Granby Drummer | October 2020

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Volume LI, No. 2 • October 2020

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Selectmen reject Agbotic offer What a summer. Now it’s finally fall!

What does it bring? Who knows? A pandemic surge, or not. A new President, or not. Things beyond the influence of our town to directly impact us, perhaps. But I do believe every opinion, and every vote, does matter and we should all engage in shaping our future. How? That’s a Opportunities own choice. abound. Speak up, conversations, all create use your voice. And Please listen. alk listen.

And vote.

It’s our fuby Jim Lofink ture. Meanwhile, here in Granby…

Tale of Two Properties, Part Two. Back in June I posed a two-part question: A: Which town property is for sale with no viable offers, and B:Which town property is still attracting interest even though it is not for sale? Well, Part B is no longer a question, it was answered by the Board of Selectmen (BOS) on Sept 8.

The former Kearns school is still for sale. On Part A—still no change. No viable offers to consider. The RFP was released to find a commercial broker, but none has been hired yet. The school system looked at using Kearns for extra space during the COVID-19 crisis, but decided not to use it. If anyone wants a 38,722-sq. ft. building on 33.8 acres of land near major traffic artery, call Town Hall.

The East Street property offer from Agbotic has been turned down. On Part B—the BOS decided to stop consider-

T H T

ation of an unsolicited offer of $330,000 for a 50-acre piece of the 126-acre former Evonsion Farm at 107 East Street. In a 4-1 vote, the majority opinion was that the relatively large, flat, open space purchase was approved by taxpayers for the needs of future generations, and to break up the parcel and sell a portion of it at a greatly reduced value was short-sighted.

The details are available. I would encourage anyone interested in the detail to read the Board of Selectmen Packet dated 9/8/20 available in the Public Documents section of the town website—granby-ct. gov—and the BOS Minutes of the same date, which were not available at the time of this publication. Also watch the discussion online at GCTV16.org as it is quite informative.

The discussion was complex, the decision criteria were clearer. The offer was in discussion since before the COVID-19 era started and was evolving with several aspects changing and others still unclear.

What was clear was the offer price of $6,600 per acre compared to the $20,000 per acre paid by the town. Unclear was a host of issues including how access to the 50-acre rear lot would impact the use and value of the rest of the property.

Estimates of property taxes ranged from $9,000 by the buyer to $165-180,000 per year by the tax assessor. There was discussion of a potential solar array and potential trash-to-energy plant that might return revenue to the town, and more. In the course of the discussion, four of the selectmen focused on the concrete values in the offer and on the property as an asset

Town Talk cont’d. on p. 2

Long-Term Recovery Committee established to offer strategic emergency planning Using a model endorsed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the State of Connecticut’s Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS), Granby’s Board of Selectman directed the establishment of a Long-Term Recovery Committee (LTRC).

The LTRC is composed of Granby citizens and configured to represent all members of the community. Part of the committee’s responsibility is to develop plans on how to assist residents and businesses affected by long term disasters, including but not restricted to COVID-19. It is important to note that this may include referrals for assistance not associated with any of the town’s municipal departments.

As part of a long-term plan, the LTRC will be distributing a survey to collect data that will help identify the needs of the community. Granby residents will receive a postcard in the mail with information on how to fill out the survey online. There will also be paper surveys available in the Granby Library Foyer, at the Waste Not Want Not Dinner and at Lost Acres Orchard by the end of September.

Based upon the analysis of the information received, the LTRC hopes to be able to offer a strategic plan to the Board of Selectman and nongovernmental entities.

For more information please call 860-844-5352 or email senior@ granby-ct.gov

Cowards’ Tobacco Harvest The drying barns at the former Davis Farm on North Granby Road are completely full with the first successful tobacco harvest. Photo by Shirley Murtha

There’s no Magic Money Tree more money from the state to help offset greater spending.

The other funding source mentioned In the last Drummer a fragment of is FEMA, which provides funds for the Democratic Town Committee took qualifying catastrophic events. Handing issue with my shot across the bow in the out raises is not a qualifying event. This prior issue that indicated that the boards source, in conjunction with the state, need to be focusing on flatter operating has been funded to assist in covering budgets and contract implications for extraordinary COVID-19-related FY22. Given the financial tightness municipal and education reopening and uncertainties facing both the town expenses, it is for one-time costs, not and the families of Granby due to the ongoing expenses that, once introduced, pandemic, a bipartisan consensus on need to be funded within a local budget the Board of Finance recognizes that we yearly with local tax dollars. should work collectively to hold the mill No matter which way you slice it, rate flat for FY22, just as we have for the 90 percent of the local overall budget current year. Within their is the operating budgets. letter, they agree with the About 75 percent of those goal of another year of a …we will also need operating components are flat mill rate given this flatter operating the contracts encompassing unique moment in time salaries and benefits, and yet feel they would rather increases … which 80 percent of the overall see greater spending means next year’s funding is through local funded by money from property tax dollars. Hence, compensation heaven— or at least from as go the contracts, so goes numbers as well. your other pocket. the budget and the mill rate.

The two sources of The flatter they are, the money from heaven they greater the ability to flatten the mill rate. target are the state taxpayer-funded While the final year of significant drop Educational Cost Sharing (ECS) grant off in Debt Service will help in getting and federal taxpayer-funded Federal to a flat mill rate in FY22, we will also Emergency Management Administration need flatter operating increases than we (FEMA) money. The ECS formula as have been seeing of late, which means approved by the legislature for Granby next year’s compensation numbers as and nearly all towns reflects a steadily well. That’s not a threat; it’s reality. declining amount each year for the rest While it is certainly true that of this decade with the only increases townspeople recognize the continuing going to the cities. In his budget last contributions to our town during this year Lamont looked to give the towns pandemic by all of the employees of even less but was unsuccessful because the Town of Granby—both municipal legislators held firm against that. Given and in education—it is equally true that the now-projected $3-billion deficits the so many of those who foot the bill in state faces annually going forward, we’ll town have continued providing goods be lucky to see the modestly declining and services facing similar interaction schedule adhered to—never mind see with the public. This includes not

By Michael B. Guarco, Jr. Chair, Board of Finance

Money Tree cont’d. on p. 3

Photo by Shirley Murtha

Page 2 The Granby Drummer

October 2020

GRANBY BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES AUGUST 3, 2020 The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen, held via Zoom, was called to order by First Selectman B. Scott Kuhnly at 7 p.m.

Present: B. Scott Kuhnly, Glenn Ballard, Sally King, Mark Neumann, Edward Ohannessian, John D. Ward, Town Manager. Also present: John Preete from Agbotic

Public Session

William Glueck, 18 Barkhamsted Road, thanked John Preete for bringing the Agbotic proposal and opportunity to the town and his willingness to work with the board. It was the first time residents and board members have seen the proposal. He felt it is important to look at the financials, such as the property tax impact, the increases in taxes, the offset in energy credits and any other financial aspects of the deal three, five, ten years out and compare it similarly to what we’re presently doing with the land three, five, ten years out. Once the community is informed, it would be important to have a community discussion to see if we should move forward or not.

Anna Sogliuzzo, 15 Old Orchard Road, is happy to see so many people on the call and glad the project is getting the attention it deserves. She believes there should be a public vote on the project after a public hearing.

Minutes

On A Motion by Mark Neumann, seconded by Sally King, the board voted (5-0-0) to approve

the minutes of the regular meeting of July 20, as written.

Unfinished or Tabled Business

Consideration of interest in town-owned land at 107 East Street Town Manager John Ward reviewed the process regarding the sale of town-owned land. Per the Town Charter, once a sale receives an affirmative vote by the Board of Selectmen, it goes before the Board of Finance for an affirmative vote. At that point, a town meeting would be held with a vote by the town. At any point, a public hearing may be requested by the Board of Selectmen.

In regard to the sale of 107 East Street, the town obtained additional information as instructed at the July 20 board meeting. Ward noted there was an error in the last paragraph on page 2 of the memo in the packet. The total amount to be paid-off is correct at $2.2M, but the average over the next 13 years is $170,263.16 per year to pay off the debt. Agbotic used a debt number of $50,000 per year, but the number actually would be triple that.

Preete indicated that Agbotic would consider buying 50 acres and a solar array is planned. The specific acreage would depend on the geography of the land. Agbotic is planning a solar array and he offered town participation in virtual net metering. Ward noted it is unclear if the town can participate if they don’t own the property. Agbotic is not requesting tax abatement. This proposal would create approximately 15 fairly high paying

jobs. It is Agbotic’s plan to have 300 greenhouses in New England over the next three years.

There is still an issue over development rights and Community Development Director Abbie Kenyon has not heard back from the state regarding this.

The purchase and sale agreement is included in the packet and Ward forwarded it to the Town Attorney, who did not have any issues with it, but noted it is very generic and he would need more details before he makes a recommendation for the board to move forward. Kenyon reached out to the Development Commission, but has not heard back yet. In addition, she contacted the Agricultural Commission for its opinion regarding this type of operation for the future use of the property.

Kuhnly asked if the selectmen had any questions for Ward before Preete gives his presentation and receives questions.

Edward Ohannessian asked for the corrected numbers again and inquired about the offer for the 50 acres. In addition, he clarified that Kenyon will get in touch with the Development Commission and the Agricultural Commission. Kenyon spoke to the chairman of the Development Commission who had some questions. Ward has not received feedback from that conversation. She has not spoken to the chairman of the Agricultural Commission as of yet. She will ask if anyone on that commission could evaluate the proposal.

The final yearly cost is $170,263.16 that

represents the principal and interest the town will pay each year for the next 13 years until the total amount is paid off. A price has not been discussed since the change in reduced acreage.

Preete will discuss that.

Sally King asked how the property will be accessed when it is cut back to 40 or 50 acres, but acknowledged that would need to be answered by Preete.

Glenn Ballard asked what made the proposal “not formal.” Ward replied there are many details we don’t have yet so it isn’t complete enough to be deliberated or voted on by the board.

Preete addressed the board and provided a timeline of the process so far, beginning with his presentation on May 4. He noted he answered Ward’s questions via email and he is willing to use less acreage and the proposal he presented on May 4 can fit on 50 acres. The sale amount would be $330,000. The easement/access will need to be worked out. The revenue stream for the town would be about $50,000 going forward.

He identified the debt service in more detail in his email dated July 31 and included the revenue from the assets he would put in, which is over and above what the debt service would be. He does not believe he mentioned anything regarding a tax abatement.

There was discussion regarding the bond debt. The outstanding principal is $1.8M and the interest is $407,000. The total payment is $170,263 yearly (principal and interest) for 13 years. Although the town received additional information on the project tonight, more is needed before a decision can be made.

On A Motion by Neumann, seconded by King, the board voted (4-0-1) to table the discussion on the interest in town-owned land at 107 East Street until the next BOS meeting. Ballard abstained.

Business

Consideration of STEAP Grant Application Ward is seeking approval for a Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) grant for Holcomb Farm. The money would be used for the septic and an update of the bathrooms to make them ADA compliant. It would also be used to fix the exterior of the farmhouse.

Holcomb Farm has been a recipient of STEAP in the past. This year it is for $128,000 and would be equally matched by the town. The money is in the Capital Improvement budget. This year, STEAP is encouraging projects related to COVID, but there are none. Ward delayed the decision to see if Kearns was going to be used by the BOE, but that is no longer the case.

Only small towns can apply and if approved, Ward will come back to the board to request the matching share. The $128,000 would come from the Recreation Fund for work on the farmhouse and the General Fund for work on the barn. Ward thanked Kristine Vincent and Kirk Severance for working on this grant.

On A Motion by Neumann, seconded by King, the board voted (4-1-0) to authorize the Administration to submit a grant to STEAP for the proposed improvements to Holcomb Farm.

Ballard opposed the motion.

Ballard inquired if it would generate more bookings at Holcomb Farm if these projects are done. Ward noted that it is an issue that comes up when people are contemplating a rental.

There was no quantitative analysis done. Ballard also inquired how residents would feel about

BOS cont’d. on p. 3 Town Talk cont’d. from p. 1 for future generations as the factors that guided their decision.

Future Use? That is unclear, and selectmen voiced several possibilities. In particular, it was stated that previous decisions to co-locate the high school, the middle school and public works all on one parcel created several safety and use conflicts that may force expansion to another site. Or other needs may come up that are totally unanticipated today. At least one selectman stated, “Land is not being made anymore,” and it is important to keep this unique parcel as a town asset.

So, our future awaits; let’s hope we shape it well. ­—Jim Lofink

October 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 3

BOS cont’d. from p. 2 doing this over playgrounds. Ward noted the playgrounds are closed and no survey was done.

It is more valuable to fix the bathrooms this year as opposed to the playgrounds. The guidelines for STEAP came out in July and the deadline for the grant is Aug. 13. King noted the facility at Holcomb Farm has produced a lot of income for the town and the farmhouse looks horrible. The farm is an asset to the town and improvements are needed. King is in agreement with the project.

Ohannessian voiced his agreement as well.

Ward noted that two years ago this was a project CPPAC had on their list. It didn’t want to use bond money if the money could be found somewhere else. Kuhnly noted that we need to look at this as a municipality not a business. If there is a building that looks bad, we need to fix it.

Consideration of Re-Opening Tri-Town Cable Fund for Tracking PEGPEDIA Grant Tri-Town Cable, through the town, applied for a grant through the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA). They are the recipient of $147,000 in assistance used to upgrade equipment. Because the application was through the town, town actuaries requested the money come through the town accounts. Administration Finance Officer Kimi Cheng requested the TriTown Cable Fund be reopened for the purpose of tracking this money. The money is a flow through and it needs to be shown as such.

On A Motion by King, seconded by Ballard the board voted (5-0-0) to approve to reopen the Tri-Town Cable Fund for tracking the PEGPEDIA grant.

Town Manager Reports

Ward reported the remnants of Hurricane Isaias are expected to hit tomorrow at 2 p.m. The Emergency Management Director met with administration, the Social Services Director, as well as the Director of Public Works regarding preparedness.

Selectman Reports

Ohannessian inquired if town offices are scheduled to open to the public on Aug. 10. Ward reported they are and thanked the Re-Opening Committee. He noted it did an excellent job under the leadership of Chairman Sandra Yost.

The Town Hall will be opened daily from 9 to 11 a.m. and again from 1 to 3 p.m. The two hours in between are for cleaning. Residents are being encouraged to continue to conduct business online, by telephone and through the lock boxes in the foyer.

The ballot box from the state arrived today and will be available tomorrow for use outside.

The library is scheduled to open on Aug. 10 as well, but may be open every other day to allow cleaning in between. Due to the high-risk population, as well as using the Senior Center for indoor activities, it will open last.

Executive Session

Pursuant to Conn. General Statute 1-200(2), the board moves to go into Executive Session to discuss Collective Bargaining. Ward and Cheng are invited to attend.

Kuhnly called the executive session to order at 8:21 p.m. and it was adjourned at 8:41 p.m.

At 8:42 p.m., the regular meeting resumed.

Adjournment

On A Motion by Ohannessian, seconded by King, the board voted (5-0-0) to adjourn the meeting at 8:42 p.m.

AUGUST 19, 2020 The special meeting of the Board of Selectmen, via Zoom, was called to order by First Selectman B. Scott Kuhnly at 7 p.m.

Present: B. Scott Kuhnly, Glenn Ballard, Sally King, Mark Neumann, Edward Ohannessian, John D. Ward, Town Manager.

Minutes

On A Motion by Sally King, seconded by Mark

Neumann, the board voted (5-0-0) to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of Aug. 3, as written.

Business

Resignations and Appointments to be considered Vacancies: Conservation Commission (2); Development (1) John Ward noted there is a second vacancy on the Conservation Commission. There was a member who has not been attending and his appointment has expired. There is also a vacancy on the Development Commission.

Consideration of Fiscal Year 2019-20 Transfer of Accounts Administration wants to transfer money from Contingency to Administration in the amount of $14,100. This is compensation for the Interim Community Development Director, Dominick Caruso, who filled in for Abby Kenyon while she was on leave.

Sept. 11

Town Manager Reports

Budget Operations Ward noted this is the first month of the new fiscal year and currently 48 percent of collections have been received. The average for the same period over the past six years is a 47.7 percent collection rate. No state aid has been received as of yet for this period, but that is not unusual for July. In addition, expenditures are minimal. There were no questions from the board.

Ward responded to a request from Glenn Ballard for background information regarding officers who work out-of-town or vice-versa.

Ward explained that this is private duty pay.

Contractors will hire officers for private jobs when necessary. The contractors are charged for the officer’s time, as well as an administration fee.

The officers make time and a half. It costs the town nothing. Sometimes out-of-town officers fill in for private jobs here as well.

Selectman Reports

Ballard reported he did some analysis on Agbotic and gave a brief presentation on his findings.

He feels if the sale goes forward, the town would not lose money and on paper, it looks like a great deal. In addition, the town has a problem with solid waste disposal and needs to find another option within one to seven years.

He noted Preete has experience with trash to energy and Ballard believes this could be done on the property on East Street as well. The plant could serve the town and this service could be provided to another town, which would provide additional income.

Kuhnly noted that in the future, any presentations should be forwarded to the Selectmen ahead of time to review. He noted that at the last board meeting, Preete did not answer his question regarding taxes so the numbers Ballard provided may not be correct. In addition, solar projects take a long period of time to get approval. He asked Ballard to forward his information to the Selectmen and a discussion regarding Agbotic will be on the next agenda.

King noted that if the board proceeds further with this proposal, it would be wise to have an expert in the field provide input.

Ward interjected that this is a special meeting and as such, no agenda items can be added or discussed.

Kuhnly asked Ballard if he spoke to anyone to get the information he provided. It came from Sierra Energy in California. The report was created based on information Ballard provided through a free website. Kuhnly noted that Selectmen do not have authority to contact anyone on behalf of the town.

The Shannon Shattuck American Legion Post 182 organized a remembrance event on Sept. 11 on the Granby Town Green. Post Commander Ken Rafoss and other members of the legion, their families, clergy, and representatives from Lost Acres Fire Department participated. Live music was provided by Steve Moore on bagpipes and Curt Johnson on the snare drum.

The half-hour memorial was taped by GCTV and SCTV and will be aired on local cable stations. Photos by Holly K. Johnson

Adjournment

On A Motion by Neumann, seconded by King, the board voted (5-0-0) to adjourn the meeting at 7:24 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, John D. Ward, Town Manager

Money Tree cont’d. from p. 1 just police, fire and ambulance, and those protecting our health in medical offices and hospitals, but also those picking up trash, stocking shelves and at the checkout at a store, growing and shipping our food, and fixing a pipe or a furnace or delivering oil, gas, and diesel.

That too is the real world, and in that real world we know that while the economy has improved as things reopened, many

Remembrance Day

of our neighbors have yet to return to work, and many of those working are earning less than they had been. All this factors into our view that working towards holding the mill rate flat again is both reasoned and reasonable, and that means we need to have a year with fairly flat operating budgets and contracts. You can’t do one without the other.

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Page 4 The Granby Drummer

Drumbeat Letters to the Editor Support for Finance Chairman Finance chairman Mike Guarco always has the best interest of everyone in this town foremost in his mind and heart.

For many years, he has kept the Granby ship from sinking through some strenuous waters. He doesn’t just pop into the monthly Board of Finance meeting and toss around some ideas. He spends an enormous amount of time researching and studying the situations at hand, and tries very hard to prepare for several years in the future. He tries to keep the mill rate down while attempting to give residents the services they want.

An op/ed in the September Drummer took issue with Guarco’s suggestion that, since they are the majority of the town’s paid employees, the teachers, as well as all the other town employees whose wages and benefits make up 75 percent of the budget, might consider foregoing the usual yearly increase in order to pay for the many expenses incurred in order to prepare for the schools’ opening and the efforts needed to continue to keep our schools safe during this age of Covid-19. The Educational Cost Sharing income is decreasing, and the FEMA grants pay for only one-time expenses involved in the opening process.

I taught high school for 26 years in a nearby town, and yes, I enjoyed a pay raise every year, but the times were ones of prosperity, and certainly didn’t include a pandemic. As a resident of Granby and a teacher, I would be happy to trade my pay raise in a year like this one in order to keep our mill rate down.

We all recognize the teachers are having a very hard time with the online/in person hybrid situations. Yes, they are essential. A much-used phrase for our current condition is “We’re all in this together.” It would be gratifying if we could act for what is best for everyone in the town.

Shirley Murtha, a registered independent

editorials, commentary & letters to the editor Unsigned editorials are the consensus opinion of the editorial staff and publisher. Commentary pieces express the opinion of the writer and not necessarily the opinion of the Drummer.

“compassionate conservative.” But he is not being up front about his very close association with a radical organization, the CT Republican Assembly, a private group not associated with Connecticut government (ctra.us).

A glance at this group’s “thirteen principles” is concerning to me. They outline a radical right-wing agenda that excludes so many people. These principles cite the “Holy Scriptures of the Judeo-Christian ethic,” which is fine, but leave out other faith beliefs.

They also define “family” in very limited terms: “persons related by blood or adoption through marriage of one man and woman” and assert that this definition of family should have preferential treatment through legislation and tax policies.

My faith tells me that we recognize and honor people of all faiths, including the contributions to our community of our Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist neighbors, to name just a few. We also recognize the journeys of people of no faith or those of questioning or uncertain faith.

And I am grateful to have ministered to families of all types, including those that some would call “non-traditional”— multi-generational households, LGBTQ families, couples who have chosen not to marry for personal or taxation reasons, older people living together and younger couples struggling to make it in tough times.

Families are people who love each other, and none should be discriminated against—whether in public policy and legislation, or in our hearts. It is inappropriate to make laws based on a personal religious perspective, favoring a single group and excluding so many.

Mr. Anderson wants to run as a moderate, but his association with the CTRA is not casual—he is its founder and was president of this group until very recently. He should be up front with District voters about his work with this extremist group’s agenda.

Reverend Bart Cochran

Word of caution In the race for Connecticut House 62nd District, Audrey Lampert’s opponent Mark Anderson says he is a

Support for Lampert This November, I’ll be supporting Audrey Lampert in the race for the 62nd state house district. I’ve known Audrey for 17 years, and worked with her as a volunteer on many local projects, including a decade with the Marquis of Granby Fyfe and Drum Corps.

