History

Suffield Trivia

By |

At the time of the American Revolutionary War, the militia in Connecticut consisted of small companies of men from a particular Connecticut town who occasionally mustered on the local Common. True or false.Is there a difference between a militia and minutemen? Yes or no.Anthony Austin (1632-1708), a first proprietor (settler) in Suffield was also the first, though purportedly reluctant, teacher in the town. He played a part in the founding of our country. What was it?a.

History

Correction

By |

There was an error in the September Observer on the page of historic house photos. The caption for the Gay Mansion states that it is now the home of the Suffield Academy headmasters. That is incorrect. They live at the Gay Manse. We apologize for the error.

Organizations

Suffield Community Aid

By |

What’s happening at SCA this Month? Photo by Mary Curtin Thank you to Suffield Volunteer Ambulance Association (SVAA) for the backpack and supplies for our Return to School Backpack Drive. Pictured left to right: Lorianne Nutini, Jackie Guzie and Doug McIntos from SVAA. In-Person Bereavement Support Group Starts Oct. 10:Masonicare is partnering with Suffield Community Aid to offer a 6-week, in-person support group for people who are grieving the loss of a loved one.

Schools/Sports

Teachers’ Coach Earns Teacher of the Year

By |

For Suffield Teacher of the Year, Heather Goldstein, it was a combination of job devotion, perseverance and the enduring influence of a former awardee that helped make her achievement possible. “I love, absolutely love working here in Suffield. It’s like my second home,” she said. Photo by Tony Peterson Teacher of the Year, Heather Goldstein (center), with Suffield Superintendent of Schools Matt Dunbar and former Assistant Superintendent Zawawi. This year marked her fifth nomination for Teacher of the Year and her third selection as a building finalist, one step away from earning the award.

Schools/Sports

Building Momentum This Fall

By |

The new school year is well underway, and the energy in our schools is a reflection of the excitement that comes with fall. Our team members and students are diving into learning, exploring new connections, and taking advantage of all that Suffield Publi Schools has to offer.National Bullying Prevention MonthOctober is National Bullying Prevention Month, a reminder for all of us to focus on creating schools where every student feels safe and valued. In Suffield, this commitment shows up through the Kindness Matters movement, created in memory of Meghan Voisine. The program gives students the chance to lead projects that spread compassion and inclusion in everyday ways. This year, the district incorporated a Kindness Statement into each school’s handbook to reinforce our commitment to a learning environment where hurtful behavior, words or actions of any kind are not welcome.

Schools/Sports

SHS UNICEF Club Raises Funds

By |

SHS’s UNICEF Club raised $835 and collected 57 bags of food on a weekend in June to benefit UNICEF. One of their collection locations was in front of Suffield Village Market. From left to right, Anna-Maria Nastase (president), Ariella Cuevas, Madisyn Beyers, Hannah Avila (treasurer), Olivia Nicora (VP) collect donations in front of Suffield Village Market. Mya Johnson (historian) and Saanvi Nalla (secretary) were also part of the project.

Schools/Sports

Suffield High School Athletics

By |

The 2025 Fall athletic season is now under way! The athletes have been working since late August in preparation for this year’s season. The days leading up to these anticipated competitions have been filled with hard work, laughter, team bonding, and plenty of Suffield spirit. The season is in full swing, with the teams competing against the surrounding towns. Many teams were successful with their first games of the season.

Schools/Sports

Color Run Seeking Local Business Sponsors

By |

On October 4, 2025 the Suffield Elementary PTO (parent-teacher organization), a registered nonprofit organization, will host its first Color Run fundraising event for elementary school families Students will run the course and get “color blasted” with cornstarch-based dust (non-toxic, biodegradable). Photo provided by Meadow Farms Fundraising: Color-A-Thon promotional packet

Students have spent the last few weeks fundraising on their individual online pages to help the PTO provide students with enrichment activities throughout the school year and to provide school staff with much deserved appreciation. It’s not too late for local businesses to jump in and sponsor our event! We have four sponsorship levels to choose from, but welcome donations of any amount:The H2O VIP ($100 donation): Help us keep our participants hydrated throughout the course! Your company gets an Island Ad and link on our Event Website.

Schools/Sports

A Vision for Place-Based Learning

By |

In an ideal world, education would be linked to where we live. Educators would be tapped into local parks, industry, culture, and museums. They would know where the local streams, forests, and fields are, and have the appropriate contacts, resources, and support to bring those experiences into the school day. In so doing, learning would be immersed in the community, both the built and the natural. By the time students graduate, they would feel a deep connection to the place that enriched their lives and laid the groundwork for a future of inspired citizenship, deeply rooted stewardship values, and in more ways than can be explained with words, a strong connection to home. Place-based learning is what we want for Suffield students, and we are building the platform to make it happen.

Schools/Sports

The Votes Are In!

By |

Suffield Girl Scouts were once again collecting votes at Suffield on the Green. The previous two years Suffield Girl Scouts accepted votes for the ever important Suffield’s Favorite Girl Scout Cookie (Thin Mint, of course). On the “ballot” this year: Suffield’s Favorite Spot. Photo by Erica BoucherL to R: Ella Kettles, Annalise Boucher

In the running: A. Ward Spaulding School, McAlister Intermediate School, Suffield Middle School, Suffield High School, Kent Memorial Library, Sunrise Park, Hilltop Farm (NOT the Creamery!) and Town Hall/Green.And the honor goes to … A. Ward Spaulding School (117 votes)! Second place goes to Kent Memorial Library (92 votes), which was closely followed by Hilltop Farm (85 votes) and Sunrise Park (83 votes).

