Granby Drummer (https://granbydrummer.com/page/7/)
The library’s “Plant a Seed, Read” summer reading program ended on Aug. 10, with 459 library patrons registered for the program that kicked off with the Yo-Yo Guy on June 18. The library offered 70 programs this summer, and the children readers logged 133,440 minutes this summer. Thanks for the hard work of library staff and volunteers.
Peter Dinella’s photograph of the Barndoor Hills in autumn is a classic!
One of the oft-heard concerns throughout the budget process relates to the desire of many for the boards to work diligently and collaboratively to flatten out the rate of increase in the budget and, more importantly, the mill-rate change year to year. A key consideration in how the Granby Board of Finance looks at budgeting and the fiscal affairs of the town IS that stability in working towards a modest slope in the rate of increase in both.
At the June 1 Board of Selectmen’s meeting, two important actions occurred that “will move the Town of Granby forward.” The first action was the appointment of six town residents—Christopher LaVigne, Mark Gottlieb, Peter Anderson, Anne Adamson, Michael Lengvarsky and William Pascucci—to the Public Building and Capital Project Committee.
The hoedown has deep roots in farm country. The word hoedown originated in rural America, recalling the ritual end of harvest season when farm workers put down their farm tools to celebrate with a raucous community dance.
Friday, July 3: The Decker Bandits will perform 6–8 p.m. at the Salmon Brook Park Bandshell, followed by a bonfire 8–9 p.m.
Appreciation for Granby Library and Support for Bronin
Check Town of Granby website or call Town Manager’s office to verify date, time, location, and get information on how to participate on Zoom, if needed.
Highlights from the meetings held on May 16th and May 20th, 2026
Mark Williams spoke to the Men’s Breakfast Group on June 12, fascinating attendees with Granby’s history.
When I was a little girl, we had a black rotary dial phone. It sat on a little table by a lamp in the corner of the living room. Nearby there were several large telephone books containing local, state and business phone numbers. We got new books every year. I still remember my phone number.
There will be a Democratic primary at Granby Town Hall on Tuesday, Aug. 11, with early voting, also at Town Hall, from Aug. 3 to Aug. 9. That primary will include candidates vying for Governor and for the 1st U.S. Congressional district.
As of June 15, there is no Republican primary scheduled for 2026.
The Granby UNICO Chapter celebrated its first Mario Dei Dolori Memorial Golf Tournament on June 5.
The Granby Council on Aging Coffee Hour is a free program held on the second Wednesday of each month from September through June and open to all senior citizens. Granby seniors are welcome to share their views about the town and its services, the town’s ongoing course of development, to raise any questions we might help to answer directly or to share our knowledge to identify the right person or agency in town to provide answers.
Every June, foxgloves bloom on the GLT’s Katan-Ensor Preserve in West Granby.
The Open House held by Granby’s Department of Public Works on May 16 attracted some young recruits!
In my column for the October issue of the Drummer, I explained how Granby practices direct democracy. This means you, the voters through the ballot box, choose your elected officials, approve the town’s annual budget, and periodically are asked to go to the polls to approve spending and funding for large capital projects. The process where voters approve spending and funding for large capital projects is called “bonding.”
The 2026-27 budget, which starts on July 1, PASSED by a vote of 1,425 to 1,026. The 2,531 voters who participated in the machine vote on May 18 were 30.4 percent of registered Granby citizens.
Many thanks to all who volunteered their time and talents to hold three 12-hour referendum sessions for the Town of Granby!
Like many towns across Connecticut, Granby held three budget referendum votes before passing it on the third try: 1,425 approving and 1,026 rejecting—58 percent to 42 percent. The first budget vote was rejected with nearly the reverse percentages, while the second referendum had a closer tally but still a No.
Senior pitcher Amanda Bristol added another remarkable achievement to her high school softball career on May 11, recording her 700th strikeout in a dominant performance against Rockville High School.
Granby Grange No. 5 held its Fourth Annual Duck Race on May 2, and organizers are calling the event another tremendous success for both the community and the preservation of the Grange’s historic hall.
On May 18, Amanda Bristol pitched a complete game for Granby Memorial versus the Ellington Knights. In the impressive outing, Amanda added eight strikeouts, yielding only two earned runs (and two unearned) in the 4-2 loss. Amanda has logged 149 strikeouts this season, which ranks 17th among high school pitchers in Connecticut in 2026.
Before summer gets into full swing, it is a great time to visit with our friends and family by going out for ice cream, taking a walk on the rail trail or meeting up at the park.
Highlights from the meeting held on April 16th, 2026
The Town Clerk’s Office reminds veterans of an important upcoming deadline. If you have not yet filed your DD-214 Military Discharge Form, please stop by the Town Clerk’s Office before Sept. 30. Filing ensures veterans can receive the Veteran’s Exemption discount on the assessed value of real or personal property for the Town of Granby’s October 1 Grand List.
At the April 20 Board of Selectmen meeting, First Selectman Mark Fiorentino presented Granby’s long-time and much beloved UPS driver, Ray Haack, with a plaque honoring his 24 years of service to the people of Granby.