Schools/Sports

SHS Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Week

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Once again, at Suffield High School the World Languages department has continued their fall tradition of celebrating the heritage of Spanish speakers in the United States and throughout the world. On Morning Update, the daily news show featured anchors who shared information about the selected Spanish-language music of the day, along with conversation and cultural perspectives in Spanish. Karissa Stanio, Kristen McCarthy, and Michael Grigoriou hosted the show or worked on preparing and writing scripts and visuals for the show. To help get the message out to our school, Shreedula Balakrishnan and Lindsey Kasperski from the World Language Honor Society, with assistance from the Art Club members, coordinated the cultural display focused on this year’s theme: “One Endless Voice to Enhance our Traditions.” Another member of the Society, Kyle Englander, organized a donation drive for the Brazos de Amor – a non-profit organization helping fight poverty in Latin America. The core event of Hispanic Heritage Week this year was a presentation and discussion given by Karissa Stanio and Paige Anderson, both juniors at Suffield High School.

Government/Town

Holiday Tree Gala Musical Performances

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The Holiday Tree Gala on display at the Suffield Senior Center from December 1 to December 15 features not only beautiful trees decorated by people in the community but also musical groups. The hours are from 1 to 4 p.m. every day. The trees will be available for sale, with pickup on December 15. Proceeds from the sale benefit the Suffield Garden Club Scholarship fund. Come enjoy the singing voices of the Suffield Middle School Elite Voices group as they herald in the Holiday Tree Gala on opening day, Saturday, December 1 at 2 p.m. They are a very active and dedicated group of members from grades 6-8 Chorus, under the direction of Laura Noonan.

Government/Town

Town Approves Temporary Safety Fix

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On Tuesday, October 30, Galasso Materials began overlay paving/shimming and pothole repair of deteriorated areas on portions of Forest and Griffin Roads, two private roads in West Suffield. The undertaking followed safety concerns expressed relative to the condition of the roads and agreement by Town officials. The $47,273 project will be deducted from the Town’s Pavement Management and Drainage Funds, leaving under $100,000 for the remainder of the fiscal year. First Selectman Melissa M. Mack noted, “This measure assures safe passage for emergency vehicles and residents while determining a long-term plan to address private roads in a way that is equitable for all.”

Residents of Forest and Griffin Roads voiced complaints regarding poor roads overall, but highlighted rough areas marred by pot holes and extreme cracking, making portions of them difficult and unsafe for travel. The Town pointed to the key role neighborhood associations play in maintaining private roads, but acknowledged their difficulty to comply with and fund necessary upkeep.

Organizations

Library Showcases Springfield Artist

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The Suffield Arts Council will feature the work of Joseph Lanier, an award-winning artist from Springfield, in the Pinney Gallery of Suffield’s Kent Memorial Library, still operating in their temporary home at 61 Ffyler Place in Suffield. A self-taught artist, Joe is a member of the Tobacco Valley Artists Association. His work has appeared in several area shows, capturing numerous awards including many First Place and Best in Show. Retired, he is married and the father of two adult daughters. Painting for ten years, he enjoys capturing images found in nature on canvas.

Churches

Christmas at Second Baptist

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The Second Baptist Church will celebrate the season of Advent and Christmas with events and services. Everyone is invited. Sunday morning services begin at 10 a.m. During the Advent season, which begins on Sunday, December 2, we reflect on the various seasonal themes: Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. Saturday, December 1 at 5 p.m., is a Christmas Workshop and Hanging of the Greens. This is for people of all ages as we decorate the church and make crafts and ornaments to reflect the spirit of the season.

Schools/Sports

World Language Student of the Month for November

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Congratulations to Julianna Service for earning the award for World Language Student of the Month for November. Julianna is a sophomore at Suffield High School who is currently enrolled in Spanish IV H. She is an active participant in class, asking thoughtful questions about the material and diving deep into the comparisons of the cultures and communities that we study. Her written work displays strong conventions and a stronger attention to detail. She consistently uses the target language to express herself, even when speaking with peers in the class. Her positive approach to language learning is inspiring and sets a strong example for her peers.

Organizations

Ever Dream of Editing?

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Editors of the Month meet with the editor in chief to determine the type of material to seek that month. Many submissions arrive through an originator’s own initiative, but the editors often call seasoned writers and request articles on key issues or topics. Between the 8th and 16th of the month, the editors read and edit all submissions, typically in two-hour sessions. The editors of the month have the option to write an editorial and to help select front page material. 

Contact inbox@thesuffieldobserver.com if you are interested in joining our team of volunteers.