SYT Stages Serious Drama

The Suffield Youth Theater (SYT), in its fourth season, presented The Outsiders in three performances at the Second Baptist Church on February 16 and 17. For this production, Fellowship Hall was set up as theater in the round. The dramatic story of teen-age group adversaries was adapted from a best-selling 1967 book that has been in wide use in American schools, not for its writing style, but for its social significance. It also became a popular 1983 movie. As a stage production, the tale presented a challenge to the teen-led SYT that was well met, as usual.

Rotary “Steps Up” for The Suffield Players!

In December of 2017 The Suffield Rotary Club made a generous donation to The Suffield Players for rebuilding the exterior steps on both sides of historic Mapleton Hall. To ensure the safety of theater patrons and members, The Players had been left with no choice but to replace both those staircases in the fall of 2017. An ambitious fundraising campaign to offset the costs of the project was appropriately named: “Step Up.”

“We are thrilled by the support of the Suffield Rotary Club,” said Suffield Players Facilities Manager Jerry Zalewski. “The South Hall steps had been rebuilt in late 2005, and the North Hall’s in early 2007. Though we expected them to last more than 10 years, the materials and construction had failed.

Local Prevention Council

Prevention: (Noun); the action of stopping something from happening or arising. This is what the Suffield Local Prevention Council (SLPC) is all about. My name is Nikki Lengyel and I am the new Chairperson for the SLPC. I am incredibly excited to be a part of this important group that strives to make a positive change and raise awareness on multiple matters in the Suffield community. In the past, the Council has focused primarily on the topic of opioids due to the current crisis and concerning numbers of overdoses involving opioids.

April Vacation at New England Air Museum

Celebrate the arrival of spring with two weeks of school vacation programming. Explore three giant exhibit hangars filled with over sixty historic aircraft, plus:

Hands-on Build & Fly Challenges

Interactive Flight Science Demonstrations

Open Cockpit Experiences in historic aircraft

Computerized Flight Simulators

In addition, the following special events are scheduled:

Monday April 9: Balsa Wood Airplane Workshop 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Build and fly a balsa wood model airplane. This workshop is for children ages 3 and older, must be accompanied by an adult. There is a $5 cost per model kit. Tuesday, April 10: LEGO Flying Machine Contest 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Children ages 3-13 can construct flying machines using the Museum’s  LEGOs. Winners will be awarded prizes in three age categories.

WSVIA Tag Sale

The West Suffield Village Improvement Assocation will hold its annual tag sale at Academy Hall (1499 Mountain Road) on Saturday, April 7 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Donations will be accepted the mornings of April 5 and 6 from 8 a.m. to noon. We are happy to accept any items except clothing. Snow date will be April 8. Following the tag sale, Academy Hall may be booked for rental for parties, receptions and family events. Our rates are very reasonable.

Library Features Art and Photo Exhibits

Suffield’s own award-winning artist and illustrator Laurie Tavino will be presenting a display of her work in the Kent Memorial Library’s temporary home at 61 Ffyler Place during the month of April. Also on display during April will be photographs by Suffield residents or students submitted as entries in the “Lester Smith Photography Contest.”

Ms. Tavino is a graduate of Arizona State University, a member of the West Hartford Art League, River Valley Illustrators, Tobacco Valley Artists Association, Friends of the Farm at Hilltop, The Suffield Historical Society, Enfield Historical Society, and Mount Carmel Women’s Auxiliary. Her paintings have garnered many awards throughout the area, are prized by collectors, and are featured in many homes and businesses. Laurie offers art lessons in her home studio. Photographs found on display may be in three categories; “Faces in Suffield”; “History of Suffield”; and “Suffield Landscapes.” Entrants are competing for cash awards here, in this event intended to commemorate the 90th birthday of Town Historian Lester Smith.

Polish Heritage History

The history of Poland is so long and complicated it is impossible to create an understanding of the hardships that our ancestors endured over centuries in this short column. The nation’s history is full of religious, political and territorial conflicts that resulted in many wars and changes of ruling powers. Yet our ancestors not only managed to survive, they maintained loyalty to their country, even when it did not exist on a map. Over these centuries, the Polish people earned a worldwide reputation as hard workers with great resilience. It is easy to see why Poland was caught up in the territorial struggles of The Middle Ages.

Cub Scouts Cross Over

Eleven proud boys of Pack 266 celebrated the successful completion of their advancement in the Cub Scout program at a traditional Blue and Gold Banquet on February 24. Fellowship Hall at Suffield’s First Congregational Church was crowded with parents, grandparents, and friends along with the other boys in the Pack: Bobcats, Tigers, Wolves, Bears, and those who are completing their first year Webelos level, hoping to cross over to become Boy Scouts when they earn their Arrow of Light rank next year. (Webelos means We’ll Be Loyal Scouts.) Boy Scouts and leaders of Troop 66 and Troop 260 were present to receive the cross-over Cubs. Following the Presentation of the Colors, First Selectman Melissa Mack spoke briefly, recognizing the boys’ progress and the good efforts of the pack leaders. The Story of the Blue and Gold – the origin of Cub Scouting – was told by the boys themselves, who also recited the program’s elemental tenets in the traditional candle-lighting ceremony.