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Volume LII, No. 6 • March 2022
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Intra-Board Advisory Committee re-established to prioritize COVID relief projects I hope that you’re finding this monthly column informative. It’s meant to highlight the good work that is being accomplished by our municipal employees and volunteers. It also lets folks know about important issues and activities in town. Great things are happening every day, and I hope to some of them bout share each month. is back own IBAC The Board of Selectmen recently re-established the Intra-Board Advisory Committee (IBAC). In the past, IBAC was charged with researching matters of common interest and with promoting efficienErica cies by having the Robertson BOS and BOE work Town Manager together. This newly-charged committee has a broader assignment. IBAC will examine topics of importance to Granby, as determined by the First Selectman. The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, (federal stimulus monies) received by the Town of Granby is the first topic it will examine. The ARPA was signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021. It guaranteed direct relief to cities, towns, and villages in the United States (Sec. 9901: Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds).
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According to the State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management, Granby is entitled to $3,405,503.39. Funds will come to Granby in two payments from the state. The first payment of $1,702,751.69 was received on June 22, 2021, and the balance will be received in June 2022. Funds must be obligated by Dec. 31, 2024 and expended by Dec. 31, 2026. Over the next several months, IBAC will work to establish a priority list of projects for the ARPA funding. This is an exciting task as it is not every day such grant funding is received by the town, and there are more ideas for projects than available funding. It’s a good problem to have. We will be updating the public as we move forward in the process. Strategic Goal Planning The Board of Selectmen is developing a set of strategic goals for the community. Why establish strategic goals? Simply put, to identify strategic issues and agree on plans to address them. This will enhance organizational achievement for Granby. As Town Manager, it will help guide my actions and recommendations. My staff and I will have a road map for getting Granby to where we want to be in the future. Having a clear direction and sense of vision for Granby, with well-defined and desired outcomes will assist in our annual budget process. It will allow us to focus monetary and other resources around strategic goals. We will develop a strategic plan and goals utilizing input from various sources, including staff, elected boards and
About Town
On Feb. 10 the Granby Girls Basketball team beat Somers high school in double overtime and secured the first ever NCCC conference championship for the school and program. The championship, a first for the girls basketball program, now places these girls and coaches in Granby history forever. The team, led by coach Mike D’Angelo, is 16-4 as they prepare for the conference and state tournaments. Photo by Patricia Davis
Town Budget Meetings
Includes regular meetings of the Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance Monday, March 7 at 7 p.m.—BOS Regular Meeting in Town Hall. Thursday, March 10 at 6 p.m.—BOS Budget Workshop I in Town Hall. Monday, March 14 at 6 p.m.—BOS Budget Workshop II in Town Hall. Thursday, March 17 at 6 p.m.—BOS Budget Workshop III in Town Hall. Monday, March 21 at 7 p.m.—BOS Regular Meeting in Town Hall. Tuesday, March 29 at 7 p.m.—BOS and BOE Budget Presentations to BOF in Senior Center Community Room.
Monday, April 4 at 7 p.m.—Regular BOS Meeting in Town Hall. Thursday, April 7—Proposed Budget Available for General Distribution Monday, April 11 at 7 p.m.—BOF Public Hearing in High School Auditorium. Special Meeting of the BOF follows the Public Hearing. Monday, April 18 at 7 p.m.— Regular BOS Meeting in Town Hall. Monday, April 25 — Annual Budget Machine Vote, 12 to 8 p.m. in Town Hall. Special Meeting of the BOF follows the referendum.
cont’d. on p. 4
Granby answers state call for Affordable Housing Plans
In 2017, Connecticut Public Act 17-170 called upon each town and municipality to develop an affordable housing plan. The plans must be adopted and filed with the state by June 1, 2022, and every five years thereafter. The plan should be consistent with each town’s development and conservation plans. Last fall, representatives from Granby’s Board of Selectmen, Planning and Zoning, Development, and Aging, as well as two residents selected by the Republican and Democratic Town Committees, respectively, formed the Affordable Housing Plan Committee to begin work
Girls hoopsters are State champs!
on Granby’s plan. The committee members, chosen by the Board of Selectmen, bring diverse perspectives and expertise to the group. The committee has gathered information regarding town growth, demographics, housing inventory, zoning, wetlands considerations and sewer availability. It found that 14 percent of Granby households struggle to afford basic needs, and that the town has 143 housing units that meet the state’s definition of affordable housing. The committee also met with developers, who outlined what makes a town
Finance Targets Limiting Mill Rate Change to 1 percent By Michael B. Guarco, Jr. Chair, Board of Finance At its meeting on Feb. 15, the Board of Finance reviewed all available projections for revenue and expenses as known at that time. Acknowledging both the increase in costs of operating, as we all are experiencing at home, and the tight finances many families continue to experience, the BOF narrowed its focus to limiting the upcoming FY23 overall budget to an increase in the mill rate of 1 percent. Several key pieces of information
Affordable Housing cont’d. on p. 5
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became known in recent weeks — the growth in the Grand List, the Governor’s proposed budget numbers, and an update on the health plan cost projections. Finance had posted meeting dates for both Feb. 8 and Feb. 15, dependent upon when the Governor’s budget proposal would be known with his address to the opening session of the state legislature. Traditionally the legislature convenes on the first Wednesday in February but this year the opening session was a week later. While the standard categories of state revenue for Granby are proposed
Mill rate change cont’d. on p. 3
photo by Peter Dinella
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The Granby Drummer
March 2022
GRANBY BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING HIGHLIGHTS SPECIAL THREE BOARD MEETING JANUARY 18, 2022 First Selectman Fiorentino called the special meeting of the boards of Selectmen, Finance and Education to order at 7 p.m. Present: from the BOS, Mark Fiorentino, Sally King, Fred Moffa, Mark Neumann, Kelly Rome; Town Manager Erica Robertson, From the BOF, Michael B. Guarco, Jr., Jenny Emery, Kevin Hobson, William Kennedy, James Tsaptsinos and Alfred Wilke. From the BOE, Sarah Thrall, Monica Logan, Donna Nolan, Whitney Sanzo, and Rosemarie Weber. Also present, Director of Finance Kimi Cheng, Superintendent of Schools Jordan Grossman, BOE Business Manager Anna Robbins,
Opening Remarks
Fiorentino opened the meeting by thanking everyone in attendance for their patience with Zoom, especially those attending virtually. He briefly reviewed the budget process noting the Three Board Meeting is the first step. The intention is to give a higher-level view of both the Town’s and Board of Education’s obligations and priorities for consideration for the upcoming fiscal year. The Board of Finance will take the Plus-One Budgets under advisement and wait for the first version of the state’s budget in early February
for its effects on revenue. It will be taken under advisement and followed by a Public Meeting to issue further guidance on the process. The boards of Selectmen and Education will work through the details and make the necessary adjustments to come within their guidelines. A series of public workshops will take place and as many of those as is possible will be on Zoom. Fiorentino noted the importance of the workshops for individuals who want to be heard. They are urged to attend and provide constructive input. The board will listen and take these comments into consideration. The budgets will be submitted to the Board of Finance and a Town-wide meeting will be held, followed by the referendum vote.
Review of BOS Plus-One Budget
Fiorentino indicated the Board of Finance has already seen the Plus-One budget and said “We have a responsibility to our citizens to provide services they need and desire and be sensitive to the mill rate at the same time. The costs of doing business, materials and supplies are up significantly from a year ago.” Fuel and salt costs are rising, salaries increase, and health insurance is projected to increase 20 percent. Trash disposal is proposed to increase 10 to 15 percent as well, although that will not be finalized until the end of February; it could be as high as 25 percent. The total projected increase of the town budget
is 5.29 percent. The IT infrastructure is extremely out-of-date, and it is an area that we cannot afford to have failures. Additional resources are needed to build up IT and help maintain it. Communication improvements are needed to the website, Facebook and Zoom to keep things up to date and be able to communicate with constituents, broadcast meetings, etc. Updates to the emergency communications infrastructure are needed as well. King and Neumann commented on the need for improvement in IT and trash expenses.
Review of BOE Plus-One Budget
Thrall welcomed all the new board members and thanked Grossman and Robbins, the Granby Public Schools administrative team and board members for putting the budget together. She stated the BOE follows six strategic goals to move the public schools forward: success for all students, a safe environment, continuous improvement, accountability, diversity, ethical behavior, and economic value. Assumptions for FY2022-23 include: Retirement of three certified employees with a savings of $97K. Health benefits rate increase of 20 percent. A 20 percent increase in the bus contract that continues to be negotiated. Two bus runs have been consolidated. Fuel prices have increased and budgeted at $3.29/gal. Insurance cost increased 5.3 percent. Overall transportation
increase projected at 10.2 percent Negotiated salaries adjusted for anticipated retirements 3.2 percent, administrators 2.36 percent and teachers 3.10 percent. Oil at $3.59 per gallon. Increased Special Ed over FY22 Budget by $320K. Special Ed represents 19.81 percent of the total budget. Zero percent increase in pre-school tuition as well as rental fees for facilities. FY23 PK-12 enrollment of 1,760 reflects an increase of two students. Maintain five-year positive balance in Quality and Diversity. Based on the above assumptions, this year’s Plus-One Budget is 4.26 percent—which includes a 20 percent increase in the health care contribution: +2.15 percent base +0.83 percent Special Education +1.57 percent all other line items -0.29 percent retirement savings District enrollment is projected to increase slightly over the next six years. By FY27, enrollment is projected to increase by 40 students.
Review of Plus-One Budget (BOF)
Guarco thanked the board of Selectmen and Education for submissions. He recognizes the hard work the boards put into these budgets and the challenges they face every year. When setting a budget guideline, the BOF considers the needs of the BOS and BOE, along with being sensitive to the taxpayers. It will be a challenge to get below a 2 percent increase. The BOS is over 3 percent and the BOE is over 2 percent. The BOE revenue of $400,000 from Special Education reimbursement from other towns will help reduce the difference. This is just the first part of the process. The State budget that comes out in February may help solve the math equation. BOF understands the pressure with the rising Special Education costs. This all plays into building the budget. The BOF meets soon to talk about the budget guidelines. Tipping fees and Special Education both increased greatly. The final budget will be ready to present to the public in March before it goes to vote.
Discussion and Consideration of Public Comment
Emery commented that although school enrollment overall is not a concern, the younger grades are growing faster. She would like to be reassured during the process that contingencies regarding space needs are being thought about. Wilke has concerns with the projected increase in medical expenses and medical inflation. He would like to make sure the actuaries are not over-estimating the numbers. Fiorentino responded that the town is self-insured and there have been significant claims in the past few years. Robertson noted it only takes a few very large claims to increase the number. The benefit is not increasing 20 percent, it is about the number of claims and our history. She is reaching out to other sources to confirm or deny whether 20 percent is realistic or not. Fiorentino commented there is a town committee whose purpose is to focus solely on health insurance. Wilke questioned how the Quality and Diversity fund is being used. Grossman noted the fund is used for such items as the purchase of chrome books. Guarco stated “we hope to produce a package that we are comfortable with, and one that the public understands and supports as well.” Tsaptsinos commented the budget is a long and arduous process. The biggest expense is adding new staff. Be mindful of that. Fiorentino added all the board members are volunteers and taxpayers. The budgets being discussed are based on certain assumptions and projections. Boards build in some conservatism and try to err on the side of caution, and try to balance the wants and needs of the community, the services provided and the cost of providing them. During public comment, he asked individuals to be respectful, be constructive and be specific. Bill Glueck, 18 Barkhamsted Road, thanked everyone for serving and the work they do. He reminded everyone the pandemic is ongoing and many have lost income and businesses have
BOS Highlights cont’d. on p. 3
March 2022
BOS Highlights cont’d. from p. 2
gone under. He suggested the boards be very careful and look at the level of spending and not generating the revenue needed to support the increase. Especially the increase in health care costs. He asked that every aspect of the plan and benefits be reviewed. He believes a change is needed. Glen Ballard, 289 Granville Road, commented that with a new First Selectmen and a new Town Manager, it is a perfect time to update the story. The town has excess and unspent reserves close to $9M. He proposed that while looking at the budget process, a line item be created “Contribution to the General Fund,” with a cap on reserves and return the rest to the taxpayers. Fiorentino responded that many factors go into what amount of money the town holds in reserves in terms of borrowing capacity, bond rating and preparing for emergencies. Ballard also inquired about an efficiency study. Fiorentino responded he personally is not ready to support spending taxpayer dollars on an efficiency study. It is fair to start with our staff as we always do. Kate Bogli, 198R Salmon Brook Street, supported comments made by Glueck. She asked the selectmen to speak into their microphones and thanked them for broadcasting the meeting on Zoom. Susan Patricelli Regan, 62 Hungary Road, thanked everyone for their hard work and recommends holding the mill rate flat as much as possible and keep it going forward. She questioned if Quality and Diversity is just another name for CRT. Grossman commented the Quality and Diversity Fund is not a grant. It is funded from Open Choice in CT and noted for every student who comes from Hartford, Granby receives $8,000 per student and $2,000 more for every Kindergarten student from Hartford. Critical Race Theory is not taught in the Granby Public Schools. At the next BOE meeting, the Quality and Diversity fund will be presented as it is every year. Michael Fitzgerald, 25 Strawberry Fields, noted that while listening to the comments from individuals he observed many of the people are concerned about taxation and any change or increase. He personally looks at taxes as an investment in the town and the quality of life it generates. He looks at what the town provides to him and other families, i.e., education for children, police services, trash services, public works and much more. He is concerned when there is such a focus on keeping things [taxes] flat as costs go up and he believes investments in the town remain important. He feels many people believe this as well but do not always speak up. He wanted the board to know there are other people who are not as resistant to changes in the budget. Respectfully submitted Erica Robertson, Town Manager
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 18, 2022 Present: Mark Fiorentino, Sally King, Fred Moffa, Mark Neumann, Kelly Rome, Town Manager Erica Robertson. On A Motion by Neumann, seconded by Rome, the board voted (5-0-0) to approve the minutes of Jan. 3, as presented. On A Motion by Fiorentino, seconded by Rome, the board voted (5-0-0) to approve the appointment of Don Rawling (R) to replace Eric Lukingbeal to the Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook Wild and Scenic Management
The Granby Drummer
Plan (LFSWS) for an indefinite term. There is still one vacancy for this board. Anyone who may be interested in serving can contact the BOS for additional information. On A Motion by King, seconded by Moffa, the board voted (5-0-0) to approve the following Democratic Town Committee re-appointments for individuals whose term will expire Jan. 10, 2022: Kent R. McCord and Melinda Gould, Conservation Commission); Matthew L. Brady, Development Commission; Aurelle S. Locke and Victoria K. Dirienzo, Inland Wetlands and Water Courses Commission; Patricia (Pam) M. Jones and Robert Donna, Library Board); Steven Simard, Parks and Recreation Board. King noted Monica Logan will not continue on the Development Commission; another candidate is being interviewed to fill the vacancy. On A Motion by Neumann, seconded by Rome, the board voted (5-0-0) to approve the following Republican Town Committee new appointment and re-appointment whose term will expire Jan. 10, 2022: Re-appointment of Donna Snyder, Commission on Aging; and appointment of Hillary Peterson to replace Matthew R. Hamer, Library Board.
Consideration of IBAC Charge
Robertson and Fiorentino recommended reestablishing the Intra-Board Advisory Committee (IBAC) with a new charge. The First Selectman will determine topics for the committee to study with the first being the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (federal stimulus monies) received by the Town of Granby. A charge has been created and the first meeting of the committee is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 26, 2022 at 8 a.m. in the Town Hall Meeting Room. On A Motion by Rome, seconded by Moffa, the board voted (5-0-0) to establish a new IntraBoard Advisory Committee (IBAC) to review, examine, and make recommendations on topics of importance for the Town of Granby at the discretion of the First Selectman. The committee composition shall consist of the three voting members: First Selectman or designee, Board of Education Chairman or designee and Board of Finance Chairman or designee; and non-voting members: Town Manager, Superintendent of Schools, other staff as required.
Town Manager Report
Budget Operations Robertson reported tax collections are at 67 percent, which is consistent with previous years. A total of $620,000 in auto supplement bills have gone out. The Town Clerk and Building permit fees continue to be strong, slightly better than the same period last year. Some expenditures and deficiencies were reviewed. Everything is on track and mostly trending well or slightly above from same time year. Strategic Goals Robertson and Fiorentino have put together a Strategic Planning Process for the Town of Granby. The purpose is to focus on coordinating efforts of boards and commissions to guide decisions of the Board of Selectmen. There will be a six-step process beginning with board and commission members submitting goals to the Town Manager followed by workshops to develop a draft strategic plan. Comments will be heard, and a final plan will be adopted, which will be distributed to various boards and commissions as well as being placed on the town website and published in the Granby Drummer. The deadline for draft goals is May 1, 2022. Other The Department of Public Works is still within
Page 3
Mill rate change cont’d. from p. 1 to remain flat, the Governor’s budget does include a new line item that would reimburse the town for limiting the mill rate on vehicles at 29 mills statewide. However, the state used a base of the prior year’s auto list and that would short the town by a bit more than $225K — the equivalent of about half a percent in taxes. Whether it is enacted and if the final numbers are adjusted to the actual difference remains to be seen. The greater issue is that in recent decades the state’s revenue commitments to the towns seem to be forgotten over time, as the reality of what they say will happen over time comes up short in practice. When they shake your hand, you better count your fingers. Grand List growth of 3.53 percent was reported by the Assessor’s office, reflecting primarily the increased values of vehicles during the pandemic. This bump goes a long way in covering the increased costs in operating budgets driven this year by salaries and health care as well as special education, energy and the scheduled increase in Debt Service. However, it will still take some reduction in the initial projected expenditures for the next fiscal year to make the math work as we endeavor to balance the perceived needs of the town with what it costs us as local taxpayers. As the budget process unfolds over
the next couple months and the numbers firm up, the level of reserves in the General Fund and contemplated draws from it over time, are part and parcel of our planning work. As noted periodically in the Drummer, the bonding advisors and credit rating agencies recommend municipalities of our size in Connecticut retain a reserve of 10-15 percent of the budget. With the 15 percent level being about $7.5M, we are well-positioned with about $7.8M in the General Fund currently. We anticipate drawing roughly $1M this year and in each upcoming year in balancing the budget. This is an amount equivalent to what, in most years, falls into the fund from lapsed spending authority and unanticipated revenues. It is also held in contemplation of having to make a significant outlay for the communication system needs affecting fire, police, ambulance, and public works. As we look to shape the upcoming FY23 budget, we also have an eye on the subsequent years as well, keeping in mind the importance of mill rate stability while maintaining quality town and school services as we enter a time of relatively high inflation. Therefore, we take steps today in preparation for tomorrow.
Drumrolls
Erin Kulcsar, of Granby, was named to Quinnipiac University’s dean’s list for the fall semester. Bentley University senior co-captain Joey Wix, of Granby, anchored a 4x400 relay team that finished first during the William Sutherland Invitational in January. Matthew Liguori, of Granby, was named to the dean’s list at Saint Louis University, College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology for the fall semester. Katherine Logee, of Granby, was named to the dean’s list at Anna Maria College for the fall semester. budget despite increased expenses due to storms that have hit on weekends and holidays.
