Schools/Sports

Congratulations Graduates! 205 Move on from SHS

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  Suffield High School’s 80th commencement exercise was a happy experience, with proud families and friends applauding on a perfect June 15 morning on Ted Beneski Field. Class President Anna Casinghino spoke briefly about the extraordinary skills of her classmates and urged them to keep their skills growing. John Richter of the Board of Education commented that the class had had a lot of help along the way so far, and he said “The power in you is limitless, but it’s up to you now to find that power.”

  Salutatorian Rabi Zulfiquar, a top debater in the Connecticut Valley Debate League, quoted Kierkegaard as he asked, “How can we find meaning in Life?” and answered, “Live authentically!” Valedictorian Ziad Hassan, a fellow top debater, told his classmates “It’s been an honor to be here with you,” but he felt he really couldn’t give them advice, and that’s where he ended his talk.   Principal James Blain thanked the two class advisors for the Class of ’19, Christena Reiser and Kyle Kibby, and thanked Paula Anderson for organizing the commencement. He thanked all the school staff and teachers for their help in this, his first year at SHS.

People/Business

Connecticut High School Principal of the Year

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Joe Blake is a winner, in many ways. To begin with, the Suffield resident has recently received the Principal of the Year Award from the Connecticut Association of Schools. You might assume that such an award is given for curriculum advances, or for program development, or for the supervision of a building plan; for high-test scores or for winning athletic teams, or for some combination of those. Joe’s tenure was cited for many of those accomplishments, but the major factor that distinguished him from other candidates was the strength of his relationships with students at Coventry High School. Doesn’t every high school principal have relationships with students, one might ask?

Organizations

Clothing from the Attic Shown at the King House

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This summer the Suffield Historical Society is displaying a new exhibit at its King House Museum entitled “Clothing  From the Attic.” Professionally mounted by consultant Stacey Danielson with help from summer intern Myra Edmonds, a student of fashion history and design at NYU, the exhibit highlights some of the best pieces of a collection which has been in storage for many years. All the items were donated (and presumably worn) by Suffield residents, the great majority from Minnie Ringland of West Suffield in 1985. Visitors will see a wide sampling of items from two centuries, including nightwear, children’s dresses, everyday house dresses, afternoon and evening dress as well as various accessories. The items are spread throughout the museum and lend the house a lived-in look.

Government/Town

Highway Garage Plans Charge Ahead

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The fast-moving drama of where to relocate the town highway garage, if indeed it is to be relocated, may well have passed a major milestone before this issue of the Observer is distributed. The events in the current chapter of that drama, centered on the existing building at 1160 South Street and the economic development of a garage-less Ffyler Place, have developed quickly since a new proposal was introduced by First Selectman Melissa Mack and developer Kevin Casey to the Selectmen and a few members of the public at the May 1 Selectmen’s meeting, as reported here last month. On May 15, the new proposal was explained in more detail to the Board of Selectmen and a small audience (fewer than two dozen) with a 44-page PowerPoint presentation, followed by audience questions and comments, both positive and negative. It was clear from the May 15 presentation that this was not simply the garage move. Developer Casey, who had the South Street building under contract and would adapt it as required, offered to sell the adapted building to the Town for $2.4 million.

Churches

Vendors Wanted

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We are seeking Vendors for our Christmas Bazaar held at Sacred Heart Church, 446 Mountain Road, Suffield, CT to be held on Saturday, November 2nd from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All proceeds go to the Sacred Heart Women’s Guild Scholarship Fund. For details call Elizabeth at 860 668-4246 or email sheart.church@sbcglobal.net. 

Churches

Sacred Heart Church Renovations

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Sacred Heart Church will be closed approximately six weeks to allow for minor structural repairs and renovations to the thirty year old structure. The work officially started the week of June 24. All the services will be held at St. Joseph’s Church until further notice. On the advice of a structural engineer, expansion joints need to be installed on the single doorways on the front of the building.