The Suffield Observer | November 2025

XXVII, No. 9

A

Watchful Messenger

Connecticut Children’s Hospital Benefits from Generous Donation

By Johanne Presser

The DeSimone Family Trust, established by long time past Suffield residents Jerry and RoseMarie DeSimone have donated $2.5 million dollars to support a neonatology intensive care facility and services in the newly built tower at Connecticut Children’s. In recognition of this gift, the 6th floor NICU will be named the Jerry and RoseMarie DeSimone Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The unit is state of the art and consists of 25 spacious private patient/family rooms. An additional 25 patient rooms on the 7th floor bring the total number to 50 private NICU rooms in the new tower.

I was fortunate enough to tag along with the extended DeSimone family as they took a guided tour of the facility, and it is awe inspiring! The building was guided by research which shows that premature babies can have better neurodevelopmental outcomes and a shorter length of hospitalization when the family can stay and bond with the infant. To that end the rooms are big enough for parents to spend the night. Additionally,

we viewed a Fetal Care Operating Room which can accommodate up to 40 medical professionals at once, outdoor terraces, lounges where the family can relax, a human milk lab, staff lounges, family waiting rooms, and nurses’ stations right outside the infant rooms where cameras can monitor the patient, in addition to nurses directly obseving patient rooms.

Dr. James Moore, a neonatologist and President of the Connecticut Children’s Specialty Group, Dr. Jeffrey Shenberger, the Division Head of

Neonatology and Marge Julian, Associate Chief Nursing Officer for the health system spoke to the group before the tour expressing profound gratitude for the “once in a lifetime opportunity” for staff to achieve great outcomes for premature babies.

So, how you may wonder did this donation come to pass? It is at its roots a story of love, family, hard work, and shared experience.

Jerry DeSimone was an only child growing up in Rhode Island when in a Hallmark movie moment, he at-

tended a high school dance where he spotted RoseMarie across the room, pointed her out to his buddy and said, “I’m going to marry her some day!” Due to RoseMarie’s mother’s death shortly thereafter, the two were unable to get together for a while. Once Jerry asked her out however, romance blossomed and true to his belief, they were married while he was still a student at Brown University.

According to Joyce Langese, one of the DeSimone’s 6 children, the couple started out with nothing, using mon-

ey they received at the wedding to pay their wedding expenses that night. Upon graduation with an engineering degree under his belt, the two moved to Long Island where Jerry worked for an engineering company. Not one to like working for someone else, he got an MS in Investments and Insurance from American College and made the $1 Million Dollar Club his first year. Joyce related that her grandmother once told her, “Your father could sell straw hats in a blizzard!”

Although Jerry continued to sell insurance for the rest of his life, his entrepreneurial spirit led him to become a real estate developer building luxury condos in Florida, recreational facilities including a training facility that the New York Islanders used, and several apartment buildings, including locally a 250 apartment complex (Woodgate)in Enfield and Vernon. Adding to his success, a penchant for stock option trading increased his wealth. “For all he had my dad was a product of the Depression and was very frugal.

Continued on Page 4

Suffield Sidekicks - Teens Helping Seniors

By Joann Moriarty

Suffield Sidekicks

matches local seniors with teens to help with light household chores and yard work, such as dusting, vacuuming, raking leaves, planting, weeding, home organization and computer assistance.

There is no cost for the seniors to participate, and the benefits are endless.

Seniors receive help with household tasks that may be difficult to manage, while forming meaningful connections with the teens. For many, it is also a welcome break from isolation and an opportunity to share pearls of wisdom with the teens.

Seniors have shared, “The whole experience has been just wonderful.;” “The teens could not have been more terrific. They were polite, on

time, and were interested in what I had to say.”; “I have paid people a lot of money who didn’t do as good a job as these teens did; and that is an important factor for seniors.”

The teens earn a paycheck and work experience as well as a new appreciation for the

seniors. They begin to understand the vulnerability and frailty that comes with aging as well as the positive impact of hard work and empathy. Most importantly, it’s a fun and rewarding experience.

This is what the teens have to say about the program:

“It's a really good opportunity to do good for your community and yourself. I have had fun working with seniors.”; “Working with these lovely seniors has been a wonderful and enriching experience for me as a teen.”; “I enjoy getting to connect with and learn from those members of our community who have lived very full and inspiring lives.”

If you're a senior or teen interested in joining the Suffield Sidekicks program, please reach out to Joann Moriarty, Suffield Youth Services Director, at 860668-3329 or jmoriarty@suffieldct.gov.

Each senior is required to complete a brief application and undergo a background check to help ensure the safety of participating teens.

Suffield Sidekicks is made possible by a generous grant from the Suffield Greater Community Fund and the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. Donations to support the Suffield Sidekicks can be made to: Suffield Community Aid, 450 South Street, Suffield, CT 06078. z

Photo by Johanne Presser

Karen, Jerry and RoseMarie’s eldest daughter, and Don Naida, also former Suffield residents, with daughter Lauren and grandsons pose before the dedicated sign in the NICU.

Photo provided by author

Suffield Sidekicks Natalie Ho and Anthony DeLucco gladly assisted resident Nancy Bixby.

Photo provided by author

Quentin Kuczaj shows off his Sidekicks skills.

Retirement Perks

Since last February I've been working out at a local gym, to disguise its identity, I'll call it Planet Fatness. I can jokingly call it that as I am overweight myself. I go about 3-4 times a week and enjoy it, some days more than others. The staff is friendly and attentive. The ten TVs are tuned into local news and other channels such as ESPN and USA etc. You won't find CNN or Fox News on any of them. I guess this is to avoid fist fights over politics. I prefer to watch reruns of Law and Order SVU with my old fashioned, wired Sony headphones.

A couple of observations.

1. When I work out on the weight machines, the music played over the speaker system is 100% Hip Hop. This has to be the cheapest produced, most unimaginative music I've ever heard. The beat is always the same, Boom, Boom, Boom. Lyrics are indecipherable, the background music (if you can call it that) is all electronic, AI noise. There are no instruments being played. Remember the great bands we grew up with?

Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, Billy Joel, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Marshall Tucker

Band, Elvin Bishop, Lynyrd Skynyrd. You can actually hear the brass, strings, piano, woodwind, percussion instruments being played. I'll grudgingly relinquish my tolerance for the younger generation.

2. Many of the members working out there bring their cell phones into the building, I don't. Most of them are courteous and use their cell phones to play their favorite tunes (mostly to avoid listening to the Hip Hop overhead I imagine).

The problem is members who sit on a machine and text friends or workmates, read the news etc. and hog the machine. If you want to use the machine, use it then get the hell off. It's not a couch in your living room or a chair at your desk at work. You know who you are!

3. I've noticed that many members do not like to make eye contact, even when passing someone directly in the parking lot. We have become a society that doesn't know how to interface with other humans as technology has replaced this, and that's a shame.

Have a great Thanksgiving and Christmas everyone, hug the ones you love.

Ray A. Dalrymple Editor-of-the Month

or

Letters to the Editor

Write to Inbox@TheSuffieldObserver.com

Library Shenanigans

Dear Editor, As a Kent Memorial Library Commission member, I would like to offer some thoughts for the community. There has been much toxic and divisive rhetoric about the library, and it’s time the residents of Suffield hear another perspective. Conservative members of the commission are not "pro-censorship" and “anti-First Amendment” as has been accused. Legitimate concerns have been raised over recent years about the library’s practices and collection decisions. The American Library Association opposes all restrictions based on age.

This has allowed for grotesquely detailed, erotic and sexually explicit content to be available in the children’s department at KML, both in written form and illustrated form. Professional librarians across the state have recognized that these books belong in the adult section. That is not censorship. That is librarianship. Additionally, left unchecked and unquestioned, KML was becoming a center for left-wing political and social activism, including in the children’s department. The duty to present all sides of current and controversial issues has been neglected, and one viewpoint

has been favored in purchasing and display decisions. How many books are available in the children’s department about liberal Supreme Court Justice Kentaji Brown Jackson? Three, often on display. How about conservative Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett or Clarence Thomas? None. The Obamas? Over a dozen. President Trump? One. Many members of the commission would like to see balance in KML’s collection, displays, and programs, and common-sense decisions in the children’s department. Enough with the shenanigans. Nina Kendrick

Libraries, Parental Choice, and What’s Appropriate

Dear Editor,

Recent conversations about our library have sparked conversations about what books are on the shelves and what is appropriate for children and teens.

At a recent KMLC meeting, book passages and images were presented as examples of “pornographic” material in the children’s and teen sections. Taken out of context, these excerpts give a misleading impression of these books. Legally, the relevant term is obscenity, which is unprotected speech. To meet that definition, a book must satisfy a strict legal test and be judged as a whole. Librari-

REMINDER

The next issue of the Observer is our December/January issue. The deadline for events for both December AND January is November 12. If you have January events you would like to include in the next issue, be sure to have them to us by the November deadline.

ans rely on professional review sources and reputable publishers who would face serious legal consequences for producing obscene material for minors. For such content to reach library shelves, authors, publishers, reviewers, distributors, and librarians would have to knowingly break the law. That does not happen.

Some parents may feel certain materials are not suitable for children or teens. The ALA makes clear that libraries should provide access to materials for all ages while leaving decisions about appropriateness to parents and guardians. Libraries organize materials by

age or audience to help families make informed choices, but parents, not the government, ultimately decide what their children may read. Caselaw also makes clear that libraries are not responsible for shielding patrons from material they might find offensive.

Libraries serve the entire community and provide materials that reflect a variety of viewpoints. This approach helps parents decide what is appropriate for their children while ensuring that all library users have access to constitutionally protected materials. Tess McCool, Suffield Librarian

New Member of SPD

The Suffield Police Department welcomes new member, K9 Rico who will be working with his handler, Officer Roman.

TOWN GOVERNMENT

November Commission Meetings

Please check the Town of Suffield website for time, location or schedule changes. From 10/20 thru 11/2, Town Hall Main Conference room will be used for early voting.

Conservation Comm.

Mon., Nov. 11

7 p.m., Town Hall & TBD

Economic Dev. Comm.

Thurs., Nov. 20

8:30 a.m., Town Hall

Education, Board of Mon., Nov. 3 & 17

6:30 p.m., SHS

Finance, Board of

Mon., Nov. 10

7 p.m., Town Hall

Fire Commission

Tues., Nov. 18

7 p.m.

Fire Station, Ratley Road

Historic District Comm.

Mon., Nov. 3

7:30 p.m., Town Hall

Housing Authority

Tues., Nov. 4

6:30 p.m., Maple Court

KML Commission

Tues., Nov. 11

7 p.m., Town Hall

Parks & Rec. Comm.

Wed., Nov. 12

7 p.m., Town Hall

Perm. Bldg. Comm.

Thurs., Nov. 20

7 p.m., Town Hall

P&Z Commission

Mon., Nov. 17

7 p.m., TBD

Police Commission

Wed., Nov. 19

7 p.m., Police Station

Retirement Commission

Thurs., Nov. 13

5 p.m., Town Hall

Selectmen, Board of Wed., Nov. 5 & 19

7 p.m., Town Hall & TBD

Social Service Comm.

Fri., Nov. 21

8 a.m., SCA Office

Tree Fund Committee

Thurs., Nov. 20

3 p.m. SVAA Building

WPCA

Tues., Nov. 12

7 p.m., WPCA 844 East St. South

Zoning Board of Appeals

Tues., Nov. 25

7 p.m., TBD

First Selectman’s Update

Town News You May Not Know

Compiled by Kate Spoto

Too busy to look up what’s going on in town? This article covers selected information from the minutes of various Town Boards and Commissions. If you want more detail, it can be found by going to suffieldct.gov, Agendas, Minutes, Recordings.

Board of Education— September 15, 2025

Student Achievement Results

• Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) Grades 3-8: Testing results showed substantial improvement in Math scores compared to previous years with some grades achieving double-digit increases. Results also showed improvement in English Language Arts scores. Scores in both subjects remain well above the state average.

• Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Grades 5, 8, and 11: Testing results showed significant increases over previous years with some grade levels and cohorts achieving double-digit increases compared to prior exams. Scores in this subject area remain well above the state average.

• SAT School Day Grade 11: Results showed slight improvement over the previous year and remained well above the state average.

• Advanced Placement (AP): The results showed an increase in the percentage of students scoring a 3 or higher on the exams, which is the standard for college credit

consideration. As part of that, 100% of students in US Government & Politics and US History scored a 3 or higher on those exams.

Board of Selectmen— September 17, 2025

Kaplan Farm Development Rights

• The property in question consists of approximately 47.3 acres and is owned by Michael and Elizabeth Kaplan, located at 714 North Street. First Selectman Moll clarified that the town is purchasing the development rights, not the actual farm.

• Selectman Harrington and Selectman Bielonko recused themselves to avoid any perceived conflicts of interest.

• Selectman Moll moved to approve the purchase of development rights to Kaplan Farm from the open space fund and refer to the Board of Finance. Vote: 3-0 in favor (Moll, Hill and Chafetz.) Motion passed unanimously.

Discussion of the Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) Grant

• Chad Kuzontkoski, Economic Development Specialist, addressed the Board of Selectmen regarding the upcoming application for the STEAP.

• This year, the focus is on upgrading the business centers throughout town to enhance Suffield's competitiveness as a destination for businesses.

• The first step is to engage with key retailers to assess their interest and identify how improvements could directly benefit them.

• The Town intends to apply for a $1,000,000 grant, though additional costs not covered by the grant-such as design and planning expenses-may be incurred separately.

• Proposed improvements could include facade renovations, roofing, updated signage, and parking enhancements. The overarching goal is to create a Business Improvement Grant Program, wherein participating businesses would contribute 10% of the project cost, with the remaining 90% covered by the grant.

• The grant application window opens in January and closes in February.

Parks & Recreation Commission—September 10, 2025

• Parks & Recreation acquired a used Ford Explorer from the Police Department. It will be used for transporting equipment and employees.

• Suffield Alight! tree lighting will be held Saturday, December 13, 2025. There is a new component this year: a Holiday Market with sixteen spots for vendors, along with food vendors.

Social Services Commission—September 19, 2025 Seniors and the Senior Center

• A seminar on Social Security Benefits will be held on November 13, 2025 from 6 pm to 7 pm.

• Medicare open enrollment will be held from October 15, 2025 through December 7, 2025.

• There will be a fundraisContinued on Page 4

Suffield Fire Department Responds to EMS Calls

From a press release

The Suffield Fire Department is excited to announce that on October 1, 2025 the department began to respond to EMS calls. This is the first time in the history of the fire department that they have had that distinction. By being certified by the State of Connecticut as Supplemental First Responders, the Suffield Fire Department will now be able to respond to certain EMS calls along with the Suffield Police Department and Suffield Volunteer Ambulance Association.

The long process to become Supplemental First Responders started approximately six years ago when the Fire Commission decided that having the fire department respond to EMS calls would be a tremendous benefit to the people of Suffield. The initiative was first spearheaded by Fire Commissioner Vic Mathieu, who had multiple years of experience as an EMT. Fire Commissioners Peter Yeskey and Jack Bucior quickly bought in and vociferously supported the idea. They reasoned that patient care would be dramatically improved if the fire department, who have paid, on-duty personnel could rapidly respond when needed to assist our first responder partners, who had already provided outstanding EMS intervention. It was through the vision of the Suffield Fire Commission and Chairman Paul Christian that Fire Chief Scott Cunningham was able to roll out this program on October 1. Commissioner Christian said “this is a tremendous

milestone in the history of our great department and this achievement helps bring the department into the 21st century”. The Chairman went on to thank those Commissioners and the Chief for their efforts in all that they have done to get this accomplished. When contacted, Fire Commissioner Mathieu stated that “although it was a long road to get through the State of Connecticut’s demanding application process, the benefit of now having the fire department as EMS providers shows that the Fire Commission has the best interests of the Town in mind and they will always strive to make sure that the fire department will always be there, in any capacity, ready to serve and provide top quality service to the people of Suffield.”

Town News

Continued from page 3

er on November 2, 2025 at Sunrise Park to help with the kitchen fund, especially rising food costs.

Youth Services

• Joann Moriarty is working with the middle school on getting transportation for students from school to the Youth Center. New programs are being offered which include 3D Printing and robot building on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

• A Lego group will be started in the future.

Suffield Community Aid

• Mary Curtin reported on the prior Fiscal Year 20242025:

• The SCA helped residents

When contacted, Fire Chief Scott Cunningham refused to take credit for his department’s accomplishment, saying “those that came before me have done the lions share of the work to get this initiative in place, I was just the fortunate one who was here to push it past the goal line.” Cunningham went on to say “my department will always work hard to be in a position to deliver the best possible customer service to our citizens, regardless of whether it’s Fire, Rescue or EMS. Being able to now respond to EMS calls could significantly affect the successful outcome in patient care of someone who is sick or injured. That is something that we take very seriously and are extremely proud to be responsible for”. z

of Suffield access $265,000 in rental and heat assistance.

• SCA directly spent $170,000 on its programs. It spent 66% more on crisis and emergency funding than the previous year.

• Housing and emergency rental assistance totaled over 136% from the year before.

• Things that were down from the year before include fuel assistance and housing programs.

• There has been a 25% increase in food pantry usage over the same time period last year. The shelves are getting bare and could use a local food drive to help with replenishing.

• Backpacks were distributed in August to fifty-two individuals. z

Children’s Hospital

Continued from page 1

He never flew first class and even used Keurig cups twice” chuckled Joyce, “but he would spend anything for what my mother wanted.” Theirs was a love story that lasted almost 70 years before Jerry died.

