Granby Drummer | May 2020

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Volume L, No. 8 • May 2020

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Zooming in on town activities

As I write this article, I am neither masked nor gloved. While in the confines of home, I am unfettered. Not so, elsewhere. These unusual times will be remembered, and will influence our own future behaviors, but I hold dear the hope all that our social diswill diminish, alk tances and our community

by Jim Lofink bonds strengthen as time moves on.

Town Hall, although not open as usual, is conducting business. It seems all departments have adjusted to the times, and permits are being issued, births and deaths recorded and the administrative duties fulfilled—just differently. The libraries, senior center, parks and recreation, public works and public safety officers are still interacting with the public: telephonically, through mail and email, in social media and through webinars, blogs and other means. Services continue, and will continue to adapt to the times.

Town officials, essential boards and commissions have been meeting virtually using Zoom rather than face-to-face.

Those meetings are all posted at granby-ct.gov, are open to the public and recorded for viewing at gctv16.org The Town Budget passed, with no change in the mill rate. After announcing

T H T

that the mill rate would stay flat in the proposed 2020-21 budget, the Boards of Finance, Education and Selectmen hosted a Public Hearing via Zoom on April 13, which was attended by only a dozen taxpayers and supplemented with a few email exchanges. Following the meeting, based on on feedback and in concordance with the Governor’s executive orders, the BOF voted unanimously to adopt the budget and set the mill rate at 39.61, the same rate as the previous budget.

Taxes are due July 1, or pay within 90 days with 3 percent interest. The Board of Selectmen adopted the Governor’s Low Interest Rate Program executive order granting all taxpayers an additional 90 days (until Oct. 1) to make payments subject to only a 3 percent annual interest rate, versus the standard 18 percent rate for late payments. This applies to both real estate and personal property (motor vehicle) taxes, and is open to all Granby taxpayers, individuals and businesses. There is no requirement of proof of “significant economic impacts

by COVID-19” or other requirements.

Your tax bill will contain more specifics on the program.

Roundabout construction will begin May 5, according to the Connecticut Department of Transportation. The project at the intersection of East Street, Salmon Brook St. (10/202) and Notch Road was

Town Hall Talk cont’d. on p. 3

Elaine Jones (1937-2020)

Her volunteer work was immeasurable

By Chris Levandowski The Drummer and the town of Granby are saddened to learn that Elaine Jones passed away on March 6, 2020, after a long illness. Elaine made Granby her home for 57 years with Jim, her husband of 53 years. They raised their four children here and both were active in the community. Her legacy of volunteering extended for more than a half-century.

Elaine was raised in Central Falls, R.I., attended the Boston Children’s Hospital School of Nursing (now the Curry College School of Nursing), and after her children were grown, earned a bachelor’s degree in English at St. Joseph College and went on to serve as the director of public information until her retirement. She then returned to her nursing background, working at McLean Home and at the Institute of Living in Hartford.

THANK YOU

Elaine took on any opportunity that came her way if it would benefit her community.

Her children and those in the community benefited from the hours she spent as a Girl Scout leader and serving on the YW Yo u t h C e n t e r Board. She was a TOUCH offiElaine Jones cer, served on the boards of the Granby Land Trust, the Salmon Brook Historical Society and Citizens for a Better Granby (CBG), publisher of The Granby Drummer.

Granby benefited from Elaine’s involvement in politics when she served three two-year terms on the Board of

LAFD comes to the rescue with Easter Bunny parade With Easter egg hunts cancelled because of the Covid-19 scare, volunteers with the Lost Acres Fire Department requested families to sign up to have the Easter Bunny drive by their homes. The response to this Hop for Hope campaign was overwhelming with 295 families signing up, but many more families coming out to greet the trucks on the 11-hour-long drive-by. Thank you, LAFD! Photos by John Horr and Lynn Loucks.

May caucus for municipal candidates May is a busy time for potential November candidates to gain party support and campaign funds. In May, each town holds Republican and Democrat caucuses for party members to vote on their party’s nominees for the municipal offices of the Registrar of Voters and the Justices of the Peace.

Delegates chosen in March will attend their state and district party conventions in May as well. At the local caucus and at the conventions, the party candidate endorsement selections are made.

To participate and vote in the May caucuses, you must be a party member.

Unaffiliated and unregistered voters

can register with a party by noon the day before the caucus to be eligible to participate. Switching parties requires a 90-day waiting period before attaining party privilege. On Jan. 2, the Secretary of State issued nominating petitions for any minor party or unaffiliated candidates to petition for a slot on the Nov. 3 ballot.

All registered Democrats are invited to attend the Democratic municipal caucus on Tuesday, May 19 for the purpose of nominating candidates for town offices for the Nov. 3 election. The caucus will be held in the parking lot outside the Senior Center at 7 p.m., where members

Registrars cont’d. on p. 5

New principal appointed for Granby Memorial Middle School The Superintendent of Schools is pleased to announce the appointment of Taylor P. Wrye as the new principal of Granby Memorial Middle School, effective July 1, 2020. Wrye brings 13 years of middle school teaching and instructional leadership experiences to the district. For the past three years, he has been the principal of Westbrook Middle School, one of the highest performing middle schools in Connecticut.

Wrye earned his certificate of advanced graduate studies in educational administration and leadership and a master of arts in teaching at Emmanuel College in Boston. He expects a doctorate degree from Drexel University in May 2022. Wrye lives in Granby with his family. His two children are enrolled in Granby Public Schools. He is looking forward to his position in Granby stating, “Granby is one of the most exceptional districts in Connecticut, and I am excited to be able to contribute to its continued success.”

Elaine Jones cont’d. on p. 3

THANK YOU

Taylor Wrye

THANK YOU

Page 2 The Granby Drummer

May 2020

GRANBY BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES MARCH 16, 2020 Present: B. Scott Kuhnly, Glenn Ballard, Sally King, Mark Neumann, Edward Ohannessian, John D. Ward Town Manager First Selectman Kuhnly reported with sadness the passing of Town of Hartland First Selectman Wade Cole and asked for a moment of silence.

On A Motion by Selectman Neumann, seconded by Selectman King, the board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to enter into Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter, following Reports.

MINUTES On A Motion by Neumann, seconded by King, the board voted (4-0-1) to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of March 2, as presented, Kuhnly abstained.

On A Motion by Neumann, seconded by King, the board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to approve the minutes of the Budget Workshop of March 5, as presented.

On A Motion by Neumann, seconded by King, the board voted (4-0-1) to approve the minutes of the Budget Workshop of March 9, as presented, Selectman Ohannessian abstained.

Unfinished or Tabled Business Establishment of a Committee to Review Agritourism and Farm Store Zoning Regulations At the March 2, BOS meeting, a Committee to Review Agritourism and Farm Store Zoning Regulations was created. Six individuals were suggested for the committee at that time. Planning and Zoning nominated two individuals at its March 10, meeting, Paula Johnson and Matthew Peters. Individuals nominated

to date: from the Development Commission, Ken Kuhl, Matt Brady; from the Agricultural Commission, Erin Pirro, Ellen Whitlow; from Planning and Zoning, Paula Johnson, Matthew Peters; residents, Michelle Neidermeyer, Jamie Woodside.

On A Motion by King, seconded by Neumann, the board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to appoint the following individuals to the Committee to Review Agritourism and Farm Store Regulations: Paula Johnson, Matthew Peters.

BUSINESS Resignations and Appointments On A Motion by Neumann, seconded by King, the board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to approve the reappointment of Mae Collins (U), Commission on Aging.

On A Motion by Neumann, seconded by King, the board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to appoint June Ashworth (U), 7 Whytewood Lane, to the Library Board.

Consideration of Resolution for Board of Education Grant Application for Granby Memorial High School Science Classroom ADA Improvements Project On A Motion by Neumann, seconded by King, the board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to adopt the resolutions for Board of Education Grant Application for Granby Memorial High School Science Classroom ADA Improvements Project.

1) Resolved, that the Town of Granby Board of Selectman authorizes the Granby Board of Education to apply to the Commissioner of Administrative Services and to accept or reject a grant for the Science Classroom ADA Improvements Project at the Granby Memorial High School.

2) Resolved, that the School Projects Building Committee is hereby established as the building committee with regard to the Science Classroom ADA Improvements Project at the Granby Memorial High School proposed project.

3) Resolved, that the Town of Granby Board of Selectman hereby authorizes at least the preparation of schematic drawings and outline specifications for the Science Classroom ADA Improvements Project at the Granby Memorial High School proposed project.

Consideration of Resolution for Board of Education Grant Application for Granby Memorial High School Reconstruction of the North Staircase in Building #1 On A Motion by King, seconded by Neumann, the board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to adopt the Resolutions for Board of Education Grant Application for Reconstruction of the North Staircase in Building #1 at the Granby Memorial High School.

1) Resolved, that the Town of Granby Board of Selectman authorizes the Granby Board of Education to apply to the Commissioner of Administrative Services and to accept or reject a grant for the Reconstruction of the North Staircase in Building #1 at the Granby Memorial High School 2) Resolved, that the School Projects Building Committee is hereby established as the building committee with regard to the Reconstruction of the North Staircase in Building #1 at the Granby Memorial High School proposed project.

3) Resolved, that the Town of Granby Board of Selectman hereby authorizes at least the preparation of schematic drawings and outline specifications for the Reconstruction of the North Staircase in Building

#1 at the Granby Memorial High School proposed project.

First Selectman Kuhnly requested that in the future the Board of Education be present to answer questions when resolutions are up for adoption.

A question was brought forward, does this offset the bond? Yes, it does and reimbursement was already figured in.

Consideration of Approval for Budget 2020-21 On A Motion by Neumann, seconded by King, the board voted (4-1-0) to adopt and forward to the Board of Finance the budget as approved at the workshop that day.

Town Manager Reports The Town Manager reported updates in regards to the coronavirus. He has signed a declaration of State of Emergency for the Town of Granby, which makes the town eligible for funds. The town has opened the Emergency Management Center, and Director Eric Vincent is monitoring the situation.

The Senior Center is closed. Transportation is still available and tax assistance is as well. The library is closed. The Department of Recreation and Leisure Services is cancelling programs.

Schools are closed for two weeks. All non-essential board and commission meetings are cancelled.

Excluded are Board of Selectmen, Planning and Zoning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission, required by State Statute. The next step would close Town Hall to foot traffic. Everyone is advised to limit social interaction. The town is in constant contact with the Farmington Valley Health Department. One employee who traveled out of the country is working from home.

First Selectman Reports First Selectman Kuhnly reported on constant contact with the Governor’s Office and the Department of Public Health. All the boards ask for is everyone’s patience. Look to the town website for updates. The BOS and the town offices will strive for as minimal disruption as possible. Please communicate by phone or email. All services are not closing down, staff will be on hand. Stay healthy and please remember to wash your hands.

EXECUTIVE SESSION Neumann moved to recess the meeting to executive session at 7:25 p.m. Present: B. Scott Kuhnly, Sally King, Glenn Ballard, Mark Neumann, Edward Ohannessian, and John D. Ward, Town Manager. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss a personnel matter. The executive session adjourned at 7:55 p.m. and the regular meeting was reconvened at 7:56 p.m. and was adjourned.

APRIL 6, 2020 Present: B. Scott Kuhnly, Glenn Ballard, Sally King, Mark Neumann, Edward Ohannessian, John D. Ward, Town Manager.

First Selectman Kuhnly welcomed everyone to the first virtual meeting of the board.

On A Motion by Selectman Neumann, seconded by Selectman King, the board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to reorder the agenda placing an Executive Session following Reports.

MINUTES On A Motion by Selectman King, seconded by Selectman Neumann, the board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to approve the minutes of March 16 meeting with a corrected motion to read, the board voted (41-0) to move the budget along with the adjustments discussed in Town Budget Table 1 and 11. Selectman Ballard voted no.

On A Motion by King, seconded by Neumann, the board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to approve the minutes of the meeting of March 16, with a corrected motion on page 3 to remove the word ‘unanimously’ and read, the board voted (4-1-0) to adopt and forward to the Board of Finance the budget as approved at the workshop. Selectman Ballard voted no.

BUSINESS There is one vacancy on the Conservation Commission. If anyone is interested, they should contact Christine Chinni, Chairman of the Democratic Town Committee or Mark Neumann, Chairman of the Republican Town Committee.

Consideration of awarding of the Griffin and Hungary Road Bridges to Wengell, McDonnell and Costello Town Manager Ward thanked the Town Bridges Building Advisory Committee and Mr. Severance for overseeing the project. The committee has met several times since January and recently drafted a Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit proposals from interested firms for engineering and design services for the replacement/rehabilitation of the two bridges.

The recommendation was to find one firm to do both bridges.

Seven firms sent in proposals and three were chosen for interviews: Milone and MacBroom, GM2 Associates, Inc., and Wengell, McDonnell and Costello, Inc. (WMC). After an extensive interview process to quantify and qualify the proposals, the

BOS Minutes cont’d. on p. 3

May 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 3

Elaine Jones cont’d. from p. 1 Selectmen, and also acted as chairperson of the Democratic Town Committee. In addition, she served on the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Perhaps Elaine’s most visible and long-term commitment to Granby was her many roles and contributions to the Granby Drummer. She was an early supporter of the fledgling paper created by the CBG in 1970.

Her roles included: pasting typewritten copy on the boards for submission to the printer; helping with the early CBG-sponsored community forums; attending meetings and reporting for each of the town boards, most notably her years covering Planning and Zoning; interviewing folks for huElaine Jones. Drummer file photo

BOS Minutes cont’d. from p. 2 committee recommended WMC to be retained. It has had extensive experience and was deemed to offer the best quality for the amount of services it is going to perform. The expected cost for the design work and inspection during construction of the two bridges is $280,000. The firm has done over 180 bridges in Connecticut alone and it is the firm that did the design and construction inspection for the Silver Street bridge.

These projects would be paid for with the bond money and is subject to 50 percent reimbursement by the state under the state local bridges program.

On A Motion by King, seconded by Neumann, the board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to authorize the Town Manager to award and execute the engineering design services contract for Hungary and Griffin Road bridges to the firm of Wengell, McDonnell and Costello.

Consideration of the Authorizing the Board of Finance to Adopt the Budget and Set the Mill Rate On March 21, Governor Lamont signed Executive Order 7-I that changes Granby’s budget process and dictated that our normal procedure by charter for adoption of the budget could not be followed. In other words, adoption of the budget by referendum could not proceed. Instead, Paragraph 13 of Executive Order 7-I dictates the Board of Selectmen to authorize the financial body, the Board of Finance, to adopt a budget and mill rate. This order supersedes the Town Charter that requires the town to hold a Budget Referendum on the last Monday in April.

Town Manager Ward indicated there will still be a Public Hearing on April 13. The Board of Finance will have the option to adopt the budget that night or at a later date.

On A Motion by Neumann, seconded by King, the board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to authorize the Board of Finance to adopt a budget for fiscal Year 2020-21 and set a mill rate for the same fiscal year on or before April 27.

Kuhnly indicated the mill rate will stay the same as last year. Neumann expressed having a public hearing and a referendum is a better way for the town to get input from all our citizens to adopt a budget for the town.

It is only due to these extraordinary measures set by the Governor because of the COVID-19 pandemic that the process changed this year. Kuhnly noted it is a directive from State of Connecticut and it is not an option for towns to make the decision on their own.

Consideration of Authorizing a Tax Deferment Program and/or a Low Interest Program On April 1, Governor Lamont signed Executive Order 7-S that requires all municipalities to adopt a 90 Day Tax Deferral Program and/or a Low Interest Rate Program.

The Deferment Program: Municipalities that participate in this program shall offer to eligible taxpayers, businesses, nonprofits, and residents a 90-day waiting period on any taxes, assessments, water bills and sewer bills that are due between March 10 and July 1, 2020. The taxpayer or rate payer would have an additional 90 days to make payment. This relief would be for those that have been significantly impacted economically by COVID-19. Eligibility guidelines have not yet been issued from the Office of Policy and Management (OPM).

Low Interest Rate Program: The delinquent portion of the principal of any taxes shall be subject to interest at the rate of 3 percent instead of 18 percent. This would be for 90 days from the time when it became due and payable from March 10 through and including July 1, 2020. After the 90 days, the portion that remains delinquent shall be subject to interest and penalties as previously established.

Town Manager Ward indicated that would not have a significant impact on the town. The town has until April 25, to let OPM know which way it will go. There

will be another meeting before the deadline and the suggestion is to study the options and discuss them at the next meeting and make a decision then. There may be more guidance from OPM by then as to who would qualify.

Ward indicated the town needs to choose one or the other or both. King indicated it makes sense to defer, maybe in two weeks members will have received more information.

Ward indicated he has already had two inquiries from citizens about these issues. Ward indicated the 90day option would be more helpful. The tax rate would be less meaningful to people. Ohannessian clarified that with the 90-day extension, taxes would be due Oct. 1, 2020, which would mean people have until Oct. 31, 2020. Ward stated there will be qualifications set by OPM. On A Motion by King, seconded by Ohannessian, the board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to table the motion until the next meeting on April 20.

Town Manager Report Ward reviewed a long list of the COVID-19 actions taken by administration for the safety of Granby’s citizens and employees. They include the closure of town hall to foot traffic. All work is encouraged to be done online and through email. There is a locked box just inside the front door to drop off things for the Town Clerk, Building Department, the Assessor, and the Tax Collector.

Playgrounds are closed as well as playing fields. Park and Recreation has been hosting some programs online. Building inspections are done outside only.

The Library and Senior Center are closed to foot traffic as well and also have online programs.

Emergency Management Director Eric Vincent is working hard to get needed supplies.

It is hoped that incurred expenses will be reimbursed

by FEMA. In order to minimize exposure, employee schedules at DPW, as well as town hall, are staggered.

The Police Department has adopted new protocols for the constantly changing situation.

Kuhnly noted Granby is in a state of emergency and town boards and employees are trying their best to provide services and maintain social distancing. Stay home and stay safe. For questions or concerns, you may contact him at kuhnly@granby-ct.gov or contact the Town Manager’s office.

Ward reminded everyone that the budget adopted by the Board of Finance is on the town website. There is a special email address, budget2021@granby-ct. gov, for citizens to leave comments or questions so they don’t have to wait until the meeting on April 13.

First Selectman Report Kuhnly reported all dates in relation to the upcoming budget are on the town website under NEWS. Budget Books for the Public Hearing are available at Town Hall by appointment and on-line starting at noon on April 6.

The Board of Finance Public Hearing will be held April 13 at 7 p.m. It is available to the public online via Zoom.

Everyone is encouraged to log in and participate.

First Selectman Kuhnly recessed the meeting to Executive Session at 7:40 p.m.

EXECUTIVE SESSION Present: B. Scott Kuhnly, Glenn Ballard, Sally King, Mark Neumann, Edward Ohannessian, and John D. Ward, Town Manager. The purpose was to discuss leases and a personnel matter. The executive session adjourned at 8:22 p.m.

The regular meeting of the BOS was reconvened and was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted, John D. Ward, Town Manager

man interest pieces, and writing articles that investigated and explained community issues. She also did two stints as an editor and as a co-editor. From the beginning, Elaine was a committed volunteer who made it possible for the Drummer to thrive and continue meeting the needs of her town. In addition, she served as CBG chairperson for multiple terms.

A feature article, “The Granby Drummer, a unique community newspaper of, by and for the people,” by Theresa Sullivan Barger in the Hartford Courant on January 26, 1997, highlighted a typical week in Elaine’s life as a Drummer volunteer. At the end of her interview, Elaine shared her volunteering philosophy, “Getting paid is not the ultimate satisfaction,” Jones, then 60, said. “Doing things for your community—that’s the essence of what life is about.”

The board of Citizens for a Better Granby, the Drummer staff and a grateful community will miss you, Elaine.

Town Hall Talk cont’d. from p. 1 put to bid this winter and construction is planned to begin the first week of May. Construction will continue through the summer and fall and is expected to be completed by November. Engineering studies are also being conducted at the town green intersections for the future realignment of the intersections of Routes 20, 10/202 and 189, so expect to see test holes being dug and other activities.

Bear-resistant trash containers are still available, but supply is very limited.

The Department of Public Works has received the first shipment and they are going fast. Containers have already been provided to Granby residents who signed up early and, as of this writing, there are still a few available. Contact DPW at 860-653-8960 for details. If there is continued demand, a second order for these special-built containers could take up to six months to arrive.

While we wait for the easing of social distancing and other restrictions, remember that behind these masks we are all enduring the same situation, with the same hardships, and for some maybe even more. On my walks and shopping forays I notice that people seem to be shying away from each beyond social distancing. Less of eye contact, and less “howdy” exchanges. We’re still neighbors and a community—let’s not let social distance ruin our social graces.

The enemy is a virus, not the person in front of us. Let’s look into the eyes above the mask, give warm acknowledgments or greetings and look forward to seeing more of each other this summer. Best to you all, neighbors, stay safe and well.

—Jim

TOOTH TALK by Michael Ungerleider D.M.D

WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE FUTURE Q. Is it safe to come to the Dentist at this time?

A. The short answer is YES! Dental offices have been stringent with infection control ever since the late 1980’s when the outbreak of HIV occurred. All items used in the dental office are either single use or sterilized in a high pressure steam autoclave after each patient. Surfaces are wiped down with disinfectants that kill germs including the Corona virus.