Her qualifications, temperament, and plans for our district serve as the foundation for effective, inclusive leadership for our community. Audrey has spent three decades in financial services, analyzing and investing in both companies and governments on behalf of corporations, retirement funds and private endowments. Her commitment to treat her clients’ money as her own translates directly to representing our district as a steward of our tax dollars. She will fight for a public insurance option, a lower-cost option for families and small businesses that is sorely needed during this time of economic uncertainty.

Her opponent is the founder and former president of the Connecticut Republican Assembly, a private, fundamentalist conservative group, and a graduate of the far-right Liberty University. He portrays himself as a

Letters

cont’d. on p. 5

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The Granby Drummer A volunteer, non-profit publication established in 1970. The Granby Drummer (ISSN 1547-1497) is published monthly except January and August by Citizens for a Better Granby at 11 North Granby Road, Granby, CT 06035. It’s delivered free of charge to all Granby households and businesses. Out-of-town subscriptions are $25 per year. Periodicals postage paid at Granby, CT, and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE GRANBY DRUMMER P.O. Box 165 Granby, CT 06035-0165 Copyright ©2020 Citizens for a Better Granby, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization all rights reserved.

CBG Board Kathy Norris, President David Tolli, Vice President Roger Hayes, Treasurer Becky Mikus, Secretary Flo Bischoff, Carol Bressor, Karen Cleary, Sam Mikus, Lew Noble Staff Rita Isaacson, Managing Editor Chris Levandowski, Copy Editor Amanda Lindberg, Special Pages Andrea Leshinskie, Photo Editor Dave Tolli, Photo Editor Mindy Borrego, Carolyn Carter, Nancy Dudenhofer, Karen Cleary, Patricia Kovaleski, Eileen Longhi, Lew Noble, Donna Schedinger, Faith Tyldsley Reporters & Contributors Lori Blackburn, Jennifer Benson, AnnMarie Cox, Marisa DeLuca, Mark Fiorentino, Bernadette Gentry, Mike Guarco, Jay Harder, Carol Laun, Jim Lofink, Joanne Mayornick, Amy McCue, Shirley Murtha John R. Nieb, Camden Robertson, Lisa Salazar, Pam Sherrer, Jessica Tsaptsinos, Faith Tyldsley, Kristine Vincent, John Violette, Laura Wolfe, Merle Yoder, Sandy Yost Advertising Team Jen Bell, Carol Bressor, Daneika Janski Deborah Kulwich, Beth Rathey, Subscriptions & Delivery Sam & Becky Mikus

KEEP US IN THE LOOP

GRANBY FOOD BANK

Correction Rob Flanigan is the photographer of the new roundabout at East Street and Routes 10/202. Flanigan’s name was given incorrectly in the caption on p. 1 of the September issue.

We currently need: White or chunk lite Tuna Chicken breast/Beef stew in cans Protein/B’fast Bars Pancake mix, syrup Ketchup, salsa Paper towels, dish soap Apple, cranberry, grape juice Dry/wet cat food

Donations can be dropped off at the VNA office on Salmon Brook Street

FIND US

October 2020

Town of Granby Meeting Calendar Check Town of Granby website or call Town Manager’s office to verify date and time, and get information on how to particpate on Zoom, if needed.

Board of Selectmen, 7:30 p.m., Monday, October 5, Monday, October 19 Board of Finance, 7:30 p.m., Monday, October 26 Board of Education, 7 p.m., Wednesdays, October 7, October 21

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Please include your name, phone and email address. Deadlines for the next issue are printed on the back page in this issue or visit our website: www.granbydrummer.com.

Planning & Zoning, 7 p.m., Tuesdays, October 13, October 27 Inland Wetlands & Watercourses, 7 p.m., Wednesday, October 14

@GranbyDrummer

Development Commission, No meetings until further notice.

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The Drummer welcomes letters.

Letters do not necessarily reflect the views of the CBG Board and the Drummer. The length of letters will be held to 500 words and less. To be published, letters must be signed and include an address and phone number. This information will not be given to anyone other than the necessary editorial staff. Letters from readers who do not reside in Granby will have the town of residence noted with the letter. The Drummer reserves the right to edit and shorten letters, and to run them in any electronic form. Letters become the property of the Drummer. Email your letters to: editor@granbydrummer.org

October 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 5

Residents weigh in on 107 East Street BOS Leadership?

I watched the August 19 Special Meeting via Zoom and was encouraged when Selectman Ballard took the initiative to delineate the proposal by Agbotic for a portion of 107 East St. His insight to analyze the proposal into, what seems to be, a plus for the town. We have been burdened with a 3.3-million-dollar debt (at $170,000. per year) shoved down our throats by John Adams and Bill Smith and the BOS, while leadership has sat idly by hemming and hawing and doing nothing substantive. We did not have an opportunity to vote on the purchase separately in 2012, because it was part of a package deal.

What happened after Ballard’s presentation was a public tragedy. First Selectman Kuhnly publicly and personally attacked Selectman Ballard for his decision to present his analysis of the Agbotic proposal (during the Selectman’s Report section of the Agenda) without first submitting it to the entire board.

While that may be the proper procedure, Ballard made a compelling argument for more discussion. But for Kuhnly to berate him as he did was one of the most unprofessional and petty things that I have ever seen at a public meeting. It showed Kuhnly’s inability to properly conduct a meeting and he should publicly apologize to Ballard.

This was not the first time Kuhnly has derided people in public.

Initiative is something that is lacking on the BOS. You are the supposed leaders of our town, yet we sit through meeting after meeting without any progress that would make a real difference in our lives. We should all thank Selectman Ballard for his resourcefulness.

Apparently a “glitch” occurred during the recording of the meeting, so there is no video of the encounter. The town should record each Zoom meeting so there is a backup somewhere.

Fast forward to the Sept. 8 BOS meeting where the Agbotic proposal was considered again. The board members focused on two things: dollars and vision for the town. While the dollar return was a long-term investment and several parts were not quite fleshed out, Kuhnly immediately took the position that the property should remain in the possession of the town until who knows when, because that is what he remembers from a town-wide survey. The 2015 Town-Owned Land Study Com-

Letters cont’d. from p. 4 “compassionate conservative,” which is an overused, vague platitude that is devoid of any substance.

Audrey is a woman of substance to the core, with impressive expertise, and a long history of giving her time and talents to our community. On Nov. 3, I’ll support expertise and action over extremist ideology, and vote for Audrey.

Lori Catlin Garcia Support for Mark Anderson We are writing to voice our support for Mark Anderson, the Republican candidate for State Representative in the 62nd House District.

Mark brings years of experience working in a large organization, the U.S. Army, with many of the same challenges that one finds in government. His Army service began right out of college and upon retirement he continued to pursue public service with the Hartland and now Granby Republican Town Committees.

Mark has also earned a Master’s degree

mittee Report recommended the use as agricultural. The past two offers were for cutting edge agricultural projects that would have reinforced Granby’s farming roots.

So, without further input from the public, the board voted 4 yes (Kuhnly, King, Ohannessian and Neumann) to 1 no (Ballard) to reject the Agbotic proposal and save 107 East St. for some future use—it’s property 2, visionary projects 0. Watch the meeting on GCTV and see for yourself.

Due diligence went out the door and emotions took over. Kuhnly has no regard for public input and needs to remember for whom he works.

The Board of Finance should have been consulted before this debacle— they have the expertise.

Once again, government tells us what’s good for us.

Bill Regan

Flawed process Once again it has been demonstrated how deeply flawed our town government process is. The BOS have decided for the residents that we will continue to save the 107 East St parcel regardless of any financial benefit that might be had.

It has been a five-month fiasco with no clear process to evaluate the offer from Agbotic, and the lack of respect shown to a company that was seeking to build a long-term relationship with our town is nothing short of astounding. Questions from Agbotic to the Town Manager fell on deaf ears, no attempt was made to evaluate the financial implications until Selectman Glenn Ballard took it upon himself to research and summarize it for the BOS and public. The offer was discussed on at least two occasions by the BOS without the offer being shared or read by them.

This could have been a mutually beneficial and prosperous partnership with educational opportunities for our students and a way for Granby to add commercial enterprise to our tax base.

Selling 50 of the 126 acres would have enabled us to cover the $170,000 annual cost of owning this land while supporting our vision to remain an agricultural community. Sound familiar?

The organic dairy farm proposed on this property a couple of years ago is now up and running in New York state bringing in tax dollars for another community.

While there are some that would prefer to leave the land as is, it should have been a decision reached by the residents in Public Policy that will be put to good use as the next Representative of the 62nd House District.

The 62nd District has been represented

by Bill Simanski for many years and we feel it is important to elect Mark Anderson as his successor in order to continue the diversity and checks and balances that come with representatives of the Republican Party.

Mary and Rich Zlotnick

Support for Mark Anderson Please vote for Mark Anderson for state representative. Here’s all you need to know about Mark: he is a member of the steering committee of No Tolls CT, and was instrumental in the efforts to prevent tolls being imposed on Connecticut drivers. During the campaign to defeat tolls, Mark worked tirelessly.

I have worked with Mark on other projects and know we can count on him to bring that same energy and commitment to limiting state government spending

after a public hearing so we could all understand the full implications of the proposal. I am sure we would not have voted to purchase this land originally if the proposal was not bundled with essential repairs and a football field for the school. The purchase price of $2.4 million was unrealistic and based on a four-year-old appraisal. It was not worth the price tag then and is not expected to be so in the foreseeable future. Knowing this, I am disappointed that the three Selectman that were serving at this time, remain convinced that we must keep this parcel at all costs. Despite the 2015 land use study concluding that it should be used for agriculture, the majority of the BOS is totally against selling it for this or any other purpose, so we continue to lease it for a paltry amount. The land is currently leased to an out of town farmer for $13,000 per year.

It seems the favored use is to keep it as open space but for whom? Apparently, it is a remarkable piece of land; I hear glowing reports of its aesthetic appeal from a privileged few, but any view of it is obscured by the topography and it cannot be enjoyed by Granby residents.

Keeping a property in our land bank for sentimental reasons is not a good use of our tax dollars.

Anna Sogliuzzo

Property is not for sale I read the Selectmen report in the latest Granby Drummer this weekend and I was somewhat shocked to read about the town land on East Street potentially being developed/sold by/to Agbotic.

To my knowledge the town has not put this land up for bid. I think it is preposterous to consider any offer put forth under this inappropriate methodology.

I am 100 percent against this motion and I do not believe any motion should be entertained until the townspeople request it via a vote.

Also, I think the sale of this land, a $2.5-plus million purchase should at least break even in the event of a sale.

This land was bought as an asset for future growth for the town, such as new schools, municipal buildings, recreational area or just open space, not to be sold to private enterprise at a loss. Maybe Mr. Ballard should suggest Holcomb Farm as a site to see how the town will react to that.

Why is Mr. Ballard so anxious to rob the people of Granby by selling this fabulous property? It makes one ponder. and supporting policies that will make Connecticut affordable for our families and small businesses. He is the best choice to become Granby’s next state representative.

Mark Fiorentino

Please support Mark Anderson for State Representative. I have been fortunate to know Mark for several years. He is trustworthy, honest and a great person.

He has worked with our current Representative, Bill Simanski, and knows the inner workings of the State Capitol, which means he can get to work for the 62nd district on day one. He believes in providing the towns with the resources they need and making the State more accountable.

We need people like Mark in the Legislature to make Connecticut more affordable and to control the outrageous spending. Please join me in voting for Mark Anderson on Nov. 3.

Mark Kuhnly

Bob Lindeyer Member of ZBA

Publicize the process To the Board of Selectmen: Re: 107 East St. (former Evonsion Farm) Agbotic and other proposals: 1) please make sure to provide as much information/data to the public as possible; and 2) make packet available online—if need be redacting dollar values of offer; 3) make the process entirely public as well. With COVID-19 constraints, it is hard to get public awareness. I for one am not racing to join meetings via Zoom—yet.

Please begin with the general precept that Town-owned land should be saved for future Town and community needs, be they 25, 50 or 100 years out. That might be Town functions, senior housing or even Town-protected ag for food to a climate-challenged region or food to those in need due to pandemics or economic dysfunction.

Avoid sales of this parcel—insist on long-term lease instead.

Don’t chop up this parcel, as I gathered Agbotic’s proposal would do. Why wreck it for projects, be they town or otherwise, that need a big property?

Any proposal to sell that is to be seriously considered by Town if you reject #2 and #3 above should be to a tried and true food producer. I’d be very disturbed if we sell outright to a startup whose track record as a food producer is not proven. That was a concern to me with respect to the last offer to buy this farmland—great visions don’t always pan out. All the more reason for longterm lease.

I learned in a recent news segment about the vast amount of agricultural land being bought up by investors, many from overseas who are not themselves interested in agriculture and food production. It’s all about money. I am not suggesting that Agbotic has any intent to use ag near term and then sell to investors, industry, or housing. But their success with what is now a Town resource is unpredictable. We need to protect this high-quality ag land.

Don’t forget the report and recommendations of the Town Owned Land Committee a few years ago—great surveys of public wishes, carefully thought out, good recommendations.

Don’t waste all that effort.

Peggy Lareau

Neighbors, I felt compelled to draft a note to let you all know a little bit about our neighbor and 62nd District State Representative Candidate Mark Anderson.

Aside from his record as a career military man, Mark is an exceptional neighbor and human being. He spends countless hours volunteering his time for the betterment of Connecticut and Granby. Most recently Mark has fought on behalf of us all, to keep tolls out of Connecticut. I believe he will represent our District with the tenacity and courage to stand up to a State House that prides itself on taxing and spending. He will dedicate his term to work within the machine to fight to keep Connecticut affordable. His work will ensure small towns and Districts like the 62nd get the fair support we need from the state as well as fight to flatten the state income tax.

In the few years I have known Mark,

Letters

cont’d. on p. 6

Page 6 The Granby Drummer

October 2020

Op-Ed

Citizens’ ideas needed for improving town processes

By Glenn Ballard Granby Selectman

Hey Granby! If there is a silver lining to 2020, maybe it’s the opportunity to question and reevaluate what works, what matters, and how prepared/ready we are as individuals and as a community to confront our challenges. Most if not all of us have been affected in personal and even difficult ways. I wanted to thank all of you again for your trust and support, and take just a moment to revisit the central themes of bringing fiscal and strategic accountability to Granby.

Reduce the cost of town services, without affecting quality.

A key driver of improvement is a mindset/culture that encourages it. Right now, we manage to dollars budgeted/ spent rather than work performed. Our budget/goal-setting process is backwards—we ask department heads to prepare the details, then have “workshops” at the end to trim around the edges at best.

At the end of August, I submitted a proposal to our Town Manager to con-

duct an analysis of town departments, to look for opportunities to improve.

The results of this analysis would give us better management information, and could also serve as input to our budget process that begins again in November.

If we do this work, we’ll have options we might not previously have thought were possible. If you have a background in management consulting, operations/ process improvement, change management, or otherwise have thoughts about this approach, I’d love to hear from you.

Reduce the time it takes to identify and resolve town issues.

Whether it is a problem reported by a resident, or an opportunity like “what do we do when we get an offer to buy town land,” we continue to struggle to be responsive. In mid-August, with input from interested residents, I devised an Excel-based tool to track and monitor issues/opportunities to resolution. I see it as a way for the Board of Selectmen to publicly collaborate, and for all of you to help keep us on track and accountable for outcomes.

I will also be introducing a proposed

process for dealing with opportunities that come before the town, designed to get residents and our volunteer boards/ commissions all working together from the beginning. We truly are stronger together and it’s in our best interests to constantly seek to remove barriers to communication and collaboration.

If you have a background in help desk/customer service/service operations management, or otherwise have thoughts about this approach, I’d love to hear from you.

Facilitate clear goals and a realistic strategy for our future.

The Plan of Conservation and Development, adopted back in 2016, is the closest thing we have to a strategy in the business sense. Although some residents were involved in its creation, we haven’t shopped it around much; efforts to implement the plan only began late last year and aren’t really getting the attention they deserve. The Board of Selectmen in particular tabled action on our list of to-dos back in March.

Furthermore, BOS goals aren’t really goals in the sense of being actionable,

measurable, time bound, etc. So, it’s harder than it should be to answer the question, “are we getting where we want to go?” While this is admittedly difficult work to do, we can look at other towns, and even the organizations we are all part of, for inspiration. Simsbury, for example, has a process where the BOS works through its own set of goals annually, then translates them into near-term objectives/targets for the Town Manager. Once again, making this a public and shared process would only benefit Granby as we all try to find the best way forward.

If you think the operations analysis and issue-tracking-tool I’ve described here are important, please consider letting the Town Manager, John Ward, know – jward@granby-ct.gov or visit the “Contact Us” page on our town website and provide your thoughts. I can be reached at gballard@granby-ct. gov and my desire is to help all of you play a more direct, meaningful role in determining our future, regardless of individual politics or passions. The Town is Us!

It was interesting to read about the protests held in Granby this summer.

I’m glad that they were peaceful and for a good cause. I’m also fine that a Task Force for Social Justice causes has been formed.

I just want to share what has happened to us. We proudly placed a Trump flag on our front porch railing. After about a month, we found it burned on our week-old driveway. We will forever have a spot where it was burned. We then decided to place a Blue Lives Matter flag in its place. We thought, “This is Granby a place where our police have always been there for us.” About a month later, this flag was defaced with red spray paint and the number 1312 was written on it.

We can’t even show our political choices right now. We never thought we would see something like this in the town of Granby. I hope the Task Force can find a way for all to heal during this very sad time for our town and nation.

Ed and Carolyn Calhoun

Cultured meat research

Dr. Mark Post created the first cultured-beef hamburger in 2013. It cost a whopping $280,000. Soon he thinks, that price could be reduced to $10. Still, more research is required to make cultured meat economically viable.

Politicians who hope to prevent climate change, like Biden, should support this goal, because animal agriculture is one of the most significant contributors to global warming.

Jon Hochschartner

Letters cont’d. from p 5 I can confidently say I have never heard him ask for anything other than how he could help. How he could help a cause, a neighbor or a friend. This is the type of Representative we need for Granby.

With full support, James Tsaptsinos

Support for Moffa Connecticut is facing multiple crises: COVID, an economic slowdown, climate change and healthcare. We need leaders in our state government that will listen to science in creating policy.

That’s why I’m supporting Dr. Fred Moffa for state senate on Nov. 3.

As a doctor and small business owner who built his practice from scratch right here in Granby, Dr. Moffa knows what families and businesses need from our state legislature. He won’t play politics with public health. As a physician, quality, affordable healthcare is a top priority for me and I know Dr. Moffa agrees.

His opponent is by all accounts a decent man, but he is employed by Eversource and must recuse himself on all matters involving Eversource. Dr. Moffa is not looking to make the state senate a second job. I know he will be able to look out for all of our interests and I appreciate his independence. Granby needs Dr. Moffa working for us as we emerge from the coronavirus pandemic.

Let’s move forward by electing Dr. Fred Moffa to the state senate.

Seth Lapuk, M.D., FACC, FAAP Editor’s note: Dr. Lapuk is Associate Clinical Professor, University of Connecticut School of Medicine,Connecticut Children’s Medical Center

All sides need to be heard and healed After reading the September Letters to the Editor, I felt that I had to reply.

My husband and I have been residents of the Granby community for 55 years.

Our children grew up here and attended Granby schools. My husband also taught here.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden released a $2 trillion climate plan, that won praise from the previously-critical Sunrise Movement.

Unfortunately, so far as I’m aware, the plan does not include funding for cultured-meat research. For those who don’t know, cultured meat is grown from cells, without slaughtering animals. It requires a fraction of the greenhouse-gas emissions that raising livestock does.

Mark J. Migliaccio Attorney at Law

Salmon Brook eels The story about the Salmon Brook Monster by Mark Fiorentino in the September Drummer brought back some interesting memories.

Several years ago, our family was taking a walk around Christensen’s Pond when my son-in-law spotted something in Salmon Brook, east of the Pond. It was a large eel clearing a spot in the sand to lay eggs. She was using her powerful tail to move stones into a half circle to protect her nest. We were fascinated and stood there watching her efforts for a long time. She was actually building a stone wall barrier, just using her tail.

Naturally, the next step was to google this mystery, and we discovered we had seen a lamprey eel getting ready to spawn. We, however, without even seeing the scary teeth, did not have the courage to try to pick it up!

Carol Laun

Personal Injury Workers Compensation Criminal Defense Wills – Real Estate Closings Cell: 860-906-8489 Office: 860-236-6951 Email: mmigliaccio@bnglaw.com 254 Prospect Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut 06106

October 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 7

Cub Scouts hold flag service fundraiser

Focus on Education Jordan E. Grossman, Ed.D

Schools now open with full in-person classes at all levels

We want to thank you for your continued support and understanding as we return to Granby’s schools with safety, equity and academic excellence for our students and staff. We opened our schools on Sept. 1, in a transitional entry with 84 percent of the students attending. We utilized a “maroon” or “gold” designation to attend in-person on an every-other-day schedule. This allowed for a reduced number of students in the building each day while routines and relationships were being established.

Students and staff did a tremendous job during this transitional period after not being physically in school since March.

Currently, 16 percent of our students are attending school remotely with either a designated classroom teacher or classes being live streamed. Simply stated, students and staff are doing an incredible job adjusting to these new ways of learning.

I have visited all of the schools several times since the start of the school year and it is so good to see students and staff back in the buildings, engaged and settling into routines. I have been impressed by their ability to wear masks and comply with new ways of operating within the buildings.

Members of the community may be asking how we determine whether students attend school in person, on a hybrid schedule or fully remote? The

answer is not an easy one. We rely heavily on current State data, guidance from the Connecticut Department of Public Health and the Farmington Valley Health District in making any decisions. Current state data around rates of COVID-19 transmission is available on the Stronger Together Webpage under “Current CT Data Metrics.”

At this time, when you combine the data with our Learning Models Chart, one can see that rates in the Farmington Valley (1.4), Hartford County (3.9), and state as a whole (3.2), were well within the 0-10/100,000 new cases on a sevenday rolling average for full in-person learning. Less than 10/100,000 correlates with a full in-person return to school.

On Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020, we welcomed back our PK-5 students and grade 6-12 students on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020.

In the event of a confirmed COVID-19 case within the school community, we will notify members of the school district.

More specific information will be shared with those who are close contacts of the case, and less specific for those not considered close contacts of the case.

Thank you to the Granby community for supporting our work during this most difficult time. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns at 860-844-5260 and follow me on Twitter @GranbySuper.

The Cub Scouts of Granby Pack 325 are proud to offer its second year of flag service .