Turns out that as one of eight children what RoseMarie wanted was a big family, and a big family they had. Trouble, however, was around the corner.

After her first child was born it was discovered that there was an RH incompatibility factor. Without going into the science of it, this became a problem not with the first birth, but with subsequent ones as the mother’s blood basically attacks that of the fetus and can result in death. Although it is not a problem now in the U.S., back when RoseMarie was having babies there was no advanced treatment. A baby would be observed only after birth and receive a transfusion, but many would die. Each of the DeSimone’s subsequent five children were all sick, with

Barbara, the youngest and premature, spending several weeks in a NICU. Because of the worry and anxiety arising from their children’s hospitalizations, the family had a soft spot in their heart for people in the same situation.

Just prior to his death in 2021, Joyce, as manager of the family trust asked her dad if he would like to do something “life changing” with his money, and he agreed. Almost immediately after that conversation Jerry was hospitalized and died two weeks later.

In deciding where to make a significant donation, Conneticut Children’s became a family choice. “My mother has always just loved babies and even now that she has dementia, she just lights up when she sees one,” says Joyce who also serves on the Connecticut Children’s Foundation Board and is aware of the tremendous work they do. After polling her siblings and their children the family decided that donating to Connecticut Children’s NICU would best honor their mother and father. z

Photo proivided by SFD

Fire Chief Scott Cunningham stands with the EMS equipment that will be placed on the fire apparatus so his firefighters can respond to EMS calls.

Captain’s Corner:

Holiday Fire / Cooking

Safety

By Suffield Fire Department

Captain Ron Carlson

Cooking can bring family and friends together, provide an outlet for creativity and can be relaxing. Safety in the kitchen is important, especially on Thanksgiving Day and the upcoming holiday season when there can be a lot of activity and people at home. But did you know that cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home injuries? And, the leading cause of kitchen fires is unattended cooking!

Please consider the following safety tips:

• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, boiling, grilling or broiling food. If you must leave the kitchen, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.

• If you are simmering, baking or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in your home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.

• Keep anything that can catch fire (oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels, curtains, etc.) away from your stovetop.

• Have a “kid-free zone” of at least three feet around your stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried.

• To prevent child burns and injuries, be sure that electric cords from coffee makers, plate warmers, electric knives or mixers do not dangle off the counter within reach of a child.

SUFFIELD FIRE DEPARTMENT

INCIDENT REPORT

SFD New Recruits and Firefighters

Firefighter Zury

three

joined the department recently after graduating from the Connecticut Fire Academy Fire Recruit Program. At the Academy they went through 15 weeks of grueling fire training and physical fitness. Thanks to Town leadership, the fire department is able to send new firefighters to this extensive training program at the Connecticut Fire Academy. The Town of Suffield benefits from having such well-trained and motivated firefighters.

• Be on alert! If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol don’t use the stove or stovetop.

Treat a Burn Right Away!

• Keep the floor in your cooking area clear of obstructions like children, pets, toys, bags, pocketbooks, etc.

Cool the burn with cool water for 3 – 5 minutes. Cover it with a clean, dry dressing (cloth). Get medical help if needed. z

Photo provided by Scott Cunningham

Chief Cunningham stands with his newest firefighters. From L-R Firefighter Wyatt McIntyre, Chief Cunningham, Firefighter Connor Fairchild,

Romero-Andino. These

firefighters

Thur, Oct 30

Fri, Oct 31

Fri, Oct 31

Through Dec 4

Sat, Nov 1

Sat, Nov 1

Sat, Nov 1

Ends Nov 2

Sun, Nov

2,9,16,23

Tue, Nov 4

Tue, Nov 4 to Thur Nov 18

Thur, Nov 6

Thur, Nov 6

Thur, Nov 6

Thur, Nov 6

Fri, Nov 7

Fri, Nov 7

Sat & Sun, Nov 8 & 9

Thur, Nov 13

Thur, Nov 13

Fri, Nov 21

Fri, Nov 21Sun, Nov 23

Fri, Nov 21

Mon, Dec 1

Wed, Dec 3

Thur, Dec 4

Fri-Sun, Dec 5-7

Fri, Dec 5

Sat, Dec 6

Sat, Dec 6

Sat & Sun, Dec 6 & 7

Sat, Dec 13

Fri-Sun, Dec 19-21

Community Calendar

November 2025

Suffield Trick or Treat - 3 to 5 p.m. Visit town employees at the Senior Ctr, the library and participating businesses around Suffield Village.

Halloween Candy Give-Away - 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. On the front porch at the King House, with the Suffield Historical Society.

Trick or Treat at the Library - after 5 p.m. Suffield Kent Memorial Library. There will be candy and you can check out the haunted atrium!

Reigning Cats and Dogs art exhibit features Christine MacClintic and Stephanie Garofalo. Through Dec 4. At WORK_SPACE, 903 Main Street in Manchester.

Christmas in Suffield Holliday Bazaar! Get started on your Christmas shopping! 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Multiple locations downtown and along Mtn Road. (pg 11)

Veterans Breakfast - 9 to 11 a.m. All Veterans and family members are welcome. At the VFW Hall, 972 Sheldon St., West Suffield.

Book Collection for the Annual Library Book Sale - 9:30 to noon. Drive up to the Mary Anne Zak entrance where volunteers will help you.

EARLY VOTING! October 20 thru November 2 (Monday thru Sunday) 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (except on 10/28 & 10/29, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) At Town Hall. (pg 9) Fall Turkey Shoots - 10 a.m. Sundays through Nov 23. At the Suffield Sportsman’s Association property, 2900 Phelps Road, West Suffield. Public welcome.

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS! 6 a.m. thru 8 p.m. - Suffield Middle School Gym. See the voters guide section. Please bring a donation for the food drive. (pg 9)

Suffield Field of Flags - celebrating our hero’s, veterans and first responders, including revolutionary war patriots. (pg 8)

First Look Open House at Suffield Agriscience, 6 to 8 p.m., at SHS, 1060 Sheldon St. for 8th grade students interested applying for the next school year.

Art, War and Identity – 7 p.m., presentation by Dr. Robin Jaffee Frank at the Suffield Police Station. RSVP appreciated at rsvphistory@gmail.com. Free. (pg 9)

Forests and People: Ecological and Historical Antecedents to 21st Century Conservation. 7 p.m. At the Suffield Senior Center. SLC Hosts. (pg 21)

Wicked Strange New England, 6:30 to 8 p.m., with award winning storyteller Jeff Belanger. At Suffield Kent Memorial Library. Drop-in. (pg 22)

First Selectman Coffee Hour - 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., at Cafe Barista, 66 N. Main. 10% discount on your drink order.

Poker Night - Texas Hold’em - First Friday each month. Doors open at 6 p.m., game at 7 p.m. VFW hall on Sheldon Street. upstairs. $40 buy-in. Must be 21 or older. Warm Coat Drive - 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Drop off donations at Suffield Village Market. Hosted by the Suffield Lions Club. (pg 31)

Suffield author Gil Ahrens discusses his new book A Delicate Dance in the auditorium at KML. The Suffield Public Library Foundation hosts. Free. (pg 23)

Books & Beyond with Anna Johnson author of The Borrowed Life of Fredrick Fife7 p.m. via Zoom. Register at Suffield-Library.org. (pg 22)

First Selectman Coffee Hour - 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., at Cafe Barista, 66 N. Main. 10% discount on your drink order.

The Play That Goes Wrong - 7 p.m. Friday & Saturday - 2 p.m. Saturday & Sundayin the SHS auditorium by the Suffield High School Drama Club (pg 18)

SHS Class of 2005 20th Reunion - 7 p.m. at the VFW hall, 972 Sheldon St. Tickets at www.showpass.com/2005wildcat. (pg 21)

DEADLINE! Register for free sand & salt delivery by the Suffield Rotary. Email info@TruePositionMfg.com. Delivery to take place on Dec 6. (pg 29)

Medicare Fraud Discussion with members of Senior Medicare Patrol. 1:30 p.m. at Kent Memorial Library. Protect yourself from financial exploitation. (pg 23)

Holiday Fiesta Fun with Santa! - Pizza and nachos dinner, seatings at 4 or 6:30 p.m. at the Suffield Senior Center. Reserve by calling Pam at 860.668.3862. (pg 27)

Santa comes to Suffield (Santa home visits) - 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. Register by Nov 29 at www.suffieldonthegreen.org/santa (pg 29)

DEADLINE! Meghan Voisine “Kindness Matters” grant applications open to youth and youth groups, Contact maryc@suffieldcommunityaid.org. (pg 16)

Book Collection for the Annual Library Book Sale - 9:30 to noon. Drive up to the Mary Anne Zak entrance where volunteers will help you.

Holiday House Tour, 2 - 6 p.m. Tour five historic homes along Suffield’s North Main Street. Hosted by the Suffield Garden Club. Tickets on sale November 1. (pg 29) Holidayfest at The King House Museum, 11 a.m to 4 p.m. Holiday decorations, punch & cookies. Suffield artists display and papercutting demonstrations. (pg 9) Suffield Alight & NEW Holiday Market - 3 to 7 p.m., Center green. Tree lighting, concert, caroling, trolley, visit with Santa, food trucks & more. SuffieldCT.gov

Santa comes to Suffield (Santa home visits) - 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. Register by Dec 13 at www.suffieldonthegreen.org/santa. (pg 29)

Help Suffield Ambulance Celebrate 50 Years

by Karl Cicitto

Celebrating 50 Years of Service, Dedication, and Community Partnership

Suffield Volunteer Ambulance Association (SVAA) has grown tremendously since its founding in 1976. What began with a single ambulance parked in a bay at the Suffield Police Department has evolved into a modern, professional EMS organization providing 24-hour emergency medical services to Suffield and surrounding communities.

Today, SVAA operates multiple state-of-the-art ambulances from its headquarters on Bridge Street, responding to thousands of calls each year. The team includes both paid and volunteer Emergency Medical Responders, Emergency Medical Technicians, Advanced EMTs, and Paramedics—working side by side to deliver high-quality, compassionate, and evidence-based care.

Growth didn’t happen overnight. In 1989, a second ambulance entered service while the Association operated out of a shared portion of the Town Hall Annex. As call volume increased and space became too limited, SVAA was granted use of the entire annex in 1993 to meet the community’s rising emergency medical needs. Continued growth, combined with strong community support and substantial fundraising, eventually made it possible for SVAA to construct and move into its current 8,800-square-foot headquar-

ters on Bridge Street in 2007—a facility designed specifically for modern EMS operations, training, and readiness.

While SVAA’s facilities and technology have advanced over the decades, its commitment to the community has never changed. Over the years, Suffield Ambulance has received countless expressions of gratitude from residents whose lives were touched by its members’ professionalism and compassion. In a 1995 letter of gratitude following his mother’s heart attack, Suffield resident Guy Boccasile wrote:

“We have the services of Suffield Ambulance mainly because there still are unselfish volunteers willing to give their time to constant training and to providing outstanding emergency medical care to the citizens of Suffield.”

That same dedication to training, compassion, and service continues to define SVAA today—embodied by both its paid and volunteer providers who work together to ensure the highest standards of care.

Philanthropy and community partnership have also been integral to SVAA’s growth. Reflecting on the generosity of Ray and Ina Perreault, whose donation helped fund an ambulance purchase in 1992, then-President Nick Mickelson reflected:

“Ina was absolutely taken by how the SVAA gives young adults a place to go and experience what they otherwise Continued on Page 12

Compiled by Beth Chafetz

National Family Literacy Day – November 1

“The home is the child’s first school; the parent is the child’s first teacher and reading is the child’s first subject.”

– Barbara Bush

“Reading aloud is a restorative that can replenish what technology leaches away. Where the screen tends to separate family members by sending each into his own private virtual reality, reading together draws people closer and unites them.”

– Meghan Cox Gurdon Election Day November 4

"Democracy is the only system that persists in asking the powers that be whether they are the powers that ought to be."

– Sydney J. Harris

"A man without a vote is a man without protection."

– Lyndon B. Johnson

"We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate."

– Thomas Jefferson American Education Week Second week in November

“Education is not about memorizing facts, but about understanding how to think.”

– Albert Einstein

“Think about every problem, every challenge, we face. The solution to each starts with education.”

– George H. W. Bush Sesame Street debuted

Food For Thought

November 10, 1969

“Sesame Street's genius lies in finding gentle ways to talk about hard things - death, divorce, danger - in terms that children understand and accept.” – Nancy Gibbs

“Sesame Street is awesome - not only because they teach, edify and entertain kids but because they savvily make it possible to do so with parental engagement, because the show is loaded with references for Mom and Dad.”

– Rachel Sklar Veteran’s Day November 11

“America’s veterans have served their country with the belief that democracy and freedom are ideals to be upheld around the world.”

– John Doolittle

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in

the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” – Ronald Reagan Vietnam Memorial dedicated – November 13, 1982

“The Vietnam Veterans Memorial stands as a symbol of America’s honor and recognition of the men and women who served and sacrificed their lives in the Vietnam War. Inscribed on the black granite walls are the names of more than 58,000 men and women who gave their lives or remain missing. The Memorial is dedicated to honor the courage, sacrifice and devotion to duty and country of all who answered the call to serve during one of the most divisive wars in U.S. history.” – vvmf.org

National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day November 14

“My house is not dirty. I

just have everything on display – like a museum.”

– Falcon embroidery

“Today is ‘Clean out your Refrigerator Day.’ Think I’ll start with the beer and cheese.” – pinterest

America Recycles Day November 15

Thanksgiving November 27

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

– Eleanor Roosevelt

"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have."

– Frederick Keonig Native American Heritage Month

“A single twig breaks, but the bundle of twigs is strong.”

– Tecumseh

“We will be known forever by the tracks we leave.”

– Dakota Tribe

National Veterans and Military Families Month

"Plastic pollution is a global issue. Recycling is not just an option; it's our responsibility."

– National Geographic

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”

– New England proverb Stop the Violence Day November 22

“Force is all-conquering, but its victories are shortlived.”

– Abraham Lincoln “Non-violence is a weapon of the strong.”

– Mahatma Gandhi

"The resilience of our families... and our children... is absolutely what has allowed us to do the things that we've asked our force to do. The strength of our U.S. Armed Forces, the strength of our nation is in... our military families"

– General Joseph Dunford

“Military families know service is an honor... You are the backbone of our military... You are the quiet, but steady fuel at home that keeps the fire burning."

– Military.com

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sustainable Suffield

Where to recycle your pumpkins

: If you have uncarved ' unpainted pumpkins, these farms will take them as feed for their animals:

Made by LLC, 50 Cross Street: drop off in white half barrel at their farm stand.

1286 Mountain Rd: drop off next to the goat pen.

5 Log Court, W. Suffield: drop off in driveway off Halladay Dr., at the yellow raised ranch.

Hastings Farm, 472 Hill Street: place pumpkins in the large plastic crate next to the greenhouse by the farm store.

For rotted pumpkins

Place rotted pumpkins, free of plastics, paint, etc., into the food scrap dumpster behind Town Hall.

Repair Cafe Attracts More Volunteers; Posts 2026 Schedule

By Tony Peterson, Co-chair of Sustainable Suffield

Sustainable Suffield’s Repair Cafes have three new volunteer repair people called “fixers.”

Our greatest demand has been for sharpening services, and we’re grateful that two new volunteers have signed on: one specializes in chainsaw sharpening and another in sharpening knives, garden tools, shears, and scissors. Our third new fixer is a former industrial electrician, who focuses on repairing electrical appliances.

Sustainable Suffield will be hosting four Repair Cafes from

10 am to 2 pm at the Suffield Senior Center on the following Saturdays in 2026: •January 24th

• March 28th

• June 27th

• October 17th

When you visit with broken items, please consider the following:

1. For furniture that needs gluing, plan to come early to allow the glue to set up before we close at 2 pm.

2. We impose a three-blade limit on sharpening. If you have more than three, you’ll need to re-register after we sharpen

each set of three. That’s to give others an opportunity to have their blades sharpened.

3. If you bring in multiple items to repair, you’ll need to register each item sequentially after each repair, again, out of fairness to others.

4. We serve coffee, water and treats like cookies while you wait.

5. We encourage donations, which help cover the costs of hosting Repair Cafes.

Fixers are not paid. They willingly offer their time for free to repair your home goods. z

Poster Contest Winners Announced

By Sustainable Suffield Cochair Tony Peterson

When the food scrap recycling program at Suffield Middle School began in September, a student member of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) chapter suggested a poster contest to draw attention to the program's benefits.

The FCCLA, along with Sustainable Suffield and Suffield Youth Services, joined to launch the contest for 6th through 8th graders with a September 30th deadline. Five contestants from grades 6 and 7 submitted their original artwork, which had to be handdrawn.

Middle and high school student FCCLA members voted

By Kacy Colston, Volunteer

Honor a veteran or first responder by sponsoring a keepsake flag which will be proudly displayed on the town green to commemorate Veterans Day. The cost to sponsor a single flag is $30, or four flags for $100. Proceeds from the Field of Flags event will support veterans’ initiatives in the Town of Suffield.

on three winners, who each received a $10 Dunkin’ gift card. Their artwork will be displayed on the walls of the school cafeteria.

The middle school FCCLA advisor is Julia Porter, while Rachel Hetzer leads the high school chapter.