First Selectman Report
Fiorentino shared a note he received from Don Shaw of the First Congregational Church thanking him for his part in the Habitat for Humanity house opening ceremony. The family has moved into its new home and have felt very
welcomed to Granby. In addition, the First Selectman thanked all the volunteers that helped with the distribution of COVID test kits. It went very smoothly, and it took a lot of work to put it together. Respectfully submitted, Erica P. Robertson, Town Manager
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The Granby Drummer
Drumbeat A warm thank you We’ve hunkered down while Winter Storm Bobby breezed through, and we’ve gone from icy to muddy—but it seems like spring is not far off. It’s a perfect time for the Granby Community Fund to acknowledge with gratitude the wonderful generosity of our townspeople. For a small nonprofit community organization to carry out its mission of providing financial assistance to local agencies is remarkable. And, to be thriving after 60 years is extraordinary. Long-time residents may recall that years back volunteers went door-to-door to solicit Community Fund donations. Times have changed dramatically and now we reach out to you with an annual mailing. Some of our agencies have changed through the years, but our mission remains the same: for example, meals are delivered to the homebound by McLean Meals-On-Wheels volunteers; the Red Cross holds critical-need
March 2022
editorials, commentary & letters to the editor
blood drives in Granby and the Salvation Army is here to assist local families in their time of crisis; the Granby Senior Van is providing transportation for seniors to medical appointments and grocery shopping; the Waste Not Want Not Community Kitchen offers a meal and a generous supply of food items on a weekly basis; and come summer, the Friends of Holcomb Farm will supply fresh produce to supplement those in need through the Senior Center and Waste Not Want Not. Our grants help make it possible for young people to enjoy an enriching experience with Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the YMCA, the Marquis Fife and Drum Corps, FAVARH and the Safe Grad Party. There’s so much more that we offer and could not provide without your generous response. On behalf of our agencies, we thank you! Patty Sansone and Vickie Dirienzo, GCF co-presidents
Thank you for the memories Thanks to a friend I received the article in your February edition about cutting ice years ago. It referred to an article by Carol Laun where she interviewed Leon L. Gilbert about that. There was a picture of men cutting ice also. I want to thank Faith Tyldsley for researching the Granby Historical Society Records for the article. It had special meaning to me as Leon L. Gilbert was my father. The men cutting ice were my husband Howard’s uncles and Grandfather Dewey—so a double blessing. Thank you, Faith, for your work putting the information together. Sincerely, Shirley G. Dewey Locust Grove, VA
About Town
cont’d. from p. 1 commissions, and individual citizens. The plan will be used to coordinate the efforts of the boards and commissions, and to guide key decisions by the Board of Selectmen, including allocation of town resources. Proposed goals will be vetted in a series of public workshops held by the BOS where the public will be encouraged to participate and provide input. We will be publishing more information about the draft goals and public workshops in the coming months. I hope that many of you will participate in this important process. Current news and information can always be found on the Granby web page, CORRECTIONS Please tell us if you find an error in this issue of the Drummer. We’ll attempt to correct it in the following issue. Leave a message at 860-653-9222 or send an email to: editor@granbydrummer.org
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and scale up this new technology and the National Science Foundation grant of $3.5 million given to University of California.” The representative argued that if cultivated meat can successfully launch as a consumer product and scale up to meet demand in the way plant-based proteins have, it could be an environmental game-changer. He noted agriculture is a leading cause of global warming. “I am excited that cultivated meat could help with the resiliency of our food supply, cut back on unnecessary waste and curb greenhouse gas emissions,” Larson wrote. “Federal government food procurement is a complex and competitive process, and we hope that when cultivated meat companies become approved USDA vendors, they can participate on level footing in the process.”
granby-ct.gov and you can also find us on Facebook, Town of Granby CT.
Town of Granby Meeting Calendar Check Town of Granby website or call Town Manager’s office to verify date, time, location, and get information on how to participate on Zoom, if needed. Board of Selectmen, 7 p.m., Town Hall, Mondays, March 7 and 21 Board of Finance, 7:30 p.m., Police Dept. Community Room, Monday, March 28 Board of Education, 7 p.m., Town Hall, Wednesdays, March 2 and 16 Planning & Zoning, 7 p.m., Town Hall, Tuesdays, March 8 and 22 Inland Wetlands and Water, 7 p.m., Town Hall, Wednesday, March 9 Development Commission, 7 p.m.,Town Hall, Monday, March 14
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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 Avon, CT, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE GRANBY DRUMMER P.O. Box 165 Granby, CT 06035-0165 Copyright ©2022 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
Larson support for cultivated meat
Representative John Larson supports current public-funding levels for cultivated-meat research. For those who don’t know, cultivated meat is grown from animal cells, without slaughter. The revolutionary protein offers environmental, public health and animal-welfare benefits over slaughtered meat. Larson offered his views on cellular agriculture in a letter to his constituent, Jon Hochschartner of Granby, who has been protesting outside the congressman’s Hartford office. Readers can learn more about Hochschartner’s efforts by visiting SlaughterFreeAmerica.Substack.com “Nascent industries such as cultivated meat that can help decarbonize our economy deserve a fair shot,” Larson wrote. “I support the $10 million grant the USDA recently gave to Tufts University to further study the potential to grow
The Granby Drummer
Jennifer Bell, 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 Kathy Agresta, Carol Bressor, Carolyn Carter, Karen Cleary, Nancy Dudenhofer, Patricia Kovaleski, Eileen Longhi, Lew Noble, Donna Schedinger, Faith Tyldsley
Jon Hochschartner spreading the word about funding for cultivated meat research. Submitted photo
Notice of Democratic Caucus To enrolled members of the Democratic Party of the Town of Granby. Pursuant to the Rules of the Democratic Party and State election laws, you are hereby notified that a caucus will be held on March 28, 2022 at 6 p.m. at the Granby Senior Center to endorse delegates to the State Conventions in May.
Reporters & Contributors Lori Blackburn, Jennifer Benson, AnnMarie Cox, Marisa DeLuca, Rob Flanigan, Mark Fiorentino, Bernadette Gentry, Mike Guarco, Jay Harder, T. Johnson, Jim Lofink, Joanne Mayornick, Amy McCue, Shirley Murtha John R. Nieb, Kristin Rice, Lisa Salazar, Pam Sherrer, Karen Stanhope, Brooke Star, Faith Tyldsley, Kristine Vincent, John Violette, Laura Wolfe, Merle Yoder, Sandy Yost Advertising Team Jen Bell, Carol Bressor, Daneika Janski Deborah Kulwich, Beth Rathey Website Manager Jake Kean
ADVERTISERS AGREEMENT
The Granby Drummer reserves the right, without explanation, to reject any advertisement. Advertisers assume the responsibility for the content of all ads they submit for publication, including having authorization for all photos, trademarks and brand names used in their ads. The Granby Drummer will assume no liability for failure to publish an ad or for any typographical errors or omissions beyond the actual cost of the ad.
GRANBY FOOD BANK We currently need Spaghetti Sauce Canned Sauerkraut/ Sliced Potatoes Chunky peanut butter Salsa Pickles/olives/relish Apple/Cranberry Juice Tissues/Toothbrushes Donations can be dropped off at the VNA office on Salmon Brook Street
Subscriptions & Delivery Sam & Becky Mikus
LETTERS POLICY
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
March 2022
The Granby Drummer
Page 5
Grand List grows 3.53 percent
Affordable Housing Plan cont’d. from p. 1
By Susan Altieri, Granby Assessor
desirable for affordable housing developments. It learned that a lack of public transportation is not always a detraction, but that walkability to stores, restaurants and services is a necessity. Beyond meeting state requirements, affordable housing is also a goal supported by Granby Racial Reconciliation (GranbyRacialReconcilation.com), a community organization focused on racial reconciliation in Granby. During the summer of 2021, GRR conducted a survey to identify topics of interest for its Courageous Conversations on Race in the Park series. Ken Mouning, the facilitator for the series, said, “The top two topics of interest were increasing diversity in Granby and affordable housing. Therefore, in August 2021 we hosted a discussion on affordable housing, presented by Desegregate Connecticut and the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.” At this talk, Sara Bronin from Desegregate Connecticut shared a video from SegregatedByDesign.com that helps explain the circumstances under which many American communities became segregated.
In addition to the goal of increasing diversity, affordable housing makes it possible for multiple generations of families to grow together in one town. Empty nesters, recent college graduates and young families all need access to affordable housing. When Granby can offer this, the community remains a place where grandparents can live nearby and it can continue to attract young professionals who will put down roots and call Granby home for years to come. Using guidelines established by the state and frameworks used by towns that have already filed plans, such as Farmington and Essex, the Granby Affordable Housing Committee hopes to present recommendations and a plan draft to the Board of Selectmen by April. The Board of Selectmen will then be responsible for approving or modifying the plan. To learn more, go to granby-ct. gov/affordable-housing-plan-committee to review minutes from previous meetings. Agendas for upcoming meetings, with time and place for the meetings, are posted on this site three to five days prior to meetings.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAN DRAFT AVAILABLE BY MARCH 10 The draft of the Affordable Housing Plan will be available for review and posted on the town’s website by March 10. Please refer to the webpage: granby-ct.gov/affordable-housing-plan-committee If you are unable to view the plan online, a hard copy of the plan will be available in the Community Development Department. Public comments will be received by the committee at its meeting on Thursday, March 24, at 5 p.m. in the Town Hall Meeting Room. If you are unable to attend the meeting but would like to submit written comments, send them to Abigail Kenyon, Director of Community Development, akenyon@granby-ct.gov Once the committee completes the draft plan, it will be forwarded to the Board of Selectmen. Please refer to the town’s webpage for all committee meeting agendas and minutes.
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The Town of Granby’s 2021 Grand List grew 3.53 percent or $36,604,000. The Grand List is comprised of all the real estate, motor vehicles and business personal property in town. The pandemic has had an impact on many different aspects of the Grand List, motor vehicles in particular. During the last two years the Assessor’s Office saw a tremendous increase in the amount of building permits as more homeowners were working from home, not going out to dinner, not able to take those yearly vacations and having more disposable income and time for their home improvement projects. Most of the increase in the real estate portion of the Grand List, $6,630,000, reflected a continuation of last years’ trend whereby very little commercial and industrial was completed and much of the increase came through residential remodeling and home improvements. Motor vehicles have seen the greatest increase and this trend is statewide— not unique to Granby. Granby’s motor vehicle Grand List grew more than $27,000,000. It is well known that motor vehicle values have surged across Connecticut and nationwide. Increased values can be traced directly to the pandemic’s eruption in March 2020. Auto plants suspended production
to try and slow the virus’ spread. As sales of new vehicles sank, fewer people traded in used cars and trucks. At the same time, demand for laptops and monitors from people forced to stay at home led semiconductor makers to shift production from autos, which depend on such chips, to consumer electronics. When a swifter-than-expected economic rebound boosted demand for vehicles, auto plants tried to restore full production, but chip makers couldn’t respond fast enough. Add to that rental car companies and other fleet buyers unable to acquire new vehicles, stopped off-loading older ones. This compounded the shortage of used vehicles. The supply of used cars shrank so drastically that basic economics took over, pushing the “in demand” prices higher. As bleak as the market is for used car buyers, the computer chip shortage has also driven new vehicle prices higher. It’s a ripple effect with supply and demand the driving factor. The Assessor’s Office also saw an increase in business personal property as that portion of the Grand List grew over $2,700,000. This increase also seemed to be tied to the pandemic. The businesses that were able to survive and somewhat thrive during the pandemic experienced profits and purchased new equipment. This and other articles may be found at granby-ct.gov
Buzzing about the Gran-Bee Hive you been hankeres. They sponsor the Gran-Bee knowing ing for a night out with that GEF creates the metamorphosis from friends? Looking to show ideas to innovative education opportunioff your queen bee costies for all Granby residents. Many of our tume skills? Does trivia sweeten the sponsors return year after year because honey pot? The 17th (not quite annual) their donations have tremendous comGran-Bee flies into view on Friday, April munity impact. To learn more about 22 at 6:30 p.m. in the GMHS Auditorium. sponsorship, visit granbyeducationfounThis free community event is a great famdation.org/sponsor ily evening to cheer on teams from civic Bee sure to mark your calendar for organizations and our schools, and busy Friday, April 22 and buzz by the Bee for bees who just love trivia! laughter, trivia and community. As the major fundraiser for the Granby Education Foundation, the Gran-Bee pollinates knowledge and creativity with prizes for trivia mastery and for creative costumes. All teams have three worker bees competing to win the coveted Grand Bee Award and the Yellow Jacket Crown. Gather your swarm together to compete and register at granbyeducationfoundation. org/register The Gran-Bee is a free community event because of the generosity of our local business- Team from 2019 Gran-Bee, submitted photo
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Page 6
The Granby Drummer
March 2022
GRANBY BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING HIGHLIGHTS JANUARY 5, 2022 Present: Kristina Gilton, Monica Logan, Donna Nolan, David Peling, Whitney Sanzo (via Zoom), Sarah Thrall, Rosemarie Weber, and Student Representatives Tess Bajek and Jacob Scotto.
Superintendent’s Announcements
The FY23 Plus One Budget will be presented this evening. The district is still looking for bus drivers and substitute teachers. College students are eligible to be substitute teachers. Substitute teacher pay has been elevated. The district is also looking for substitute custodians. This is the heart and soul of keeping schools open.
Assistant Superintendent’s Report
Jennifer Parsons provided an update on recently revised COVID protocols. Received guidance from the State Department of Public Health, GPS moved to the revised 5-day quarantine/isolation as well as a 10-day period where staff/students stay masked. Contact tracing is being limited to most at-risk situations. Parsons also stated that the district has moved to an online reporting system, which is very helpful to make sure cases are being reported systemically. Home kit results are now being accepted and the district has secured some test kits that are available to staff and students. Please contact the school office if one is needed. Parsons also shared a math update and stated progress has been reviewed with the math consultant who visits once per month and the consultant stated the district is on track and praised the district for continued support of the coaching model. Having conversations about carrying this support into next year and into K-5.
FY23 Plus One Budget
Grossman presented the FY23 Plus One Budget, a process that began in September with the administrative team and he reviewed the upcoming dates for the FY23 Budget. Grossman stated the current Plus One Budget is at 4.26 percent, which includes a 20 percent increase to health insurance premiums. Last year, the Plus One Budget was predicted to be 4.36 percent for FY23 and this year it is at a 4.26 percent. He said it’s clear that the process works. He also
presented a budget number that replaces the 20 percent health insurance premium to a normal 7.5 percent increase and said the increase would be 3.07 percent. Grossman stated just to roll over this year’s budget to next year, the increase would be 2.15 percent. Once special education expenses are added in, the increase would be approximately 3 percent. Addressing staff increases to the budget, Grossman proposed to add a Staff Accountant at Central Services, a grant-funded Board Certified Behavior Analysis, a Family Engagement Specialist to support all Open Choice families (Q and D and Open Choice Academic Support Grant), a part-time custodian to provide coverage for staff outages, a K-2 Literacy Specialist to support teachers and students in developing mastery with early literacy skills, an Art Teacher at Kelly/Wells, a Classroom Teacher at Wells Road to accommodate an additional section, a 0.1 FTE Strings Teacher to expand the Strings Program to Grade 6, a STEM Teacher at the middle school to offer video production and other digital literacy skills, a Wellness Teacher at the high school for graduation requirements, and a Town Technology Technician to provide part-time technology to support the school district and town departments. Grossman also reviewed items not related to staffing: support for the Granby Equity Team, a consultant and software platform to support the curriculum for the new resources for the Illustrative Math Program, guided reading materials, continued partnership with the Connecticut Teacher in Residence Program and materials for Readers’ and Writers’ Workshop. Grossman reviewed the out years, which includes an Instructional Techology Specialist K-1, a Reading Interventionist at Kelly Lane, and an Intervention Specialist at Kelly Lane. He also discussed a possible alternative school program in 2023-2024 to provide alternative programming to students assigned to this program as well as the creation and formation of the Granby Public Schools Early Childhood Education Taskforce.
Board Standing Committee Reports
C u r r i c u l u m / P o l i c y / Te c h n o l o g y / Communication Peling reported this subcommittee met this evening. Ken Mouning attended and gave
a public comment on behalf of the Granby Reconciliation Committee and proposed a celebration for Juneteenth on June 19. The district will work with him on this event. Discussed new Granby graduation requirements for 2023 and beyond, as well as revised performance standards. Policies were also on the agenda but were tabled until the next meeting.
JANUARY 19, 2022 Present: Kristina Gilton (via Zoom), Monica Logan, Donna Nolan, David Peling, Whitney Sanzo, Sarah Thrall, Rosemarie Weber, and Student Representatives Tess Bajek and Jacob Scotto.
Student Representative Reports
Tess gave a sports report and said DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) members are committed to the states with competitions to be held in the spring. Thrall recommended that people volunteer to judge for the DECA competition. She has done it in the past and it is a worthwhile endeavor. NHS is hosting the Empty Bowls Fundraiser, March 18 in the Commons. Proceeds will go to the Granby and Hartland Food Banks.
Business Manager’s Report
Anna Robbins presented the December statement of accounts and said there is a positive forecast of $153K, which is $8K higher than last month. Overall, special education expenditures are projected to be in the black $29K and although there is a significant over-budget condition in out-of-district tuition, it is being offset by out-of-district transportation and salaries. Regular education expenditures are expected to be favorable $124K and the driving factor is regular education salaries due to the turnover in personnel this year. Q and D continues to be projected favorable and varies slightly from last month. Regarding revenue to the town, it is better than budgeted by $123K but there is a decrease in the positive forecast due to Per Pupil Expenditure (PPE). PPE went up from $17,068 to $18,869 so that PPE affects are positive as well as negative for the excess cost grant because that number determines reimbursement from the state.
Athletic Update: Fall Re-Cap/Winter Preview
Athletic director Brian Maltese provided an update on the fall season and a preview of the winter sports season. Grossman shared that he has worked with many athletic directors in the state and Maltese is one of the best. It has been a very trying times to be an Athletic Director over past couple of years and Granby has one of the best athletic programs in Connecticut. Maltese thanked everyone for their support and stated the fall teams had a 104-35-1 record and of the 221 fall athletes, 72 percent made the honor roll in the first quarter. He shared that field hockey and volleyball were NCCC champions and field hockey, girls’ soccer and girls’ volleyball reached the CIAC state semi-finals. The Granby/ Canton football Pequot team were division champions. Twenty athletes were selected for All Conference and eight athletes selected for All State. The winter season started on time with full regular season schedules. Boys’ and girls’ basketball are currently in first place in the NCCC. Twenty five of 45 indoor track athletes have qualified for the league indoor meet, and two students have qualified for CIAC state meet for swimming. Unified basketball is practicing after school and ironing out a schedule with other schools. Winter participation numbers were reviewed and there are currently 270 athletes. There is a new camera installed in the main gym that can be programmed and track the athlete’s speed of play and allows flexibility of scheduling, which eases the burden for the Broadcast Team. He shared that the CIAC Michael’s Cup Award just received by the high school was also received last year. Thrall inquired about winter sports at the middle school. Maltese said 100 students participated for fall cross country and 30 for field hockey. Winter boys’ and girls’ basketball have 10-11 students on each team and there are five students in cheer. Weber inquired if there were any dips in Open Choice student participation. Maltese stated he did not have those numbers in front of him but would get them to her, but buses run at 4:30 p.m. for students and he was confident that the numbers are close to previous years. Thrall inquired the percentage of Granby students participating in the Granby/Canton Coop for football. Maltese said 29 Granby students and 17 Canton students participated.
