People/Business

Local Equestrian Honored

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“I’m very proud of Gabriella and her horse. This is such a prestigious show and it’s an honor to qualify, much less to attend with your own horse and achieve so much together,” said trainer Danielle Barrasso, referring to her student, Gabriella Santaniello, a junior at Suffield High School who added the Premier Equestrian Award to her list of achievements at the 2018 International Friesian Show Horse Association World Show, October 2-7, in Springfield, Ohio.  Trainer Barrasso worked with Gabriella at the Sunny Hill Farm on North Street. In their very first IFSHA World Show appearance together, the Suffield teenager and her five year-old purebred Friesian mare, Rajasahara (Steffan-S x Senko Zon D), earned nine World Championships, 12 reserve championships, and a Top 5 in classes including costume, halter, (hunter and western) dressage, (hunter and western) equitation and pleasure, and showmanship. “She started riding at age five, and became my student when she was seven. She started out doing hunter/jumpers on my ponies before her parents bought Raja and waited for her to grow into her new horse.”

The wait, this Premier Equestrian Award winner has certainly proven, has been worth it.

Schools/Sports

Rotary Student

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Congratulations to Hannah Stack, who was chosen as the Rotary Student of the Month for January. Hannah is a senior at Suffield High School and is an Honors student. Hannah was chosen to be a student representative to our Board of Education. She has been a volunteer coach at the Special Olympics, where she met with students and encouraged children with developmental delays. Hannah was also responsible for teaching golf to children with disabilities.

Editorial

How much is that puppy in the window?

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  One of the interesting tools I use when writing or evaluating other people’s writing is software that measures readability. If writing is too complex, say college level, it may be too difficult for middle or high school students to read. If it’s too simple, then adults may not think the content is for them.   The major ingredients of difficult writing are long words, sentences and paragraphs.   In general, writing should be at the ninth grade level to reach 50 percent of adults.

Government/Town

Canvass of Voters is Underway

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State law mandates that a canvass of voters be conducted annually in the first four months of each year to ascertain changes of voter’s residence. Suffield’s canvass is underway. People often move within and out of town without notifying the registrars of their address changes. Therefore, the canvass helps to maintain an accurate voter list. If you receive a Confirmation of Voter’s Residence notice (CVR), please complete and return it within 30 days.

Suffield 350th Anniversary Committee

Trivia Quest!

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Get ready for our semiseptcentennial anniversary in 2020 by helping to create a board game celebrating our 350-year history! The illustration above is from a game created for Scranton, but “Trivia Quest Suffield & West Suffield” will be modeled on our community, featuring prominent buildings, public lands, and community organizations framed by the Connecticut River and the Congamond Lakes. The board consists of yellow, blue, orange, red, green and purple spaces. Each color has a corresponding dollar value. Questions are progressively more challenging based on the monetary value, with yellow being the easiest and purple the most challenging.

Editorial

It’s a Great Day for the Irish!

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Having grown up in Hungary Hill in Springfield, I developed great pride in my Irish heritage. Hungary Hill was named because of the immigrants who came from the west coast of Ireland during the great potato famine. Not long after the famine, an epidemic of tuberculosis struck the same area causing more immigration to the United States. Many of the new settlers found their way from County Kerry to the Hill which was fondly called “Home of the Irish.”

The pride that the Irish have in their country is overwhelming. Many countries have invaded Ireland but the Irish always fought back and succeeded.

Library

March Movies

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 Seating is limited at 61 Ffyler Place. Please register at 860-668-3896. Bohemian Rhapsody

Tues., Mar. 5, Wed., Mar. 6 and Fri., Mar.

Schools/Sports

SMS Drama Club

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Suffield Middle School will be transforming into a “school of hard knocks”, proudly presenting this year’s musical production, Annie, Jr. Based on the book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse, and lyrics by Martin Charnin, the classic tale of Annie follows a spirited, redheaded orphan on her action-packed and emotional voyage from the daily doldrums of her hard-knock life, a step away from the dazzling streets of New York, to the fairytale-come-true setting of a billionaire’s art-deco mansion. This household-name musical includes more than 30 colorful characters, many heartwarming and a few, not so much. Our ensemble of scrappy orphans, charming rogues, and bustling servants are sure to keep you laughing and entertained. Annie, played by the shining 8th-grader Brynna Tinnirella, is certain to capture your hearts with her emotion-filled performances of “Maybe” and “Tomorrow.” Meanwhile, Miss Hannigan, the breakout role of eighth-grade superstar Sophie Collins, will have everyone quite thankful that they don’t live under the same roof with this sometimes playful but always underhanded, orphanage director. Be sure to come join our charming cast on a fun-filled winter’s visit to 1930s New York City.