The Suffield Observer (https://thesuffieldobserver.com/category/governmenttown/page/108/)
Visitors came out in 12-degree weather to enjoy the Tree Gala in the Phelps-Hatheway House Barn on five days in December. Several trees were sold for donations to Suffield Community Aid, and more than $1,000 was raised for Suffield’s 350th Anniversary celebration. Our thanks to everyone who donated a tree!
An adjourned election for one position on the Water Pollution Control Authority has been scheduled for Tuesday, February 25, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Suffield Middle School.
At the New England Air Museum on November 22, over 200 partyers tasted wines and beers and sampled victuals from six breweries, six restaurants, and two liquor stores. And the NEAM’s military hangar was a successful venue for such a party.
As reported in the December Observer, three Town boards met on November 6 for a thorough consideration of the proposal to buy an existing building at 1160 South Street, renovated and adapted for use as the Suffield Highway Garage.
As part of Suffield’s 350th Anniversary Celebration, the Kent Memorial Library sponsored an essay contest. The theme of the essay was Suffield: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow. The winners, who each received $50 from the Friends of the Kent Memorial Library, were chosen from the four age categories. They are:
Third–Fifth Grade: Jack Conley, grade 4 wrote “Emily Sweeney”
Sixth–Eighth Grade: Marie Conley, grade 6 wrote “ Suffield on the Green”
Ninth–Twelfth Grade: Charlotte Arnold, grade 10 wrote an untitled essay
Adults: Rachel Spears wrote “My Suffield: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow”
Rachel Spears’ essay is published here:
My Suffield: Yesterday,
Today, and Tomorrow
By Rachel Spears
“I know the Klan, and could call them if I want to.” That was one of the first statements said to me from a neighborhood boy when my family moved into West Suffield in the summer of 1994. As a nine-year-old African American girl, my parents had never had much conversation with me about race, but I knew this was terrifying information just relayed to me from a 13-year-old neighbor.
As reported in the First Selectman’s updates to the Board of Selectmen, the project to renovate Suffield’s 58-year-old Town Hall seemed to be moving forward smoothly with expected costs still within the budget authorized. Now Project Manager Gilbane Building has received construction drawings from architects QA&M and has received guaranteed maximum price bids from sub-contractors.
It’s been a long time since a tie vote delayed the results of a Suffield Town election, but that’s what happened on November 5. The following events included a few twists and turns. As first announced, all the votes had clear winners, especially First Selectman Melissa Mack, who ran unopposed. But the Water Pollution Control Authority vote hit a snag. Six candidates were vying for the four seats to be filled (three members of the WPCA were continuing in office), and the vote produced three clear winners plus a fourth possible winner whose count was just one vote more than the next candidate on the list: 1,484 for Scott Guilmartin vs.
Captain James Canon, Jr. was welcomed into the Suffield Police Department several months ago (September Suffield Observer, Pg. 7), but it took a few weeks to get the paper work settled. Finally, on the afternoon of November 7, the Department’s Zak Community Room was packed with friends and family and a diversity of visiting police officers ready to honor and celebrate the next step in the impressive career of this new Suffield leader. First Selectman Melissa Mack said she was happy to have such an experienced officer to assist the Department in its continuing improvement. Police Commissioner Kenneth Pascoe said he thought Canon’s selection was an excellent choice.
The following table has been adapted from data provided by the Suffield Police Department.