Field of Flags

In recognition of the upcoming America250 celebration, the Field of Flags display will include 46 of Suffield’s revolutionary war patriots, documented for us by the Sibbil Dwight Kent Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a local volunteer organization in Suffield, CT.

The flag display will be installed November 4 and will

Suffield Middle School Principal Ken Smith said, “We are excited to join this districtwide initiative and are thankful to the staff and students who are involved in bringing attention to this important contribution for our school community and Suffield as a whole.” z

remain on middle green for two weeks.

Deadline to sponsor a flag is November 4. Use the QR code to register online or eMail FieldofFlags@suffieldct. gov. z

Photo by Tony Peterson Poster contest winners (L to R): 6th-grader Mary Avila and 7th-graders McKenna Whitten and Maya Healy, who joined to create their winning entry.

Municipal Election November 4

By Darlene Burrell, Registrar of Voters

The Town of Suffield will hold a Municipal Election on Tuesday, November 4, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Suffield Middle School.

Early Voting Information:

Early voting is currently underway and will continue through Sunday, November 2, ending at 6 p.m. Early voting is taking place in the Town Hall Conference Room, daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with extended hours on Tuesday, October 28 and Thursday, October 30 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Same Day Registration:

Voters who are not yet registered may take advantage of Same Day Registration, available during early voting and on Election Day, also located at

Suffield Town Hall.

Accessible Voting Options:

A ballot marking system will be available at all voting locations— including the polls, early voting, and same day registration sites. This system allows voters with disabilities, including visual impairments, to vote privately and independently. Features include a touchscreen display, audio output, tactile keys, a sip-and-puff device, and a jelly bean button.

Curbside Voting Available:Voters who arrive at a voting location but are unable to enter the building due to a disability may vote curbside. Upon arrival, please notify election officials at 860-668-3850 for assistance.

For more information, please contact the Suffield Registrars of Voters. z

Coming Soon to the Town Green

By Natalie Donais, Suffield Rotary President

Suffield is coming together to create something special: a brand-new bandstand that will bring music, entertainment, and community gatherings right to the heart of town. Thanks to the generosity of private donors and the Suffield Rotary this project is being built without a single tax dollar or impact to the town budget.

The bandstand will be fully handicap accessible, thoughtfully designed to welcome everyone. It has already been ap-

proved by the Historic District Commission, ensuring it honors Suffield’s character, and aligned with Parks & Recreation’s needs to bring more concerts, family activities, and town-wide events for years to come.

This is a true community gift, neighbors and local supporters working together to create a lasting gathering place for all.

If you are interested in contributing to this initiative donations can be mailed to: Suffield Rotary Foundation, P.O Box 283, Suffield, CT 06078. Memo: Bandstand z

Suffield Historical Society: Programs to End the Year

By Jackie Hemond

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Suffield Historical Society is proud to present a special program that celebrates art, history, and heritage.

Art, War and Identity

Thursday, November 6

7 p.m

Suffield Police Station Meeting Room, 911 Mountain Road

How did artists help shape public opinion and forge a national identity during the American Revolution?

Join us for a compelling lecture by Dr. Robin Jaffee Frank, art historian and independent curator, as she explores the persuasive power of visual art during America's struggle for independence. Her presentation, Art, War and Identity, will include, along with other images:

•Paul Revere’s iconic print that helped justify rebellion

•Engravings that documented the devastation of smallpox

• Portraits by Ralph Earl and John Singleton Copley that captured the evolving American identity

•Paintings by John Vanderlyn that reveal both revolutionary ideals and racial prejudices

•John Trumbull’s scenes of honor on both sides of the conflict, promoting reconciliation

A Q&A session will follow the presentation.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Frank holds a PhD in art history from Yale and has held prestigious curatorial roles at the Wadsworth Atheneum, Yale University Art Gallery, and New-York Historical So-

ciety. She is widely published and has organized exhibitions across the country.

Registration requested at rsvphistory@gmail.com but drop-ins also welcome.

***********************

Holidayfest at the King House Museum

Saturday and Sunday, December 6–7

11 a.m. – 4 p.m

King House Museum & Barn, 232 South Main Street

Celebrate the season with us at Holidayfest! Step into a festive wonderland at the King House Museum, decorated for the holidays with cookies, punch and holiday greetings.

Featured Events: Artists of Suffield Exhibit (held over from the summer), showcasing the work of 40 local artists—past and present Papercutting Demonstrations by Landi Hou, an acclaimed artist known for her intricate and expressive designs

About Landi Hou:

Landi blends Eastern and Western papercutting tra-

ditions to create works that highlight dynamic compositions and detailed craftsmanship. In 2024, she received the Outstanding Chinese Heritage Advancement Award from the Chinese-American Heritage Association. She also serves as professional staff and adjunct faculty at CT-State Community College, Middlesex Campus. Come celebrate history, heritage, and the holidays with us! These events are free and open to everyone. z

Star Award goes to Ed Danek, Jr., Hartford Federal Credit Union (HFCU) President & Chief Executive Officer and Suffield resident, has been named a 2025 CEO winner of the Hartford Business Journal’s C-Suite Awards. The award recognizes top executives for their leadership and lasting contributions to both their organizations and their communities.

Photo by Jackie Hemond

Washington and Lafayette at the Battle of Brandywine by John Vanderlyn (in public domain)

By Amber Bigley

For every time there is a season - October at First Church welcomes autumn! First Church continues offering worship at 10 a.m. every Sunday in the Sanctuary, entering into a season of thankfulness and giving.

First Church welcomes all new attendees, and those who have attended many years, to join us for worship for 1 minute, 1 Sunday, 1 month, 1 year…whatever calls to you! An open and affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ, First Church welcomes all to join us in faith and worship Sunday mornings at 10 a.m., in-person or through our YouTube livestream.

Together for Joy!

First Church will be participating in Christmas in Suffield once again this year on Saturday, November 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: a perfect chance to get a jumpstart on holiday shopping! Saturday, November 1 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. First Church hosts local crafters selling a variety of items, including birdhouses, candles, holiday décor, knitted and crocheted items, body creams, handcrafted copper items, photography, fused glass, quilter items and signs. Come browse our delicious bake sale and Country Kitchen items! There is even more to offer with our Attic Treasures sale and raffle baskets! All proceeds go towards the upcoming RAH

meal packaging event. Maps with the other participating locations will be available.

Sunday, November 9, First Church hosts the annual Rise Against Hunger Meal Packaging Event! With a goal of packaging 10,000 meals, First Church continues the tradition of global-mission work through Rise Against Hunger, a global initiative addressing food insecurity by providing meals and support, particularly through school feeding programs, to improve nutrition and health for affected families. All are welcome to join! Worship begins at 10 a.m. in the Sanctuary and transitions to the mission work in the Fellowship Hall. Contact the church for more information or to sign up.

Sacred Heart News

By Fr. Joe Keough

November has a bit of something for everyone at Sacred Heart Parish. We start right off with All Saints Day, November 1 with Mass at 8 a.m. All Souls Day is on Sunday to commemorate our beloved dead. The names of the deceased of our parish family since last November will be listed on the parish bulletin the first weekend of the month. They will also be remembered in an Evening Prayer of Remembrance on Monday, November 3 beginning at 6 p.m. All are welcome to attend.

The first Saturday is also our Christmas Fair in Father Ted Hall from 9

a.m.-3 p.m. Admission is free, food and beverages are available for purchase along with basket raffles, a variety of local crafters and even Santa Claus. Please come and be a part of the festivities.

The month rolls with our Thanksgiving Food Collection. This is our monthly Food Collection on steroids as our Human Needs Committee pulls out all the stops to assist our friends and neighbors have an enjoyable holiday season. Nonperishable food items, grocery gift cards and monetary donations are greatly appreciated!

Back to our prayer life.

Join us for Mass on Thanksgiving Morning at 8 a.m. if you are able. The final Sunday of November brings us into the season of Advent. Once again we will hold our "Come Home for Christmas " program as we pray in a special way for family and friends who are away from the faith but might join us for Christmas and possibly remain in the new year.

You can join us anytime! For more information about all the events at Sacred Heart, visit our website at www.sacredheartct.com.

God bless! z

First Church is collecting monetary donations to provide Thanksgiving meals to families in need! All proceeds for the Going the Extra Mile Mission Offering in November directly support local families this Thanksgiving, through the support of Covenant to Care for Children. Every little bit helps to make the holiday special - donate through our website Giving page.

Advent begins on Sunday, November 30. Join us for worship at 10 a.m. as First Church enters the Holy season of Advent, journeying Together for Joy preparing for the birth of the Savior.

The Blessing Box continues to be a vital and oft used offering of food and person-

al items available to any in need. Located right in front of First Church, the blessing box is open to our neighbors and community members to “take what you need; leave what you can”. We encourage our community to donate; please do not donate perishable foods or foods requiring refrigeration

First Church hosts Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous in our building weekly. Contact us for the full list of meeting information.

Questions and general inquiries should be directed to office@fcsuffield.org. Email the church office with any pastoral needs or to arrange an in-person appointment. z

Second Baptist Church Program Year Continues!

By Laura Burnaford

As the program year evolves, new opportunities for spiritual growth and mission work continue to present themselves. Opportunities for strengthening and sharing our faith and Biblical knowledge occur through worship and as well as through small group opportunities:

• Sunday Mornings – Reflection, Study and Prayer – 9 a.m. - Parlor. This time prior to the worship service is an opportunity to settle your mind and soul for the week. We will be continuing to study the “Fruit of the Spirit” - “By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

• Sunday, November 2–Worship and Communion –

10 a.m. – Sanctuary.

• Tuesdays, November 4, 18 and 25 – Weekly Bible Study – 11:30 a.m. - Library. Interim Pastor Jim is leading a study on the book of Philippians. Discussions are designed to help us understand the time and the setting when the scriptures were written as well as how these ancient words are relevant in today’s society.

• Starting Friday, November 7 – Prayer Shawl Ministry – 10 a.m. to Noon – Parlor. At Second Baptist Church there has been renewed interest in reviving this ministry, giving individuals the opportunity to come together for a time of fellowship while creating shawls that are intended to provide love and comfort to their recipients. Please call the church office (860-668-1661) for more information about this ministry.

Continued on Page 11

Second Baptist

Continued from page 10

• Sunday, November 30 –First Sunday of Advent – 10 a.m. – Sanctuary. We will begin our time of preparing for the coming of our Lord with a worship service designed to engage our children and youth. During the service special music by our newly formed Children’s Choir will be highlighted. Children and youth will help lead other portions of the service as well.

Second Baptist Church has many ongoing Missions opportunities:

• We support Shriner’s Hospital by collecting aluminum pull-tabs (from soda cans or other food cans). Proceeds from the sale of the tabs are used to benefit the patients in many ways. Only aluminum (Non-Magnetic) tabs are usable.

• Soup Kitchen Ministry – Saturday, November 8. Serving a meal for anyone in need at the Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen at South Congregational Church in Springfield, Mass. If you would like to participate in this monthly outreach, please call the church office at 860668-1661.

• Fellowship Time – Monday, November 10, 6:30 p.m. This is a monthly outreach program for our friends with cognitive limitations to give them a safe environment for crafts, singing, and fellowship. (This was formerly called “Special Needs Fellowship).

Several Community Events will be held at Second Baptist Church in November:

• “Christmas in Suffield” Craft Fair – Saturday, November 1, 9 a.m.-3: p.m. The Fellowship Hall will host a variety of crafters, while we will have a tag sale in our Common Room.

• We are hosting an American Red Cross Blood Drive on Tuesday, November 4 in our Fellowship Hall. For an appointment, please visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800733-2767).

Additional information

Come Enjoy Christmas in Suffield

Events are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 1

Second Baptist Church

Second Baptist Church is happy to participate in “Christmas in Suffield” on Saturday, November 1. We will have a giant Tag Sale in the Common Room (front, main level of the church) and the Fellowship Hall (back, lower level of the church) will be filled with crafters. Come see us between 9 a.m. -3:00 p.m. and get a jump on your holiday shopping. We will have jewelry, handmade gifts, jams and jellies, a bake sale and a silent auction. This

year we are proud to spotlight some young crafters, too. West Suffield Congregational Come to the West Suffield Congregational Church’s Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, November 1, from 9-3.

We will be offering a variety of homemade soups and fresh bread for lunch along with hot and cold drinks. Our bake sale, which offers an amazing assortment of goodies for the sweet tooth, is always a must for dessert! Eat in or take out is available.

Raffle baskets! Attic treasures for sale! Jewelry for sale!

for these and other activities/ opportunities at the church is available on secondbaptistsuffield.org, along with our Facebook and Instagram sites. On the website, there are links for the Sunday morning bulletin and "Week-

ly Wednesday Write-Ups" with upcoming events and updates on the various ministries in the congregation. There is also a link to the church’s YouTube channel for you to participate in past Sunday services. z

In Memoriam

Photo op with Santa…free!

Please follow our Facebook page West Suffield UCC for more information and updates as we get closer to the Bazaar date.

Suffield Fire Department Auxiliary Come and browse our many fun and delicious items.

Crochet and knitted items, pottery, Cupola Hollow Farm jams, jellies, fudge and more, jewelry, home décor, Pampered Chef, sour dough bread and other baked goods, wreaths, soap and homemade dog treats and toys.

Sacred Heart Church

Our Christmas Fair will be held in Father Ted Hall from 9-3. Admission is free, food and beverages are available for purchase along with basket raffles, a variety of local crafters and even Santa Claus. Please come and be a part of the festivities.

Second Chance Shop

The Second Chance Shop is open for extended hours, from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. and has all Christmas home décor and collectible items on sale for 25% off. Come in and browse! First Church Congregational First Church will be participating in Christmas in Suffield

Francis J. Fasano, Jr. August 22, Age 73

Robert “Bob” Milner September 12, Age 84

Agnes Ciotti September 23, Age 84

Norah M. Sargent September 24, Age 75

Michael Ayotte October 6, Age 68

Kenneth Porter Pascoe October 6, Age 62

Louis John Casinghino October 20, Age 84

once again this year, a perfect chance to get a jump start on holiday shopping. We host local crafters selling a variety of items, including birdhouses, candles, holiday décor, knitted and crocheted items, body creams, handcrafted copper items, photography, fused glass, quilter items and signs. Come browse our delicious bake sale and Country Kitchen items. There is even more to offer with our Attic Treasurer’s sale and raffle baskets. All proceeds go towards the upcoming RAH meal packaging event. z

Please Pardon our Appearance

By Sara Zak

In June, the Historical Society announced its contract with Silver, Petrucelli + Associates of Hamden, CT, to conduct a Condition Assessment and HVAC Feasibility Study of the Alexander King House, a building of significant historical importance. The historic architecture firm has submitted its report to the Society. In summary, the building is safe to continue business as usual. However, the analysis recommends nearly $1 million worth of work in the coming years to ensure its preservation for future generations. The assessment lists many projects that the Board of Trustees must prioritize, plan and fund.

Regrettably, the most visible issue to passersby is the north exterior wall of the King House. This wall has been a persistent challenge since the house was re-

SVAA Anniversary

Continued from page 6

might not…they see life and death and learn about compassion and patience and teamwork and dedication.”

Those same values continue to guide SVAA nearly five decades later.

As SVAA prepares to celebrate 50 years of service, the organization is seeking community members to join in the celebration. Volunteers are needed to serve on the Board of Trustees to help organize and support

constructed following the devastating 1983 fire. On December 30 of that year, a fire broke out in the basement, destroying over 50% of the house, along with numerous historic items and furniture. A significant reconstruction and restoration project allowed the museum to reopen on May 4, 1985.

The north wall was just one part of the building that was severely damaged and required substantial rebuilding. Unfortunately, less than six years later, the paint was blistering and flaking, much like you see today. The wall was re-sided and repainted in 1991. It has been repainted several times since then. As other homeowners may be able to relate, the north wall of a house is prone to problems associated with minimal sunshine. Historic homeowners are also probably

the 50th-anniversary events and to assist with future fundraising initiatives beyond this milestone year.

Planned anniversary events include a monthly community outreach activity, a bingo night, flower sale, wine and spirits tasting, a commemorative scrapbook and a silent auction, with the year culminating in a 50th Anniversary Gala.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for individuals, businesses, and organizations

familiar with internal air circulation and moisture problems. The King House has been dealing with those, too.

A stream of people, including members of our community, have attempted to solve the multifaceted mystery behind this paint problem over the past few months. The most appropriate fix appears to be re-siding the wall for a third time. Unfortunately, now that temperatures are unsuitable for painting, we must wait until spring to tackle this project. That allows time to raise funds to cover the expected cost of $40,000. The Historical Society appreciates your patience with the current appearance of the King House, and we want to assure you that we are doing everything we can to preserve this historical gem. Your support in this project is crucial and greatly appreciated. z

who wish to help make these celebrations possible and support SVAA’s ongoing mission.

To learn more about volunteering, serving on the Board of Trustees, or sponsorship opportunities for the 50th Anniversary, please email the SVAA at SVAA@SuffieldEMS.org

As SVAA prepares to celebrate five decades of lifesaving service, it continues to look ahead—building on its proud history to meet the emergency medical needs of Suffield for generations to come. z

Suffield Observations

By Andy Sauer

In the sitcom Cheers, the bartender Sam Malone pitched for the Boston Red Sox. What was his most notable accomplishment?