The Cub Scouts will deliver and install an American flag at your property or location of your choosing the morning of the observance and remove it at the end of the day. The flag is 3’x5’ and securely installed on a steel post and aluminum pole. Each flag is treated with the honor and respect it deserves and is folded and safely stored in between each use.

The flag service allows you to display your patriotism or honor a neighbor on four national observances while supporting Pack 325, where 100 percent of the funds go directly to the pack.

This fundraiser allows the boys and girls of Pack 325 to purchase uniforms Scout Noah Woodman with one of the Pack’s flags. and advancement awards, Photo by Darren Woodman attend camp, run Pack events, and helps to offset dues and other a great activity where the kids and their Pack operating expenses. parents actually deliver on the promise “It’s a great way to support scouting to do the work together.” and honor our country,” said Granby The cost of the flag service is $50 per resident Tom Caputi, who recently reyear and provides a display for these newed his flag service, and is both an four observances: Veterans Day, Nov. Eagle Scout and a U.S. veteran.

11, 2020; Memorial Day, May 31, 2021; Bryan Moreau, who earned his Eagle Independence Day, July 4, 2021; and Scout rank in 1985, subscribed to the Patriot’s Day, Sept. 11, 2021. flag service last year and also donated For information on how to subscribe to another to his well-known veteran this year’s flag service or to learn more neighbor. Happy with his display and the about scouting, contact the Cub Scouts professionalism the cub scouts exhibited, at pack325granby@gmail.com Moreau was quick to renew for both himself and his neighbor for this year. “It is

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Page 8 The Granby Drummer

October 2020

State Senator John A. Kissel Fighting for Jobs. Lower Taxes and Safer Communities.

Re-Elect JOHN A.

L E S S KI Our State Senator

• Strong supporter of our police officers and corrections officers, opposed police accountability bill that makes our communities less safe • Consistently fighting to lower the tax burden on middle class families, opposing all the democrat tax and spend budgets • Strongly opposed to the implementation of electronic tolls on our highways • Authored PA 18-5, AAC Dual Arrests and the Training Required of Law Enforcement Personnel with Respect to Domestic Violence, which takes important steps to protect victims of domestic violence • Introduced PA 19-42, AAC Participation by a Resident of a Nursing Home Facility or Residential Care Home in a Receivership Proceeding, giving nursing home residents a voice in a receivership situation • Played a key role in passing PA 16-195, An Act Concerning the Connecticut Family and Medical Leave Act and Active Duty Military Service, extending family leave to military families • Honored by MADD in 2016 and 2018 for efforts to prevent drunk driving and make our roads more safe • Supported PA 18-8, AAC Pay Equity, which would strengthen Connecticut’s efforts to secure equal pay for equal work for women in the workplace and help prevent wage discrimination • Helped secure funding to renovate John F. Kennedy Middle School in Enfield • Ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee overseeing the state’s judiciary, criminal justice and corrections systems

Call John anytime at 860-745-0668.

Energy. Experience. Enthusiasm.

Paid for By Committee to Re-Elect Senator John A. Kissel, Scott Kaupin, Treasurer. Approved by John A. Kissel GranbyDummerAugust2020.indd 1

8/19/20 5:12 PM

October 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 9

this time of the pandemic, the Salmon Brook Historical Society has found a way to stay outdoors while sharing Granby’s history. Stroll Through Granby History is an opportunity to both walk and learn while being appropriately distanced from each other because it is all done outside.

Granby’s central historic district includes about 35 homes or buildings with known stories. From Oct. 2 to 29, the society invites people to stroll from the Salmon Brook Historical Society properties at 208 Salmon Brook Street

north to the green and learn about town history as told by 32 of the houses.

In recognition of the 75th anniversary of the historical society, the society will place a temporary sign with a picture of the original house in each front yard. In addition to the picture, the posters will include a QR code. Walkers can learn about the history of the house and the people who lived in them by using the QR code on their smartphone or tablet.

What do you need before you begin?

You need to go to the App Store on your phone or tablet and install a QR Code Reader. This is a no-cost app that will

Stroll cont’d. on p. 10

This is the third Loomis Bros. Store building that did business in Granby center. The first one, in front of what is now Stony Hill Village, burned in 1877. The next was in a building the Loomis brothers owned on the east side of the street. The one in this picture was the biggest and best. It opened in 1891 and was torn down in 1975.

221 Salmon Brook Street is the Smith-Cooley house. There were other houses at that location but the current one was built in 1854 by Orlando Smith. He was a prosperous farmer who also owned a sawmill on Bissell Brook in what is now McLean’s Game Refuge.

225 Salmon Brook Street was Dr. Pendleton’s Hospital. There was a house at this site in the 1800s. The current building was purchased in 1921 by Dr. Ernest Raymond Pendleton, and was a hospital from 1921 to 1928. Pendleton also developed a 27-hole golf course where Salmon Brook Park is now and, in 1932, he built “attractive and unique log cabins for summer homes” on what is now Pendleton Road.

M O R E T H A N B R E A K I N G G R O U N D,

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The expansion of the Village at McLean will usher in a new era of inspired senior living for current and future residents.

The new Goodrich building will offer striking views of neighboring Hop Meadow golf course and club membership to residents. Each day will present boundless opportunities for wellness and an array of first-class amenities including a modern fitness center and performing arts theater. Enjoy new dining venues and lifeenriching programs with your neighbors in our active community.

So much more than a beautiful new look, we’re transforming the way you live.

To learn about our expansion and take advantage of construction benefits, connect with us at 860-658-3786 or ExploreMcLean.org.

A Life Plan Community

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Page 10 The Granby Drummer

October 2020

Stroll through Granby History – 2020 Starting west side, south end of Salmon Brook St., walking north 207 – Chapman house 211 – Delia Church house 213 – Crocker house 221 – Smith-Cooley house 225 – Dr. Pendleton’s Hospital 227 – The Parsonage 229 – Jewett-Gillin house 231 – Jewett-Hotchkiss house 233 – Jewett-Smith-Cooley house 235 – Jewett-Maltbie house 239 – Bunce house 245 – James Lee Loomis house 251 – Colton house 255 – Gaines Hotel 259 – Loomis Store #1 261 – James Newton Loomis house

East side of Salmon Brook St., by the Town Green, walking south 4 East Granby Rd – Case house 2 Park Place – Granby Hotel & Avery house On Town Green - Civil War Monument 258 – Loomis Bros. Store #3 256 – Loomis Bros. Store #2 & Print Shop 254 – Holcomb-Shattuck house 252 – Asel Rice house 250 – Rev. T. Murphy house 248 – Library building and South Church 238 – Dennison Case house 234 – Samuel Benjamin’s church 230 – Cooley-Goddard house 226 – George Pettibone house Salmon Brook Historical Society 208 – Weed-Enders house 208 – Abijah Rowe house 208 – Cooley School

This map is also available on the historical society’s website: salmonbrookhistoricalsociety.com

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Salmon Brook Street is the Jewett-Maltbie house. It is located at the corner of STOP BY ... WE’VE235 BEEN Salmon Brook Street and Copper Brook Circle, and was built about 1845 by the Jewett WAITING FOR YOU. family.

William Mills Maltbie, a prominent lawyer, owned the house and the land behind for many years. He became Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court and was, Only 6 Homesitesit Available

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Stroll cont’d. from p. 9

2 Copper Brook Circle, Granby, CT

at that time, the youngest man in the state to hold that office.

Photos courtesy of the Salmon Brook Historical Society

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Madeline Catania of the Granby Camera Maps will also be available to Club, and web designer, Janice Gucbe printed from the SBHS website ciardi, from Jabberhead.

—salmonbrookhistoricalsociety.com— The society members are pretty excited and the house’s information and story about this project to get the information will be available on the web page going from inside the SBHS archives out into forward. the community.

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October 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 11

GRANBY ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS MINUTES JULY 21, 2020 Present: Chairman Wayne Chapple, Robert Lindeyer, Suzanne Yucha, Ann Crimmins.

Wayne Chapple convened the meeting at 7:02 p.m. and introduced the members.

Robert Lindeyer read the Legal Notice that was published on July 10 and July 17 in the Hartford Courant, Connecticut Section, Zone 5.

Minutes

On a motion by Ann Crimmins, seconded by Suzanne Yucha, the board voted to amend the minutes from June 16 to include Crimmins as in attendance at the meeting and voting in favor of the variance (4-0-0).

On a motion by Crimmins, seconded by Lindeyer, the board voted (4-0-0) to approve the minutes from June 16.

Procedure

Chapple explained the procedure of the meeting and noted to those in attendance that decisions would generally be mailed to the applicant within ten days. Approval, when granted, shall be null and void if not filed within 90 days of approval date.

Public Hearing

The hearing on appeal by Conn. D.O.T. seeking a lot area variance (Sect. 5.1) to reduce a non-conforming lot by 21 sq. ft. in a CC Zone to accommodate intersection improvements at 275 Salmon Brook Street, File Z07-20-02 The hearing on appeal by Conn. D.O.T. seeking a lot area variance (Sect. 5.1) to reduce a non-conforming lot by 1,227 sq. ft. in a CC Zone to accommodate intersection improvements at 4 North Granby Road, File Z07-20-01 The hearing on appeal by Conn. D.O.T. seeking a lot area and front yard variance (Sect. 5.1) to reduce a non-conforming lot by 51 sq. ft. and to reduce the front yard by 1 ft. in a COCE Zone to accommodate intersection improvements at 19 East Granby Road, File Z07-20-03 Matthew Geanacopoulos, a representative for the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation, provided an overview of the proposed intersection improvement project and

explained the need for the variances. Additional travel lanes will be added in the vicinity of the subject properties. As a result of these additional lanes, the existing sidewalk will need to be shifted. While the majority of the sidewalk will fall within the right of way, small sections will be located outside the right of way and additional room is needed for maintenance. As a result, property acquisitions are needed and variances are being sought. Geanacopoulos went on to explain Connecticut State Statute requires DOT obtain the variances.

Public Comment

Tim Carmen; 61 Rainbow Trail, South Windsor; questioned what an easement is and asked for more explanation as to what tree will be removed from the property at 275 Salmon Brook Street. He expressed concern in regard to the tree being removed, which will expose the house completely. He questioned whether the tree would be replaced or not. Geanacopoulos explained they will not likely replace the tree, but an offer would be made to compensate the owner of the property for taking the square footage and replacement of the tree.

The public hearing closed at 7:46 p.m.

On a motion by Chapple, seconded by Crimmins, the board voted (4-0-0) to grant the appeal by Conn. D.O.T. seeking a lot area variance (Sect. 5.1) to reduce a nonconforming lot by 21 square feet in a CC Zone to accommodate intersection improvements at 275 Salmon Brook Street, File Z07-20-02, subject to the following: • The Connecticut D.O.T. works with the property owner and/or the Town of Granby to restore landscaping as similar as possible to what was removed.

On a motion by Chapple, seconded by Crimmins, the board voted (4-0-0) to grant the appeal by Conn. D.O.T. seeking a lot area variance (Sect 5.1) to reduce a non-conforming lot by 1,227 sq. ft. in a CC Zone to accommodate intersection improvements at 4 North Granby Road, File Z07-20-01, subject to the following: • The Connecticut D.O.T. works with the property owner and/or the Town of Granby

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to restore previous landscaping as similar as possible to what was removed.

On a motion by Chapple, seconded by Crimmins, the board voted (4-0-0) to grant the appeal by Conn. D.O.T. seeking a lot area and front yard variance (Sect. 5.1) to reduce a nonconforming lot by 51 sq. ft. and to reduce the front yard by 1 ft. in a COCE Zone to accommodate intersection improvements at 19 East Granby

Road, File Z07-20-03 as follows: • The Connecticut D.O.T. works with the property owner and/or the Town of Granby to restore previous landscaping as similar as possible to what was removed.

On a motion by Chapple, seconded by Yucha, the board voted (4- 0-0) to adjourn at 7:58 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Vanessa Berrelli

Eagle Scout Project

Granby Eagle Scout candidate Max Hollister on the left, fittingly wearing a Superman shirt, led the effort to build a new bridge on the Granby Land Trust’s Mary Edwards Mountain Property’s yellow trail as his Eagle Scout project. The GLT is so grateful to the Scouts for their support! Thanks also to GLT Board Member Lowell Kahn and GLT Property Steward Fran Armentano for their assistance with this project. The bridge is a wonderful addition to the Mary Edwards trail system. Submitted photo.

Page 12 The Granby Drummer

Out of Town East Granby Public Library Events Author Talk, with Ruta Sepetys Tuesday, Oct. 13, 7 p.m.: Join via Zoom to hear Ruta Sepetys talk about her first novel, Between Shades of Gray.

Sepetys is an internationally acclaimed, #1 New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction published in over 60 countries and 40 languages.

Virtual Book Club As the pandemic has caused us to rethink our daily routines, the library is happy to host a virtual book club that meets via Zoom the last Tuesday of the month at 4 p.m. The following books have been chosen for September and October. We have some physical books and copies on our kindles available for check out. Please email Doreen Jacius (doreenj@egpl.org) to join.

Sept. 29: The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare. The inspiring story of a teenage girl growing up in a rural Nigerian village who longs to get an education so that she can find her “louding voice” and speak up for herself, it is a simultaneously heartbreaking and triumphant tale about the power of fighting for your dreams.

Oct. 27: Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris. An unforgettable historical fiction novel inspired by a stunning piece of history from Depression-Era America. Based on an actual newspaper photograph that stunned the nation, this is a powerful novel of love, redemption and the unexpected paths that bring us home.

The Empty Bowls Fundraiser has a 2020 drive-thru twist. Join Expressions Pottery Workshop, the Women’s Club of East Granby and Friend to Friend for the 20th Annual Empty Bowls (drive-thru) fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 24, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. All proceeds benefit the Friend to Friend Food Pantry which provides food to pre-qualified East Granby residents in need. In lieu of a sit-down meal this year, it will be a drive-thru venue to safely continue this fall tradition.

Please visit the website for either a mail-in form 5 x 3to purchase ticket(s), or register and pay online. Each person will receive a hand-potted bowl, one coupon for a featured bowl of soup and one coupon for a featured dessert confection from participating restaurants/shops that are valid through Dec. 31, 2020. An

October 2020

In Town Focus Flu Clinics

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Strive to share 1,000 books with your child before they enter Kindergarten in this reading incentive program. Keep track and check in with us to earn prizes.

Visit the library to register and receive your welcome kit.

Virtual Storytimes Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.: Little Ones, ages 18 months–3 years old. Wiggle, rhyme and sing with diverse books and fingerplays that encourage language, play, and exploration. Please sign up online (egpl.org/storytime.html) Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.: Terrific Tales, ages 3–6 years old. Explore stories, music, fingerplays and more! Please sign up online (egpl.org/storytime.html) Afternoon at the Movies Wednesdays at 1 p.m. Reservations required, call 860-653-3002.

Oct. 7: Resistance Oct. 14: The Lost Husband Oct. 21: The Secret Garden Oct. 28: Hocus Pocus

overview of the event and participating restaurants will also be included. And, of course you’ll also receive a complimentary pumpkin from Peter L. Brown!

On Saturday, Oct. 24, follow signage for the drive-thru line at the East Granby Community/Senior Center parking lot for pick up. Volunteers will be masked and gloved to hand out items while you remain in your vehicle. To help keep lines moving, ticket holders registered with last names beginning A-L should arrive between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and those with last names M-Z arrive between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m.

Thank you in advance for supporting this more-important-than-ever fundraiser that helps stock the pantry through the busy winter season.

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The Farmington Valley Visiting Nurse Association has public flu clinics throughout the valley. Both the high dose for adults over age 65 and regular doses will be available for adults and children over nine years. Clinics will be held outdoors under tents. All CDC required pandemic guidelines will be adhered to at the clinics with masks, social distancing, gloves, sanitizing and temperature checks. Please call the VNA office at 860-651-3539 to make an appointment.

Granby Senior Center: Thursday, Oct. 15, 2–5 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 24, 9:30 a.m.–noon.

East Granby Senior Center: Monday, Oct. 19, 3:30–5:30 p.m.

East Hartland: Camp Alice Merritt, 167B Hartland Blvd. (Rte 20), Wednesday, Oct. 21, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

GLT Events Annual Meeting The Granby Land Trust will hold its annual meeting via Zoom, on Sunday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. All GLT members are invited. Join us to hear about recent acquisitions and activities, vote on the budget, elect new board members, and celebrate our land trust heroes. RSVP to Trish Percival at percivalt@cox.net in order to receive a link to the Zoom meeting via email.

Members Only Hikes In conjunction with its annual meeting, the Granby Land Trust will be offering Members Only hikes of its incredible new Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve in North Granby on Saturday, Oct. 17 and Sunday, Oct. 18. Hikes will be capped at 20 people per hike, no dogs allowed, masks will be required, and we ask that you please RSVP. For more information and to RSVP, go to granbylandtrust.org

Camera Club

The Granby Camera Club is unable to use the Senior Center for its meetings at this time. While many members are not ready for group indoor meetings, that is not keeping the club from sharing, communicating and enjoying photography.

There will be monthly Zoom meetings beginning on Monday, Oct. 5. Ed Judge will host this meeting and will give a demonstration on camera/sensor cleaning.

Also, the club has a Facebook page (Granby Camera Club) as an easy way for members to share scavenger hunt pictures as well as other photos that they would like to share. To learn more about the club go to GranbyCameraClub.com

Men’s Breakfast

The next Granby Men’s Breakfast will be Friday, Oct. 9. The speaker for the e-Group will be Nancy Sheetz from Farmington Valley VNA, who will talk about Covid isolation, CBD therapies, and how and why to get seasonal flu vaccinations.

Due to the need to meet remotely there is no group breakfast. The Zoom meetings start at 9 a.m. with time for members to chat; the speaker begins promptly at 9:30 a.m. Men of any age interested in joining the Granby Men’s Breakfast e-Group should send contact information to gmensbkfst@gmail.com to be included in the invite list for the next Zoom meeting.

No SBHS Flea Market

Following the Governor’s guidelines and to protect society volunteers as well as the public, the Salmon Brook Historical Society has cancelled the fall flea market, which was to be held on Oct. 17. We know some people will be disappointed, however, we want to side with caution and safety. SBHS thanks the citizens of Granby for coming and supporting the flea market in the past and looks forward to seeing you in May 2021.

MS Support Group

The Multiple Sclerosis Support Group will resume when the Granby Senior Center reopens. Meetings are at 1 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month. For more information, please contact Meaghan at 860-428-2463.

Bottle and Can Drive

Tired of waiting in line to return bottles and cans? Consider donating them to the Granby 4-H Robotics Program. Your donation will help sustain this excellent STEM program. The next Granby 4-H Robotics Granby Bottle and Can Drive will be in October, the date and location to be announced on the Town Green.

Volunteers Needed

Mary’s Kitty Korner, Granby’s no-kill cat shelter, is looking for volunteers to help care for its kitties until they find their fur-ever homes. If you love cats and have some time to spare, the shelter would love to hear from you. Call 860379-4141 or visit the website to find out more: maryskittykorner.org

Lions’ Birdseed Sale

The Granby Lions is conducting its 25th Annual Birdseed Sale. Orders may be placed until Saturday, Oct. 24, for pickup or delivery on Saturday, Oct. 31. Anyone not already on the Lions’ birdseed mailing list may call John at 860-653-3086 for an order form or with questions. Granby Lions—We Serve!

DTC Events

The Granby Democratic Town Committee is planning two events. Visit the website, granbydems.org, or the Facebook page, facebook.com/GranbyDemocraticTownCommittee, for more information or to register.

A livestream VP Debate Watch Party with wide screen projection to be held Wednesday, Oct. 7, outdoors with safe distancing protocols and food service.

A Virtual Tour of the famous West Avon Flower House. Check the website for date and other details.

The Drummer welcomes announcements of upcoming events sponsored by Granby organizations.

Announcements may not exceed 120 words.

@ by e-mail:

by post: The Granby Drummer P. O. Box 165 Granby, CT 06035-0165

editor@granbydrummer.org

October 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 13

GRANBY BOARD OF EDUCATION MINUTES AUGUST 10, 2020 Board Members Present: Jenny Emery (via

Google Meet), Mark Fiorentino, Melissa Migliaccio, David Peling, Sarah Thrall (via Google Meet), Rosemarie Weber, and Brandon Webster.

Melissa Migliaccio called the special meeting to order at 6:31 p.m.

Chairman’s Corner Board Chairman Melissa Migliaccio, shared opening remarks and said this is the board’s fourth special meeting this summer in order to get the schools reopened. She thanked the administration, Jordan Grossman, Jennifer Parsons, and their team. She also thanked the board for its efforts in attending meetings this summer as well as to board members Rosemarie Weber, Jenny Emery and David Peling for attending the Reopening Task Force Meetings.

Superintendent’s Announcements • He thanked the administrative team for the countless hours they have put in and the work they are putting forth to ensure our students and staff come back in the safest way possible.

• Final interviews for a Middle School Assistant Principal have taken place and it is hoped that the candidate will start the school year as early as possible.

• Grossman thanked Ms. Martin and the Special Education staff for bringing students in to meet with staff for 1-on-1 skills.

• The roof project at the middle school is progressing and will be done by the start of the school year.

• There will be potential child care at the YMCA for parents and staff who may need this service.

• There will be a Special Finance Subcommittee Meeting on Aug. 18.

• A Board of Education retreat will be held on Aug. 19 and as part of the retreat there will be a facilities tour.

Minutes A motion was made by Weber and seconded by Webster that the board approve the minutes of the July 22 Board of Education Meeting. This motion passed unanimously at 6:38 p.m.

Reopening Plan Update Grossman reminded the board that an extensive update was given at the last board meeting and that since the last meeting, the Governor has given districts flexibility in their reopening plans.

Administration is bringing a reopening plan to the board this evening for a vote. Parsons provided a brief review of the district as well as individual school reopening plans. Parsons said that since the last board meeting, the new Stronger Together website was launched where each school reopening plan is available as well as the district plan and all correspondence from the superintendents.

For a responsive return, administrators have reviewed proactive health and safety measures including face coverings, traveling cohorts, social distancing, hand hygiene, cleaning protocols and, building awareness. The district has collaborated with the Farmington Valley Health District (FVHD) and the CSDE to develop tools to use every day

such as a self-assessment checklist, sick protocol and containment procedures.

