Granby Drummer (https://granbydrummer.com/page/50/)
Sierra Shepard was awarded first place for her book review of Edna in Millbrook in the Connecticut Press Club’s 2023 competition.
Granby’s first selectman, Mark Fiorentino, received a first-place award in the 2023 Connecticut Press Club’s annual competition for his humorous short story, The New Guy.
The facts that he is Irish and that he is the guy who “got things done” in his previous job as mayor of East Hartford, led the Central Connecticut Celtic Cultural Committee to select Granby’s town manager, Mike Walsh, as the honorary marshal to lead the East Hartford delegation of the 2025 St. Patrick’s Day parade in Hartford.
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.
Kathleen Scranton, an artist from Coventry, fashions vintage hard-cover books into distinctive purses. As guest speaker at the Granby Woman’s Breakfast meeting in March, Scranton described the process she follows during the 10 to 15 hours required to bring about her unique form of magic: transforming old books into purses, purses that many would also consider pieces of fine art.
At the annual Connecticut Lions District 23B Governor’s Awards Breakfast on March 9, two Granby Lions were honored for their service as Granby Lions Club members.
In March, the Men’s Breakfast Group learned about the process of making maple syrup from Dave Emery.
As the calendar turns to March and I mark one year on the job, let me thank the Granby community for allowing me the opportunity to be your Town Manager.
The Wildcats Hockey 7th Annual Alumni Game was held on Jan. 4, 2025. More than 40 players joined in the game including athletes from the 1990s through March 2024.
During its February 3 meeting, the Granby Board of Selectmen approved the selection of 7 Summits/New Samaritan Realty as the developer for the Kearns School property. This decision came after much deliberation after the presentations given at the January 13 meeting.
Find your Fun at Camp Farmington Valley at Farmington Valley YMCA! Our licensed summer camp is available for students entering K-8th grade. Each day is packed with activities including arts and crafts, rock wall, STEAM, team building, sports, games and swimming. Campers receives daily swim instruction building campers’ confidence and strength around the water.
What do you get when you join committed volunteers, generous businesses, and a responsive town department? A Granby Community Garden to be very proud of!
The full May and June calendars and the buzz of excitement from our students tells us that the end of the school year is approaching. The activities and enthusiasm of our students and staff are high energy right now as everyone is focusing on exciting end-of-year activities, spring sports, field trips, prom, concerts, senior outings and awards celebrations.
Half-way through the school year, Granby Memorial High School junior Ben Lavigne was appointed the second student representative to the Board of Selectmen, joining senior Chas Orluk in reporting scholastic and sports news from the school.
Call it ignorant, but I generally ignore the announcements that blare across the high school intercom system each morning. Ask any GMHS student, and they will likely attest to committing the same offense. However, one spring morning during my freshman year, with the sun gleaming across my desk and my mind clear from distractions, I turned my ear to the wave of advertisements and reminders spouting from the ceiling speakers.
Granby seniors Ben Weber and Nathan Griswold concluded their G-4s 4-H Robotics experience with a trip to the VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas, Texas. Middle schoolers Dylan Hamilton and Emma Doherty assisted as pit crew.
Pack a picnic, bring a blanket and enjoy smooth tunes from the Wells Road Intermediate School, Granby Memo-rial Middle School and Granby Memorial High School jazz bands. This free event starts at 5 p.m. at the bandshell in Salmon Brook Park. Presented by the Granby Public Schools music department.
The countdown is on! Only two weeks remain until the event Granby Parents for a Safe Graduation (GSPG) has been planning all year! GSPG has been working hard to create a memorable evening to celebrate the Class of 2024.
Samantha Kovaleski, East Granby, a freshman engineering major, achieved the dean’s list at UConn.
Granby resident Emma Edelman, IEA Nationals April 26, 2024, Tryon International Equestrian Center, 8th Place in the Open Over-Fences
Granby resident Jaira Paine paced the Endicott College Gulls Women’s Lacrosse team to a 17-9 victory in the Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship game May 4 over three-time defending champion and top-seeded Roger Williams.
Bluebirds are being welcomed all over town this spring! Whether it has anything to do with climate change, it seems that there are more than usual appearing in our backyards. In addition to having difficulty contending with killing winter temperatures, another factor in their dwindling numbers in our area during the past several decades is that house wrens, tree swallows, alien house sparrows and starlings have crowded the gentle blues out of nearly all available nesting places.
The Granby Grange is holding an Agricultural Fair on Saturday, Sept. 14 that will coincide with Granby Open Farm Day. The Grange invites home producers to enter products from their gardens, kitchens, cameras and craft rooms for judging and to show off your skills to residents and out of town visitors alike.
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.
A pick-your-own tulip experience at a local vineyard last month was just in time for warm weather and springtime outings.
Salmon Brook Historical Society is exhibiting eight historic wedding gowns during the 2024 summer season. The gowns and accessories on display have a connection to Granby families and span the years 1866 through 1954. The exhibit will open for Sunday tours from 2 to 4 p.m. on June 2 through Sept. 29.
The Granby Women’s Breakfast Group will celebrate its 20th anniversary in grand style on Wednesday, June 5.
In the last issue of the Drummer, I wrote about Granby’s Civil War hero, Colonel Richard E. Holcomb, who died in battle at Port Hudson, Louisiana. When Holcomb’s body was returned to Granby for burial, many of his things were sent back in his trunk, such as his canteen, his uniform, with all the shoulder boards of his rank as Lieutenant, then Major, and finally Colonel.
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.
Lost Acres Vineyard owner, Michelle Niedermeyer, honored Granby artist Laura Eden during a May reception unveiling the Vineyard’s new wine bottle labels.