It’s not an easy question, but it’s not a bit of trivia I choose to inflict. This is a test I put to artificial intelligence programs. What makes the question challenging are the variables. Sam Malone is fictitious; the Red Sox are real. Baseball is real, but the character’s accomplishments are not. The achievement in question, which at the time hadn’t been done since 1962, is statistically remarkable, but it is insignificant in the character’s persona – it is a contextual aside in only one episode. The answer is hard to find with most keyword searches. And, that he did it as a Red Sox player, well, is just awesome.

As AI programs started to become widely available, I’d hit them up with this question. Each time they’d get it wrong. Sometimes, the programs would just make things up, as my phone’s just did right now when asked.

AI has proliferated to a staggering level. To a discerning eye, you see its digital fingerprints everywhere. It’s writing news stories, and creating videos, photos and graphics. It’s being used not only in a research capacity but as advisors. There are AI programs that serve as personal assistants. There are even AI virtual partners — as in girlfriends and boyfriends.

We are living the plot lines of a ton of science fiction books and movies. Let’s hope the story plays out more Her and less Matrix.

If the young can provide a glimpse of what’s to come, kids are using AI to assist with/do their schoolwork in ways that feel troublesome. Who can blame them? It’s comprehensive, versatile and fast. There was a time people were expected to perform mathematical chores with pencil and paper; today, it’s been outsourced to spreadsheets and other programs.

There’s a difference between intelligence, artificial or actual, and wisdom. Intelligence is knowledge acquired through discovery (education, research and word of mouth); wisdom is knowledge acquired through experience. Or, as my wife’s uncle recently said: “Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is knowing it doesn’t belong in a fruit salad.”

Humans are losing the intelligence contest to the machines. We need to turn our attention on the wisdom part of thought. While this has been traditionally a topic for academics, philosophers, religious leaders and other cultural pooh-bahs, humanity’s record on the wisdom front has been hit or miss, depending on the time - an overall “C-” if you ask me. We need to seriously pin down the meaning and purpose of life before the machines determine it for us.

So, Sam Malone…

The fictional bartender’s most memorable accomplishment as a member of the Boston Red Sox was closing out both ends of a double header against the Baltimore Orioles in 1972.

I just asked another version of AI, and this one got it right. I followed up with: “Why is this a good question to ask AI?”

It replied: “In short, it’s a great question because it’s a piece of fun, specific, and slightly complex fictional lore that requires an AI to recall, verify, and prioritize details from a vast database of television information.” AI upgrades quickly.

100 Years Ago in Suffield

Selected from the pages of the Windsor Locks Journal and lightly annotated by Wendy Taylor of Kent Memorial Library.

November 6

Local hunters report fair bags of game this year and a number of ruffed grouse have been shot here. None of them as far as can be learned have shown any sign of disease, which is said to be prevalent among the grouse this year. It is true that the grouse are not as common among the birches and fringes of the woods as they were a few years ago, but the grouse is a wise bird and if there is any chance to fool the hunter, will do it… A few coveys of quail have been reported, but as they are protected by law for two years more, they have not been molested. The Hungarian partridge, which was so plentiful in this town ten or twelve years ago, have entirely disappeared.

A large limousine which had evidently been set on fire and pushed down an embankment was found… near the Miller place at Congamond. Members of the Miller family were aroused early in the morning by an explosion and saw a fire. Deputy Sheriff Greer was notified and discovered the burned car. There was every indication that gasoline had been poured over the car and set on fire which caused the explosion. It was later discovered that the car was the property of Anthony Luvera of…Springfield.

A mysterious tobacco theft, the first here in several years, has been discovered, but as yet no one had reported the losing of any of this year’s crop. The tobacco was found in an unused tobacco building on the former Antrim farm on the Hastings Hill road, covered over the bean leaves and other rubbish. It was reported to the town officers, who conducted an investigation and found that the nine bundles were of this year’s tobacco, newly bundled and would amount to about 450 pounds. Upon going to the place later, the tobacco had been moved, it then being reported that a truck had backed up to the shed, but nothing at the time was thought of

the occurrence. Broadleaf tobacco growers are making a count of the tobacco that they had already taken down to locate the loser

A neighborhood Hallowe’en party was given at the warehouse of A. A. Brown in Boston Neck… About eighty were present and a very enjoyable evening was passed with games and dancing. Refreshments were served.

Victor Heirl, 13, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Heirl of Mapleton avenue, was injured….at his home when a rifle of .22 caliber went off accidentally. The shot went through his foot. Young Heirl had been shooting rats.

November 13

The annual meeting of the directors of the Kent Memorial Library was held at the library… Samuel R. Spencer was elected president of the board... Miss A. F. Owen presented to the library a part of a beautiful feather Indian head dress which was taken at the battle of Tippecanoe by Major Praul.

The cement blocks which were taken up from about the trolley tracks at the center have been removed and are used for a walk across the park from the Suffield School to the faculty house.

November 20

The Southern New England Telephone Company has had a gang of men at work for the past few weeks stringing a new cable from Windsor Locks to this place and the work is about completed. The new cable contains around three hundred pairs of wires which will give this town telephone facilities for several years at least.

November 27

The new road from South street to the Spring street corner in Windsor Locks has been completed, a gang of men working on the shoulders last Sunday and all the week to complete the work before cold weather. The road is now ready all the way to Poquonock and is being used by people from this town. z

A Moment in Time

Old Photos Invited from Our Readers

New Feature in the ObserverShare Your Farm Stories

By Ray A. Dalrymple

Starting with this issue, the Observer, from time to time, will be publishing stories from young and old on their farm experience in Suffield and how that im-

pacted their lives. If you own a farm, grew up on farms or worked on a farm in Suffield, we want your story. Stories are limited to 800 words and submissions must be in MS Word format. Photos are welcome and are limited to two per story. Please submit your stories to inbox@thesuffieldobserver.com and please write Attention: Ray Dalrymple in the heading. Thanks. z

A Teenager Working at a Tobacco Farm

By Margaret Godfrey Festi

I grew up in Suffield in the 60s. There were four children in my family and all of us experienced working for the Christian family on their tobacco farms in the summer. There were many tobacco farms in Suffield then, both shade and broadleaf. The Christian family grew shade tobacco. If you were 14 years old, you could work on these farms. Boys worked in the fields

picking the tobacco and girls worked in the tobacco barns sewing the leaves. The sewing machines we used had three person teams. One girl piled the leaves in front of the two girls using the machine. The laths, the leaves were sown to, came in bundles of fifty and we took turns sewing or piling leaves. It was hot, dirty work but you were with friends from school so you could talk and pass the time. You

were paid by the hour or by the bundle depending on how your day was spent. Our first job of the summer was tying up the tobacco plants to a wire just below the top of the white cloth net. This was an awful job as it was hot under the net. You had to bend down to get the string wrapped around the base of the plant then keeping the string tight and straight swing it over

Continued on Page 15

Mon-Sat 9 am to 6 pm

Submitted by Art Sikes

Lizzie Allen Delivers the Mail on Hill Street

house in the background is 1434 Hill St.

1. In September 1674, Thomas Granger (d. 1730?) was granted forty acres of land in Suffield and a home lot on High Street, near the present-day Suffield Academy. Thomas was a selectman and held other town offices.

On September 21, 1722, the town voted "That Thomas Granger, Sr., do take the second pew for his seat". What did that mean?

a. Granger’s seat was in the back of the meeting house.

b. Granger was awarded a prominent seat in the front of the meeting house, but behind another more worthy parishioner.

c. Granger was a “second” to the minister. He acted as a lay minister in case the minister was sick or absent.

2. Were all colonial men who resided in a town allowed to vote? Yes or no.

3. At one time during colonial times, there were five Samuel Grangers living in Suffield. What was the customary way of distinguishing them?

a. By their military rank, i.e., captain, lieutenant…

Suffield Trivia

b. By their birth order, i.e., ye first, ye second…

c. By their official town or church title, i.e., surveyor, deacon…

4. Joseph Pomroy (16721712) lived in Northampton, Mass. but in 1699 Suffield officials gave him 40 acres of land if he would come to live in the town. Why was he asked to come to Suffield?

a. He was a blacksmith.

b. He was a teacher.

c. He was a minister.

5. From 1908 to 1942, Sears sold more than 70,000 house kits in North America, shipped to buyers via the railroad. More than 370 designs were offered in a wide range of styles and sizes and most included central heating, indoor plumbing, telephone, and electricity. At least one Sears house was built in Suffield. On what street is this house located?

a. Main Street

b. Taintor Street

c. Mapleton Avenue

6. There is no official count of the exact number of historic barns in Suffield, Conn., but the Historic Barns of Connecticut Proj-

ect lists approximately how many Suffield barns?

a. 200

b. 75

c. 145

7. There was a map, perhaps made in 1795, which showed a route from Brewers, Maine to St. Mary’s, Georgia. Suffield is noted on the route. What did the map depict?

a. A mail route.

b. George Washington’s route through the states in 1789.

c. An Indian path which eventually became the basis for Route 1.

8. In early America, postage rates until about 1827 were determined by

a. Distance and number of sheets of mail.

By Jackie Hemond

b. Distance and weight of mail.

c. Distance and the particular charge established by each post office.

9. The Presidential campaign of 1800 when Thomas Jefferson’s Democratic-Republican Party opposed John Adams’ Federalist Party was a time of fierce debates and sometimes violence. In Suffield, on December 20, 1798, a political meeting was followed by a riot. In the midst of it was Gahazi Granger and three other young men. Immediately after the riot, what happened to the four?

a. They were tarred and feathered and imprisoned.

b. They successfully swayed the vote to Jefferson’s party.

c. They fled to the West that night, but first married their girlfriends.

10. Why did Gideon Granger, the second U.S. Postmaster who served under Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, resign in 1814? Choose which answers are correct.

a. Granger was a friend of DeWitt Clinton who was Madison’s opponent in the 1812 Presidential election.

b. Granger wrote a pamphlet in 1809 which opposed the impending War of 1812 which Madison promoted.

c. Granger nominated a Madison opponent to be the postmaster of Philadelphia.

? ?

10. All three answers are correct and contributed to Granger’s fallout with Madison. Madison forced him to resign. z

Gahazi’s second wife’s son, from an earlier -mar riage, was Stephen A. Douglas, Abraham -Lin coln’s opponent.

9. c. eyTh fled to the West that night, but first married their girlfriends.

ten in red so as to avoid an extra charge. [Historical Sketches, pg. 57]

ger letter was written, -res idents used foolscap which measured 17 x 13 ½, -mark ing it with a cross and the words “single sheet” -writ

es. However, when a -lon

Answers

Letters were usually -writ ten on sheets 7 ¼ x 16 -inch

8. a. Distance and the number of sheets of mail.

7. a. A ailm route. 100 post offices were noted on the map. The mail left from Brewers and St. Mary’s -ev ery Monday morning. The trip from end to end took six weeks and three days over the 1,799-mile route. [Historical Sketches by Jabez H. Hayden, -Wind sor Locks, 1900. pg. 54]

6. c. 145

garet Sullivan in Suffield, who had come to the -Unit ed States in 1894, at age 16, from Ireland. Their sons were John and Francis.

age 28, he married -Mar

5. b eTh house is at 136 Taintor Street. Michael and Margaret Leahey bought the kit and erected the house in 1914. Michael Leahey was born in West Stockbridge, -Massachu setts, and, in 1907, at about

4. a. eH was a -black smith. He was the origin of the many Pomroys or Pomeroys who lived in Suffield years afterward.

3. erhapsP all three -an swers are correct, but the one cited by “The -Gene alogy of Lancelot -Grang er of Newburyport, Mass. and Suffield, Conn.” cites answer b. By their birth order, i.e., ye first, ye -sec ond….

2. o.N In colonial times, an adult male who had the right to vote and hold -of fice was called a Freeman. Freemen also evinced good character, owned property and were church members.

1. b rangerG was -award ed a prominent seat in front of the meeting house. Pews were -allot ted to Freemen who were ranked by wealth, age, and official offices.

Continued from page 13

the wire and knot it, breaking the string with your little finger. You needed to prepare your fingers for this job by wrapping your fingers with white adhesive tape. I still have a small scar on my right little finger from cutting it with string doing this task. I probably didn’t wrap enough tape and thus the cut. The string had to be tight as this is what the tobacco leaves would grow along. A boss would walk along the row, test the strings for tightness and any too loose you had

to do again. The boys were much faster at this. We never worked the same fields as the boys, but we would see them in neighboring fields and they always finished their field before us. Doing this stringing job we were paid by the hour. It was a relief once we started sewing the leaves. Most of the summer was spent sewing leaves. If it rained you didn’t work, and you might start later in the day after a rainstorm as wet leaves were never picked. As the weeks went by, the leaves went from medium size to huge by the time the picking season was almost over. The larger the leaf the heavier it

Walk For Thought Raises Funds

By Jacqueline Kelle

Northwest Park in Manchester was buzzing this weekend for the 21st annual Brain Injury Alliance of Connecticut Walk for Thought, thanks to Colleen Bland of Suffield. Bland, known by her friends as the “queen bee,” suffered a traumatic brain injury the day before her 16th birthday when she was struck by a car while crossing the street. Forty years later, she has persevered through occupational, physical and speech therapy. She now works at P.A. Bland and Associates in Suffield with her parents,

was and the heavier the lath was once you sewed your leaves to it. Another job in the barn was carrying the full laths to farm workers who worked overhead placing the laths on beams in the barns to be cured. Carrying the laths was also a heavy job as the leaves got larger. The Christian family had multiple farms in Suffield and West Suffield. We worked in different barns all the time. I saw parts of Suffield I had never seen before.

It was hot, dirty work but you developed a sense of responsibility and accomplishment when a barn was full of hung tobacco ready

Patricia and Jerry. Walking since 2005, Bland has organized a team and raised funds annually to support the Brain Injury Alliance, which pro-

to be cured. It was emphasized by the Christian family members, our supervisors, that each tobacco leaf was valuable and a resource not to be wasted. They provided transportation, morning and afternoon breaks, 30 minutes for lunch and treated all the kids respectfully. There were kids from both Windsor Locks and Suffield. Although Windsor Locks was our rival high school team, I don’t remember any hostility among the boys or girls. We were paid in cash weekly and that was probably what I remember most. We started work at 7a.m. and the day ended around 3 p.m. Then you were happy

vides resources and support to those who have survived a traumatic brain injury. For more information or to donate, visit biact.org. z

to go home, take a shower and rest before the next day of summer work. The Christian family hosted a yearly holiday dinner for all their employees in December at the VFW Hall on Sheldon Street. This was a thank you for everyone who worked for them. It was a dress up affair. It was interesting to see kids you recognized from the summer without a hat or hair scarf, or white tape on their fingers dressed up and enjoying a holiday dinner.

I think another positive from this summer experience was learning that you can do anything if you make it fun with your friends. z

Submitted by Jacqueline Keller Participants at Walk For Thought display their thank you banner.

Kindness Grant

Applications Open

The Meghan Voisine Fund opened applications for “Kindness Matters” grants in October. The Meghan Voisine Fund has been established by Suffield Community Aid to provide individual students, student organizations and other youth organizations in Suffield with an opportunity to demonstrate acts of kindness, friendship and inclusion within our town. Last year the grant program funded 12 grants and two initiatives in the Suffield schools. Applications are due December 5. For more information or to get an application, please contact Mary at Suffield Community Aid: 860-668-1986 or maryc@ suffieldcommunityaid.org

What SCA is

Spotlighting this Month:

People & Pet Food Drive at the Polls to benefit the SCA Food Pantry:

SCA volunteers will hold a benefit drive at the election polls (Suffield Middle School) on Tuesday, November 4 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. We are especially in need of small bags of dog/ cat food, personal care items, snacks, condiments, laundry detergent and cleaning supplies. Cash and grocery gift cards are also welcomed at this time of year.

Would you like to help provide other residents with a Little Holiday Cheer? Sign up to sponsor a family or senior for SCA’s Holiday Basket Program: SCA is coordinating the Thanksgiving and Holiday Basket Program for financially qualified Suffield residents. Sponsors have the option of helping the household for either Thanksgiving, the December holidays, or both. Thanksgiving baskets are food. De-

Suffield Community Aid

What’s happening at SCA this Month?

cember holiday sponsors can provide a food basket, a gift basket or both. “Wish lists” will be completed and provided by the family that is being sponsored. If you are interested, please call SCA: 860-668-1986.

Thank You for Your Support!

Within the next few weeks, you will receive SCA’s annual appeal letter in the mail. The money raised supports core services such as the Food Pantry, social service consultations and the Housing Repair Program. Please support our campaign at any funding level you can by donating by mail or on our website. We can’t accomplish our goals without you! Visit our website to read our annual report, learn about our programs or make a donation. www.suffieldcommunityaid.org

Some Ongoing Programs and Updates:

Stay Warm This Winter!

– We are taking applications for CT’s Energy Assistance Program: These government programs help offset the winter heating costs for financially eligible households. Please contact SCA to apply at 860-6681986. More information on eligibility is available at www. ct.gov/staywarm

We Have Durable Medical Equipment:

SCA maintains a small medical loan closet of durable medical equipment for Suffield residents at no cost. Stop in or give us a call if you or a loved one could benefit from a shortterm or permanent loan.

Parkinson’s Peer Support Group at the Suffield Senior Center:

The next meeting is scheduled for November 4 from 11 a.m.–12 p.m at Suffield Com-

munity Aid (450 South St.) and will include a pizza lunch. SCA will be welcoming a guest speaker from Fox Rehab. Call Lauren at SCA: 860-668-1986 to register your attendance.