FY23 Plus One Budget
The board continued to discuss and considered the approval of the FY23 Plus One Budget. Grossman reviewed questions received from the board. Thrall said the next step in the process is the Administrative Budget being presented on March 2. A motion was made by Weber and seconded by Peling to approve the Plus One Budget and forward it to the Board of Finance. This motion passed unanimously.
Final Plans for High School Building Project
The board considered approval of the final plans for the high school building project as prepared for bidding. A motion made by Nolan and seconded by Weber that the board certifies the final plans and project manual(s) as prepared for bidding and dated Jan. 7, 2022, and the professional cost estimate, completed in accordance with Level 3 of ASTM International Standard E1557, Standard Classification of Building Elements and Related SiteworkUNIFORMAT II for this project, dated Jan. 7, 2022, have been reviewed and approved for this project. Nolan stated the Building Committee supports going out to bid on this project. The committee met last week, and the project involves a renovation of the high school commons to add a kitchen, band space and choral space. This is a project the town and school district want. Sanzo inquired if Granby will continue providing lunches with East Granby. Grossman said this collaboration began due to the pandemic, but the district needs to evaluate its continuation federal funds are not available next year. The pandemic helped that collaboration but if we are not going to make money, it will not be worth it. This motion passed unanimously at 7:55 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Donna Nolan, Board Secretary
March 2022
The Granby Drummer
Page 7
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Page 8
The Granby Drummer
Focus on Education Jordan E. Grossman, Ed.D
Winter is anything but slow in Granby It was an exciting month of February for the Granby Public Schools. We celebrated our 100th day of school with spirit and excitement. I cannot believe that over half the school year is complete. Our students and staff continue to make the community proud in all areas of our school district. Below are highlights that happened in our district during January and February: • Granby Memorial High School (GMHS) was recognized again this year as one of 22 Connecticut high schools honored by the CIAC with the Michaels Achievement Cup Award. This award recognizes exemplary athletic programs that follow Class Act Sportsmanship Standards, empower students to take an active role in improving climate and foster community service. GMHS was formally recognized during the CIAC’s Virtual Sportsmanship Conference on January 28. • All schools participated in activities honoring Black History Month. • Congratulations to Senior Class
President Maeve Dingley for receiving a Congressional Citation from the office of United States Representative John Larson for her service and dedication! • Congratulations also to Katrina McCord, Granby Memorial High School’s Poetry Out Loud finalist. Also, congratulations to Jayne Hiatt for placing second. Katrina’s poem recitations of Emily Dickinson at the Poetry Slam by Dan Vera and The Days Gone By by James Whitcomb Riley were submitted for the regional competition. • Kindergarten registration began on Feb. 1. • Eighth Grade Parents’ Night was held in-person this year on Feb. 3. • Additionally, all of our choral and band concerts, as well as drama club plays, were held in-person this year and were very well attended. • State Legislators met with the Board of Education to talk about the current state of the district and upcoming legislative session. • A Superintendent’s Community
Spring’s Beginnings We have endured winter’s bitter cold, its snow and ice, and its bone chilling winds. Now we are rewarded with spring’s beginnings. Sweet yellow and purple crocuses respond to the sun’s warmth and emerge from once frozen ground. Soon, daffodils will follow. Robins are returning. Baseball will again be played. Winter clothing finishes up its season. And, the world is filled with Hope. —Bernadette R. Gentry
March 2022
Conversation was held on Feb. 24 to discuss the budget and issues relating to education. • A very successful PJ Day Fundraiser was held and over $5,000 was raised for the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. • Kelly Lane Primary School and Wells Road Intermediate School students kicked off the “Kids Heart Challenge” and as of this writing have raised over $10,000. As you can see, there is so much for the Granby community to be proud about. We are fortunate to have talented, creative and enthusiastic students led by a dedicated team of staff members. The level of commitment the Board of Education and town provides our school district on a daily basis is integral to our success. Granby Public Schools is a “community” school district that always strives for everyone to be a part. I urge you to view the district website (granbyschools. org), a wonderful way for you to discover what is happening in our schools. Below you will find a list of the exciting March happenings that may be of interest to the community at large: March 2: Board of Education Meeting and Administrative Budget Presentation, 7 p.m., Town Hall Meeting Room/Zoom March 9: Board of Education Budget Workshop, 7 p.m., Central Services March 16: BOE Vote on the FY23 Budget, Board of Education Meeting, 7 p.m., Town Hall Meeting Room/Zoom The next Superintendent’s Community Conversation will Tuesday, April 19, at 10 a.m. via Zoom. The focus will be on the Board of Education’s proposed budget. This will also be a time where community members can ask any questions they may have regarding our schools. I want to thank the entire Granby community for supporting our work in making the Granby Public Schools one of the best school districts in the state. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns at 860-844-5260 and follow me on Twitter@GranbySuper
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March 2022
The Granby Drummer
Page 9
Democratic, Republican Town Committees elect delegates for May conventions Both major parties will choose their local delegates at town committee caucuses and meetings throughout the state during the last week of March. These local delegates attend numerous state and district conventions where party nominees are chosen during May. Town delegates chosen in the March caucus to attend the May conventions are either committed to a particular candidate or uncommitted. As of this writing, the 2021 redistricting process is completed, and Granby district lines did not change. Granby Democrats will hold its caucus on Monday, March 28 at 6 p.m. Contact Lynn Guelzow by email at GranbyDemocrats@gmail.com for more information. The Granby Republican Town Committee will choose its delegates at a meeting on March 23 at 7 p.m. Contact Mark Fiorentino by email at fishnthestates@ gmail.com for more information. May conventions are meetings to discuss and formally vote on who will be endorsed as the party nominee for each office. Each convention includes endorsement speeches and candidates’ qualifications are discussed prior to the voting. Granby delegates attending the conventions will vote on the party’s
nominee for open Connecticut seats in the U.S. Senate, 1st District U.S. House, Governor/Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, Treasurer, 62nd District State Representative, 9th District Judge of Probate for Granby, Avon, Canton and Simsbury, and two State Senate seats: the 7th for Granby’s District 1, and the 8th for Granby’s District 2. If a single candidate does not receive a majority endorsement during the first vote at a convention, more votes can be taken, possibly with a narrowed field. Unsuccessful candidates at these conventions can get a second opportunity to gain the party nomination through a party primary in August. There are two ways to qualify; either receive 15 percent or more of the votes at the convention, or petition for the primary by collecting signatures. This year, with so many offices on the ballot and such a large field of candidates already declared, Registrars are predicting at least one race will be contested in August for both parties. As there aren’t any municipal offices open for nomination on this November’s ballot, a May town committee caucus will not be needed by either Granby town committee this year.
Local artist’s work on display Granby artist Bill Simpson’s charcoal drawing, Fishing with Nick, has been included in the Mattatuck Museum’s 2022 Juried Members exhibition. The museum is located in Waterbury at 144 West Main Street. The exhibit runs through Sunday, March 6.
Public Works Changes to trash service: Paine’s has an alert system that will notify of any changes to service. This includes reminders as to whether a holiday will affect service. Sign up at painesinc.com Household Hazardous Waste: During 2022, there will be three hazardous waste collections for Granby residents. The first will be held April 23 at the Farmington Town Hall. Paper shredding will also be offered during the event. Please check next month’s Drummer for more details. Transfer Station: The Granby Transfer Station is open Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please bring proof of residency. Fees may apply. Check out the Public Works page at the Town of Granby website (granby-ct.gov) or call 860-653-8960 for more information. Snow removal: Please do your part in keeping roads safe by not moving snow
Drumrolls
into or across the street as you clean your property. This creates hazardous conditions for motorists and additional work for plow crews. Plastic bags/film: Plastic film, including bags, is the number one contaminant in the recycling stream. Yes, these items are recyclable but not in your single stream barrel. Plastic bags and film should be placed in the collection containers at your local grocery store. Along the same lines, do not place your recycling in plastic bags. Cooking oil: Granby DPW accepts cooking oil from residents. The oil should be brought to the Public Works office at 52 North Granby Road between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Do not leave cooking oil in the motor oil shed. Large quantities of cooking oil, and oil from commercial operations, will not be accepted. Please call Public Works with any questions.
Caroline Miltenberger, of West Granby, was named to the Castleton University dean’s list for the fall semester. She was also named to the Sigma Alpha Lambda Chapter at Castleton, and to the 2021 All-Academic Team for the Little East Conference.
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Love Lights the World. 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! All Services to be on site following Covid saftey protocols. All 10 a.m. services will stream on YouTube. March 2nd at First Church Ash Wednesday Service — 7 p.m. March 6th at South Church — 8:30 & 10 a.m. March 13th Union Service at First Church — 10 a.m. March 20th at South Church — 8:30 & 10 a.m. March 27th Union Service at First Church — 10 a.m. 242 Salmon Brook St., Granby, CT / (860) 653-7289 / www.southchurchgranby.org
Page 10
The Granby Drummer
In Town Focus SBHS News
Membership in the Salmon Brook Historical Society offers many benefits including free tours, newsletters, annual dinner in April, Christmas house tour and wassail party in December and the opportunity to learn about and help preserve Granby history. The society welcomes everyone; you do not need to be a Granby native, own an old house or be old. However, you do need to care about the history of Granby. Visit salmonbrookhistoricalsociety.com or stop by the museum on Thursdays between 9 a.m. and noon for an application. Research Library (Preservation Barn) is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon or by appointment by calling 860-653-9713. Research fee $25 per hour. Museum Store (Enders House) is open on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Merchandise available include books, maps, mugs, notecards, jigsaw puzzles and many more Granby items. Items for sale can be viewed at salmonbrookhistoricalsociety.com
Spring Flea Market is scheduled for Saturday, May 21 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the society’s grounds (208 Salmon Brook Street). Please contact Dave at 860-653-3965 for vendor information. Flea Market donations to the Society will be accepted on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to noon from April 5 through May 12. Summer House Tours are expected to return this year starting Sunday, June 5. Fall Flea Market is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 15, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Women’s Breakfast
On Wednesday, March 2, at the Granby Women’s Breakfast Group, Jennifer Alaban, Granby’s Animal Control Officer, will speak about the day-to-day life of an Animal Control Officer. Her talk will begin at 9 a.m. following breakfast that starts at 8:30 a.m. at the Granby Senior Center. Cost $4. Please register by calling the Senior Center, or on its website. If you have any questions regarding the breakfast, program, etc. call Corinne Dickerson at 860-653-9891.
Granby and Simsbury Chamber Golf Tournament Monday, June 13 is the date for this year’s Granby and Simsbury Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament, to be held at Hop Meadow Country Club in Simsbury in memory of Joseph Nilsen. Cost for players is $185, which includes golf, lunch, dinner, drink ticket, raffle, auction and driving range. There is a $20 discount ($165) for players who register and pre-pay prior to May 1. Golf will be a scramble format with a shotgun start at 11 a.m. Sponsorships and
March 2022
Granby resident develops new musical at the Ivoryton Playhouse By Blake Boldt The Ivoryton Playhouse in Ivoryton, is kicking off its 2022 season with the world premiere of an exciting new musical by Granby resident Jeff Blaney. The musical, Star of Freedom, explores our country’s history to illuminate its future. It tells of the chance meeting between two immigrants during Civil War times who join together to overcome racial and social oppression and make a better life for themselves in a divided young nation. Star of Freedom offers a collection of original songs that combine elements of Irish folk music with the sounds of African culture to give voice to the characters’ struggles and triumphs. Star of Freedom is adapted from Exodus, a concept album by Blaney, who composed the music and lyrics for the production and serves as musical director. Jacqueline Hubbard is the production’s director, and the book is by Lawrence Thelen. Star of Freedom will run from April 7 to May 1, with six shows per week. Tickets go on sale March 1 at ivorytonplayhouse.org An accomplished musician and native of Connecticut, Blaney performs solo and in several bands throughout the
Jeff Blaney and Birdie Submitted photo
Granby area, including with his brother, Rob, as The Blaney Brothers. His work spans genres from blues and rockabilly to Americana and traditional Irish music. Blaney has appeared at a variety of local events, such as the Granby Bluegrass Festival and the Sunset Concert Series. Blaney lives in Granby with his wife, Hannah, and their two sons, Liam and Noah. Along with his creative pursuits, he enjoys being an assistant coach for his sons’ Little League Baseball team.
tee signs are still available and provide a great opportunity to promote your business or message. This year’s Presenting Sponsor is State Line Propane and Oil. Last year’s tournament was a complete sell-out, so don’t delay. For further information, please visit either granbycoc.org or simsburycoc.org or call the Simsbury Chamber office at 860-6517307 or tournament chair Bob Marx at 413-977-6305.
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The Granby Drummer
GRANBY PLANNING & ZONING MEETING HIGHLIGHTS JANUARY 25, 2022 Present: Mark Lockwood, Margaret Chapple, Jonathan Boardman, Christine Chinni, Eric Lukingbeal, Eric Myers and Brennan Sheahan. Alternates: Paula Johnson and Matthew Peters; Director of Community Development Abigail Kenyon.
Public Session
Glen Ballard, 289 Granville Road, stated very few of the Plan of Conservation and Development goals are measurable and he asked the commission if they support multifamily homes in the R2, R50, R30 Zones.
Introduce and Discuss Strategic Plan
Fiorentino and Robertson explained the Board of Selectman, in consultation with boards/ commissions, staff and the public, will be creating a strategic plan. The goal is to have each commission identify, prioritize and solidify work needed throughout the town. This will help assure a coordinated effort among the various boards/commissions and serve to guide the Board of Selectmen when making key decisions. The boards/commission are asked to identify goals by May 1. There will be open dialogue and public workshops to finalize what will be included in the strategic plan. Lockwood stated the commission would discuss its goals at the
next meeting and the commission was reminded the Plan of Conservation and Development can be used as a starting point for the formulation of goals.
Discuss Outdoor Dining Zoning Regulation
Kenyon outlined proposed changes to Outdoor Dining, Zoning Regulations Section 8.16.10. These changes are needed for zoning regulation compliance with state criteria for outdoor dining. In response to the commission’s last meeting, the following changes were made to the proposed regulation: Section 8.16.10.1: The total area allowed for outdoor dining was changed from 30 percent to 40 percent of the gross floor area of the indoor space; Section 8.16.10.6: language was taken directly from the state provision and added to the proposed regulation that requires ADA accessible paths to an outdoor dining area; Section 8.16.10.11: The commission discussed language requiring outdoor furniture be secured or stored when not in use for an extended period of time. It was decided to modify it to require furniture be secured when not in use, removing “extended period of time” from the criteria; Section 8.16.10.12: in addition to a tent, other temporary structures were added to this condition. Therefore, if a restaurant installs a tent or other temporary structure,
and 50 percent or more of the sides are down, the area will count as indoor dining space and compliance with all applicable regulations, including parking requirements, will be required. Section 8.16.10.15: it was noted that a site plan drawn to scale shall be submitted showing the location of outdoor dining and seating. The commission agreed to the proposed changes. A public hearing will be scheduled for the proposed regulation and the public will have the opportunity to comment on it. On A Motion by Chapple and seconded by Lukingbeal, the commission voted (7-0-0) to approve the draft of Zoning Regulations Section 8.16.10 Outdoor Dining as amended and forward it to CRCOG.
Discuss Accessory Apartment Zoning Regulation
Kenyon stated that Public Act 21-29 establishes a provision that allows the construction of accessory apartments by right on all lots with a single-family home unless a municipality chooses to opt out by Jan. 1, 2023. To opt out, the Planning and Zoning Commission must hold a public hearing to approve the opt-out with a two-thirds majority and publish a notice of the decision. The Board of Selectmen must also vote to opt out with a two-thirds majority. In any town where the accessory apartment regulations conflict with the new state requirement and that do not opt out by Jan. 1, 2023, the state provision will override any conflicting local requirement. Kenyon stated Granby’s current Accessory Apartment Zoning Regulation does not comply with the new state requirements on several points. One point is that accessory apartments must be allowed by right under the new
Page 11 requirement and Granby currently requires Special Permit approval. She stated the commission has several options moving forward: the commission can modify the regulation to comply with the state requirements or the commission can vote to opt out. If the commission opts out, then the commission may either keep the existing regulation as is or modify the regulation as it sees fit. She noted the current accessory apartment regulation was adopted and modified in 2017. Since then, 11 accessory apartment Special Permit applications have been submitted and all 11 have been approved by the commission. She added the commission may want to consider changing the Special Permit requirement to allow them as of right, provided certain conditions are met. The commission reviewed the state requirements for accessory apartments. They noted several concerns including the state provision that prohibits a regulation from requiring access from the accessory apartment to the outside. The commission thought this was an important requirement to include from a safety standpoint. The commission also stated they would prefer to include a requirement that the property owner live in one of the units. It was the consensus that the commission would like to opt out but modify the existing regulation, perhaps considering a change to allow some apartments by right and also adopt other criteria from the state provision that may work well in Granby, but not everything. The commission will discuss this further at its next meeting.
