoga studio. The property, home to Fiorentino’s family as well as horses, donkeys and pets, is accessed by a 1,000-foot driveway, its length shaded by trees. Clients loved the serene property so much that they rebelled when Fiorentino’s growth inspired her to consider a larger, offsite location.

Browse & Borrow — May 2025

Registration is required for library programs unless indicated. To register visit granby-ct.gov/Library, and click on “Register for a Program” or call the library at 860-844-5275. To learn more about upcoming programs, sign up for the library’s monthly eNewsletter. For the most updated information on dates and programs, refer to the library’s online calendar.

Karl Edward Peters

Karl Edward Peters, 85, of Granby, Connecticut, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. Born June 6, 1939, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin to the late Norman Julius and Lethel (Wolter) Peters.

Help us find you in an emergency

During an emergency it’s important that responding emergency personnel quickly identify your house. Finding your home, especially at night, is quite challenging if your address numbers are hidden, unreadable, unlit or missing entirely. This results in delaying emergency responders from getting to your emergency quickly.

Frank Kearns’ Legacy

Tucked away off Canton Road lies an abandoned elementary school— named the Frank Kearns School. Though the building now stands empty and may soon be replaced by new development, the legacy of the man behind the name should not be lost to time. Frank Kearns, a dedicated public servant and visionary, made lasting contributions to education and agriculture in Granby. His story deserves to be told.

Granby Racial Reconciliation’s Racial Unity Festival a success

Although rain may have suppressed attendance for the June 29 outdoor arts and education festival celebrating the diversity of humanity, those who attended experienced a high-vibe, uplifting day. Granby Racial Reconciliation (GRR) was pleased to bring many talented groups to Granby as examples of the beauty of our diverse humanity.

Stroll through Granby history returns!

In the fall of 2020, during the pandemic, the Salmon Brook Historical Society found a way to share Granby’s history outdoors. We called it “A Stroll through Granby History.” The Stroll was an opportunity to both walk and learn; no one went inside any of the homes. We are doing it again!

Granby and the First Amendment — Part 1

You might ask, “How does Granby relate to the first amendment of the United States Constitution?” The first amendment prohibits government from establishing any religion or abridging speech, the press, or peaceable assembly. This is Part one of a five-part series covering 50 years of religious and other historical tensions to answer that question.

Time for Transition Soup

I have an autumnal personality. Maybe being born in the fall is why I have an affinity for all things rustic and earthy. Nature is an inspiration, a cycle of overlapping endings and beginnings.

Holcomb Farm moves into autumnal mode

It’s been two months since we last shared all that is happening at Holcomb Farm, which means there is so much to share: more than we could ever convey in our monthly Drummer installment (for which we are immensely appreciative). We hope you have found—or will find—time to visit us and experience our beautiful farm and trails for yourselves.

YIKES….I have poison ivy!

September is upon us. Our hot, steamy months of gardening are turning into cooler nights, shorter days and a slow down to the summer planting season. But we are still contending with the weeds.

Browse & Borrow — September 2024

Registration is required for most library programs. To register, visit granby-ct.gov/Library and click on “Register for a Program” or call the library at 860-844-5275. To learn more about upcoming programs, sign up for the library’s monthly eNewsletter. For the most updated information on dates and programs, refer to the library’s online calendar.

The Goats of Granby: The Goat is the G.O.A.T.

What is your favorite barnyard animal? Choices include chicken, cow, donkey, goat, horse, pig and sheep. Each of these has its claim to fame, its singular breed with unique characteristics, definable personalities and very specific uses. Of course, there is no wrong answer. Animal lovers’ favorites are not debatable.

Seth and Lucy Holcombe Preserve video tour available

The Granby Land Trust recently released the latest in its series of virtual property tours: this one of the Seth and Lucy Holcombe Preserve in North Granby. This is the fourth in the series, the others offering tours of the Mary Edwards Mountain Property, the Katan-Ensor and Old Messenger Road Preserves, and the Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve.

Home Fire Safety

According to National Fire Protection Association Statistics, during the five-year period from 2016-2020, US fire departments responded to an estimated average of 343,100 home structure fires per year. These fires caused an annual average of 2,610 civilian deaths, 11,090 civilian fire injuries and $7.6 billion in direct property damage.

Showcasing Granby’s agricultural treasures

When it comes to the growth and evolution of rural towns, one sentiment is heard time and time again: “less development, more land, more farms.” It’s natural for people to harken back to a day when agriculture and livestock fields spanned the landscape before apartment complexes, modern neighborhoods or store-front plazas took over.