Housing Repair Assistance Program:

Suffield Community Aid’s Housing Repair Assistance Program was created to help low-to-moderate income residents obtain necessary home repairs. Applications are open. Please contact SCA to apply at: 860-668-1986 or email Mary at maryc@suffieldcommunityaid. org.

SCA Seeks Residents for Priority Emergency Response List:

We are updating our list of residents who would benefit from a check-up call during a town or state-wide emergency. Please contact SCA at 860-6681986.

Are you paying too much for Medicare?

Open Enrollment from October 15 through December 7 is your chance to check and change your coverage. SCA’s trained, unbiased volunteer available by appointment to help you sort it out. Give us a call to schedule your appointment.

Social Service Consultations with our SCA Social Worker:

Residents wishing to schedule a consultation with Lauren Marino can register by calling 860-668-1986.

Friendly Reminder: Mobile Foodshare:

The Mobile Foodshare Truck will be onsite at the West Suffield Congregational Church (1408 Mountain Rd) on Tuesday, November 4 and 18 from 1:15-1:45 p.m. No income verification needed. z

By Mary Curtin, MSW Director

860-668-1986

Food Support For the Suffield Community

Suffield Community Aid

450 South St – Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Meals on Wheels / Food Pantry

Outdoor 24hr/7day Food Cabinet suffieldcommunityaid.org (860) 668-1986

MaryC@suffieldcommunityaid.org

Requirements: Suffield Resident, Income documentation Food Pantry by Appointment

No financial requirements for Meals on Wheels

No requirements for Outdoor Food Cabinet

Foodshare Mobile Food Truck (Suffield Site) 1408 Mountain Rd (W. Suffield Congregational Church) (860) 668-2271 - Every other Tuesday 1:15 – 1:45 p.m.

CTFoodshare.org for schedule

Requirements: Connecticut Residents Only

Suffield Senior Center

145 Bridge St.

$5 Lunch Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday 12 p.m.

Suffieldct.gov / (860) 668-3862

pleclerc@suffieldct.gov

Requirements: Reservations – (860) 668-8830

First Church of Christ

81 High St. Outdoor 24 hr/7 day Food Cabinet (860) 668-7223

No Requirements

Photo submitted by Mary Curtin Meals on Wheels is busy serving seniors five days a week. We couldn’t do it with our amazing MOW volunteers. Pictured are Bob White, longtime Meals on Wheels volunteer and Lauren Marino, SCA Outreach Social Worker.

bserved

Schools, Library and Scouts

Solar Array Expansion Completed at Suffield Academy

By Tony Peterson

Perched atop hills on the west side of the Suffield Academy campus are two solar arrays that have the capacity to produce enough electricity to power about half of the school’s annual 4-million-kilowatt-hour needs, according to Chief Financial Officer Patrick Booth.

Installed in 2020, the original array spans 1.94 acres and comprises 1,764 panels, each with a capacity of 340 watts. It is currently generating about 750,000 kWh of electricity annually, he said. That’s roughly enough electricity to power about 64 average-sized homes annually, based on Dominion Energy data.

A second array, just completed and not yet operational, sits on 2.77 acres adjacent to the first and separated by a treelined gravel access road. It consists of 1,680 panels, each with a capacity of 590 watts. It will generate approximately 1.2 million kWh of electricity annually, or roughly enough electricity to power about 101

average-sized homes each year.

The panels are expected to last 20 to 25 years, although their electricity-generating capacity will diminish as they age, said Booth.

However, the academy is not using the full potential of all its panels for its electrical needs. The original array is directly connected to the Tisch Field

House and meets most, but not all, of its needs. A developer built and maintains the solar field. The firm charges the school 5¢ kWh. In 2035, the academy can purchase the array for one dollar, Booth said.

The second array, which the academy built itself for about $3 million, will be connected to the electric grid early next year by Eversource, Booth said.

The utility will compensate the academy for the electricity, about $150,000 annually, he noted. The school chose not to connect the panels to the campus after weighing a combination of factors, including a federal tax credit incentive, a new state metering tariff program and the power loss that would occur on the line over the long distance to the main campus.

He emphasized that the construction of both arrays was made economically feasible only through generous donations, particularly from the Willow Springs Foundation, as well as contributions from other benefactors and the school’s Parents’ Association Auction. He praised the Town of Suffield for its support throughout the process.

The academy spotlights its commitment to sustainability on its website, which also features a dashboard displaying the power output of the first solar array in real-time, along with the CO2 emissions it’s prevented and related data. You can view it at https:// shorturl.at/HwLoR.

Earlier this year, I reported on another one of the academy’s sustainability initiatives: its six-yearold dining room food waste recycling program. The program collected over 32 tons of food scraps during the last school year, thanks to the efforts of Food Service Director Sean Hennessey and his team. z

Photo by Hillary Rockwell Cahn

Two Suffield Academy solar arrays are located about a 10-minute walk west of the main campus, accessible via a service road off Hill Street.

By

Schools of Thought

Suffield High • Suffield Middle • McAlister Intermediate

Agriscience Center: Celebrating 60 Years

Dr. Laura LaFlamme

In 1966, the Suffield Regional Vocational Agriculture Program received its official state charter, marking the establishment of the Suffield Regional Future Farmers of America Chapter. While our name has evolved into the Suffield Regional Agriscience Education Program, the essence of our mission has remained constant, highlighting the enduring significance of place-based learning. This concept, often perceived as a recent educational trend, has been exemplified by our program for the past six decades!

Our success is encapsulated in our four-line motto, which every student not only memorizes but embodies daily as part of their agricultural education: "Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve."

The primary goal of agricultural education is to provide students with opportunities to explore their interests through the three circle model that centers on classroom lab based instruction, leadership and community service, and supervised career skill experiences. Ninth graders begin with an introductory agriculture course, while tenth graders advance to Agriculture Biology and Agriculture II pathways. As juniors and seniors, students select two classes per semester, specializing in advanced topics such as plant science,

animal science, agricultural business, natural resources, or power systems. Our facilities include a 3,000-squarefoot glass greenhouse, a floral lab, a land lab, small and large animal facilities, a dog kennel, and a grooming lab. Additionally, we have an aquaculture lab, a welding and mechanics shop, and various tractors and power equipment. These resources empower students to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for careers in STEM agriculture fields.

Since the fall of 2013, our program enrollment has surged from 91 to 173 students. This growth can be attributed to several factors, including the addition of a large animal facility, expanded property, a courtyard, a robust curriculum featuring five UConn Early College Experience courses, an additional staff member, and a strong reputation for cultivating 21st-century skills, resulting in over a 48% increase in enrollment.

Our curriculum extends beyond the classroom and into the community. Floral design classes often support local programs by providing fresh flowers for special events, such as graduations and gymnastics shows, including this year's Teacher of the Year reception at the Bushnell in early December. Students grow geraniums in the greenhouse as part of the

Memorial Day town remembrance, with support from the Suffield VFW to honor those who served. The large animal facility supports the Suffield Farmers Market, where students create and market their products. Using our truck, trailer, staff, and students, we provide animals for Suffield Alight. Our ninth graders volunteer over 100 hours at Sunrise Park, and we frequently donate flowers, funds, and wreaths to the community. We invite the community to our Holiday Sale, and many local businesses and stakeholders participate in the expanding "Make It and Take It Night" as part of this event. Students collaborate with family, friends, and alumni to organize and host an Agstravaganza Bingo Night at the high school in March, providing an excellent opportunity for students to plan a major fundraiser and connect with the community. This year, we will host our Ag Expo, featuring agricultural education displays for elementary students, workshops for high school students, and open doors for our students' to showcase their agriculture experiences to the community.

Our students also engage in agriculture experience projects outside of the school day that require documentation of 150 hours each year, working on farms, volunteering for community projects, creating

agricultural businesses, and conducting research. Currently, students are working at community-based places like Hasting Farms, Day Hill Kennels, Brown's Harvest, Hilltop Farm, Roaring Acres, Sunny Hill, and Rue and Co Flower Farm, to name a few.

We take pride in our program being recognized by the state as an exceptional three-circle program—one that is truly place-based. It blurs the lines between school, community, and the natural world, effectively preparing students for future careers through their experiences in agricultural education.

At this year’s National FFA Convention, eleven Suffield High School students who completed the agriscience program will receive the prestigious American FFA Degree, the highest honor attainable by an FFA member. This achievement is a remarkable recognition for our school, requiring each student to document over 2,500 hours of place-based agricultural

experience, generate a minimum of $7,500 in educational or occupational investment, complete over 50 hours of community service, and engage at the state level in FFA leadership activities. Students can only apply for this degree after graduating from the program.

On May 29 and 30, Suffield Agriscience is planning a 60th anniversary celebration of Agriculture Education at Suffield High School. This open invitation reunion is in the preliminary stages, but we hope to incorporate tours of local agricultural industries our graduates partner with, along with workshops and tours at the Agriscience program and a formal presentation to celebrate the achievements of our program graduates and stakeholders. If you would like to be part of the planning committee, or would like more information as the event progresses, please reach out to Dr. Laura LaFlamme at the Agriscience Program office. z

Suffield

Schools of Thought

Rotary Students Honored

By Eric Hamylak

On October 1, the Suffield Rotary honored two Suffield High School seniors at the Suffield Country Club.

Congratulations to the Rotary Student of the Month for September, Nuvia Torrez-Flores!

Social Studies Teacher, Miss Blais, said, “Nuvia has been a fearless leader for her class for the last several years. She selflessly gives up time for her council, her grade, her friends and other organizations. She is always ready to do work and works to the highest caliber. She has challenged herself through the courses she has chosen, and the activities/events that she has participated in. I can count on her to be inviting, help others and always offer a kind word.”

Social Studies Teacher, Mr. Barile has been, “very impressed with how well rounded a person Nuvia has become at Suffield High School. She chose to challenge herself by taking my UCONN Sociology course the first year that it was offered. She actively participates in class and produces quality work. She is also extremely kind to others and very involved in the school community outside of academics.”

English Teacher, Mrs. Candia-Bovi, noted, “Nuvia approaches every challenge with kindness and a spirit of teamwork. Thoughtful and genuinely supportive of peers, she helps create an inclusive, positive classroom environment and leads by steady example.”

Nuvia’s School Counselor, Mr. St. Amand added, “She

is a kind, caring and understanding young adult who truly cares for others!”

Congratulations to the Rotary Student of the Month for October, Noora Khaled!

Social Studies Teacher, Miss Blais, said, “Noora is probably the hardest working student I have ever worked with. She is well-rounded in being a stellar student but also an amazing human. She is a leader in her groups (such as Drama Club, Model UN and Robotics) and organizations- but also in the classroom. I have seen her take many younger students under her wing to teach/train them. On top of being within the top of her class, she is always kind and compassionate. She is open-minded and knows how to challenge others without being condescending. She has a solid balance of academics and work.”

Math Teacher, Miss Pryce, reported, “Noora excelled academically in Honors Precalculus last year, consistently earning high grades that

SHS Class of 2005 20th Reunion

November 28, 2025

7 p.m. – 11p.m. at the Suffield VFW

Tickets available here: https://showpass.com/2005wildcat/

she should be very proud of. However, it is the character that she displayed throughout the school year that I will remember. Noora was kind and welcoming every single day in class. She cared, not only how she did in class, but also wanted the best for those around her. She is a leader in and out of the classroom.”

English Teacher, Mrs. Candia-Bovi, added, “Noora is an insightful and reflective learner whose thoughtful approach inspires those around her. She leads through curiosity, care, and integrity, consistently modeling the character and work ethic we hope to see in all students.”

Way to go, Nuvia and Noora! z

Taters Sold by Troop 66 at Suffield On The Green

By Dean Prusi, age

12

Back in September Troop 66 sold baked white and sweet potatoes with toppings like chives, butter, cheese, sour cream and more at Suffield On The Green. We also sold bottled water. Baked potatoes were a fan favorite, and we ran out of them multiple times. My job was to tell the scouts what toppings to put on and give the topped potato to the customers.

There was also a sled race by a hill where people could race down with extra klondike sleds we had. Klondike sleds are used in a special winter campout where scouts’ complete challenges with the theme of scouting, like trivia or knot tying,

to earn points. Whoever has the most points wins. Sometimes when it snows, we need sleds to carry our stuff. It was a fun way for people on the green to see the troop.

After all that, we donated all the leftover potatoes to Enfield Loaves and Fishes. We sold lots of potatoes and everyone had a good time as well. We are looking forward to our annual Thanksgiving in the Woods celebration at Sunrise Park. For more information on Troop 66, please visit https://westsuffield66. mytroop.us/front_page or stop by a meeting. We meet Monday nights at 7 p.m. at West Suffield Congregational Church. z

Suffield Veterinary Hospital

November 2025 Patient of the Month

Meet JR, a beloved member of the Jeffrey family of Suffield. Seven years ago, when Amy and John’s kids were young, they begged for a pet. The family agreed to adopt a baby rabbit named Twix. A few months after welcoming Twix to their home, they were contacted because Twix’s brother, JR, needed to be re-homed. They happily agreed, and JR came to live with his sister. A fun fact about his name: JR is short for Jolly Rancher. He and his littermates were all named after candies.

Twix unfortunately passed a few years ago, but JR still enjoys life. He is very well cared for by the Jeffreys, with water, hay and pellets always available and a “salad” of vegetables and fruits twice daily. He has a fully-finished basement to run around in, with a two-level hutch, tubes, and cardboard boxes to hide in.

JR has a favorite game with the Jeffrey’s goldendoodle, Penny. He runs back and forth in his long tube and makes Penny chase him. Penny cannot fit in the tube, and when JR pops his head out of one end, Penny runs over. JR then hops down to the other end and looks out. “I’m over here now!” Penny then dutifully runs to the other side.

Recently JR came in to see Dr. Sabellico because his back legs appeared weak, and he was far less playful than usual. He was chewing the toenails and fur of his hind feet as well as the tip of his tail. Radiographs revealed several areas of arthritic changes involving his lower spine, hips and knees. We assumed that he was experiencing pain similar to sciatic pain in people, a reason for his chewing and discomfort in his hind end.

He was prescribed a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory commonly given to dogs called Meloxicam. The Jeffreys were advised to make his living area “handicapped accessible” by keeping him on level, padded or non-slip floors and provide a large shallow litter box to use. Since his diagnosis and start of treatment JR has become more comfortable, mobile and back to his happy self.

As Amy describes him: “JR’s appearance is an interesting mix. His mother was a Flemish Giant and his father was a Velveteen Lop. JR’s signature look is one ear up and the other ear flopped down. It could be because of his mixed breeding, or it could just be that he’s super cool.” Because he is SO super cool, we’re delighted to name JR our November 2025 Suffield Veterinary Hospital Patient of the Month.

Photo provided by the author

Noora Khaled and Nuvia Torrez-Flores

Photo provided by thr author Troop 66 works at their booth at Suffield on the Green.

Suffield Elementary PTO’s Color Run

By Anna-Kristin Daub-Murphy

A burst of color and community spirit lit up the fields of McAlister Intermediate School on a sunny Saturday morning in October as students, families, and staff came together for the Suffield Elementary PTO’s first ever Color Run. The event, an energetic blend of fitness, fun, and hometown pride, came to life through the tireless efforts of Event Chair, Bri Maynard.

The event kicked off with music and excitement, courtesy of DJ Steve Nagel from Rock 102, whose upbeat playlist kept runners—and spectators—moving throughout the morning. Adding to the fun was a special guest appearance by Boomer, the beloved Springfield Thunderbirds mascot, who brought laughter, high-fives and a flurry of photos for delighted children. The Suffield Volunteer Ambulance Association

graciously provided first aid.

As runners dashed through clouds of bright color, Suffield’s own Chad Lemmens of Lemmens Creative Design, LLC captured the day from every angle, including spectacular drone photography and videography that showcased the full energy and vibrance of the event. His footage highlighted not only the smiling faces of participants, but also the strong sense of community that defines Suffield schools.

The Suffield Elementary PTO would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the volunteers, participants and school staff who made the morning run seamlessly and safely. From setting up color stations to cheering along the course, their efforts brought the event to life. We would also like to express deep gratitude to our top event sponsors—the Springfield Thunderbirds, Wilcox Rentals, Windsor Federal, and Western MA Gymnastics—for

their generous contributions that made the event possible.

This year’s top fundraiser, McAlister student Blake, earned special recognition for his outstanding enthusiasm and support in helping the PTO reach its fundraising goals. Additionally, congrats to Mrs. DeLair’s first grade class and Mrs. Cronin’s fourth grade class for being the top earning classes at each school. They have earned a pizza party for their classrooms!

As the colors settled and the music faded, one thing was clear: the Suffield Elementary PTO Color Run wasn’t just a fundraiser for student enrichment programming and staff appreciation initiative, it was a vivid reminder of what makes Suffield so special. Through teamwork, laughter, and a few splashes of color, the morning reflected the heart of a community that truly runs on spirit. z

(biodegradable,

By Suffield Board of Education

As we move through the fall season, the Suffield Board of Education extends our gratitude to the students, families, educators, and staff who make our schools such special places to learn and grow. Fall is a time to reflect on all we are thankful for - the dedication of our teachers, the hard work of our students, and the support of our community.

With Veterans Day approaching, we also honor and thank the men and women who have served our country. Our schools will commemorate this important day through assemblies, classroom lessons, and student reflections designed to help young people understand the meaning of service and sacrifice.

Measuring Success

Students in Suffield Public Schools made significant progress on state standardized tests in Spring 2025, reflecting a strong and positive trend across the district.

