Government/Town

Mental Health First Aid Training Completed

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On March 29, the Wheeler Clinic completed a second session of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training to Suffield Police and first responders from the region. A previous training session had occurred on March 6. Both trainings were conducted in the Amiel P. Zak Community and Training Room at Suffield Police headquarters. As of March 29, over ninety percent (90%) of the staff of the Suffield Police Department have received this training, provided free of cost. This includes police officers, public safety dispatchers, uniformed Animal Control Officers, and civilian administrative staff.

Government/Town

Suffield Volunteer Ambulance Association Organization

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Do you know how many volunteers we have at the Suffield Volunteer Ambulance Association (SVAA)? If you guessed 92, you would be correct. Sounds like a lot, but there’s always room for more. Volunteers are comprised of EMT’s, advanced EMT’s, paramedics and administrative support. In addition to the volunteers, there are three full-time employees, which include an Office Manager, a Paramedic, and the Ambulance Chief, Art Groux.

People/Business

Suffield’s Best

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At a recent Rotary meeting I was listening to the achievements already accomplished by our SHS Student of the Month. It left me with confidence that the young lady would proceed to accomplish “big things” in life. A friend who attended suggested that it was too bad that we so often lose track of many successes achieved by the people who often go on to achieve major successes in their chosen fields. The friend noted that perhaps the Observer could provide information about the many people whose stories and accomplishments would either bring pride with the thought that “I knew that kid was going to make it”, or perhaps a “wow” recognition when you utter out loud “I didn’t know our neighbor did that.”

At the editorial board meeting people were excited about such an endeavor but aware that it was not an undertaking we could do on our own. Limiting such a series to those whose accomplishments the editors were aware of would inevitably but unfairly leave out the stories of many with equal or even more impressive successes.

Government/Town

Free Electronics Recycling

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The Town of Suffield would like to remind residents that they may, free of charge, bring their unwanted electronics to the Suffield Landfill, 2715 Mountain Road. Hours are: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Accepted materials include, but are not limited to: computers, laptops, iPods/PDAs, printers, copiers, fax machines, scanners, monitors, TVs, cell phones, tablets, ebooks, video games, game consoles, VCR/DVD players, cameras and stereo equipment, remotes, keyboards, computer mice, modems, microwave ovens, and small appliances. Unaccepted materials include: NO smoke detectors, NO ballasts, NO propane tanks, NO paint, NO household hazardous waste (NO lighter fluid, liquids etc.), and NO appliances containing freon (air conditioners, refrigerators, and dehumidifiers).

First Selectman’s Update

First Selectman’s Update

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I had the pleasure of a tour of Kent Memorial Library recently and I left feeling so excited about the changes taking place that I wanted to share some of the highlights. Clearly every resident is anxious for the long-awaited reopening given the ongoing environmental saga the town’s endured. But after seeing it first-hand, I truly cannot wait for all of us to once again utilize this inspiring building. Facilities Director Julie Oakes and Highway Foreman Mark Cervione were my tour guides as we entered the new all-abilities accessible entrance, lovingly named in honor of Suffield’s Mary Anne Zak whose family provided an enormously generous donation towards the project. The entrance is an inviting and impressive space welcoming patrons.

Food for Thought

Food For Thought

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National Weather Observer’s Day – May 4

“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us, snow is exhilarating; there is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.”

– John Ruskin

“Tut, Tut, looks like rain”

– A.A. Milne

“It always rains on tents. Rainstorms will travel thousands of miles, against prevailing winds for the opportunity to rain on a tent.”

– Dave Barry

“I say it’s so hot, the hens are picking up worms with potholders.”

– Julie Trotter

“Don’t knock the weather; nine-tenths of the people couldn’t start a conversation if it didn’t change once in a while.”

– Kin Hubbard

“The weather is like the government, always in the wrong.”

– Jerome K. Jerome

“A change in the weather is sufficient to recreate the world and ourselves.”

– Marcel Proust

Cinco de Mayo – May 5

“Cinco de Mayo has come to represent a celebration of the contributions that Mexican Americans and all Hispanics have made to America…Latinos have fought in all of America’s wars, beginning with the Revolutionary War. Many Latinos are fighting and dying for our country today in Iraq, just as several of their ancestors fought for freedom in Mexico over a century ago.”

– Joe Baca

National Teachers’ Day – May 8

“Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world.”

– Malala Yousafzai

“Education is the key to success in life, and teachers make a lasting impact in the lives of their students.”

– Solomon Ortiz

“If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher.”

– A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

“The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts.”

– C. S. Lewis

“A good teacher must be able to put himself in the place of those who find learning hard.”

– Eliphas Levi

“Education is improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.”

–Marian Wright Edelman

“The test of a good teacher is not how many questions he can ask his pupils that they will answer readily, but how many questions he inspires them to ask which he finds it hard to answer.”

–  Alice Wellington Rollins

“Teaching is the one profession that creates all other professions.”

– Unknown

International Nurses Day – May 12

“Sometimes I inspire my patients; more often they inspire me.”

– Unknown

“Nurse: just another word to describe a person strong enough to tolerate anything and soft enough to understand anyone.”

– Unknown

“To do what nobody else will do, in a way that nobody else can do, in spite of all we go through; that is to be a nurse.”

–  Rawsi Williams

Mother’s Day – May 13

“Children are not a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work.”

– C.S. Lewis

“Being a mom might mean that my hands are full, but so is my heart.”

– Unknown

“There is no one perfect way to be a good mother.

Government/Town

Suffield Ambulance Award Recipients

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On Saturday, April 7, the Suffield Volunteer Ambulance Association recognized their annual award winners for 2017-2018 at a dinner at Crestview Country Club. The following are this year’s award recipients. Hero Awards

Civilians: Jim Rogeness, Tahycha Velavquez, Jeremy Schussler, Marian Beland, Bree Berner, Marilyn Rice, K9 Sapphire, K9 Ted E Bare

Suffield EMS Members: Ken Shaffer, Laura Steinmeyer, Bill Borchers, Bob Lowell, Lisa Shelanskas, Ted Hansen, Don Miner, Laura Steinmeyer

Suffield Public Safety Partners: Officer Justin Fuller, Dispatcher Mildred Webster, Officer Rob Dabkowski, Dispatcher Lorraine Morelli, Officer Tom Kieselback, Dispatcher Lauren Mayhew, Police Chief Rick Brown, Fire Lt. Kevin Seger, Fire Captian Mike Thibedeau, Firefighter Colby Tyler

Years of Service Milestones

5 Years: Kathy Dunai, Joan Perrone, Suzanne Sussman, Rev. Scott Seabury

10 Years: Dawn Santaniello, Barbara Daley, Karen Doyon

15 Years: Kerri Pliszka, Thom Yakoubian

20 Years: Steve Kratzke

25 Years: Gil Ahrens

35 Years: Bill Borchers, Sonny Osowiecki

Explorer of the Year

Amy Colson

Greatest Number of Hours

In town member:

Vic Mathieu

Out of town member:

Brittany Crabtree

Greatest Number of Calls

In town member:

Vic Mathieu

Out of town member:

Laura Steinmeyer

Rising Star Recognition

Jacob Audet

Special Recognition

Connie Mendoza, Troy Peterson

Officers’ Award

Brittany Crabtree, Ken Shaffer

Perreault Award

Holly Jacobs, Jake Jacobs

Directors’ Award

Linda Stevenson

Zak Award

Justin Donnelly

Chris Schmeck Service Award

Marie Bliss

Life Time Achievement

Linda Stevenson