However, since dental drills and ultrasonics create aerosols, the health care workers in our office (dentist, dental hygienists, dental assistants) are at the highest risk.

So, the changes you are likely to see are the use of face shields, head covers, higher protection masks, disposable gowns, shoe covers in addition to the gloves and eye protection we’ve always used. We will be practicing social distancing (limiting the number of patients in reception room) and you will likely see more barriers to prevent cross contamination.

The Governor of CT placed a mandate to close all but essential businesses in order to help slow the spread of COVID-19 until May 20th.

Dental Offices are considered essential, but we are requested to treat only emergencies to reduce the burden that dental emergencies would place on hospital emergency departments.

How do I know what is considered a dental emergency?

Dental care you can reschedule for another time: Regular visits for exams, cleanings and x-rays; Regular visits for braces; Removal of teeth that aren’t painful; Treatment of cavities that aren’t painful; Tooth whitening Dental care that you should have taken care of by a dentist at this time: • Bleeding that doesn’t stop • Painful swelling in or around your mouth • Pain in a tooth, teeth or jaw bone • Gum infection with pain or swelling • After surgery treatment (dressing change, stitch removal) • Broken or knocked out tooth • Denture adjustment for people receiving radiation or other treatment for cancer • Snipping or adjusting wire of braces that hurts your cheek or gums • Biopsy of abnormal tissue Even during this outbreak, it’s important to maintain good oral hygiene habits. And remember, that we will always make it a priority to protect our patients and our office team while delivering safe and reliable health care.

The doctors and staff of the Granby Dental Center invite you to see all of the new and exciting advances in modern dentistry at our office.

If you have a question you would like answered, or would like a tour of our modern office to view our sterilization procedures and to meet our friendly, caring staff, contact us or visit our website: www.granbydentalcenter.com

Scan this symbol with your droid or iphone for a chance to win!

Granby’s 2020 Memorial Day parade has been cancelled.

Michael A. Ungerleider, DMD Vipasha Desai, DDS 41 Hartford Avenue, Granby 860-653-3220 Visit our website at: www.granbydentalcenter.com ADVERTISEMENT

Page 4 The Granby Drummer

Drumbeat Letters to the Editor

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

Ban fur sales

Bear-resistant barrels

The North American fur industry kills 4 million animals every year, according to Humane Society International.

Connecticut can do its part to end this barbarism by following California’s lead and banning fur sales and manufacturing. I hope state legislators will pass a bill to do exactly that.

Animals on fur farms are packed into small, dirty cages in the name of maximizing profits. All their natural behaviors are stunted to such a degree they resort to self-harm and cannibalism. In order to preserve their pelts, farmers use incredibly painful methods of slaughter—such as electrocution, poisoning, and neck-breaking.

The fur industry is also a threat to the environment and human health.

Toxic chemicals are used to preserve, bleach and dye pelts. Sometimes they are released into the local ecosystem.

Additionally, these substances can harm workers and consumers. Waste run-off from fur farms is another problem.

Readers should contact their state legislators and urge them to support a ban on fur manufacturing and sales in Connecticut. For more information about the campaign to achieve this, follow Fur Free CT on Facebook or Twitter. To stay up-to-date on other forms of electoral action for animals, visit CTVotesForAnimals.org Jon Hochschartner

Regarding the April 2020 issue of The Granby Drummer, page 3, Minutes of the March 2, 2020 BOS meeting, I see that 54 bear-resistant trash barrels will cost $13,708. And each household that orders one will be charged $250. The town will also receive a rebate from MIRA for about $13,000. If the purchase price of the barrels is being refunded why are residents being charged $250?

It seems the rebate pretty much covers the cost of the barrels.

Robert Wielgoszinski

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

Board of Selectmen, 7:30 p.m., Mondays, May 4, May 18 Board of Finance, 7:30 p.m., Monday, May 18

May 2020

GRANBY FOOD BANK Please Note: although Food Bank is closed until further notice we have a system to provide goods for “urgent needs” so donations are still needed.

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

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE GRANBY DRUMMER P.O. Box 165

We currently need:

Peanut butter/jelly Baked Beans, chili Canned tuna, chicken Canned Fruit Assorted box cereals Hearty/chunky soups Toilet paper Paper Towels Laundry soap Dish soap

RE-APPLICATION FOR TAX CREDITS NOT REQUIRED Elderly and totally disabled homeowners In response to Covid-19, Governor Lamont’s Executive Order No. 7S, has suspended the tax credit re-filing requirements for this year. Any taxpayer currently on the program shall automatically maintain their benefits for the next two-year cycle.

If your income significantly decreased between the 2017 and 2019 tax filing years, and you believe you might qualify for a greater reduction, you may voluntarily make arrangements to re-file. However, there is nothing you need to do in order to continue receiving your current benefits for the next two years. The next time you need to refile is now 2021. We will mail you a reminder notice at that time.

I f you have any questions concerning this matter, please call the Assessor’s office at 860-8445311. Please stay home and stay safe.

The Granby Drummer

Granby, CT 06035-0165 Copyright ©2020 Citizens for a Better Granby, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization all rights reserved.

CBG Board Kathy Norris, President David Tolli, Vice President Roger Hayes, Treasurer Becky Mikus, Secretary Flo Bischoff, Carol Bressor, Karen Cleary, Sam Mikus, Lew Noble Staff Rita Isaacson, Managing Editor Chris Levandowski, Copy Editor Amanda Lindberg, Special Pages Andrea Leshinskie, Photo Editor

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

Dave Tolli, Photo Editor Barbara Blanchette, Mindy Borrego, Carolyn Carter, Nancy Dudenhofer, Elaine Girard, Karen Cleary, Patricia Kovaleski, Eileen Longhi, Lew Noble, Donna Schedinger, Faith Tyldsley Reporters & Contributors Lori Blackburn, Jennifer Benson, AnnMarie Cox, Marisa DeLuca, Mark Fiorentino,

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.

Bernadette Gentry, Jay Harder, Carol Laun, Jim Lofink, Joanne Mayornick, Amy McCue, Shirley Murtha, John R. Nieb, Camden Robertson, Lisa Salazar, Pam Sherrer, Emma Smith, Jessica Tsaptsinos, Faith Tyldsley, Kristine Vincent, John Violette, Laura Wolfe, Sandy Yost Advertising Team Jen Bell, Carol Bressor, Daneika Janski Deborah Kulwich, Beth Rathey, Subscriptions & Delivery Sam & Becky Mikus

Planning & Zoning, 7 p.m., Tuesdays, May 12, May 26 Inland Wetlands & Watercourses, 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 13 Development Commission meetings suspended until further notice

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.

KEEP US IN THE LOOP Send your news articles and ideas, photos and letters to: editor@granbydrummer.org.

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

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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

May 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 5

Registrars cont’d. from p. 1 will maintain safe social distances.

All registered Republicans are invited to their municipal caucus on Thursday, May 21 for the purpose of nominating candidates for town offices for the Nov. 3 election. The caucus will be held in the Police Community Room at 7 p.m., if available—check the Granby Republican Facebook page for details if a Zoom meeting is needed.

Same-day registration does not apply to the municipal caucus. Registering to vote and enrolling in a party must be done prior to noon the day before the caucus. Voters are encouraged to check their party affiliation online at sots. state.gov, available 24/7. In Connecticut those who are currently 17-years-old but will turn 18 by Nov. 3 can participate in the Aug. 11 primary if they register with a party. (17-year-olds are not eligible for the May caucus.)

State party rules prohibit cross voting in another political party’s primary or caucus. Unaffiliated voters are not allowed to vote in either primary or caucus. In Granby, 38.1 percent of voters are currently unaffiliated, 31.2 percent are Republican, 29.0 percent are Democrats and 1.6 percent are minor party members.

Party membership does not cost anything, nor are party members obligated to vote along party lines. To gain party affiliation, you can go online to fill out a voter registration card and check the box marked “party enrollment change” and be sure to write in a political party. The website is available 24/7 at voterregistration.ct.gov/OLVR/ welcome.do The Registrar’s office will be closed to the public if the Town Hall is on lock down due to Covid-19. If you prefer to register in person, you may knock on the door and use the cart outside of the building to fill out the form. There is a 90-day waiting period to attain party privilege for those switching political parties. The deadline to switch parties and be eligible to vote in the August primaries is May 11. The 90-day deadline does not apply to unaffiliated and new voters.

August 11 Presidential Preference Primary The August primary is an opportunity for potential municipal and state candidates to contest their party’s nominee. This year, the Presidential Preference primaries have been postponed until Tuesday, Aug. 11 to ensure the safety of voters and poll workers during the pandemic. As of

this writing, both parties still have Presidential candidates contesting the front runners.

Democratic candidates who qualified to have their delegates on the ballot: Joe Biden, Tulsi Gabbard, and Bernie Sanders, (and Uncommitted). The following candidates have all officially withdrawn: Michael Bloomberg, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Tom Steyer and Elizabeth Warren.

Republican candidates who qualified to have their delegates on the ballot: Rocky De La Fuente and Donald Trump, (and Uncommitted). Bill Weld has officially withdrawn.

Absentee Ballot applications sent to all Democrats and Republicans?

There is a great deal of controversy over who can vote absentee during a pandemic in Connecticut. Unlike many other states, the Connecticut State Constitution only allows a short list of reasons to vote absentee. While changes to the Constitution have been proposed and debated, no changes have been passed.

In an unprecedented move, the Secretary of State is considering mailing absentee ballot applications to all eligible primary voters to ensure their safety during the pandemic. While the state constitution prohibits absentee voting for all, during the pandemic anyone who is at risk of infecting themselves or others may consider themselves unable to vote in person. If social distancing is still in place in August and you choose to request an absentee ballot for your safety, please do NOT neglect to check one of the reasons listed on the form.

There are boxes for “my illness,” and “my physical disability.” Neither of these reasons require a doctor’s note for the Town Clerk.

All applications need to be filled out and mailed to the Town Clerk in order to receive an absentee ballot. The Town Clerk will begin issuing absentee ballots when they become available on July 21 for the August 11 primary.

The application form is available online on the SOTS website sots.ct.gov Look for the English version: ED3-Rev2019-FILLABLE-APPLICATIONABSENTEE-BALLOT.pdf Please note that if you have already applied for an absentee ballot for the primary either for the original April 28, or June 2 dates, there is no need to reapply—your application will be transferred to the new August 11 date.

Help Granby choose spending projects from HFPG grant

By Melissa O’Brien In 2019, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving established $100,000 community funds for each of the 29 towns in the Foundation’s region, which includes the town of Granby. The purpose of these funds is to support residents in taking ownership around the needs in their towns, encourage broad and inclusive civic engagement and anchor the Hartford Foundation in each town.

Granby residents will play a lead role in deciding how their town funds will be used. Each town’s funds will be handled by an advisory committee of town residents that must be inclusive, representative and reflective of all of the residents of the community. If you are interested in becoming part of the Granby Greater Together Advisory Committee, please contact granbygreatertogether@ gmail.com The advisory committee will identify community needs and design a grant-

Pollworkers are urgently needed to be on the frontlines for democracy The registrar’s office is compiling a list of poll workers, both volunteers and paid. Volunteer poll workers must be at least 16 years old and can choose to volunteer for a few hours, as desired to fit their schedules. If you would like to be added to the list or if you did not receive the poll worker information e-letter, please email the registrars at registrarofvoters@granby-ct.gov Online or by-telephone poll worker training will be done in late July and

making process aimed to ensure that the community funds can have the greatest impact for the benefit of town residents.

Hartford Foundation staff will provide guidance on topics such as participatory decision making, grantmaking and fund development, as needed.

To learn more about the Greater Together Community Fund, or to make a contribution to Granby Greater Together, log onto hfpg.org/communityfunds, and click on the Granby tab.

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is the community foundation for Hartford and 28 surrounding communities. Made possible by the gifts of generous individuals, families and organizations, the Foundation has awarded grants of more than $750 million since its founding in 1925. For more information about the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, visit hfpg.org or call 860-548-1888.

early August for the presidential/state primary, and again in October for the Nov. 3 election. For more information or to apply please contact the registrars at registrarofvoters@granby-ct.gov The registrars are available every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

While the Town Hall is closed to the public, you can contact them by phone or email. Voter registration forms are also available online at the Secretary of State’s website, sots.ct.gov There is a link on our town website to check your voter registration and another link available to make changes online.

Questions? Please contact the registrars, Laura Wolfe and Sonja Smith, at 860-844-5322 or registrarofvoters@ granby-ct.gov

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Page 6 The Granby Drummer

May 2020

GRANBY BOARD OF EDUCATION MINUTES MARCH 4, 2020

Present Board Members: Jenny Emery, Mark Fiorentino, Melissa Migliaccio, David Peling, Sarah Thrall, Rosemarie Weber, Brandon Webster, and Jack DeGray (Student Representative). Absent Board Members: Dwaritha Ramesh (Student Representative).

Superintendent’s Announcements “Good evening and it is wonderful to have a great crowd on a special evening. March is Board Appreciation Month and I would like to extend a thank you to all of our board members for their service.”

Tonight is the last BOE meeting for Christopher Tranberg, our Assistant Superintendent. We wish Christopher best of luck in his new position in Darien.

Coronavirus: A letter was sent to parents last week. The district has been cooperating with all federal and state agencies. On Monday administrators met to discuss plans currently in place and met with teachers today at faculty meeting regarding any concerns. The district is monitoring a trip scheduled during the April break to Spain and Portugal.

Read Across America Day was held on Monday.

Dr. Grossman shared that he had the pleasure of reading to all Kelly Lane students during their lunch waves.

Next week, first round interviews will begin for the middle school principal search.

Student Representative Reports Wrestling State Opens were held this past Saturday and Devin Flagg represented Granby after placing second in the State Tournament.

Loren Roy went to Boston on Saturday for the Track and Field New England Competition.

Girls’ basketball Elsie Phillips and Samantha St. Pierre received All-Conference; Elsie Phillips also received All-State; and Jaira Paine received All-State Academic.

In boys’ basketball, Rowan Heinze and Jack DeGray received All-Conference. Rowan Heinze will represent Granby at the State All Star Game.

Revision to 2020-21 School Calendar The board discussed the following revisions to the 2020-21 school calendar: To move the first day of school from Tuesday, August 25, to Thursday, August 27; move first semester conferences from Dec. 9-11, to Nov. 30–Dec. 2; add the Jewish Holiday Yom Kippur; and move the last day of school to Tuesday, June 8, 2021.

Grossman stated there were concerns on the early opening and closing of school. Additionally, it was felt that conferences for elementary and secondary were too late in December and will be brought forward to earlier in the month. An amended motion was made by Rosemarie Weber and seconded by David Peling that the Granby Board of Education adopt revisions to the 2020-21 school calendar moving the first day of school from Tuesday, August 25, to Thursday, August 27, add the Jewish Holiday Yom Kippur and move the last day of school to Tuesday, June 8. The motion passed unanimously.

Public Comment Ali Zafar of Granby inquired if future religious holidays would be considered on the school calendar. Melissa Migliaccio said she appreciated this comment and stated it can certainly be discussed at a future meeting.

Consent Agenda A motion was made by Brandon Webster and seconded by Jennie Emery to adopt the consent agenda. This motion passed with one abstention (Mark Fiorentino).

NEW BUSINESS FY21 Administrative Budget Presentation Dr. Grossman presented the FY21 Administrative Budget to the board. He thanked teachers and administrators in helping to guide him through the work for the budget. He reviewed the BOE Budget Goals as well as budget priorities for administration. Grossman presented district enrollment from FY21 through FY25 and noted a change in enrollment figures from the Plus One, stating Hartland students were not included in the NESDEC enrollment report. He also told board that he added one additional section of Kindergarten for FY21. He reviewed per pupil expenditure (PPE) for Granby. It will be $16,237 next year, which is lower than 126 other districts out of 166 districts in Connecticut. He discussed revenue and noted that revenue received by the BOE goes to the town and that the district

is receiving more funds budget-to-budget.

However, actually, the town will receive $50K less. He reviewed the decrease from the Plus One Budget of 3.69 percent to the proposed budget of 2.92 percent and listed some of the reductions: line item decreases in repairs and maintenance, curriculum presenters/writers, various clubs, supplies, conferences, and dues and fees. The budget includes additional personnel, for a net of +4.49 FTE, which accounts for 2.0 FTEs being moved from the Q & D budget to the operating budget. Also included is a 1.0 FTE Math Interventionist at Wells Road, an additional Kindergarten Teacher and Teaching Assistant. Some highlights and notables in the budget include Chinese instruction expanded to Grade 8 at the middle school and the Strings program expanding to fourth grade at Wells Road. Small Capital highlights were reviewed for Transportation (purchase of four pre-owned buses); Building Maintenance; Furniture and Equipment; and Technology.

Migliaccio stated the Plus One Budget is a high-level look and tonight was a first look at what will become the BOE budget. She appreciated that it is coming under the 3 percent guideline. Jenny Emery stated she will forward questions after reading the budget book but had a couple of questions tonight. She inquired if Grossman is comfortable with the BOE class guidelines. Grossman stated he is comfortable with the guidelines set forth and how they are compared to the DRG; however, he would not be comfortable with 20 students in a Kindergarten classroom. Emery inquired if the salary percentages in the presentation are actual percentages individuals are getting. Anna Robbins stated the percentages are impacts to the budget as opposed to individual increases.

Emery also would have liked to know what is not in the budget. She is concerned that some items may be cut unnecessarily. This question will be answered at the Budget Workshop next week.

David Peling inquired what the Accountability Index is. Grossman stated the State of Connecticut measures the district on indicators from student performance, absenteeism, AP scores, etc. and that the state has a formula and points are given for each indicator.

Brandon Webster said he would like more info on the various clubs that were cut. There will be more details at the Budget Workshop.

Mark Fiorentino stated it is an incredible job that Granby achieves what we do with what we have, and he appreciates that line items were analyzed, e.g., the $36K in cuts to repairs and maintenance.

Board Member Announcements Emery thanked Christopher Tranberg for his service and his fresh perspective and new initiatives which started in Granby due to his good work.

Fiorentino informed the board of the UConn Homer Babbidge Scholar Program that honors students who achieve a 4.0 for two semesters with a full load of courses for the 2019 calendar year. GMHS had seven graduates who attained this achievement.

EXECUTIVE SESSION A motion was made by Migliaccio and seconded

by Dave Peling to enter into an Executive Session to discuss a student discipline matter.

This motion passed unanimously.

The board entered into an Executive Session at 8:16 p.m., and returned to regular session at 8:25 p.m. A motion was made by Rosemarie Weber and seconded by Emery that the Granby Board of Education accept the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools to expel Student “B12019-20” for 180 days from Granby Memorial High School, as well as all buildings and grounds and activities of the Granby Public Schools for violation of School Board Policies #5114, Student Discipline and #5131.6, Drug and Alcohol Use, for unauthorized possession, sale, distribution, use or consumption of tobacco, drugs, narcotics, or alcoholic beverages including being under the influence of any such substances. This motion passed unanimously.

Respectfully submitted, Rosemarie Weber, Board Secretary

telephone), Mark Fiorentino, Melissa Migliaccio, David Peling, Sarah Thrall, Brandon Webster, and Dwaritha Ramesh (Student Representative).

Absent Board Members: Rosemarie Weber and Jack DeGray (Student Representative) FY21 Administrative Budget The board continued discussion of the FY21 Administrative Budget presented on March 4.

Dr. Grossman stated the FY21 Administrative Budget is going in at 2.92 percent. He stated just to roll over costs including contractual costs, the budget increase would be 1.77 percent and after adding in Q & D, and tuition and transportation for special education, the standing-still number is 2.75 percent.

Jenny Emery had a question regarding what is not in the budget; specifically, the Special Education Supervisor position. Grossman said it would be a valuable addition. The Director of Pupil Services manages and works with special education teachers and case workers. These employees and teaching assistants fall under the direction of the Director of Pupil Services.

There are currently 275 special education students in the district and each one has an Individual Education Plan that we must ensure is being met. Grossman stated he feels as a board there need to be more conversations about this topic. The addition of the Special Education Supervisor position would put the budget at a 3.25 percent. Melissa Migliaccio inquired if adding the supervisor position would end up saving money on special education costs in the short term. Grossman stated he did not know the answer to that question if it would in this budget cycle; however, he feels it would save money in the years to come by offering programming in our own district to bring students back.

Emery stated if this is a priority, she wants to fully understand not funding this position before she votes on the budget. Mark Fiorentino said he supports doing what we need to do and the decision to set it aside. He would rather see Grossman have time to get things in place because it is a significant change. Emery asked if Grossman is comfortable that this budget provides the time and resources for the needed evaluation. Grossman replied that it allows him to work with the Director of Pupil Services to write a plan.

A motion was made by Fiorentino and seconded

by Brandon Webster, to amend the agenda to add public comment on the budget. This motion passed unanimously.