Results from the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics, as well as the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) assessments, showed improvement compared to previous years. Beyond district-wide gains in students meeting or exceeding expectations, several grades and cohorts achieved double-digit increases from last year. Scores in all three subject areas remain well above the state average.

These achievements reflect our district’s ongoing commitment to strengthening curriculum and instructional practices, supported by the dedication of our ed-

ucators, students, and families. Together, we are overcoming the lingering learning challenges of the pandemic and building continued academic success.

Middle School Building Project

Plans to either build a new Suffield Middle School or renovate the existing facility continue to move forward. The town has hired Colliers Consulting to explore different options for the project. Next steps include developing educational specifications and conducting an enrollment study to ensure the project meets both current and future needs.

During the Board’s October business meeting, Superintendent Dunbar stated that it’s his belief that a building housing grades 6-8 is the best educational option for the district, rather than expanding the school to include grades 5-8, which would not provide an ideal educational setting for students. The project is expected to go to referendum in November 2026.

Election Season Election Day is right around the corner, and several seats on the Suffield Board of Education are up for election this November. We encourage residents to learn more about the candidates and to make their voices heard at the polls. Every vote helps shape the future of our schools!

Connect With Us

We invite families and community members to stay connected and engaged. Board of Education meetings are open to the public, and we value hearing from you.

Here’s to a season of gratitude, progress, and community pride in Suffield Public Schools! z

Photo by Chad Lemmens of Lemmens Creative Design LLC

Students run through clouds of color dust

non-toxic) being thrown by high school and parent volunteers.

Rotary Clubs Join Together to Fund Projects in Guatemala

From a press release

Twenty-six Rotary Clubs in northern Connecticut and Western Massachusetts (Rotary District 7890) have joined together to fund a project that will bring fresh drinking water, sanitation facilities and hygiene training to a needy Mayan community in Guatemala. Including matching funds from The Rotary Foundation and those contributed to ALDEA, the Cooperating Partner NGO, a total of $176,486 was raised. Adding this amount to the funds raised during the previous sixteen years brings the total to $1,856,900.

These funds will pay for the materials needed to complete a gravity fed water

system with gray water filters, vented pit latrines, improved vented stoves for the 115 families (725 people) who live in the rural community of Xecoxol, Guatemala. All labor is provided by the men and women in each village. These projects continue the goal of Rotary International to have every Rotary Club support an international water and sanitation project every year. By working together, pooling their resources, and obtaining Global Grants with matching funds from The Rotary Foundation, the Rotarians have been successful in adding size and strength to their chosen projects.

District 7890 Water Committee Chair and Man-

chester, Conn. Rotarian Rick Lawrence again spearheaded the drive to raise the necessary funds by making presentations about the project to the Rotary clubs throughout northern Conn., western Mass., and central Rhode Island as well as several clubs in southeastern Florida. In March 2026, he and his wife, Elin, will travel to Guatemala to visit the village funded through this Global Grant. As done for the past 17 years, he will document photographically the improvements and expressions of gratitude displayed by the members of the village, utilizing these during his presentations to show the Rotarians how important their past contribu-

tions were to these indigenous Mayans. The project’s implementation will be coordinated through the host partner, the Rotary Club of La Antigua, Guatemala, and its cooperating partner, ALDEA (formerly Behrhorst Partners for Development), a non-profit organization with ties to over 95 communities in Guatemala.

ALDEA helps train community-chosen people as a health promoter, a village dispensary manager and someone to oversee use of medical emergency transportation funds. ALDEA also provides extensive training in sanitation, personal hygiene, maintenance of the water system

components, micro loans, nutrition, including help in school and home vegetable gardens, as well as educational talks about family planning and birth spacing. In Guatemala over 50% of children suffer from chronic malnutrition.

This Rotary Global Grant project will help address some of the basic causes of poor health and will help the villagers address basic sanitation – water systems, gray-water filters and latrines – in order to help prevent the constant illnesses that afflict the population, particularly children.

For further information, contact Rick Lawrence at elawrlaw@sbcglobal.net or (860) 558-2793. z

Forests and People: The Ecological and Historical Antecedents to 21st Century Conservation

By Sam Wolcott, President Suffield Land Conservancy

On November 6, Paul K. Barten will be the guest speaker at the Suffield Land Conservancy’s annual meeting. The program will begin at 7 p.m. at the Suffield Senior Center.

The forests of New England are constantly changing. Some changes may be barely perceptible while others are sudden and dramatic. In any forest, large or small, we might ask: was it nature (ecological processes) or nurture (protection and restoration) that changed its character and condition? Alternatively, was it re-

sponsible land use or overt, grasping exploitation that altered forest structure and ecosystem function? On all but a tiny remnant of primary forest, the answer would simply [sic] be yes (…all of the above). Put another way, almost all forests reflect the cumulative influence of biophysical and socioeconomic drivers over many centuries. (If not for the remarkable resilience of trees and forests and the moderate, well-watered climate of this region our quality of life would be very different.)

Understanding how forests have changed through time can help a community to

deliberately choose a more sustainable future. Fully and objectively appreciating the critical functions of forests (e.g., mitigation of climate change, protection of drinking water supplies, conservation of biological diversity, to name a few) can help to persuade skeptical citizens and political leaders that, as Gifford Pinchot often said, conservation is “the application of common

sense to common problems for the common good.”

Paul K. Barten is a professor emeritus (University of Massachusetts Amherst 1997-2022; Yale University 1988-1997) of forestry, hydrology and environmental history (https://www.umass.edu/environmental-conservation/about/directory/ paul-k-barten) and a resident of West Suffield. Dr. Barten earned an A.A.S. in

forestry and surveying from the New York State Ranger School (1977), a B.S. in forest resources management from SUNY ESF (1983), and an M.S. (1985) and Ph.D. (1988) in forest hydrology and watershed management from the University of Minnesota. Before beginning his academic career, he worked as a land surveyor and served in the U.S. Army. z

Kent Memorial Library

Director’s Corner

By Amy Vessella, Library Director

Knead Break

Knead a Break? Let’s Celebrate Homemade Bread Day!

As November rolls in with its crisp air and shorter days, there’s no better way to embrace the colder weather than by baking a warm, comforting loaf of homemade bread. National Homemade Bread Day, celebrated annually on November 17th, encourages everyone to enjoy the age-old tradition of baking from scratch or simply enjoying the delicious results of someone else’s labor (my personal preference!).

Most of us would probably agree that there is something almost magical about the smell of fresh-

Library Activities

Movies at the Library

KML is showing movies again! Visit our website at www.suffield-library.org/ for more information, including this month’s movie showtimes.

Books and Beyond Discussion with Anna Johnston

Thursday, November 13 at 7 p.m. on Zoom

Please join us via Zoom on November 13th at 7pm to discuss The Borrowed Life of Fredrick Fife with Anna Johnston. Copies of the book are available at the library and on the Libby, Hoopla, and Palace Project apps.

Bittersweet and remarkably perceptive, The Borrowed

baked bread wafting through the house. As the temperature outside drops, the warmth of the oven can be extremely comforting. Some even consider the process of baking bread itself to be incredibly soothing. Maybe that is due to the anticipation of tasting that golden crust and soft, airy interior.

Unlike your average store-bought bread, homemade bread is often made with fewer, more natural ingredients, which means you have control over the nutrition, flavor and texture. Whether you prefer a hearty whole wheat, a soft white, or a tangy sourdough, the possibilities are endless. You can even add herbs, seeds, or a touch of honey to create your own bready masterpiece!

Now that the leaves have fallen and the chill of winter starts to descend upon us, it’s a good time for soups and stews. I can think of no better accompaniment to these dishes than a warm, fresh homemade slice of bread. Chili and cornbread are a match made in heaven! Homemade bread can also be a tasty snack. There’s something special about sa-

Life of Frederick Fife is a hilarious, feel-good, clever novel about grief, forgiveness, redemption, and finding family.

*Registration Required Thursday Readers Book Discussion Group Thursday, November 20 at 1 p.m.

Get together on the last Thursday of the month with other readers to discuss a book. Books are available at the library. Registration is not required. November’s title is The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali Rise to the Challenge Book Club: Speak Monday, November 10 at 6:30 p.m.

voring a slice of homemade bread that has been liberally smeared with butter while curled up with a book or gathered around the table with loved ones. Bread-making isn’t just about the end product—it’s about the process and the memories you create along the way.

Furthermore, baking bread at home provides an opportunity to embrace the slower pace of the late fall and winter seasons. In our rushed lives, taking the time to bake bread can be a grounding experience. With the holidays just around the corner, it’s also a wonderful way to prepare for gatherings, whether you’re baking bread to share with guests or simply enjoying the quiet satisfaction of baking on your own.

If you are unsure how to get started on your bread-making journey, or are looking for new bread recipes ideas, check out what we have in our cookbook collection. While you are doing that, I’ll be snacking on some cinnamon-raisin bread.

Happy Baking!

For more information or to register for a program, please stop by or call the library at 860-668-3896 or go online to suffield-library.org Follow us on Facebook. All programs are free.

General Programs

A book group for adults to read and discuss books that have been challenged and/or banned. Copies of the book will be available at the library. Facilitated by Librarian Anna Cierocki. Registration is not required.

Please be aware that this group discusses books which may include sensitive topics. November’s title is Speak by Lauren Halse Anderson Rabble Readers – Nettle & Bone

Tuesday November 18 at 7 p.m.

Rabble Readers is a new book club at KML for adults. We’ll read fantasy, sci-fi, and horror, anything Escapist Lit. We will meet on the 3rd

Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. Copies of the books will be available at the library, no registration required.

The November title is Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher.

Craft Night for Adults: Holiday Ornament

Thursday November 13 at 6:30 p.m.

Join us for our new monthly program, Craft Night for Adults! This month we will be making holiday ornaments! *Registration required.

Mahjong

Thursday mornings from 10 a.m. - Noon

Join us for a morning of American Mahjong!

Make new friends as you

play one of the world's oldest tile-based games. For Adults -Basic knowledge of the game required. Please bring your 2025 NMJL (National Mahjong Junior League) card. Registration required. Find Your Family: A Genealogy Program

Saturday, November 8 at 1-3 p.m..

Hit a branch on your family tree that's giving you a hard time? Come ask Wendy for ideas on where to look next. The library has Ancestry (World), Fold3 and we are a FamilySearch affiliate. Drop-In.

Wicked Strange New England

Thursday November 6 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

New England is a strange place full of ghosts, monsters, aliens, weird history, and roadside oddities that make this region like no other. For more than 25 years, Jeff Belanger has been exploring the unexplained. He's one of the world's foremost storytellers and researchers of lore and legends. He's the award-winning, Emmy-nominated host, writer, and producer of the New England Legends series on PBS and Amazon Prime, and is the author of over a dozen books. He also hosts the popular New England Legends podcast, which has garnered more than 6 million downloads.

Drawing from hundreds of strange tales Belanger has chronicled over the years,

Continued on Page 23

General Programs

Continued from page 22

this program offers a different set of stories every time it's offered. This will be a night you won't forget!

Kids and Teens Programs

Rhyme Time

Fridays November 7, 14, and 21

Bring your singing voice on Fridays! We sing, dance, blow bubbles -- and have fun!

Drop in; no registration required. Recommended ages 0-5.

Outside the Box: A Club for Neurodiverse Friends

Second Thursday of each month from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Next Meeting: Thursday, November 13 at 3:30 pm

Open to kids 10+ (under 12, adult must remain in the building)

Welcome to our club, where neurodiversity is celebrated! All kids 10+ are welcome, regardless of diagnosis. We’ll have snacks, play games, do crafts, and generally celebrate being ourselves. (This is a social group and will not provide diagnosis or therapy.)

The Kids Who Read Books Book Club

Thursday, November 20 at 3:30 p.m.

Join us for the next meeting of The Kids Who Read Books Book Club! We'll be discussing Percy Jackson: The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan Books will be available to check out at the library. Open to all people in grades 5-12. Registration is not required.

Elementary Nutmeg Activity Hour:

The Iguanodon’s Horn

Monday, November 10 at 3:30 p.m.

Join us to read a book from this year’s list of Elementary Nutmeg nominees, The Iguanodon’s Horn: How

Scientists Put a Dinosaur Back Together Again and Again by Sean Rubin. Then we’ll enjoy book-related activities, including a dinosaur craft! Grades K - 3. Space is limited; registration is required.

Dino-rama Competition

Sign Up (and Dino Distribution) begins Monday, October 27

Submissions accepted Saturday, November 1 through Saturday, November 15

Contest voting runs Monday, November 17 through Saturday, November 25

Winners announced Monday, December 1

All Ages

To celebrate Dino-vember, we invite you to participate in our Dino-rama competition. We’ll provide entrants with a selection of random dinosaur figures for the creation of a diorama; no other materials will be provided. See our website and socials for further details.

Building Together!

November 4 from 10 a.m.

- noon

Build with blocks, cups, Legos, train tracks -- come have fun!

Drop in family activity.

Story Time:

We're Thankful

Wednesday, November 12 at 10:30 a.m. or, Tuesday, November 18 at 10:30 a.m.

We'll be reading a book, singing songs and making a craft. Thank you for being here!

Registration required.

Ages 2-

Jurassic Art with Matt Ryan

Saturday November 8

10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

It’s Dino-vember. Let’s draw some dinosaurs with artist/author Matt Ryan. Check the KML website for details, registration will be required. z

Suffield Library Foundation Program

By Carl Casinghino

On Thursday, November 13, the Suffield Public Library Foundation is sponsoring a talk at Kent Memorial Library by Gilbert Ahrens, the author of A Delicate Dance, a historical biography based on his family’s experiences in Germany from World War I through World War II. The Suffield Public Library Foundation has sponsored a number of events in the community over the years featuring major figures of their fields, including author Andre Dubus III, musician and author Steve Katz, SHS grad Greg Butler, an Oscar-winning master of visual effects, and SHS grad Trevor Timm, the executive director of the Freedom of the Press Foundation. Now, the SPLF is proud to host this discussion with Gilbert Ahrens, a Suffield native whose family and professional experiences have shaped all of the books he has authored, including A Delicate Dance, The Unwritten Playbook, and Shattered, Shaken and Stirred: Reconnecting With What Matters Most After Loss and Adversity.

The author describes A Delicate Dance as a book that “I always wanted to write, that deals with my unique family history,” and which, as he delved into personal and historical research in preparation to write the book, only became more astonishing and dramatic - and quite relevant to historical trends throughout the 20th and 21st century. “After all,” he explains, “I grew up with these events. My mother was born in Germany and came to the U.S. as a small girl, not speaking any English. There were no men in the family who were able to make it to America, because they all had been executed or killed. In many ways, for me this has been a lifelong project.”

A Delicate Dance “starts with Berlin being bombed during World War II, and then it moves to World War I because that first conflict was

the genesis of so much that happened in Germany right through to the end of World War II. Once I really got deep into the research, it was clear to me that this could not be a book just about World War II, but World War I was vital to this story and must be part of its narrative.”

From the press release information about the book, “this historical novel follows the lives of an aristocratic German family from the end of World War I through World War II.”

Along with examining Hitler’s relatively quick rise to power and the grave threat of Nazism to civilization itself, A Delicate

Dance “recounts the courage of those who tried to assassinate Hitler” - including Ahrens’s uncles and grandfather - and whose “failure resulted in their imprisonment and execution.” The book is “told from multiple perspectives, delving into themes of trust, technological change, the dissolution of the aristocracy, and the complex personal journeys of a family caught in the changing tides of history.”

The Suffield Public Library Foundation is hosting this highly anticipated event at Kent Memorial Library on November 13 at 7 p.m. The event is free. z

Medicare Fraud Discussion

From a press release

On Wednesday, December 3 at 1:30 p.m., representatives from Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) will host a group discussion at Kent Memorial Library on the latest Medicare frauds impacting our local communities. SMP is a federally funded, nationwide program whose mission is to empower and assist Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, errors, and abuse. The SMP program is federally funded by the Administration for Community Living (ACL). The CT SMP program is operated by the State Unit on Aging in cooperation with the regional Area Agencies on Aging.

Health care fraud drains billions of dollars out of our

pockets every year, with Medicare one of the leading programs within the federal government where the loss is extremely high.

Attendees of this program will learn:

• How to protect themselves or a loved one from financial exploitation.

• How Medicare fraud, abuse and errors are defined.

• How to detect Medicare fraud and abuse.

• About some of the most common types of Medicare scams.