Staff Report and Correspondence
Kenyon reported work on the duplexes at Murtha’s Way continues with framing underway. There are no changes to the utility work scheduled for the Department of Transportation Granby Center intersection project. Respectfully submitted, Patricia Tappenden, Recording Secretary
In Memory of . Michael E. Dwyer, husband of Susan F. Dwyer, October 24, 2021 Norman, Jacqueline Ruth (Averka), 86, wife of Robert Chester Norman, November 27 White, Ruth Barker (née Hammond), 67, wife of the late James Leland White, December 16 Russell, Maureen Wurdig, 88, December 18 Dwyer, Susan F., wife of the late Michael E. Dwyer, January 10 Yazvac, Kay (Ales), 86, wife of the late Tom Yazvac, January 17 Lazich, Lenore Ruth (Baylis), 91, wife of the late John Lazich and the late Charles David Currie, January 18 Bergersen, Erik J., 58, January 20 Harder, Elizabeth A.”Toni” (Keenan), 76, wife of Mel A. Harder, January 21 Lyons, Nancy B., 58, wife of Tim Lyons, January 21 Valley, Lynn Gilbert, 74, January 23 Fitzgerald, John Russell, 86, husband of Judith Albrecht Fitzgerald, January 26 Brunner, Dorly F., 92, wife of the late Walter Brunner, January 28 Grillo, Constance “Connie” Lee, 72, January 29 Locke, Arthur Bailey, 85, wife of Aurelle Smoot Locke, January 30 Minnich, Dorothea Packard, 88, wife of the late Donald Minnich, January 30 Croot, Helen (Hamilton), 91, wife of the late Darrel Croot, February 4 Ullmann, Mary Virginia (Brookes), 92, wife of the late William Walter Ullmann, February 5
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The Granby Drummer
March 2022
Herbal Helpers: grab a cup! By Sara Thornton People often think healthy living is eating the right food, getting plenty of exercise and sleep. Some depend upon alcohol, tobacco, or “comfort food”— which don’t really help a body resist the stresses and strains, and in fact can contribute to issues like heart disease and digestive disorders. However, there are better supports, some even in your own back yard. Life is tough, and herbs can help support a healthy lifestyle. A doctor can treat major ailments; herbs help you build resilience, reduce stress, and keep healthy. Before you need that trip to the doctor’s office, try a cup of tea. Herbal tea is closer to food than pharmaceuticals, but don’t confuse gentleness for weakness. Made right, herbal teas are deeply nourishing, nudging you to balance and health without harsh side effects. Herbal teas brew (or infuse, decoct, etc.) for minutes, or even boil or simmer, rather than steeping for a few seconds, adding gobs of sugar and milk, and downing it with sugary pastries. Whether loose in a tea ball or readybagged—brew, steep and infuse your herbal tea for 5 to 8 minutes. Root-based teas, like dandelion or marshmallow, can be simmered for 10-15 minutes. This extra time in water is what makes the difference between tasty and truly nourishing tea. Add some honey if you like but be aware that lots of sugar will pretty much overwhelm the benefits of your herbal tea. How and when to add these teas to your diet? For instance, if you are a bit anxious, experiencing wandering attention, finding it hard to focus, make yourself a small tea ceremony every day. Use a special cup, choose a certain time each day—maybe first thing in the morning, or in the afternoon when you get home—what works for you. What types of tea can help? Try lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), a lovely lemony member of the mint family. It helps to focus attention and turn anxiety into a sense of calm. Charlemagne started his day with a cup, calling it a cheering and gladdening herb. Tulsi or holy basil (Occimum sanctum) is another choice to soothe and smooth frayed nerves and sharpen the mind. What about bedtime? Have you tried a cup of tea in the evening? Turn off your electronics, sip your tea, gift your mind that quiet time. Herbs take time to work; be consistent and give yourself a couple of weeks to notice the differences. Many herbs have a wide safety window, and most people have no issues using them. Here are just a few: Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) for stress, help with sleep; Bacopa (Bacopa monnieri) for brain support; Chamomile (Chamomilia, Matricaria spp) for anxiety, digestion; Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) soothes anxiety, sharpens attention; Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) for indigestion; Tulsi (Occimum sanctum) for indigestion. You can grow herbs in pots on your deck or in a garden. Fresh chamomile is a lovely tea warm or cold. Anxious stomachs love the apple-scented pale gold brew. Don’t overlook weeds and trees either! If you have nettle in your backyard, have a care for the stings and harvest a batch for a tasty all-over pick-me-up. Full of vitamins and trace nutrients, its stings fade when dried. Are you lucky to have hawthorn trees? The ripe berries make a lovely heart-helping tea or luscious jam; it’s popular in Europe as a heart helper for the aging. The wild roses may well produce bright red rose
hips in the fall. Packed with vitamin C, they make an amazing tea and a tasty, tart jam. Check out the selections at your favorite health food or herb shop to expand your choices. Also, local shops may have other reference books and materials to help you grow and use herbs safely. Take a class or a weed walk with a local herbalist; discover the joys of finding plant helpers in the wild or blending your own teas. From complex blends to single
herbs, experiment and find what works best for you. Check out the local libraries and continuing ed classes. You can find short lectures or longer classes that can help you learn more about herbal helpers.
Sara Thornton is a dual-certified clinical herbalist with 40+ years’ experience in herbs. She can be found at her shop, Ravenswood Natural Health, in Simsbury.
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March 2022
The Granby Drummer
Page 13
Granby Bears varsity basketball team 2021-22 at left, and the 8th grade travel team below. Submitted photos
Varsity boys hoop season highlights history, comradery
As this issue arrives in Granby residents’ mailboxes, the regular high school basketball seasons will have ended, and the NCCC tournaments and state championship game brackets will be determined. While sport sessions begin and end three times during each academic year, the conclusion of this season marks the end of a seven-year journey for 13 members of the team. Most of these players participated in the Granby Bears Basketball Summer Camp program offered annually for 1st through 8th graders by Granby Parks and Rec. Many played on Granby Parks and Rec teams as elementary school students. In March 2013, the Granby Boys Varsity Basketball team won the state championship at Mohegan Sun—this year’s seniors were in 4th grade. In October 2014, 21 6th graders attended tryouts for their inaugural year in Granby Travel Basketball’s program. In March 2018 the 10-member team, then in eighth grade, beat Mansfield and Enfield for the championship. Of the 10 who started together
in 2014, eight are members of the current varsity team and one is a manager. There are a total of 11 seniors and two managers, also seniors, on the varsity team. At least three players are hoping to continue playing competitively after this year. Coach Walter Hansen, currently in his 14th season as the Bear’s head coach, attended, “a ton of men’s basketball games” during his undergraduate years at Central Connecticut State University. Hansen recalls, “I watched and studied Howie Dickenman. I always loved basketball and knew I wanted to coach. Howie was extremely intense and passionate when he coached—he also liked to stomp the floor. I always thought if I coached, this was the way to be.” That intensity and passion led to the 2013 victory and a second championship game in March 2018 when the current Bears were freshmen. When asked what the coach would want the Granby community to know about sports at the high school in general, and this program in particular, Hansen responds, “Granby athletics is a force to be reckoned with. We have some amazing kids and athletes at this school and the banners in the gym tell a story. I’d also like to think that Granby Basketball is a program that our community supports and is a respectable program throughout the state.” At press time the team is 14–3: statistics and schedule information for tournament games will be available on the Granby Memorial High School website.
New Opportunities. A New Funding Resource for Non-profit Organizations
Northwest Community Bank Foundation – accepting spring grant applications now. Organized by Northwest Community Bank and its Divisions, Collinsville Bank and Litchfield Bancorp, this charitable Foundation has been created to expand current support to non-profit organizations in the communities the bank serves. Information and applications are available on the banks’ websites, by email at Foundation@nwcommunitybank.com or from branch managers. Completed applications are due by April 1. We look forward to helping organizations achieve their goals.
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The team in action! Game photos by Kathy Brown
Student Page Exams. Projects. Papers. By Chase Alexander, GMHS Those were just a few of the responsibilities dominating the minds of students at GMHS a mere couple of weeks ago. The inevitable exam week had begun, and students put forth their strongest efforts to appropriately prepare for the defining stretch of the first semester; something that became more challenging with the coinciding unpredictable weather. With those days complete, the focus of staff and students abruptly shifted toward the latter portion of the year that culminates in a summer vacation. With the first half of the school year now closed, it is only fair to review a campaign that has been a comfortable return to normalcy, while also beginning to look ahead to the second semester. Immersed in the bitterly-cold and mundane depths of winter, many will credit the start of this 2021/22 school year as commencing ages ago. To some degree, it certainly did. In the months past, GMHS has witnessed a return to normalcy that had been brewing throughout last school year. The results of strict adherence to COVID guidelines, students and staff would be quick to agree, is that the events that occurred throughout the first semester resemble those of pre-COVID years. Prior to the immeasurable impact of the novel pandemic, the high school culture was defined by frequent socialization; oftentimes via events such as sporting events, dances, or after-school activities. The image last year contrasted wildly with the depicted scene, and the GMHS population as a whole became less cohesive as a result. Yet, in this recent semester, the excitement created by opportunities to be around one another has been rejuvenated. Fans are back in attendance at sporting events, clubs can meet on a consistent basis, and students were even able to experience a homecoming; one of the marquee events which COVID restrictions prevented students from appreciating in 2020/21. The impact is
apparent. While the virus is still prevalent, the ability for GMHS to live with more relaxed protocols has allowed students to interact as part of a culture defined by normalcy. Worries about the virus, while still existent through precautions, are not the primary focus in the minds of students now. Rather, the student body can converse avidly about the score of the game against East Granby, or rest assured that their friends will be in the building so a project can be completed on schedule. Further, the return to a regular eight-period-a-day schedule makes assignments far more predictable in scheduling, visiting a teacher for extra help is convenient again, and teachers will not have to rearrange an entire lesson plan because half the class is out with COVID since the last time the class had met. All these changes — the fans at games, the homecomings, the clubs, the theater productions, the blood drives, the concerts, the schedules; the events which were once commonplace in high schools — these are the changes the student body recognizes as normalcy. With it, friendships are stronger, assignment schedules are easier to comprehend, and the school culture is more relaxed. The two years prior to this article have been challenging, as unprecedented times are bound to provide unique and potentially difficult new changes. Yet it is following the first semester of the 2021/22 school year — the exciting wins, the A pluses on tests, the homecoming dances, the concerts, the plays, and all of its other defining events — that GMHS can now take a breath and reflect on the drastically different changes and positive improvements that have accompanied the school’s journey to surmount a time of uncertainty and confusion. With that, we, as a community, have an opportunity to be appreciative of the advancements we have made and welcome the events they bring for the second half of this year.
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Page 14
The Granby Drummer
March 2022
Parks & Recreation Director of Recreation and Leisure Services: Kristine Vincent, CPRP Recreation Supervisor: Daphne Shinder Program Supervisor: Terri Ziemnicki Telephone: 860-653-8947 Website: GranbyRec.com
Summer Camp Registration
Day Camp, Mission Adventure and a plethora of summer sports, enrichment, fitness and wellness camps for children of all ages just announced! Visit GranbyRec.com to learn more and register.
Adult Programs
Basketball for ages 18 and up: Mondays and Thursdays, 7-9 p.m. at Granby High Community Gym. Join Granby Rec for the very popular men’s free play basketball program…pick-up games. $75 season pass or $5 drop in residents, $10 drop-in non-residents. Celebrate Spring Cupcakes for ages 16 and up: Wednesday, March 30, 6-8 p.m. at Salmon Brook Park Gathering Room. Decorate cupcakes in beautiful spring colors. Make butterflies and spring designs out of melted chocolate. Let your creativity flow making Unicorn Cupcakes. Taught by Mimi’s Cake School, this hands-on class will give you great ideas for your own home baking! You will be decorating a dozen cupcakes to take home with you. $55pp. Beginners Wine Making Class: Saturday, March 19, 1-3 p.m. at Salmon Brook Park Gathering Room. Country wine is a term often applied to just about any wine made from something other than wine grapes. Learn about some of the many other fruits/flowers that can be turned into delicious wine. Granby resident Deb Beal has been making wine for several years using dandelions from her yard, wild fox grapes, peaches, strawberries and even jars of unused jams. She will cover the needed startup equipment, the “how-tos” and share recipes so you can start making your own wine at home. She
would love to share what she’s learned over the years to make your wine-making experience fun and satisfying. Sign up now and you’ll be able to take advantage of the dandelions coming this spring. $50pp. TAZ Fitness Challenge: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8-8:55 a.m. at Salmon Brook Park Gathering Room. Join certified and motivating fitness instructor, Terri Ziemnicki for this high energy, low impact fitness class which includes a full body cardiovascular, interval and strength training workout. All levels welcome. $30pp. TAZ Low Impact Fitness: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9-9:55 a.m. at Salmon Brook Park Gathering Room. Join long time certified and motivating instructor, Terri Ziemnicki for this easy-to-follow low impact class including cardiovascular and strength training exercises to fun and motivating music. This is a great class for all levels and especially for the senior population. Balance and stretching exercises are incorporated in each workout. $30. Yoga for Strength: Mondays or Fridays, 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. Modifications always offered. Listening to your body always encouraged. This program is being taught by Laura Fetzer/ Seger. $100 per session/$15 drop-in. Gentle Flow Yoga: Saturdays, 10-11 a.m. at Salmon Brook Park Gathering Room. Join Rachel Little for an easyto-follow yoga practice that will leave you feeling great. We will combine deep breathing with basic yoga poses to build strength and flexibility, to energize the body and to improve posture and confidence. Modifications are offered as building blocks or to accommodate past injury. After warming the major muscle
groups, deeper poses and stretches are offered, using support when appropriate. We will also build community as we reconnect to ourselves and others in a safely spaced, friendly and accepting environment. $100 per session/$15 drop-in. American Red Cross Adult/Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED: Saturday, March 12, 2-4 p.m. This course will prepare you 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 class. Upon successful completion of this course, you will receive a digital certificate for Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED valid for two years. Yin Yoga and Aromatherapy: Fridays, 6-7:30 p.m. at Salmon Brook Park Gathering Room. Slow it down with this 90-minute sequence of yin yoga postures and aromatherapy. By combining the slower, deeper aspects of yin yoga with the healing properties of Wisdom of the Earth’s pure therapeutic grade essences used in aromatherapy, this practice will help to restore balance within the energy systems of the body, leaving you feeling relaxed, renewed and ready to face whatever life is offering you. This practice will bring peace and healing on so many levels. $25pp. Pawsitive Steps Dog Training: New sessions begin every six weeks. Join well-known certified dog trainer Kim Michalewicz for this great introductory 7-week course to learn how to effectively communicate with your best friend. Time will be spent learning to socialize your dogs to a variety of situations. Learn about normal canine behavior and how to problem solve to help your dog fit into our 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. For the
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Intermediate Classes, please speak with Michalewicz prior to registering so that she can approve that class is appropriate for their dog. Please contact Michalewicz with any questions. 860-614-6625 or kim_michalewicz@hotmail.com Beginner classes are: Fridays, 10-11 a.m., or Mondays, 6:30-7:30 p.m., or Tuesdays, 6:30-7:30 p.m., or Sundays, 4-5 p.m. Intermediate classes are Thursdays, 6:307:30 p.m. All classes at Salmon Brook Park Gathering Room. $170.
Toddler, Preschool, Youth
Granby Parks and Recreation Department has on-going classes for youth of all ages throughout March including Jump Bunch: Big and Little Jumpers, Songs and Seasons Music Program and Soccer Shots. Please call 860-653-8947 to try one.
Youth Programs
Granby Parks and Recreation Department has on-going after school programs. Your child can join any time. Programs include rock wall climbing, volleyball, spirit club, hip hop, Irish step dancing, yoga, food explorers, fashion and modeling, tennis lessons and PE games and activities.
Edward “Jay” Pelczar, Jr. 1980–2022 Edward J. Pelczar, Jr., “Jay,” 42, of Granby, passed away unexpectedly on Jan. 24, at St. Francis Hospital. He was born Jan. 24, 1980, in Hartford to Edward J. Pelczar and Nancy Vallee, and grew up in Granby and attended local schools. Jay was employed by Cambridge Credit Counseling in Agawam. He loved his country and was proud to help and serve in Honor and Remember, Lost Acres Fire Department and the Patriot Guard Riders of Connecticut. He was an avid bowler, and enjoyed his sports, the New York Giants, the New York Yankees and especially NASCAR in which he was a big fan of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Jay is survived by his mother, Nancy Vallee Pelczar; his former wife, Tara Pelczar, and their daughter Savanna; and many extended family members and friends. He was predeceased by his son, Edward J. Pelczar, III in 2005; his father, Edward J. Pelczar, Sr. in 2004; and his companion, his dog, Petey.
March 2022
The Granby Drummer
Page 15
Granby Road Race returns for #51
Photo by Caelum Janski
Damn Yankees comes to GMHS Granby Memorial High School Performing Arts presents the fun-loving musical Damn Yankees on Friday, March 11 and Saturday, March 12 at 7 p.m. and on Sunday, March 13 at 2 p.m. in the GMHS Auditorium. Damn Yankees stars Joe Boyd, an aging Washington Senators fan, who would sell his soul for the Senators to beat the New York Yankees and win the pennant. Enter Applegate (senior Kevin Davis), who offers to turn Boyd into Joe Hardy (senior Jacob Scotto), a powerful young baseball player, in exchange for his soul. When Boyd agrees, he becomes Hardy and leads the Senators on a winning streak.
When he starts to miss his wife (senior Haley Kaczka) and questions the deal, Applegate sends temptress Lola (senior Hayden Mueller) into the mix. This musical has many well know songs such as You’ve Gotta Have Heart and Whatever Lola Wants. The show features many seniors including Molly Laird (drama president) and Zolah Daley (drama secretary) who have been in the performing arts program since they were freshman. Tickets for the show will be available at the door or online at the Granby Memorial High School website the first week in March. Tickets are $12 for students and seniors and $15 for the general public.
Men’s Breakfast will be in-person The next Granby Men’s Breakfast is Friday, March 11— and is in-person. You will be served breakfast before the speaker begins his presentation. Mike Campbell, chief operating officer of The Mark Twain House and Museum. Campbell is also an historic interpreter for the house and museum. Our speaker begins promptly at 9:30 a.m. IMPORTANT: To participate, you must be a current member of the Granby Senior Center, and pre-register for the breakfast meeting. Registration is easy once you have logged in. To create a Login, go to:
schedulesplus.com/granby/kiosk/ Select “Membership” and follow the instructions. After you have become a member of the Senior Center, go to “Special Events” > “Men’s Breakfast” and pre-pay the $2. There is a limit of 50 participants; a counter shows when you register. A waiting list will be created if needed. Men of any age interested in joining the Granby Men’s Breakfast should send their contact information to gmensbkfst@gmail.com and you will be added to the invite list for the next breakfast meeting.
The 51st running of the Granby Road Race is returning to May! After a few years of the race being held in September, the Granby Road Race Committee is excited to announce that in less than three months, the race will return to the first Saturday in May. The race will be held on Saturday, May 7 at 8:30 a.m. and the Farmington Valley YMCA hopes to see as many community members and neighbors there as possible. New this year is a kid’s fun race as well as T-shirts for all runners who register by April 25—so head over to the race website (ghymca.org/granbyroadrace) today to ensure that you receive a treasured Granby Road Race T-shirt. The town of Granby embraces the race and helps make it possible. Volunteers from the community have always been aplenty. The Granby C . E . R . T. , Granby Ambulance and Granby Police have supported the racecourse, and McLean Game Refuge has welcomed the Road Race through its trails. The progress of the race is fascinating as you take the time to look back at it. A small-town race for elite runners turned into a small town race focused on inclusivity, healthy lifestyles and community support. The Granby Road Race Committee marked the 50th annual race last September by naming areas of the course in honor and recognition of the race founders. The Dennis Lobo Start Line, Hildreth Hill and the David Bale Finish Line will forever be a part of the Granby Road Race course. Dennis Lobo, the surviving founder of the Granby Road Race, attended in September, as did Ned Hildreth and Vicki Bale Saun-
ders on behalf of their late fathers, also race founders. David Schupp, longtime advocate and leader of the Granby Road Race joined in on the festivities. By starting the race and helping it to continue year after year, the founders left a lasting impact on the race and the town of Granby. The Farmington Valley YMCA and the Granby Road Race Committee are thankful to them for their contributions over the past 50 years. The Granby Road Race is run in honor of David A. Schupp Jr., and the committee is honored to announce that the David A. Schupp Jr. Memorial Mile will be a permanent fixture for all future races. The race committee is grateful for the stewardship and leadership of David A. Schupp throughout the many years he has been involved in the race. In addition to running and having fun with friends and family, your registration will also strengthen our community and help the YMCA provide financial assistance in order to increase access to YMCA’s services. The Granby Road Race Committee would like to extend thanks to the local businesses and individuals who support our race each year. Your generosity and dedication to our town’s race make the race possible. For more information about sponsorships and giving, please visit the YMCA website at ghymca.org If you are interested in volunteering for this race, please email Brian Liss at granbyroadrace@GHYMCA.org Register today for the 5K road race, 10K trail/road race, or the kid’s race. We can’t wait to cheer you on this spring! ghymca. org/granbyroadrace
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Page 16
The Granby Drummer
Christensens celebrate 60th wedding anniversary
Ted and Sandy Christensen were married on Feb. 17, 1962, at the Horace Bushnell Church in Hartford, by Ted’s twin brother, the Rev. William Christensen. After the reception they left for Vermont on their honeymoon but after running into a blizzard, they stayed overnight in Northampton, Mass. The next day they returned to Granby and the home they had purchased on Deerwood Drive in September 1961. Over the next four years their children Curt, Craig and Carol were born. They lived in the house for six years, adding two bedrooms and an upstairs bathroom. In 1968 they built a four-bedroom Colonial at 45 Shelley Drive. It was the second house built in the new neighborhood of Poet’s Corner, and they still reside there. The children who were 3, 4 and 5 when they moved, attended Granby schools, and all now live within a 30-minute drive of Granby. In 1963 Ted began a new career in life insurance sales while Sandy held down the home fort. After five years in sales, he started his own firm—Coordinated Financial Planning—representing Home Life for 11 years and Minnesota Mutual for 25 years and built a successful sales organization. Ted retired at age 65. In the 1960s Ted served two terms on the Granby Board of Selectman. He served as president of the Granby Jaycee’s and joined the board of Granby Homes, which manages the 59 apartments in Stoney Hill Village. He served
Christensen’s wedding day, 1962
March 2022
Serendipity When GPS fails you... By Karen Stanhope
Ted and Sandy Christensen in 2017. Submitted photos
on this board for 42 years including president of the board for 20 years. In 1963 Sandy and Ted joined the South Church where their children were baptized and two were married. Over the years Sandy and Ted served the church in numerous capacities and sang in the church choirs. Sandy was a member of the Sow and Reap Club that ran an annual plant sale. She hosted the Sunday Fellowship Hour, worked at the Salmon Brook Historical Society annual flea market, and was a member of the beading group at the Senior Center. She’s always been the children’s and seven grandchildren’s lead cheerleader at their sporting events. In 2000 they went to Israel with a group from Granby. They later traveled to Iceland, Sweden, Norway, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Greece, and Russia. They also traveled throughout the U.S., including Alaska and Hawaii. They played tennis and golf at Hop Meadow Country Club and Ted continues to sing with the Intonations and runs the school children’s eye screening through the Granby Lions Club. They have had a wonderful life together.