Public Comment Susan Patricelli Regan, Hungary Hill Road, Granby, had a couple of questions: With regard to the IDEA grant she inquired about the portion of salaries ($40K) that need to be assumed by the general fund. Grossman stated that was listed in the Plus One Budget document and is correct; Regarding Equipment and Maintenance purchases of $316K, specifically, three zero-turn lawnmowers for $48K, Regan inquired if the Public Works Department could give assistance to save money. Anna Robbins said the district collaborates with the Public Works Department but, unfortunately, to help the schools, PWD would need to add staff; Regan also inquired about the $91,077 for the replacement of existing technology and if the sale or exchange of old equipment would help fund the new equipment or has that been factored in. Migliaccio stated that by the time the district asks for replacements the devices are at the end of their life. Regan inquired if the devices can be donated to veterans, etc. Robbins said that is current practice and equipment is donated where there is a need.

Bill Regan, Hungary Hill Road, Granby, asked about the special education budget and revenue from other towns. Grossman said that tuition is received for students who live outside of Granby but get special education services in Granby.

Regan also asked for an explanation of the Quality and Diversity (Q & D) Fund. Grossman explained that the district receives money from Hartford for Hartford students who attend Granby public schools. That money is held in the Q & D Fund. There is a formula used for 4 percent enrollment from Hartford, Granby receives $8K for students in grades 1–12 and $10K for Kindergarten students. Regan inquired if the district is looking to reduce the funds or that the funds may simply go away. Migliaccio said the funds got cut last year. The Q & D Fund is something the board would like to rely on but the financial factors that go into it are out of the board’s control.

Fiorentino said that he supports the budget and there is little in the budget beyond the standingstill number. He intends to pass the budget on to the Board of Finance.

Brandon Webster believes this is a good budget but would like some more time to reflect on the budget.

Dave Peling supports the budget.

Sarah Thrall appreciates that the budget is coming in under the guideline.

Emery said that she has concerns about the longer-term perspective in terms of scheduling salary changes,. She does not want to lose any opportunity as things may get tougher next year.

Migliaccio stated the Plus One Budget was presented at 3.69 percent, the BOF guideline is 3 percent and this budget comes in under that and does not cut services but addresses class sizes by adding a Kindergarten Teacher. Migliaccio stated she is impressed with Grossman hitting the ground running and being responsive to our vision and mission, teachers, class sizes, and technology—it’s a delicate balance.

Dwaritha Ramesh, Student Representative feels it is a very sensible budget and that the Math Interventionist at the middle school is especially important considering its test scores.

Respectfully submitted, Linda Powell, Board Recorder

MARCH 12, 2020 EMERGENCY MEETING Board Members Present: Jenny Emery, Mark Fiorentino, Melissa Migliaccio, David Peling, Sarah Thrall, Rosemarie Weber, and Brandon Webster.

The Board of Education held an emergency meeting to discuss national concerns regarding public health. They discussed the closure of Granby Public Schools to coincide with the closure of West Hartford Public Schools and other school districts in the Farmington Valley. The board discussed closing schools at the close of business on Friday, March 13, for 14 calendar days and to re-open schools on Monday, March 30.

Issues discussed: Waiver of 180 days, Education loss, AP/SAT exams, Graduation date, Equity in learning, Maximum flexibility in order to adjust as new information becomes available.

A motion was made by David Peling and seconded by Rosemarie Weber to adjourn the meeting. This motion passed unanimously.

Respectfully submitted, Rosemarie Weber, Board Secretary

MARCH 11, 2020 BUDGET WORKSHOP MINUTES Board Members Present: Jenny Emery (via

—we hope to see you again very soon!

May 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 7

Focus on Education Jordan E. Grossman, Ed.D

Opening date for Connecticut public schools still not certain I hope this message finds you and your family well during this time of uncertainty.

In my 26-year career of serving children and their families, I have never encountered a more difficult time to be an educator. As of April 20, Governor Lamont, by Executive Order, directed all public schools in the State of Connecticut to close through at least May 20 and indicated that this timeframe could be extended. This was a very hard message to share with children and their families.

The delivery of Granby Public Schools’ superior education has looked vastly different since moving to a distance learning model on March 23. In a very short period of time, students and teachers had to switch from teacher-directed learning in classrooms to learning at home using technology.

One of the hardest implementation factors to distance learning has been the physical separation of staff and students.

Our distance learning plan consists of both synchronous and asynchronous instruction. What is the difference between synchronous instruction and asynchronous instruction? Synchronous instruction occurs in real time, whereas asynchronous instruction occurs through posting of lesson materials to a learning platform. We have found that using a combination of both models provides students with the ability to see and speak with their teachers as well as

the flexibility for students to complete daily assignments in a timeframe that works best for both students and their families.

We were fortunate to have a technology plan that was implemented a few years ago by the Granby Board of Education and supported in the town budgets so that we were able to swiftly provide every student with a tablet or laptop. All K-2 students were provided with iPads using a software program called Seesaw to interact with staff. Third–12th grade students have Chromebooks with Google Classroom to interact with staff. The distance learning plan will continue to develop as we move forward.

The Granby District Leadership Team continues to plan for the possibility of an extended closure announcement but with the hope of returning May 20.

Discussions have been ongoing regarding what distance learning means for the social and emotional well-being of students and staff, graduation, college and career planning, special education services, summer school, regression, remediation, promotion, retention, grading, credits, curriculum pacing calendars, budgetary impacts, etc. At this stage, we don’t have all of the answers, but will share official decisions with the public as they are made. The critical component in making all decisions is what is in the best interest of children.

As a parent of two elementary-aged

children, I completely understand the hardship distance learning places on families. There is no easy way to replicate teacher-directed classroom instruction at home and I know this is challenging for families. During this time the staff of Granby public schools continues to exemplify why Granby is considered one of the best school districts in Connecticut. We created and implemented, in a short time, a distance learning plan that considers the social and emotional well-being of students as well as addressing academic needs.

Please be assured that the Granby Board of Education and the staff of the Granby Public Schools are committed

to providing the best possible education for our students moving forward. I urge you to view the district website (granby. k12.ct.us) and (GPS Distance Learning) to learn more about the distance learning plan.

I want to thank the entire Granby community for supporting us during this most difficult time. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns at 860-844-5260 and follow me on Twitter @GranbySuper.

Editor’s Note: As we move towards the May 20 reopening date suggested by the Governor, please check the Superintendent’s Twitter page for information on any changes to that date.

Stay Home, Stay Creative The impact of the COVID-19 ing Creative” on our Facebook page. pandemic continues to be felt commuPlease share your student’s crenity-wide. The last month has brought ativity (visual arts, crafts, musical numerous challenges to Granby performance, creative writing, or families including home-schooling, other art work) for the community to working from home, social distancenjoy. Email to marketing@granbyeing, not to mention the personal ducationfoundation.org sacrifice of so many first responders, We will continue to focus on the healthcare workers, and other frontgood: Acts of kindness by neighbors, line employees who drive-by birthday continue to provide parades, teddy bear GRANBY essential services to scavenger hunts, us all. and red heart thank EDUCATION Normally the FOUNDATION you signs in home GEF hosts its anwindows and front ENRICH ENERGIZE ENGAGE: LIFELONG LEARNING nual trivia contest, lawns all over the Gran-Bee in the town. Together the spring. It is our largest fundraiser, Granby community, and our country, enabling us to provide education will persevere and be stronger. grants throughout the year, fulfilling The GEF is a 501(c)(3) charitable our mission of enriching the Granby organization and entirely staffed by community. While we were disapvolunteers. Working together, the pointed to cancel the Gran-Bee, the GEF will continue to enrich our comGEF would like to offer a different munity with quality arts and education community activity, a virtual initiative programming for Granby residents of for kids called “Staying Home, Stayall ages.

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Page 8 The Granby Drummer

May 2020

GRANBY PLANNING & ZONING MINUTES MARCH 10, 2020 Present: Mark Lockwood (Chair), Jonathan Boardman, Margaret Chapple, Eric Lukingbeal, Eric Myers, Matthew Peters, Brennan Sheahan.

Also present was Abby Kenyon, Director of Community Development.

Seating of alternates Matthew Peters was seated for Christine Chinni.

Minutes On A Motion by M. Chapple seconded by E. Lukingbeal the commission voted (7-0-0) to approve the minutes of Feb. 25, with one clarification. M. Chapple abstained from the vote of the Feb. 11 minutes.

Public Hearing Application seeking an amendment to Zoning Regulations Section 3.5.2, which would allow a residential use in the Business Zone by Special Permit.

John Pagliaro, 369-371 North Granby Road, addressed the commission. Currently Zoning Regulations Section 3.5 does not permit residential uses in the Business (C2) Zone.

Pagliaro proposes allowing residential uses

by Special Permit in the Zone. He stated there has been interest in 369 North Granby Road from a proprietor to run a business downstairs and live upstairs; however, this is not currently allowed in the zone. Director of Community Development A. Kenyon advised that if the zoning amendment is adopted, this would be a new sub-section within the Special Permit uses in the Business Zone, Section 3.5.2.17. She noted this proposed change is consistent with the Plan of Conservation and Development’s goal to provide greater opportunities for mixed use commercial and residential development.

She added the Special Permit process gives the commission the ability to determine if a proposed residential use would be appropriate for a particular property depending on the situation.

CRCOG reviewed the application and does not have any concerns. M. Lockwood noted this is a proposed change to the Zoning Regulations and would affect all properties in the Business Zone, not just the specific property the applicant has noted this evening.

The hearing was opened for public comment.

Tom Fredo, 379 North Granby Road, addressed the commission stating he has no objections.

The Public Hearing closed at 7:05 p.m. The commission has 65 days to render its decision.

Application seeking a site plan modification and Special Permit for a motor vehicle repair facility for property located at 561 Salmon Brook Street.

Brain Denno, Denno Land Surveying and Consulting, LLC, addressed the commission.

This property is located in the Business (C2) Zone. The most recent use was for a motor vehicle repair facility approved by the commission in 2016.

The applicant proposes to construct a 2,160 square-foot addition for three garage bays. The existing building will be used for a showroom and storage. A landscaped island will separate the property from the site to the north. There will be additional parking, walkway, landscaping and full cut-off lighting over each garage bay door. A trailer for tires will be stored onsite to the north of the building addition. Some work is proposed outside the building on the concrete pad adjacent to the building for the vehicles or trailers that are too large to fit inside the garage.

A. Kenyon noted the dumpster must be shown on the site plan and this may conflict with the location of the storage trailer. She also noted the Town Engineer reviewed the plans. He has not yet generated formal comments but indicated turning movements for the driveway may need to be evaluated, stormwater calculations are required, and Farmington Valley Health District approval may be needed. Kenyon stated the Town Engineer comments will be forwarded to the applicant to be addressed.

Roger Fecteau, owner of Route 10 Tire, addressed the commission and answered questions. Conditions from the 2016 Special Permit approval were reviewed. Fecteau noted his business opens at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, not at 8 a.m. as indicated on the previous approval.

There will also be some business activities outside.

The hearing was opened for public comment.

William Glueck, 18 Barkhamsted Road, and Tracey McCartney, 557 Salmon Brook Street, addressed the commission. Both parties support this application.

The Public Hearing closed at 7:25 p.m. The commission has 65 days to render its decision.

Application seeking to modify a Special permit for a FRD re-subdivision under Zoning Regulations Section 8.20 to change the limits of approved tree clearing for property located at 37 Cider Mill Heights.

Representing the applicants, Louis George, of Hassett and George, PC described the events leading to this application. When the FRD re-subdivision was approved, the commission outlined the limits of clearing for each lot.

Modified clearing limits could be approved by the building official following a review of a specific building permit application.

The applicants purchased the property last spring and began site work, which included clearing vegetation and installing erosion control measures. Unbeknownst to them, the clearing was beyond the limits allowed. The applicants now seek approval for the clearing that has been done, approval of additional clearing of trees/ vegetation to accommodate the driveway and walkout basement, and approval for replanting certain areas to create buffers to adjacent properties.

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the commission. Barresi provided a plan illustrating permitted clearing, actual clearing, and additional clearing boundaries necessary to move forward. He explained the original plan approved under the FRD Special Permit was intended to be conceptual and showed a smaller house with a septic system in the backyard; often times the actual home that is constructed is modified from what is shown on the initial layout plan. In this case, the applicants wish to construct a larger home. The larger home required it be shifted to the south away from the approved location, this then affected where the septic could be located. Furthermore, the size and configuration of the proposed home, walk-out basement, driveway configuration, and proposed pool area and associated grading requires clearing beyond the approved clearing limits.

He presented information to the commission demonstrating adjacent lots had been cleared beyond what was initially approved by the commission.

Rick Sotil, Sotil Tree Service, East Granby, addressed the commission. Many trees already cut were in poor health. He recommends additional clearing to remove further compromised trees.

He suggests planting fast growing, deep rooted willow trees and acknowledged that willows need a lot of water their first year. Answering commission questions, Sotil stated it was the applicant who cut down the trees, not himself.

Commission members who visited the property added the site is very rocky and existing trees appear to be of poor quality.

The hearing was opened for public comment.

Clayton Morad, 35 Cider Mill Heights; Christine Peaslee, 38 Cider Mill Heights; Paula Johnson, 289 Simsbury Road; Ed Lally, Ed Lally and Associates, addressed the commission. Their concerns included impacted privacy, erosion concerns, need for the applicant to abide by the approval, impact to the ridgeline, and concerns about the proposed willow trees.

Barresi stated the applicant will comply with whatever the commission requests regarding proposed plantings.

Pauline Morini, applicant and owner of 37 Cider Mill Heights, addressed the commission followed by her husband, Justin Morini. P. Morini

apologized to the commission, neighbors and audience for the clearing oversight, noting they were unaware of the clearing limits and they are willing to plant whatever is needed.

Tom Fredo, Developer of Cider Mill Heights, addressed the commission. He suggests planting more trees, including along the driveway, and noted concerns about the impact on the neighbors.

L. George stated his clients are willing to hire a landscape architect and will follow conditions set by the commission.

The Public Hearing closed at 8:45 p.m. The commission has 65 days to render its decision.

Receive applications and set public hearings Application seeking a Special Permit under Zoning Regulations Section 8.5 for an accessory apartment for property located at 22 West Granby Road. File Z-08-20.

Application seeking a site plan modification and Special Permit under Zoning Regulations Section 8.16 for a restaurant with alcoholic beverages and outdoor dining for property located at 18R Hartford Avenue. File Z-09-20.

Application seeking a Special Permit under Zoning Regulations Section 8.8 for a home occupation for a woodworking shop in an accessory building for property located at 261 Silver Street. File Z-10-20.

The public hearings have been scheduled for March 24, 2020.

Consideration of above applications, where the commission has concluded the public hearing.

Application seeking an amendment to Zoning Regulations Section 3.5.2 which would allow a residential use in the Business Zone by Special Permit. File Z-05-20.

On A Motion by E. Myers seconded by E. Lukingbeal the commission voted (7-0-0) to approve an application seeking an amendment to Zoning Regulations Section 3.5.2, which would allow a residential use in the Business Zone by Special Permit with the following modifications: “Residential uses when a single-family dwelling or apartment is occupied by a person, together

P&Z Minutes cont’d. on p. 14

NEAMathome Your Fun and Educational Aviation Portal at NEAM.org

The New England Air Museum continues to fulfill its mission during this time with fun and educational digital content through NEAMathome.

• Browse the Museum’s collection of historic aircraft and engines.

• Catch up on our current Restoration Projects.

• Try some fun and challenging hands-on build-and-fly activities.

• Engage with grade-specific educational content covering the science and history of aviation.

• Take a virtual tour and check out our new online exhibits.

• Get started at: www.neam.org

We look forward to welcoming everyone back to the museum soon.

New England Air Museum, 36 Perimeter Road, Windsor Locks, CT • www.neam.org

May 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 9

Coronavirus precautions hurting local restaurants

By Caroline Strapp The Covid-19 virus is having a damaging effect on restaurants in Granby, forcing closures and lay-offs such as James Chen is facing at his popular establishments including Han Asian Cuisine and La Figata.

For many years Granby residents travelled outside of town to find places to dine, but since the establishment of several new restaurants in the last few years this has changed significantly. With the opening of 10 new restaurants, Granby residents have been able to enjoy culinary choices similar to their neighbors right here in town. This is exemplified at Deep Roots Street Food, which offers a rotation of local chefs. Several other culinary additions to the community come from entrepreneur James Chen. Over the past five years he has opened Han Asian Cuisine, @ The Barn, La Figata and most recently, Verdura Tapas and Wine Bar. Each of these restaurants had been very successful until the impacts of the Coronavirus.

Although Granby has a couple of longtime favorites like New England Pizza, a beloved family-owned pizzeria, many of the town’s favorites have only existed for five years or less. Stay-at-home orders issued by state and national governments have had a huge negative financial impact on the food industry. According to the Wall Street Journal, billions of dollars have been lost since restaurants have been forced to close or limit their services in government efforts to slow the spread of the virus.

On March 16, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont put out an Executive Order, which stated “restaurants [were to stop]

all service except food and non-alcoholic beverage takeout and delivery.” Since then restaurants across the state have been forced to adapt to these new restrictions in order to keep their doors open.

For Chen, this means making difficult decisions about employees and which restaurants can continue to operate. In a phone interview, Chen commented on the financial impact saying, “it’s tough” and that he has made many hard business decisions. Chen said “we have a lot of employees laid off, servers, bus boys, hostesses” anyone who worked on the floor. While the transition to curbside pickup has gone smoothly for some of his restaurants, others didn’t make the cut. Chen said he has chosen to close his newest restaurant, Verdura Tapas, because this restaurant does not serve “the type of food for takeout” and he had to choose where to “save costs.”

In another move to cut costs Chen has moved @The Barn to an exclusivelyonline menu and consolidated its takeout operations with those of La Figata. Chen said, “I believe this is going to be longer than a couple of weeks, so I have prepared for longer.”

Much of the community has welcomed the switch to curbside pickup and delivery as evidenced by a poll on the Granby community Facebook page. Of 205 respondents only 11 percent said they have chosen not to order out because of the virus. The poll shows Chen is doing well with the adjustments, as his restaurants make up 56 percent of local take out. Chen’s long-term preparations are working well. Community engagement remains strong in Granby, and as a result so are its favorite restaurants.

Mark J. Migliaccio Attorney at Law

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

Deep Roots has installed curb side pickup parking signs and put up instructional flyers on their doors. Photo by Caroline Strapp

Drumrolls Evan Holm, of West Granby, was named to the dean’s list at St. Lawrence University.

Cassandra Miller, of North Granby, was inducted into Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology at Assumption College.

Benjamin A. Ranicar, of North Granby, was inducted into the Western New England University chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma, the honor society of AACSB-accredited business schools worldwide. Ranicar is majoring in sport management.

Claire Newhall, of East Granby, was named to the dean’s list at Saint Anselm’s College for the fall 2019 semester.

Westfield State University’s field hockey team member Cheryl Latona, of Granby, earned recognition from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association.

Eastern Connecticut State University inducted Griffin Hammack, of West Granby, into the Lambda Pi Eta national honor society. Hammack, a senior who majors in communication, also received an award for excellence in television for work with Eastern’s ETV station.

Jessica Storch, of Granby, was honored with this year’s Springfield College Class of ’57 Outstanding Senior Leadership Chair. Storch majors in health science and pre-physical therapy.

Page 10 The Granby Drummer

May 2020

Schoolwide enrichment thrives at GMMS

By Shirley Cowles As Granby Memorial Middle School approaches the close of its second year of the Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM), we have much to celebrate. Academic enrichment classes for students with exceptional abilities, and enrichment clusters are offered to all students during two seven-week sessions (fall and late winter). There are opportunities for enrichment for both teachers and students through professional development, classroom enrichment and the launch of student-led enrichment clusters.

One content area of focus this year has been the Creative Writing and Literary Analysis and Future Problem Solving (FPS) enrichment classes. Identified sixth, seventh and eighth grade students placed in these classes have worked hard on the development of their writing crafts and the emergence of their writer voices.

FPSers identified a global issue to solve, spent considerable time researching their topics, and applied their knowledge to creating either a 1,500-word futuristic scenario or a two-dimensional piece of artwork and companion thesis statement. Global issues for students to select from, designated by the international FPS committee, were Sleeplessness, International Travel, Gamification, and Living in Poverty.

Both classes met once during a six-day rotation allowing participating students to write and think creatively, tackle a problem and show how they would attempt to solve the problem, and portray their thinking through the written word or a piece of artwork. Foundational to both classes are 1) understanding that writing is thinking, 2) the realization that revisng is key to good writing, and 3) the development of research skills. In addition, throughout the fall and early winter, a number of enrichment students in all three grades submitted written work to various local, state, and national writing competitions including The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) American History Writing Contest (Letters about Literature, a national writing competition) and the CT Student Writers Magazine, both sponsored by the University of Connecticut.

The fall and late winter enrichment cluster sessions focused on areas such as: mathematics, visual arts, social science, philosophy, physical science, language arts, music, life sciences and movement arts. Some of the studentdriven enrichment clusters were titled: Antiques Galore, Broadcast Buddies, Just Journaling 2, Sugar Rush: Creative Food Art, Animal Helpers, Poetry, Go! Vive a tu Manera, Dance, Dance, Dance and Engineering. Various practicing

FPS8 class (l-r) Sophia Karabetsos, Madi Grillo, Riley Kuester, Lucy Thrall, Ben Weber, Brian Rooney. Submitted photos

Just Journaling 2 students with Kathy Waddington, advisor (r.).

professionals from the community were invited in to further educate students and teachers about their professions and passions. These included Salmon Brook Veterinary Hospital, Granby knitters, landscape/garden design architects, WFSB Channel 3 local news anchor,and technology expert.

