Churches

Churchgoers to be Uplifted

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Folks who visit Suffield’s First Congregational Church will soon be offered an uplift that has been missing, no matter how moving the sermon might be. Recognizing the building’s role as a significant community venue as well as a place of worship, the church plans to install an elevator. Well, technically it’s not an elevator, it’s categorized as a lift, but it will provide convenient access to the multiple levels of the building. The project, whose motto is “Lifting up our community,” will include updated bathrooms with accessibility options and other needed maintenance. The lift, called a LULA by its manufacturer, for “Limited Use, Limited Access,” will stop at four levels: the lower level for Fellowship Hall; the old main floor level for the sanctuary and the Ebenezer Gay Room; the next level for the business office, nursery, school rooms, and chapel; and the top floor for the pastors’ offices, conference room and another school room.

People/Business

Doyon Race Doubles the Net

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The second annual Dustin L. Doyon Memorial Road Race was held at Suffield Middle School on May 25. The main events began with a new 10K run up Hill Street almost to Halladay Avenue and back. The 5K Run/Walk followed, also up Hill Street and back, with its turn-around at about 764 Hill Street. This year, 163 participants finished the 5K Run/Walk, and 45 finished the 10K Run. T-shirts were given to the first 150 registrants, and prizes were awarded to the top three overall men and women.

People/Business

Cpl. Bixler Well Remembered

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On Memorial Day weekend, another big gathering assembled at the Sportsmen’s Cabin on West Suffield Mountain to honor our hometown hero, Cpl. Stephen Bixler, USMC, who lost his life protecting his Marine comrades on patrol in Iraq 13 years ago. As always, the annual picnic was an enjoyable affair, with plenty of good food, soda and beer, and happy sociability. And, more than ever, a tremendous number of raffle and silent auction prizes were laid out on a dozen banquet tables. Rep. Joe Courtney dropped in, as he often has, and both active duty and retired service members came, along with local folks honoring Steve and supporting the memorial fund his family created. The Bixler fund makes helpful grants to local charities and other deserving causes.

Suffield 350th Anniversary Committee

Be a 350th Sponsor

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The 350th Committee has lots of exciting events, programs and projects in the works for Suffield’s anniversary celebration, and we need your financial support now to make them a reality. Please consider becoming a 350th Sponsor. There are multiple levels of sponsorship available with recognition at events and in promotional materials. To learn more about sponsorship levels please check www.tinyurl.com/Sponsor350, send an email to Suffield350@gmail.com or leave us a message at 860-758-0115. Thank You!

Organizations

Newest Nonprofit in Town Will Change Lives

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Partnering to Reach Aspirations now has tax exempt status and aims to transition recent graduates with mild Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) from student life to independent living. An Amiel P. Zak Public Service Grant will help provide educational opportunities to Suffield residents, educators and business leaders in order to better understand the strengths and needs of our young adults on the spectrum and provide them opportunities to pursue their strengths and interests. Currently, one out of every 29 students in Suffield has been diagnosed as being on the spectrum, and it is by creating a supportive, accepting, and inspiring community around them that they are going to find their place and make the positive contributions of which they are capable. Following educational events for the general public will come programs and opportunities for instruction in life/work skills development for our recent graduates with ASD. Underutilized space in town will be used until a permanent location for both residential and day programs is acquired.

Government/Town

Suffield Remembers

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Hundreds of Suffieldians applauded the town’s traditional Memorial Day parade (on May 27 this year) and enjoyed the pomp and ceremony at Veteran’s Park – and those who could hear appreciated what was said. For those not standing close to the Veterans Memorial and the loudspeakers: the ceremony differed in several ways from the usual. The Pledge of Allegiance was led, charmingly, by the Daisy Girl Scouts of Troop 10994. The opening remarks by First Selectman Melissa Mack were a bit less brief than typical, including some appropriate poetic references. The Confession of National Faith, read well by young Brooke Tillotson, seemed less tedious than before, and Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address was read in two parts by two students.

Suffield 350th Golf Fundraiser

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They say “Third Time’s the Charm,” well Friday, October 11, will actually be the fourth time that the Suffield 350th Anniversary Committee has scheduled our golf fundraiser. Rainy weather and soggy course conditions have been our nemesis, but October can also be great time of year to play golf! Our golf event, to be held at the Suffield Country Club, is a major fundraiser for the 350th Committee. Proceeds will be used to pay for events, projects and programs celebrating our town’s big anniversary in 2020. Registration and lunch for the 18-hole scramble format golf tournament will begin at noon.