People/Business

Local Equestrian Honored

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“I’m very proud of Gabriella and her horse. This is such a prestigious show and it’s an honor to qualify, much less to attend with your own horse and achieve so much together,” said trainer Danielle Barrasso, referring to her student, Gabriella Santaniello, a junior at Suffield High School who added the Premier Equestrian Award to her list of achievements at the 2018 International Friesian Show Horse Association World Show, October 2-7, in Springfield, Ohio.  Trainer Barrasso worked with Gabriella at the Sunny Hill Farm on North Street. In their very first IFSHA World Show appearance together, the Suffield teenager and her five year-old purebred Friesian mare, Rajasahara (Steffan-S x Senko Zon D), earned nine World Championships, 12 reserve championships, and a Top 5 in classes including costume, halter, (hunter and western) dressage, (hunter and western) equitation and pleasure, and showmanship. “She started riding at age five, and became my student when she was seven. She started out doing hunter/jumpers on my ponies before her parents bought Raja and waited for her to grow into her new horse.”

The wait, this Premier Equestrian Award winner has certainly proven, has been worth it.

Organizations

Chet’s Place Needs Help

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It is cold and snowy as I write this, but thankfully spring is right around the corner. In addition to the warm weather, blossoming flowers, and singing birds, across our country spring brings us the Great American Pastime of softball and baseball. I personally can’t wait…it brings back memories of catch with my dad…teaching my son to throw, catch and hit…memories that will last  forever. In our great town of Suffield, the tradition of softball and baseball remains alive and well; and can be witnessed spring and summer evenings at the Daniel K. Christian Field on Hale Street. Christian Field will soon be bustling with the crack of the ball striking the bat, the smack of the ball pounding the gloves, the kids cheering on their teammates, the umpires yelling strikes and outs, and the fans cheering on their teams. In addition to these sounds of the sport, we look forward to the amazing scent of the food of our pastime; the smell of, among other foods, popcorn and hotdogs.

Organizations

Bald Eagle Golf Outing Benefits Hilltop

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Make plans now to join The Friends of the Farm at Hilltop for our fifth annual Bald Eagle Golf Outing on Saturday, June 8. The event, to be held at the Suffield Country Club, is a major fundraiser for FOFAH. Proceeds will be used to pay for structural improvements to make it possible for the historic dairy barn to be open and accessible for public events. Registration and lunch for the 18-hole scramble format golf outing will begin at noon followed by a 1 p.m. shotgun start. Golf will be followed by a reception and dinner at the Country Club’s Sunset Tavern at 6 p.m.

For a $150 donation, each player will receive lunch, golf, reception, and dinner.

Farming/Nature

The Acrobatic Nuthatch

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Around this time of year my face is pressed to the window by our bird feeder watching the nuthatches scrabble up and down the tree trunks. The white breasted nuthatch is a fairly common visitor in these parts. I remember seeing them as a child, and, less commonly, the red breasted nuthatch which is smaller with a very cool eye stripe and, obviously, red on his breast. 

My mom hung a log sheet on our ice box, as dad called it. There we kept track of the bird species that we saw throughout the winter at our feeder. We all took this very seriously, but clearly some of our wisenheimer friends did not as they frequently added exotic species to the list.

Organizations

Local SGC Member Honored

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The Suffield Garden Club is proud to announce that Alice Dahms is the recipient of a Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut Tribute Award for her years of overseeing the Hazard Waste Collection Day in our town. Back in 1983, Suffield First Selectman Ted Brocket wanted to have a household hazardous waste collection day. His wife was a garden club board member at that time and Alice was chairing the Conservation Committee. The town had not budgeted for the collection and SGC made a large donation along with other town businesses. At this point it became Alice’s project to design and oversee.

Organizations

SGC Accepting Grant Applications

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If your town organization has a new or ongoing project which supports Suffield Garden Club’s purpose, we invite you to apply for a grant of up to $300. Projects which “stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening and the art of flower arranging; aid in the protection of trees, plants and birds; encourage civic beautification or instill a respect for the environment” are all eligible. In evaluating applications, priority will be given to projects that emphasize benefits to the community and/or community involvement and participation. Applications must be submitted through a non-profit organization. Scouts, students and teachers should apply through their troop or school.

Organizations

Help Your Trees Help Themselves

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The Suffield Garden Club will hold a monthly meeting on Monday, March 4 at 5:45 p.m. at the Second Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. Coffee, tea, a light fare and a short business meeting are followed by a guest speaker at 7 p.m.

Our guest speaker will be SGC Member, Mike DeSanto, originally from Pennsylvania. Mike attended Pennsylvania State University where he earned a B.A. in Landscape Contracting. He is an Arborist Representative for Bartlett Tree Experts in Simsbury, a Certified Tree Risk Assessor, a Board Certified Master Arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture, a certified arborist in Connecticut and Massachusetts and currently earning his credential as a Registered Consulting Arborist. Mike’s presentation on trees include improving the root zone environment.

Suffield Garden Club

Do You Have a Girdle?

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Recently, I asked Rick to investigate a few inches below the mulch level of our trees to see if any stray roots had encircled the base of the tree’s trunk. Sure enough, one tree was victimized. See the developed girdling root in the photo to the right. Here are some causes of tree girdling to watch out for: roots may form in root-bound, container grown plants, girdling roots may begin when a tree is transplanted or develop as a tree grows. Deep mulch or compacted soil seem to encourage the development of girdling roots at the base of a trunk.

Schools/Sports

SMS Drama Club

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Suffield Middle School will be transforming into a “school of hard knocks”, proudly presenting this year’s musical production, Annie, Jr. Based on the book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse, and lyrics by Martin Charnin, the classic tale of Annie follows a spirited, redheaded orphan on her action-packed and emotional voyage from the daily doldrums of her hard-knock life, a step away from the dazzling streets of New York, to the fairytale-come-true setting of a billionaire’s art-deco mansion. This household-name musical includes more than 30 colorful characters, many heartwarming and a few, not so much. Our ensemble of scrappy orphans, charming rogues, and bustling servants are sure to keep you laughing and entertained. Annie, played by the shining 8th-grader Brynna Tinnirella, is certain to capture your hearts with her emotion-filled performances of “Maybe” and “Tomorrow.” Meanwhile, Miss Hannigan, the breakout role of eighth-grade superstar Sophie Collins, will have everyone quite thankful that they don’t live under the same roof with this sometimes playful but always underhanded, orphanage director. Be sure to come join our charming cast on a fun-filled winter’s visit to 1930s New York City.