Parsons informed the board the State has required us, and Granby is ready, to launch into any of the models for either a high COVID-19 spread, moderate spread, minimal spread or contained/ vaccine (full in-person). Granby’s plan will involve all of these models. Data points will be reviewed, such as the number of cases, percentage of positive rates, new hospitalizations, and COVID-19 and flu-like symptoms. Weekly updates from the FVHD with our numbers will help to determine which of the models to employ at any given point. Parsons discussed next steps for releasing school-level plans with school-level Zoom calls and videos.

Migliaccio inquired if the FVHD released guidelines today and if the board could get a copy or have it put on the website. Parsons said they will be up on the website. She also inquired about containment procedures. Parsons informed the board that if there is a suspected case, the FVHD will be called for assistance with contact tracing.

There is not one specific procedure but rather a lot of what-ifs.

Migliaccio asked if the FVHD will be updating the district daily for Granby only and Parsons stated the FVHD will be giving the district a weekly report and access to Hartford county and the state as a whole will also be available. She also said that the FVHD would let Granby know if it sees a jump in the numbers. Mark Fiorentino asked about someone needing to be tested—how does that happen and how will the results be received. Parsons said that at a point in the sick protocols care will be turned over to the parent/health provider to advise the individual to test or not test. Fiorentino expressed concern about lag time between people being tested and receiving the results. Parsons said that the containment plans in the sick protocols state how long a person needs to stay home and when they can return. This is contingent upon if the person was tested or just having symptoms and all of those scenarios are accounted for.

Emery inquired if students can learn online if they are home sick. Parsons stated, yes, this can happen, and students will have access to what is posted in SeeSaw and Google Classroom.

However, she does not know the extent that material will be available online.

Brandon Webster inquired about substitute teachers. Grossman said the district is still working on getting substitute teachers and told the board that the district posted bus monitor positions.

Adoption of Fall 2020 School Reopening Plan The board discussed the adoption of the Fall 2020 School Reopening Plan. A motion was made by Weber and seconded by Fiorentino: The Granby Board of Education hereby adopts the Fall 2020 School Reopening Plan and directs the Superintendent of Schools to revise the plan as needed. Migliaccio shared that on the CABE listserv other board chairs around the state are weighing in on how each district is approaching its own plan and several comments that “this our plan at the moment” because the situation is so fluid. The motion is drafted to adopt the plan as it is today but directs

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Editor’s Note: Minutes for the July 13 and July 22 BOE meetings are available on the town’s website.

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overwhelming communication in the community is to get the students back in school as often and as safely as possible. She appreciates the plan for the transitional entry and supports it with the hope that Granby will return to a full reopening.

Emery inquired if teachers are in support of this plan. Grossman said he has been speaking with the teachers’ union president and is working on a Memorandum of Understanding. Fiorentino inquired if middle school/high school students might be on campus for sports on their off day. Grossman said, yes.

Webster commented he likes the transitional entry and thinks it is a good way to ease students into wearing masks, etc. Fiorentino inquired if the split A-K and L-Z is a fair split especially for Hartford students and blended families. Parsons stated administrators will speak more about this issue tomorrow and will be looking at the split in various ways.

Peling inquired how we can best serve the students in-person and online learning with regard to staffing. Grossman said the survey was a tool to find out how to best service both sets of students to a high level. Some staff members will be asked to teach remotely to children who are learning at home. The level of detail in the plan is a challenge and Migliaccio appreciates the work. She inquired what will happen with parents who opt out and want to opt back in. Grossman stated families are being asked, if possible, to opt back in at the beginning of a marking period. This motion passed unanimously at 7:26 p.m.

Executive Session/Non-Meeting There was no need for an Executive Session/ Non-Meeting, and a motion was made by Migliaccio and seconded by Weber to adjourn the meeting.

This motion passed unanimously at 7:26 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Rosemarie Weber, Board Secretary

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and empowers the Superintendent to revise the plan as needed. Fiorentino stated this is a difficult decision and believes it is best for students to be in school and interacting with their teachers. There is no such thing as a perfect plan, however, this plan is a good one. This motion passed unanimously at 6:59 p.m.

Approval of Full Reopening Dates The board considered approval of tentative fullreopening dates for Kelly Lane Primary School, Wells Road Intermediate School, Granby Memorial Middle School, and Granby Memorial High School.

A motion was made by Migliaccio and seconded

by Peling, that the board approve the tentative full reopening dates for the district that will occur following a transition period using a hybrid model beginning on Sept. 1, and pending health metrics and preparedness.

The full reopening dates are as follows: Kelly Lane Primary School and Wells Road Intermediate School on Wednesday, Sept. 16, and Granby Memorial Middle School and Granby Memorial High School on Monday, Sept. 21. Grossman said that when the Governor announced that there would be local control, the district conducted a survey to see where the community stood on this issue.

Last week a questionnaire was sent out and 88 percent responses were received (1,544 responses); 1,252 students will attend in-person (81 percent); 263 students are opting into the online environment (17 percent) that will be taught by an online certified teacher; and, 29 students will not return to the Granby Public Schools —moving, homeschool, etc. In consultation with the FVHD, it recommended for schools to come back in a hybrid model where 50 percent of the population comes back at a time. This will help to establish health and safety routines in smaller groups. It will also help staff and students to build relationships with one another and assist with social/emotional wellbeing.

Grossman said he is recommending an approximate 10-day transitional entry by breaking the community into Maroon (A-K)/Gold (L-Z) teams with Kelly Lane and Wells Road coming back in full on Sept. 16 and the middle/high schools coming back in full on Sept. 21. Migliaccio said that

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Page 14 The Granby Drummer

Waypoints

By Mark Fiorentino

Meetch’s Corner honey hole: A hole, spot, or area containing big fish or lots of catchable fish. Usually requiring an oath of sworn secrecy before your buddy will take you to it.

Like most fisherman, I have my honey holes. Mine generally conform to the definition. They either give up lots of catchable fish or some big fish. Rare is the gem that does both.

I usually share these gems only with my closest buddies. Guys I have known, and fished with, for years. Guys who, though they may cheat at cards, would never, ever divulge the location of someone else’s honey hole.

All this changed when I recently fished with a young man named Demetrios Tsaptsinos. I was so impressed with Demetrios that I not only took him to one of my favorite locations and showed him how to fish it, I named the place after him.

It was Demetrios’s first time fishing and I was excited for him. I was also a little apprehensive. There can be a lot of pressure on you when you take someone, especially a kid, on their first fishing trip.

What if we get skunked, or worse yet, don’t get any bites? A fishless day could ruin both Demetrios’s enthusiasm and my reputation.

If Demetrios was worried about any of this, he didn’t show it. As we were loading the coolers on the boat, he said: “You have a nice house and yard, Mr. Mark.”

I asked myself: why would an eightyear old boy say such a thing, unless he was prompted by his parents? I got my answer right away. Demetrios wasn’t complimenting me because he was told to, he just wanted to be polite. I could tell

by the surprise in his dad’s voice when he said: “Wow, Meetch, that was very nice.”

Demetrios was more than just polite.

Throughout our day together, he demonstrated a number of qualities you have to like in a boy his age. He was decisive, knowledgeable about fishing, patient and had a great sense of humor.

As we drove to our destination, I gave him and his dad some background.

“There’s good news and bad news about the lake we will be fishing. The good news is that there are big fish in the lake. The bad news is they are sometimes hard to find and catch, especially this time of year. We shouldn’t have any trouble finding smaller fish, and there are lots of them. But they are often in different areas than the big ones. So, it’s better if we have a plan.”

Demetrios did not hesitate. “Why don’t we fish for smaller fish first and after we catch a bunch, try for a big one.”

My kind of guy. I decided to take him to one of the spots where I have been able to catch both lots of fish and some very big ones, but I didn’t tell him that.

As we approached the honey hole, all I said was: “Let’s try here first.”

I set up Demetrios’s rod, baited his line and helped him make his first cast. As I turned around to see how his dad was doing in the back of the boat, Demetrios said: “Got one.”

And he did; a nice bluegill. His first ever fish, on his first ever cast.

He caught so many in the next hour or so that, shame on me, I lost count.

When asked about it later, he told his dad: “One bass, and, like 20 bluegills. It was awesome.”

October 2020

it all the time on my i-Pad.” His favorite video game is a fishing game? Is there anything not to like about this kid?

As I was thinking this, Demetrios went back to catching fish.

After he reeled in several more on consecutive casts, I said: “I can’t believe how well you’re doing.” “Trust me, fishing ain’t this easy.”

“I guess I’m a pretty good fisherman in every dimension.”

“Every dimension?”

“Yeah, this one and the video game one.”

Not knowing how to best respond to this, I changed the subject. “You ready to go looking for some bigger fish, Demetrios?”

“Sure,” he answered. “But you don’t have to call me Demetrios.

Call me Meetch if you want. It’s easier to say.”

We didn’t have any luck finding big fish. Meetch was patient, Demetrios “Meetch” Tsaptsinos, with his first ever but after trying several spots, fish. he said: “Can we go back to the Eventually, the bite slowed down a first place? What’s it called?” little, and I explained to Demetrios why “You know, it’s one of my favorite I liked the spot so much. It had a long spots, but it doesn’t have a name. Until line of weeds, with rocks on one side and now. I’m hereby naming it Meetch’s deeper water on the other.

Corner.”

“Yep,” he said. “Fish like that because Meetch smiled. A broad and bright they can hide in the weeds and surprise smile, one in which I saw both pride and other fish as they swim by.” understanding.

“How did you know that? I thought you I never asked Meetch to keep the locanever fished before.” tion of Meetch’s Corner a secret, but “I learned it from my favorite video somehow, I know he will. game. It’s called Fishing Hook and I play

James Tsaptsinos, Mark and Meetch celebrate a great day fishing. Photos courtesy of Mark Fiorentino

“A safe place to explore who you truly are, and who God is calling you to be.”

Join us for Sunday Worship Services @ 10 a.m. on FaceBook Live or firstchurchgranby.org.

Also recorded for later viewing.

Check website for in-person gathering info.

Help us support the Granby Community: Granby Food Bank Collection Saturday, Oct. 3, at First Church parking lot, 9-11 a.m.

Halloween Trunk or Treat – see website for details.

219 North Granby Road, Granby, CT 06035 Telephone: (860) 653-4537 www.firstchurchgranby.org

October 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 15

An engaged spectator of the political process encourages voting

By Celia Lofink I often ask myself, “Self – Why should I be interested in politics and government?” As someone who has spent many years actively engaged in Town Committee work for local and national campaigns, I do understand that, to some, it’s not the most desired use of those precious hours, or minutes, available in our busy lives.

Combine this boring factor with the ongoing climate of cynicism, controversial topics and combative media attention regarding government, and I suppose therein lies the reason that most of us feel generally disengaged or dour when the conversation turns to this looming election cycle.

I read a really interesting article by Jonathan Dolen, Professor of American Government at Grantham University. He pitched three reasons why people should be interested in politics and government:

The Pumpkin Patch is returning to South Church. While it may seem that the purchase of a pumpkin is a common and ordinary act each fall, these beautiful harbingers of autumn are part of an incredible chain of good deeds and help to serve an important purpose.

Pumpkins sold at the Pumpkin Patch are grown on a Navajo reservation in New Mexico. The Navajo tribe has made it their mission to be a selfsustaining, profitable, culturally and environmentally sensitive farm. Their products help support the mission and vision of churches and other non-profit organizations around the country. In a unique business model, profits from items sold at the Pumpkin Patch are split between the Navajo reservation and South Church.

By purchasing Pumpkin Patch items, buyers are helping to provide food and sustenance to hungry people on a local, regional and national level. Proceeds will support the mission of South Church, the community meal provided by the Waste Not Want Not Community Kitchen, and the future service trips of the youth group.

Pumpkin Patch pumpkins are sold by size, not weight, and there is a size for absolutely everyone. You can also find a wide selection of gourds and other fall decor. Volunteers will stay at a safe social distance and help you select the pumpkin that is just right for you. Wagons are available to make loading into your car easy.

The Pumpkin Patch will be open from Oct. 3 until Oct. 31, from noon until 6 p.m. on weekdays, and from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. on weekends. There is an after-hours drop box to pay if you can’t make it during open hours and we hope to offer Venmo pay too. For more information, please visit the website southchurchgranby.org

it’s important to go to the polls armed with the facts. Whether you’re voting for President or voting on a local candidate or ballot initiative, having the facts helps you make an informed decision on the issues. Reading newspaper articles about an issue or watching television interviews with a candidate can give you peace of mind that you’ve done your homework prior to casting your ballot.

Politics is entertaining.

While it might not be as entertaining as going out with your friends for a COVID-safe, socially distanced <50 of you outdoors on a Friday night, politics can be quite fun. Being a spectator of the political process during campaign season can be slightly more entertaining than your other TV binge watching. Is my candidate ahead in the polls? What was the latest candidate blunder?

Please spend time this year to look up from the busyness of life and take stock of what’s going on around you.

As a dedicated and active member of the Granby Democratic Town Committee, I invite you to our website and Facebook

page to get to know our local candidates.

Also, consider attending some great events planned for these final weeks of the campaign season.

Join us on Oct. 7 for a livestream VP Debate Watch Party, held outdoors with safe distancing and food service, to enjoy wide screen projection of the debate.

The Granby Democratic Town Committee is also planning a Virtual Tour of the famous West Avon Flower House.

Visit the website or Facebook page for more information on both events, and to register, We sincerely want to educate you about our local/national candidates, entertain you through some of these events and most importantly get you ready to vote.

No matter what—please vote. Exercise our amazing right as American citizens to vote and, if you are going with an absentee ballot, get it done early because your vote matters.

Find GDTC at: granbydems.org and facebook.com/GranbyDemocraticTownCommittee

Paid for by Lampert 2020. Bobby Berriault, Treasurer. Approved by Audry Lampert.

Pumpkins with a purpose at South Church

Government and politics impact nearly every aspect of our lives.

Whether we like it or not, government plays a huge role in our daily lives, ranging from the amount of tax you pay for your morning coffee, to the types of light bulbs you’re allowed to purchase.

Since we know that government impacts various choices we make, why not take the time to understand how the process works? Who makes these laws and how do they impact me? Having this understanding can help you determine the best course of action for yourself and your family, regarding a wide range of issues.

(Most of which are more important than your coffee and light bulbs.)

Having knowledge of politics helps make you an informed voter.

It’s a well-known fact that many Americans don’t vote. In fact, a recent PBS news article found than even though the polls received record voter turnout during the 2016 presidential election, these totals still only amounted to 58 percent of eligible voters. For those who do vote,

ON NOVEMBER 3rd, VOTE ROW A With decades of finance experience, Audrey will: • Guard taxpayer money • Support COVID-19 relief • Fight for a public health insurance option

IDEAS AND EXPERIENCE—NOT EMPTY PROMISES

Page 16 The Granby Drummer

October 2020

Route 10 Tire adds space and customer comfort in new facility

By John Nieb After 31 years at 563 Salmon Brook Street, Roger Fecteau will move Route 10 Tire next door to 561 Salmon Brook Street. He plans to have the new building open and running at the end of October.

Fecteau is moving into a new building that is bigger and provides bays to work on more cars at one time. The current building only has two bays. “The new building has three bays and will be much cleaner, more comfortable and a better overall experience for my loyal customers,” Fecteau said.

The independently owned auto repair business serves residents of Granby and North Granby, East Granby, Suffield, Simsbury and adjoining towns in the Farmington Valley and north-central Connecticut.

Route 10 Tire’s customers receive new state-of-the-art tires and tire changing equipment installed by an experienced staff that works hard to make sure every customer is satisfied and are in and out quickly. Quality tires such as Michelin, BF Goodrich, Uniroyal, Cooper, Continental and General are in stock or can be ordered including passenger, all-terrain, all season, performance, truck and SUV. Some of the other services provided include four-wheel computerized alignments and spin balancing.

Fecteau is proud of the service, support and satisfaction that he provides to his customers. The staff at Route 10 Tires works hard to give customers the best service possible, great parts and accessories. Part of the service that makes Route 10 Tire different from many others is that customers speak to Fecteau when scheduling service. “I’m here every day to make sure you’re happy,” Fecteau said.

Fecteau grew up on a farm in Granby, so he always had dirt bikes and motor-

Drumrolls Samuel Bartoes, of North Granby, graduated in May from Roger Williams University with a B.A. in public relations.

Amy Lenihan, of Granby, graduated summa cum laude in May from Roger Williams University with a B.A. in communication and media studies.

Jonah T. Yeakley, of North Granby, graduated magna cum laude from Westfield State University in May with a B.S. in business management.

Luke J. McFarland, a senior at Granby Memorial High School, is a semifinalist in the annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

Emily Brewer, of North Granby, has been chosen to serve as a Nesbitt-Johnston Writing Center tutor at Hamilton College for the 2020-21 academic year.

Assumption University has announced that Elizabeth Cappelli, of North Granby, has been awarded the Light the Way Scholarship, awarded to a select number of first-year students who demonstrate leadership, a commitment to service and a desire to make a meaningful difference in their communities and the world. Cappelli was recognized for her involvement in the Guiding Eyes for the Blind puppy-raising program.

Spencer Howes graduated in the spring from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with bachelor of science degrees in robotics engineering and electrical and computer engineering.

Elizabeth Fetzner, of North Granby, graduated from Colgate University in May.

ized things to drive. This sparked his first interest in cars, which became a lifelong thing for him. Since Fecteau wanted to work for himself rather than for somebody else, he also had a lifelong dream to own his own shop.

In 1989, after Fecteau graduated from automotive technical school, he began working at Tire and Wheels, which was located at 563 Salmon Brook Street. In 1999, the owner of Tires and Wheels moved the company to a different location and Fecteau took the opportunity to create his own business located in that same spot—where Tires and Wheels’ customers could easily find it.

His favorite part about running Route 10 Tire? “Getting to know my customers over the years,” said Fecteau and “the smile from someone who is a satisfied customer.”

He also wanted to add: “I’d like to say a special thank you to Jason and Sara from Small Town Septic for all their help and hard work to make this happen,” Fecteau said.

Roger Fecteau outside his new building at 561 Salmon Brook St. Photo by John R. Nieb

Route 10 Tire is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays and closed on Sundays. Call Fecteau to arrange for new tires, installation and service at 860-

884-8719 or go to info@rt10tire.com He’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Appointments can be made online and walk-ins are also welcomed.

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October 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 17

Jennifer Abalan A voice for the voiceless

By Faith Tyldsley The job: long hours, dangerous clients, calls for help 24-7. Horses and cows, skunks and coyotes and the occasional escaped boa constrictor are in the mix.

So, too, are disgruntled humans, including one who drew a pistol on the Animal Control Officer, telling her to vacate his property when she came to his door simply to return his roaming dog.

Meet Jennifer Abalan, Granby’s municipal animal control officer (ACO).

She serves not only Granby but also Hartland and Barkhamsted. In Granby, Abalan works in conjunction with the police department in what is referred to as a part-time position, on call from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (re-think the meaning of part-time). Hartland and Barkhamsted have her on call 24-7. She is a Granby native and has two grown daughters, one a respiratory therapist at Hartford Hospital and the other a Torrington police officer.

Given Abalan’s working hours, one wonders what time is left for Life—for shopping, meal preparation, doctors’ appointments? Dare we include watching TV or going to the beach? But she obviously has this marathon of a job worked out, having served 16 years in Granby and 28 in Hartland with firm intention to continue into the indefinite future. And she does manage to head north periodically, thanks to back-up from Granby police officers and a young woman in Hartland. For Abalan, “Maine is my healing place, a place where I can recharge.”

Abalan got her start working with animals 28 years ago when a friend who was the dog warden in Hartland needed a little help. At that time no specific training or guidelines were in effect. It wasn’t until July 2012 that the state of Connecticut passed legislation requiring prospective ACOs to complete 80 hours of initial training in order to be certified. People

Animal Control Officer Jennifer Abalan

like Abalan, already working in the field, a graduate of Corwere grandfathered in. All ACOs must nell University’s now complete six hours of continuing College of Veteducation annually. erinary Medicine, Abalan describes herself as “a voice for is a sought-after the voiceless.” While she embodies highveterinarian who energy, she is easy to be with, and wears has practiced in her authority lightly. A smallish HartSimsbury for 38 land police badge hangs from her neck years. unobtrusively. She The Department dresses casually in of Energy and a conscious effort Environmental to be an approachProtection (DEEP) able figure. “My is available when potentially dangerous vehicle is intimidatwildlife cases require specialized physiing enough,” she cal and medical support. In 2014, when says. In this time a 450-pound moose fell through a rotten Abalan with her of COVID-19, she well cover in Hartland, Abalan contacted stylish face mask, alternates among DEEP which sent Environmental ConDoggie Paw Print three specially-deservation police officers and a wildlife in Red signed masks. biologist to the scene. In addition, Abalan Animal Control Officer defined summoned a trooper and asked that a loACOs enforce state laws governing cal public works crew with a front loader animal control, protection and cruelty. and straps be dispatched. The moose was They issue citations and warnings to tranquilized. Straps were placed around people for mistreatment of animals and its body and it was lifted from the well. may remove animals from a negligent Abalan kept watch over the next few owner’s custody. The task of returning hours, expecting the moose to rise and roaming dogs, and to a lesser degree, go on its way. But its breathing became cats, to their homes is, in Abalan’s case, labored and it barely moved. The rescua frequent occurrence. One of the most ers had observed that the animal’s body stressful aspects of the job concerns cases was infested with engorged ticks. It has of cruelty that have reached the judicial level; Abalan has had to testify, literally speaking for the voiceless, in court several times.

Transporting injured wildlife to rehabilitation centers can be a large part of the job in rural areas. Abalan favors the rehab center at the Audubon Society’s branch in Sharon. “They are always willing to take all animals, not just birds.”

When a creature requires medical treatment due to injury or disease, or is in the end stages of life, Abalan goes to Dr. Peter C. Korten, Hartland’s and Red-tailed hawk with a broken leg (l.) and upon Granby’s town veterinarian. Korten, release (r.).

been noted by Dennis Schain, DEEP agency spokesman, that tick infestation of moose is a problem beginning to be seen in Connecticut. In northern New England, where there are larger moose populations, it is a common affliction.

The condition causes anemia, infections, hair loss and other health issues.

Night had come and there were coyotes in the area. “I got a little emotional,” Abalan said. “I like nature to take its course, but I couldn’t go to sleep knowing he’s lying there on the ground and the coyotes might come.” She and the trooper contacted DEEP again and it was decided the kindest thing to do would be to put the moose out of its misery.

