Schools/Sports

Spaulding Kids Honor Vets

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Kindergarten and first and second grade children of Spaulding School invited about 70 veterans, including a few active reservists – parents, grandparents, etc. – to be honored in an assembly program early on Friday before Veterans Day. With their guests seated along the sides of the auditorium, the entire student body filed in, one classroom at a time, and sat on the floor in the middle. Several groups of kids sat up front by the stage, ready to open the event with the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem, perform songs and recitations, and close with “America.”

Principal Roxanne Pangallo introduced the program, which was then directed by Assistant Principal Kris Pryce. In one element, each veterans’ group was honored: Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, Marines; each had representatives stand as their service was featured.

Schools/Sports

Interim Superintendent’s Update

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It is hard to believe that we are fast approaching the holiday season. So many great things are happening at Suffield Public Schools! The following is just a sample of all that is occurring in our district. At Suffield High School all of our fall sports teams made it to States! The SHS drama club put on their fall presentation: A Midsummer Night’s Dream on November 1, 2, and 3.

Library

Crowds Come to Honor Vern

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Vern Taylor laughs at First Selectman Melissa Mack’s tales on the special day held for him at the temporary Kent Memorial Library. Before his stroke, he had been a loyal and very helpful library volunteer for several decades. His wife, Dorian Taylor, left rear, laughs along with him. (She retired from the library recently; his daughter, Wendy, is children’s librarian.) As many as 50 friends at a time crowded the limited space to honor Vern. Many wore funny T-shirts in his honor; his read, “Follow in my footsteps and you’ll eventually reach the library.”

Library

PCB Abatement Continues

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By mid-November, the grit blasting to remove ceiling paint judged to be the primary cause of the airborne PCB in Kent Memorial Library had been completed, and attention was directed to the floor, from which all the carpet squares and faux wood flooring had been removed, leaving adhesive residue. With all the windows blanked out by plastic to protect the glass, library aficionados couldn’t watch the work, but it’s certainly been gratifying to hear reports on the progress. Following the blasting and application of the epoxy encapsulant (the chemical folks don’t like calling it “paint”) and the successful completion of air quality tests, the rest of the work of putting the library back together can begin, including pipes and conduits on the ceiling, the rearranged book shelves, and the bathrooms.

For the historical room, Facilities Director Julie Oakes reports that a small change in the location of a fire sprinkler head will provide the necessary clearance, so work on putting the room back in use should be able to proceed. The new compact shelving for that room was delivered many months ago and must be installed. New seating for the auditorium (with reduced capacity to allow for up-to-date standards of accessibility) is expected in January for immediate installation then.

Library

Suffield Library Foundation Update

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The Suffield Public Library Foundation is a vibrant organization, and we too have anxiously awaited news on the progress of the Kent Memorial Library (KML). We have not let the frustrating PCB predicament deter our mission to support our town library. The foundation formed in 2009 because many in town believed it was a necessary and fiscally responsible decision to set up an organization that allowed citizens to support KML through charitable gifting. Under the town leadership of First Selectman Scott Lingenfelter, our organization was formed. Our 501(c)(3) foundation serves as a conduit so that generous people can be sure their donations are meeting all eligible requirements of charitable contributions, and the funds are used exclusively for the benefit of the KML.

Farming/Nature

Under the Rainbow at Halloweenfest

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Frankenstein and his bride (Jax and Ellery Baker) head for the Pumpkin Patch as a surprise rainbow enhances HalloweenFest at Hilltop Farm on October 20. The annual kids event is sponsored by Suffield Girl Scouts and The Friends of the Farm at Hilltop.

Library

December Movies

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Seating is limited at 61 Ffyler Place. Please register for a showing at 860-668-3896. Juliet, Naked

Wed., Dec. 5 at 2 p.m.

Thur., Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m.

Fri., Dec.