This important group event will assist in empowering you to protect against, detect, and report suspected Medicare fraud and abuse. There will be Q & A at the end of the discussion. Please register on the library website. z

By Abby Wolcott

No one wants to talk to me on the phone. I am abrupt and dismissive and always trying to hang up. I blame this on the fact that I was raised in a household full of boys and the telephone was no big deal. It was very uncool to chat on the phone. We had a black kitchen phone with a long cord which would reach into our coat closet if someone important was calling (aka a boy) and one needed to be out of earshot of the siblings. But there was still a lot of teasing, and talking on the phone was dismissed as a lame way to spend one’s time. Around this time some of my friends had a completely different attitude about the phone. They had actually mastered the give and take banter and their parents were indulging them with their own blue princess phones in their bedrooms and dedicated lines for the kids in the household. The only calling that was encouraged by my brothers was our repertoire of crank calls which we did in the afternoons while polishing off a bag of barbeque chips. Fast forward all these years, and I would much rather write a five-page letter than spend a few min-

Telephone Lines

utes on the phone. I have been thinking about chain letters that would arrive in the mail, in days gone by. A letter would arrive in the mail and one would have seven days to mail out seven lengthy scripted handwritten letters with the assurance that in a month’s time our mailbox would be flooded with fascinating life-changing correspondence. If the chain was broken, one was to encounter a string of bad luck so no way would I chance that. But

some teenagers out there must have been throwing caution to the wind because chain letters were broken left and right, and I never received that plethora of mail promised. Looking back, while I was fulfilling my obligations to chain letters, friends across town were tossing them in the garbage. Instead, they chose to study their Latin declensions thus making wise investments in their future while I was absorbed in curlicue letters and heart shaped periods,

allowing my homework to lie fallow, undone. One would be hard pressed to refer to our local birds as fallow, but their communication this time of year has gone the way of chain letters. The birds are out there, but they have nothing to say and are not calling attention to themselves as we hike on by. Sometimes we spot one on a branch just watching the world pass by or up on a telephone wire as a great vantage point. As we trudge along in the quiet, we think about all the bird

songs that filled the air in the spring and wonder just how many of these we will be able to remember once the singing starts again. Every year at this time I say I will spend the cold winter months listening to recordings of bird songs and expanding my repertoire. But time has a way of rushing by, and many of the things I say I will do remain undone. But just maybe this will be my year, and I can make those Smith sisters who taught me all about birds as a child proud. z

A Patriotic Thank You

Photo by Joan Heffernan

We look forward to hearing these vocal birds once again in the spring: song sparrow, Carolina wren, gray catbird, Dickcissel, and indigo bunting. The welcome sound of a Carolina wren may brighten your winter day as this hardy bird, with a voice to match, calls Connecticut its year-round residence.

Photo by Christine Cooke

An abundance of color at Bielonko Farm Stand.

“Celebrating Réveillon” at Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden

From a press release

On Sunday, November 2 from 2 p.m.–6 p.m., the Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden, a Connecticut Landmarks Museum, invites guests to celebrate the conclusion of its 18th-century Parisian wallpaper conservation project during “Celebrating Réveillon.”

Special presentations by historic wallpaper experts Peggy Wishart, Steve Larson and Deborah LaCamera will address the unique nature of the papers and the importance of conservation work.

Following the presentations, there will be a champagne toast to the project and the future of Phelps-Hatheway’s exquisite collection – featuring delicious macarons. As daylight wanes, explore the museum to hear from Studio TKM conservators and museum staff who will be answering questions about the history of the house and the wallpaper project.

The 18th-century wallpaper in the Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden tells the history of Connecticut during the American Revolution and the lifestyle of its

inhabitant, Oliver Phelps, through its intricate designs. Four of the museum’s rooms contain the original Parisian Louis XVI wallpapers by Jacquemart et Bernard with wood blocks made by Jean-Baptiste Réveillon. Today, it is one of the oldest, largest extant wallpaper collections in the United States contained within one of the most complete collections of late 18th-century woodwork-

ing and interior decoration. Discover more about the history of the house and its wallpaper at ctlandmarks. org/wallpaper.

In 2023, Connecticut Landmarks received a grant from the National Park Service’s Save America’s Treasures Historic Preservation Fund to assess, document, and stabilize the collection of Réveillon wallpaper in the house. Studio TKM Associates of Somerville, Mas-

sachusetts was chosen to assess and document the condition of the paper, analyze key color and design elements for conservation, and stabilize the paper in place. Since June 2024, Studio TKM conservators have undertaken an ambitious program of cleaning, surface stabilization, mold remediation, plaster repair, and careful inpainting of the wallpaper. Color scientist Erin Mysak has conducted a

detailed analysis of the wallpaper color palette, revealing previously unknown insights into the wallpapers’ original manufacture and appearance. The project will conclude with comprehensive recommendations for the future care and preservation of the wallpapers.

“Celebrating Réveillon” is a continuation of last year’s event, “Revealing Réveillon,” which celebrated the start of conservation work. To commemorate the end of the project, the November 2 event will feature a new lineup of guest speakers. Old York Historical Society’s Research Center Director, Peggy Wishart, will introduce guests to the fascinating history of wallpaper. Steve Larson, co-founder of Adelphi Paper Hangings, will speak on the company’s esteemed production of historically accurate, block-printed reproductions of 18th- and 19th century papers. Presentations will end with Deborah LaCamera, Partner and Senior Conservator at Studio TKM Associates,

P A R E N T S U N D E R P R E S S U R E

Today’’s paarrenntts s exppeeriieennce unnique e sttressorrs:

PRESSENNTTED BY SCARRLLEETT LEEWI S

Author, advocate, and founder of The Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement, mother to Jesse Lewis, victim of the Sandy Hook tragedy ChooseLoveMovement.Org

Whaat t to exppecct:

• Financial strain & economic instability

• Parental isolation & lonelieness

• Children’s health & safety

• Work/Life balance time demands

• Technology & social media

• Cultural pressures & children’s futures

• Presentation & discussion on the mental health & well-being of parents

• Actionable recommendations on how to support parents and caregivers through:

 Policy changes

 Community programs

 Individual actions

Jooin uss: : Thursday, November 14 6:30 - 8:30 pm

Suffield Senior Center 145 Bridge Street

To register to attend via Zoom, use QR code above or go to https://bit.ly/ suffieldparentsunderpressure

Photo contributed by Connecticut Landmarks

Guests at “Revealing Réveillon” partaking in a conservation demonstration by Studio TKM Associates. Image courtesy of Connecticut Landmarks.

A Tribute to Ken Pascoe

By Jay Presser

I don’t write obituaries. But I do, albeit infrequently, write tributes. This is one of those rare occasions when I believe not doing a tribute to Ken Pascoe would be an injustice so here goes.

I knew Ken initially through becoming a member of the Suffield Rotary. His official obituary reads:” [h]e was a 33-year member and 2-time president of the Suffield Rotary Club…” While true, this dramatically underrepresents his contribution to that organization, since all members believe in service about self and a rotation system leads to many becoming president. But Ken’s contributions went so much further. For many years Ken was in charge of and could readily be seen at the Rotary Chicken Barbeque at Suffield on the Green. Ken would procure supplies, oversee staffing and could be observed lighting the grilling pits amongst the Sunday 4:30 a.m. crew. What could not be seen is that it was Ken who initiated the program, continuing to this day, of distributing free chicken barbeque dinners to well over one hundred seniors unable to attend the fair.

When in 2017, a local U.S. Navy sailor tragically died in an accident, Ken immediately jumped into action, raising funds to make sure that he could be honored appropriately when his remains were returned to his hometown. Ken was the one that procured Suffield Rotary’s involvement in the annual Suffield Night Out, where work-

ing with other local groups, the Rotary would purchase and cook hamburgers and hot dogs for free distribution to all in attendance at the event honoring our first responders. When Rotary “Rang the Bell” for the SCA I always was pleased to ring with Ken, because whomever came up, knowing what Ken did for the town, seemed always to reach for a second bill to put into the kettle.

An accountant by trade, numerous organizations in town benefited from his expertise, often either gratis or far below “market rates”. This included the newspaper you are now reading, the Suffield Foundation for Excellent Schools and the Suffield Volunteer Ambulance Association, where he also served as a director and treasurer for many years. When I told a former president of Suffield Community Aid that I was writing this tribute he not only confirmed that Ken did the accounting for that organization, but at Christmastime he also regularly donated over 90 pies a year for distribution to the less fortunate. Ken was also elected to the Suffield Police Commission where he served for a decade (four as chairman).

Some people are generous with their time and should be applauded. Some people are generous financially and they too should be praised. But only the rare few are generous with both their time and their money, and those special individuals deserve a tribute. Here’s to you Ken Pascoe. z

Book Review

By Jane Shipp

Long Bright River

By Liz Moore

Who doesn't enjoy the occasional well written whodunit? This one is a winner. The protagonist is a police officer named Michaela--Mickey, for short. Her sister is Kacey, a drug addict and prostitute. The plot bounces back and forth between the present day and a time 20 years ago, when both were teenagers or even younger. They are studies in family dynamics, when the family is almost totally dysfunctional: Mickey is bright and studious, quiet and well-behaved; Kacey is oppositional at school, and wild with her peers, in every way you can imagine. She drops out of school and walks the streets, earning drug money. Mickey learns, at police headquarters, that a young woman has been found murdered; soon three more bodies are discovered. There is a serial killer abroad. At about this time Kacey disappears, and even though they are estranged at this point, Mickey sets out to find her sister, fearing that she has fallen victim to the murderer. She enters the dirty underworld of drug dealing, a dan-

gerous world indeed, even for a police officer who is armed. The Fitzgerald family, relatives on the girls' father's side, also seem to be involved somehow. There is a rumor that a member of the police force is part of the problem, so Mickey can no longer trust her colleagues--except for one, her former partner. Complicating the plot is the fact that Mickey has a young son who is the center of her private life, and for whom she has to provide some sort of care while she is on duty. The father of the child, another police officer who is a sleazy character, does not keep up his child support payments and ultimately disappears from the scene. The plot grows more complex by the page; action after action, crisis after crisis; danger

on every hand. It makes your heart pound, but you can't give it up. There is the girls' dreary childhood, plus the horrid world of drug addiction, juxtaposed to the love the girls still feel for one another. There are many fearful male characters and two are strong and positive; there are also two positive female characters who emerge as the story progresses. One in particular comes to Mickey's rescue by establishing a caring relationship with Mickey's little boy. The other comes to Mickey's aid near the end of the book, using her professional skills to expose the network of dark figures who populate many of the pages.

And the ending? Mixed, with two semi-positive outcomes. The reader is satisfied that Mickey comes out in decent though not enviable shape, and Kacey survives, but tentatively. The characters are well drawn, believable, realistic. It's not a book you'd want to reread, only because it is painful, but it's a book you'll be glad you did read, because we all need to know what's going on in "that other world," which may not be all that "other." z

New Major in Town

A Craft Kitchen

Submitted by Scotto Guilmartin

Suffield resident Kevin Molligan was promoted to Major in the Air Force National Guard on October 11.

Pictured in the photo (Left to right) are Kevin’s son, Marine Corp Corporal Hezekiah Molligan, Kevin, wife Nathaly holding son Nathan and Lieutenant Colonel Steven MacSweeney who conducted the ceremony.

PARKS & RECREATION NEWS

By Peter Leclerc/Donna Carney-Bastrzycki/Pam Cocca/Dan

By Donna Carney-Bastrzycki, Director of Special Programs

Bowling Buddies are Back in Action!

The Suffield Parks and Recreation Department’s Jimmy Deren Memorial Bowling Buddies Group is thrilled to be back for the 2025–2026 season! The group meets every Tuesday at Spare Time Lanes for weekly practices as part of a fun-filled 30-week season.

Looking to stay active, have fun, and make new friends? Join the Bowling Buddies! The group is open to middle school students through adults and is part of Suffield Parks and Recreation's inclusive special programs. In addition to weekly bowling, the group enjoys exciting outings and special activity nights throughout the year.

Pre-registration is required. To sign up or learn more, please contact Donna Carney-Bastrzycki, Director of Special Programs, at dcarney@suffieldct.gov  or call 860-

By Natalie Donais

On Saturday, September 20, members of the Suffield Rotary Club and Suffield High School Interact Club joined forces with the Windsor/ Windsor Locks Rotary and several other regional Rotary clubs and student groups. The gathering took place at CREC AAE in Windsor, where participants came together to take part in the annual End Hunger Now food packaging event.

Participants donned hairnets, beard nets, and food service gloves to ensure proper safety and hygiene. The

668-3862. For details and registration, visit www.suffieldrec. com. Come roll with us and be part of the fun!

Holiday Fiesta Fun with Santa Coming to Suffield!

Get ready for a night of holiday magic and family fun!

The Suffield Parks & Recreation Department, in collaboration with Youth Services and the Suffield Senior Center, is hosting a Special Pizza Party Fiesta Dinner with Santa on Thursday, December 4, at the Suffield Senior Center (145 Bridge Street).

This festive evening is open to all ages and abilities and features:

• A delicious dinner of pizza and nachos

• Holiday crafts and handmade gifts

• A visit and photo opportunity with Santa Claus, straight from the North Pole!

Two seatings are available:

• Seating 1: 4:00–6:00 p.m.

• Seating 2: 6:30–8:30 p.m.

Advance reservations are required. Doors will open no

earlier than 15 minutes prior to each seating.

Cost: $10 per person (children and adults).

Children age 2 and under are free, but must be registered in advance by calling Pam at 860-668-3862.

Space is limited, so register early at www.suffieldrec. com to secure your spot. Don’t forget your cameras — Santa

will be ready for pictures! Get Ready for a Fun and Active Winter in Suffield!

Just because the days are shorter and colder doesn’t mean you have to stay indoors!

This winter, the Suffield Parks & Recreation Department is offering a full lineup of programs to keep you and your family engaged, active, and connected to the community.

Rotary Food Packaging: End Hunger Now

event featured three assembly lines, each working efficiently in a friendly competition to be the first to complete their packaging assignments. The atmosphere was lively, as everyone worked together with enthusiasm and camaraderie.

During the course of the morning, the teams successfully packed a total of 26,000 meals. This contribution brought the cumulative total of meals packaged by these groups to an impressive 50 million over the last seven years. Every meal prepared is destined for local food pantries, helping to address food

insecurity in the area.

The Suffield Rotary Club delivered 14 cases containing 3,024 meals to Suffield Community Aid, further supporting the local community's needs.

The event was a rewarding experience for everyone involved. Volunteers, including both adults and students, enjoyed working together for a cause that is both meaningful and necessary. The collaboration fostered a sense of accomplishment and community spirit, demonstrating the power of collective action in making a difference z

Chris Colli Broker/Owner

Cell: (860) 716-7168  Email: chris@chestnutoak.com Office: (860) 668-0234 Fax: (860) 668-4672 www.chestnutoak.com

@chestnutoakre 76 Mountain Road, Suffield, CT 06078

Choose from a variety of new fitness classes, enrichment opportunities, and family-friendly activities designed for all ages and interests. Whether you're starting a new hobby or continuing a favorite activity, there's something for everyone this season.

To view the complete program guide and register, visit www.suffieldrec.com. z

Photo by Donna Carney-Bastrzycki

Bowling Buddies Group having a fun time at their weekly bowling program at Spare Time Lanes.

Photo provided by the author

Rotary and SHS Interact Club members packing meals with other Rotarians and donating to Suffield Community Aid.

The Suffield Observer

P.O. Box 424, Suffield, CT 06078

Tel: 860-668-7442, email: inbox@thesuffieldobserver.com and ads@thesuffieldobserver.com

Website: www.thesuffieldobserver.com

A volunteer, non-profit publication established in 1999 and published ten times a year.

Founder, Sam Fuller

The Observer is delivered free to all Suffield households.

Volunteers Who Work at The Suffield Observer

Officers

Chairman Jay Presser

Editor-in-Chief Beth Chafetz

Managing Editor Ann Kannen

Treasurer .............. Ginny Bromage

Secretary Krystal Holmes

Directors

Mel Chafetz, Kacy Colston, Ray Dalrymple, Tom Frenaye, Will Hermann, Krystal Holmes, Gerry LaPlante

Tony Peterson, Jay Presser

Editorial Board

All directors and editors plus Johanne Presser

November Editor Ray Dalrymple

December/January Editor Eric Harrington

Staff

Editor-in-Chief Beth Chafetz

Assistant Editor Elizabeth Kaplan

Associate Editor Lynette Roy

Managing Editor ....... Ann Kannen

Business Mgr. Ginny Bromage

Computer Tech Andy Preissner

Volunteer Mgr .Ray Dalrymple

Webmaster Kathy Werth

Reporters and Columnists

Amber Dawne Bigley, Ellie Binns, Anne Borg, Darlene Burrell, Donna Carney-Bastrzycki, Beth Chafetz, Anna Cierocki, Kacy Colston, Mary Curtin, Ray Dalrymple, Tom Frenaye, Hollie Garrity, Judy Hanmer, Jackie Hemond, Karen Jason, Peter Leclerc, Sue Mayne, Lynn Mervosh, Scott Miller, Fran Milliken, Colin Moll, Mary Ann Muska, Jack Muska, Lisa Parker, Ellen Peterson, Tony Peterson, Jay Presser, Johanne Presser, Lynette Roy

Reporters and Columnists (cont’d)

Andy Sauer, Pinki Shah, Jane Shipp, Kate Spoto, Wendy Taylor, Becky Tobiasz, Bob White, Kerry White, Abby Wolcott, Renee Wood, Sara Zak

Advertising Staff

Manager......Ann Kannen

Graphic Designer Amy Abo Kathy Werth

Word Processors

Manager......Lynette Roy

Darlene Burrell, Beth Chafetz, Kacy Colston, Maria Elsden, Becki Fuller, Ann Kannen, Breeze Rickson

InDesign Team

Manager......Kacy Colston

Judy Edwards, Karen Jason, Ann Kannen, Sue Mayne, McKayla Mills, Lynette Roy, Renée Wood

Production Team

Beth Chafetz, Kacy Colston, Ryleigh Craig, Dian Friedman, Ben Fuller, Elizabeth Kaplan, Sue Mayne, Jay Presser, Andi Prusi, Lynette Roy, Kathy Werth

Photographers

Beth Chafetz, Shannon Foley, Joan Heffernan, Karen Jason, Ron Kirschbaum

Proofreaders

Manager......Margery Warren

Beth Chafetz, Jan Peake, Johanne Presser, Jane Shipp, Bob White, Kerry White, Renée Wood

Deadlines for December 2025/January 2026 Issue

Submissions for articles should include the author’s name, address, telephone number and email. If applicable, include photographer’s name. Please send by email to: inbox@thesuffieldobserver.com

Submissions for ads should include the contact person, business name, billing address, telephone number and email All ads must be submitted as high-resolution images in .pdf (preferred), or .tif format. Please send by email to: ads@thesuffieldobserver.com

For either articles or ads, if unable to use email, submit a flashdrive or hardcopy (articles only) to the office on the lower level of the Suffield Village or mail it to our post office box. For articles, please use MS Word. All submissions will be considered to be property of The Suffield Observer.