The beneficiaries Abalan aids dogs, cows, horses, cats, goats and pigs (roughly in that order) when it comes to domesticated animals.

Wild animals encountered include bear, deer, skunks, opossums, raccoons, coyotes, fox, snapping turtles and moose.

And there was that outlier, the alleged boa constrictor at The Gables housing complex (next to McLean Game Refuge) in Granby. Abalan was dispatched to The Gables on June 12, 2015 after residents reported seeing a thick-bodied snake of alarming length wrapped across and around tree branches about 15 feet off the ground. Abalan said, “There was not a definite ID on what it was because we couldn’t find it when we went back with

Abalan cont’d. on p. 18

Purposeful Fall Cleaning Getting Ready to Sell? Follow this Process!

First, and most important, decide which things mean the most. Keep and pre-pack!

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Most of all, through the process, remember to breathe!

If you would like help with the home-selling process, give us a call. We’d be happy to answer your questions!

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Page 18 The Granby Drummer

October 2020

Horse found wandering in her distinctive purple blanket.

The snake that got away.

Abalan cont’d. from p. 17

the proper tools to catch it.”

Abalan admits that she was relieved to find the serpent gone between the time she first saw it and when she returned with the necessary snake-handling equipment borrowed from a friend who is a reptile-handler. “All I knew was that it was the biggest snake I have ever seen.

And it was never seen again, which for me was creepy because my kennel is right across the street.”

Wandering canines Technically speaking, once a dog leaves its property, it is considered “roaming.”

The fine for this transgression is $92.

Abalan carries out her job with a diplomatic touch: she gives a verbal warning the first time such an incident occurs, and a written warning the second time. The fine is issued on the third occasion. On the average Abalan is called several times a week regarding errant dogs.

She makes every effort to avoid issuing fines, preferring to work cooperatively with owners. She tells of one gentleman whose Australian Shepherd mix is so frightened of storms and loud noises such as fireworks that it has chewed the locks

from windows and jumped through most of the screens in the house. She will not ticket this man upon returning his dog because she knows he has tried—and continues to try—everything he can, including medication, to solve the problem.

Perhaps Abalan’s most frightening experience occurred when she was returning a loose dog to its home in Hartland. The owner opened the door to her knock, pointing a pistol at her as she stood on his doorstep with his dog on a leash at her side. He told her to leave the dog and get off his property. It was a swift departure, her own leash left still attached to the dog in her hasty retreat.

Mystery of the horse in the purple blanket In January 2013 a loose horse wearing a bright purple blanket was reported to Granby Police by a walker on MeadowBrook Road in Granby. The mare, estimated to be about nine years old, was given temporary shelter by an area farmer while a search for the owner ensued. Abalan said one person tried to claim the horse but could not give an accurate description. The owner never came forward and, although there were

many offers to adopt, Abalan’s daughter gave the mare a home.

Town of Granby’s Animal Shelter Abalan watches over the occupants of the animal shelter at 166 Salmon Brook Street, which opened in 2002 and is designed to serve the needs of dogs and cats who have strayed from home or been neglected or abandoned. Notable exceptions are the one goat and the four chickens Abalan once offered hospitality to when they had nowhere else to go.

The building has seven indoor runs and two rooms for other animals. The town has recently installed a security system and improved both the interior and exterior.

At the time of this writing the shelter was empty and Abalan likes it that way. “I don’t let dogs stay long. I get them home or get them adopted.”

Family support Abalan’s mom, Betty Hart, who is 86 and lives on Buttles Road, “helps out in a pinch.” She and her husband rehabilitated wildlife for many years at Roaring Brook Nature Center, a nature preserve founded

Betty Hart, Abalan’s mother, with motherless fawn.

Abalan cont’d. on p. 19

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Abalan cont’d. from p. 18 Barkhamsted—send warm thoughts and a wave her way. You’ll have to do it fast. She may be taking a stray pup back home or be on her way to rehab with an opossum—whatever she has in her vehicle you know she’s speaking up for its best life.

Join your voice to Jennifer Abalan’s— here is how to contact her.

Telephone: 860-844-5335 Email : spiritedhart@yahoo.com

in 1948 by Canton resident Una Storrs Riddle.

Abalan was married in 2017, to Brian Kershaw after losing her first husband to lung cancer. “Brian is a very wise man with a lot of wildlife knowledge. He has been amazing in helping me with my wildlife calls, even rushing home from his job just to give a hand in particularly difficult situations,” she said.

And Jordyn, Abalan’s granddaughter, can be counted on to be an enthusiastic volunteer.

You can help When you see Jennifer out on the roads—in Granby or Hartland or

McLean VP to receive LeadingAge Connecticut Humanitarian Award McLean Life Plan Community proudly announces that Lisa Clark, Vice President and Administrator of the Health Center, has been selected to receive the 2020 LeadingAge Connecticut Humanitarian award.

“This prestigious award is presented to an individual whose personal integrity, decency and contributions to the elderly best exemplify the ideals of our member organizations and their missions, and who serves as a constant inspiration to us all. We are honored to present Lisa with this richly deserved award,” wrote Mag Morelli, President LeadingAge Connecticut, in the congratulations letter she sent out.

Through her dedication to McLean, Clark has provided passionate and unwavering leadership to the organization for the past 20 years, 11 of them in this role. She holds a bachelor of science degree from Quinnipiac College in occupational therapy (1991) and has a long-term care administrator certificate from the University of Connecticut (2007).

“This honor is well-deserved,” said McLean President David Bordonaro.

“Lisa has a gift of being able to transform the vision she has always had for McLean into a reality, which has persevered through this unprecedented time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her strong

focus on providing person-centered care ensures our residents are safe and have the emotional support they need, and that every decision we make is based on upon our state and national guidelines for their well-being and that of our entire community. Her calm and steady nature have helped to guide our residents, staff and our McLean families.”

The award presentation will take place at LeadingAge Connecticut’s Virtual Annual Meeting to be held on Oct. 13.

Lisa Clark

Animal Control Officer Jennifer Abalan with assistant, 11-month-old Kota.

Jordyn, Abalan’s granddaughter, helps return a roaming dog.

Photos courtesy of Jennifer Abalan and Faith Tyldsley

Granby Public Schools Free or Reduced-price Lunch Program

Children from families whose income is at or below the levels shown are eligible for free or reduced-price meals or free milk. Application forms are being sent home with a letter to parents. To apply for free or reduced-price meals or free milk, households should fill out the application and return it to the school. Additional copies are available at the principal’s office at each school or on the district website under food service (breakfast and lunch).

Only one application is required per household and an application for free or reduced-price benefits cannot be approved unless it contains complete eligibility information as indicated on the application and instructions. The information provided on the application is confidential and will be used only for the purposes of determining eligibility and for administration and enforcement of the lunch, breakfast and milk programs. Additionally, all schoolaged children in income-eligible households can receive school meal benefits regardless of a child’s immigration status and the district/school does not release information for immigration-related purposes in the usual course of operating the CNPs. Note that the district MAY share your eligibility information with education, health, and nutrition programs to help them evaluate, fund, or determine benefits for their programs, auditors for program reviews, and law enforcement officials to help them look into violations of program rules. This information may also be verified at any time during the school year by school or other program officials. Applications may be submitted at any time during the year.

For up to 30 operating days into the new school year, eligibility from the previous year will continue within the same local educational agency (LEA). When the carry-over period ends, unless the household is notified that their children are directly certified or the household submits an application that is approved, the children must pay full price for school meals and the school will not send a reminder or a notice of expired eligibility.

No application is required if the district directly certifies a child based on a household member receiving assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or the Temporary Family Assistance (TFA) program. All children in these households are eligible for free meal benefits. Households receiving assistance under the SNAP/TFA programs will be notified of their eligibility and their children will be provided free benefits unless the household notifies the determining official that it chooses to decline benefits. If any children were not listed on the eligibility notice, the household should contact the district or school to have free meal benefits extended to those children. Households receiving SNAP or TFA benefits for their children should only submit an application if they are not notified of their eligibility by 9/11/20.

Some children may be directly certified for free or reduced-price meals based on Medicaid (HUSKY). No application is required if the district directly certifies a child based on Medicaid (HUSKY). All children in these households are eligible for free or reduced-priced meal benefits.

Households receiving assistance under Medicaid (HUSKY) will be notified of their eligibility and their children will be provided free or reduced-price benefits accordingly, unless the household notifies the determining official that it chooses to decline benefits. If any children were not listed on the eligibility notice, the household should contact the district or school to have free or reduced-price meal benefits extended to those children.

If a child is not directly certified, the household should complete a free and reduced-price meal application form.

The application for the SNAP or TFA households require the SNAP or TFA case number and the households may be asked to provide proof of the SNAP or TFA case number. The signature of an adult household member is also required.

FREE MEALS/MILK

Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Please send in an application or contact the determining official for more information.

When known to the district/school, households will be notified of any child’s eligibility for free meals if the individual child is Other Source Categorically Eligible because the child is categorized as either: Homeless; runaway as defined by law and determined by the district’s or school’s homeless liaison; or enrolled in an eligible Head Start or pre-kindergarten class as defined by law.

Households with children who are categorically eligible under Other Source Categorically Eligible Programs should complete an application and check-off the relevant box. Questions should be directed to the determining official. For any child not listed on the eligibility notice, the households should contact the school or determining official about any child also eligible under one of these programs or should submit an income application for the other children.

Households notified of their children’s eligibility must contact the determining official or school if it chooses to decline the free meal benefits. If households/children are not notified by the district/school of their free meal benefits and they receive benefits under Assistance Programs or under Other Source Categorically Eligible Programs, the parent/guardian should contact the determining official or their school.

Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court, are categorically eligible for free meals. A foster parent does not have to complete a free/reduced meal application if they can submit a copy of the legal document or legal court order showing that the child is a foster child. Additionally, a foster child may be included as a member of the foster family if the foster family chooses to also apply for benefits. If the foster family is not eligible for free or reduced-price meal

Number in Family

Annual Gross Income

Monthly Gross Income

Twice Per Month Gross Income

Every Two Weeks Gross Income

Weekly Gross Income

Number in Family

Annual Gross Income

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

16,588 22,412 28,236 34,060 39,884 45,708 51,532 57,356 + 5,824

1,383 1,868 2,353 2,839 3,324 3,809 4,295 4,780 + 486

692 934 1,177 1,420 1,662 1,905 2,148 2,390 + 243

638 862 1,086 1,310 1,534 1,758 1,982 2,206 + 224

319 431 543 655 767 879 991 1,103 + 112

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

23,606 31,894 40,182 48,470 56,758 65,046 73,334 81,622 + 8,288

Each Add’l Family Member

Each Add’l Family Member

benefits, it does not prevent a foster child from receiving free meal benefits. Note however, that a foster child’s free eligibility does not automatically extend to all students in the household.

Application forms for all other households require a statement of total household income, household size and names of all household members. The last four digits of the social security number of an adult household member must be included or a statement that the household member does not have one. The adult household member must also sign the application certifying that the information provided is correct.

Under the provisions of the policy for determining eligibility for free and reduced-price meals, the Assistant to the Business Manager, montagnak@granbyschools.org will review applications and determine eligibility. If a parent is dissatisfied with the ruling of the determining official, he/ she may wish to discuss the decision with the determining official on an informal basis. If he/she wishes to make a formal appeal, a request either orally or in writing, may be made to Karen Montagna, 15B North Granby Road, Granby, CT 06035, 860-844-5253, for a hearing to appeal the decision.

The policy contains an outline of the hearing procedure.

Each school and the central office of the school district has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by an interested party.

If a household member becomes unemployed or if household size changes at any time, the family should contact the school to file a new application. Such changes may make the children of the household eligible for reduced-price meals, free meals, or free milk, if the family income falls at or below the levels shown in the Income Guidelines.

Questions regarding the application process may be directed to the determining official at 860-844-5253.

REDUCED-PRICE MEALS Monthly Gross Income

Twice Per Month Gross Income

Every Two Weeks Gross Income

Weekly Gross Income

1,968 2,658 3,349 4,040 4,730 5,421 6,112 6,802 + 691

984 1,329 1,675 2,020 2,365 2,711 3,056 3,401 + 346

908 1,227 1,546 1,865 2,183 2,502 2,821 3,140 + 319

454 614 773 933 1,092 1,251 1,411 1,570 + 160

The above income calculations are made based on the following formulas: Monthly income is calculated by dividing the annual income by 12; twice monthly income is computed by dividing annual income by 24; income received every two weeks is calculated by dividing annual income by 26; and weekly income is computed by dividing annual income by 52. All numbers are rounded upward to the next whole dollar.

Page 26 The Granby Drummer

“In New England, if you don’t like the weather, just wait.”

Remember the wet spring and summer of 2019? Well, 2020 has been a little different. A Sept. 13 article in the Hartford Courant read, “At Bradley International Airport, precipitation from June 1 to Aug. 31 totaled 4.42 inches, the lowest level recorded in more than a century of data collection, state weather expert Gary Lessor said Friday.” That was not news to Farmer Joe O’Grady or the rest of our neighboring farmers. Amazingly, these agronomists amongst us seem to be able to make their crops grow through whatever challenges the New England weather gods throw at them.

Joe assures us that the food has grown, and the harvest is good. 2020 Summer CSA members will enjoy their last allotment in mid-October; for everyone, the Farm Store will be open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., through Oct. 31.

Enjoy local produce all winter

The Winter 2020-21 CSA is open for purchase, and always sells out. If you are interested in the best potatoes, beets, carrots, winter squash, onions and other root veggies, plus an assortment of fresh greens from the hoop houses, go to the website holcombfarm.org now and get yours before it is too late. Online orders are $385 by credit card (order by check and pay just $375). If you don’t need a full share, grab a neighbor and share one. While you’re visiting our website, you also can sign up for our email list, so you will be sure to hear about the Thanksgiving Veggie Sale and other holiday markets and special events.

Sign up now for next summer

The Summer 2020 CSA shares sold out incredibly quickly and we know our customers are anxious to reserve their shares for next summer, so we have opened our online sales earlier than usual: Oct. 1 via the website (holcombfarm.org). If you’ve heard about what a great value the Holcomb Farm’s Summer CSA is (20 weeks of fresh, chemical-free produce), don’t It’s ‘thyme” delay—sign up today. You Believe it or not, now is the “thyme” to sign up for also can sign up in person in Summer 2021 Shares! Go to www.holcombfarm.org to our Farm Store (through Oct. learn more! Photo by Joseph Abad 31, while supplies last) or by calling Cathy at 860-866-8616.

Bountiful Harvest

2020 was a rough year for humans, but it was a great year for tomatoes! Here, Brittany Gauthier, a stellar member of the CSA Farm Crew and the Friends of Holcomb Farm Board of Directors, displays cherry tomatoes she picked for the Farm Store.

Photo by Joseph Abad

October 2020

Emery steps in as Holcomb Farm’s volunteer part-time executive director

By Shirley Murtha In the absence of a true executive director, the Friends of Holcomb Farm board president Bob Bystrowski saw the need for a person to bridge the goals of the board with community and financial resources. He tapped Granby resident Jenny Emery for the job. Emery had joined the board in 2014 after retiring from full-time employment in public sector risk management and a stint as executive director of a national trade association.

She served as treasurer for the board until this summer when she agreed to move over to the directorship, but notes that it is just part-time—when the need exists. In this role, she provides board management support, leads in grant applications, and supports membership growth and fund-raising activities.

When asked what drove her to take on board responsibilities in the first place, she noted that

the resources of the Farm have always been an important part of her family’s life, interweaving education, open-space and agriculture—areas she deeply cares about. The Friends of Holcomb Farm are indeed lucky to have this very skilled part-time executive director.

Jenny Emery’s dogs Smudge and Ziggy vie for her attention. Photo

by Shirley Murtha

Black Garlic

Back in the Holcomb Farm Farm Store for another season is the infamous umami bomb... black garlic! What makes this different than regular garlic is the fermentation process that it undergoes.

The finished product is a soft, sweet, deliciously unique clove. It’s amazing in mashed potatoes or spread atop a piece of toasted bread, and it can be used as a garlic substitute in any recipe. Added bonus, it lasts up to 12 months in the refrigerator! Photo by Joseph Abad

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October 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 27

Bruce Porter Memorial Music Series 2020-21 season cancelled

Holcomb Farm cont’d. from p. 26

American Elms

These three elm trees are on the Tree Trail at Holcomb Farm. All three were planted in October 2018, and have grown several feet since.

They are an American Elm cultivar called ‘Princeton’, which is resistant to Dutch Elm Disease. The same cultivars are planted at the White House. Photo by Eric Lukingbeal

Fresh Access thanks—and needs—you

There is something about hardship (for example, a pandemic) that brings out the best in many people, and the many supporters of the Friends of Holcomb Farm’s Fresh Access program is a case in point. In anticipation that our annual Harvest Dinner and Silent Auction might not happen, we began spreading the word early that the promised food would still be shared.

In the spring, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving awarded us $15,000 to make sure the food got to those in need.

Then, throughout the past few months, person after person has surprised us with contributions to the cause. One young woman sent the equivalent of her stimulus check; several other annual fund contributors wrote off-cycle checks in support of the cause; and a longtime local faith-based group increased its support. As reported at our recent Annual Meeting, and thanks to these

examples and many more, when the year is over, we will have donated more than 12 tons of fresh, chemical-free produce to the Granby community, and beyond.

As the pandemic continues, we must find ways to continue to support foodinsecure families. For the safety of our community, we will not be holding a Harvest Dinner and Silent Auction this year. This saddens us because we love to gather with our friends each fall and celebrate the harvest and because the Harvest Dinner is our largest annual fundraiser for Fresh Access. We encourage all who are lucky enough not to be affected by this pandemic to consider supporting Fresh Access with a gift of any size—perhaps the cost of the dinner ticket you would have purchased—so that we can continue to help those in need. To help, go to holcombfarm.org and click on Fresh Access.

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The Bruce Porter Memorial Music Series 2020-2021 Season has been cancelled due to the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Established in 2012, the Bruce Porter Memorial Music Series has enjoyed eight years of hosting excellent musicians in the sanctuary of South Congregational Church in Granby.

In the 2019-20 Season, with grant support from the Granby Education Foundation, the Series presented four events that all drew audiences from the Farmington Valley, the greater Hartford area and beyond. The final program, on March 1, was the Celtic Fire! program presented by CitySingers of Hartford and was so well attended that people were barely able to fit in the church.

The CitySingers choir is directed by Suzanne Gates, who interweaves sacred hymns and choral settings of Celtic poetry with spoken readings and intersperses it all with lively Scottish, Irish and Norwegian dance tunes played by a band of musicians on traditional string, wind and percussion instruments. As always, it was entrancing.

Within a week or two after that concert, all public venues were closed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus that upended our lives. That resulted in the cancellation of all church services and other meetings in the buildings on the campus of South Congregational Church.

As of September, those buildings are still under severe restrictions for use.

Church services with First Church and South Church of Granby have moved to an online format, as have the groups that regularly met on those campuses.

We will miss sharing these wonderful afternoons of music with friends and neighbors. It is our most sincere hope that all of you have been able to stay safe and occupied in satisfying ways during the pandemic months.

The committee also regrets not being able to host the Philadelphia Baroque Orchestra, Tempesta di Mare, with Emlyn Ngai as concertmaster for the program planned for April 2021. Please visit its website (tempestadimare.org) to see the concert programs that will be presented online in the upcoming season. Fortunately, during the pandemic we will all still be able to hear and see this stellar group of musicians bring the music of the Baroque to life.

With gratitude for the support of our entire musical community over the eight years of the Bruce Porter Memorial Music Series, we extend our warmest wishes. To all of the performers, audience members, participating volunteers from the membership of South Church, the Greater Hartford Arts Council, the Granby Education Foundation, and the newspapers and radio stations that have helped us reach our audiences, thank you.

Celtic Fire program presented by City Singers of Hartford. Submitted photo

Page 28 The Granby Drummer

October 2020

Registrars of Voters Record number of poll workers needed for November This is an historic election year, with a pandemic adding to an already hotly contested election. New poll workers are needed for data entry, for helping at Town Hall for Election Day Registration, at the Senior Center for Central Absentee Counting, as well as working at the polls in the GMHS Community Gym. The Registrar’s office has been actively recruiting new workers to fill all of these slots and has set up multiple options for training to try to make it easier to participate.

If you would like to be added to the list or if you did not receive the poll worker information yet, please e-mail the registrars at registrarofvoters@granby-ct.gov.

Vote safely—Apply now to receive an absentee ballot The Secretary of State has mailed an Absentee Ballot Application, with return postage, to all registered voters. If you were missed, you can go online to get the application: portal.ct.gov/-/media/ SOTS/ElectionServices/AbsenteeBallot-Application-ED-3/ED-3-Rev20-Final.pdf You can use the official ballot drop box in front of Town Hall to deposit your application or mail it to: Granby Town Hall, 15 North Granby Rd, Granby, CT 06035.

Printed ballots will become available on Oct. 2. All approved applications will be mailed to the address given on the application. It is recommended to get your application in as soon as possible to help the Town Clerk deal with the unprecedented volume expected.

Carefully read the instructions and drop your completed ballot in the official ballot drop box. If you choose to mail it, we recommend mailing before Oct. 26 to ensure timely delivery. Use

both envelopes provided. If you are a new voter who has never shown ID, the Town Clerk will add a note reminding you to enclose a valid copy of your ID in the outer envelope along with the inner envelope containing your ballot.

Only complete absentee ballots received before the close of polls on the day of the election will be counted.

Do not bring absentee ballots to the polls, the polling place is exclusively for in-person voting. Please be aware if you have given the Town Clerk a ballot by 5 p.m. on Nov. 2 then your name will be crossed off in red, and you cannot vote at the polls on Nov. 3. Any absentee ballots dropped off on Election Day will not be counted if we find that the voter came to the polls to vote on Election Day. Top three reasons for rejection of Absentee Ballots in Granby Not using both envelopes, not signing inner envelope and not sealing as directed. Read carefully and follow the directions. Never share to save postage, each voter must use their own issued envelopes.

Invalid signature on the inner envelope.

The signature must match that of the person to whom the ballot was issued.

Family members and lawyers cannot vote a ballot for someone else.

Received after Election Day. Only ballots received by the Town Clerk by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3 will be counted. There is no grace period, no check of postmarks after Nov. 3.

