The Suffield Observer (https://thesuffieldobserver.com/author/webmaster/page/179/)
May 4 is quickly approaching. It will be 12 years since CPL Stephen R. Bixler gave his life for our country. At times it seems like it was yesterday and other times a lifetime ago. Then there are the times that it feels like it really hasn’t happened and we are waiting for Steve to come home. The community of Suffield is coming together once again to honor and remember Stephen, at his Annual Memorial Picnic.
As of this writing, the Board of Finance is in the process of reviewing various department budgets and capital requests in order to propose the FY 2018/19 budget for the Town Meeting on May 8. A public hearing was held on April 25, and the budget proposal outlined below may include changes as a result of that meeting and outside factors such as adjustments to state aid that we have seen in the past. What was presented at the public hearing is an operating budget of $58,009,479, which represented an increase of $2.3M over 2017/18. Due to the use of $2M from the Fund Balance and other changes in revenues, the budget represents an estimated tax increase of 0.86%. State aid, including payments from the Airport Authority, represents $12.2M which is a decrease from the $14.4M we received just two years ago.
Register for our programs online or by calling the library at 860-668-3896. See you there!
The Town of Suffield would like to remind residents that they may, free of charge, bring their unwanted electronics to the Suffield Landfill, 2715 Mountain Road. Hours are: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Accepted materials include, but are not limited to: computers, laptops, iPods/PDAs, printers, copiers, fax machines, scanners, monitors, TVs, cell phones, tablets, ebooks, video games, game consoles, VCR/DVD players, cameras and stereo equipment, remotes, keyboards, computer mice, modems, microwave ovens, and small appliances. Unaccepted materials include: NO smoke detectors, NO ballasts, NO propane tanks, NO paint, NO household hazardous waste (NO lighter fluid, liquids etc.), and NO appliances containing freon (air conditioners, refrigerators, and dehumidifiers).
A UPS 767 freighter passes over the Broad Brook Brewery building on its approach to Runway 24 at Bradley Airport.
Mark Zuckerberg’s grilling in Congress about how Facebook treats personal information about data privacy and his responsibility to users caused me to also give this some thought. For some people, any amount of lack of privacy is bad on principle. I am closer to the other extreme: what does it matter if Facebook knows my preferences in books, movies, clothing, political leaning, food, group activities, friends, age, name, etc., etc. My major life dependencies, such as bank account, are secure. So what’s the big deal?
This summer the King House Museum welcomes two special exhibits; One celebrating the 275th Anniversary of the founding of the West Suffield Congregational church and the second showcasing the history of Hilltop Farm.
Three Suffield students went to Washington, D. C., on their spring vacation, but not for a holiday. As reported in the March issue of the Observer, Marissa and Gianna Guzzo and their team-mate Alexandra Smith were the 2017 Connecticut Second District winners of the Congressional App Challenge, a national program now in its third year in which about 4,900 students participated last fall. The Suffield team was invited to visit Washington on April 11 to 13, and on April 12, Demo Day, the House of Representatives became the House of Code. Along with over 200 winners from 39 states, they presented their app to members of congress in a ceremony in The Rayburn Congressional Office Building, and Representative Joe Courtney of the Second District honored them with certificates of achievement. The team demonstrated their app to the lawmakers and pitched it to industry experts from the tech field, including Microsoft and Amazon, and participated in interactive sessions with tech leaders.
The General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) and its members, including the Suffield Woman’s Club, recite this ‘prayer for the day’ written by Mary Stewart in 1904 at each meeting. Also known as ‘the Collect for Club Women’ (but appropriate for everyone) it reminds us that we may disagree on some topics, but that doesn’t preclude us from being kind to each other. I believe if we ask each other why we disagree or how did we come to that conclusion or belief, we would gain a greater, deeper understanding of our fellow human beings. And wouldn’t that little step help seed a kinder world. A Prayer for the Day
Collect for Club Women
Keep us, O God, from pettiness;
Let us be large in thought, in word, in deed.
Seating is limited at 61 Ffyler Place. Please register for a showing at 860-668-3896. Downsizing
Wed., May 2 at 2 p.m.
Thurs., May 3 at 6 p.m.
Fri., May 4 at 2 p.m.
12 Strong
Sat., May 5 at 2 p.m.
Mon., May 7 at 2 p.m.
The Last Movie Star
Wed., May 9 at 2 p.m.
Thur., May 10 at 6:30 p.m.
Fri., May 11 at 2 p.m.
Phantom Red Thread
Wed., May 16 at 2 p.m.
Thur., May 17 at 6:15 pm. Fri., May 18 at 2 p.m.
The Post
Wed., May 23 at 2 p.m.
Thur., May 24 at 6:15 p.m.
Fri., May 25 at 2 p.m.
The Greatest Showman
Wed., May 30 at 2 p.m.
Thur., May 31 at 6:30 p.m.
Fri., June 1 at 2 p.m.