Over the past twenty-five years the Observer has covered many stories about local people, events and businesses. We thought it might be interesting to highlight some of the front-page news to remind us of what was happening in town. The following are some of the headline stories from June issues over the past 25 years.
The Town budget was top news eight times over the past 25 years. Other stories included building at Mach One and the Suffield Conference Center at the former St. Alphonsus Seminary, (1999), Suffield soccer celebrated their Invitational Soccer Tournament (2000 and 2007), Second Baptist Church returned home after the roof collapse (2001), the last seniors graduated from the old Suffield High School (2002) and the new high school opened (2003). The Farmers Market first opened (2003), the Mary Anne Zak Ambulance Center was launched (2007), a biodiesel proposal was denied by the town (2008), and a library project plan moved ahead (2008). The Rail Trail headed north (2010), and a bonding referendum story related the results of the town vote – “yes” to road repairs and fire trucks and “no” to Town Hall repairs and new library (2011). Babb’s skating rink restoration continued (2011), more concerns about Bridge Street School (2013), the Observer scholarships are first awarded (2015), the PMC ride raises over $40,000 in 2016 and over $52,000 in 2018. Broad Brook Brewery opened (2017), recommendations were made for razing Town Hall and building new (2018), Kent Memorial Library was scheduled to open (2019), Observer volunteers were recognized at our 20th anniversary celebration (2019), a renovated Town Hall reopened (2021), farm stands abound in town (2021), a Walk to the Hart was held by the SHS Sustainability Council (2022) and the Creamery opened at Hilltop Farm (2022).
The Observer often highlighted people as well. Some people reported on over the past 25 years included Margot Roesberg (2001), Thea Coburn (2003), Rachel Spears, Miss Black Connecticut (2005), Stephen Bixler honored (2006), Chet Madey, WWII vet (2009), Rick Cicero, agriculture teacher (2012) , Ann Willard (2012) , Suzanne Wosko, Suffield Teacher of the Year (2012) Karen Berasi, new superintendent (2015), Johanne Presser, awarded outstanding coach (2015) and James Blain, the new SHS principal (2018)
We hope to provide a look into the past years, month by month, as we remember some of the front-page highlights.