Over the past twenty-five years the Observer has covered many stories about local people, events and businesses. We thought it might be interesting each month to highlight some of the front-page news to remind us what was happening in town. The following are some of the headline stories from our October issues over the past 25 years.
Candidates’ forums held by the Observer, the Chamber of Commerce and the League of Women Voters was popular front-page news over the years, as well as several articles about our tobacco farms and Suffield on the Green. Other stories included the Suffield Showcase at the Kent Place mansion (2000), 9/11 tributes (2001 and 2002), Suffield’s move from the sixth Congressional district to the second (2002), the Town Charter changing the Board of Selectman from a three-member board to a five-member one (2003), the town’s response to Hurricane Katrina (2005), the ambulance building taking shape (2006), and the choice of an architect for the new library (2007). FOFAH holds its Harvest Dinner (2008), Beneski Field opens (2008), the two-lane plan for Enfield bridge is announced (2010), Tropical Storm Irene spares Suffield (2011), development interest is sought for the Bridge Street property (2011), FOFAH buys Hilltop Farm (2013), the library move is postponed (2014) and the CT Karen refugees tend their vegetable gardens (2014). The Old Center Cemetery repairs begin (2015), SVAA celebrates 40 years (2016), West Suffield Congregational Church displays a special quilt (2018), Quarantine Productions raises money for Feeding America (2020), pandemic pets are highlighted (2020), the Town’s 350th parade is scheduled (2021) and the Friends of the Library have another successful book sale (2022).
The Observer often highlighted people as well on the front page. Some people reported on over the past 25 years included Angie Roman, new assistant principal at Spaulding School (2002), Michael Alexopoulos and his move from school business manager to classroom teacher (2003), Matt Ruzbasan’s Eagle Scout project at Bruce Park (2004), Bob Lowell’s bike trip from Canada to Suffield (2004), Lisa Bogardus, Bob O’Brien and Ed Ewald scaling of Andean peaks (2005), Tom Drakely, new Sunrise Park superintendent (2006), Cinders, the firehouse Dalmatian (2008), Caroline Alexopoulos and her teaching trip to Indonesia (2009), Chuck Flynn sworn in as the new fire chief (2012), Father Ted leaves Suffield (2012), Scott Dunn becomes the new Spaulding School principal (2013), the town remembers Dustin Doyon (2017), and Suffield Teachers of the year Matt Dobi (2018) and Erin Shea (2019) and paraprofessional Jackie Kirchmeier (2018) are honored.
We hope to provide a look into the past years, month by month, as we remember some of the front-page highlights.