Schools/Sports

Blue Ribbon Winners

By |

Members of the Little Aces & Mini Aces teams earned some blue ribbons at this year’s 4-H fair in Somers for their presentation and demonstration of their robot and accompanying research project.L- R Luke Osowiecki, Sawyer Prusi, Rohan Gupta, Leila Prusi and Dean Prusi

Organizations

Local Artist Featured During October in KML Gallery

By |

Since 2002, the Suffield Arts Council has provided displays of local artists’ work in the Pinney Gallery of the Kent Memorial Library, found in the center of Suffield. These shows have been arranged through the efforts of longtime West Suffield resident, Fran Milliken. Mr. Milliken volunteered for this job while serving as President of the Tobacco Valley Artists Association, a title that he held for ten years. He agreed to serve as a VP in the role of gallery coordinator. This is his 23rd year in that capacity.

People/Business

Suffield’s Newest Centenarian

By |

Suffield Senior Center was host to a very special celebration on Wednesday, September 10, as Eugene Christian – known affectionately as “Gene” to his many friends – turned 100 years of age while surrounded by friends and family. Decked out in a birthday sash proclaiming him “Birthday King” and a crown that suited him almost too well, Gene beamed as center members lined up to wish him happy birthday. Photo submitted by the author Gene with his great granddaughter Francesca dancing at the event to Polish polka music. Gene’s roots in Suffield run deep. Born in 1925 in the upstairs of a house his parents rented on South Street, he later co-owned Christian Farms with his brothers.

Director’s Corner

Director’s Corner

By |

Pumpkins: More Than Just Fall Decor

When autumn rolls around, one of the most iconic symbols of the season is the humble pumpkin. From its bright orange color to its versatile uses, the pumpkin has become an important part of our fall traditions. Did you know this popular squash is botanically considered a fruit because it originates from a flower? I am sure I am not the only one who always thought it was a vegetable! Whichever you consider it to be, the pumpkin has a rich history that extends far beyond pumpkin pies and Halloween decorations.One of America’s oldest native crops, pumpkins have been cultivated for more than 6,000 years.

Library

Library Activities

By |

For more information or to register for a program, please stop by or call the library at 860-668-3896 or go online to suffield-library.org Follow us on Facebook. All programs are free. General Programs

Movies at the LibraryKML is showing movies! Visit our website at www.suffield-library.org for more information, including this month’s movie showtimes.Books and Beyond Discussion with Anna JohnstonPlease join us via Zoom on November 13 at 7 p.m. to discuss The Borrowed Life of Fredrick Fife with Anna Johnston. Copies of the book are available at the library and on the Libby, Hoopla, and Palace Project apps.

Uncategorized

Scouting in the Land of Fire and Ice

By |

Troops 260, 262 and Venturing Crew 261 had an epic summer adventure in Iceland, and wow, what a trip it was! After two years of planning and fundraising, 26 Scouts and leaders finally set out on a journey they’ll never forget.The adventure kicked off in Reykjavik, where they wandered through streets lined with museums, art and interesting food. Some of the adults even braved Iceland’s infamous fermented shark (hákarl)— however we’d recommend the hot dog. Photo by Sarah Thomas Scouts pose together before visiting Gullfoss, one of Iceland’s iconic waterfalls. But it wasn’t all about the city.

Organizations

West Suffield Village Improvement Association Meeting

By |

There will be a meeting of the WSVIA on Monday, October 6th at 7pm at West Suffield Academy Hall, 1499 Mountain Rd, West Suffield. All are welcome. We are going to be discussing what direction our association needs to take concerning West Suffield Academy Hall. At this point we rent out the building for social events. The reduced number of rentals has forced us to look at our options.

Farming/Nature

The Intellectuals

By |

There is something about intellectuals. We happened to grow up playing with lots of kids in the neighborhood. But one family seemed to have had a little more brain power than the rest of us, and we should have seen the signs. As we raced in and out of houses and through back yards, their house was the one with the chess set at the ready and bookcases overflowing. Classical music might be wafting down the stairs, and every one of the kids played an instrument and played it well.

Organizations

Suffield Rotary Champions Global Effort: End Polio Now International Day

By |

Each year on October 24, communities around the world unite for End Polio Now International Day, raising awareness and support for the ongoing effort to eradicate polio.Polio, a highly infectious disease that once claimed hundreds of thousands of lives annually, has been brought to the brink of extinction through decades of international cooperation, scientific ingenuity, and unwavering community engagement. Yet, until polio is eradicated everywhere, no child is truly safe. The Suffield Rotary Club joins Rotary International and partners worldwide in the historic mission to end polio forever.Polio eradication became Rotary’s flagship cause in 1985 with the launch of the PolioPlus program. At the time, polio paralyzed 350,000 children each year. Rotary envisioned a world where every child would be safe from this crippling disease and began a campaign to immunize children everywhere.Today, thanks to Rotary and its partners—including the World Health Organization, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and UNICEF—polio cases have been reduced by 99.9%.

Book Reviews

Book Review

By |

Bridge of SighsRichard Russo2007, Alfred Knophpub., 528 pgsRichard Russo has written many books in many genres– fiction, essays, a memoir, short stories–but since Empire Falls won the Pulitzer Prize in 2002, his name and reputation have been in a bit of a shadow, as younger writers have risen to occupy the limelight. Bridge of Sighs is not new; in fact, it’s nearly 20 years old, but it is not out of date. Its themes, handled subtly, include violence, alcohol and drug addiction, adultery, gang-related issues, bullying, racism, poverty. There is very little direct reference to some of them, and often the reader senses from delicate clues that there is something going on behind the scenes. In that way great suspense is built, something only an experienced, gifted writer can manage.The complex plot centers around a boy named Louis Lynch, nicknamed Lucy, to his chagrin.