Albert Einstein famously said, “There are no coincidences.” It doesn’t take a genius, though, to recognize those occurrences that happen from time to time, that defy common explanation and leave you shaking your head in amazement. It could be something small—a happy timing of receiving just what was needed when it was needed. Or it might be a moment of providence with a life-changing impact. I’m not a genius, but I’ve experienced a few of those “beyond coincidence” situations myself. I’d like to share one of mine in the hope that it will resonate with you, and perhaps inspire you to share your own story of unexplained intervention. My story happened a few years ago when I decided to take my sons on a short vacation. I could only get away for a long weekend, and though flying to France would have been nice, we decided on a getaway to French-speaking Quebec, Canada for what I hoped would be a similar experience. I found what promised to be a beautiful location to stay—Lac a L’eau Claire, which is about a 6.5-hour drive from Granby. I mapped and printed out the route there, but on the drive, I trusted my GPS for directions. We really appreciated the help, as the route through the town included several one-way roads and unlabeled streets. We arrived at our destination, and it was all that we hoped it would be. The location was beautiful—and everyone spoke French! The road signs, the menus, the waiters—it was like we had flown across the Atlantic Ocean. It was a challenge to practice our high-school French to communicate and we had a lot of fun trying! Too soon, though, it was time to return home. We set off on Sunday morning, confident that GPS would once again be our guide, only to find that we had no cell phone service. It hadn’t been an issue on the drive there, but we were now on our own. I had the printed directions from Granby to our vacation spot, and we tried to reverse the order, but the oneway roads defeated us, and we became hopelessly lost. I kept pulling over, the three of us trying to compare the Frenchlanguage street names on the printed directions with street signs, my sons becoming more agitated by the minute. We passed a building with a sign
declaring it the Bureau d’Accuiel Touristique de Saint-Alexis-des Monts. It was all French to me—literally—but I hopefully interpreted the “touristique” part as something like a tourist office and pulled into its suspiciously empty parking lot to ask for help. As it was Sunday, the office was closed. My sons were quite vocal in their disappointment, and I just sat there a minute trying to regroup. I couldn’t retrace our steps back to our hotel, we were that hopelessly lost. I couldn’t even use my smart phone to call for help since it had no service. I sat there staring at the printed directions, reading the street names over and over, trying to think, hoping for some kind of miracle. I looked through the windshield at the crossroad signs in front of the tourist office and saw the name Rue Notre Dame. I recognized that! Sure enough, it was one of the names printed in my directions—right in front of us! I pulled onto the road and followed it southeast until, to my vast relief, we saw signs for the highway we needed. After a few more miles we were able to catch GPS and the rest of our trip home went smoothly. I will never forget that incident. I was hopelessly lost, and scarcely believed my eyes when I saw that street sign right in front of us when I felt so defeated. Some may explain it as luck, but to me in that moment it was everything. While my sons and I laugh about it now as one of those infamous tales of our adventure, we agree that finding that street sign right when we needed it was a very happy coincidence. Or was it? Albert Einstein may have disagreed. Have you had an experience like mine? If you are interested in sharing your story and having it appear in this column, please send an email to OneVoiceLifted@gmail.com You can contribute anonymously if you wish and can either write your own story or we will arrange for you to share it with us orally. We will write it in your words and publish it after your approval. There is a thought-provoking beauty in these stories. In sharing them perhaps we will find power in the realization that they happen more often than one person may think. This monthly column was inspired by members of Pilgrim Covenant Church in Granby.
March 2022
The Granby Drummer
Gordon Daniels, Granby’s unsung hero
Page 17
Trendy Talk 2022
By Brooke Star
By Jennifer Benson
One cold winter morning, Dr. David Nochimson struck up a conversation with Gordon Daniels, a driver for Paine’s recycling and rubbish removal. Nochimson, a retired obstetric physician, lives in North Granby where the bears love exploring the contents of his trash can. He often takes his trash down the morning of trash pickup day to avoid this overnight assault and talks to Daniels frequently. After learning of Daniel’s history, he contacted the Drummer because he felt this man deserved recognition, noting, “Everyone has a niche and is important.” Daniels, a Granby native, has worked at Paine’s for 13 years. He works hard to provide for his two girls, ages 4 and 8. After three years at Paine’s, he obtained a Commercial Drivers’ License and learned to operate the automated sanitation truck in three days and has never looked back. Daniels says he loves his job. He is the only Paine’s sanitation worker for all of Granby and is responsible for the approximately 12 tons of trash the community produces every day. On holidays that amount doubles! He starts his daily route at 4 a.m. His day doesn’t end until he drives into Hartford to dump the load and heads back to Paine’s—ending his day at 4 p.m., five days a week year-round. He has never called in sick in 13 years and only takes three days off in November to hunt—one of his favorite activities besides fishing and making his own beef jerky. Daniels lives in an apartment on a farm owned by an elderly couple in West Suffield. When he arrives home, he takes care of the farm for this couple which includes three horses and several cats. He also helps care for the couple, who have health issues that need attending to almost daily. He also cares for his own two bulldogs, chickens, turkeys, and a small terrier. His day ends around 9:30 p.m. That’s a lot of work. He claims he doesn’t tire easily and developed his strong work ethic being raised by his father who was a Marine. You wouldn’t think his job is dangerous, but he told me stories of fires in the truck when people dump hot ashes in their trash, chemical fires from ammonia and bleach poured into trash cans and
The following narrative has no hidden meaning. In fact, it has no meaning at all. It uses current expressions and new usages of old words to create a semblance of meaning. How great is that? But let’s pivot and get to it. So, I don’t have the bandwidth to reach out, drill down, take a deep dive or circle back. That’s on you. We are at a moment that is concerning. This is not a one-off, one-and-done. I get it. The content of your narrative must be impactful, 24/7, in order for you to be the go-to person. If this doesn’t drive you to day-drinking, it can be a game changer, and it’s all good. Let me be clear, on your Zoom call, if your cohort is not using best practices, no worries. Lean in, because it is what it is. That said, it’s not about you, so go all in. This is in your wheelhouse. Get a bead on it because gigs like this are not random. First, google the metrics to be sure you are spot on, then you’ll be good to go. Famously, the head of the cohort is an over-sharer, so listening should be on your radar. I tell you, the guy was doubling down, doing the heavy lifting and switching it up, even though he was out of his depth. At the end of the day, he was doing a crap job. He was that guy who, while he was slammed, said, “I’ve got this.” He was legit opening a pop up (yes, it’s a thing) in the neighborhood, anticipating minimal pushback from the community. The backstory is they were woke and knew they were all in this together. And in, like, five minutes, they grabbed lunch, jumped on a call, processed it and decided the idea was genius. It was of-the-moment, and
Gordon‘s top 10 list of No-Nos in the trash bin 1. ACs/Freon item 2. Lithium batteries 3. Oil (car or cooking) waste 54. xHazardous 3 5. Cement/rocks/bricks 6. Yard waste 7. Recycling 8. Electronics (ex. microwaves) 9. Paint 10. Ashes (fireplaces/grills)
Gordon Daniels at work. Submitted photo
GORDON DANIELS’ TERIYAKI JERKY Ingredients 2 Tablespoons Morton Tender Quick ½ cup teriyaki marinade or sauce 1 cup pineapple juice ½ cup soy sauce 1 teaspoon smoke flavoring 1 teaspoon black pepper 2 lbs. venison, thinly sliced into strips Directions Combine first 6 ingredients. Add strips of venison and coat thoroughly. Cover tightly and refrigerate overnight. Pat dry between paper towels and dehydrate or oven dry.
propane tanks that get sliced and can explode. He also regularly picks up the trash our bear population loves to knock over and drag everywhere in the warmer months. After speaking with Julie Paine-Miller at Paine’s, I was made aware that the kids in town call him “Mr. Gordon” and he has quite a large following. The kids wait for him and get him to honk his horn, sometimes very early in the morning, and they leave him pictures they draw. When time permits, Daniels will stop and show them the truck. He attends Touch-A-Truck events in town because kids just love to see how everything works and touch everything. He is a very approachable and kind man. Next time you see him give him a wave—he’s an important member of our community who rarely receives enough credit for the invaluable service he provides.
Drumrolls
Granby resident Lindsay Gilton was named to the dean’s list at Connecticut College for the fall semester. The following students were named to Endicott College’s dean’s list for the fall semester: Sarah Bennett, Tyler Grashaw, Jaira Paine and Daniel Pierce, all from Granby; and Mackenzie Dowd and Erica Presbie, both from
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North Granby. Named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at St. Michael’s College are Dylan Trombley, from West Granby, and Hanna Mulhair, from West Hartland. Grace Lemoine, of Granby, was named to the dean’s list at Roger Williams University for the fall semester.
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boom, they upped their game. The idea had legs, and though they were outside of their comfort zone, they chose the venue and went for it. Soon they would be living their best life. They would kill it. About that, I can’t wrap my mind around it. I did the math and can only wonder what are you even doing? Can we go full stop and get this sorted? Why don’t you shoot me an email and shine a light on this? Are you down for it? You’ve got to understand that we need to add a pop of color and engage the brand ahead of the drop. It’s all about timing. Right? Bring it and it’ll be game over. Totally. What are you playing at with this side hustle? I realize you are crushing it, but have you vetted it? Are you trying not to engage with the kiddos and your fam? If that’s how you roll, I am not a fan. You are ghosting them. That’s your superpower. You wear your puffer coat, hiding your tiny service animal in it—how bougie—and have your Big Reveal. The takeaway around this? You be you. I’m not gonna lie—We’re done here. Bam. On the down low, Sophia went missing and transparency went with her. We tried to navigate the story, but, because she was high on the food chain, they gaslighted us. The ethos of the iconic NGO was hide and cover in order not to crash and burn. The staff was judgy about outsiders and a shill posted online. Soon it was all unicorns and rainbows, and not in a good way. And Sophia? Ticktock. Now let’s hit the microbrewery and grab an IPA.
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Page 18
The Granby Drummer
HEALTH NOTES
By the
Farmington Valley VNA
Sleep is vital for good health Sleep is vital to our general well-being, yet it can be elusive. Sleep is a biological necessity essential to health. The importance of good quality and quantity of sleep cannot be overlooked. Sleep needs and habits tend to change with age. A school-age child needs 9-12 hours of sleep per night; as an adult, you need seven or more hours. Recent research has identified the sweet spot of about seven–eight hours nightly as optimal for better daytime functioning and overall health.
With age, your sleep patterns can shift, falling asleep earlier in the evening and awakening earlier in the morning. Being less physically active, having health or pain issues or bathroom trips also interrupt sleep. You often spend less time in deep restorative sleep. Tell your doctor about these warning signs of a sleep disorder: excessive daytime sleepiness, problems falling or staying asleep, depression or apathy, increased irritability or difficulty concentrating and memory.
Social Services The focus of the Social Services Department is to coordinate existing federal, state, regional and local services, to increase community awareness of these services and to develop new programs to meet the needs of Granby residents. For more information about any of the following programs, contact Director Sandy Yost at 860-844-5351. Office hours are weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Granby Local Assistance Program with the Town of Granby Social Services Granby residents facing financial Department. An appointment is neceshardship may access funds once in a sary; call 860-844-5350 to schedule. 12-month period. The gross household Waste Not Want Not Community income cannot exceed 60 percent of Kitchen: Free meal available as drive up state median income unless extenuating to pick up service every Wednesday, 3 – circumstances can be documented. 6 p.m. at South Congregational Church, Connecticut Energy Assistance Pro242 Salmon Brook St. The meal is free, gram (CEAP) but an offering is always welcome. During the winter months, help is availMobile FoodShare: Every other Tuesable to households to help pay for heating day, 1:30 – 2 p.m. Call for dates. Park fuel in the form of oil, gas or electric heat. behind South Congregational Church and Benefits are available to households with Visiting Nurses Building only. Rememincomes up to 60 percent of the state meber to bring your own bags. For more dian income. Processing will be delayed locations or weather permitted cancelif necessary paperwork is missing. Call lations visit ctfoodbank.org/get-help/ the office at 860-844-5351 to see if your connecticut-food-banks-mobile-pantryhousehold qualifies. New for this heating schedule/ season: SNAP recipients and SSI benefiLife Church Hope 4 Life Food Panciaries are categorically eligible. Liquid try: Located at 23 Griffin Road, the food asset test has been eliminated. pantry is open on Wednesdays, 2 – 4 p.m. Eversource Assistance Programs to members of Life Church as well as Winter protection for income eligible anyone who is in need. No qualification households prevents shutoff between necessary. Due to COVID safety conNov. 1, 2021 and May 1, 2022. NuStart cerns, we have a drive through service. Program offers forgiveness of overdue Volunteer staff will place boxes of food balances as on time, monthly budget in the trunk of your car. Each box weighs payments are made. Matching Payment approximately 50 pounds. For more inProgram offers monthly payments as formation, please call the church office low as $50 for qualified customers. Call at 860-653-3308. Eversource at 800-286-2828 or visit Open Cupboard Pantry/Weekend Eversource.com/BillHelp. Grab ‘n Go Snack Packs: First ConElderly (65+) or Disabled Renter’s gregational Church, 219 North Granby Rebate Program Road, distributions are Fridays, 3–4 Applications for the Renter’s Rebate p.m. The packs contain nutritious nonProgram are accepted from April 1 to perishable food items. Please enter the Sept. 30. Applicants must have turned church parking lot via north entrance on 65 by the end of 2021. Persons who are Stratton Road. Call First Church at 860receiving Social Security Disability are 653-4537 with any questions. also eligible. Call the office (860-844SNAP: CT Foodbank will continue to 5350) to schedule an appointment and facilitate SNAP applications by phone. for documentation requirements. For help with SNAP call 860-856-4357. Food Resources This process will take approximately 30 Granby Food Pantry: Located at minutes and CT Foodbank will mail you 248 Salmon Brook Street, pantry hours a packet to sign and return. are Tuesday, 10:30 a.m. to Noon and Thursday, 2 to 3:30 p.m. Before using the Granby Food Pantry, you must qualify
Be very cautious in using sleep aid medications. Discuss the use and dosage with your physician before taking over-the-counter sleep aids as they may interfere with other prescribed medicines. Your specialist may recommend cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, which helps manage negative thoughts that keep you awake while training relaxation techniques. Sleep apnea is a serious sleep issue when tissues in the back of your throat collapse and block the upper airways. Breathing is interrupted during sleep, reducing oxygen intake. It is common with heart issues and is associated with new hypertension, heart failure, stroke, and atrial fibrillation. Also, excessive snoring, gasping for breath/breathing interruptions, headaches, dry mouth, or sore throat in the morning can indicate sleep apnea which can be detrimental to your health. Your doctor needs to know about these sleep disruptions; seek out help if apnea persists. After a doctor rules out potential medical conditions that may contribute to sleep problems, there are things you can try yourself to produce more winks. In the daytime, get exposure to bright light in the morning, minimize caffeine intake after noon, limit naps to 30 minutes earlier in the day, stay active physically but don’t exercise within four hours of bedtime. In the evening, keep your home dimly lit, and avoid blue lights from phone and personal device screens near bedtime. Go to bed and wake up at the same time, don’t use alcohol as a sleep aid, avoid eating heavy meals later in the day and don’t eat before bedtime, listen to soft music, read a book or take a warm bath before bed, keep your bedroom dark, cool, quiet and comfortable. Leave the room if you cannot fall asleep in 20-30 minutes and quietly read or rest elsewhere. Your body and brain need to rejuvenate with sleep. There are sleep clinics and specialists who can help when sleep remains elusive. Never fall into the misperception that you do not need to sleep. All health professionals agree it is essential to good health.
Community garden plot
March 2022
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ORTHODONTIC SPECIALIST
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ORTHODONTIC SPECIALIST
Submitted photo
It doesn’t seem like it now but spring will be here before you know it. If you love to garden, but don’t have a garden spot at home, the Granby Community Garden might be just the place for you. The community garden is chemicalfree with many gardeners now using no-till methods to grow a wide variety of vegetables and flowers. Whether you are seasoned grower or a beginner, you will find a friendly community that loves to share its enjoyment of gardening with each other as well as ideas and growing methods. Consider applying for a 20’ x 20’ plot at the Granby Community Garden on Hungary Road. You may even share a plot with a friend. To learn more and to apply, visit PlanetEandMe.com and click on the Granby Community Garden tab. We look forward to meeting you.