The following are enrichment student awards and accomplishments this year.

Daughter of the American Revolution (DAR) American History Essay Contest First place winner - Sydney Henry, grade 7, The Voyage of the Mayflower CT Student Writers Magazine 2020/ UConn - Honorable Mentions Chase Alexander, grade 8, fiction, excerpt from Picking Pockets Katie O’Neill, grade 7, science fiction, Scars Amelia Hosack, grade 6, poetry, In and Out, Up and Down, featured at right Rachel Ehrenwerth, grade 6, poetry, The Sole of Your Shoe Phoebe O’Brien, grade 6, nonfiction, Old Endings and New Beginnings Future Problem Solving of CT — State Awards Brian Rooney, grade 8, first place scenario writing, middle division, The New Generation Riley Kuester, grade 8, third place, visual art, middle division, Innovation X

In and Out, Up and Down In and out, up and down My chest rises with the Push and pull of the tide Steady inhale and exhale The rhythm of my breathing In and out, up and down Left and right, in and out The green fields, the youthful joy The warm smile of my mother The soft whisper of my sister The pitter-patter of my feet On the wet ground The rhythm of rain on the window My eyes a mirror Tears dropping on the ground One at a time Wiping them away, Putting on a brave face and a smile Looking back Still wiping my face from crying Tears bring me back to now Looking at the sea Breathing in and out Following the push and pull My chest falls with the exhale In and out, up and down —Amelia Hosack, Grade 6

Editor’s note: Ms. Cowles is an enrichment coach and teacher at GMMS.

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May 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 11

Browse & Borrow GRANBY PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM As many of you know, the Granby Public Library is closed to the public until further notice. Some library staff members are available to answer phone calls and emails with requests for information, assistance with online resources, registering for a free library card or help with technology. Call 860844-5275 or email GranbyLibrary@ granby-ct.gov. Staff members will respond to calls and emails Monday through Thursday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Friday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Patrons are encouraged to use the library’s digital services, such as eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines, anytime by using the library apps or by visiting granby-ct.gov/library. New titles are being added to the digital collections weekly, so check back often.

There will be no late fees or fines charged while the library is closed. If you receive any email notices about items you have at home, you can disregard them until the library reopens.

Book drops are open at both locations. If you have materials currently on hold, they will remain on the hold shelf until

they can be checked out to you. The library will automatically renew any cards that expire between now and when the library reopens. To apply for a temporary library card please visit the library website. All digital resources will be accessible with a temporary card and are available to patrons via the website 24/7.

For up-to-date library information, including upcoming virtual programs and re-opening information, please visit granby-ct.gov/library, follow The Granby Public Library System on Facebook, and sign up for the eNewsletter.

Virtual Programs Register for any virtual program on the website, and receive a confirming email with the appropriate information needed to access the webinar. More free library programs may be added to the library calendar at any time.

Online Library Resources As citizens are being encouraged to stay home and practice social distancing, now is a good time to remind patrons about some of the many online library resources available to them. All of the following are accessible from the library website or via a free App (available in your App Store). For assistance

Library book sale collection may be delayed

By Brian Tomasino When writing this in mid-April, it’s still unknown when things will be getting back to normal.

The Friends of Granby Public Library is still planning its annual book sale in September. Book collection/donations would usually start in the beginning of June, but this year we may be delayed.

We will announce when it will start as soon as it is determined. In the meantime, with everyone doing extra spring cleaning at home, we hope you set aside any items that you would like to donate for the sale.

While we all like to shop locally, right now it may be difficult to do, but

if you do use Amazon you can still support the Friends when shopping by using Amazon Smile. Setup is easy by going to smile.amazon.com on your desktop or mobile phone. Sign in and at the top navigation select the option to search and select your charity. Make sure to select Friends of Granby Public Library, Inc Granby, CT. For every order that you place using the Amazon Smile site, a portion is donated to the library, at no extra cost to you.

The annual FOGPL membership year started on April 1. If you would like to join, or renew your Friends membership, the forms for 2020-21 are available on our Facebook page, Friends of Granby Library.

The Senior Center will remain closed until at least May 20 in keeping with the Governor’s recommendations. It has listed some of its upcoming events and trips for the summer months so you can save the dates. For the most current information, please visit the website at granby-ct.gov/senior-services Rescheduled Events We are working to reschedule as many events as possible. Please check the website for more information as it becomes available.

Aging Mastery Program: Begins Monday, June 15, 1 p.m.

World’s Greatest Fair: Tuesday, July 21, 1 p.m.

Senior Day: Wednesday, Sept. 16, 10 a.m. — 12:30 p.m.

IT/Zip Line at Jordans Furniture: Monday, Sept. 21 Drive and Dine at Piccolo Arancio: Friday, Sept. 25 Upcoming Events Monday, June 1: Bob Steele on the Radio Presentation

Tuesday, June 2: Fun With Fluid Art Wednesday, June 3: Intro to Yeast Breads, Make Your Own Bread Sticks Wednesday, June 17: Disco a Go Go Lunch and Entertainment Wednesday, July 15: Summer Soiree at Holcomb Farm Wednesday, Aug. 12: Summer Picnic Trips Monday, June 15: Connecticut College Arboretum Tour, New London Wednesday, June 24: Rail Explorers in Newport Wednesday, July 22: Water Bike Tours, Old Saybrook Monday, Aug. 17: Kayaking in Clinton Wednesday, Aug. 26: Historic Wickford Village in North Kingstown

HELP GRANBY PRESERVE HISTORY Granby Public Library and Salmon Brook Historical Society are teaming up to help future generations understand this time in our history. The Town Archivist has begun to record current events relating to the COVID-19 outbreak. If you would like to share your personal story or any local information regarding the impact of the pandemic, please email your photos, stories or other appropriate material to claun9713@gmail.com or send to: Salmon Brook Historical Society, P.O. Box 840, Granby, CT 06035. accessing them, please call the library.

Overdrive/Libby and RBdigital: Two different eBook, eAudio book, and eMagazine collections for all ages that are available to Granby library patrons.

Bestsellers, old favorites, and the most recent issues of dozens of popular magazines are available to borrow. Each can be accessed from the library website or by downloading a (free) App. Between the two, there are well over 30,000 titles for you (or your children) to use—just enter your Granby library card, download, and enjoy.

Consumer Reports Online: Research the best products to buy, explore safety ratings, and learn about recalls with this online resource. Everything in the paper magazine and more. Note: The site will ask for a “Patron ID”—enter

your library card number.

Universal Class: Unlimited access to over 500 courses in over 30 subject areas (everything from accounting to yoga). Classes are taught through videos, assignments, quizzes, tests, and the opportunity to use social media to further engage with other learners. Each library card holder can enroll in up to five courses at a time. Many courses offer continuing education units. Once you create an account using your library card, you must confirm your email address before you can register for classes.

Transparent Language: Learn a new language without having to leave your living room. Register on the library website and then log in to learn everything from Spanish to Japanese to Zulu.

Seniors Job Bank elects leadership team

The Seniors Job Bank has chosen officers and directors to guide the nonprofit job referral service into its 41st year. Bernie Weiss, of West Hartford, is the new president. He will be assisted by vice president Gail Crockett, of West Hartford, treasurer Del Shilkret, of Granby, co-secretary Jennifer Wolfberg, of Avon, and co-secretary Hank Boulton, of Hartford. The Board of Directors includes Bob Calef and Delores Wisdom, both of Bloomfield, as well as Bob Cave, Anne Danaher, Jim Doran, Rene Lopez, Al Nweeia, Bill Pickens, Seniors Job Bank executive director Sheila and Dina Plapler, all of West Diamond works from home. Photo by Andrew Diamond Hartford.

Considering what Weiss called an calls, SJB identifies registrants qualified “unprecedented public health situation to handle the task and provides the client that has radically upended the customary with contact information for several individual and commercial routines of appropriate candidates for evaluation. everyday life,” the board conducted its The client and candidate selected election in a virtual meeting. for the job negotiate the terms of the Weiss pointed out that even with the assignment: its duties, expected results, organization’s office in West Hartford’s hours, and compensation.

Town Hall closed, the Seniors Job Bank The Seniors Job Bank does not charge is open for business. “Under modified a fee to the job seeker or the client for procedures, we continue to accept facilitating the referral. While all the new job seekers, interviewing them job seekers are over 50, clients may be remotely, and background checking of any age. them as usual, but advising them that Many jobs arranged through the they will be considered for jobs only Seniors Job Bank are part-time, in occupations designated ‘essential’ temporary or single projects, but

by Connecticut state policy. And we’ll others are longer term or result in take requests for workers only from repeat engagements.

Commercial and companies and households offering professional firms commonly turn ‘essential’ work,” Weiss noted. to SJB when they have openings for The Seniors Job Bank is a volunteeroffice administrators, bookkeepers driven community service agency that and receptionists. Residential clients connects over-age-50 men and women often use SJB to locate gardeners, who are seeking work with businesses companions, pet sitters, and appliance and households that have work to or home equipment repair person. be done. Operating throughout the To join the list of SJB job seekers, greater Hartford region, SJB maintains or to find one of them to fill a job, call a database of approximately 650 job the Seniors Job Bank at 860-521-3210, seekers, collectively offering about email info@sjbct.org, or consult sjbct.

150 discrete skills and talents, blue org. and white collar. When a company or homeowner needing to fill a position

Page 12 The Granby Drummer

Out of Town

Physical therapy with Telehealth

Simsbury Public Library offers remote notary service In pursuance of Governor Ned Lamont’s March 30 Executive Order No. 7Q, the Simsbury Public Library is offering remote notary services by appointment, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please note that you will need access to a Google Meet, webcam, microphone, and scanner to have a document notarized, and all appointments will be recorded.

To request an appointment, please email Christopher Carney, adult services librarian, at ccarney@libraryconnection.info. After an appointment time has been set up, you will receive a Google Meet invitation by email.

At the time of the Meet, you will need: 1) Two forms of identification, one with a photo and both with a signature; 2) Your unsigned document(s) to be notarized; 3) Proof you are physically located in the state of Connecticut with Apple Maps or Google Maps.

The notary will use Google Meet’s video function to connect with you and watch you sign the documents. After signing, you will scan and email the

May 2020

document(s) and your identification to the notary. The notary will then notarize documents and scan and email them back to you. The notary will close the meet after confirming that you have received the notarized documents.

In accordance with Executive Order No. Q7, the library will retain the video recording of the virtual notary appointment for 10 years.

Once the remote notary service has been performed, if you wish to have the original document notarized, you may send the signed original along with the notarized copy within 30 days of the original notarization via USPS to: Christopher Carney, Notary, Simsbury Public Library, 725 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury, CT 06070. Your original signed document will be notarized as the date originally executed and will be returned to you via USPS. The library is not able to notarize: Wills, I-9 (USCIS Employee Verification) Forms, Prenuptial agreements, Vital records, Tax returns, Military records, Judicial Decrees, Petitions.

By Matt Calendrillo Given the recent COVID-19 outbreak, many people are unable to attend regularly scheduled medical appointments like physical therapy. In addition, the shut-down of local gyms and fitness facilities limits options for exercise to prevent physical decline and subsequent health related issues. Those who experience the onset of new or a flare of existing musculoskeletal pain are flooding local emergency rooms and doctors’ offices for conditions that could be effectively triaged by a physical therapist with direct access, further slowing access to care for those experiencing COVID symptoms.

Live Every Day, with offices in Simsbury, Avon and Suffield, has implemented a plan to combat the COVID crisis through virtual and when necessary live therapy sessions. Previously

not covered by most medical insurances including Medicare, in an emergency reaction to the challenges of the COVID outbreak, telehealth access has greatly improved. Insurers, Medicare included, have all identified physical therapy as essential and appropriate for coverage via e-visit, and telecommunication.

Access to telehealth allows those who do not wish to leave their house an opportunity to speak with a professional.

Via video or telephone, a physical therapist can continue a current treatment plan, triage new pain symptoms or assist in developing an exercise program to prevent decline. This not only ensures patients are receiving necessary medical care, but also assists with reducing the overall health burden on hospitals and doctors’ offices.

To learn more about virtual therapy at Live Every Day, visit liveeveryday. org or call 860-413-2073.

A social distance thank you Angel Cruz (l.), manager of Granby’s Stop & Shop, thanks Nate Chagnon for generously contributing to public safety as we continue to deal with Covid-19. Nate and his mom, Elaine Chagnon, made fabric face masks for all the store employees.

Photo by Rosia Kennedy

An Easter season must-read, whatever your faith background.

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May 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 13

In Town Focus MS Support Group

The Granby Multiple Sclerosis Support Group normally meets at the Senior Center at 1 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month. For information on plans in May, please contact Meaghan at 860-428-2463.

SBHS Cancellations

Following the social distancing guidelines of the Governor’s office to prevent the spread of coronavirus and limit groups to five or fewer, the Salmon Brook Historical Society has cancelled the following events: the May 16 Spring Flea Market, the June 6 Car and Tractor Show and the June 20 Ice Cream Social.

The society plans to hold these events in the spring of 2021. We thank all Granby citizens who have come to our events in the past and look forward to seeing you next year. Thank you for your support and please stay safe and healthy.

Volunteers Needed

Mary’s Kitty Korner, Granby’s no-kill cat shelter, is looking for volunteers to help care for its kitties until they find their fur-ever homes. If you love cats and have some time to spare on a weekday morning or evening or on a weekend morning or afternoon, the shelter would love to hear from you. Currently, the greatest need is for Thursday and Friday mornings. Call 860-379-4141 or visit the website to find out more: maryskittykorner.org

Granby Women’s Breakfast

Due to the current coronavirus situation, programs scheduled for May and June will not be held. Hopefully, we will resume on Sept. 9, with a program entitled 1939 Hollywood’s Greatest Year, with David Garnes, lecturer from Manchester Community College.

IMPORTANT DATES FROM THE REGISTRARS

Now accepting absentee ballot applications for both the August 11 primary and Nov. 3 election.

Monday, May 11 is the deadline to switch party affiliation to participate in the August 11 primary.

Tuesday, May 19 is the Democratic Caucus in the Senior Center parking lot at 7 p.m., maintain safe social distance, and check the Granby Democrat Facebook page for the latest information.

Thursday, May 21 is the Republican Caucus in the Police Community Room at 7 p.m., check the Granby Republican Facebook page for possible Zoom meeting option.

Tuesday, Aug. 11 is the new date for the Presidential and, if needed, State Primary, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the GMHS Community Gym. Only registered party members can participate.

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

Announcements may not exceed 120 words.

@

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

by e-mail:

editor@granbydrummer.org

What was lost and is to come for GMHS seniors due to COVID-19

By Tim Nolan On March 10, Granby Memorial High School was business as usual. Classes began at 7:35 a.m. with everyone anticipating that 11 hours later the boys’ basketball team would play a first-round home game in the CIAC Division IV tournament. By 9:30 a.m., all Connecticut athletic directors and principals had gotten word that there would be no games, that the tournaments were finished. Coaches were notified at 10 a.m., Twitter spread the official word at 11:30 a.m. and by 12:30 p.m., all winter athletes were told their seasons were over.

“I was a little bit upset, because at the time I felt they’d made the wrong decision,” senior and starting center Rowan Heinze said. “But as more information came out and we found out more about it, it sucks but it had to be done.”

Three days later, GMHS announced it would begin a two-week transition to online learning. All Granby students have been out of school since March 13 due to COVID-19, a novel coronavirus that has killed over 1,000 people in Connecticut and over 40,000 nationwide as of April 20. Though seven weeks have passed, many unknowns loom—not just for athletes but the GMHS senior class as a whole. These students are trying to take the changes in stride while making the most of their final weeks in the Granby school system.

Since March 30, GMHS has continued with classes via online learning. Teachers have been uploading their lessons to Google Classroom, where students can access them for instruction. Unlike college lectures, which are primarily live, GMHS’ virtual classes that students are expected to attend are pre-recorded videos.

Some teachers have been holding live review sessions for tests and AP exams that are optional, senior Sam Attianese said. While some teachers have assigned “a ton of work,” others have given “barely any,” as both they and their students navigate this new approach.

“It’s been beneficial,” Attianese said, “Like I’m still learning stuff. It’s not as good as in-person connection but I think it’s definitely helping.”

Both AP exams and UConn’s Early College Experience program have adapted to fit a remote learning environment. This year’s AP exams will be open-book and without multiple choice. For example, AP Government

students will be given two 45-minute windows from noon to 2 p.m. on May 22, each consisting of two free-response questions.

Working outside of the classroom has its perks, like allowing students to get work done on their own time and pace, senior Naviah Barrow said. However, Barrow conceded the value of actually being in school.

“This is the last stretch with the people that I’ve known over the past 12 years, my best friends, or just people I’d say hi to in the hallway,” she said. “At some point I had to realize that if we never go back to school, I’m not going to see a lot of those people again.”

These seniors will not be back until at least May 20, per Governor Ned Lamont. By then, the spring production, band concert, and all but one game for each varsity sport will have passed.

Nearly a third of planned content for this year’s yearbook was cancelled and replaced with other photos and designs, according to senior Kenya Mouning.

For Attianese, it’s his first missed baseball season since he was four years old. For Barrow, it was her 4x400 relay team’s final chance to earn that elusive NCCC all-conference honor. For Heinze, it was a trip to Ireland with his family over April break, replaced by distance learning and working out in his home, because “there’s not much to be done.”

Water wars, senior pranks, senior skip day and all of the other nugatory activities that mean so much in the moment for “fourth-quarter seniors” are currently on hold. Prom has been tentatively rescheduled from May 15 to June 15, the day before graduation.

“All of those things are kinda a big thing to look forward to that I’ve been seeing for the past three years, four years,” Attianese said. “I was like ‘Wow, I can’t wait until I’m there that’s going to be such a fun time,’ and now it’s all gone.”

But, through proactive use of social media, the class has done what it can to stay intact. Attianese and the rest of student government started an Instagram page titled, “GMHS Seniors,” where these future graduates can announce what they’ll be doing in the fall, whether that be college, joining the military or going right to work.

And, as for now, the class of 2020 will get one last chance to reconvene on June 16. “You have to take what you can get in times like these,” Barrow said.

Thoughts

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It’s so quiet here these days.

I miss the sounds of the school buses and the work traffic going by.

In the stillness, I hear more clearly the early morning sweet sounds of the birds.

And, I think, although we are in difficult and scary times, Nature, in the works of the Creator, still offers us its comforting presence.

Our troubled world can be comforted by that small Blessing. ­­— Bernadette R. Gentry

Page 14 The Granby Drummer

May 2020

P&Z Minutes cont’d. from p. 8 with his family…” shall read, “together with the person’s family...” Section 3.5.2.9 is also modified to read “Residential uses, subject to Section 8.13, except as per Section 3.5.2.17.”

Application seeking a site plan modification and Special Permit under Zoning Regulations Section 3.5.2.3 for a motor vehicle repair facility for property located at 561 Salmon Brook Street. File Z-06-20.

On A Motion by E. Myers seconded by M. Chapple the commission voted (7-0-0) to approve an application seeking a site plan modification and Special Permit under Zoning Regulations Section 3.5.2.3 for a motor vehicle repair facility for property located at 561 Salmon Brook Street subject to the following: any outstanding Town Engineer comments must be addressed; Farmington Valley Health District approval, if applicable; and changes must be made to the site plan as outlined by staff including parking count, flowering tree type, dumpster location, and trailer location. Changes to the Special Permit include tire changes may take place on the concrete pad outside the building and the permitted hours of operation are Monday through Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Application seeking to modify a Special Permit for a RFD re-subdivision under Zoning Regulations Section 8.20 to change the limits of approved tree clearing for property located at 37 Cider Mill Heights. File Z-07-20.

The commission discussed the lot clearing, noting it did not appear to have an impact on the ridgeline but there are concerns with erosion controls and impacts on the neighbors.

It was agreed a landscape architect should be contacted to create a landscape plan to enhance screening and privacy and minimize the impact on the neighbors.

The commission also noted the additional requested clearing is needed to accommodate the house layout, including the walkout basement and driveway. As for the clearing in the backyard, the commission noted the landscape architect should include this area in the plan to determine appropriate groundcover. Landscaping along driveway to reestablish that area is needed as well.

On A Motion by E. Myers seconded by J. Boardman the commission voted (7-0-0) to approve an application seeking to modify a Special Permit for a RFD re-subdivision under Zoning Regulations Section 8.20 to change the limits of approved tree clearing for property located at 37 Cider Mill Heights with the following conditions: The applicant is to retain a Connecticut Licensed Landscape Architect to design a planting plan to be approved by staff to include soil, berms, and provisions for watering plants, with an emphasis on creating buffers from the neighbors, and the landscaping is to be maintained in a healthful state.

Nominate two Commission members to serve on the Committee to Review Agritourism and Farm Store Zoning Regulations On A Motion by E. Myers seconded by J. Boardman the Commission voted (7-0-0) to appoint Paula Johnson and Matthew Peters to serve on the Committee to Review Agritourism and Farm Store Zoning Regulations.