Pandemic will force line outside on Nov. 3 For the Presidential Election on Nov. 3 many new precautions are being implemented to ensure the safety of both poll workers and voters. If you plan to come to the polls, please dress for the weather and plan for lots of extra time to vote.

The CDC guidelines for social distancing and maximum indoor capacity will necessitate lines outside of the building.

Anticipated heavy traffic will also necessitate a one-way traffic pattern— enter using the North Granby Road/ Route 189 entrance and leave using the Salmon Brook Street/Route 10/202 exit.

If you are concerned about in-person voting this year, the registrars advise you to vote by absentee ballot.

Register now to vote in November Voters need to be aware that voter registration is non-transferable. If you move, you must register in your new town and make sure you receive a letter of confirmation within two weeks prior to the election. Call the registrars’ office or email, if you did not receive confirmation. Currently there is a sevenday registration deadline, whether it is done online, mail-in or in person. There are few cut off exceptions (new residents who moved within the last week before the election, handicapped and military).

Please review the calendar below for these deadlines. The registrars strongly recommend going online to register now, to ensure your right to vote.

Same day registration, also known as Election Day Registration, is available at Town Hall, for eligible U.S. Citizens who are 18 or older on Election Day. New voters must provide proof of both identity and residency if they wait until Election Day to vote at Town Hall.

Between new social distancing requirements and the data entry and crosstown check waiting, Election Day Registration can be a lengthy process. If you come on Election Day be prepared to wait outside if there is a line. To ensure no one votes twice, those who are from a different town in Connecticut will have their ballot set

B A L L O T S

aside. A confirmation phone call with their previous town must affirm they have not voted before the ballot can be counted. Online voter registration is available for new voters or to make changes 24 hours a day—seven days a week at voterregistration.ct.gov Voter registration can be verified at dir.ct.gov/ sots/lookup.aspx Calendar Review Friday, Oct. 2: Absentee Ballots are available from the Town Clerk (for completed applications) Tuesday, Oct. 20: Public Testing and Sealing of the Voting Machines at 2 p.m. in Town Hall Tuesday, Oct. 27: Deadline to postmark a mail in registration Tuesday, Oct. 27: Last day to register to vote in person Tuesday, Oct. 27: Voter registration session at Registrars’ Office in Town Hall, 9 a.m.–8 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 28: Filing of Certified Voter Registry List with the Town Clerk Monday, Nov. 2: Last day to register for new residents, military, handicap Monday, Nov. 2: Voter registration session at Registrars’ Office in Town Hall, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 3: Polls open 6 a.m., close 8 p.m. HS Community Gym Feel free to stop by to register to vote, to determine your voting district or to make corrections in person at the Registrars’ Office in the Town Hall every Wednesday, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Please note that voter registration forms are also available at town halls, libraries, DMV offices and online at the Secretary of State’s website: sots.ct.gov Questions? Please feel free to contact the registrars, Laura Wolfe and Sonja Smith at 860-844-5322 or registrarofvoters@granby-ct.gov

October 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 29

Granby Artists Association exhibition and sale at the Windsor Art Center

By Susan Canavan

Robinson, acrylic paintings; Barbara Schmidt, wood carvings; Katherine Tolve, mixed media; Wendy VanWeile, photography; Linda Yurasevecz, pottery and raku pottery.

Twenty exhibiting members of the Granby Artists Association (GAA) are showing their work at the Windsor Art Center (WAC) from Oct. 1 to Oct. 29.

Ordinarily Granby artists open their studio doors every October for the GAA Open Studio, but this year such an event is not possible. Instead you can shop early for the holidays at this new show. All of the pieces on display are for sale, including beautiful, smaller art pieces available for sale in the WAC gift shop.

The show, titled Season of Change, features a wide range of media and styles from paintings to pottery, View of artist’s studio. Photo by Wendy VanWeile glass to photography. The exhibition theme speaks to how changes in our lives, like the change of The Windsor Art Center is at 40 Methe seasons, are unavoidable but acceptchanic Street, located behind CVS in ing change can help us grow.

Windsor Center. The gallery is open Here are the featured artists: Bill Thursdays, 6–8 p.m., Saturdays, 10 Bentley, watercolor paintings; Stuart a.m.–4 p.m., and Sundays, 11 a.m.–4 Browning, pastels and watercolor p.m. WAC has COVID-19 protocols in paintings; Sue Canavan, handmade place to keep all attendees safe. Face paper flowers; Eliza Carwell, oil paintmasks are required and social distancing ings; Avis Cherichetti, pottery; Lou is encouraged.

Cherichetti, weaving and rugs; Gary Please visit the Granby Artists AsEbersole, charcoal drawings; Laura sociation website (granbyartists.org) Eden, egg tempera and watercolor paintfor more information about the show ings; Aimee Gilbert, handknitted items; and the exhibiting artists. Also, look Mark Gottlieb, blown glass vases and for exciting details on an interactive paperweights; Pam Jones, oil paintings; book, Journey of Change, which will be Sally Sargent Markey, watercolors; posted on the Granby Artists Facebook George Mattingly, oil paintings; Debby page, facebook.com/GranbyArtists.

Reelitz, calligraphy; Annukka Ritalahti, stained glass and glass jewelry; Barbara

Vitality Team: A healing approach to effects of COVID-19 What does it mean to be vital? To be truly needed? Essential? Important?

Certainly, these last six months have caused many to take pause. COVID-19 has created an unexpected opportunity to reflect on personal vitality. Individuals and families alike have become keenly aware of exactly what we need in our lives to survive and to thrive. Sadly, one thing many have learned to live without is an abundance of social interaction. We miss hugs. We long for the days of backyard barbeques with friends and family.

We wonder, “When will this all end?”

Through news and social media, we have witnessed so much daily suffering such as COVID-19 related deaths, economic devastation and racial tensions.

The world is hurting, Granby is hurting.

First Congregation Church of Granby values the need for healing. The congregation is exploring new and unique ways to connect with and care for members of the local community. The church’s Vitality Team has never been busier.

The group consists of individuals who are simply passionate for its mission to make the church a vital part of the local community.

The group has found ways to thank essential workers including, but not limited to, nursing home staff, day care workers, library staff and public works staff.

The Vitality Team has blessed the local animals, held food drives for those dealing with food insecurity, and driven through neighborhoods honking wildly during a Car Cheer Parade. The Easter Bunny also made a guest appearance, delivering care bags to support local families and children, and raise funds to support the Alzheimer’s Association.

Ironically, in many ways, we are closer than ever. We suppose these small things won’t change the world—or will they?

The Vitality Team would love to hear your stories about how you have made a difference in your community. The group would also appreciate ideas about what it might do next. Please send emails to sue@firstchurchgranby.org FCC’s Pastor Todd blesses a visitor at the congregation’s annual Blessing of the Animals service. Photo by Heather Dobbert

Granby Artist Association members, photo by Wendy VanWeile

First Congregational Church of Granby members gather to make signs and decorate for a town-wide car cheer parade. Photo by Heather Dobbert

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Page 30 The Granby Drummer

Farmington Valley Chorale announces virtual season The Farmington Valley Chorale continues its 50th anniversary year with a multi-faceted program that provides new opportunities for singers to engage with music making and learning.

“From its first public concert in 1970, the Chorale has done extraordinary work in bringing together singers to perform the best in choral literature,” says Ellen Gilson Voth, artistic director.

“No pandemic can erase the beauty of that music, or the impact it has had on countless singers and audience members over the past fifty years. In the spirit of our anniversary, we are dedicating this fall to exploring several masterworks we have performed—a closer look at the composers’ lives, forces which influenced their writing, how their music is constructed, and why their works have stood the test of time. We look forward to giving our 50th anniversary concert when circumstances allow, but until that time, we’re continuing to celebrate and remain proud of our strength as an organization, looking ahead to the next fifty years.”

In addition to this Masterwork of the Month series, Dr. Voth will be offering

October 2020

CTVV interviews David Lehman

Critical to the administrative infrastructure of Connecticut, the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) oversees a wide range of programs promoting business retention and recruitment, Brownfield redevelopment, the arts, historic preservation and tourism.

Connecticut Valley Views (CTVV) interviewed David Lehman, the current commissioner of DECD. He was appointed by Governor Lamont earlier this year to generate a productive environment for the private sector and existing corporations while attracting potential new businesses from other states. The goal is to improve Connecticut’s eco-

nomic development and health. Key for anyone interested in initiating a new venture, is the new website —business. ct.gov— where there is a veritable onestop, step-by-step to-do list to meet that objective. It contains a wide variety of resource topics, from opening during the COVID-19 crisis to getting vital business updates from the state. You can follow all updates on the DECD website (ct.gov/coronavirus).

Be sure to watch the revealing CTVV segment via your local PATV airing station or view directly along with all of Ct Valley View’s interview shows at ctvalleyviews.com with host Susan Patricelli Regan.

Used books for sale at library A large selection of books are available for sale on the Friends of Granby Public Library (FOGPL) Used Book Sale table and book carts. The selection varies from month to month. Items may include recent best sellers, fiction, nonfiction, children’s, as well as music CDs and DVDs. All sales help support various programs and items for the library.

One significant way to help would be to become a member of the Friends group. There are many levels of membership, and forms are available at the library on the book sale table by the entry or on the granby-ct.gov website.

Of course, donations are always welcome. Make checks payable to FOGPL and either bring them or mail them to the library.

David Lehman, commissioner of DECD Submitted photo

Supporting a Caring Community since 1960 Your donation to the Granby Community Fund helps support multiple organizations providing programs and services to residents in Granby, West Granby & North Granby.

Watch the mail for your opportunity to contribute.

Learn more or donate through our website granbycommunityfund.com

Chris Shepard

two Music in Response programs for the public—one-night events in which she and a guest colleague will discuss, in depth, a piece of music that focuses on musical works that emerged in times of crisis or, in some way, speak to our vulnerability and coping through times of crisis.

On Oct. 11 the program begins with a close look at a J.S. Bach cantata (BWV 25), with a dynamic speaker and Bach expert, Dr. Chris Shepard, the artistic director of CONCORA (Connecticut Choral Artists), the Worcester Chorus (Worcester, Mass.), the Masterwork Chorus of New Jersey, and Director of Music at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Stamford.

Chorale president Jerry Queen summed up plans for the new season, “There’s no doubt that the pandemic has presented incredible challenges for all performing organizations. We miss the chance to rehearse together and perform, but we’re excited about this opportunity to engage our membership in programs that will build our music literacy and skills for the future.”

For information about the Music in Response programs, visit farmingtonvalleychorale.org

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October 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 31 East Granby

Public Library and Land Trust Unveil New Story Trail East Granby has opened its first story Ricky passed away recently. To honor

trail at the East Granby Land Trust’s Ian Clark Preserve. Family hikers are welcome to explore the half-mile loop and enjoy the story, When Grandma Gives You A Lemon Tree, by Suffield author, Jamie L. B. Deenihan and illustrated by Lorraine Rocha. The story trail helps build children’s interest in reading, while encouraging healthy outdoor activity for children and their families.

The book, When Grandma Gives You A Lemon Tree, is about making the best out of an unwanted situation—familiar to everyone during the COVID-19 pandemic. The book is about finding the silver lining, working hard, connecting with community and helping others along the way.

Deenihan wrote the book while her husband, Ricky, battled cancer. Sadly,

Ricky, other brain cancer patients and childhood cancer patients everywhere gold and silver ribbons have been hung from each story post on the trail. You will also see gold and silver ribbons incorporated into the story’s illustrations.

In gratitude for the Story Trail and in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (September), Deenihan donated 20 signed copies of her book to childhood cancer patients at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center on behalf of the East Granby Public Library and the East Granby Land Trust.

The story trail will be on display until the end of November at the Ian Clark Preserve located directly across from 140 Kimberly Rd in East Granby. The story trail is brought to you by the East Granby Public Library and the East Granby Land Trust.

Author Jamie L. B. Deenihan and her sons, Nathan and Alex, holding a picture in memory of Ricky by the Story Trail. Submitted photo

The East Granby Public Library passionately advocates for lifelong learning, and believes that libraries can

bring people together, even when they have to keep their distance.

Riek-Dauerbach wedding announced

Local twin sisters enjoying the East Granby Story Trail. Submitted photo

“When you are kind to others, it not only changes you, it changes the world.”

— Harold KushnerSouth

Church: Faith = Hope Enacted Join us some Sunday to discover how living faithfully can make a world of difference. We are an Open and Affirming Community. All are welcome!

Worship Service at 10:00 a.m.

Streamed until we can reopen.

Pumpkin Patch October 3rd — 31st 242 Salmon Brook St., Granby, CT / (860) 653-7289 / www.southchurchgranby.org

Kerry Anne Riek, operations manager at ECRI, and Christopher Kenneth Dauerbach, a landscape architect at Derstine Landscaping Design and Build, were married on May 24, in Pennsylvania. Kerry is the daughter of Mary H. Riek Renaud and the late Joseph G. Riek, and stepdaughter of Andy Renaud of Granby.

Kerry is a 1995 graduate of Granby Memorial High School and received a BS in engineering from University of Connecticut and a BS in nursing from Northeastern University. She is a licensed professional engineer as well as a registered nurse.

Chris received an AS in mechanical engineering from Penn State University and a BS in ornamental horticulture/ landscape design from Delaware Valley University. He is the son of Stephen D.

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Page 32 The Granby Drummer

October 2020

McLean expands its Independent Living Community The McLean Life Plan Community has moved forward with plans to construct a residential building adjacent to the current Burkholder building in the McLean Village, which overlooks beautiful Hop Meadow Country Club.

New independent living apartments, many with striking golf course views, and a host of first-class amenities, will enhance the senior living and health care community’s 125-acre campus.

Preliminary groundwork has begun and construction is expected to be completed mid-2022. Applications are currently being accepted.

Named after Senator George McLean’s wife, Juliette Goodrich, The Goodrich will include 55 beautiful maintenancefree apartments with bright, open floor plans and the latest in architectural design. The apartments will include one- and two-bedroom units ranging in size from 700 to 1,470 square feet.

In addition to the residential floors, almost one quarter of the building will be dedicated to a full array of first-floor amenities, including a suite of wellness and fitness spaces, indoor and outdoor restaurant-style dining venues, and a contemporary Performing Arts Center complete with a raised stage and seating for 180. The Goodrich will offer stunning views of Hop Meadow Country Club golf course and provide residents with secure underground parking.

The Burkholder building will be upgraded along with the new construction.

Additional wellness activities and programming will complement the existing calendar. McLean residents also enjoy a social membership to Hop Meadow

O’Brien

Above and below: Architectural renderings of the new McLean Independent Living Community.

Country Club giving them exclusive access to dining and events in the Club House, as well as the outdoor pool, tennis and golf.

Throughout the planning and design phase, McLean worked closely with One Point Partners to provide strategic planning direction and SFCS, Inc. a nationally-recognized architectural and design firm. C.E. Floyd was selected as the general contractor and financing is made available through tax-exempt bonds issued by Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority (CHEFA).

For more information, contact Elizabeth Marquis 860-658-3744.

Nurserymen Open Garden Days October 2, 3 & 4 Unique Conifers; Abies, Picea, Pinus, Larix, Oh My! October 16, 17 & 18 End of the Hosta Season Sale October 30, 31 & Nov. 1 Visit now for Japanese Maples in Amazing Fall Color

Thank you for another great season!

Hours: Friday 10-5; Saturdays 10-5; Sundays 10-5 (On Above Dates Only) Also by Appointment – Please Call Ahead Directions: From Granby Ctr., Jct. Rte 10/202 & Rte 20; West on Rte 20 to first light; Right on Rte 189 North; 1 ½ miles, Right onto Wells Rd; #40 Wells Road, ½ mile on Right 40 Wells Road Granby, CT 06035 • (860) 653-0163 • www.obrienhosta.com

Public Works Transfer Station hours: In addition to Saturdays, the transfer station will be open Wednesday 8 a.m. to noon through Nov. 18.

Shred-it event: A paper shredding event will be held Oct. 24 from 9 a.m. to noon. This event is for residents only, no businesses. Documents are shredded on-site. Plastic bags cannot go into the shredder so please bring items in paper bags or in containers that can be emptied into the barrels Household Hazardous waste collection: Saturday, Oct. 17, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Simsbury DPW facility, 66 Town Forest Road. A list of accepted items is available on the Town of Granby website. The following additional services will be provided: Electronics recycling (items with Freon not accepted) and document shredding, special hours 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. or until truck is full. Two box limit per resident. For information on either event, call the Granby DPW at 860-653-8960.

Plastic bag recycling: Plastic bags, wraps and mailers are recyclable but not in your curbside bin. When you place these items in your curbside bin, they get wrapped up in the equipment at the recycling facility, workers have to stop the machines and climb onto the equipment to cut off the bags. Please look for the Store Drop Off label and take your bags/wraps with this label to your local store.

Along the same lines, please do not place your recyclables in plastic bags.

Once the bag reaches the processing plant, they will assume it is trash and remove it from the recycling line. You’re wasting your recycling effort by doing this.

Yard Waste: Yard waste is not allowed in your trash or recycling barrels—it has been banned from curbside barrels since 1998. Grass, leaves and brush should be composted on-site or brought to the Granby Transfer Station.

PAPER SHREDDING EVENT for Granby residents

Saturday, October 24th 9 AM - noon Granby Public Works 52 North Granby Rd Questions Call Public Works at (860) 653-8960

Page 20 The Granby Drummer

October 2020

Parks & Recreation Kristine Vincent, CPRP: Director of Recreation and Leisure Services Daphne Shinder: Recreation Supervisor Terri Ziemnicki: Program Supervisor Office Hours: 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Salmon Brook Park; open 24/7 at GranbyRec.com Telephone: 860-653-8947 Website: GranbyRec.com

Party or Special Event Planning

Have your next family or other private event at Salmon Brook Park or Holcomb Farm. The SB Park House is a beautiful facility that can accommodate up to 99 people, featuring a gas fireplace and central air.

The North Barn Pavilion at Holcomb Farm is built to look like a barn but this gorgeous building has modern amenities to make your event for up to 125 people a day to remember. Dates fill fast so call to get more information or visit GranbyRec.com to see pictures and rental info.

Pawsitive Steps Dog Training Beginner Classes

Mondays, Oct. 26–Dec. 7, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Salmon Brook Park Gathering Room. Join well-known, certified dog trainer Kim MicHalewicz for this great introductory seven-week course to learn how to effectively communicate with your best friend. Time will be spent learning to socialize your dogs to a va-

riety of situations. Learn about normal canine behavior and how-to problem solve to help your dog fit into the human world. Appropriate household behavior, handler attention, basic obedience and coming when called will be covered.

Open to all dogs. There is no prerequisite for this class. Fee: $170

Columbus Day Youth Basketball Clinic

Monday, Oct. 12 at Salmon Brook Park. Grades K–4 from 9–11 a.m.; grades 5–8 from 12–2 p.m. Led by the Granby Memorial Girls Varsity Basketball Coach, Mike D’Angelo.

In this fun two-hour coed skills clinic, Coach D’Angelo, his coaching staff and players will work with the kids on ball handling, passing, shooting and incorporate skills games. It is a great way to spend a day off from school and get some outdoor exercise. Each participant should bring their own basketball and water bottle. Masks will be required when not actively playing. Fee: $40

Columbus Day Food Explorers Jr.

Monday, Oct. 12, 9 a.m.–Noon at Holcomb Farm. For grades 2–5. Join Katie, a registered dietitian from Food Explorers, for a morning of cooking, making a Mini Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread and Ricotta Gnocchi Mac and Cheese, all from scratch of course. Food will be eaten outdoors (weather dependent) and

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children will be making their own food.

Recipes are nut free but will contain dairy and eggs. Fee: $52

Food Explorers—Kids Make Dinner

Thursdays, Oct. 8–29, 5:30–6:30 p.m., via Zoom. For grades 2–6. Join Megan, a registered dietitian from Food Explorers to make dinner for your family on Thursday nights. Learn to make homemade pasta, Broccoli Cheddar Melts with Baked Fries, Southwest Quesadillas and Lightened up Mac and Cheese.

All recipes use simple and easy to find ingredients, an ingredients list will be provided before each class with ample time for grocery shopping. Fee: $59.

Pumpkin Fun Run (5K)

Sunday, Oct. 18, 9 a.m., at Salmon Brook Park. Rain date is Oct 25. For all ages. Check in begins at 8 a.m. and the race starts at 9 a.m. This timed, twoloop course in beautiful Salmon Brook Park is mostly grass terrain around the soccer and baseball fields. Run your best 5K ever on a mostly flat course with this no pressure, low key event.

Pumpkin medals for all participants.

Run, walk, push a stroller or walk your dog—whichever you choose, just have fun! Due to COVID-19 restrictions no “day of” registrations will be accepted, you must pre-register at GranbyRec. com. Fee: $10.

American Red Cross Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers

Monday, Oct. 19, 6–8 p.m., at Salmon Brook Park Gathering Room. For adults.

This course prepares one to recognize and care for a variety of first aid, breathing, and cardiac emergencies involving adults, children and infants and meets OSHA/workplace requirements. This is a blended learning course including an online portion and an instructor-led classroom skill session. The online portion must be completed prior to attending the in-class portion and must be taken on a PC or tablet with a high-speed Internet connection. Allow approximately 2 ½ hours to complete the online portion. Upon successful completion of this course you will receive a digital certificate for Adult and Pediatric First Aid/ CPR/AED valid for two years. Fee: $90

Gentle Yoga

Ongoing on Wednesdays from 6–7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9–10 a.m., at Salmon Brook Park. A yoga practice in the park appropriate for all levels of experience. An outdoor morning yoga experience incorporating breath,

balance, flexibility, focus and fun.

Instructor Rachel Little will lead the group through movements and yoga postures both standing and down on the mat that build strength, balance and mobility, while encouraging relaxation and release. Modifications offered to accommodate common injuries and limitations. Please bring a yoga mat, blanket/towel and water. Optional items: yoga blocks, strap. You can pay for the whole session or pay per class.

Class will be held in the outdoor band shell if weather permits or inside in the Gathering Room. Fee: $15 drop-in or pre-register at GranbyRec.com for an entire session.

Yoga for Strength with Laura Fetzer/Seger

Ongoing Mondays 8–9 a.m., at Salmon Brook Park Gathering Room.