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March 2022
The Granby Drummer
Norwood T. Case, Granby’s weather prophet By Todd Vibert Although spring is in the near future, we can almost certainly expect another winter storm in late February or March. There is always the possibility of an April Fool’s Day blizzard as we had in 1997. While we have television and radio meteorologists as well as the National Weather Service to alert us to incoming storms, that was not the case in the first half of the twentieth century. Granby, however, had its own weather prophet, Norwood T. Case, to predict the weather through nature and his own intuition. Norwood T. Case was born and raised on the family farm in East Granby, where the family grew tobacco and raised dairy cattle. After farming for a portion of his life, he moved to Granby and worked as a manager at the Hartford Market. He was a well-known community leader in both towns, serving as the East Granby Town Assessor as well as a member of its Board of Selectman. In Granby, he served nine years as the Democratic Town Registrar and volunteered as a Grand Juror for Hartford County. In his farming days, it was imperative that Case know the future forecast to have a successful season. Every morning at 7 a.m., he would record the temperature, the direction of the wind and the location of the clouds in the sky. When the first snow fell in November, he searched for cat tracks in the snow. From their impression, he predicted how many winter storms Granby would experience that season. For the winter of 1940-41, he predicted 26 storms and he was exactly right. The next winter season, he predicted 27 and was off by one; Granby saw 26. He also used birds for more specific forecasts. In the late fall of 1945, Case was watching the birds and noticed the southward migration of the robins and swallows. This observation informed his prediction of the average snow fall for the year—50 to 54 inches of snow compared to the 87 and a half inches the year before. During the winter, Case and his brother cut ice blocks out of Cranberry Pond to store and sell in the spring and summer months. Case could determine if it would be a cold winter by watching how the squirrels hid their nuts as well as the longer length of their fur coats and those of the farm animals. When asked about the cold weather, he would reply, “Moon is always to the north, which always means cold weather.” As every weatherman experiences, there were times when he got it wrong and received criticism, to which he replied, “I may be wrong, but then the weatherman on the radio is quite often wrong himself.” Norwood died at the age of 82 on May 3, 1948. At his funeral, Reverend Arthur Teale remarked, “The weather lore that Mr. Case used could not come from books…it must have originated from close observation of nature combined with a useful skill of legendary knowledge.” Norwood was placed next to his wife, who died two years earlier, at the Hillcrest Mausoleum in Springfield, Mass. To learn more about Norwood T. Case or the history of weather in Granby, join the Salmon Brook Historical Society by calling 860-653-9713 or visit salmonbrookhistoricalsociety.com
In 1941, The Hartford Courant ran an article about Norwood Case using cat tracks to forecast winter weather. Photo courtesy of Salmon Brook Historical Society
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Granby’s ACO to give talk On March 2, the Granby Women’s Breakfast group will have as its guest speaker Jenn Abalan, Granby’s Animal Control Officer. She will entertain with stories she has collected during her years protecting the variety of animals she has encountered. Abalan not only serves Granby but also East Hartland and Barkhamsted. The job has long hours, dangerous clients, and calls for help 24/7. Horses and cows, skunks and coyotes and the occasional escaped boa constrictor are in the mix. She describes herself as a “voice for the voiceless.” 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. Drummer readers may recall Faith Tyldsley’s feature article on Abalan in the October 2020 issue. Now is your chance to hear Abalan speak about her experiences. Breakfast at the Senior Center will start at 8:30 a.m. and the program at 9 a.m. Please call the Senior Center or register on the center’s website if you are planning to attend.
Free Memory Screening Events Are you caring for a loved one who is experiencing memory problems? Are you concerned your loved one’s memory loss may be an early sign of dementia?
Jenn Abalone and a “client.” Photo from Drummer archive
Memory Screenings are Scheduled by Appointment Only To schedule your appointment for a FREE, confidential memory screening, call 860-678-7500 or email AvonArdenCourts@ promedica.org
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Page 20
The Granby Drummer
Senior Center announces pilot program The Granby Senior Center is pleased to announce its selection as a test pilot location for SecureSeniorConnections™, an exciting new online community that offers adults aged 65+ the opportunity to enjoy new experiences, create new friendships and have fun learning. Even before the pandemic, the Senior Center was looking for ways to keep people connected who might not be able to get out of their homes or who experience loneliness during nights or weekends when the center was not open. SecureSeniorConnections™ seemed like a possible answer. Its director, Seth Smiley, talked about the driving force behind their online community: “Our founders operated an insurance agency in Arizona. One of the issues they kept running into was social wellness among their older adult members—folks felt lonely and isolated, and that quickly contributed to health issues. The numbers are staggering—well over half of older adults struggle with feelings of loneliness, and the health impacts are akin to smoking and obesity. There were not ready tools to support improving connection and building community for these folks, so we set about making one ourselves. “We were in the middle of developing our first version of the platform when COVID struck. The pandemic exacerbated all the problems we had been seeing, but also made the issues of social isolation and loneliness among older adults much more visible for everyone. Over the past two years our work has taken on a new urgency. Our goal is to grow our community as quickly as possible, giving older adults a fun way to explore their passions, meet new people in their community and across the country, all in a safe, moderated, online environment.” Director of Human Services Sandra Yost at the Granby Senior Center stated “It seemed like a natural fit for us.” Smiley explained how the program works, “Our online community, designed specifically for older adults, improves connectedness and well-being. The site was built from the ground up to be easy to navigate and fun to use. We have community greeters on the site, and it is all supported by an empathetic, live support team. Members sign up with an easy link, and then can meet new people, expand their knowledge, and stay active by joining member groups, attending educational, inspirational, or social events, and finding volunteer opportunities.
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Seth Smiley, director of SecureSeniorConnections™at the Granby Senior Center launch of the pilot program on Feb. 9. Submitted photo
“Joining our community is by invite only—all our members are sponsored, either by a health plan, a community center or another organization aligned with our values and mission. We do not sell data or advertising on our site; instead, our model is built around working with organizations that have a vested interest in improving older adults’ social, emotional and physical well-being. Our ultimate goal is helping seniors connect with purpose.” When asked “why the Granby Senior Center?” Smiley replied, “One of the ways we describe ourselves is a ‘senior center without walls.’ We love what senior centers do and wanted to partner with a forward-thinking organization to see how we could complement the wonderful work already being done in the community. Lori, Sandy and the rest of the Granby Senior Center team have been amazing partners. The Granby Senior Center is passionate about the wellbeing of the community and expressed a strong desire to expand social programs beyond its walls.” While there is normally a monthly fee to provide unlimited access to the site, Granby Senior Center and SecureSeniorConnections™ have partnered to offer the service at no charge for any resident 65+ who enrolls on or before June 30, 2022. The partnership between Granby and SecureSeniorConnections™ had a soft launch on Feb. 9. Information sessions were offered via Zoom and in person at the Senior Center. For more information call the Granby Senior Center at 860844-5352.
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Most cats do not look forward to a trip to the veterinarian for medical care or even a pedicure. This can be quite stressful for the kitty and the owner. The car ride in a cat carrier alone can be scary. Once the cat arrives at the office the technicians and staff are comforting and try to make the cat feel safe. However, it can still be a stressful experience especially when physical exams, blood draws and vaccinations are in order. Thankfully, we have an excellent antianxiety medication called gabapentin. This medication is commonly used in people as a treatment for diabetic neuropathy. One of the side effects is a mild sedation. This is especially true for felines and works to reduce anxiety. We prescribe specially formulated 50 mg “tiny tabs” for smaller or older cats and 100 mg capsules for larger kitties. Owners are instructed to give gabapentin in two doses. The first is 12 hours before the appointment and then repeated two hours prior. Pill pockets can be helpful or some owners mix
the medication with a small amount of baby food and then give via an oral dose syringe. We have been using gabapentin for several years as part of the Fear Free protocol and it has worked great for the cats and, ultimately, the technicians. A recent study in France published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association confirms that gabapentin helps frightened cats cope with the stress of the veterinary visits. In this study, 26 fearful cats were volunteered for a placebo-controlled, double-blind study. The results showed that 20 of the 26 cats were much more relaxed and docile with gabapentin. Also, it was noted that none of the cats who took part in the study were worse after gabapentin. Gentle handling and kindness are always the best approach when working with nervous cats. Technicians are trained to be extra kind and careful but it sure helps to have a little gabapentin on board.
Ducharme to talk about roles of indigenous women
Native American women– their past and impact on our lives today–will be the focus of a talk that George G. Ducharme, Ph.D. will present to the Granby Women’s Breakfast Group on Wednesday, April 6, at 9 a.m. at the Granby Senior Center. Indigenous women have held important leadership roles in tribes throughout written and oral history. A retired Manchester Community College professor,
Ducharme is a member of the Missisquoi Abenaki Tribe. He will share stories of remarkable indigenous women, both past and present—from Sacagawea who helped the Lewis and Clark’s expedition, to Deb Haagland, Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Ducharme also holds a master’s degree in Native American Studies from Dartmouth College.
March 2022
The Granby Drummer
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Student-designed logo will represent Granby Celebrates Juneteenth By Sarah Merrill On June 18 Granby will celebrate its inaugural Granby Celebrates Juneteenth event in Salmon Brook Park. Sponsored by Granby Racial Reconciliation (GRR), it promises to be a fun day of music, dance, food, and entertainment for the entire family. In January, the GRR Steering Committee asked for submissions from Granby students of all ages for a visual representation of the event—a Juneteenth logo. The goal of the logo contest, as well as an upcoming “Creative Expression” activity (details in next issue), is to meaningfully engage Granby’s youth in the Juneteenth event. Two Granby Memorial High School students created the winning logo and the runner-up logo. Senior Emma Hansen and junior Taylor Matheos were selected for first and second place, respectively. One of the four local judges, professional graphic designer John Stevenson, who helped create the GRR logo, told Emma and Taylor, “Logos are not an easy thing to design. You’re trying to communicate an awful lot—and make a big impression—with minimal design elements. I think each of you came through with designs that do communicate what you wanted to say about Juneteenth.” The winning logo was created by GMHS senior Emma Hansen who will receive $75, as well as the honor of seeing her image on all Granby Celebrates Juneteenth marketing materials. Emma, who plans to pursue a graphic design degree, explained, “I chose yellow, green and red—to symbolize the Ethiopian flag, which represents the Pan African ideology. I placed the Black female in front to show her pride of her culture.” She added that the abstract shapes behind her make the figure visually “pop,” as well as communicate empowerment. Emma said that she was motivated because she wants to “be a part of something that has the opportunity to unite a community. The Juneteenth event has the capability to do just that—and it is so
special that Granby gets to celebrate it.” Taylor Matheos, a GMHS junior, created the logo chosen as the runner up. Taylor won an award of $25, as well as the gratitude of GRR for taking the time and the care to create this wonderful logo. Taylor explained, “What I wanted to do with this logo was to incorporate images that symbolize Black liberation and empowerment, such as the iconic raised fists, which are breaking apart the chains to commemorate the end of slavery.” Taylor said, “As a high school student, it can be difficult to make an impact on the community.” She added, “As I saw it, illustrating a logo was the best way to promote a message that I believe in and to uplift our community.” Taylor said she’s “optimistic” about what the Granby Celebrates Juneteenth event means for our community. “In just a few years, we’ve made progress in acknowledging and combating racial inequality. The conversation surrounding Juneteenth is sometimes considered uncomfortable because it requires a discussion of the past struggles of Black Americans, which in turn requires recognition of how those struggles impact them today. The Juneteenth event, and GRR’s efforts at large, show that Granby is continually making strides.” Community member and contest judge Paula Lohr added, “It is really refreshing to see that there are young people out there who are looking to further initiatives such as Juneteenth and beyond.”
designs were strong concepts. Clean. Bold. Celebratory in totally different ways. As a white person, I did not feel I was the appropriate person to decide which design was more meaningful. On one hand, our society so desperately needs to talk about slavery and its continuing impacts on society today, which is why I was drawn to the design with the broken chain and appreciated the reference to the end of slavery. That, of course, is what Juneteenth is about. And for the red, yellow, and green design, I appreciated the celebration of African culture and the roots of America’s black community.”
Ken Mouning, a member of the GRR Steering Committee and organizer of Granby Celebrates Juneteenth said, “We are so pleased with the thought and energy that Emma and Taylor put into their logo designs. In fact, watch social media and future Drummer articles; each of them has volunteered to help produce ads for our marketing campaign.” The Juneteenth event will take place from 3 to 8:30 p.m. on June 18 at Salmon Brook Park. The day will include several musical performances, poetry, dance, speakers, food vendors, and activities for all ages. More details will follow in future Drummer articles.
GAA accepting scholarship applications Taylor Matheos’ second place logo.
Debbie Reelitz, a local artist and a judge for this logo contest, writes, “Both
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If you are a graduating high school senior and a permanent resident of Granby, you are invited to apply for the Granby Artist Association 2022 annual scholarship. The scholarship is a cash award of $500 given to a student of higher artistic skill to be utilized toward upcoming college expenses. Seniors expecting to graduate at the conclusion of the current school year, who have been accepted in a college degree program or further educational programming, are eligible to apply. This includes students from Granby Memorial High School, private schools, and homeschooled students. Family members of
the Granby Artists Association exhibiting artist members are not eligible for awards given by the Granby Artists Association. To apply, eligible students should access scholarship details on the Granby Artists Association’s website: granbyartists.org Applications must be submitted by May 9 for consideration. Submissions are juried by the exhibiting artist members and the scholarship will be awarded based upon the quality of work represented in the student’s portfolio. Also considered will be how experiences and achievements have solidified the student’s desire to continue to pursue art in the future.
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The Granby Drummer
March 2022
Browse & Borrow ADULTS AND TEENS Faith Ringgold: Quilts, Paintings, and Politics: Tuesday, March 1, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. Faith Ringgold is celebrated for an artistic career exploring race in the American experience. Art educator Jane Oneail covers the breadth of her creative output, including painting, sculpture, performance art and her beloved story quilts. Register online for the Zoom program link. Sponsored by Friends of Granby Public Library. Food Labels Decoded: All About the Nutrition Facts Label: Wednesday, March 9, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Main Branch. A Nutrition Facts Label is on every food package, but do you know how to decipher the information? The tiny print includes acronyms, abbreviations and all manner of numeric data. Nutrition consultant Anna Kazmierczak, MS, MBA, explains how to read the label and use that knowledge to make informed food buying decisions. This is the first of three presentations in the series Food Labels Decoded. Register online. Sponsored by Friends of Granby Public Library. Food Labels Decoded: Understanding Nutrition Claims: Wednesday, March 23, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Main Branch. Food packaging is covered with all manner of information for the consumer. Do you know what terms like lite, healthy, reduced and heart healthy mean? The wrong assumptions can negatively impact your health. With over 20 years of professional and personal experience, Anna Kazmierczak, MS, MBA, explains what the health claims and nutrition facts on the package tell us about the food we’re about to buy. Register online. This is the second of three presentations in the series Food Labels Decoded. Sponsored by Friends of Granby Public Library. Food Labels Decoded: Organic, Natural and GMO Foods: Wednesday, April 6, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Main Branch. Organic and natural labels appear everywhere and seem to beckon us with promises of improved health, but are they better for you than “regular” food products? Are they worth the additional expense? Join us when nutrition consultant Anna Kazmierczak, MS, MBA, helps us separate fact from fiction. Register online. This is the final presentation in the series Food Labels Decoded. Sponsored by Friends of Granby Public Library. Songs of Ireland and Irish-America: Saturday, March 12, 3 – 4 p.m. at the Main Branch. Celebrate the history of the Irish and Irish Americans in a musically entertaining journey with Rick Spencer and Dawn Indermuehle. Hear the stories that chronicled the lives of millions of Irish who arrived in America in the 1800s. Registration required. Sponsored by Friends of Granby Public Library and Salmon Brook Historical Society. Author Talk with Larry Rifkin: Tuesday, March 15, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Main Branch. For over a quarter century Larry Rifkin was the programming executive for Connecticut Public Television (CPTV). He was responsible for bringing Barney and Friends to PBS, and he introduced UConn Women’s Basketball to television and helped to propel women’s sports on national TV. His memoir is titled No Dead Air: Career Reflections from the TV Executive Who Saved Barney the Dinosaur from Extinction. Join us for an insider’s perspective on what it’s like inside the media and learn more about this fascinating chapter in Connecticut history. Copies of the book will be available for purchase. Register online. Sponsored by Friends of Granby Public Library. Earthquake! Sunday, March 27, 2 – 3 p.m. at the Main Branch. The most powerful earthquake recorded in North American history occurred March 27, 1964. The Great Alaska Earthquake measured 9.2 megathrust and lasted 4 minutes 38 seconds. North Granby resident Susan Ranstead shares her experience in Alaska during that time with memorable photographs, personal reflection and important facts about the damage caused by such considerable seismic activity. Registration required. Iron Toys: The History of Mechanical Banks: Wednesday, March 30, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Main Branch. In 1869 the J. and E. Stevens Company of Cromwell, began making unique iron banks that performed an action when coins
GRANBY PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM granby-ct.gov/library 860-844-5275 GranbyLibrary@granby-ct.gov
Main Branch Hours Monday, Wednesday and Thursday: 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Tuesday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Sunday: 1–4 p.m. Cossitt Branch Hours Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: 3–8 p.m. Registration is required for many of the library’s programs. To register, follow the links on the library’s website or call the library. To learn more about upcoming programs, sign up for the library’s monthly eNewsletter in person, on the website, or by phone. were deposited into them. Historian Richard Franklin Donohue shares the interesting stories behind their manufacture and demonstrates a number from his personal collection. Registration required. Sponsored by Friends of Cossitt Library and Salmon Brook Historical Society. TECHNOLOGY SPOTLIGHT AT COSSITT BRANCH Get More From Your Library Series: Thursdays, March 3, 17 and 31, 2 – 3 p.m. at the Cossitt Branch. Intro to Digital Services on March 3: Library director Amy McCue offers an overview of how to use the “My Account” features on Encore, and provides a tour of the library website offerings, highlighting where to learn more about the library’s downloadable options, databases and virtual programming. Register online. Intro to Downloading Books (and more) from your library on March 17: Find out about the two downloadable services offered by the library and receive instruction on how to use each app. Learn what makes the apps unique and pick up search tips for your next great read. Register online. Intro to Using Databases at your library on March 31: Don’t miss this overview of the databases offered to patrons of the Granby libraries. There will be a demonstration of two or three databases based on participant request, and information on where patrons can access even more information with their library cards. Register online. Beginner Photoshop: Saturday, March 5, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. at the Cossitt Branch. Learn how to edit your photos, add artwork including collage, and create flyers with text on your laptop or the library’s laptop. Instructor Andy Mars leads the group workshop. Register online. Sponsored by Friends of Cossitt Library. Photo Workflow Organizing: Tuesday, March 8, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. at the Cossitt Branch. Sort and arrange your photos and folders using Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, and Apple Mac laptops. Professional photographer and technology educator Andy Mars guides participants with step-by-step instruction. Register online. ONGOING SERIES PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS AND TEENS Monday Funday: March 7, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. at the Main Branch. Teens and tweens (youth age 10 and older) won’t want to miss this hands-on snack-making session. We’re celebrating the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day holiday by making butter to spread on our Irish soda bread. Our snack attack goes green when we finish up by making Shamrock Pretzel Bites! Register online; space is limited. Sponsored by Friends of the Library. Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT): Monday, March 7, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. Learn how to use Emotional Freedom Technique to reduce stress and anxiety. Life coach Cris Jacobs leads a monthly virtual Tapping session for adults. EFT is used by thousands of practitioners around the world to improve mental and physical health. Handouts are available. Register online. Writers Group: Tuesdays, March 8 and 22, 5 – 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Adult fiction writers are welcome to attend semi-monthly workshops led by local writers looking to produce that next great
novel. Sharpen your skill set with creative writing prompts, character development exercises and helpful critique responses. Register online to receive the Zoom program link. Time for Chess! Thursday, March 24, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Main Branch. Do you enjoy the game of chess? Players of all skill levels are encouraged to register online and then join us the fourth Thursday of the month. Drop-ins are also welcome and will be accommodated as time and space allow. Sci-Fi Book Club: Wednesday, March 30, 6 – 7 p.m. at the Main Branch. Join us as we return to in-person conversations about our favorite things—books! The title selected for this month is Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Leading the conversation will be veteran discussion leader, Doug Soucier. Copies of the book will be available for checkout both in the library and online. Registration is recommended but not required. FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES Read Across America Day: Wednesday, March 2, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. at the Main Branch and 3 – 8 p.m. at the Cossitt Branch. Begun in 1998, Read Across America Day was started by the National Education Association as a way to get children interested in reading. Stop by either library location and celebrate—there will be special crafts, activities and, of course, books! Impostor in the Library! Saturday, March 12, 2-3 p.m. at the Main Branch. Children age 8–12 are invited to join library staff as they search for the Imposter in this real-life Among Us-inspired game, complete with tasks, dramatic “deaths”, sabotages, and (of course) Imposters. Those familiar with this popular online game can help teach anyone who hasn’t had the chance to play; no experience is necessary. S.T.E.M. Exploration Stations: Wednesday through Friday, March 23 through 25, 2-3:30 p.m. on the Main Branch patio. Science, technology, engineering and math can be cool and fun. Ages 7–12 should check out the STEM kits outdoors on the library patio. Complete a library challenge, or explore and create on your own. There will be a new challenge every afternoon. No registration necessary. Just drop by on these Early Release Days from school. Sponsored by the Friends of Granby Public Library. Crafty at Cossitt: Wednesday, March 23, 3-4 p.m. at the Cossitt Branch. It’s finally spring. Ages 5 and up should come by and celebrate with a seasonal craft to complete with us or at home. Don’t forget to check out the collection of kids’ books, too. Family Yoga with Aubrey Schulz: Saturday, March 26, 9 – 9:45 a.m. at the Main Branch. For ages 5 and up. Instructor Aubrey Schulz guides us through some basic poses. Please bring a towel or yoga mat. Registration required in advance. Sponsored by Friends of Granby Public Library. Take and Make Crafts: Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Main Branch. Calling all crafty kids, ages 3–12. Stop by the Children’s Room and select a craft kit from the Craft Box to take home and complete. No registration or reservation needed. An assortment of crafts for all levels of ability will be available. One craft kit per child, please. All materials and instruction will be provided. First come, first served. Supplies are limited. Craft kits and activity sheets are also available in the Children’s Room at Cossitt Library during regular open hours. Note: some
crafts may contain small pieces that could be a choking hazard to children age 3 and under. Sponsored by the Friends of Granby Public Library. STORY TIMES Good Morning Tuesday! and Good Morning Wednesday! with Miss Joan: Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10:30 – 11 a.m. at the Main Branch Children’s Room. Miss Joan invites her preschool friends and their caregivers to join her for Story Time. Let’s sing, do a fingerplay and share a story together. You choose which day fits better in your schedule—Miss Joan offers the same program twice each week. No registration needed. Sponsored by Friends of GPL. Bedtime Stories with Miss Heather: Thursdays, 6 – 6:30 p.m. at the Cossitt Branch. Join Miss Heather as she welcomes children ages 4-7 and their caregivers for story time. Pajamas encouraged. We’ll read stories and sing songs together. Each child will also receive a craft to complete at home. All attendees over the age of 2 are asked to wear a mask. No registration needed. Sponsored by Friends of Cossitt. Story Time On Your Time: Too busy to attend a scheduled Story Time program? Stop by or call the Main Branch during all open hours and request a Story Time Bag for you and your baby or toddler. Each bag contains board books, a washable toy and pages of suggested finger plays, songs and nursery rhymes to enjoy together. Keep each bag for up to one month, then return it and check out another. Each bag is unique. Place a hold in our online catalog or by calling 860-844-5275. NEW AND ONGOING LIBRARY SERVICES Cossitt Seed Library: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 3 – 8 p.m. at the Cossitt Branch. Library staff are pleased to announce the March 1 opening of a free Seed Library at the F. H. Cossitt Library Branch. Find fruit, vegetable, herb and flower seeds from noted growers including, Burpee, John Scheepers, High Mowing, Hudson Valley Seed Company, and more. Be sure to check out library resources to help you plan and grow your garden. Help us expand our Seed Library when you learn to harvest seeds at future programs presented by Master Gardeners and local horticulturists. Enter to win prizes when you visit during our opening week. Personal Service: Need help choosing books or other library materials for yourself or your family? Resourceful library staff are always available to help. Please stop in or call for assistance in selecting your next favorite title: 860-844-5275 for adults and teens, 860-8445285 for children. Learning @ Your Library: Did you know that the library offers people free access to several online learning databases, ready to help people gain new professional skills, creative abilities and job-seeking tips? Check out the library website’s “Online Learning” page to access LinkedIn Learning, CreativeBug, JobNow and the Computer Skills Center to see what you can learn next. Libby: Use this library app to check out up to 10 titles at a time, and read or listen to bestsellers, old favorites and new releases—all with the click of a button. With titles that can be read on nearly any device including your Kindle, there is something for everyone. This “digital bookshelf” allows you to place holds on popular titles and download the books people are talking about as easily as pulling out your Granby Library card. Hoopla: Granby Library patrons are now able to access the hoopla digital catalog, more than 900,000 titles of eBooks, eAudio books, music albums, TV series, and more. Download the free app and log in with your GPL library card. Every patron can borrow up to four titles a month, with no holds, and no waiting. Take advantage of these free digital checkouts in addition to the items you can borrow through Overdrive/Libby and use your Granby Library Card anywhere you are.
