Government/Town
PARKS & REC NEWS
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Get ready for a fun winter! It is time to register for winter programs offered by the Parks and Recreation Department.
Suffield 350th Anniversary Committee
350th Anniversary Trivia
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Which club planted the original dogwoods on Main Street? a. The Woman’s Club b. The Suffield Beautification Committee
c. The Suffield Garden ClubDuring World War II, Bradley Field was the location for what? a. An Army air base
b. A Red Cross Station Hospital
c. A Training base for Chinese pilotsIn 1964, Mary Edwards, a well-known Hartford landscape architect, designed a garden for what Suffield property? a. Hugh Alcorn’s house
b. The Suffield Academy
c. The Phelps-Hatheway HouseWhat are the Fatal Vision Goggles which are available from the Suffield Local Prevention Council (SLPC)? a. They provide vision support to people who play Pokemon Go in order to prevent fatalities while playing the game.
Government/Town
Senior Center & Mini Bus News
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There are a number of techniques that can help keep your immunity high and your body in good condition to support wellness all season long, so that you can enjoy the chillier months.
Government/Town
Town Hall Update to Begin Soon
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No deadline date had been announced at press time, but current occupants of Suffield Town Hall were getting ready to move to their assigned “swing space” so renovation work can begin. Contractors QA&M and Gilbane say that planning is on schedule; conceptual drawings have reached the point where construction drawings began in mid-November. And careful evaluations of the estimated costs are still within the $5.1M remaining of the $5.2M authorized. Demolition and reconstruction work can carry through the winter, as most of the work is inside. Plans now have several departments moving to temporary quarters on Ffyler Place in the rooms recently vacated by the Kent Memorial Library.
Government/Town
New Mini Bus Delivered
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Paula Pascoe, who runs the Suffield Mini Bus program as well as the Senior Center, welcomed the arrival of Mini Bus No. 19, which would allow No. 16 to be retired soon, and the fleet will stay at its customary three buses and three sedans.
Government/Town
Highway Garage Plan Nixed
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Or should the headline be “Ffyler Place Project Nixed,” because the two projects are inextricably joined. But the November 6 tri-board Special Meeting of the Boards of Selectmen and Finance and the Permanent Building Committee discussed only the purchase of the existing warehouse/office building at 1160 South Street to become the highway garage. That would free the Ffyler Place property for developer Kevin Casey to build apartments there, which have already received several key approvals. At the tri-board meeting, developer Casey explained how problems in the South Street building would be corrected. With the help of architect David Quisenberry of QA&M Architects, he told how six inches of added concrete would make the floor strong enough for the heaviest highway trucks.
Government/Town
Police Pension Issue Resolution Pending
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A festering dispute relating to a police officer’s pension resulted in disputes between the local Police Union and (some members of) the Police Commission (including our regular cartoonist Rick Stromoski), and the First Selectman’s Office. At this time, it appears that the dispute, while not fully resolved, has come to a head. And the resolution of the dispute may lead to greater clarity regarding the administration of the town’s pension. The underlying dispute involved whether an employee absent from work due to workplace injury covered by workers compensation is entitled to receive pension credit for that time. Officer Jeff Reynolds was out of work from October 2008 until October 2010, following serious injuries suffered as a result of being struck by cars while making police stops.
Government/Town
SPD Captain Sworn and Pinned
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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.