Develop strength and flexibility with this more challenging dynamic flow, integrating movement and breath with sun salutations, twists, back bends and core strengthening with an emphasis on proper alignment. Combine this with the cultivation of inner peace and the mindfulness of breath awareness. A complete practice for sure. Modifications always offered. Listening to your body always encouraged. Fee: $15 drop-in or preregister at GranbyRec.com for an entire session.

Holiday Glass Paint Night

Friday, Oct. 23, 7–9 p.m., at Salmon Brook Park Gathering Room. You pick the styles and themes for the two glasses that you would like to paint. All of the supplies needed to create beautiful glasses will be provided. Many winter and fall options available. Bring your own snacks and beverages and be ready to have fun! Fee: $40

National Scrapbooking Weekend/ Crafting Event

For ages 16–99, at Holcomb Farm North Barn Pavilion The Town of Granby Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoring a Crop/Craft Event. Friday, Oct. 2 goes from 1 to 9 p.m. for $20, and Saturday, Oct. 3 will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. for $35.

If you sign up for both days, pay only $50 and you may leave your supplies set up overnight in our secure facility.

Water, soda and ice tea will be provided.

Please feel free to bring your own food or other beverage. Register early as the maximum number of participants for either day is 30.

October 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 21

Browse & Borrow Adult and Teen Programs

Granby Public Library System

To register for any program, call the library or go to the Calendar of Events tab at the website. Program participants will receive a confirmation email with the info needed to participate. Questions? Please call or email the library.

Programs covering a variety of topics are always being added to the events calendar. For the latest information check the website and be sure to sign up to receive the Library eNewsletter.

Goofy Gourds and Petrifying Pumpkins for teens and tweens: Saturday, Oct. 3; 2–3 p.m. (rain date Oct. 10). On the lawn at Granby Public Library. Let’s get outside and make our own fantastic veggie beasts. Select a pumpkin or gourd and get creative with other bits and pieces to carve, paint and assemble a goofy grindylown, scary skrewt, or totally cool chizpurfle! Teens and tweens register for a space at the maker tables. Additional info is available on the website. Sponsored by Friends of Granby Public Library.

EFT Tapping Group, Virtual Program: Monday, Oct. 5, 6:30–7:30 p.m.

Emotional Freedom Technique is a process used by tens of thousands of practitioners around the world. It is said to help people overcome anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, traumatic memories, grief, and emotional or physical pain.

First-timers and repeat attendees are welcome to join the monthly group Tapping session. Registration required.

Writers Group: Tuesday, Oct. 6, 5–6:30 p.m. On the patio at Granby Public Library. Adult fiction writers are invited to a writing warmup workshop in preparation for November’s National Novel Writing Month. Find inspiration in the invigorating outdoors, and enjoy gathering at a socially safe distance with fellow scribes. Free WiFi, electricity and seating provided. Registration requested.

Taste the Season, Virtual program in the Granby Grows series: Wednesday, Oct. 14, 6:30–7:30 p.m. Everything

2

The Granby Public Library offers limited open hours at the Main Branch, access to the Children’s Room by appointment, and continued Curbside Library Pickup, digital services, and telephone support. The library’s focus remains public and staff safety, continued access to information, and exceptional service to the Granby community.

Main Branch Open Hours Tuesday and Thursday 12–3 p.m. and 4–7 p.m. (closed 3–4 p.m. for cleaning) Saturday 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Children’s room by appointment; call 860-844-5275 to schedule.

Curbside Library Pickup: For maximum social distancing and safe, convenient library access, curbside pickup continues to be a great option. Library materials can be reserved online through the catalog or by telephone, and patrons can schedule a pick-up appointment—no need to come inside. Call the library at 860-844-5275 for details.

Online: Granby residents are encouraged to use the library’s “third location,” open 24/7: the website granby-ct.gov/library. There, access digital services any time, including online program registration, eBooks and eMagazines, Consumer Reports, Ancestry, and more. New titles are being added to the digital collections weekly, so check back often. Don’t have a library card? Register for your free library card on the library website or by calling the library.

Phone/Email: Members of the Library staff are working on-site and are available to answer your questions by phone (860-844-5275) and email (GranbyLibrary@ granby-ct.gov) Monday through Saturday. tastes better when the recipe comes from a neighbor and uses ingredients from local farms. Join Susan Case, Sweet Wind Farm, when she shares a few of her fall favorites and offers food prep tips gathered from years of experience on the farm. Registration required. Sponsored

by Friends of Granby Public Library.

About the Granby Grows program series Granby Public Library and Granby Agricultural Commission are bringing the experts to you. Join us for a series of webinars featuring farm and garden professionals and environmental educators. Each program in the series speaks to agricultural and/or environmental topics, and includes opportunity for live or text chat with the host, presenter and other program attendees. Some programs in the series have additional sponsorship.

Food, Farms, and Forward Thinking, Virtual program in the Granby Grows series: Wednesday, Oct. 21, 6:30–8 p.m. The current food system is rife with problems that have conse-

PA R K P CE

quences for individual health as well as the environment. Farmland is vanishing at an alarming rate and the future of food in New England depends greatly on decisions made today. Are you curious about the farmland preservation work of Connecticut’s non-profit grass roots organizations, private land trusts, and others?

Granby Public Library, Granby Agricultural Commission and Granby Land Trust welcome an expert panel of professionals, including: Chelsea Gazillo, Working Lands Alliance director; Kip Kolesinskas, Connecticut Conservation Consultant and Working Lands Alliance co-chair; John Guszkowski, Connecticut Resource Conservation and Development, president and CME Engineering, senior planner; and Latha Swamy, City of New Haven Food Policy Director, Food Policy and Planetary Health Consultant and Working Lands Alliance member.

Learn about the tools available to protect farmland and plan for social,

2

COME JOIN US! PA R K P �C E .C O M

Children and Families

Visiting the Library: We are so happy to see families in the library again. Due to current safety restrictions, the Children’s Room is open to one family (or pod) at a time, by appointment only.

Call 860-844-5275 to schedule your time to visit.

Story Time, Facebook Video: Follow the Granby Public Library System on Facebook to see the story time videos posted by Miss Joan and Ms. Heather.

They will be sharing different popular fall favorites and new classics each week as we enjoy the season together.

New videos will be posted weekly.

Story Stroll: Have you discovered our Story Stroll yet? You and your family can read a picture book together as you stroll the grounds of Granby Public Library. Pages from a colorful children’s book are posted on several signs trailing around the library lawn, and if you follow the numbers on the signs, you can read the book in its entirety. Each story begins near the walkway to the patio (to the right of the library’s front door).

Check back every time you visit. New books will be posted often, through the fall season.

Take and Make Crafts: Check the online calendar throughout the month for the opportunity to register for easyto-use craft kits that you can TAKE from the library (at curbside or during a visit) and MAKE at home. Instruction and all materials needed are provided. Supplies are limited—registration required.

Halloween Celebration: The annual Preschool Halloween Party will look a little different this year, but we’re excited to celebrate with you. Details will be posted on the website as they are finalized.

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Page 22 The Granby Drummer

October 2020

Granby resident’s great COVID creativity summer

By Shirley Murtha

Dr. Rick Kirschbaum GENERAL DENTISTRY IMPLANTS

Dr. Rick Kirschbaum GENERAL DENTISTRY IMPLANTS

Dr. Vince Steniger GENERAL DENTISTRY

Not one to sit around doing nothing, Granby resident and Hartford school teacher Sean Wynne was not content with building just a fire pit in his back yard—he decided to design and execute a compass rose around it. The idea came to him when he and his wife Cathy were enjoying a fire one evening and noticed a great view of the North Star.

Wynne dug out the grass around the pit, forming a circle with a 21-foot diameter, and filled the area with processed gravel in which to set the stone for both stability and drainage. He then marked out the eight directional points that would become the rays, which he formed from the several pallets of wall stone he had ordered.

At first, he intended to create some Stonehenge-type furniture between the rays, but family and friends talked him out of that idea. Playing around with the stones one day, he noticed that two of the large rocks he had chosen for the aborted furniture plan were mirror images of each other, and looked to him like a pair of wings. A nearby rock made a perfect tail and Wynne easily saw a bird flying north east.

After that, designs for the seven other images came quickly, based on

iconic characters from his and Cathy’s life. Having just celebrated their third anniversary, the heart with the arrow was a no-brainer. The shining crescent moon blowing a kiss “pretty much covers the romantic moonlight thang,” says Wynne. The sea turtle relates to the couple’s love of the ocean and surfing, and the musical note represents their skill in playing an assortment of instruments. The ambling bear represents the Granby Bear mascot of son Charlie’s class of 2020, and is also intended to keep the peace with the local bear that wanders through their yard looking for a late afternoon snack.

The sunflower relates to the fact that Cathy plants them in the yard. Finally, the fish is a token of the town and state’s water projects to clean up the Farmington and Connecticut Rivers.

To help the images stand Sean Wynne and his compass rose fire pit. Photo out, Wynne used polished by Shirley Murtha black pebbles to differentiate them from the background and framed before Wynne returned to his regular job the entire piece with granite of teaching middle schoolers. Too bad cobblestones. Begun in midhe isn’t the student being asked what he April, the five-month project did for the summer—what a great story was completed just a few days he would have to tell!

Dr. Jason Raney

ORTHODONTIC SPECIALIST

Dr. Jason Raney

ORTHODONTIC SPECIALIST

Notice the bear, turtle, bird and fish images in the designs.

Photos by Shirley Murtha.

Dr. Staci Allen

PEDIATRIC SPECIALIST

The hospital on Salmon Brook Street

By Todd Vibert

Dr. Jason Alliger ENDODONTIST

Dr. Matthew Lepowski GENERAL DENTISTRY

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From 1921 to 1946, the house at 225 Salmon Brook Street was owned by Dr. Ernest Pendleton. From 1921 to 1928 Dr. Pendleton lived on the first floor with his family and ran a hospital on the second and third floors. He had an X-Ray room, surgery room, nurses’ quarters, and beds for over 20 patients.

To make sure everyone in town could get a complete health check-up, he gave the physical exam and invited Dr. J. W. Shea, a dentist, to the hospital on Friday and Saturday mornings for dental updates.

Pendleton was ambitious, energetic and cared for his patients. As his patients were recovering, he cared for their physical well-being, so he set up a croquet lawn, a pond for swimming, horseback riding as well as a golf course.

First, he built an 18-hole course and later built a nine-hole course for women.

The course was first used by patients only, but in 1927 the course was open to the public and became the Salmon Brook Golf Course in the area that is now Salmon Brook Park.

Pendleton made sure he cared for the health of his patients, but often was taken advantage of. His patients came from Massachusetts and New York and would stay for weeks at a time without paying their bills. Eventually, Pendleton was forced to close the hospital.

Despite this major setback, Pendleton kept treating patients and the hospital would become a faded memory.

The closure of the hospital put Pendleton into significant debt, so he transformed the hospital on the second and third floor into apartments to help pay off the debt. In 1931 he bought the house at 265 Salmon Brook Street as rental property, and four years later lived there temporarily after his house at 225 Salmon Brook caught fire and needed repair. His bad luck continued that year when the golf course club house burned down. After suffering a heart attack in 1946, Pendleton sold his houses and moved back to Westfield, Mass. where he practiced medicine until he died in 1961 at the age of 84.

To learn more about the houses at 225 and 265 Salmon Brook Street, come to the Salmon Brook Historical

Dr. Ernest Pendleton

Society virtual house tour during the month of October. To learn more about Dr. Pendleton, the hospital, or his golf course, join the Salmon Brook Historical Society by calling 860-653-9713 or go online at salmonbrookhistoricalsociety.com

October 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 23

HEALTH NOTES

By the

Farmington Valley VNA

Flu immunizations are critical this year With the flu season upon us during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is doubly essential to lessen the risk of getting the flu. In a typical year, flu is seen from fall to early spring, with varying degrees of severity.

We know that we will have sneezing, coughing and cold/flu symptoms around us each year, and this year particularly, we will need to do all we can to prevent the flu with effective immunization.

Notably, the CDC believes that the flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 will both be spreading this flu season. It is possible to have the flu and COVID-19 at the same time, though no one is certain how often that may occur.

The symptoms of flu are very similar to COVID-19, but those immunized will have a lesser chance of the flu or have a milder case. Because it may be hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone, testing may be needed to help confirm a diagnosis. The behavior we have been practicing since the arrival of COVID-19 —hand washing, face masks, avoiding large crowds, minimizing social contacts by staying six feet apart, staying home when ill— all help in preventing influenza as well.

There are many different flu viruses, and they are continually changing. The composition of U.S. flu vaccines is reviewed annually and updated to match circulating flu viruses. Flu vaccines protect against the three or four viruses that research suggests will be most common.

This season’s flu vaccines were updated to better match viruses expected to be circulating in the United States. There is

In Memory Of… Pilipski, Glenn Scott, 59, Feb. 9 Allen-Kanaris, Victoria “Vikki” A., 71, July 19 Schooley, Frank M., 92, husband of the late Carol (Rahricht) Schooley, Aug. 4 Breen, John E., 93, August 10 Tobin, Robert J., husband of Christina Adzima, Aug. 10 Kania, Vivian (Dombkowski), wife of the late Leo C. Kania, Aug. 18 Evonsion, Richard C., 55, husband of Patricia “Pattie” Harding Evonsion, Aug. 23 McGraw, Louise (O’Donnell), 90, wife of the late Frederick McGraw, Aug. 24 Wolfe, Rose (Gembala), 84, wife of the late Daniel J. Wolfe, Sr., Sept. 4 Peters, Thetis L., 88, wife of the late David Earl Peters, Sept. 6 Vanty, Raymond D. (Butch), 77, husband of Marilyn M. Vanty, Sept.

13 Ahrens, William Russell, 89, husband of Lois (Johnson) Ahrens, Sept. 13 Lenick, Ruth Marilyn (Traynor), 87, wife of Robert Lenick, Sept. 10

no change in the CDC’s recommendation on the timing of vaccination this flu season. Getting vaccinated in July or August would have been too early, especially for older people, because of the likelihood of reduced protection against flu infection later in the flu season. September and October are good times to get vaccinated.

However, as long as flu viruses are circulating, vaccination should continue, even in January or later.

Some people are more vulnerable to catching the flu. They include people over 65 years old, children between six months and five years, pregnant women and those with chronic medical conditions. Others at increased risks are people who are obese, have respiratory illnesses, work in a nursing home or healthcare facility or caregivers of anyone with high risk.

All workers in public settings, or those in regular contact with these workers, should be immunized, including teachers, childcare workers, healthcare providers and public workers. College students and those in the military or anyone living in close contact with other groups of people are also at a higher risk.

Getting a flu vaccine will not protect against COVID-19. Flu vaccines reduce the risk of severe flu illness, hospitalization and death. Getting a flu vaccine this fall also will help conserve potentially scarce health care resources. No evidence suggests a flu vaccination increases your risk of getting sick from a coronavirus, like the one that causes COVID-19. The flu shot cannot cause the flu as it is not made with the live virus. However, you may have mild flu-like symptoms for a day or two as your body responds and builds up antibodies.

Your primary care physician’s office, pharmacies, flu clinics, and sometimes workplaces all provide flu vaccinations.

The shot is available in regular doses and high doses for people over 65 years.

The Farmington Valley Visiting Nurse Association has public flu clinics

throughout the valley. Both the high dose for adults over age 65 and regular doses will be available for adults and children over nine years. Clinics will be held outdoors under tents. All CDC required pandemic guidelines will be taken at the clinics with masks, social distancing, gloves, sanitizing and temperature checks.

• In Granby, there are two flu clinics at the Senior Center: Thursday, Oct. 15, 2–5 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 24, 9:30 a.m.–noon.

• The East Granby Senior Center will have a flu clinic on Monday, Oct. 19, 3:30–5:30 p.m.

• East Hartland’s flu clinic is at Camp Alice Merritt, 167B Hartland Blvd on Route 20, on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

Please call the VNA office at 860651-3539 to make an appointment. For other flu clinics that may have a more convenient location or date, please go to farmingtonvalleyvna.org to see the full schedule of clinics and to obtain consent and information documents.

Prepared by Nancy Scheetz, RN, Executive Director, Farmington Valley VNA

MARK

ANDERSON for State Representatve

62nd District

Barkhamsted Granby Hartland New Hartford

Mark is a COMPASSIONATE CONSERVATIVE committed to:

Making Connecticut More Affordable

Opposes New Taxes & Tolls Keeping Our Neighborhoods Safe

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Favors Local Control of Education & Zoning More Information: : 860-200-7300 : mark@mark4ct.us : @mark4ct : www.mark4ct.us

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Page 24 The Granby Drummer

What’s for Supper?

By Pamela Scherrer Now that it is fall, I enjoy making soups again. I love a good butternut squash soup but have never had a good recipe—until now. Even my husband, who is NOT a fan of butternut, had two bowls of this soup and loved it. This is a five-star version of this recipe and will be a favorite this season.

Ingredients 4 pounds (about 2 medium or 1 large) whole butternut squash 1 Tablespoon extra light olive oil (not extra virgin) 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter 2 cups diced white or Vidalia onion 2 cups diced Granny Smith apple, peeled 1 clove garlic, minced 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth 1 ½ teaspoon Maldon flake sea salt (or kosher salt) 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/2 cup heavy cream (I substituted light cream) 6–8 fresh sage leaves, chopped toasted pumpkin seeds for garnish (optional) sour cream for topping (optional)

Roasted Butternut Squash Bisque

Directions Preheat oven to 375. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Rinse the skin of squash and coat well with the olive oil; place on the baking sheet on the middle rack of oven. Roast squash for 60-90 minutes, turning it every 20 min, until the squash is fork tender. Remove from oven and let sit to cool a bit.

While the squash is roasting, melt the butter in a large pot on the stove on medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until translucent and just starting to caramelize. Add the diced apple and cook for 5 minutes (or until softened), stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, cook for 1 minute.

Remove from heat and set aside.

Cut the cooled squash down in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds.

Remove the skin and discard and add the cooked squash to the onion mixture in the pot. Add the broth to the pot and season with the salt and pepper, stir to combine.

Bring pot to boil over medium-high heat and then reduce to medium-low and simmer 15 minutes. Remove pot from heat and stir in the cream and sage leaves.

Granby Community Fund can’t do it without you

For over 60 years, Granby Community Fund has been raising money to provide grants to local nonprofit agencies. Some of you may recall when Community Fund volunteers went door-to-door soliciting pledges. Times have certainly changed—and they’ve been difficult for all of us this past year. Yet, our mission to give grants to support community groups has remained intact.

Our member agencies, identified below, are counting on us for support in 2021.

Our fundraising campaign has just begun and every resident should receive a letter from us. We appreciate your donation, small or large. All of our grants are for Granby programs and services. Thank you in advance for your support. Granby Community Fund can’t do it without you.

American Red Cross Farmington Valley YMCA FAVARH Granby Boy Scouts and Venture Crew Granby Emergency Fuel Bank Granby Girl Scouts, Salmon Brook Service Unit Granby Senior Van

October 2020

Granby Social Services Friends of Holcomb Farm Marquis of Granby McLean Meals on Wheels Parents for a Safe Graduation Salvation Army Waste Not Want Not Community Kitchen

Roasted butternut squash bisque

Using an immersion blender, food processor, or regular blender, puree the soup until smooth. You may need to do this in batches. If using a blender, remove the small pour lid from the big lid and cover the hole with a paper towel

while blending. This will allow steam to escape and prevent the blender lid from popping off.

Garnish with pumpkin seeds and sour cream as desired.

Buon Appetito!

subseven Locally Owned

860.653.6630 info@subseven.net Supporting the Farmington Valley.

Digital Workflow.

Computers.

Networks.

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HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION Saturday, October 17, 2020 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Swim Your Stress Away in the

Valley’s Best Water Simsbury Public Works Facility 66 Town Forest Road, Simsbury

Swim Center at Westminster School Crystal-Clear Water Lap Swimming Swim Lessons Water Fitness Monthly Memberships Masters Swimming Family Fun!

Open to residents of Simsbury, Avon, Farmington, Canton, Suffield and Granby. Proof of residency required.

Personal document shredding will be available from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm or until truck is full. Two box limit per resident.

860 408-3021 www.SwimCenter.net 995 Hopmeadow Street (Route 10) Simsbury

Latex and oil paint do not need to go the hazardous waste collection. They are accepted at the Granby Transfer Station during hours of operation.

Questions? Call the Granby DPW (860) 653-8960.

October 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 25

Granby’s connection to The Juilliard School Past locations of the Juilliard School of Music

By Ken Kuhl Granby has an amazing connection with the famous Juilliard School in New York City.

Frederick and Catherine Andrus Cossitt had four children. The oldest was Helen Marcellus Cossitt who, on February 6, 1877, married Augustus D. Juilliard. Augustus was 41 and Helen was 30 years of age at the time of their marriage. They had no children but found themselves devoted to music and educational training in the arts.

Augustus, like his father-in-law, was a self-made man who made immense wealth in the dry goods business as well as banking and insurance. By 1895 Augustus was one of New York City’s most prominent and wealthy citizens.

Augustus D. Juilliard

The son of immigrants from the Burgundy region of France, Juilliard was born at sea while his parents were on the journey to the United States. His parents were Jean Nicolas Juilliard, a shoemaker, and Anna Burlette, both Huguenots.

Augustus was raised near Louisville, Ohio, and attended local schools.

In 1866, Juilliard moved to New York City, where he worked in the garment industry for a textile manufacturing company that produced worsted fabrics.

When the company went bankrupt seven years later, Juilliard founded his own corporation, the Augustus D. Juilliard Company, in 1874. The corporation distributed textiles including wool, silk, and cotton.

He became a successful and wealthy merchant, who added to his fortune through investments and board appointments in banking, railroad and insurance. He and Helen resided in Tuxedo Park, N. Y., where they owned a grand mansion, and also had a flat on the West Side of Manhattan. At Helen’s passing in 1916, Augustus received millions from her personal fortune.

Juilliard was established in 1905 as the Institute of Musical Art by Dr. Frank Damrosch, the godson of Franz

Liszt and the head of music education for New York City’s public schools.

Damrosch was convinced that American musicians should not have to go abroad for advanced study, and created the Institute as an American music academy that would provide an educational experience comparable to that of the established European conservatories.

At that time the United States did not have a premier music school and too many students were going to Europe to study music.