Library cont’d. on p. 23
March 2022
The Granby Drummer
Page 23
Steve Perry—invaluable asset to the Granby Land Trust By Shirley Murtha If you enjoy hiking in the Granby Land Trust’s preserves, you have probably noticed on the kiosks at the entrances to the properties that there is information on how you can download a map of the trails therein. The man behind this technology, who also happens to have made the kiosks, is Steve Perry. While getting his bachelor of science in forestry at Michigan Technology University, Perry was introduced to geographic information systems (GIS), a form of computer mapping. (Perry notes that, “if you like the outdoors and long, cold winters, the Upper Peninsula is a wonderful place to go to school.”) Although forests have remained an important part of Perry’s life, GIS became the focus of his career. His first employment was with The International Joint Commission in Windsor, Ontario, Canada where he studied water quality of the Great Lakes, followed by a stint with Maclean Consultants in Houghton, Michigan. In 1994, he took a job with the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments as their GIS coordinator/specialist, and simultaneously took classes at Eastern Michigan University where he obtained his masters in science in GIS/Remote Sensing in 1996. In 1997 and 1998, he was an adjunct professor teaching an introductory GIS course at the university. In 1999, he was the GIS technical manager for Wayne County, Michigan, and shortly after, married his wife, Shelley, who was a corporate pilot for the Ford Motor Company. In 2003, Perry returned to work with the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, where he remained until 2010. When Ford Motor closed its flight operations, Shelley began a job search that culminated in her landing a job flying for Mass Mutual Insurance, necessitating a relocation to someplace within a reasonable distance from Bradley International. Another requirement was that their chosen town have a good school system, for the couple now had two children: David, born in 2001 and Lindsey, born in 2004. After three trips to Connecticut, it was decided that Granby was the place they wanted to be. Shelley was impressed with then Wells Road principal, Dr. Anna Forienza-Bailey, and Steve was attracted to the rural forested environment, the sense of community and wonderful neighbors. When the Perrys moved to Granby, the kids were 7 and 10 years old, and Shelley’s job took her out of town for extended periods of time. Finding it difficult to find a GIS job that didn’t require travel, Perry decided to be a stay-at-home dad to ensure a good transition for the kids and work on the many projects that were needed to be completed on the house. Knowing that GIS technology is constantly changing, he kept up to date on the data and the software, and as time went on, he was yearning to get back to work.
An opportunity presented itself when Perry was watching a Planning and Zoning meeting in which Fran Armentano demonstrated how the town was using GIS. Perry set up a meeting with Armentano, volunteering to help with the technology, and Armentano introduced him to the Granby Land Trust, which needed to have some mapping done for accreditation. For the next three years, Perry helped map all the GLT properties, which entails gathering an assortment of data including parcels, aerial imagery, hydrology and elevation. He found a lot of the needed data online at sites hosted by the State of Connecticut and the University of Connecticut. Pulling all the data together, he was able to generate the desired maps, which supported and contributed to the Land Trust’s accreditation efforts. In 2017 Perry formed his own company, Sperry GeoSpatial LLC, and continued to provide mapping support to the GLT, along with high accuracy GPS field mapping. As more trails were developed, accurately mapped and used by many, it became apparent to Perry that there needed to be a way to offer visitors a map that could be downloaded on cell phones. He discovered the Avenza Map app, which allows hikers to see where they are on the trails in real time. Thanks to Perry’s work, each of the Land Trust’s properties with hiking trails has an associated map on the Avenza app. When the 150-acre Seth and Lucy Holcomb Preserve in North Granby was donated to the GLT, the Land Trust board sought to create a trailhead sign and kiosk that would allow recognition of the Holcombs and their vision for the property, provide a map of the trails and list property guidelines for visitors. Perry volunteered to take on the kiosk construction project and, after studying examples of various styles, presented one that the GLT agreed upon. Along with help from son David, Perry ended up building the sturdy kiosks for all the Land Trust trail heads, and also one for the Holcomb Farm Tree Trail. Perry devised a number of templates, and all the material would be cut and the roof supports assembled at home before heading out to the properties. It was there that he discovered that the old
Perry’s backpack is an EOS Arrow 100 sub meter GPS that he uses for projects such as mapping trails, finding property lines and locating points of interest. Photo by Shelley Perry
Steve Perry is deservedly proud of the kiosk he built at the Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve. Photo by Shirley Murtha
adage that “you can’t dig a hole in New England with a spoon without hitting a rock” was definitely true. Digging the holes for the footings was the hardest part of the construction, but well worth it notes Perry: “It’s always a pleasure to see visitors gathered around the kiosks, learning about the property they are about to hike.” Granby Land Trust president Rick Orluk notes that, “Steve is an invaluable asset to the Land Trust. He brings a tremendously valuable skill-set to our work and is one of the nicest folks you will ever meet. Our Board relies on him and our GLT members love working with him in the field.” Perry doesn’t work all the time. He especially enjoys being out on the trails in the late fall when the colors are changing
and there’s a crisp chill in the air. “I find myself stopping to sit on a rock by one of the many streams and listening to the sounds of the water and thinking how incredible it is to be able to enjoy this.” He also enjoys trying out new design ideas and new plants in his own yard, along with cutting and splitting firewood. Family time on the deck on a quiet evening listening to birds in the woods is a favorite relaxation. In Perry’s own words: “I’m truly lucky to have been able to work with the GLT doing what I love, GIS mapping. The Land Trust members and volunteers have an incredible attitude on land preservation. Everyone I meet out on the trails always has the same response: ‘How wonderful to have these places to visit and explore.’ I couldn’t agree more.”
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Library cont’d. from p. 22
Museum Passes: Granby Library patrons can borrow museum passes that will provide visitors with free or reduced rates for dozens of museums across Connecticut and Massachusetts. Check the library website or call for more details. 1000 Books Before Kindergarten: It’s never too early to start reading to your child. Granby Public Library’s popular program is an easy and fun way to spend time reading together. We provide everything you need. Ask for information at the Children’s Desk or give us a call: 860-8445275 (main desk) or 860-844-5285 for Miss Joan, the Children’s Librarian.
Perry supervised as son David worked on the installation of the kiosk at the Godard Preserve in the summer of 2019. Photo by Shelley Perry
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The Granby Drummer
GRANBY ARTISTS
Insight into the creative process
Elizabeth Carnes Medium: Basketry Member of Granby Artists since: 2018 I have known and admired many of the Granby artists for many years and have found them all very supportive. Several of them encouraged me to join the association. After application review, I became a member of the Granby Artists Association in 2018. I also belong to the Northeast Basketmakers Guild and the National Basketry Organization. What inspired you to become an artist? I was inspired at an early age by a family friend who was an art teacher. Because of this early interest, I have pursued many artistic endeavors including painting, knitting, and basketry. I made my first basket at age 10 at summer camp. I loved it and was finally able to pursue basketry many years later when a workshop was offered at a local college. Part of being a good teacher is being a good student and I especially enjoy workshops to expand my knowledge and experience. What made you choose your primary medium? Basketry is one of the earliest crafts and nearly every culture throughout the world has its own traditional baskets. For example, the ash splint has a long history as a material for basket making, especially in the northeast where the ash tree grows. Having lived in an area in Connecticut that was once a Shaker community, I learned that the Shakers used ash to make beautiful baskets. Some of these baskets were utilitarian and used in the laundry or garden while other baskets were fancy and sold to the public. Native Americans also used ash in their baskets. I enjoy learning different techniques and practical uses. I also appreciate contemporary materials utilized in basketry. It is fascinating to see the
March 2022
Anne Winsor
SPOTLIGHT ON
Elizabeth Carnes at work. Submitted photos
Medium: Painting Email: thewinsorhouse@cox.net Member of Granby Artists since: 2013 What made you choose your primary medium? I work mostly in acrylics and lately I have been painting artwork for a local sign maker. Acrylic paint is definitely my go-to medium. It’s very workable and forgiving. It dries quickly but you can use an extender to slow the drying time while increasing body to attain a consistency like oil paint. And clean-up is a breeze. Do you work in other mediums? I love to find time to paint in oils and right now it’s primarily for myself. I haven’t used oils for many years and I am now just starting to use them again and enjoying it very much but have a long way to go. I love the depth, tone, and color of oils. I enjoy painting land and seascapes and am looking forward to a lot of plein air painting this coming season. Maybe I’ll even have a painting for one of GAA’s shows. Tell us a satisfying art accomplishment you have had. It is hard to nail that down but I think two of the most memorable and enjoyable accomplishments were the Giddy Up to Granby and The Dog Days of New Hartford events. I painted two horses and designed the logo for the Granby event. I was sponsored by the Drummer after coming up with a design they liked and the second was by a private business owner. I really had no idea what I was going to create, but they trusted me to figure it out, which meant a great deal to me. For the dogs in New Hartford, I collaborated with a business owner and we worked together on the design and painting of our dog. Both events were great successes. The initial opening and selecting party and the parade and auction were well-attended and successful. It was great working with so many wonderful and talented people and having the
A humidor painted by Anne Winsor. Submitted photos
Chest painted by Winsor.
whole community involved. I am currently creating custom-made wooden humidors depicting scenes of the Connecticut Tobacco Valley or memorable places for the customer. This project is particularly meaningful to me because both sides of my family were tobacco farmers. It is very satisfying when the completed project is so well received by the customer. And finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Welcome to Granby signs—it was an honor to have been asked to paint them. I so enjoyed the whole creative process and feel they add a special colorful touch to welcome all to our beautiful community.
One of Carnes’ tiny baskets with a quarter for size comparison.
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wide array of materials used in basketry today including telephone cord, ribbon, paper clips and paper as well as natural materials such as ash, cane, reed, pine needles and willow.
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Page 24
2 Park Place Suite 1a Granby, CT 06035 860-844-8515
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March 2022
The Granby Drummer
Page 25
From The Archives Historic Footnotes by the late Carol 1934 – 2021
Laun
The oxen at left would have resulted in a $20 tax in 1813 Granby.
Originally published March 1989
Taxation in early Granby: A first class fireplace in 1813 burned a lot of money The inevitability of death and taxes has long been acknowledged. In fact, many taxpayers of today feel “taxed to death” by a multitude of federal, state and local taxes. Our ancestors, however, also paid a rather amazing variety of taxes. The Salmon Brook Historical Society recently acquired a Granby Tax List from 1813. At that time, Granby (Salmon Brook at the time) was larger, encompassing the present town of East Granby (Turkey Hills at the time). Twenty-seven years earlier, in 1786, the Ecclesiastical Societies of Turkey Hills (which became East Granby) and Salmon Brook (became Granby) had separated from Simsbury to form a new town. If you lived in Granby in 1813, you would pay taxes on four-year-old bulls ($10 each), three-year-old cows ($ 7), one-year-old horses ($3.34), plow land ($1.67 per acre), “Boggy Meadow Land” ($.84), silver watches ($10) ...
The Taxes of Micah Case Jr. Micah Case Jr. (1756-1834) lived on Messenger Road in West Granby. The large center chimney Colonial home was built by his father and is now owned by the Messenger family. Micah Jr. had been a soldier in the Revolutionary War and was a widower. His wife Catharine died in 1897 at the age of 44. Men had to pay a “poll tax” as a “freeman” or voter in town. Ages 18-21 paid $30 and from 21-70 years, $60. Veterans were exempt from this tax. Micah owned four oxen (also referred to as “bulls”). They were all four years old and taxed at $10 each. Three-year-old cows and heifers were taxed at $7; Micah had three. On the other hand, steers, heifers and bulls, age two, were rated at $3.34 each—again Micah had three. Three-year-old horses were taxed at a rate of $10, two-year-olds $7 and oneyear-old $3.34. There were three horses on the Case farm, in the first category. Granby residents paid a complicated land tax. “Plow land” was $1.67 an acre —Micah had 15 acres; “acres of upland mowing and clear pasture” was $1.34 an acre—he had four acres. He also owned 40 acres of “Bush Pasture” at 34 cents an acre. “Unenclosed land” was taxed at three levels: first rate land was 34 cents, second rate was 17 cents and third rate only 9 cents. The Case farm had 20 acres of second-rate land.
Sheep were a good investment—two sheep were worth a tax credit of $1.50!
Fireplace in the 1732 Abijah Rowe House. Photos courtesy of Salmon Brook Historical Society
Then the local tax assessor looked at personal possessions. Watches, silver or base metal, were taxed at $10 each. However, “Wooden Wheeled Clocks” were $7. Micah possessed neither. It was evidently a luxury to know what time it was in Granby. The last tax was for “Fireplaces 3rd or 4th class.” There is no explanation of what this means and no one in Salmon Brook seemed to have a fireplace considered first or second class. Third class was taxed $2.50 and fourth class $1.25. The Micah Case Jr. house had three in the fourth class. There was a tax break that Granby does not provide today. Sheep raising was being encouraged and a credit of 75 cents was given for each sheep. Here Micah was doing well, owning 20 sheep. The total tax for Micah Case Jr. came to $212.18 minus $15 for sheep. As a veteran of military service, he was exempt from the poll tax resulting in a total tax bill of $137.18. Highest Tax, Lowest Tax in the Salmon Brook district The highest tax, nearly $300, in the Salmon Brook district was paid by Ferdinand Clemons of North Granby. He owned much livestock, 232 acres of land, a watch, a clock and one third class and three fourth class fireplaces. At the other end of the scale was Ezekiel Alderman who paid $10. His only taxable property was a three-year-old horse and, as a Revolutionary War veteran, he paid no poll tax.
