The Suffield Observer (https://thesuffieldobserver.com/2018/09/)
PeoplesBancorp, MHC, the parent company of PeoplesBank, both of Holyoke, Massachusetts, and First Suffield Financial, Inc., the parent company of The First National Bank of Suffield, Connecticut, jointly announced on July 17 that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement for PeoplesBancorp to acquire First Suffield Financial and PeoplesBank to acquire The First National Bank of Suffield.
“Renewing, refreshing, and better connecting Suffield residents to our services”: these are the words of Janet Frechette, Executive Director of the newly renamed Suffield Community Aid (SCA). The new name and logo you will see is: Suffield Community Aid, Your Local Safety Net. Formerly known as the Emergency Aid Association, or EAA, the organization opted to update its name to better connect Suffield residents to all the services it offers. Its phone number, 668-1986, and address at 450 South Street, remain the same. The new web address is: www.suffieldcommunityaid.org.
Brains, beauty, and a fearless desire to be of service, Sandra Bixler has it all. The daughter of Richard and Linda Bixler was raised in Suffield along with her twin brother Steven, and is now a Principal Investigator at the Therapeutic Development Center, Molecular and Translational Sciences Division, at the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID). What does that mouthful of words mean you may rightly ask? Basically, Sandra, who has a Ph.D. in Emerging Infectious Diseases works trying to find vaccines or antidotes to the most deadly viruses on the planet such as Ebola, Lassa, and other hemorrhagic fever viruses. USAMRIID, located in Fort Detrick, Maryland, is the Army’s main facility for research into countermeasures against biological warfare and the Department of Defense’s only laboratory equipped to study BSL4 (biosafety level) viruses.
It’s more than a little frustrating for supporters of a community center to see both the Town’s proposal for a new Town Hall, whose cost will most likely be well over the approved bond amount from the 2015 bonding vote, as well as a seemingly fast-track proposal to move the highway garage to a location on East Street where we would be leasing, not owning, the property, ignoring, again, the vote in 2015 approving the bonding for the renovation of Bridge Street School (BSS) as a community center.
The Suffield-Windsor Locks joint robotics team, known as Aces High or Team 176, had one of their best seasons this past school year. This year’s robotics competition revolved around placing cubes (sometimes 7 feet high) on a scale type contraption. This would give the team points for every second the scale was leaning in their direction. At the end the robots had to climb up a bar about 6 feet high, which was quite a sight to see. Aces High competed in two local competitions in Waterbury as well as Hartford.
On a warm Saturday afternoon, the Suffield Arts Festival was held July 14th at Bruce Park. My family and I had the opportunity to see Suffield Youth Theater’s talented members in action along with guest acts perform. They were comedic, talented and exciting to observe. The low turnout was a disappointment. The Suffield Youth Theater’s members worked hard to put this event together and I commend them for their valiant efforts!
I have been a volunteer at Meals on Wheels in Suffield for a number of years, and was shocked recently when I was advised that no new meal recipients could be added to the program. This apparently is due to lack of funding. I find this unacceptable, especially when I’m positive that the state budget includes funds for items that are far less important than providing meals for Suffield residents who are either unwell or unable to prepare them themselves. I feel strongly that we must reorder our priorities and make sure we address the real needs of those in our community. I understand that money is tight, but our first priority must be to take care of those in need.
Viewed in July from the brow of Bell Hill, Suffield Academy’s rebuilt Memorial Building is indeed an impressive addition to the school’s campus.
Last spring I participated in the Connecticut State Geography Bee in Newtown, Conn. and qualified for the Varsity International Geography Bee World Championships hosted in Berlin, Germany. This event brings together 32 of the top geographic minds in the world, hailing from six different countries. For months, I was looking forward to competing in this event and I studied for it every day. Upon my arrival in Berlin, I was escorted on foot late at night with my luggage, in the rain, to my hostel in the eastern suburb of Kreuzburg where all participants were required to stay.