APRIL 14, 2020 Present: Mark Lockwood (Chair), Jonathan Boardman, Margaret Chapple, Christine Chinni, Eric Lukingbeal, Eric Myers, Brennan Sheahan.

Also present was Abby Kenyon, Director of Community Development.

Call to Order M. Lockwood noted per an Executive Order by the governor, the meeting is being held remotely and while there is no public session, the public may contact the Community Development Department via email in advance of a meeting and A. Kenyon will distribute comments accordingly.

It was also noted that commission members shall introduce themselves each time they speak and during the public hearing, members of the public who wish to speak shall also introduce themselves and state their address.

Minutes On A Motion by E. Lukingbeal seconded by E. Myers the commission voted (7-0-0) to approve the minutes of March 10.

CGS Section 8-24 Referral: Acceptance of Parking Lot next to Freshies Café (portion of 91 Salmon Brook Street, .514 acres) A. Kenyon addressed the commission. Under

Connecticut General Statute Section 8-24, no municipality shall acquire land until the proposal has been referred to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a report. In accordance with this, the Planning and Zoning Commission is asked to consider the acceptance of a portion of 91 Salmon Brook Street, the land adjacent to Freshies Café that contains the parking lot.

A. Kenyon explained that in accordance with the commission’s approval of the apartment development and the access and utility easement agreement, the parking lot is to be turned over to the Town prior to a Certificate of Occupancy being issued for the last apartment building.

The parking lot is located on .514 acres. It has been fully constructed and an as-built has been prepared and reviewed by the Town Engineer.

It is recommended the Planning and Zoning Commission recommend acceptance of the .514 acres of land and associated improvements to the Board of Selectmen.

On A Motion by E. Lukingbeal, seconded by J. Boardman, the commission voted (7-0-0) to recommend acceptance of the land next to Freshies Café, portion of 91 Salmon Brook Street, .514 acres.

Public Hearing Application seeking a Special Permit for an accessory apartment for property located at 22 West Granby Road. Postponed from March 24, 2020.

Representing the property owner, Ula Carter, 28 Meadowbrook Road, addressed the commission.

The apartment will be in the basement of the home and the garage will be converted to a bedroom. The apartment will be 714 square feet total and will consist of a kitchen/den area, one bedroom and one bathroom and will have access to outside. Answering commission members’ questions, Carter stated the property owner has given her permission to represent them at the hearing, A. Kenyon confirmed there is a letter on file indicating the owner is aware of this application; the septic system has been inspected and the building permit is completed and will be submitted if the commission approves the application. Commission members agreed the application is consistent with other accessory apartment applications that have recently been approved and the proposed application complies with the Zoning Regulations.

There was no public comment. The Public Hearing closed at 7:17 p.m. The commission has 65 days to render its decision.

Application seeking a site plan modification and Special Permit for a restaurant with alcoholic beverages and outdoor dining for property located at 18R Hartford Avenue.

Postponed from March 24, 2020.

Dante Boffi, 33 Silver Brook Lane, addressed the commission. He proposes to open a restaurant at 18R Hartford Avenue. Several changes to the site will be made, including removal of several dead trees and brush, 6’ arborvitae will be planted, and two walkways to the building will be installed along with a patio for outdoor dining. A pergola will be positioned over the patio and will have string lights under it. A gate and temporary fence that can be removed at the end of the outdoor dining season will be installed around the patio.

Boffi noted there are currently 30 parking spaces, which complies with the required number of spaces for the proposed use. The spaces will be re-striped along with accessible parking spaces and accessible parking space signage will be installed.

A dumpster pad with an enclosure is proposed for the northwest corner of the parking lot. For the interior of the building, Boffi stated there will be an accessible bathroom, bar area and kitchen installed. There will be tables and bench seating along the back wall. It was noted the bar area complies with the square footage allowed under the Zoning Regulations.

Answering commission questions, Boffi stated there is one accessible bathroom which is ADA compliant; the bench seat is 30’ in length; there will be a swing gate to the patio with a locking mechanism; and a table in the left corner of the restaurant will be removed to allow room for live acoustic music inside. It was also noted a litter control plan has been submitted.

A. Kenyon asked the applicant to clarify several aspects of the proposal. Boffi stated all outdoor patio furniture will be removed and stored off site at the end of the season; other than the string lights, no additional outdoor lighting is proposed, there will be no outdoor music; and the proposed

hours of operation are 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Sunday through Thursday and 6:30 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.

The commission discussed the impact to nearby residents, noting while there are several residential uses nearby, the building is in a commercial area and several other existing restaurants are located closer to residential uses than this proposed restaurant. Answering commission questions, Boffi stated there will be a sign on the building facing Hartford Avenue and a spot added to existing freestanding sign by road. Food will consist of traditional pub fare such as sandwiches, soups, and salads and the restaurant will also offer craft beer, bourbon, whiskey and the like. A. Kenyon stated the application is complete and noted the commission should consider hours of operation, offsite storage of patio furniture, and the provision of music.

The Public Hearing was opened.

Peter Betsch, 14 Mechanicsville Road, and Gary Kevorkian, 18R Hartford Ave., addressed the commission. To answer Betsch’s question, Boffi stated there will be four metal tables on the patio.

Kevorkian stated he is in support of the proposal.

The Public Hearing closed at 7:47 p.m. The commission has 65 days to render its decision.

Receive applications and set public hearings Application seeking a Special Permit under Zoning Regulations Section 8.5 for an accessory apartment for property located at 90 Granville Road. File Z-11-20.

Application seeking a Special Permit under Zoning Regulations Section 8.8 for a home occupation for a woodworking shop in an accessory building for property located at 261 Silver Street. File Z-10-20.

The public hearings have been scheduled for April 28, 2020.

Consideration of above applications, where the commission has concluded the public hearing.

On A Motion by M. Chapple, seconded by E. Lukingbeal, the commission voted (7-0-0) to approve an application seeking a Special Permit under Zoning Regulations Section 8.5 for an accessory apartment for property located at 22 West Granby Road.

The commission discussed the application seeking a site plan modification and Special Permit for property located at 18R Hartford Avenue. The commission concluded that hours of operation should be 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., which is consistent with other restaurants in the area and to also minimize potential impacts on neighbors. There was also discussion of indoor acoustic music and storage of patio furniture.

On A Motion by E. Myers, seconded by J. Boardman, the commission voted (7-0-0) to approve an application seeking a site plan modification and Special Permit under Zoning Regulations Section 8.16 for a restaurant with alcoholic beverages and outdoor dining for property located at 18R Hartford Avenue with the following conditions; hours of operation are from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days per week; acoustic music is permitted indoors only; patio furniture shall be stored offsite at the end of the outdoor dining season.

Staff Report and Correspondence A. Kenyon reported the town hired a contractor to complete test pits in Granby Center to locate the sewer line as part of the intersection improvement project. The work was completed this week and DOT is moving forward with the project. Construction on the roundabout near Notch Road and East Street will begin in May, with completion anticipated by November.

A. Kenyon announced Dominick Caruso will be filling in during her absence. He is the former director in Meriden and is very experienced.

During her absence, she also proposed reducing the number of Planning and Zoning Commission meetings to one per month for May, June and July. Should the need arise, the commission could have a second meeting. The commission agreed to this.

Commissioner Reports and Correspondence M. Lockwood thanked everyone for their cooperation and understanding with the new meeting format.

Respectfully submitted, Patricia Tappenden, Recording Secretary

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May 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 15

Granby Chamber presents award and elects officers The Granby Chamber of Commerce honored Matt Newton of CES Design as Business Person of the Year and Donald Rethke as Humanitarian of the Year at its annual meeting and awards dinner on Feb. 25.

The chamber recognized two New Businesses of the Year, Jimmy’s Tire and Auto and Windy Top Cottage. It also saluted retired Town Manager Bill Smith with a Lifetime Service Award.

Matt Newton started his sign and design business at his home in Granby in 2001 and has remained in town except for a three-year stint in Torrington. CES Design moved into its current location behind State Line Oil in 2016. Its diverse services range from signage, theming, designs, logos, vehicle wraps and custom fabricated items for businesses. Car detailing and restaurant renovation are among his many talents.

His signs at Foxwoods Casino were recognized in Signs of the Times magazine and other work was featured in Sign Builders magazine. A self-taught artist, Newton is a native of Simsbury and attended Tunxis Community College.

His four adult children all graduated from Granby Memorial High School.

Newton has donated his time to complete projects for the Town of Granby, including a Board of Education theme wall, and has been an active Chamber of Commerce member.

Donald Rethke, known affectionately as “Dr. Flush” for his contributions to NASA’s space toilets during the Apollo program, was recognized for his work with the award-winning GMHS Robotics team. Started in 2009, the Granby Grunts have competed throughout New England and beyond. In 2015 they finished in the top one percent of the world at the International Competition in St. Louis. Rethke donates his time and expertise in leading this innovative program, which requires fundraising for the team’s travel. He also established the Robotics team at Enfield’s Fermi High School and has spoken to more than 300,000 children at schools and museums. A Navy veteran and graduate of Wisconsin University, Rethke spent 37 years at Hamilton Standard. In addition to his “zero gravity” commode, he

Committee of vultures is called to order

Black vultures roosted at the top of a few trees on Spring Glen Dr. last month. Photo by Jay Harder

developed spacesuit backpacks for the 12 astronauts who visited the moon and worked on the lunar excursion module, Skylab and the space shuttle among other projects.

Windy Top Cottage, a North Granby bed and breakfast owned by Ken and Dawn Kuhl, has attracted many new visitors to Granby since it opened in 2018. The old stone building on Silkey Road was constructed in 1932 and has been lovingly renovated with an English country home feel. The cottage is available for rent on Airbnb. Ken, an active member of the Salmon Brook Historical Society, also manages other Airbnb properties in Granby including a house at Valkyrie Farm and the Loft at Lost Acres Vineyards. He has been a real estate agent in town and is a great promoter of Granby as a visitor destination.

Jimmy’s Tire and Auto, which opened in January 2019 on Salmon Brook Street, is Granby’s newest car repair shop. General Manager and head mechanic Jim Leitao has worked in the automotive industry since age 15, servicing all car makes and models with state-of-the-art equipment. Leitao has already been involved in several community fundraising events for Lost Acres Fire Department, Granby Ambulance Association and Autism Speaks among others. Last fall he organized a can drive for the Granby Food Bank and held two free car care classes for the general public.

In addition to its annual award winners, the Granby Chamber recognized longtime resident Bill Smith for his 39 years of service as Granby’s Town Manager. Smith came to Granby in 1978 when it was a small rural farm town.

Thanks to his leadership, Granby has morphed into a prosperous suburban community often called the pride of the Farmington Valley. From the Town Hall complex to town planning to social and senior services, Smith was the guiding hand until his retirement in 2017. At his retirement party, the Town of Granby renamed the drives into Granby’s Municipal Complex as William F. Smith, Jr. Way. Smith has been involved with several organizations, serving as President of the Council of Small Towns,

The 2020 officers and board members are (from left): Chamber Administrator John French, Scott Riley, Brian Guarco, Bob Marx, treasurer, Frank Schoenrock, Rob Pancoast, Vice-President Jamie Rice, President John Laudati and immediate past president Mary Anne Guarco. Missing from the photo are Kathy Ungerleider, secretary Tony Roda, second Vice-President Kevin Riggott, Tim Baker, Meg Statile, Andrew St. Onge and Christine Vincent. Submitted photo

The annual award winners are (from left): Chamber President John Laudati, Dawn and Ken Kuhl (Windy Top Cottage), Bill Smith (retired Town Manager), Donald “Dr. Flush Rethke (Humanitarian), Matt Newton of CES Design (Business Person) and Karly Fisher (representing Jimmy’s Tire and Auto). Submitted photo

where he spearheaded lobbying efforts for educational funding and open space.

He was instrumental in Holcomb Farm returning to Granby after it was willed to the University of Connecticut, and its subsequent renovation. He remains the

longest serving town manager with a single town in the State of Connecticut.

In addition to announcing the awards, the chamber elected and announced the 2020 officers and board members at the annual meeting.

Page 16 The Granby Drummer

May 2020

May 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 17

Waypoints

By Mark Fiorentino

Northwest Connecticut Fish: 14, Mark: 1 At least I avoided the shutout. Barely.

I blame it on the quarantine. Normally, I would know better than to challenge our area fish to a contest of wills in early spring. If you spend any time reading about fishing (and I do), you’ll find lots of articles that claim you can catch fish regularly in the first few months of the year. Let me summarize these articles for you, with a small injection of reality. All you need to do is: 1) spend lots of money on gear; 2) freeze your butt off; and 3) be extremely lucky—like finding a $100 bill in the parking lot lucky.

So yeah, I know better. It’s rare that I fish much between ice out and the middle of May. But I figured, why not? I’d already mowed my yard three times, even though the grass isn’t growing yet. I’d filled the potholes in the driveway, spread mulch and planted seeds for all of the garden plants that need to start indoors.

When I caught myself peeling the cellophane off of the Complete Collection of the Andy Griffith Show, I decided it was time to throw down the gauntlet. In order to fulfill another springtime yearning, we would conduct the challenge like a baseball game. I would fish nine times, each outing constituting an inning. I would score a run for every fish caught. The fish would score whenever I completed an hour with no fish landed.

I never had a chance. It was like a real-life game between the Dodgers and my beloved Baltimore Orioles. I was overmatched from the first pitch. Here are some highlights: First Inning I was optimistic I could get on the

board quickly. I was fishing an area of the Farmington River where I have caught lots of fish during the summer months, everything from trout to smallmouth bass. But the fish came out throwing fireballs. The water was running high and fast, and the wind was brutal. I quickly fell behind 1-0, then 2-0, without so much as a foul tip. Not wanting to get blown out in the first inning, I quit and headed home.

Second Inning I dug into the batter’s box, confident.

I was fishing a private club pond that had been recently stocked with trout. I planned to jump on the fish right out of the gate, swinging aggressively at the first pitch. I baited up with a juicy night crawler and went to work. It’s a small pond, and I was able to methodically fish every portion of it in an hour. Result: I’m down 3-0 and the crowd is getting a little restless.

Third and Fourth Innings More of the same. I fish two different ponds; one I know well and one I’ve never fished before. I unleash an impressive arsenal, trying everything from worms to jigs to spinner baits. In the third, I hook a nice bass, but watch helplessly as he shakes his head and spits out the hook. I give up three more runs.

Fifth Inning Look out, fish. I might erase your entire six-run lead in a single inning.

Christensen’s Pond and the nearby brook have been stocked with hundreds of trout in just the last few days. You can see them stacked up in several areas of the brook. As I approach the bank,

Above: Ellie, the Ringer Left: Dan Litin with a brown trout

I watch a young man suspend just below it. I try named Dan Litin reel them all, including several in a beautiful brown that are reasonable imitatrout. Dan is a senior at tions of what the trout are Granby Memorial High eating. Two more hours, no School. He’s an excelbites. As I load up to head lent football player, and home, I mark the seventh helped lead the Bears inning stretch by singing last fall to their second God Bless America. I’m playoff appearance in probably the only one that school history. He also hears it. appears to be an exEighth Inning perienced fisherman.

I get the following text As I watch, he catches from my friend Dave: “Reanother trout. ceiving reports that fishing “Wow, Dan.” “What’s is hot at Howell’s Pond. your secret?” I ask.

Meet me up there at 3.”

“I don’t know,” he I’m suspicious as I pull says though a huge into the parking lot. Where grin. “I’ve never fished does Dave get his reports? before.”

There isn’t a soul out fishI smile myself, rub my ing. It’s overcast and cold, hands together greedily and there is a distinct feelMark avoids a shutout. and head for the oping of “fishlessness” in Submitted photos posite bank. There’s the air. But, I’m here, so I plenty of room for us launch my kayak and get to fish the same hole. On my third cast, to work. If you figure I can make three I get my first hit of the game. A solid line casts per minute, I made something like drive into the gap. The fish is actually 360 attempts in the two hours we were taking line. there. The fish were wrapping up their “This is a nice one. I’m on the board.” pummeling of me. It was 14-0.

As I say these things, I carelessly let Ninth Inning the tip of my rod drop towards the waI have brought a ringer. Although I ter. The line slackens just a bit, and then have no real hope of overcoming a 14he’s gone. I can hear the announcer in run deficit in my last at bats, I need to do my head, “That was boneheaded. There everything I can to avoid the shutout. So, was no reason to try to stretch that into I asked my daughter Ellie to join me. Ela double in this situation, down six runs lie is skilled. She is a former Connecticut and nobody out.”

Youth Angler of the Year and she shares I fish for two hours, and get a couple the state record for largest caught and of more bites, but don’t land a single released Pumpkinseed. But more imporfish. Dan, meanwhile, catches about ten. tantly, she has a laid-back attitude that I I’ve shown my first life since the game figure will be my ace in the hole—she began, but there are no moral victories. doesn’t really care whether she catches I’m down 8-0. anything. If the fish aren’t biting, she Sixth Inning has no problem laying down her rod and It’s a beautiful day: sunny, 62 degrees “working on her tan”, or, as she told me and no wind. I’m fishing with my son she might do today, “just sit and let the Gage. We try three different streams, stream’s current swirl around me.” and see fish in all three. He is fly fishing; And it works. Even though I am fishing I am casting a myriad of different lures a part of the Salmon Brook I have never and baits. In two hours, we don’t get a fished before, and even though I swear single bite. It’s 10-0 and most of the fans this section doesn’t hold fish, I hook and are headed home. land a feisty brown trout. Making the final box score look like this: Seventh Inning The fish are getting cocky. I’m floating in my kayak at West Hill Pond. Trout are breaking all around me, slurping in everything that lands on the surface.

Everything, that is, except what I am

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E casting. Being the well-read fisherFish 2 1 2 1 2 2 2 2 0 14 31 0 man that I am, I have brought lots Mark 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 5 4 of lures that float on the surface or

Page 18 The Granby Drummer

HEALTH NOTES

By the

Farmington Valley VNA

Life has changed; will we?

The last few months have felt as though we are living in a science fiction movie.

Facts and opinions change so rapidly that by the time you read this, new information will have replaced it.

How do you sift through what is critical information? How do we all learn to live our lives more safely, now and after the crisis is past? We will never go back to exactly the old life we knew, and some of that may be good. Maybe it is time to understand what we do know, what we need to rethink, and how do we plan for the unknown world around us as we move forward.

First, let’s just go over the facts. Let’s compare the flu with Coronavirus to see similarities and differences.

Cause COVID-19 is one virus, now called severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The flu can be any of several types and strains of influenza viruses.

Transmission While both the flu and COVID-19 may be transmitted in similar ways, COVID-19 might also be spread through the aerosoled airborne route. Patients with no symptoms may transmit COVID-19.

Medications Antiviral medications and other therapies are being tested with COVID-19 patients, with no data yet on whether they will address symptoms.

Antiviral medications for various flu infections can address symptoms and sometimes shorten the duration of illness.

Vaccine No vaccine is available for COVID-19.

Flu vaccines are available and effective to prevent or reduce the severity of some of the most dangerous types of influenza.

COVID-19 is caused by a new virus; people do not have immunity to it and a vaccine may be many months away.

Containing the virus will be aided when we can test for immunity.

So how do we proceed? We will need to take responsibility for our actions, wearing masks and gloves when going out.

The most vulnerable will need a modified, continued quarantine with crowd avoidance and restricted visitors.

For everyone, we may need to practice self-sufficiency and resiliency, yet knowing when to seek help when feeling overwhelmed. We need to reach out to those we know without compromising our health. Accepting that we need to do this is not without some sadness for what we have lost. We need to grieve those losses. Change can also create a sense of pride that we can become independent to some degree. We have a huge advantage over previous generations because of technology that allows us to see and speak with our loved ones. As individuals and as a nation, we will see a renewed sense of identity honed by the experience of a life-altering event. We will compromise; we will seek a healthier lifestyle to support our immune system; we will work together as a community, state, and nation, and we will prevail.

The Farmington Valley VNA is a local source of information during a community health crisis. Reach out to us with any questions or concerns; we are here for you.

—Nancy Scheetz, APRN, Executive Director, FVVNA

May 2020

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

Autumn Olive

Elaeagnus Umbellata Find it Autumn Olive is an inoffensive looking shrub or small tree with silvery green leaves, yellow flowers, and red berries in the fall. Unlike many of the invasive plants that plague Granby lands, it is not yet universally established and controlling it is more feasible.

By May, Autumn Olive’s leaves are fully developed, and its fragrant yellow flowers are in full bloom, making it easy to identify and remove.

It grows rapidly in a wide range of soils and is often found in “disturbed” habitats and at the edges of fields and near streams.

Its ability to grow quickly in infertile areas allows it to colonize areas quickly and crowd out slower-growing varieties.

Russian Olive (Elaeagnus Angustifolia) looks similar and is considered potentially invasive. Its leaves are silvery on both sides, not just the back, and it has yellow berries, not red.

Why it’s a problem People brought Autumn Olive from Asia in the 1800s as an ornamental shrub, and it was widely planted, including along Connecticut highways for erosion control. It escaped cultivation and now runs rampant across much of the eastern U.S. Autumn Olive is equipped with an unusual tool: it creates its own food. Autumn Olive extracts nitrogen, an essential plant nutrient, from the air and makes it available in the soil for nourishment just as the plants farmers use to enrich their fields (clover, peas, other legumes). This allows it to flourish and become dominant in poor soil where other plants and trees

Autumn Olive, as it appears in May

struggle and grow slowly. Autumn Olive grows rapidly, and mature shrubs produce thousands of seeds that are gobbled up and widely distributed by birds and animals.