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If you were poor enough and managed to raise a few sheep, you might receive money from the town instead of giving it. Alanson Holcomb owned no horses or cattle, but did have 16 acres of bush pasture and 10 acres of third-rate unenclosed land. He had no timepieces or even a fireplace of any class, but he did raise 18 sheep, so the Town paid him $6.16. My calculations reveal the Town cheated him of $1. The total tax levied on 105 taxpayers in Salmon Brook in 1813 was $8,977.08. East Granby (aka Turkey Hills ) The East Granby district was somewhat larger at 119 taxpayers and richer, collecting half again as much as the Salmon Brook tax, $13,757.77. The Turkey Hills tax list was broader in scope and more sophisticated than the one in Salmon Brook. Residents of Turkey Hills were taxed on their carriages or “chaises” at 15, 20 or 30 dollars each. Owners of clocks with brass works had to pay $30 and with brass and steel works, $20. There also must have been better fireplaces in East Granby, because they did have second class fireplaces taxed at $3.75 (no first class however). Many of the wealthy East Granby farmers paid over $300 in taxes and several
paid over $400. The highest taxpayers were Apollos and Erastus Bates who paid $489.90. Their farm consisted of 345 acres, 28 head of livestock and 20 sheep. They also had a $20 chaise and a clock with steel and brass works. They must have lived in separate houses, because between them they had nine fireplaces, three in each class. The lowest tax was paid by Micah Moor, a former soldier who only owned nine acres of land and was taxed $6.04; and by Asher Tiffany, another veteran, whose sole taxable property consisted of a three-year-old cow at $7. The comparative wealth of the two districts can be seen in the timepiece count. Only three watches were owned (or admitted to) in Salmon Brook, while 10 were taxed in Turkey Hills. With wooden works clocks, Granby had 13 and East Granby 26 plus an additional 14 clocks with brass or steel works. The present-day taxpayer might wonder if the tax rebate for raising sheep is still in effect in Granby. However, too thorough an investigation might find that we should still be paying taxes on all of our clocks and watches. Better to let sleeping dogs (and taxes) lie.
CSAG’s long history of giving The Community Scholarship Association of Granby (CSAG) has been awarding deserving graduating high school students scholarships since 1958. Along with the David A. Schupp, Jr. Memorial Scholarship, established in 1992, CSAG has awarded over $650,000 in scholarships to nearly 400 college-bound Granby Memorial seniors, making a significant impact on their young lives. CSAG has been performing this service while managing contributions of all kinds, but particularly funds from a Holcomb Family Endowment and annual fundraising in conjunction with The Granby Road Race. Applicants must be Granby residents who are soon-to-be high school graduates accepted at an institution of higher learning approved by the selection committee. The David A. Schupp, Jr. Memorial Scholarship will be specifically awarded to a student pursuing a STEM major.
Additional scholarships take into consideration given need, initiative, character, responsibility and higher than average involvement in the local Granby community. With the always rising costs of a college education, CSAG asks former scholarship recipients, as well as the Granby community, to consider making tax-deductible contributions to CSAG so that the organization can award more scholarships and provide more substantial awards. Contributions should be made out to CSAG and mailed to Steve Schock, Treasurer, 19 Moosehorn Road, West Granby, CT 06090. Scholarship applications are available online through Naviance, at the College and Career Center or through your guidance counselor. Completed applications should be submitted to Mrs. Caruso in the GMHS counseling office on or before May 1.
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SPECIAL EVENTS St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon: Wednesday, March 16, 12 p.m. Join us for this traditional meal of corned beef, cabbage, potatoes and carrots. Entertainment will be provided by Pierce Campbell. Register by March 8. Cost $8
Lifetime Learning Academy
Veterans Benefits: What are you Eligible For? Wednesday, March 2, 1 p.m. Presented by the Veterans Health Administration and the Veterans Benefits Administration. Representatives from the VHA and VBA will share an overview about veterans’ healthcare including eligibility, compensation, pension and survivor benefits. Free although registration required. The Smithsonian Series’ Aerial America: Mondays, March 7–April 11 at 1 p.m. via Zoom. Take off on a thrilling flight across America. This epic series offers rare glimpses of our nation’s most treasured landmarks, all seen from breathtaking heights. From busy cityscapes to quiet landscapes, we capture the history and the pageantry of our amazing country, which is as diverse as the people who occupy it. Sign up for one or for all. Free although preregistration required. March schedule is: March 7, Natural Wonders; March 14, Alaska: Call of the Wild; March 21, Hawaii; March 28, Amazing Destinations. Rosy the Riveter: Wednesday, March 9, 1 p.m. She’s a cultural icon of World War II, representing the women who worked in factories and other businesses replacing the male workers who were serving in the military. Rosie the Riveter is used as a symbol of feminism and women’s economic power. Through Joe Ouellette’s presentation you will meet Mary Doyle Keefe and Geraldine Doyle, the original models. Register by March 8. Cost $5. Connecticut’s Story: Wednesday, March 23, 1 p.m. Geologically, Connecticut was once the center of the world, with mountains higher than the Himalayas and was once located just off the coast of Africa. Presenter Margery Winters will unravel the stories of Connecticut’s exciting geological past that are told by the rocks around us. Register by March 16. Cost $5. Medicare Made Easy: Thursday, March 24, 10 a.m. Sponsored by United Health Care. New to Medicare or turning 65? Or do you simply have some Medicare questions you want addressed? Join us for an educational Medicare Made Clear event. A licensed sales representative will answer all questions that you have regarding Medicare. Light refreshments will be provided. Free. Register by March 17. Coffee with First Selectman Mark Fiorentino: Wednesday, March 30, 10 a.m. Meet Granby’s new First Selectman. Fiorentino will share his take on the state of Granby and answer your questions. Free. Register by March 23.
The Granby Drummer
March 2022
Please visit granby-ct.gov/senior-services or check the Center Life Newsletter for a complete listing of health services, support groups, clubs and ongoing activities. The Granby Senior Center is open for many classes and programs. Masks are required at the time of publication. Status will be updated according to Health District guidance. We are required to record attendance for contact tracing purposes. All persons entering the building must be Senior Center members and scan in with their new membership card. If you haven’t received a new card, you will be given one upon your return to the Center. If you are a Granby Senior Center member, please register for programs through SchedulesPlus. com/granby If you are not a member or you do not have access to a computer, please call 860844-5352.
MUSIC AND ARTS Music Jam: Wednesdays, March 2, 16, 30, April 13 and 27, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Join in the fun. This is an informal gathering for those who love music and play an instrument. Free. Preregistration required. Stamping: Thursdays, March 17 and April 21, 9:30 a.m. With instructor Sharon Holness, enjoy making several beautiful cards for all occasions. Registration required. Cost $5.
HEALTH & WELLNESS Ask the Attorney: First Wednesday of each month, by appointment. Specializing in Elder Law. Please call 860-844-5352 to set up an appointment for a free consultation. Alzheimer’s Support: Caring for someone diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease can be overwhelming. Contact the Alzheimer’s Association for assistance at 800-272-3900. Chair Massage with Bev Harris: Tuesdays, March 1, 15, 29, April 5 and 19, by appointment. 15-minute massage is $10. Call 860-844-5352 to register. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Thursdays at Noon. This is a group for grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. Join others, like yourself, to share friendships, ideas and tips on being a parent again. Free. Foot Care Clinic with Pedi-Care: Mondays, March 21, April 18; Fridays, March 25, April 22. By appointment. A specially trained nurse will assess feet and lower extremities, trim, file and clean nails. Call 860-844-5352 to register. Cost is $35 (not covered by insurance). Free Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Checks: Every Thursday 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. by appointment only. Courtesy of the Farmington Valley Visiting Nurses Association. Held in the Senior Center Community Room. Call 860-8445352 to register. Hearing Screenings with Hearing Care Centers: Fridays, March 4 and April 1, by appointment only. Have your hearing checked by a professional audiologist who will also clean and assess your hearing aids. Free. Call to register. Memory Screenings: Tuesday, March 8, 1 – 3:30 p.m., by appointment only. Presented by Hartford Healthcare Center for Aging. Memory screenings are simple: they average 10 minutes,
and consist of questions and tasks to assess memory. They do not diagnose illness, but can indicate whether someone should follow up with a full medical exam. Free. Call for appointment.
ONGOING PROGRAMS You must be a Senior Center member to participate, and pre-registration is required. Sign up online at schedulesplus.com/granby or call 860-844-5352. Knitting Group: Mondays, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Setback: Tuesdays, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Jewelry Making/Beading: Thursdays, 10 a.m. Cribbage: Fridays, 1 – 3 p.m., and Tuesdays at 6 p.m. Women’s Breakfast: Wednesday, March 2, 8:30 a.m. A Day in the Life of an Animal Control Officer, presented by Jennifer Abalan. Cost $4. Wednesday, April 6, 8:30 a.m. Native American Women: Their Past and Impact on our Lives Today, presented by George Ducharme, Ph.D. Cost $4 Men’s Breakfast: Friday, March 11, 8:30 a.m. Activities and Happenings at the Mark Twain House, presented by Mike Campbell, CFO of the Twain House. Cost $2. Friday, April 8, 8:30 a.m. Life and Career of a Retired Marine Helicopter Pilot, presented by Mindy Gould. Cost $2.
EXERCISE VIA ZOOM Chi Gong: Wednesdays, 9 – 9:45 a.m. March 2-April 27, no March 16. Eight classes in the session. Instructor, Mary Ellen Mullins. 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. Accessible and beneficial to all levels. Cost: $48 residents; $56 non-residents.
EXERCISE AT CENTER Gentle Movement for Strength and Balance: Mondays at 11:15 a.m. March 7-April 25. Eight classes in the session. Instructor, Paula Pirog. This class will gently increase your strength, help your ability to balance, and provide stretching to maintain and increase mobility. Cost $48 residents; $56 non-residents.
Drumrolls
Chair Yoga: Tuesdays at 2:30 p.m. March 1-April 26. Nine classes in the session. Instructor, Paula Pirog. Enhanced breathing seated and standing classic yoga poses, plus balance training and core strengthening. Guided meditation finishes the class. Cost: $54 residents; $63 non-residents. Yoga: Tuesdays at 4 p.m. March 1-April 26. Nine classes in the session. Instructor, Paula Pirog. Strength building sequences, standing and on the mat. Includes balance and Pilates floor work. Cost: $54 residents; $63 non-residents. Tai Chi/Qi Gong: Thursdays at 9 a.m. March 3–April 28; no March 17 or 24. Seven classes in the session. Instructor, Mary Ellen Mullins. In this new beginner course, learn some of the fundamentals of Tai Chi and eight of the many forms. The first half of class will consist of Qi Gong warmups that are suitable for abilities. Although this class will focus on standing exercises it is possible to do this class seated. Cost: $42 residents; $49 non-residents. Line Dancing: Fridays, 1:30 – 3 p.m. March 4-April 29; no April 15. Eight classes in the session. Instructor, Jim Gregory. This class is a great workout while having a lot of fun. Appropriate for beginner to advanced dancers. A minimum of 12 students needed to hold the class. Cost: $48 residents; $56 non-residents.
SPRING HIKES LaSalette Open Space Hike: 120 Mountain Road, Bloomfield. Tuesday, March 15, 10:30 a.m. 2.5+ miles on open trails and farm roads (wet and muddy at times). Dismal Brook Wildlife Preserve: 253 Loomis Street, North Granby. Tuesday, April 12, 10:30 a.m. Two to three miles on well-maintained trails. There are two healthy but short up-hills.
TRIPS Registration for trips opens March 1 at 9 a.m.
Shopping at Christmas Tree Shop/Trader Joe’s/Manchester: Monday, April 11 at 9:30 a.m. Cost $5. RJ Julia Booksellers, Madison: Monday, April 18 at 9:15 a.m. Calling all book lovers... we will be heading to one of the state’s most famous book sellers, RJ Julia. You will have time to browse the shelves of all the latest bestsellers, classics and more. Relax with a cup of coffee and enjoy the opportunity to enrapt yourself in a good book. Lunch on your own at Lenny and Joe’s Fish Tale. Cost $10. Crepe’s Tea House Southwick: Friday, April 22 at 11:15 a.m. Cost $5, Lunch on your own. New Britain Museum of American Art: Friday, April 29, 9:15 a.m. The New Britain Museum of American Art offers over 8,300 works of art including colonial portraiture, the Hudson River School, American Impressionism and the Ash Can School as well as many others. There will be three special exhibits including The Poetry of Nature: Hudson River School Landscapes from the New-York Historical Society. Lunch on your own at Staropolska, featuring Polish cuisine. Cost $15.
The following students were named to the dean’s list at Wentworth Institute of Technology for the fall semester: Kyle Desjardins, Abigail Maher and Elizabeth Volg from North Granby, and Jacob Hanelius of West Granby. Alexis Klein, of Granby, was named to the dean’s list at Bryant University for the fall semester.
—we hope to see you again very soon!
March 2022
The Granby Drummer
Friends of Holcomb Farm welcome spring As I write this, the thermometer is having trouble reaching 20 after dipping close to zero last night. The ice throughout the woods and trails makes hikes without micro-spikes downright dangerous. But, spring springs eternal! By the time you read this, a drive around Granby will reveal the buckets hung and sap tanks filling, and maybe steam rising from a sugar house or two. The Friends of Holcomb Farm may have been quiet, but we are busy. Be sure to take note of some of the dates you should put on your calendar. Farm-to-Table Sunday Brunch and Fun: June 26 The past two years of coronavirusrelated safety measures meant we were unable to host our annual Harvest Dinner fundraiser for our Fresh Access program. Many of you stepped-up with financial support along the way, thank you, and we have been able to increase the distribution of Holcomb Farm fresh produce to meet the increased number of people in need these last two years. But we miss the camaraderie of having everyone together. So, we have decided not to wait for the fall harvest and instead will celebrate the beginning of the growing season at the Farm on June 26 with a Sunday Brunch from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Details are being worked out, but mark your calendars now for this opportunity to enjoy great food and family fun in support of a good cause: helping provide healthy, farmfresh produce to food-insecure people in Granby and the Greater Hartford area. Buy Fresh and Local—Even in the Depths of Winter The winter veggies that were stored have given sustenance throughout these cold months, and we are planning one more Drive-Through Veggie Sale, March 17-19, to include fresh shoots and microgreens coming from our hoop houses. The sale will be at the CSA Barn, 111 Simsbury Road, and will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday and Friday; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Watch social media or your email for more information. If you don’t get our emails and want to, please contact cathy@holcombfarm.org and ask her to add your name to our list! Then, on Thursday, April 14, from 4 to 7 p.m., we will join others for an outdoor Spring Holiday Market at Lost Acres Vineyard, where you can also buy breads, cheeses, wines, baked goods, pork, beef, lamb and more for your spring celebrations.
Page 27
Even in the depths of winter, members of the Holcomb Farm Crew are busy tending to the veggies in their care. Don’t miss the farm’s next big Drive-Through Sale at the Farm Store/CSA Barn at Holcomb Farm, March 17 and 18 (10 a.m. - 4 p.m.) and March 19 (10 a.m. - 2 p.m.). Photo by Tom Spatcher
A tranquil winter view looking south from Hilltop Field on the Holcomb Tree Trail. Photo by Sue Canavan
In mid-May, we will have our annual plant and seedling sale. Exact dates and times remain TBD, but public interest and demand has grown every year, and Farmer Joe is responding in kind. Again, stay tuned to social media and your email and next month’s Granby Drummer for more information. CSA and Farm Store June 20 marks the start of the 20-week CSA and retail farm store opening. In the past couple of years, the CSA shares have sold out early, and this year we are on track for the same, so please don’t miss your chance. Sign up as soon as possible on the website: Go to holcombfarm.org, then select “Summer/Winter CSA” under the CSA and Farm Store tab. Tree Trail and Hiking Updates As we wait to see the young trees on our Tree Trail begin to bud, more educational opportunities related to this great Granby resource are being developed. Thanks to a mini grant from the Granby Education Foundation, we will be adding educational panels along the trails. As previously reported, the main foot bridge connecting the Holcomb Farm campus to the western hills was wiped out by Hurricane Ida. The town is busy exploring grants to support rebuilding the bridge, so watch for more information on this. The Farmhouse The Town has secured a STEAP grant from the State which, together with other funds, will be used to paint the historic, iconic farmhouse this summer. Lots more is happening, all designed to make sure that this historic property serves the Granby community. Anyone with questions is invited to reach out through the website, or by email to info@ holcombfarm.org Stay warm and enjoy watching the days lengthen.
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Page 28
The Granby Drummer
Horse Council membership is open Whether you are a horse show veteran, a backyard horse owner, someone dreaming of owning your own horse or someone who just enjoys the sight of horses in your environment, Granby Horse Council (GHC) membership will benefit you in many ways. By joining other members from East Granby, Suffield, Southwick, Simsbury, Barkhamsted, New Hartford, West Hartford, Canton, Avon, Granville and Blandford you become an integral part of the mission to educate horse owners and the public about our horse community. • You help promote good will and safety as equestrians share the road with motorists and the trails with hikers. • You help continue to maintain the riding rings at Holcomb Farm and Salmon Brook Park. • You receive permission to ride through the private property of the Clark Farms Bushy Hill Orchard. • You stay informed about trail riding permission and conditions at Holcomb Farm, Salmon Brook Park and McLean’s Game Refuge. • You support the community through scholarships, parades, Open Farm Day, Share the Road Event and donations to the Ambulance Association, Fire Department and Angel Horses Rescue. • You receive a monthly newsletter keeping
March 2022
Closer to Home
Support our advertisers while saving some gas and time. Tell them you saw their ad in the Drummer. Advertisers
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Action Carpet
20
Mark Brady Kitchens
27
Arden Court
19
Martel Transportation
18
Beman Hardware
26
Berkshire Hathaway – Nancy Reardon
7
Advertisers
Page
McLean jobs
17, 23, 27
MeadowBrook of Granby
16
Berkshire Hathaway Annual Awards
12
Melvin Porter Electrical & Plumbing
10
Chris Anson and Arrow on a GHC ride at East Beach, R.I. Photo by Heather Hicks
BNG Law
15
Morawski Cleaning
10
you informed about upcoming events that include organized trail rides, desensitization sessions, the beach ride, bonfire, picnic, and holiday party. You can also advertise horse related items and services in the classified section for free. You can find a membership form at granbyhorsecouncilct.com or contact Joan Davis at 860-653-6805 for more information. Membership is not required to attend monthly meetings, which usually include an educational or entertaining program. The council meets on the third Wednesday of every month at the Holcomb Farm Workshop or various locations in the area. Check the website and Face Book, Granby (CT) Horse Council, for meeting locations and details.
Brignole Bush & Lewis
2
Northwest Community Bank Foundation 13
Cahill’s Motors
3
Premier Energy
8
April 2022 deadlines
Carmon Funeral Home
10
Route 10 Tire
3
Carter Robert Painting
25
Sanditz Travel
26
Cetera Investors
17
Santa Realty
Chiropractic Care of Granby
3
27
Christopher Bryant
17
Sig’s Plumbing & Pump
10
D’Agata-Perry Granite & Bronze
21
Small Town Septic
15
Edward Jones – Jim Hammel
24
South Church
9
Southwick Village
6
Evans Automotive
9
First Church
24
State Line
23
Granby Community Fund
23
Subseven
15
Sullivan Hardwood Floors
10
Swim Center at Westminster
21
Granby Education Foundation Gran-Bee 16 11
Granby Chamber of Commerce Granby Dental Center – Dr.Ungerleider
ADS: Wednesday, Mar. 9 noon Ad Team 860-653-9222, leave message. Email: ads@granbydrummer.org ARTICLES: Monday, Mar. 14 noon Drummer phone: 860-653-9222. Email: editor@granbydrummer.org WORK DATES: Mar. 8-20 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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Shaffer Beacon Mechanical
Granby Dental – Dr. Kirschbaum
8
5, 18
8
TJ Bark Mulch Troiano Oil Company
20
Granby Food Bank
4
Two Park Place
Higleyville Coin
9
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27
9
Larry’s Construction
13
Westfield Bank
28
Maple Corner Farm
10
Windsor Federal Savings
14
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