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.

Organizations

Seeking Winter Coats

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MyKoats4Kids, a nonprofit organization and proponent of providing winter costs to children in foster care in the Pioneer Valley Area is seeking donations of gently used or new winter coats for children of all ages. Cassidy, Ben and Cam Begley, siblings and students at Suffield High School, started the organization in 2017. The family has collected over 100 coats with the goal of doubling the collection each year. The Begley family hopes to provide children in need with a warm coat for the winter. 

Please contact the Begley family at koats4kids@gmail.com to arrange pick up or drop off for any donations. For more information, visit MyKoatsForKids.org.

Library

KML Receives a Grant

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The Kent Memorial Library received a grant from the American Library Association in partnership with Citizen Film and the National Writing Project to host a series of programs which will be community conversations centered around American Creed, a PBS documentary that invites audiences to consider what America’s ideals and identity ought to be. 

Additional funding for the programs is provided by The Friends of the Kent Memorial Library. In the documentary, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David M. Kennedy, civic entrepreneur Eric Liu, moveon.org founder Joan Blades, Tea Party Patriots founder Mark Meckler, Chicago Cubs Manager Joe Maddon and other citizen-activists come together from remarkably different perspectives to explore the idea of a unifying American creed. The library’s series of programs will start with the showing of the documentary, American Creed, on Saturday, February 16, at 2 p.m. at the Suffield Senior Center. After the showing, Lucy Nalpathanchil will facilitate a conversation centered on the film. Ms. Nalpathanchil is a public radio journalist at WNPR, Connecticut’s public radio station.

Organizations

125 Years and Counting

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Women in Suffield have a proud history of taking the lead in community service. This is certainly true for the Suffield Woman’s Club (SWC). Whatever the century, giving back to the town and beyond has always been a priority. In 1894, 10 women gathered at a private home to form a reading club, with programs ranging from history, art and music to lectures, some of which were sponsored for the town. In the early 1900’s, according to minutes and written history of the club (compiled by Connie C. Upson in 1976), there was some “…community activity such as a small contribution to the Emergency Aid Association then being formed…and a committee appointed to confer with the Selectman about putting rubbish cans in the park and enforcing their use.”

In 1920, the club provided a float for the Sesquicentennial parade at a cost of $1750.