What to do Remove it. The most effective way to control Autumn Olive is to identify and completely pull out young plants. It’s important to pull up all the roots because the plant can restart from root fragments.

Springtime is the best time to pull young plants, when the soil is moist. With mature shrubs, it’s much harder to extract all the roots, and just cutting the shrub encourages growth. An effective alternative is a careful cut-and-paint strategy in late summer using a liquid herbicide.

Gaining control over apparently invincible invasive plants may seem as difficult as reversing a worldwide pandemic. But the lessons are the same: trust sciencegrounded facts, vigorously apply tested strategies, and work together to multiply our efforts. In the long run we will prevail, and be better for the struggle, together.

For more information on invasive plants, events and the NOT WANTED campaign, drop us a note on the Granby Conservation Commission webpage.

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May 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 19

What’s for supper? Chicken Pot Pie

Art found in unexpected places

By Pamela Scherrer After being home for a month I have been doing a lot of cooking and baking, and honestly, I miss going out to eat and I am sure many of you feel the same.

During these stressful times there is the need for comfort food. This month’s recipe is my mom’s chicken pot pie, the ultimate comfort food in my opinion. As with most recipes, this can be modified by adding more or less of the veggies and using salt-free broth or vegetable broth if you like. For the chicken I usually boil a bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts and then shred the meat.

MOM’S CHICKEN POT PIE Ingredients 1 lb. of cooked chicken meat, shredded 2 cups frozen pearl onions 2 medium red potatoes, skin on, cut into bite sized pieces 2 cups fresh green beans, cut in half 2 ½ cups chopped carrots (I use the rainbow-colored baby carrots) 1 cup frozen peas 4 Tablespoons butter 4 Tablespoons flour 4 cups chicken broth 1 teaspoon dried parsley 1 teaspoon dried chives ¼ teaspoon paprika ¼ teaspoon white or black pepper ¼ teaspoon dried thyme ¼ teaspoon marjoram Pinch of sea salt 1 Pillsbury instant pie crust

A hike on the Metacomet Trail brings many rewards but finding art is not what one would expect.

This cairn-like installation is on the trail north of Newgate, near Suffield.

Photo by Amanda Lindberg

Directions Unroll pie crust and cut to size of your 4-quart casserole dish. Bake on a cookie sheet as directed until light golden color and remove, set aside to cool.

In empty casserole dish, layer the onions, potatoes, green beans, carrots and chicken.

In a saucepan, make a roux by melting the butter over low heat and whisking in the flour. Once the flour and butter are combined, increase heat to medium and immediately start whisking in the 4 cups of broth, ½ cup at a time, until the sauce is slightly thickened. Add all of the herbs, salt and pepper and blend well.

Pour sauce into casserole.

Cover casserole with foil and bake at 375 for about 25 minutes, remove foil and stir in the 1 cup of peas, replace foil and bake another 15 min. Remove foil and place pre-baked crust on top, bake additional 10 minutes, until bubbly.

Buon Appetito!

Thank you with all my heart(s) Hearts of all sizes and shapes are popping up to show gratitude for the many people who are still working during this pandemic— mail carriers, health care providers, fire and safety personnel, everyone in the food supply chain. These photos are from ...

Photos by Deborah Kulwich

YMCA adapts to community needs

By Brian Liss The world is a different place than it was just a few weeks ago. Common gathering spots, like the Y, houses of worship and schools are closed, leaving many to look for ways to be supported and connected.

In the 168 years that the YMCA of Greater Hartford has served the Hartford region, our mission has been to adapt to meet the current needs of our community.

This year is no different. As an organization of staff and volunteers that work to support and connect communities, we knew we had to find a way to keep that mission going.

That is why, even with our doors closed, the Y continues to provide necessary resources to support the individual and family. As a branch of the YMCA of Greater Hartford, the Farmington Valley YMCA is offering free, exclusive content not just to our members, but to all people within the communities we serve. From daily workouts to family activities, we have so much for you and your family to do while you are home.

For our Y members, we have created Y at Home and private Facebook groups where people can come together and share pictures of their hikes, funny

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memes about distance learning, and just commiserate about missing one another.

Even though our 49th Annual Granby Road Race was postponed until September, we are holding our first ever Virtual Road Race May 1–3. Runners from more than 10 states and multiple countries will participate alongside Granby runners.

When the Red Cross had a need, the Farmington Valley YMCA responded by hosting two blood drives in April. With the local food banks being used more than ever, the Farmington Valley YMCA responded with food drives. We knew the strong and connected Y community would support these needs.

For the larger community, the Y will continue to post resources on its branch Facebook pages and public YouTube channel. YouTube content includes youth and family activities, group exercise, workout and health tips, learn to swim on land, senior exercise and more. In the coming weeks, we’ll expand our offerings to include educational childcare activities, virtual coffee hours, and more.

Be sure to mark your calendars for these upcoming events: Bike for the Battle on Saturday, Sept. 12, and the 49th Annual Granby Road Race on Saturday, Sept. 19.

and East Granby.

Let’s Plant the Seeds Together for a Secure Future!

Contact me: Matthew Tyo, RICP® Cetera Investors 111 Founders Plaza, Suite 300 East Hartford, CT 06108 860.282.4600 ext.316

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Cetera Investors is a marketing name of Cetera Investment Services. Securities and Insurance Products are offered through Cetera Investment Services LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services are offered through Cetera Investment Advisers LLC.

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Page 20 The Granby Drummer

May 2020

~1945 to 2020~

Salmon Brook Historical Society celebrates Platinum Jubilee

By Faith Tyldsley Today’s Salmon Brook Historical Society (SBHS) began modestly, humbly housed in the basement of the old Granby Public Library (presently the Granby Food Bank operated by the Farmington Valley Visiting Nurses Association).

Seventy-five years ago, in 1945, a group of residents began meeting in the library’s Historical Room under the leadership of Ethel Robinson Linnell, professional genealogist and historian.

Mrs. Linnell, the organizing force behind the fledgling group, took on the role of curator, in charge of keeping records and cataloging acquisitions, planning exhibitions, and researching objects and collections.

She led a committee that included Miss Ever Green and Judge Theodore G. Case.

The following is taken from one of her early typewritten reports, entitled The Granby Historical Room.

“The purpose of the Historical Room is to preserve material relating to Granby History, which will show its origin and the part played by its people in making it the town it is. To bring happiness to older citizens, by recalling memories of the past.

To show children the ways of another day.

To help the newer residents of the town, who wish to learn something of Granby’s history.”

There was popular support for such a group; Granby’s older life long residents were generous in their gifts of artifacts, books and documents of historical import.

Mrs. Linnell established reference and research centers. Exhibits and displays gradually filed the room. Residents came to explore and to add contributions to their town’s history.

When Linnell retired in 1958, she turned her energies toward ensuring the long-term sustainability of the group.

She and Jessie Guay began the process required to form a nonprofit organization with tax-exempt status. Incorporation was achieved in 1959 with the legal help of Granby native, Judge William M. Maltbie, former Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court. The position of curator then passed to Eva C. Dewey who was subsequently designated curator for life.

She served from 1959 to 1986, when the position passed to Carol Laun, who holds it to the present day.

Current Mission Statement Revised and approved by the SBHS Board of Directors on 22 August 2005.

The Salmon Brook Historical Society is an organization of volunteers dedicated to procuring, preserving, presenting and celebrating the history of Granby.

The society is committed to educating the public on the importance of preserving the town’s heritage and its historic buildings and landmarks.

SBHS BUILDINGS

208 Salmon Brook Street, Granby, CT

Abijah Rowe House Built c.1732; acquired 1966

A permanent home for the society was established through the gift of the Abijah

Rowe House by sisters Mildred Colton Allison and Carolyn Colton Avery in 1966.

The Rowe House is the oldest structure left intact in Granby from the time of the original Salmon Brook Settlement. It was probably built by Nehemiah Lee who sold it in 1750 to his son-in-law Peter Rowe, who sold it to his brother, Abijah Rowe, in 1753. The Rowe brothers were both blacksmiths, and may have made some of the hardware presently seen in the house. Abijah Rowe lived there with his wife, Deborah, and 11 children until his death in 1812.

The home is a 2-1/2 story wood frame structure, with central chimney and clapboarded exterior. The paneling and corner cupboard in the south parlor are original to the house while the corner cupboard in the north parlor exemplifies early 19th century remodeling.

The Rowe house was restored to an early 1800s appearance through use of items from the Bunce Collection, which consisted of artifacts from the Granby area accumulated by Laura Dibble Bunce (1838-1916). The Bunce Collection was donated by Mrs. Bunce’s granddaughter, Miss Mary Edwards, in 1975 and accounts in large part for the authentic ambiance of the house. Edwards recollects that her grandmother “…was an enthusiastic collector of antiques in the Granby area from 1890 on, going to auctions and watching porches and woodsheds for pieces, buying ‘things’ for pennies (broken or not).”

Mrs. Bunce eventually raised the roof of her home, making an attic room for her “things”: “…spinning wheels, warming pans, wrought iron items of all kinds, quilts and baskets.” (from notes of Curator Eva C. Dewey, 1975)

Weed-Enders House Built 1790; acquired 1974

Moses Weed built his home in 1790 in the hills of West Granby where his family cleared and farmed the land. It was eventually used as a hunting cabin by John Enders who purchased it in 1924. Following the establishment of Enders State Forest, the Weed-Enders House was rescued from demolition through donation to SBHS by the state of Connecticut.

In comparison with the Rowe house, it is a modest single story wood frame structure with central chimney and a parlor finished in Victorian style. Upon its move to SBHS property, it was attached to the Rowe house by means of an attractive architectural plan, allowing access to both structures from within the society entrance without sacrificing the character of either.

Of the 13 one-room schoolhouses in Granby, Cooley is the only one which has not been renovated into a private residence or fallen victim to deterioration due to lack of maintenance. It was built in 1872 on the corner of East Street and Cooley Road in North Granby. An interesting aside: although the schoolhouse itself was in Granby, the boundary “notch” wherein Massachusetts dips down into Connecticut abutted the backside of the building, necessitating students to use an outhouse located in Southwick, Mass.

Cooley One-room Schoolhouse Built 1872; acquired 1972 including outhouse and attached woodhouse.

Merrill Clark donated Cooley schoolhouse to SBHS in 1972.

After 1948, when the one-room schools in Granby were closed, they were auctioned off; the desks, chairs and stoves were sold. Merrill Clark’s father acquired the schoolhouse which represented a piece of family history: he had attended the school, his wife had taught 15 years there, and Merrill himself had attended grades one through nine.

Following the building’s move to SBHS property, a 19th century schoolroom was recreated, complete with wood stove, water bucket and dipper, an 1855 Connecticut map, and the mandatory portrait of George Washington. Granby’s second graders visit SBHS every year. They tour the Rowe and Weed houses and the Tobacco Barn. They play with reproduction old-time toys and games and get to write their names with a quill pen dipped in ink. In the schoolhouse, they sit at vintage desks, open vintage readers and geography books, and write in chalk on slates once used in Granby District schools.

Colton-Hayes Tobacco Barn Built 1914, acquired 1976

The Colton-Hayes Tobacco Barn, built in 1914 by Fred M. Colton, was given to the Society by his daughters in 1976.

Within the 30x128-foot structure lives a microcosm of Granby’s past: the vast space is divided into sections, each highlighting an aspect of bygone days: an exhibit of local Indian artifacts; a collection of early quilting, spinning, and weaving tools; recreation of an early Meeting House (ecumenically created from parts of Granby’s early churches); a village store; a dressmaker’s shop; a shoemaker’s shop and a kitchen equipped with apple-peeler, iron stove and ice box.

Granby’s rural farm heritage also resides here: farm tools and machinery; sleds and sleighs; hay rakes and hay forks; carpenter tools; items used in cider mills and grist mills, in blacksmithing and maple sugaring, in bee keeping and ice cutting; and a tobacco production exhibit.

The mail for the Bushy Hill-Barn Door Hills neighborhood was delivered to the Mail Hut, a diminutive shelter resembling an outhouse during the 1860s and into the 1900s before Rural Free Delivery functioned fully throughout America’s farmlands. Mail was left in a bag which was hung on a hook. There was a shelf and whoever got there first looked through all the letters and postcards as they searched for their own.

Mail Hut Originally located at Barn Door Hills and Route 20.

The busybody matrons of the area kept a close watch on correspondence and used to criticize young Addie Holcomb for writing to too many soldiers during the Civil War. Addie complained about the nosy neighbors in her diary (property of SBHS) in 1862.

Preservation Barn Built 2007 For years members of SBHS had dreamed of having a multi-purpose building. This was not to be a typical building with office, storage room and a bathroom.

The perfect structure was clearly defined in members’ minds.

It would provide climate-controlled rooms for textile storage and for archival books, documents and photographs. It would also include large open spaces into which presently-crowded barn exhibits could move; additional room would be designated for items that needed repair, for those used in rotating and future exhibits, and for artifacts taken on traveling exhibits.

Donations were sometimes being refused for lack of space: such a building would solve that problem. A staff room would have kitchen facilities and be large enough to accommodate tables and chairs for a group of 20. A library would hold books, genealogy files and historical research files. There would be handicapped-accessible bathrooms, which could be used during Flea Markets.

The dream became reality when, in 2005, a Building Committee was formed.

It was chaired by Curator Carol Laun and included Jean Potetz, Charlie Dickson, Seth Holcombe, Brian Whiton, Dave Laun and Bill Vibert. At the April 2007 Annual Dinner, Laun announced that the building was nearly complete, and by fall of 2008 the building was in full use. It has three levels on a 40x80 foot foundation and contains 7,000 square feet.

Sadoce Wilcox House Built 1787; acquired 2019

The Wilcox House, barn and 45-acre property is located in West Granby at 147 Simsbury Road. It is the only 18th century house in Granby which has been continuously lived in by descendants of Sadoce Wilcox (1737-1776) who built it. Steve Wilcox Hastings (1938-2020), the last owner, sold it to the Granby Land Trust which will preserve the 45 acres while SBHS preserves the house.

SBHS cont’d. on p. 21

May 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 21

Who’s Who in Granby: Judge William Maltbie

SBHS cont’d. from p. 20 It is a typical center-entrance, centerchimney Colonial. The second floor and attic are unchanged since 1787. Water and electricity have been added but it has never had heat save that generated from three fireplaces and several stoves. One bathroom was added in the mid 1930s.

This is a prized addition to the society’s properties with proposed uses including tours and theme exhibits, such as a loom and weaving room.

Presidents Since 1959, 20 persons have served as presidents of the society. Terms of oneand two-years were common, but many of the seven women and 13 men held the position for four years. William Vibert, active in myriad Granby civics groups, is notable as having served three separate terms, for a total of 10 years.

Volunteers The Salmon Brook Historical Society is staffed solely by volunteers. A core group of approximately 20 gather every Thursday morning. There is always a working list of repair and maintenance projects for Dave Laun and his crew.

Several women, under the direction of Textile Curator Jean Potetz, clean, repair and research donated vintage clothing and other textiles. Donated articles, referred to as accessions, are recorded on index cards.

If it’s flea market time, Ellen Cunha and helpers are sorting, cleaning and pricing contributions. Curator Carol Laun and Assistant Curator Martha Korostynski field phone calls, meet with prospective donors, and deal with never-ending piles of paperwork.

On a periodic basis, the Thursday group gathers around the table in the kitchen, in assembly-line formation, to prepare the newsletter for mailing. At 10:30 a.m. sharp comes the welcome break—time for goodies and camaraderie. The kitchen becomes like a home full of noisy children, competing conversations resounding across the community table. It’s the SBHS family.

Recipients of the Ethel R. Linnell Award Each year the society presents the Linnell Award, named for the first curator, Ethel Robinson Linnell, at the annual meeting in April. Fifty-five persons who have made outstanding contributions have been honored.

Events 2020 Due to the corona virus, the May Spring Flea Market and the two events scheduled for June—the Car and Engine Show and the Ice Cream Social—have been cancelled. Sunday Tours, which would have commenced on Memorial Day, have been suspended until further notice.

The Fall Flea Market to be held on Oct. 17 remains scheduled at this time.

SBHS Officers Todd Vibert, President Richard Zlotnick, Vice President Roger Hayes, Treasurer Carol Laun, Archivist and Curator Martha Korostynski, Assistant Archivist and Curator Board Members: Karen Antonucci, Howard Berg, Ellen Cunya, Peg Giles, Diane Hernsdorf, John Horr, Whitey Johnson, Lynn Lochhead, Kathy Morgan, Bill Ross Jean Potetz, Textile Director Virginia Wutka, Education and Tour Director

By Todd Vibert

SBHS volunteers. (l-r) Front: Sally Sargent Markey, Ellen Cunha, Melba Griffin, Patty Sansone, Martha Korostynski, Lynn Lochhead, Carol Laun, Mary Zlotnick, Jean Potetz, Lisa Vibert. Back: Bill Ross, Howard Berg, Dave Laun, John Horr, Jim Glenney.

Photo by Amy Geigner

FIVE GREAT REASONS TO JOIN THE SALMON BROOK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 1. To act on your belief in the importance of preserving the past 2. To pass on your belief to your children and other young people 3. To feel that sense of community belonging 4. To take part in social opportunities with those who share your values 5. To get in the holiday spirit at the annual members-only Wassail party

Presidents of the Salmon Brook Historical Society 1959-2020

1959 Sandra Barnes 1960-61 Brewer Dean 1962-63 Ethel Wilson 1964 Robert Spear 1965-66 Brewer Dean 1967 Herbert Chittendon 1968-69 Polly Hall 1970-71 Marge Gracey 1972-75 Harry Lanser 1976-79 William Vibert 1980-83 Dorothy Lockwood 1984-87 George Tuffin 1988-92 Carol Reid 1993-96 William Vibert 1997-2000 J. Holden Camp 2001-2005 Carol Bressor 2005-2006 William Vibert 2007-2009 Charles Dickson 2009-2010 Robert Schrepf 2011-2012 Ken Kuhl 2013-2014 William Ross 2015-2018 Rich Zlotnick 2019-2020 Todd Vibert

Roger Hayes receives the Linnell Award from Carol Laun in 2018.

Ethel R. Linnell Award 1976-2019

1976 Eva Dewey 1977 Mildred Colton Allison and Carolyn Colton Avery 1978 Helen and Brewer Dean 1979 Ethel Wilson 1980 unknown 1981 Mary Edwards 1982 Carol Laun 1983 Warren Whiton 1984 Helen Green 1985 Leila Hawken 1986 George Freese 1987 Polly Hall 1988 George Tuffin 1989 Dorothy Lockwood 1990 Edward Rosier 1991 Mac and Bill Wilson 1992 Seth Holcomb 1993 Carol Reid 1994 Tim and Carolyn Leach 1995 Jim McDermott 1996 Bill Vibert 1997 Russ Covell 1998 Evelyn Hildreth 1999 Grace and Dick Ayer 2000 Ed Wells 2001 Ruth and Ronald Robinson 2002 Rusty Kniffin 2003 David Laun 2004 Bob and Tica Jones 2005 not awarded 2006 Bill Haslun 2007 Fred and Melba Griffin 2008 Jim and Nancy Olsen 2009 Carol Bressor 2010 Pat Vibert 2011 Jane Ann and Bill Pease 2012 Chris and Cheryl Klemmer 2013 Jean Potetz 2014 Paul and Lorraine Dewey 2015 Sally Markey 2016 Roger Young 2017 Jim Oates and William S. Hart 2018 Roger Hayes 2019 Todd Vibert and family

I have always enjoyed reading tombstones in Granby Cemetery. Each stone has a short biography of the person buried there. Usually, there is just a birth date and a date of death. One large tomb stone has more. One side reads MALTBIE and the other side reads “William Mills Maltbie, Chief Justice, 1930-1950 Connecticut Supreme Court.”

William Mills Maltbie was born March 10, 1880 and lived his whole life in Granby. His early education was in Granby and he graduated from Hartford Public schools in 1897. He graduated from Yale University in 1901 and four years later graduated from Yale Law School. In 1905, he passed the bar exam and started working at his father ’s law firm in Hartford. As many did at that time, he rode his horse to the Tariffville train station and took the train to work.

A few of Maltbie’s accomplishments are included in Who’s Who in America: A Biographical Dictionary of Notable American Men and Women of the United States.

The entry reads: “Maltbie, William Mills, Judge. …House of Representatives 1913, Assistant Attorney, Hartford County, 1914-17. Judge Superior Court of Connecticut 1917-1925. Associate Justice Supreme Court of Errors, 1930 Chief Justice Supreme Court of Errors, Member State Library Commission of Connecticut, Trustee of Hartford Seminary Foundation. Author: Index Digest Connecticut Reports Volume 64 to 81 (with Henry Townsend) in 1908. 1924 wrote volumes 64 to 97.” (Volume 19, page 1580).

What Maltbie achieved by 1937 would be a lifetime of achievements for many ordinary citizens. After 1937, he continued to be involved with more projects.