Op-Eds Email Deadline: November 12

Articles Hard-copy only Deadline: November 10

Articles Email Deadline: November 12

Ads All Ads Deadline: November 10

Photos All Photos Deadline: November 12

Publish Date: December 1, 2025

The Suffield Observer

P.O. Box 424

Suffield, CT 06078

Tel: 860-668-7442

email: Inbox@TheSuffieldObserver.com and Ads@TheSuffieldObserver.com

Our Mission: To build a sense of community throughout the town of Suffield and to provide a forum where all sides of issues may be addressed. Our Organization: The Observer is written by, for and about the people of Suffield. We are an independent, non-profit, non-partisan organization seeking to provide information and news about the town of Suffield.

Donations: There is no charge for the Observer, but we welcome donations to help pay for our rent, printing and mailing costs.

Advertisers: To advertise in The Suffield Observer, contact our advertising manager, at 860-668-7442, and we will be glad to help. We thank our advertisers for their support. We feel strongly that one way to build a sense of community is to support our local businesses.

Volunteers: If you would like to be a part of publishing The Suffield Observer, you would be most welcome. No previous experience necessary. Call Ray Dalrymple, 860-668-7711.

Guidance for all submitted articles: All Observer submissions must conform to the following criteria: They must be reasonable and civil, free of libelous or slanderous content, timely and of community interest. Any criticism must be directed at ideas, actions or decisions, not people. When writers don’t adhere to the criteria, the Observer will attempt to contact them. If writers do not agree to make necessary changes, the Observer reserves the right to reject the article. Articles attacking the actions of an individual or organization must be submitted by the 9th of the month to allow for the affected parties rebuttal, or that party is allowed a rebuttal in the following issue. The choice is up to the affected party. Responses must be in kind.

Letters to the Editor/OpEds: The Observer accepts letters/OpEds that are factual and of interest to the community. We strive to print a balance of all sides of an issue. Letters should not exceed 250 words, OpEds should not exceed 500 words. Only one letter /OpEd per writer is allowed every three months.We do not accept Letters to the Editor endorsing political candidates.

Business Articles: The Suffield Observer does not accept articles written by owners of a business that could be considered self-serving. Advertising space is available for such purposes.

Political Ads: In the interest of maintaining a level playing field, we accept no political ads but do print at election time a Suffield Voters’ Guide with input from the local candidates.

Articles: We look forward to content on community issues or topics which would contribute to the benefit of residents of the community. Contributions include poetry, community interest articles, short stories, personal profiles, etc. Article length typically ranges from 100 to 600 words depending on the subject.

Photos: Photos enhance articles, and sometimes a stand-alone photo with a good caption beats a short article. Please send photographs as attachments (not embedded in a document). For quaility printing send good resolution of 300 pixels per inch or higher.

Suggestions: We are a volunteer organization and we truly welcome suggestions that would improve the newspaper.

Suffield Garden Club www.SuffieldGardenClub.org

Popular Holiday House Tour Returns

By Lisa Parker

As the crisp weather sets in, it's a reminder that the holiday season is fast approaching. The Suffield Garden Club is excited to announce the return of its much-anticipated Holiday House Tour. This year, the event will showcase five historic homes along North Main Street, each beautifully adorned with holiday-themed elegance and whimsy by the Club's talented teams of designers.

The Holiday House Tour will take place on December 6, running from 2 to 6 p.m. For convenience, shuttle buses will be available to transport attendees between the Suffield Senior Center parking lot and North Main Street.

Tickets for the Holiday House Tour will be available for purchase beginning November 1. You can buy tickets in person at the Garden Club’s 6:30 p.m. event, “Sustain-

Phelps-Hatheway

Continued from page 25 who will provide updates on the Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden project, the team’s findings, and the conservation process. Full presenter bios are available to read at ctlandmarks.org/ celebrating-reveillon.

Tickets for “Celebrating Réveillon” are on sale now and cost $40 per person or $30 per Connecticut Landmarks Member. Tickets and information are available at ctlandmarks.org/celebrating-reveillon.

Support for “Celebrating

able Suffield” on November 3 at Kent Memorial Library. Tickets are also available at Suffield Hardware, located at 63 Mountain Road, or online via the Suffield Garden Club's Facebook, Instagram, and official website: Facebook.com/ SuffieldGardenClub; Instagram.com/SuffieldGardenClub#; www.SuffieldGardenClub.org.

Advance tickets are priced at $35. On the day of the event, tickets will be available for $40. On December 6, tickets may be picked up or purchased at the Suffield Senior Center between 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Founded in 1934, the Suffield Garden Club is a non-profit organization committed to the beautification of Suffield. The organization welcomes new members who share a passion for gardening and community improvement. z

Réveillon” comes from the Suffield Greater Together Community Fund. Ticket proceeds support the wallpaper conservation. About the PhelpsHatheway House & Garden

The Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden is located at 55 S. Main Street, Suffield, CT. It is open for tours June through October on the 2nd Sunday of the month from 1 p.m.– 4 p.m. For hours and more information, visit www.ctlandmarks. org; https://www.facebook. com/PhelpsHathewayHouseAndGarden/; or call (860) 668-0055. z

Santa is Coming to Suffield, Again!

By Sean Sullivan

You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I’m telling you why – Santa Claus is coming to Suffield!

Once again - This Christmas season, the Suffield Knights of Columbus & Friends will escort Santa to visit the great little girls and boys of Suffield. Santa had the pleasure of visiting with over 198 children and their families in Suffield last year and would like to visit them and more in Suffield this year!!!

While his reindeer stops to graze and rest in some of our town’s beautiful fields, Santa will visit homes to bring fun, happiness & memories to those who would like to have him stop by. Be sure to have your camera(s) ready!

The North Pole has confirmed that Santa will be visiting Suffield during the first and third weekends of December, from December 5 – 7 and December 19 – 21. Santa will visit between 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on both weekends. If you are interested in arranging a visit, please fill out the form that is posted @ www.Suffieldonthegreen/Santa.

Reservations will be taken:

• For the 1st weekend of December and will end on November 29.

• For the 3rd weekend of December and will end on December 13.

• This gives the elves time to plan the routes to the children’s homes for the visit and to get back to Mom, or Dad, as to what time the visit will happen.

• Note that reservations will be taken on a first-come, firstserved basis, as Santa’s Visits are limited!! Santa is terribly busy this time of year!

• Additional Santa visitation information will be on the website page. Oh, we did want to mention that the “Suffield Santa Visits”

was awarded the 2024 K of C State Service Award for “Most Outstanding Family & Charitable” orientated activity!

Your financial support of Santa’s visit is appreciated. All net proceeds will benefit the CT Children’s Hospital and the Meghan Voisine Fund, which benefits Suffield children!

Santa and the elves look forward to seeing you this year!!

On behalf of all the members of the Suffield Knights of Columbus, Santa and the elves, we wish you a very blessed, merry and healthy Christmas season!!! z

Rotary Sand and Salt

By Robert Klesczewski

The Suffield Rotary will once again be delivering sand and salt to seniors in town for the 10th year in a row. This is free of charge and done as part of our way of supporting our Suffield community. Delivery will be on December 6.

If anyone is interested in having sand and salt delivered to their home, please

sign up at the Suffield Senior Center or Suffield Community Aid by December 1. Anyone can also email us at info@TruePositionMfg. com with their name, phone number, address, and any specific delivery location (i.e. next to garage, near the front door, etc.)

Anyone in the community interested in volunteering for this event or has general interest

in being part of the Suffield Rotary organization, please feel free to join us every other Wednesday at the Suffield Country Club restaurant at 6 p.m. We’re always welcoming new members looking to become involved with activities supporting the community. You can find us on Facebook for the exact dates we will be meeting or who to contact. z

Look No Further

By Kathy Werth

The Observer offers online advertising. Unlike the print edition, where ads appear beneath articles on specific pages, ads in the digital edition appear beneath articles that our readers are actively viewing. For advertisers with an online presence, such as a website or a Facebook page, we can include a link to it so readers can access more information by simply clicking on an ad. To upgrade to online advertising, contact Ann Kannen by email at ads@thesuffieldobserver.com or by phone at 860-668-7442 z

Living My Best Life with Sustainability...

By Tracy McDonagh, Member of Suffield’s Sustainability Committee

Last year, my husband and I decided it was best for our family that I retire. Whoadays can be long - what would I do with all this time??

A friend of a friend, for many years, thrifted/upscaled items and opened her home once a year to resell what she collected throughout the year. I would look forward to attending her event yearly. As luck would have it, just prior to my retiring, she decided to end her yearly sale. A wise friend, who would attend with me, said “We should take it over”! The wheels started turning….

I’ve always recycled. I love to thrift, go to tag sales, crane my neck looking at those items sitting on the side of the road. Hmmm, maybe I could do this.

Around this same time, Suffield Parks and Rec offered a series of classes for small businesses. I needed a catchy name. I needed a plan.

This is how Thrifting Pretty came to life. I started thrift-

ing, spending my weekends going to tag sales, looking for those pretty items and those poor pieces that, with a little love and creativity, could be reborn. I also discovered that I love to refinish furniture. Little did my husband, and kids realize they’d turn into my furniture movers. I became very diligent about paying attention to items sitting on the side of the road, waiting to be taken. It takes an eye to look beyond the piece in front of you to imagine its possibilities. December 2024 rolled around, and it was time for my first Holiday Pop-Up. I opened my home to showcase the hundreds of items I had purchased

and upcycled. It’s amazing what you can do with a glue gun, boxes of ribbon and pinecones! There were also newly painted furniture pieces that were brought back to life.

I knew I gained much satisfaction from helping the environment by recycling all these items, as well as channeling my newfound creativity, but little did I know how happy this would make people. As folks were shopping, you could see the joy as they discovered ‘new’ pieces - they were giddy. “How can you sell this so cheap?!” was what I heard throughout the sale weekend. My response… “I find it cheap, then you get it cheap”.

Around this same time, I also joined the Sustainable Suffield organization. They are doing great things to help Suffield residents learn more about sustainability. Have you attended a Repair Café event or picked up a composting bucket? Check them out at https:// www.suffieldct.gov/departments/sustainable-suffield.

I’m living my best life as I continue to look for the next treasures. If you’re interested in watching this journey, follow me on Instagram (thriftingpretty_suffield) or send me your email if you would like to be added to my mailing list (thriftingpretty@gmail.com).

I will hold Pop-Up Sales throughout the year, as well as participating in the Suffield Garden Club’s May Market. The next Pop-Up Sale will be held on Friday, December 5 through Sunday, December 7. If you ever wondered if sustainability can be fun, the answer is “YES, it can!” z

An Arborist in the Making

Photo by Jacque Howell Atlas Howell gained some handon experience in arborism when a new tree was planted in front of his house. Planting a tree with a child fosters a deep connection and lasting memories. Atlas will witness the tree’s growth as he grows creating a life-long bond.

Senior Center News

By Bethany Sullivan

Lunches are $6 and include tea, a cold beverage, and dessert. Please make reservations by noon the day prior. Please bring your own container for leftovers. Menu is subject to change.

Tues, Nov 4 -Open face Italian eggplant sandwich with sauce and cheese, oven tater tots

Wed, Nov 5 -Homemade tomato, tortellini and beef soup, tossed salad, cheesy garlic bread

Thurs, Nov 6 Chicken stroganoff over noodles, Caesar salad, roll and butter

Tues, Nov 11- Closed for Veteran’s Day

Wed, Nov 12 - Hamburg steak with garlic butter, homemade mac & cheese, vegetable

Thurs, Nov 13 - Homemade vegetable soup, ham and cheese on rye with lettuce & tomato

Tues, Nov 18 - Cheesy ground beef and rice casserole, tossed salad

Wed, Nov 19 - Thanksgiving lunch consisting of turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, stuffing, roasted vegetables, cranberry sauce, and a roll with butter

Thurs, Nov 20 - Pizza with hamburger, pepperoni, peppers and onions, chips, vegetable and dip

Tues, Nov 25 - Chicken salad sandwich, tomato soup

Wed, Nov 26 - Meatball sliders in Hawaiian rolls, a side of pasta and sauce, Italian bread

Thurs, Nov 27 - Closed for Thanksgiving

Senior Center & Mini Bus News

By Peter Leclerc, Director of Community Services 860-668-8830

Art Hour Thursdays 10:00—11:30

a.m. FREE!

Nov 6 — Jewelry Making Nov 13 — Painting or Coloring Cards (wildflower and winter/Christmas scenes available)

Nov 20 — Ornament

Making

Dec 4 — Sugar Scrub (make multiple jars for yourself or to give as gifts)

Dec 11 — Sugar Scrub

Dec 18 — Painting Embossed Patterned Planters

Open Mic

Wed, Nov 12 - 5:30

p.m.—7:30 p.m.

FREE! Sing, dance, play an instrument, recite a poem, or just come support the performers! Food/drink available for purchase.

Music Act: Turnabout Acoustic Duo Thurs, Nov 13 - 12:301:15 p.m.

FREE! Tim & Kathy from Turnabout Acoustic Duo will be playing. Sing along if you know it! Followed by donation bingo!

Music Act: Brad Smolkin

Thurs, Nov 20 - 12:151:15 p.m.

FREE! Brad Smolkin will be playing the oldies. Sing along if you know it! Followed by donation bingo! Donation Bingo Thurs, Nov 13 & 20

1:15—2:00 p.m.

SCA’s food pantry needs our help! Bring an unexpired, non-perishable donation item to play. Needed item list is on bulletin board. Prizes for winners! Floral Class

Tues, Nov 18 and Tues, Dec 16 - 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. classes

Join local floral design instructor, Bob Whit-

ney AIFD, to create a flower arrangement with guided step-by-step directions. Bring your shears! $50 per person.

FREE Workshop: Optimizing Your Social Security

Thurs, Nov 13 - 6:00 p.m.—7:00 p.m.

FREE! Cyndi Stewart from Charthouse Financial will be presenting on essential info for how to maximize your benefits.

Armchair Travel to Cuba Mon, Nov 17 - 11:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m.

FREE! We will be virtually traveling to Cuba while trying Cuban food.

AARP Safe Driver Courses Wed, Nov 19 - 9:00 a.m.1:00 p.m.

$20 AARP Member; $25 Non-Member payment to the instructor. $5 per Person Facility Fee is paid directly to the Senior Center. Cash or check.

Thanksgiving Lunch Wed, Nov 19 - 12:00 — 1:00 p.m.

$10 per person—pay Bethany ahead of time to be signed up. If you receive SCA lunch subsidy, it is $5.

Thanksgiving Trivia Tues, Nov 25 - 1:00 p.m.—2:00 p.m.

FREE! Prizes sponsored by BrightStar Care.

Armchair Travel to Switzerland Mon, Dec 1 - 11:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m.

FREE! We will be virtually traveling to Switzerland while trying Swiss food.

Holiday Lunch and Concert with Patrick Tobin Mon, Dec 8 - 12:00-2:00 p.m.

$20/senior. Your choice of a pot roast or turkey dinner followed by Patrick Tobin singing a variety of songs! Register online or with Pam/Bethany.

Card Making Class Tues, Dec 9 - 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.

Hosted by Karenoughcrafts. $15 per person. To register, call (860) 836-1326 by the Sunday before. Suffield Alight Sat, Dec 13 - 6:00—8:00 p.m.

Tree lighting ceremony on the Town Green with a concert, visit with Santa & Mrs. Claus, DJ, food trucks, ice carving, caroling with the Grinch, trolley rides, crafts, and more!

Holiday Party Sponsored by the Suffield Police Department

Wed, Dec 17 - 12:00— 2:00 p.m.

Join us for a fun-filled afternoon as a fundraiser for the Senior Center Kitchen including lunch and followed by BINGO! $10 per person—pay Bethany ahead of time to be signed up. New Year’s Eve Noontime Toast

Wed, Dec 31 - 12:00 p.m.

Included with lunch sign up for this day. Come early to get your festive wear and noisemakers then countdown to noontime sparkling cider toast followed by Auld Lang Syne sing along. For more information, please visit suffieldseniorcenter.com or call (860) 668-8830. z

Our family just returned from an incredible adventure with the Observer in Pray, Montana where we hiked, went horseback riding through Yellowstone National Park, and enjoyed all the epic views and rainbows in beautiful Paradise Valley. From left to right, Brendan, Kendall, Sullivan and Griffin Moore.

Carol and Tom Kaput reading the Observer in Zakopane, Poland at the base of the Tatra Mountains.

Fred Sweitzer and Martha Sandefer enjoying the Observer in Skagway, Alaska.

Lucille and Scott Miller holding the Observer with their Adventure Caravan friends in Hazelton, British Columbia, Canada. We started the trip as strangers but ended as friends during the 63 day Canada-Alaska camping tour.