Farming/Nature

Bobcats are Back!

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I’ll come clean that I spend a lot of time fantasizing when I am in the woods. But, rest assured these fantasies are mostly g-rated and they go back in time to the days of the Bering land bridge between Asia and North America and lots of cool animals sauntered over to our neck of the woods. It’s wildly exciting to ponder the presence of lumbering wooly mammoth, ground sloths, and short faced bears taking this route. And I, for one, am sorry that they are not here today as they are very much part of my trail fantasies. But, that’s the deal with fantasies; they operate best when they keep clear of reality.

Organizations

Cub Scouts Cross Over

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Eleven proud boys of Pack 266 celebrated the successful completion of their advancement in the Cub Scout program at a traditional Blue and Gold Banquet on February 24. Fellowship Hall at Suffield’s First Congregational Church was crowded with parents, grandparents, and friends along with the other boys in the Pack: Bobcats, Tigers, Wolves, Bears, and those who are completing their first year Webelos level, hoping to cross over to become Boy Scouts when they earn their Arrow of Light rank next year. (Webelos means We’ll Be Loyal Scouts.) Boy Scouts and leaders of Troop 66 and Troop 260 were present to receive the cross-over Cubs. Following the Presentation of the Colors, First Selectman Melissa Mack spoke briefly, recognizing the boys’ progress and the good efforts of the pack leaders. The Story of the Blue and Gold – the origin of Cub Scouting – was told by the boys themselves, who also recited the program’s elemental tenets in the traditional candle-lighting ceremony.

Parks and Rec

Recognizing National Volunteer Month

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April is National Volunteer month. The Parks and Recreation department knows all too well the importance of volunteers as they play such a significant role with the success of our programs. A large component of our programs rely on the dedication and expertise you share with our community. We would like to take this time to thank each and every one of you who has volunteered throughout the year. We are grateful to all the Boys and Girl scouts who have lent a helping hand to clean up our parks. Middle and High school students who are at the annual road races distributing water to runners, helping with afterschool programs and gaining valuable experience volunteering as junior counselors during our summer camp programs. Special partners who bowl weekly and encourage athletes in our Bowling Buddies program.

Parks and Rec

Spring is in the Air!

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After a long winter of being cooped up inside, now is the time to get outdoors and burn off some energy. Learn a new sport this spring and register for golf or tennis lessons for both youth and adults! Pre-schoolers can interact in the popular Family Fitness Fun class where mom, dad or caregiver can get fit with their child. There are still spaces available in the Body Makeover and Sculpt and Slim exercise classes that will keep you healthy and toned and begin in early April. Calling all Cheerleaders!

Organizations

Polish Heritage History

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The history of Poland is so long and complicated it is impossible to create an understanding of the hardships that our ancestors endured over centuries in this short column. The nation’s history is full of religious, political and territorial conflicts that resulted in many wars and changes of ruling powers. Yet our ancestors not only managed to survive, they maintained loyalty to their country, even when it did not exist on a map. Over these centuries, the Polish people earned a worldwide reputation as hard workers with great resilience. It is easy to see why Poland was caught up in the territorial struggles of The Middle Ages.

Organizations

Library Features Art and Photo Exhibits

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Suffield’s own award-winning artist and illustrator Laurie Tavino will be presenting a display of her work in the Kent Memorial Library’s temporary home at 61 Ffyler Place during the month of April. Also on display during April will be photographs by Suffield residents or students submitted as entries in the “Lester Smith Photography Contest.”

Ms. Tavino is a graduate of Arizona State University, a member of the West Hartford Art League, River Valley Illustrators, Tobacco Valley Artists Association, Friends of the Farm at Hilltop, The Suffield Historical Society, Enfield Historical Society, and Mount Carmel Women’s Auxiliary. Her paintings have garnered many awards throughout the area, are prized by collectors, and are featured in many homes and businesses. Laurie offers art lessons in her home studio. Photographs found on display may be in three categories; “Faces in Suffield”; “History of Suffield”; and “Suffield Landscapes.” Entrants are competing for cash awards here, in this event intended to commemorate the 90th birthday of Town Historian Lester Smith.

Farming/Nature

Woods Walker Extraordinaire

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Geoff Whittum, who came to Suffield some years ago from his upbringing in Ellington, calls himself a Woods Walker, a delightful term that fits his avocation of exploring the natural environment in New England. Recently he’s been sharing stories of the amazing things he has found in his walks. After his well-received presentations at libraries in Bloomfield and Granby, the Kent Memorial Library sponsored his February 27 appearance at the Suffield Senior Center, where a full-house crowd was fascinated by his photos of strange and wondrous shapes of rocks. Whittum showed images of giant boulders resting precariously on two or three small ones, oddly shaped individual boulders, strange dug-outs and caves, and other challenging configurations of rocks. Adding to the fascination were his descriptions of their orientation with solar occurrences and the relationships of these odd rocks with other rocks at various distances.