The Suffield Observer (https://thesuffieldobserver.com/author/webmaster/page/162/)
Selected from the pages of the Windsor Locks Journal and lightly annotated by Town Historian Lester Smith. September 6
A new laundry is being established at the Suffield School and electric washing machines and mangles have been installed. This is along the line of economy and good business practiced by the school. The school has besides its herd of cows, about forty pigs and five hundred pullets and are assured of fresh farm products. .
Twenty-three Rotary Clubs in Northern Connecticut and Western Massachusetts (Rotary District 7890) have joined together to fund a project that will bring fresh drinking water and sanitation facilities to three needy communities in Guatemala. Suffield Rotary Club contributed $1,000 to this endeavor. Including matching funds from The Rotary Foundation, a total of $160,273 was raised. Adding this amount to the funds raised during the previous 10 years brings the twelve-year total to $785,568. These funds will pay for the materials needed to complete gravity fed water system with gray water filters, vented pit latrines and improved vented stoves for the 270 families (1,620 people) who live in the rural communities of Pamezul, Vista Hermosa and San Vicente, Guatemala.
Greg Hall will be releasing a new album with a concert at Gateway Arts in Holyoke. He is a folk songwriter and his music resonates with people who enjoy both classic country and the modern singer songwriter. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door and available online at www.gatewaycityarts.com/greg-hall. Greg graduated from SHS in 2009 and has been active in recording and touring music ever since. He may be reached at 860-810-2285 or at his email greg@greghallband.com.
The Rays of Hope Walk and Run toward the Cure of Breast Cancer will celebrate 25 years on October 21. Dr. Grace Makari-Judson of Suffield serves Rays of Hope as co- director with D. Joseph Jerry, UMass professor and scientist at the Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute. Since 1994, Rays of Hope has been helping women and men in the fight against breast cancer by walking alongside them on their cancer journey. A joint initiative between researchers from Baystate Medical Center and the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, the Insitute maintains its offices and laboratories within the Baystate campus. Describing their goals, Dr. Makari-Judson said, “Our vision was an ambitious one and at the time the first for a research data base with information from consenting Baystate breast patients that would link personal histories to medical records and tissue samples to related clinical data.”
In June 2018, the Institute’s registry reached an enrollment of more than 1,000 patients.
West Suffield Congregational Church will be participating in Suffield on the Green, a long standing tradition for this church. This year the 275th Anniversary Committee will have a display at Suffield on the Green on Sept 8th and 9th. The committee is raffling off several baskets, including a LEGO basket, dog basket and a “locally made” basket. Welcome Sunday, the first worship after summer vacations, will also be September 9. Our children will help lead worship.
Torrential rain was not an auspicious start to Saturday, August 4, but the afternoon turned lovely for the Volunteer Appreciation Picnic hosted by The Friends of the Farm at Hilltop. Joan and Tom Heffernan of Suffield were honored as FOFAH’s 2018 “Volunteers of the Year.”
Joan is an amazing gardener! She takes care of the landscaping around the two historic farmhouses and has been a big help with the butterfly, hummingbird, and pollinator gardens. Joan and husband Tom have also taken on creation of the new “corn crib” garden on the east side of the farmstead. Last, but not least, Joan is quick to share the beautiful nature photos she takes around the farm and the open space.
The Suffield-Windsor Locks joint robotics team, known as Aces High or Team 176, had one of their best seasons this past school year. This year’s robotics competition revolved around placing cubes (sometimes 7 feet high) on a scale type contraption. This would give the team points for every second the scale was leaning in their direction. At the end the robots had to climb up a bar about 6 feet high, which was quite a sight to see. Aces High competed in two local competitions in Waterbury as well as Hartford.
Welcome to the 2018-2019 school year! I hope our students and their families had a relaxing and enjoyable summer. I am looking forward to an exciting year and I am thrilled to be part of the Suffield Public Schools as your Interim Superintendent. I believe that students learn best when they are encouraged to take thoughtful risks, engage in experiential learning opportunities, persist in problem-solving and make connections with their teachers. I will continue to work with our very talented teachers, leaders and faculty to provide each child with a challenging, purposeful and relevant educational experience.