For 17 years, he served as president of the Connecticut Prison Association, then president of the Greater Hartford Federation of Churches, chairman of the State Judicial Council, served on the Board of Education for the Blind, and served on the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

When Maltbie became Chief Justice at age 50, he was the youngest and served the longest—20 years until mandatory retirement age of 70. During his tenure, he was involved with 3,685 cases, wrote the majority opinion in 824 cases and wrote 33 dissents. He also gave the oath of office to eight governors. After retirement, he served as a State Referee and served as a one-man grand jury twice, in 1951 and 1954.

The founders of Salmon Brook Historical Society greatly appreciated this man.

He helped with the legal work as the society become incorporated in 1959. Judge Maltbie had tremendous energy and took great pride as a jurist and his involvement of helping others. Want to know more about Judge William Maltbie or Granby history? Join the Salmon Brook Historical Society and help us celebrate our 75th Anniversary. Call: 860-653-9713 or visit salmonbrookhistoricalsociety.com

Page 22 The Granby Drummer

Stepping Up and Digging In (to the Ground!)

Hallelujah! While there may be disagreements about how our leaders are responding to the Covid-19 crisis, let’s be grateful that here in Connecticut the importance of fresh, locally grown food was recognized from day one. Specifically, when nonessential businesses were closed, the Department of Agriculture worked with the Governor’s office to make sure farm stands and farmer’s markets could remain open for business.

A March 18 Department of Agriculture press release read: Connecticut Farmers Markets and Farm Stands OPEN

Connecticut residents seeking fresh, local foods are advised that farm stands and farmers’ markets remain open for business. As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, the Connecticut Department of Agriculture has worked with Governor Lamont’s office to clarify that these entities are not currently affected by the Executive Order.

“Farm stores and farmers’ markets offer consumers a retail option that is essential to keeping fresh, local food accessible,” said Connecticut Department of Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt.

“This is an unprecedented situation for all however, our farmers and producers are working hard to produce nutritious foods, playing a vital role in our state’s economy and food supply chain.”

Farming: Inspired by Uncertainty Farmers are used to uncertainty; March and April have brought all the weather variations that are part-and-parcel of a New England spring. And now, the virus.

With it has come a strong increase in demand from customers and CSA shareholders, along with requests for support from our Fresh Access partners.

Farmer Joe O’Grady and his crew follow strict health safety guidelines to be sure the food they distribute is safe for shareholders, customers and partners.

Twice, bagged sales of winter veggies and fresh greenhouse greens successfully reached some 200 customers, once before

May 2020

Spring planting included a big increase in black and red summer raspberries in response to members’ requesting more fruit. Farm hand Brittany Gauthier (foreground) helps Farmer Joe O’Grady install a trellis. Photo by Jessie Parker

St. Patrick’s Day, and again around Easter.

The Summer CSA shares are sold out with a waiting list, as we try to predict how much the sun will shine, and the rains come.

We have doubled our 2020 commitments to Fresh Access partners and promised to lengthen the season through the end of October.

Despite uncertainty, we have much to anticipate The always popular annual Mother’s Day Plant Sale will happen, with dozens of varieties of flowers, herbs and tomatoes. lettuce, greens, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, zucchinis, melons and more.

And we will open the Farm Store on June 16, if all goes according to plan.

To receive periodic email updates from Joe and the Friends, bringing you the most recent information, please go to holcombfarm.org and scroll down to add your name and email address to our contact list.

New trail signs at Holcomb Farm remind people how to responsibly enjoy the fields and woods. Photo by Susan Canavan

2

The American Elm is one of the earlier trees to bud-out in the fickle New England spring. Photo by Eric Lukingbeal

The Trails: Open for (Physically-Distanced) Business The FOHF Stewardship folks have continued the ongoing work of trail maintenance, tree planting and labelling, and invasive management. Be sure to practice safe behaviors as you breathe in the fresh air.

Friends of Holcomb Farm Annual Meeting: Postponed Our annual meeting, typically held in early June, is being postponed. We are excited to lead walks on the new Tree Trail, oversee the third annual Pie Baking contest, and share with all the accomplishments of last year. We hope to be able to responsibly do this in late summer or fall.

Support the Friends of Holcomb Farm and Fresh Access Feeding our community would not be possible without the support of our Friends of Holcomb Farm members, granting agencies like the Granby Community Fund, other donors to the Friends and/or specifically to Fresh Access, and of course our CSA and farm store customers.

To support us in this cause, please visit our website: holcombfarm.org and click on “Donate.”

PA R K P CE

COMMUNITY MEMBERS

GALLERY AT 2 PARK PLACE GRANBY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOHN MICHAEL HAIR DESIGN EDWARD JONES - JAMES HAMMEL IDEAL HEALTHY WEIGHT LOSS THE WAY FORWARD COUNSELING SUBSEVEN

2

COME JOIN US! PA R K P �C E .C O M

May 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 23

The Granby Land Trust invites you to become a member During the quarantine, many people have found joy and solace on Granby Land Trust properties. We are pleased to serve our community in this manner—giving people safe alternatives for outdoor recreation during this difficult time.

Of course, the credit really goes to our donors and members who support the Granby Land Trust. We could not possibly manage the number of acres and the miles of trails in our possession without the support of our members.

If you’ve discovered the joy of hiking Granby Land Trust trails over the last few weeks, we hope you will join the Granby Land Trust. We can’t offer our members discounts on hikes (they’re already free) or exclusive access to trails (they’re open to all), but we can offer you the satisfaction of doing the right thing and supporting an organization that is vitally important to the character of our town. In addition, once we can do things together again, you will receive invitations to special GLT hikes and educational events.

Membership starts at just $30 for your whole family. Please help us continue to preserve Granby’s beautiful places by joining today. Go to granbylandtrust.org and click on “membership,” or simply mail your contribution to Granby Land

Trust, P.O. Box 23, Granby, CT 06035.

Include your name and email address so we can reach you.

And if you are looking for new hiking adventures, please visit granbylandtrust. org. We are so fortunate to live where we do and we hope you find joy on our trails this spring.

Last fall, a team of Granby Land Trust volunteers, led by GLT board member and Master Gardener Eric Lukingbeal, planted 700 daffodil bulbs on the property around the Dewey-Granby Oak. Little did we know then how desperately we’d need to see the flowers’ sunny faces this spring. We send our thanks to Eric, Dave Emery, Steve Perry, Shirley Murtha and Dennis McGlynn for participating in the planting; and we look forward to enjoying the fruits of their labor for years to come.

In response to concerns about overcrowding in state parks and on popular hiking trails, the Granby Land Trust and the Friends of Holcomb Farm combined forces to create special Covid-19 signage for our trails. Until guidance changes, please observe social distancing guidelines when walking our trails. Please always keep dogs leashed. And if the trail gets crowded, please choose a different route. Thank you.

The Godard Preserve

The Godard Family The Godard Preserve was given to the Granby Land Trust in memory of Paul Beach Godard, a 10th generation descendent of one of Granby’s oldest and most illustrious families.

Daniel Gozzard (the spelling changed over the years) emigrated from England to Hartford in 1646. His son, Nicholas, was granted land in the Salmon Brook section of Simsbury in 1683; and eventually the family settled in North Granby at Crag Mill.

Paul was the son of George Seymour Godard. George’s education, at Wilbraham and Wesleyan, was funded through the sale of timber from the Godard Preserve. It was money well spent. At the age of 24, George supervised the building of Cossitt Library.

He later served as Connecticut State Librarian for 36 years, supervised the building of the current State Library, and was Connecticut’s unofficial state historian.

Born in 1901, Paul followed in his father’s footsteps to Wilbraham and Wesleyan, then had a career in real estate. He led local, state, and national real estate boards and was president of the Governmental Research Institute. He also was governor of the Order of Founders and Patriots and a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and of the Society of Colonial Wars. In his retirement, his principal interest was the care of the Godard properties.

• • • • •

Please Stay on the Trails Leave No Trace Keep Dogs Leashed No Hunting No Motorized Vehicles

YOU ARE HERE

Download the free Avenza app for an interactive map of these trails.

After he passed away, Paul’s wife, Alice Hills Godard, and daughters, Barbara Godard and Sali Riege, donated to the Granby Land Trust the property that makes up the 120-acre Godard Preserve. The GLT is grateful to these women for their generosity and for preserving a piece of the Godard Family history.

Please enjoy this property as the Godards have since Colonial Days.

www.GranbyLandTrust.org

Become a Granby Land Trust Member!

The Granby Land Trust has posted a new sign on the Godard Preserve on Donahue Road.

The sign tells the story of the Godard Family who owned this land since colonial times, and Paul Beach Godard, in whose name the property was donated to the Land Trust.

Last fall, the GLT posted a similar sign on the Seth and Lucy Holcombe Preserve. Next up? The Mary Edwards Mountain Property. We plan to post that sign by the end of May.

Covid-19 signs are posted on the GLT properties. Submitted photos A few of the 700 daffodil bulbs planted on the property around the Dewey-Granby Oak.

Granby’s Pediatric Dentist!

Dr. Staci Allen

Board Certified Pediatric Specialist

“The gift we can offer others is so simple a thing as hope.”

Handicap Accessible Special Needs Patients Hospital Dentistry

— Daniel Berrigan

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

All are welcome!

Worship Service at 10:00 a.m.

Live streamed until we can open again.

242 Salmon Brook St., Granby, CT / (860) 653-7289 / www.southchurchgranby.org

General Dentistry, Implants, Root Canals, Orthodontic and Pediatric Specialists

ALL UNDER ONE ROOF!

Call or Text: (860) 653-7596 www.granbydental.com

Page 24 The Granby Drummer

May 2020

Historic Footnotes Carol Laun

Archivist, Salmon Brook Historical Society

The Social Literary Society in North Granby The image of Granby in the early 1800s is one of a typical small New England town. Almost everyone was a farmer, even the men who also operated mills. We picture hard-working men struggling to wrest a living from the rocky slopes; and equally hard-working women doing the endless chores necessary to care for home and family. There would seem to be little time left for leisure, culture or recreation. Yet, this picture is not entirely true.

The Salmon Brook Historical Society has the records of the Social Literary Society active from 1812 to 1820, in the area known as the Wedge. The Wedge extended from the incorrect 1711 colony line (near present day East Street) to the present Massachusetts border.

On July 23, 1812, the 23 original members wrote their Constitution. “We the Subscribers having agreed to form ourselves into a Society for our own improvement in usefull knowledge have for the better regulating the same adopted the following Constitution.”

“Article 1st. This Society shall be designated by the name of the Social Literary Society.”

“Article 4th. Every member admitted during the present year shall pay into the treasury of the Society fifty Cents, one third on entering, the remaining two thirds at the close of the year.” The money was used to purchase new books and magazines. The members could also be taxed—but not more than 50 cents per year per member. New members required a three-fourths approval vote from the members.

“And as Associations of this kind have no other Support than the Laws of honor: We do each of us who have hereunto set our names plight our honor and veracity in the most sincere and sacred manner to each other for a strict and faithfull observance of the foregoing Constitution.”

The members were all men. Their names are familiar in Granby history—Kasson, Colton, Gillet, Lee, Church, Holcomb, Clemons, Godard, Merriman and others. Their society was a library and perhaps also a discussion group. They met the first Tuesday of

every month at the schoolhouse in their district. The school was located at 205 Granville Road and is now a private home.

“Mar. 4, 1814 – Any person borrowing a book and not having it recorded shall pay a fine of four cents for each book.”

“Oct. 4, 1814 – Voted that there shall be built a bookcase for the use of this library, at the school house.”

At another meeting they “Voted that no member shall draw more than three books at any meeting on one night.”

“Nov. 1, 1814 – The Society met agreeable to adjournment at the school house and adjourned to the house of Mr. Yale T. Hough.” Perhaps it was too cold in the school.

In January 1815 the members agreed to pay 12 cents each to “defray the expenses now due” plus a tax of six cents each to pay for candles.

In February 1817, they decided to meet quarterly instead of monthly and then allowed members to borrow four books at a time.

Records were kept of books borrowed and returned and of fines paid. Also of dues paid and in arrears. Two new books were purchased in 1814, costing 18 cents and 50 cents.

The Social Literary Society had 81 books on a variety of subjects—religion, history, geography, biography and the classics. Other titles are self-explanatory, On the Use of Ardent Spirits, Address to the Master of a Family, Fables for the Ladies, Letters on Courtship and Marriage and Information to the Afflicted.

Some were obviously popular novels of the day, Devil in Love and Forsaken Infant. It would seem that some books were intended for their wives to read, even though they were excluded from the Society.

The most popular book owned by the Society was a story of the French Revolution called Lovers of La Vendee.

They owned two copies and both were constantly in circulation. Next most popular in order of usage were Vicar of Wakefield, Sailor Boy, Connecticut Evangelical Magazine and Religious Intelligencer and Bonaparte’s Life.

Not all the members followed the

rules. Lemuel Colton was an omnivorous reader who took home four to six books every month, some of them numerous times. He read every issue of the Evangelical Magazine, but also borrowed Vicar of Wakefield and Vendee Wan five times and Gay’s Fables three times.

When the Society dissolved in 1820, several members still had books outstanding. It is not surprising that they included several of the most popular.

George N. Field had four books. David Granger had six, including Sailor Boy, Vicar of Wakefield and one copy of Lovers of La Vendee. Orin Godard had three books, one of which was the second copy of Lovers of La Vendee. He also had John Bull and Brother Jonathan and Perigrinum Proteus.

Orin Godard only read about 25 of the Society’s books, but he had eclectic taste, ranging from Life of Washington and Natural History to Seven Wise Mistresses and Penitential Tyrant.

There is no record of the disposition of the library when the Society disbanded. Only one book of the original 81 is known to have survived. It was found in the attic of the Godard home on Granville Road and was given first to the Cossitt Library and later to the historical society. It is book number 16, the very popular Lovers of La Vendee that was borrowed by Orin Godard on March 7, 1820 and never returned.

Perhaps other books from this long ago Literary Society are still undiscovered in some forgotten corner or dusty attic in Granby. Eighty books are still missing.

In Memory Of… Peerless, Mitchell Ira, 74, partner of Sally Neeld, March 6 Fluckiger, Drew Allen, 51, March 17 Estby, Beatrice Gwendolyn (Heer), 98, wife of the late Christopher M. Estby, March 20 Lynch, Michael Joseph, 80, husband of Christine (Pryor) Lynch, March 20 Rink, Jody Lynn, 65, partner of Matthew Burns, March 22 Rech, Phyllis (O’Brien) Baker, 96, companion of William S. Hart, wife of the late Robert W. Baker and Walter R. Rech, March 26 Goodwin, Robert W., 62, husband of Carol (Charamut) Goodwin, March 28 Mangold, John F., II, 93, husband of Margaret (Gore) Mangold, April 3 Dewey, Paul Carlson, 87, husband of Lorraine (Humphrey) Dewey, April 4 Shute, Douglas Matthew, 53, April 5 Nolan, Deborah, 73, wife of John Leonard Nolan, April 11 Noonan, Peter James, 58, husband of Theresa (Corsillo) Noonan, April 11 Nicholls, Marie Pelka, 73, wife of the late William Nicholls, April 12 Brockett, Robert Otis, April 18

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May 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 25

Fortune & Folly of a

Female Farmer

B y Kate B ogli

Take your eyes off the finish line For 16 years, I’ve lived across the street from one of the most beautiful places in Connecticut. The McLean Game Refuge is true luxury on top of the beauty of our rural farm town. McLean’s has been a source of fun, relaxation and consternation throughout my years in Granby. I was reluctant to explore at first, having moved to Granby from New York City.

I had too much “Central Park Jogger” in my memory to truly enjoy the trails all by myself. But as the years have gone on and I’ve had more and more experiences, I’ve grown comfortable with being in there alone. I’m now much more afraid of running into a hungry mama bear than I am an assailant with a knife.

Through the years we’ve enjoyed many horseback rides on the yellow trail. Easy access from our farm makes it a popular place for a ride. In the early days, I always rode a follower-horse, as I was just learning the trails around Granby.

I’ve even searched for my lost cows in McLean’s. Not once, but twice. The first time was in our early days of being cattlemen and knowing nothing about raising cows. The heifer we had just purchased escaped and ran away across the street.

She ended up spending a lovely spring and early summer grazing the fields in McLean’s until she wandered into the backyard of one of the girls working for us for the summer. We were able to corral her and bring her home.

The second time, I awoke to a call from

the Granby police department. Some people out for a morning stroll in Salmon Brook Park had reported that my cows were also out for a morning stroll. I was able to follow the hoof prints across the street, past the playground and across the brook to McLean’s. Some mid-day hikers (I had been searching for the bovine for the better part of the day) pointed me in their direction—they were enjoying a nice easy hike on the main path. After getting the cows out to the parking area on the Rte. 10 side, I employed the help of generous neighbors. Mistakenly thinking they were going out for a hike on a beautiful day, the neighbors got to work helping me herd the rowdy and now nervous cattle back across the street to our property.

I love to run in McLean’s. About two miles of The Granby Road Race is run through the beautiful game refuge.

Though the race runs up Canton Road and enters across from Glen Road, I

usually run the loop backwards, entering at Salmon Brook Street. That makes for a very steep climb up the hill toward Canton Road. I’ve run that hill hundreds of times. Every time I start the ascent, my eyes are on the top of the hill. “It’s all downhill from the top of this hill,” I encourage myself as I slowly jog or hike straight up. But for the first-time last week, I noticed the yellow trail crossing this path a short way from the top. I knew the yellow trail would take me home through the woods instead of running

down the beautiful but dangerous country roads. Yet I had never noticed it before. I had always run up that hill with my eyes focused to the top of it, never stopping to look around on the way up. I laughed at myself as I hopped over roots and dodged rocks on the way down the yellow trail.

What an unbelievable lesson the universe just taught me. Maybe right now, in our time of quarantine, we can stop and look around. Let’s not miss the beauty around us before we set our eyes on the finish again.

Granby veteran launches campaign for State Representative Retired Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel Mark Anderson announced his campaign as a Republican candidate for State Representative of the 62nd District.

Anderson lives in Granby with his wife Carole, a dental hygienist, and stepdaughter Leanna, who has special needs. Anderson has two adult sons and Carole has two other adult daughters, forming a blended family that he said resembles the 1970s TV show Mark Anderson The Brady Bunch.

Following his Army career, Anderson earned a master’s degree in public policy with high distinction from Liberty University.

He was Representative Bill Simanski’s campaign manager in the last election, and continues to be an advocate for good government. His policy interests are broad, demonstrated by his having

hosted events with guest speakers from the Connecticut Parents Union, Fight Voter Fraud, the Family Institute of Connecticut, the Yankee Institute for Public Policy, the Connecticut Civilian Defense League, the Connecticut General Assembly Conservative Caucus, as well as No Tolls CT, of which he is on the steering committee. He has attended many legislative committee hearings and submitted both oral and written testimony on proposed laws. Anderson considers his pursuit of elected office as a continuation of a life dedicated to public service.

Anderson stated that “Connecticut and its people have great untapped potential.

We will recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, but to fully release our state’s potential will require more than sound fiscal policy. This state ranks near the bottom of most economic metrics, so bold decisions need to be made in order to reduce the cost of living and of doing business in the state.”

For more information see his website, Mark4CT.us

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

To our staff for the daily displays of unwavering courage and compassion.

To our families for trusting us as we care for your very precious loved ones.

To our residents for your strength and resilience as we travel unfamiliar territory together.

And to our friends and neighbors for the many ways you are showing us your heartwarming support.

We are so grateful.

75 Great Pond Road | Simsbury, CT 06070 860-658-3700 | McLeanInspiredLiving.org

Page 26 The Granby Drummer

Portrait of a Gilfeather

The story of a turnip: a big turnip from a little town.

By Faith Tyldsley State Capitals, Symbols, and Icons In 5th grade we had to learn each state’s capital and official nickname. We didn’t know that beyond Juneau, Alaska, (The Last Frontier) and Baton Rouge, Louisiana (the Pelican State), there existed all manner of state symbols and icons.

Some symbols such as flags, seals and birds have been chosen and designated by state legislatures. Others, such as Maine’s state crustacean (the lobster), Massachusetts’ state dog (the Boston Terrier) and Georgia’s state song (Georgia On My Mind), have been adopted through sustained effort by citizen’s determined grass roots activity.

The more unusual state symbols have often been generated by students as class projects. In May 2007, the cowboy boot was recognized as an icon of Texas. A social studies teacher in Houston and her 7th grade students championed the boot for a year, e and following the legal process required for a bill to become a law. Their efforts ultimately elevated that lowly boot to the Official State Footwear of Texas.

The Alaskan Malamute was designated Alaska’s official state dog in 2010 thanks to the efforts of elementary students in Anchorage. They made their case in part by pointing out that Malamutes have been a partner in human survival for centuries, as a work dog, a guard dog, but also as a babysitter; remaining with Inuit children while parents were on hunts and allowing babies to snuggle up with their puppies for warmth.

State Vegetables Who knew that states have official state vegetables? Well, not all states, but enough to make it a thing. Just for fun, here’s the current list: Arkansas–South Arkansas vine ripe tomato, Georgia–Vidalia sweet onion, Idaho–Idaho Potato, Illinois–Sweet corn, Louisiana–Sweet potato, New Hampshire–White potato, New Mexico–Chile and pinto bean, North Carolina–Sweet potato, Oklahoma–Watermelon, South Carolina–Collard greens, Texas–Sweet onion, Utah–Spanish sweet onion, Vermont– Gilfeather turnip, Washington–Walla Walla sweet onion.

