The Suffield Observer (https://thesuffieldobserver.com/page/175/)
The John Sullivan & Son Tobacco Farm was started by my grandfather, John L. Sullivan.
On Sunday, February 9 at Suffield’s Third Baptist Church, many gathered to remember and celebrate the life and teachings of Martin Luther King, Jr.
These last elections have touched me in a different way as I looked around me on Election Day.
Ronald Corriveau from Sacred Heart Parish has received the 2020 Archdiocese Medal of Appreciation. Ronald was chosen for this honor in appreciation for his dedicated service as a parish usher for 62 years and as parish Plant Manager for ten years.
Delia and Violet Fuller, left and right, brought what they collected for the Second Baptist Church’s winter coats, hats and mittens drive and were photographed with little Avery Christian, standing in front.
Christmas Eve – Masses at 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 10:30 p.m.
Christmas Day – Masses at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.
The COVID-19 crisis has had ramifications in all areas of Suffield life. We hear quite a bit about how the schools are coping, but it’s important to remember that the churches have to find ways to carry out their missions as well.
Exterior and interior work in the Town Hall Renovation project proceeds, with good progress. The second floor level is close to complete, and First Selectman Melissa Mack reported she had made a walk-through of the area where her office suite will be and was very pleased with what she saw.
In the third week of October the two big illuminated signs on South Street and Mountain Road, announcing that the Remington Street Bridge was out, got the opening date changed from October to November.
I think it is safe to say that Field of Flags has been a great success. 315 of the 350 flags were sponsored and tagged, honoring both individuals and groups.
The following table has been adapted from data provided by the Suffield Police Department.
“The Town established an Engineering Department by hiring a full time Town Engineer on August 15, 1988. Duties of the Town Engineer include work on road, drainage, and other municipal projects, advising and performing field inspections for the Zoning and Planning Commission, work with the Conservation Commission on drainage reviews and soil erosion and sedimentation control, coordination with various municipal departments, consultants, developers and contractors and responding to residents’ complaints on drainage and road concerns.”
Early in November, three Suffield Observer volunteers and I were scheduled to speak to fifth graders at McAlister Intermediate School for a unit on journalism. Because of the pandemic, the show would be virtual.
At the end of October, the “in-ground” crew from contractor NY Conn had completed their segment of the substantial renovation of the signal lights and related matters of the town center double intersection, so they packed up and went off to other projects.
“Seventy years ago today, a bright Sunday morning was darkened by the unprovoked attack on Pearl Harbor…We salute the veterans and survivors of Pearl Harbor who inspire us still. Despite overwhelming odds, they fought back heroically, inspiring our nation and putting us on the path to victory.” – President Barack Obama (2011)
For a moment, it seemed possible that Suffieldians who showed up at Veterans Park for this year’s traditional Veterans Day observance might have been surprised and disappointed. There had been no publicity for the event.
Even during these challenging times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Suffield Economic Development is making progress and there are signs of promise with serious interest in some of the commercial properties on the market.
My recent Coronavirus Update stated: “Suffield is at a crossroads. We must double-down on our efforts and work in partnership with our neighbors to flatten the curve of this new, arguably more dire, wave of the pandemic.”
Please check the Town of Suffield website for actual time and location (virtual, Zoom, etc.) of the following commission and committee meetings:
In the Observer’s November issue update on the Town Hall renovation project, our reporter referred to the suggestion of a garden planter between the segments of the planned new handicapped accessibility ramp to be added, and described the planter as a proposal of the Suffield Garden Club. The club advises that the planter was not proposed by them.
As election officials arrived at the polls shortly after 5 a.m. on Election Day, they found voters arriving and lining up outside the polling place. By 6 a.m., when the polls opened, there were long lines of people waiting.
