Organizations

FOFAH News

By |

During April school vacation, FOFAH has organized a Spring Garden Party for children to explore pollinators and plants at Hilltop Farm.

Government/Town

Suffield Youth Services

By |

Suffield Youth Services hosts a special screening of Angst: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety on April 3, at Suffield Middle School. The documentary intends to open up a dialogue between local families, community leaders and experts in a discussion following the 56-minute film. Dr. Laura Saunders, Psy.D. ABPP, psychologist from Hartford Hospital, will lead the talk. “I’m so grateful to Suffield’s Youth Services for providing an opportunity to tackle such an important topic,” stated Suffield First Selectman Melissa M. Mack. “Unfortunately, too many of our young people struggle with anxiety in their everyday lives.”

Producers Scilla Andreen and Karin Gornick hope to spark a global conversation and raise awareness around anxiety.

Now and Then

An Educator’s Inspiration

By |

Thank you, Observer, for the serendipity which surprised me in your March issue. Jane Shipp’s article and the photograph “warmed the cockles of my heart.”

The warming sent me to Wikipedia to refresh my memory about cockles. Along with the mussels which Molly Malone sang out to sell on the streets of Dublin (as her mother and father had done before her), cockles was familiar as a seafood. Wikipedia offered another meaning: ventricles of the heart, the “pumping system of the heart.” One can envision the heart’s connection with ventricles and cockles. Connecting with my own heart and deeply appreciated are Jane Shipp’s kind words about my being an educator.

Government/Town

Town Hall RFP Issued

By |

The project to renovate the present Town Hall is moving forward, and the Request for Qualifications and Proposal was published on February 22. Actually there were two closely related RFP’s issued, one for the architectural and engineering design work (A/E) and one for a “Construction Manager at Risk” (CMR). The two were, for the most part, identical, but they differed in certain key areas, and the two sets of responses, required by March 21, were to be evaluated separately. (The Observer’s printing schedule did not permit reporting on those responses.)

At the March 7 meeting of the Permanent Building Commission, Facilities Director Chris Matejek reported that seven architects and three construction managers had shown interest and had participated in the mandatory walk-through at the building on February 28. The A/E proposal request calls for complete design services, including schematic design, design development, and the necessary construction drawings, along with construction advice and “close-out,” all in close cooperation with the selected CMR. The CMR is expected to work closely with the selected A/E contractor throughout the preconstruction phase and then be responsible for the actual renovation work as defined in the specifications, all at a guaranteed maximum price.

Organizations

Women’s History in Suffield

By |

The Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame organization teaches us that “women’s lives have been filled with rich experiences, and their daily contributions are an invaluable part of our history that has too often been overlooked.” 

With that insight in mind during the winter term, Suffield Academy’s American Studies class reviewed the history of Suffield with a focus on women’s history and now look forward to making a multimedia presentation during the Suffield Historical Society meeting on April 23 at 7 p.m. 

The meeting will be held at the Suffield Senior Center. The meeting is open to the public, and newcomers are most welcome. 

Please come out to learn more about women’s history in Suffield and email Bill Sullivan with any questions regarding this program: bsullivan@suffieldacademy.org 

Organizations

Polish Heritage Meeting

By |

The Polish Heritage Society will meet on Wed. April 3 at 10 a.m. in the Suffield Ambulance Center. Jim Turek will lead a discussion about the Polish farmers who settled here and contributed to the rural beauty of the Suffield community.