Julliard agreed and soon the Institute opened in the former Lenox Mansion, Fifth Avenue and 12th Street, on Oct. 11, 1905. Although they made a modest plan for just 100 students, the initial enrollment figures were nearly five times what was expected. It was found that they had greatly underestimated the demand for high-quality musical training. The Institute quickly outgrew its original home and moved in 1910 to 120 Claremont Avenue in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, formerly the Bloomingdale Insane Asylum.

A patron of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History, Juilliard served as President of the Metropolitan Opera for nearly three decades, from 1892 until his death. He made bequests to hospitals, museums and other charitable causes, but the vast majority of his estate, $5 million, was designated for the advancement of music in the United States.

Juilliard died in 1919, aged 83, at his home in New York City.

Trustees of his estate set up the Juilliard Foundation in 1920 to accomplish his goals, and in 1924, the Foundation’s funds were used by its Trustees to establish the Juilliard Graduate School to assist excelling students with an advanced music education and as a graduate music conservatory. Gradually programs were added in dance and theater. The foundation purchased the Vanderbilt family guesthouse at 49 E. 52nd Street, and established it as the location for the new Graduate School.

In 1926, the Juilliard School of Mu-

ing Arts. The Juilliard School offers sic was created through a merger of bachelor’s degrees in music, dance, the Institute of Musical Art and the and drama and postgraduate degrees Juilliard Graduate School. The two in music. Throughout its history, The schools shared a common board of diJuilliard School has maintained a comrectors and president but retained their mitment to providing the highest caliber distinct identities. The conductor and of artistic and educational experience to music-educator Frank Damrosch conexceptionally talented young performtinued as the Institute’s dean, and the ing artists from around the world.

Australian pianist and composer Ernest Hutcheson was appointed dean of the Graduate School.

In 1937, Hutcheson was named president of the two institutions, a job he held until 1945. In 1946, the Institute of Musical Art and the Juilliard Graduate School completely merged to form a single institution.

The president of the school at that time was William Schuman, the first winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Music. Schuman established the Juilliard String Quartet in 1946 and the Dance Division in 1951, under the direction of Martha Hill.

Today the Juilliard School is the The Juilliard School, today. Submitted photo professional educational arm of the Lincoln Center for the Perform-

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October 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 33

All programs will be held online via Zoom. Pre-registration is required.

Special Events Coffee and Conversation: Thursday, Oct. 1 at 10 a.m. Guest speaker Kelsey Riggs, ACC sideline reporter and anchor for ESPN, will be sharing her experiences, and will also talk about how she got into sports reporting, her early career and more. Free for members, $5 non-members.

Affordable and Sensible Makeup Tips for Mature Skin: Wednesday, Oct. 14. Classes will run at 9:30 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Jason Hayes is an award-winning makeup artist working with Broadway and Hollywood stars.

Hayes will offer a full demo class explaining skin care, eye makeup, lips and brows, foundation choices and how to properly use concealers. There will be three sessions that day, but class size is very limited so make sure to sign up early. The class is 90 minutes long.

Please have your skin care and makeup on hand. Register by Oct. 7. Cost $20 members, $25 non-members.

Halloween Bingo: Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 1 p.m. This bingo will feature all things scary and spooky. There will be some fun surprises in store. Register by Oct. 13. Cost $5 members, $7 non-members.

Scattegories: Thursday, Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. In this fun and fast paced board game, participants will be given a category list and a letter of the alphabet.

Whoever fills out their categories with

Membership Renewal Please visit the website granby-ct.gov/senior-services or check your Center Life Newsletter for a complete listing of health services, support groups, clubs and ongoing activities. All programs are currently being held on Zoom. If you need instructions on how to connect, please let us know.

There are three ways to register and pay for Senior Center membership dues and programs.

Online registration and payment. Use your Membership Tag to register and pay online at myactivecenter.com/#centers/USA.CT.Granby.Granby-Senior-Center If you have lost your membership tag, call 860-844-5350 to speak with a Senior Center staff member.

Call the Senior Center to register and pay with a credit card by phone at 860844-5350.

Call the Senior Center to register and mail a check to 15C North Granby Road, Granby, CT 06035.

All memberships and van dues are renewed in September. Membership fees for Granby residents are $5 and $10 for out-of-town-guests. Van dues are $10. This minimal fee helps defray costs, allowing the center to offer free and low-cost events throughout the year. the most unduplicated answers wins.

Prizes will be mailed. Register by Oct. 15. Cost $5 members, $7 non-members.

Lifetime Learning Academy

World Culture Series—Italy: Tuesday and Thursday, Oct. 6 and 8 at 1 p.m. Presented by Jared Day, Ph. D, Carnegie Mellon University, who will present a travelogue of sorts focusing on Italy’s history, culture and notable sites. Take an armchair tour of one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Register by Sept. 29. Sponsored by the Farmington Valley VNA. Cost $8 members, $10 non-members.

NOT WANTED A campaign to raise awareness of and control invasive plants sponsored by Granby’s Conservation Commission

This column …

Over the past year, Not Wanted has identified some of Granby’s worst invasive plants, discussed control strategies, and described alternative plants. We could cover many more invasives— the state list includes almost 100. But starting with this column, instead of highlighting one Invasive of the Month, Not Wanted will focus on related areas such as what can be done each month, opportunities for collaboration, groups taking action, upcoming events, and resources.

October 7 Symposium The central hub of invasive plant activity in our state is the CT Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG), which holds an annual day-long symposium to gather and share information. This year the symposium will be held entirely online on Oct. 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The theme is Realistic Solutions to Managing Invasive Plants, with breakout sessions aimed at both experts and laypersons, on both large and small parcels of land.

One presenter will describe a town Conservation Commission’s activities to control Japanese Knotweed, for example; others will discuss aquatic invasives, chemical and non-chemical treatments, using native alternatives, and more. Registration is required and

includes access to taped sessions. Brochure and registration are here: cipwg. uconn.edu/2020-symposium/ October Invasive Action Cut Japanese knotweed before seeds mature and disperse.

Pull small Japanese bittersweet seedlings up by the roots; cut or pull out established vines.

Pull up smaller Japanese barberry plants and cut larger bushes to the ground.

Cut, pull and mow multiflora rose, depending on size.

Look for small garlic mustard plants and pull carefully by the roots; plants pulled in the fall don’t pop up and explode with seeds in the spring.

Pull and cut autumn olive (and Russian olive, a potential invasive) shrubs, preferably before berries mature into seeds.

Cut and mow mugwort to prevent seeds from maturing and scattering.

Collaborate Several local groups—Holcomb Farm, Granby Land Trust, McLean Game Refuge, Simsbury Garden Club, to name a few—are working to control invasive plants and might appreciate your willingness to help.

For more information on invasive plants, see granbyinvasiveplants.weebly.com

Bob Steele on the Radio—The Life of Connecticut’s Beloved Broadcaster: Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 1 p.m. Presented

by Paul Hensler. For more than 60 years, Bob Steele was the radio voice of Southern New England, entertaining listeners of WTIC AM with his wit, humor and an inimitable style that kept listeners faithfully tuning in to his morning show. Learn about this beloved broadcaster’s story. Register by Oct. 1.

Cost $5 members, $7 non-members.

Health and Wellness

Focused Meditation: Thursday, Oct. 29 at 10 a.m. Presented by Evan Gross, exercise physiologist, GoodLife Fitness.

Focused Awareness is a simple five-step technique. Learn how this scientifically based practice can help you feel more relaxed, focused and calm. Register

by Oct. 22. Sponsored by Hartford HealthCare. Free for members, $5 nonmembers.

Support Services

Alzheimer’s Support: Caring for someone diagnosed with Alzheimer’s can be overwhelming. Contact the Alzheimer’s Association for assistance at 800-272-3900.

Ask the Attorney: The first Wednesday of the month, by appointment.

Specializing in Elder Law. Please call to set up an appointment for a free consultation. 860-844-5352.

CHOICES Counseling: Provides information and assistance about Medicare and its drug coverage plans.

Call 1-800-994-9422 to speak with a counselor.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Thursdays at Noon. A group for grandparents who are raising

their grandchildren share friendships, tips and ideas on being a parent again.

Free.

Free Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Checks: Every Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with the Farmington Valley VNA. Held at the gazebo behind the Granby Food Bank, 248 Salmon Brook Street. Please wear a mask.

Senior Van Service

The Senior Vans operate Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Out-of-town medical appointments may be made no earlier than 9:30 a.m. and no later than 2 p.m. Call at least one week in advance when requesting rides for appointments. Annual van fee is $10.

Call 860-844-5353 to schedule a ride or to get more information.

Exercise Classes

All classes are held via Zoom, so preregistration is required—no drop-ins.

New class sessions will be starting in November. Must have a minimum of eight participants per class.

Chi Gong: Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m.

Instructor, Mary Ellen Mullins. Chi” means “Energy” and “Gong” means “To activate”. In this gentle, low impact, standing (or seated) class we activate our vital life force or “Energy” with a series of breathing, stretching and balancing techniques.

The practice of Chi Gong helps us to feel grounded, nurtured and relaxed so that the body’s energy can be naturally directed to help our organs function optimally, create flexibility in the muscles, suppleness in the joints and bring balance to our emotions. It is also wonderful for healing and pain management. Like Tai Chi, Chi Gong is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine.

Classes will feature the elements and poses appropriate for the current season. Expand your knowledge of the wonders of traditional Chinese medicine and the physiological functions of the meridians and internal organs of the body. Accessible and beneficial to all levels. Cost: $48 members; $56 nonmembers.

Cardio and Strength: Fridays at 10–10:45 a.m. Instructor, Mary Fuller.

Emphasis is given to finding a balance between flexibility and strength and exploring how, with practice, we can find increased fluidity of movement.

Yoga experience is somewhat helpful but not required. Cost: $45 members; $54 non-members.

Visit the Facebook page (facebook. com/GranbyCTSeniorCenter) and the website at granby-ct.gov/seniorservices for updates on exercise classes.

—we hope to see you again very soon!

Page 34 The Granby Drummer

TOOTH TALK by Michael Ungerleider D.M.D

DON’T SKIP YOUR DENTAL APPOINTMENT! Amid the coronavirus pandemic, about half of the people in the United States postponed or skipped medical care, according to a recent poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation, and about 10% of those responding said that their health worsened as a result. It’s important not to neglect regular health care visits, because what we do with our health now will affect our health five or 10 years from now. With this in mind, the article listed several medical appointments people should not skip at this time, including dental visits. Experts agree that Dental offices are incredibly safe spaces to be seen.

When you come in you will see some of the new safety protocols, such as additional protective gear, clear plastic barriers, and temperature checks.

Even during this outbreak, it’s important to maintain good oral hygiene habits. And remember, that we will always make it a priority to protect our patients and our office team while delivering safe and reliable health care.

The doctors and staff of the Granby Dental Center invite you to see all of the new and exciting advances in modern dentistry at our office.

Computerized Dental Radiography allows us to lower radiation doses to our patients by 50-90%! At the Granby Dental Center, we offer CEREC, an amazing technology that allows us to fabricate porcelain crowns in just one visit! This revolutionary CAD CAM unit allows us to preserve more natural tooth structure and restore the tooth to 100% of its original strength!

We are the only office in Granby to offer Cone Beam CT technology, allowing us to see 3-D images instantly. This aids in diagnosis and planning for Implants.

If you would like a 2nd opinion or have a question you would like answered, or would just like a tour of our modern office to view our sterilization procedures and to meet our friendly, caring staff, please contact us, or visit our website: www.granbydentalcenter.com Follow us on Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/GranbyDentalCenter/

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October 2020

Historic Footnotes Carol Laun

Archivist, Salmon Brook Historical Society

Lemuel Haynes – an eloquent man of God Part 2

Rev. Haynes spent the next 30 years of his ministry in West Rutland, Vt. His congregation was very attached to him and vigorously objected to any disparaging remarks about their “coloured minister.”

But the way they defended him was to say “his soul is pure white.”

In the years after the Revolutionary War, when Haynes was actively preaching, writing sermons and becoming known as a powerful speaker, the biography by Rev. Cooley differs greatly from the research articles found on the internet.

Cooley only mentions religion. Many other sources say that Haynes wrote and preached extensively about the evil of slavery. He believed that slavery denied black people their natural rights to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Haynes compared the British oppression before the war to the slave experience. He wrote, “Liberty is equally as precious to a black man, as it is to a white one, and bondage as equally intolerable to the one as it is to the other.”

In the lengthy biography, Cooley says that Haynes left “limited material” but he printed many of the extremely long sermons given by Lemuel Haynes. He also included numerous letters written, through the years, to both Cooley and to Deacon Elihu Atkins. These letters only mention religious revivals, numbers of members added to the church and the state of religion in Vermont. There is no mention of slavery, abolition or politics in the biography.

In contrast, the research papers online emphasize that Haynes had a reputation for evangelical Calvinism and fervent opposition to slavery. His essays and sermons on natural rights, liberty, justice and interracial harmony were printed internationally.

It is difficult to believe that Rev. Haynes would censor his letters and omit topics that were so important to him. Perhaps Rev. Cooley felt it would be safer to avoid the controversy surrounding slavery, abolition and politics.

However, Cooley’s biography does tell us much about the character of Rev. Lemuel Haynes. He had a quick mind and a sharp wit. Anecdotes abound illustrating his sense of humor. He once told a fellow minister who was lamenting the loss of all his sermons in a fire, “Brother, they gave more light from the fire then they ever gave from the pulpit.”

On another occasion, Haynes, an ardent Federalist, accidently entered a celebration for newly elected Andrew Jackson. He was urged to give a toast and offered this “Andrew Jackson, Psalm 109 Verse 8.” When someone finally looked up the reference, they found, “Let his days be few, and let another take his office.”

A sermon preached by Haynes in 1805 brought him fame. It was his response to a sermon by Hosea Ballou, a leading Universalist spokesman. Haynes’ brief Sermon Against Universalism satirically equated Ballou to the serpent and to the devil. It was printed in 40 editions.

Although Haynes was successful in religious revivals in his own and neighboring churches, he was fighting a losing battle.

Times were changing. The free and independent spirit of the Revolutionary War was affecting religious attitudes. Thomas Paine’s Age of Reason encouraged free thinkers. People were accepting the idea of universal salvation instead of the orthodox

Calvinist doctrine Haynes embraced.

Calvinism was a harsh and unforgiving doctrine. Predestination meant that God has chosen those he intends to save.

Haynes worked to save the souls of sinners and preached that sinners must repent, people must be born again and love God above all—before Judgement Day. And yet, no matter how you lived your life, God had already decided if you were going to heaven or hell.

In his letters, Haynes complained about the “corrupting influence of the Revolutionary War,” and people were reading books on reason. He also disagreed with most of the abolitionists, who wanted to send the blacks back to Africa. He believed God’s plan was harmonious integration of the races as equals.

In 1801, Haynes published a tract on slavery, The Nature and Importance of True Republicanism. In 1804, he was awarded an honorary Master of Arts degree from Middlebury College, the first ever awarded to an African-American. In 1814, Haynes was a delegate, representing Vermont ministers, at the convention of the Connecticut General Association in Fairfield. There he met Dr. Timothy Dwight, President of Yale University, who invited him to preach in New Haven. He filled the church with his “impassioned eloquence.” In 1818, after 30 years, he was dismissed from his church in Rutland. He was 65 years old.

Rev. Cooley printed letters saying the parting was a mutual decision, but other sources indicate it had to do with his outspoken political opinions and Calvinist beliefs. One research document indicated racism. Haynes supposedly said, “He lived with the people of Rutland 30 years and at the end of that time they found out that he was a nigger, and so turned him away.”

Haynes then spent two years in Manchester, Vermont where he played a leading role in a famous murder trial. He believed in the innocence of two brothers in a case based on dreams and circumstantial evidence. The “murder victim” appeared in town shortly before Jesse and Stephen Boorn were to be executed.

Haynes published a factual account of the case, which was important in American judicial history and also a best seller.

The aging minister spent the last years of his life at a church in South Granville, New York. All through his 30 years in West

Rutland, then two years in Manchester, Vermont and eleven years in South Granville, New York, Haynes longed to return to another Granville. “My heart is often at Granville. I cannot be wholly weaned from the place of my childhood and youth.”

In the last year of his life, Lemuel Haynes finally returned to Granville for a few weeks in August, to substitute for their ailing minister. It was 1833 and he was 80 years old. “I preached in Granville on the Sabbath and it was an affecting thought to stand at the desk where I used to preach more than 40 years ago.”

Haynes visited the old homestead where his master, David Rose, had lived and died.

It was the first framed house in the parish and he had helped to build it. (It was located on Rt. 57 near the top of East Hill.)

He walked over the fields he had cleared and planted so many years ago. He also went to the burying ground. Many of the stones bore epitaphs he had composed, including the first burial in the cemetery, of three-year old Calvin Coe. “I was the first come here to lie, Children and youth prepare to die.”

Rev. Lemuel Haynes, age 80, died Sept.

28, 1833 in South Granville, New York, of gangrene. Lemuel, his wife and several children are buried in Lee-Oatman Cemetery in South Granville. His home in the village was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1975 and is now a museum.

A United Church of Christ in Queens, New York is named for him.

It is a measure of his power and eloquence as a preacher that Lemuel Haynes inspired such a strong following at a time when his message was being rejected by enlightened thinkers. It is also a measure of the man he was, to have been openly loved and respected as a black minister with a white wife, in several small New England towns, in the early 1800s.

During his lifetime, Haynes was wellknown and celebrated, but until recently, he was almost forgotten. Today, many scholars are studying and writing about the well-documented faith and social views of this very early black abolitionist.

“Nearly 150 years after his death, a manuscript written by Haynes around 1776 was discovered, in which he boldly stated ‘That an African has an undeniable right to his Liberty.’ The treatise went on to condemn slavery as sin, and pointed out the irony of slaveholders fighting for their own liberty while denying it to others.”

(Africans in America) Rev. Haynes believed that plainness was the chief excellence of a service. He once said that you “get home and to heaven the same way, one foot before t’other. The Lord calls us to follow him, not wait to be carried.”

The words of Lemuel Haynes are his best epitaph.

Fall Thoughts

Too soon the summer has left us — In the gardens, the flowers have produced their seeds.

The weather has changed and now we must wear jackets or sweatshirts in the cool morning air.

I will miss the green leaves of the trees that offered their shade, and the sound of the songbirds who woke me up at dawn.

I will buy seed to feed those birds that will stay throughout the winter — like the cardinals, the blue jays, the chickadees, and many others.

I will find joy in the magnificent colors of the fall leaves, the Beauty of the chrysanthemums, the crispness of the apples, and the sight of orange pumpkins on front steps. I will plant crocuses, daffodils, and tulip bulbs to give me hope.

I will look at the trees and know, as all poets know, that the trees have set their buds for spring.

We know not what the winter will bring, or what the virus will do, or if there will be a vaccine. But, we must have faith in the Creator whose loving hands bring forth all the Beauty nature offers us.

It is in the changing scenes and the gifts of each new season that we find the continuity of life.

—Bernadette R. Gentry

October 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 35

State Senator John A. Kissel

Leading with Confidence Toward a Better Connecticut Re-Elect JOHN A.

L E S S KI Our State Senator

Keeping Our Communities Safe John will do what it takes to keep us safe. He has a record of being tough on crime, and will support our police and corrections officers who keep our communities safe.

Protecting Our Paychecks High taxes and fees that deplete our paychecks shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fund government spending. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why John has always fought to lower the tax burden on middle-class families and opposes new electronic tolls on our highways.

Standing Up For All Of Us John will stand up for all of us. He is an advocate for women in the workplace who fall victim to wage discrimination, and he continues to take important steps to protect victims of domestic violence.

Call John anytime at 860-745-0668.

Energy. Experience. Enthusiasm.

Paid for By Committee to Re-Elect Senator John A. Kissel, Scott Kaupin, Treasurer. Approved by John A. Kissel

Page 36 The Granby Drummer

October 2020

Closer to Home

Support our local businesses while saving some gas and time. Tell them you saw their ad in the Drummer.

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Action Carpet 30 Anderson, Mark For State Rep. 62nd 23 Beacon Mechanical 14 Beman Hardware 3 Berkshire Hathaway–Copper Brook 10 Berkshire Hathaway–N Reardon 7 Berkshire Hathaway–Shepherds Way 26 BNG Law 6 Brignole Bush & Lewis 2 Cahill’s Motors 31 Carmon Funeral Home 31 Carter Robert Painting 25 Cetera Investors 12 Chiropractic Care of Granby 20 Christopher Bryant 29 D’Agata Granite & Bronze 20 Dowd Realty 17 First Church 14 Gary’s Mowing 27 Granby Community Fund 30 Granby Public Schools Free Lunch 19 Granby Dental Center–Dr. Ungerleider 34

Granby Dental–Dr. Kirschbaum 10, 22 Granby Food Bank 4 Granby Insurance 3 Granby Package Store 27 Granby Public Works–Hazardous Waste 24 Granby Public Works–Shredding 32 Higleyville Coin 20 Kissel, John For Senate 7th 8, 35 Lampert, Audrey For State Rep. 62nd 15 Larry’s Construction 21 Main Street Door 26 McLean 9 Melvin Porter Electrical & Plumbing 4 Moffa, Fred For State Senate 7th 11 Morawski Cleaning 29 O’Brien Nurserymen 32 Pierce Builders–Meadowgate 31 Route 10 Tire 27 Sanditz Travel 33 Santa Realty 13 Sig’s Plumbing & Pump 23 Small Town Septic 18

South Congregational Church 31 State Line Propane-Oil 13 Subseven 24 Sullivan Hardwood Floors 21 Swim Center at Westminster 24 Thomas Sullivan Morgan Stanley 25 TJ Bark Mulch 16

Troiano Oil Company Two Park Place Walsh Chiropractic West Granby Methodist Church Westfield Bank Windsor Federal Savings

November 2020 deadlines ADS: Wednesday, Oct. 14 noon Ad Team 860-653-9222, leave message.

Email: ads@granbydrummer.org ARTICLES: Monday, Oct. 19 noon Drummer phone: 860-653-9222.

Email: editor@granbydrummer.org WORK DATES: Oct. 13-26 Call or email for times.

The public is encouraged to submit articles and photos about events of interest to Granby residents. The editors urge you to make submissions by email if at all possible. We acknowledge submissions by return email. If you do not hear from us please follow up with another email or leave a message at 860-653-9222.

Articles should be written in the third person. More detailed information on Drummer submission requirements is available at granbydrummer.org

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