Government/Town
Sidewalks
|
Owners or occupants of any premises where there is a public sidewalk MUST remove snow and ice from the sidewalk within 12 hours from the end of the storm. Fines may be issued for violation of the ordinance.
Government/Town
It’s Really a Bazaar
|
The final winter market brought many vendors and visitors to the high school’s Agriscience Center on February 9, and as usual the affair was more of a bazaar than a farm market. Only two farms were selling vegetables: Suffield’s Simpaug and Enfield’s Easy Pickin’s. Cupola Hollow Farm was there, but their booth, with a wide variety of delicious preserves, candy, syrup, etc., didn’t include the fresh greenhouse vegetables, apples, eggs, and well-stored root vegetables offered by Simpaug and Easy Pickin’s. The bazaar aspect of the market is the gathering of part-time vendors offering diverse items like knit and woven work, jewelry, clothing accessories, coffee mugs, wrap-chaps, woodcraft, naturally-flavored twigs for rabbits to chew on, and other interesting doo-dads. Julie Simmons also brought a rabbit to do some chewing and entertain the children.
Government/Town
Ways to Replace Road Salt
|
We use a lot of salt, along with sand, for de-icing our roads when the weather gets slippery, and this widespread use of salt has some serious environmental impacts. That’s why Suffield’s Highway Department is looking into a product called Ice Chip. Ice Chip, developed by a Windsor Locks entrepreneur, Joe Rouleau, is a plant-based product which is supposed to leave nothing behind to damage the environment. Salt rusts out our cars, as well as bridges and railroads. It damages plant life along the roads, is bad for pets who eat it or walk on it, and the run-off is especially problematic for wetland areas and aquifers, destroying aquatic life.
Government/Town
Power Outage Handled Well
|
In the wee hours of Tuesday morning, January 29, a driver on Mountain Road dozed, ran his SUV off the road, and broke a utility pole just east of the entrance to Park View Glen, across from Suffield Middle School. He was injured and transported to a hospital. The momentary perturbation in electrical power was felt at SMS and McAlister and briefly affected homes nearby on the north side of Mountain Road. Both schools opened normally. But the pole was key to power and communications to a large part of Park View Glen, and several dozen homes in the eastern part of the condo community lost their connections.
Government/Town
Yard Goats Tickets on Sale
|
Don’t miss Suffield Night with the Hartford Yard Goats on Saturday, July 13! They will be playing the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. and the game starts at 6:05 p.m., plus FIREWORKS after the game! Please call Suffield Parks & Rec at 860-668-3862 for tickets.
Government/Town
Canvass of Voters is Underway
|
State law mandates that a canvass of voters be conducted annually in the first four months of each year to ascertain changes of voter’s residence. Suffield’s canvass is underway. People often move within and out of town without notifying the registrars of their address changes. Therefore, the canvass helps to maintain an accurate voter list. If you receive a Confirmation of Voter’s Residence notice (CVR), please complete and return it within 30 days.
Government/Town
Valentine Couple Crowned
|
Suffield’s new Valentine King and Queen smile to their subjects. Bill Brennan and Margaret Matuck won the draw and held their royal audience on February 9 following a generous mid-day dinner presented at the Senior Center by the Friends of Suffield and served by student volunteers to approximately 80 celebrants.
Government/Town
Activity on South Street
|
When a new building is constructed, it always seems to be a long wait after the exterior appears complete before the whole job is finished, and for two projects near the airport on South Street (Route 75) that has been the case. Now one of the buildings is actually in use, and construction on the other has resumed after a long period of inactivity. Jeff Wasilewski’s new warehouse just north of Executive Parking was given its Certificate of Occupancy in January and is now in business, sorting and packing items for mailing to Amazon customers of the proprietor’s own business, Artisan Owl, marketed on line. A room in the front corner of the building is still being furnished for on-site Artisan Owl sales, along with a small café called Broadleaf. There is also some office space over the front offices and sales room that can be rented out.
Government/Town
Town Staff Returns, Town Hall Planning Continues
|
In early December, Finance Director Debbie Cerrato and her staff moved back to the Town Hall from their temporary quarters at 230 Mountain Road, the commercial office building that has been the home of several Town departments in anticipation that the old Town Hall would soon have to be emptied for renovation or demolition. The Finance staff were not the only returnees; the First Selectman and her staff, along with the Human Resources staff, had returned previously. They join the Town Clerk, Tax, and Assessor departments, which had never left. First Selectman Melissa Mack had realized that the big plans for a renovated or new town hall were not likely to proceed immediately, and the rental expense of the temporary quarters was being wasted. The return migration was facilitated by the efforts of the low security State prisoners who regularly work with the Highway Department.
Government/Town
Suffield Youth Center
|
Suffield Youth Services Coordinator, Nikki Lengyel, has opened a Youth Center in town in the Suffield Senior Center Game Room on 145 Bridge Street. It offers foosball, a ping pong and pool table, Wii games, board games as well as arts and crafts! All youth must have a parent/guardian fill out a registration form prior to attending the center. The Center is open to grades 6-12 for drop in hours. The winter hours are as follows; Mondays and Thursdays from 4:30-7 p.m. and Tuesdays and Wednesdays 2:30-5 p.m. with a 2:30-3:30 p.m. homework hour.