Back to Connecticut–Holcomb Farm Veggies On April 11, I took a half-hour reprieve from sheltering-in-place to pick up veggies at Holcomb Farm. According to Farmer Joe’s email earlier in the week, this was the last winter pickup before Holcomb Farm’s CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) transitioned to working full time on the coming season.

“Wear gloves and a face covering while at the CSA Barn,” the email directed.

Unlike other pickups, produce was already packed into high-quality huntergreen cloth bags stamped Holcomb Farms CSA and Farm Store.

The Covid-19 virus killed the fun of handpicki n g o n e ’s vegetables from among piles in large bins. I knew I was getting carrots, potatoes, turnips and spinach because they had been staples. This time, there was a pre-packed bag. A sign assured that “All bags will be a good value and be full of pleasant surprises.”

Back home, an outlier lay at the bottom of the bag; a bulbous lump the size of a cantaloupe. A root vegetable gone rogue had fallen into my bag by mistake. I put it in the sink, took a photo and texted Farmer Joe, “What is this?”

Within minutes, the reply, “Gilfeather Turnip. Treat like a turnip.”

The Gilfeather Turnip: Vermont’s State Vegetable Wardsboro, Vermont (settled circa 1779) is a town with a population under 1,000. What began as a school project by 5th and 6th grade students at Wardsboro Elementary School became formal legislation when the Gilfeather turnip was designated as Vermont’s Official State Vegetable by Governor Peter Shumlin on July 1, 2016.

Although it has come down through folklore as a turnip, the Gilfeather is really an interspecies cross (Brassica napus x Brassica rapa) between a rutabaga and a true turnip. What Mother Nature did not grant in good looks, she made up for by eliminating the expected “bite” of a turnip or rutabaga, bestowing instead a taste described as “mild, sweet and creamy.”

Wardsboro farmer John Gilfeather (1865-1944) is recognized for the existence of this particular turnip in the early 1900s. He brought his turnips to market by horse and wagon, assiduously protecting the turnip’s propagation by anyone but himself by cutting the tops and scraping off the roots of every one of the thousands of turnips he sold.

Despite Gilfeather’s secrecy, some of the coveted seeds escaped his protected fields. Subsequent testing resulted in the Gilfeather being registered as an heirloom vegetable, a designation for vegetables (as well as flowers and fruits) that are grown from seeds that have been passed down from generation to generation.

The Gilfeather name was trademarked in 1984, ensuring the turnip would be forever associated with the farmer who made it famous.

May 2020

The 18th Annual Gilfeather Turnip Festival At the end of October, after the first hard frost that gives the vegetable its characteristic sweetness, the annual Gilfeather Turnip Festival turns a turnip into a rock star. Originated by and currently overseen by the Friends of the Wardsboro Library, the festival is its primary fundraiser. Earnings support library maintenance: heating, electricity, snowplowing and insurance.

This year’s festival will be held on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., “…rain, snow or shine.” There will be 1,000-plus pounds of Gilfeathers for sale, as well as seed packets, apples, cider, organic veggies, breads, honey, Vermont products and specialty foods. Contestants competing for the largest Gilfeather turnip prize will endure jittery nerves waiting for the coveted award’s announcement. (The 2019 winner weighed in at 30.8 pounds.) More people will visit the festival than live in Wardsboro itself.

The 3rd Edition of The Gilfeather Turnip Cookbook, a Friends of the Wardsboro Library fundraising publication, will be available for $20. Several of the book’s recipes will be offered at the Turnip Cafe during the festival, the most popular being the Gilfeather turnip soup. This creamy, sweet soup (created

by Greg Parks, former chef at the Four Columns Inn in Newfane, Vt.) has become the signature dish of the festival. It is definitely a dish for our time, equally stress buster (lots of chopping), and comfort food—soothingly smooth. See recipe on next page.

Connecticut Needs a State Vegetable Doesn’t Connecticut deserve a state vegetable? Enterprising Granby students could passionately campaign for—well, that would be the question.

Which vegetable would it be?

Mrs. Kristin LaFlamme, Mrs. Melissa Lagano and Mr. James Janski teach fifth graders in Granby. How awesome is it that they were able to elicit—on short notice and given present day challenges—opinions from 27 of their students regarding the state vegetable issue.

Here are their votes for Connecticut’s State Vegetable: Braden Burns, beetroot; Maggie Bell, pumpkins; Oliver Ducharme, corn; Garrett Holness, potato; Abbey Heller, squash; Diana Krokondelas, cucumbers; Cole Sullivan, corn or Indian maize; Sean Maroney, garlic or carrot; Sophie Turner, Early Girl Tomato; Cayden Coughlin, Silver Queen Corn; Sarah Slade, tomatoes; Rebecca Macauley, lemon cucumber; Ariana Taylor, avocado; Olivia Atkinson, lemon cucumber (a small, but reliable variety); Gus Gotberg, celery; Cecilia Estrada, sugar snap pea; Cheyenne Blodgett, orange carrots; Lauren Kaczka, squash (because Connecticut looks like it is squashed); Zachery Therion, cucumber; Abby Rice, carrot; Maryan Ivanynyuk, cucumber; Jaclyn Scanlon, corn; Jadon Adams, onion; Anonymous, Summer sandwich tomato and blue carrots (UConn’s color is blue).

Thank you, fifth grade Granby teachers and students!

A Roadtrip to The Green Mountain State Plan a trip—if travel is permitted—to Wardsboro in October. It’s just two hours away, located within the Green Mountain National Forest. As a bonus, The Vermont Country Store in Weston, Vt. is only a 33-minute drive from Wardsboro.

Experience peak fall foliage and spend a few dollars to support a library. And the Turnip Cafe will be ladling out Gilfeather Turnip Festival Soup, the perfect comfort food for a crisp autumn day.

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May 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 27

Public Works Trash Holiday: Monday, May 25, Memorial Day is a holiday for Paine’s.

All trash pickups will be delayed by one day the week after the holiday.

Paine’s notifications: Did you know you can sign up for email alerts from Paine’s? Don’t worry, they won’t swamp your inbox. Notifications are only sent if there is a holiday or weather event that will affect trash service. Sign up at painesinc.com Bear proof barrels: We have a limited number of bear proof barrels available.

There is a one-time fee for use of the barrel. If interested, contact Public Works at 860-653-8960.

Out by 6: Please remember that trash and recycling barrels need to be at curbside by 6 a.m. on your scheduled day of

Recipe

pick up. Please do not assume that the truck will arrive at the “usual time.”

Routes start at 6 a.m. and the time it takes to get to your home can vary due to a number of factors.

When at the curb your barrels should be at least two feet apart to allow for clearance of the automatic arm of the truck.

Road work: Town crews will be out repairing roads this spring. Please drive carefully and take extra caution when passing work crews.

DPW updates: For updates on the transfer station and other DPW events, check the website, granby-ct.gov or the Facebook page, Granby CT Department of Public Works.

from p. 26

Gilfeather Turnip Festival Soup

Ingredients 1/4 pound butter 4 large onions, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 8 cups unsalted chicken stock (or vegetarians may use vegetable stock) 3 pounds Gilfeather Turnip, peeled and chopped 1 cup half-and-half 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg. ground salt and pepper to taste Fresh spinach, washed and de-stemmed Directions Melt butter in 5 quart kettle. Sauté chopped onion and garlic until soft but not browned. Add stock and chopped turnips and cook until tender. Drain and reserve some of the liquid. Puree mixture in food processor until smooth. Put through a food mill or sieve and return to kettle. Add half-and-half and seasonings. Taste and adjust. Add reserved cooking liquid if soup is too thick. Sauté spinach in a small amount of olive oil until just wilted. Use spinach as a garnish on top of the soup before serving or puree and use as a swirl on top of the soup.

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New local shopping service for at-risk individuals

By Shirley Murtha West Granby resident Jillian Juarez is the Connecticut State Coordinator for a group of volunteers who provide delivery service for at-risk individuals.

Founded in Nevada, Shopping Angels will go to a store (or stores) to find needed items of a grocery, household or pharmaceutical nature for elderly clients or those at risk, such as those with compromised immune systems.

It all began in late February, when University of Nevada pre-med student Jayde Powell received a call from her mom, asking her to check on her elderly neighbors to see if they needed anything as reports of the corona virus began to circulate. Jayde did just that, and could see there was a definite need for help, and not just in her own neighborhood.

She enlisted several of her medical fraternity to join her campaign during their spring break. Thinking that the need for this service was going to be widespread, Powell created a FaceBook page explaining her mission on March 13. It went viral immediately.

Nationwide groups have been formed, each with a local coordinator like Jillian Juarez. Clients contact the coordinator, and are paired with an Angel.

Throughout the shopping process, the Angel keeps in touch with the client to make sure they are purchasing exactly what is desired. When the delivery is made, the client pays cash for the items, never expected to be more than the amount shown on the receipt, although Angels are allowed to accept tips. Unlike most shopping services, the Angels do not charge a delivery fee.

Angels follow strict procedures so that clients are not at risk from external

Jillian Juarez is an Angel shopper.

Photo by Shirley Murtha

contamination. They wear gloves when picking up, transporting and delivering the items. They are encouraged now to wear face masks. They wipe down the products before placing in bags, if possible. They do not enter the client’s home.

How did Juarez get involved? She saw Powell’s post on FaceBook, called her, and was instructed to go to a Google Forum where she learned how to use a spreadsheet to set up the service. She coordinates over 125 volunteers all over the state. Open for only three weeks as of this writing, the Angels have already served over 30 clients, statewide.

Juarez would like to hear from Granby residents who need this service. You can call her at 860-692-2354 or email her at shoppingangelsct@gmail.com.

“BEE” BACK NEXT YEAR!

Thank you!

Thank you to our sponsors and teams for continuing to support the Gran-Bee despite its cancellation.

GRANBY EDUCATION FOUNDATION ENRICH ENERGIZE ENGAGE: LIFELONG LEARNING

We are fortunate to have loyal sponsors who support us year after year, both local businesses and individuals.

We look forward for the return of the Gran-Bee next year.

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and generous individuals from our community including members of the Board of Education, GEF, and local nonprofits

Page 28 The Granby Drummer

May 2020

Front page news…in the 1980s

By Chris Levandowski Newspaper editors agonize over the content of the front page whether it’s the New York Times or The Granby Drummer. On any given day there may be several events in play that deserve a “lead” headline and right-top placement.

If that is bad news, which humaninterest piece will give it appropriate balance? What other events and photos deserve space? Dailies have guidelines and an editorial group meeting to make

the decisions.

Monthly community paper editors don’t have an entire world to deal with, they have a community they know well.

But one thing is certain, if it is of import to the readers and has impact on their lives, it will be on the front page of the current issue.

Combing through Drummer archives to find the highlights of the past 50 years, it became apparent that the front page was a reliable source of historic markers and issues of importance. Budgets, for

instance, are yearly events that dominate the Drummer’s front page—and pages 8, 10 and 12. Some are marathons (such as the four-referendum slog in the mid-70s) and some are like this year; a lean and reasoned response to an unprecedented world-wide pandemic. Budgets are front page news.

Special events, new commercial construction, new services and GMHS State Championship sports teams; all front-page news. The pages shared here represent some of the highlights

of the 1980s with the decade’s sparkling centerpiece—Granby’s bicentennial celebration in 1986. This doesn’t begin to tell the story of the residential growth that was reflected in the need for additional space at GMHS. The 1980s, as was true in the decades before and those to come, brought dramatic change to Granby and a growing population that thankfully savored and wanted to protect its wooded acres and rural character … and eventually, championed a return to its earliest roots—agriculture.

September 1980: Plans for the new library were unveiled.

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March 1982: The Granby Public Library moves into its new home.

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

We need to pray and connect now more than ever!

Isaiah 40:31 “…those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.”

View Sunday Worship Service live 10 am or watch the recording at your leisure. www.firstchurchgranby.org

Daily devotionals, weekly prayer online, 12:00, also recorded.

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May 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 29

Our

50

th

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Look for more of our 50th anniversary history in our next issue!

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Swim Your Stress Away January 1986: Granby’s bicentennial celebration began.

CTVV Zooms in on school superintendent

By Susan Patricelli Regan During this challenging time for Granby and the world, CT Valley Views wants to continue to bring its viewers informative shows with knowledgeable guests about subjects important to the quality of life and fiscal health of our state. Thus, we are using the Zoom system to safely interview and record for submission to our airing stations.

Host Susan Patricelli Regan initiated this new approach with guest Dr. Jordan Grossman, new Superintendent of Granby schools. Grossman, previously the Assistant Superintendent for Canton Public Schools, expressed his sincere appreciation for the warm welcome he received from Granby’s citizens.

Despite, the “earthquake” to normal

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Follow further information on Granby Public Schools at granby.k12. ct.us and follow Grossman Dr. Jordan Grossman at Drjordangrossman@granbysuper See this segment on your local PATV station and all of CTVV programs at ctvalleyviews.com

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Page 30 The Granby Drummer

May 2020

May 2020 The Granby Drummer Page 31

Long-time Granby resident J. Paul Stillwell dies Paul Stillwell, age 95, passed away on March 21, in North Andover, Mass., where he had lived at the Edgewood Retirement community for over 15 years. Stillwell was born in Chicago on Feb. 21, 1925, to the Reverend Fredrick and Adeline Stillwell.

Stillwell was a WWII vet, POW and war hero who was honored in 2018 with a proclamation from the Massachusetts Senate. After the war, he went to Texas A&M, and then to Carleton College, where he met and married the love of his life Yolanda (Lonny)

Animal Talk

Stork. For 53 years, Paul and Lonny lived and raised a family together, most of that time in Granby. He had a busy life with a career as an underwriting executive for Connecticut General Life Insurance, family, classical music, the Granby Tennis Club, bridge, and community service, such as supporting The Granby Land Trust, Red Cross and chairing the Granby School Building Committee (1961-71).

After retiring, Paul traveled with Lonny, worked and volunteered as a school bus driver, United Way loan executive, and senior housing financial assistant.

Several years after Yolanda died in 2003, Stillwell moved to Edgewood.

Due to the health risk of gathering at this time, there will be a memorial celebration at Paul and Yolanda’s gravesite at Granby Cemetery later this year.

New golf tournament flags unveiled The Granby chapter of UNICO displays its new UNICO golf tournament flags at a recent chapter meeting. Granby’s charity tournament, its largest fundraiser, will be held Sept.

11 at Tunxis Country Club in Farmington.

During the 2019 holiday season, Granby UNICO donated over $11,000 in food, clothing and toys to needy families in the Granby community as part of its Secret Santa project.

From left: Ann and Brian Guarco (gold sponsors), Mario Dei Dolori (committee and silver sponsor), Bob Marx (tournament chairman), Adrienne Perry (chair of volunteers), Joy Marx (chapter president) and Rich Savino (heritage and membership chair).

John Violette, DVM

Covid-19 and pets The big question that we are being asked as veterinarians is, “Can I get coronavirus from my pet?” So far the answer is “No.” There have not been any proven cases that the virus can spread from cats and dogs to humans. There have been a few cases, however, where it is likely that pets have become infected with coronavirus from contact with their humans.

On April 22, the USDA and CDC reported that two cats in New York state, from different homes, tested positive for Covid-19. Both cats exhibited mild upper respiratory signs and were tested by veterinarians. One cat owner was confirmed positive for the virus. The other cat owner did not test positive but this was an outdoor cat who may have had contact with an infected person in the neighborhood.

There were a few reports of dogs outside the U.S. that have tested slightly positive in February and March. The agricultural authorities concluded that in these cases the dogs contracted the disease from humans and that the pets were not contagious.

Four tigers and three lions began showing signs of respiratory disease at the Bronx zoo in March. Testing confirmed that they all were positive for Covid-19.

These cats recovered from their illnesses without significant signs of the disease.

The veterinarians at the zoo concluded that these animals were exposed to a keeper who tested positive but was not showing symptoms.

For now, it appears that it is more likely that we are passing the novel coronavirus to our pets. But until we know more, the CDC recommends the following: Do not let pets interact with people or other animals outside the household.

Keep cats indoors when possible to prevent them from interacting with other animals or people.

Walk dogs on a leash maintaining at least 6 feet from other people and animals.

Avoid dog parks.

If you test positive for Covid-19 or are showing signs of the disease, restrict contact with your pets or other animals.

Have another member of your family care for your pets and avoid close contact if possible. If you must care for your pets, wear a mask or cloth covering your nose and mouth and wash your hands before and after you interact with them.

Up close look at a bald eagle Don Shaw captured this shot of a bald eagle on March 10 in North Granby.

Help Us Prepare a Scavenger Hunt How can you help new people love your town and become part of the community? By sharing your favorite places and telling us where you love to be in Granby. Maybe, you love the gazebo during a summer concert. Or, a quiet corner tucked away from the noise. A park? A restaurant? Send us an email with a picture and a description of your spot. With your input, we can put together a map of all the special places and create a town-wide hunt. Once it’s done, we’ll make it available to anyone who would like a copy. You, too, might discover someplace new!

Do you know where this place is? This favorite place photo was contributed by Robin Zatony from our office. (Hint? Yummy treats are found here all year round!)

You can count on:

Truth in our Words Humility in our Actions Kindness in our Hearts

While this may not exactly be real estate, we can help you with that, too. Give us a call! We are very happy to answer questions or help you put a plan together.

Robin, Melanie, Cyndie, Jill and Roland

3 57 N M a i n S t S u f f i e l d , C T | 8 6 0 . 6 6 8 . 6 5 4 9 | i n f o @ D o w d Re a l t y G r o u p . c o m | w w w. D o w d Re a l t y G r o u p . c o m

Page 32 The Granby Drummer

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Beacon Mechanical 26 Beman Hardware 8 Berkshire Hathaway-Nancy Reardon 7 BNG Law 9 Brignole Bush & Lewis 2 Cahill’s Motors 12 Cambridge House Brew 9 Carmon Funeral Home 5 Carter (Robert) Painting 29 Cetera Investors 19 Chiropractic Care 12 Christopher Bryant 22 D’Agata Granite & Bronze 18 Dowd Realty 31 First Congregational Church 28 Gary’s Mowing 13 GEF-Granbee 27 Granby Dental-Dr Ungerleider 3 Granby Dental-Dr Kirschbaum 14, 23 Granby Package Store 12 Higleyville Coin 4 Larry’s Construction 18 Main Street Door 17 McLean 25 MeadowBrook of Granby 23 Melvin Porter Electrical & Plumbing 13

Mission Bible Study 12 New England Air Museum 8 Northwest Community Bank 27 O’Brien Nurserymen 10 Old Farms Landscaping 18 Pierce Builders-Meadowgate 5 Route 10 Tire 12 Sanditz Travel 6 Santa Realty 17 Sig’s Plumbing & Pump 13 Small Town Septic 28 South Church 23 State Line Propane/Oil 29 SubSeven 19 Sullivan Hardware Floors 5 Swim Center-Westminster 29 Taylor Energy 16 Thomas Sullivan-Morgan Stanley 10 TJ Bark Mulch 24 Troiano Oil Co. 29 Two Park Place 22 Vining Hill Equestrian 19 Walsh Chiropractic 8 West Granby Methodist Church 18 Westfield Bank 32 Windsor Federal Savings 15

May 2020

Social distancing and Al-Anon meetings Alcoholism affects as many as one in four people who live in our community.

Al-Anon is a free program for friends and families of alcoholics who suffer from the impact of a loved one’s drinking. These groups are run by members who have been affected by someone else’s drinking and who have been on their own journey of recovery.

At a time when we are all being told to socially isolate, those of us who count on Al-Anon meetings for a lifeline will likely to feel adrift. Al-Anon Family Groups are an important source of help and hope for anyone affected by someone else’s drinking. Even if the alcoholic continues to drink, one can achieve serenity as a result of Al-Anon.

The importance of staying connected is vital to most of us. What to do when the social distancing restrictions keep us from physically connecting?

Al-Anon’s World Service Organization is aware that most groups have had to suspend face-to-face meetings due to COVID-19. Alternatives to local meetings are electronic meetings, both online and phone meetings.

Know that confidentiality and anonymity are central to all group meetings.

For more information about online or telephonic meetings and times, please visit ctalanon.org or log on to Alanon. org (then see tab: Find a Meeting). You can also call 888 4AL-Anon (888-4252666).

June 2020 deadlines ADS: Wednesday, May 13 noon Ad Team 860-653-9222, leave message.

Email: ads@granbydrummer.org ARTICLES: Monday, May 18 noon Drummer phone: 860-653-9222.

Email: editor@granbydrummer.org WORK DATES: May 12-25 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

We’re practicing social distancing.

And standing by our customers.

The coronavirus pandemic has created a new normal. Constant hand washing. Social distancing.

And learning to live more simply.

Despite these uncertain times, we want you to know we’re here for you. If you’re experiencing financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 outbreak, give us a call at 413.568.1911. We’re here to help.

We’ve been through a lot together over the past 167 years. And our commitment to our customers, employees and communities will never change— today, tomorrow, or 167 years from now. Stay strong.

We’ll get through this together.

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