Government/Town

Election Process Underway

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Endorsement of candidates for municipal offices will be made by major political parties sometime between July 16 and 23. Notice of the dates will be published at least five days prior. Municipal offices that will be on the November 5 election ballot are: First Selectman, Selectmen, Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, Tax Collector, Board of Finance, Board of Education, Board of Assessment Appeals, Planning and Zoning Commission, Police Commission, Fire Commission and Water Pollution Control. Who is eligible to vote in town committees, caucuses, conventions and primaries? Only registered voters enrolled in the political party holding the town committee, caucus, convention or primary are eligible to vote.

Government/Town

Town Hall Project Begins

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After general contractor Gilbane and architect/engineer QA&M had been selected for the Town Hall renovation and expansion project, Town officials and contractor representatives held an hour-long kick-off meeting on May 16. Key members of Gilbane Building and QA&M Architects met with the Permanent Building Commission and Facilities Manager Chris Matejek for a general acquaintanceship and an initial exploration of many aspects of the program. Gilbane sent Eric Cushman, senior project executive and Nishant Patel, project manager. QA&M sent Project Manager Angela Cahill. All three seemed to establish a good rapport with the commissioners and Chris.

Food for Thought

Food For Thought

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“America is much more than a geographical fact. It is a political and moral fact — the first community in which men set out in principle to institutionalize freedom, responsible government, and human equality.” – Adlai Stevenson

Editorial

Response to Selectman’s Criticism

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As a volunteer and occasional coeditor at the Observer, I take exception to certain comments in First Selectman Melissa Mack’s column about the paper. In a discussion with Suffield Middle School students about her job, she chose to take a cheap shot at the Observer due to her distress over an article written about the Suffield Police Department. Referring to the paper as the Obscurer, a term the Observer staff themselves coined in a satirical issue created in jest many years ago, Ms. Mack takes the volunteer staff to task for not living up to “the most basic of journalistic standards” and cites the article “SPD Review Causes Stir” as evidence that the Observer lacks a “devotion to impartiality.” To the contrary the Observer goes to great lengths to ensure that the reporting is accurate and unbiased, often spending many hours attending town and commission meetings, reviewing documents, reports, agendas and minutes and talking to those involved in the issue being reported. Likewise, if there has been an error in reporting and it is brought to the Observer’s attention, a correction is printed. Moreover, the Observer clearly states that editorials and opinions are those of the writer and not of the Observer.

First Selectman’s Update

First Selectman’s Update

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I begin with a sincere apology. To all who made it a point on Memorial Day to attend the parade and ceremony as a heartfelt way to show your deep gratitude to our fallen servicemen; and in particular to our honored veterans; I am sorry for the poor sound system that left many unable to hear the meaningful speeches given.

Government/Town

Be Bear Aware!

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There are many more bears in the vicinity in part because habitats are shrinking, but also because people provide food without realizing it. Once the bears are used to the food sources, they come back and can often cause problems for the entire neighborhood, causing property damage and sometimes threatening human or pet safety. Intentionally feeding bears is bad for the bears. Some measures to take to avoid attracting bears. 1.

Letter to the Editor

Pay to Play

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Dear Editors,

The Board of Education has just imposed pay to play and parking fees on high school students in Suffield. To quote the Yankee Institute’s recent review of the State Legislature’s budget diversion of public transportation funds to create a crisis requiring tolls: “Creating a crisis to justify the imposition of unpopular and unnecessary measures is an offensive way to conduct public policy.”

I hope the citizens of Suffield will see through this maneuver of Chairman Davis and the rest of the Board for what it is, offensive to say the least.

Editorial

Signs, signs, signs

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When someone places a sign on the Town Green or along a roadside, I assume that they want the public to know something. Usually the main message is in large, readable letters. However, the rest of the important information is in letters so small that it cannot be read from your car. Now we all know that Suffield is not exactly a walking town, so most of the info cannot be seen by a passing motorist. What to do?

Editorial

Pay to Play and Student Parking Passes

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As a former 12-year member and Chair of the Suffield Board of Education during difficult economic times, I faced more than my fair share of difficult budget fights. Class sizes soared, building maintenance and desperately needed capital projects were put off, (to the town’s ultimate detriment I might add), administration was reduced, and extracurricular activities at the high school especially were eliminated. The high school was threatened with loss of accreditation due to the insufficient per pupil expenditure. In all that time, however, although it was discussed, the then Board of Ed did not institute a pay for play in the sports program. The reason was simple and equally applicable now.

Suffield’s Pride

Suffield’s Pride: Jenny Sansom Ney

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In her 42 years teaching music at Suffield Middle School, Linda Seabury knows a good prospect when she sees one and she saw one in Jenny Sansom: “At 10 years old I knew she had it as a musician; she had beautiful pitch and an incredible dedication to becoming better.”

People/Business

Improving Lives — Locally and Worldwide

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In our very midst is a quiet, unassuming man who contributes to and improves our country, community, and the world. That man is Dr. Andrew Wakefield, a neurological surgeon at Hartford Hospital who graduated from our own University of Connecticut. We can all thank him for his service to our country as a Coast Guard Boatswain’s Mate. Suffield residents are certainly grateful for his service to our community as a past president and current board member for the Suffield Volunteer Ambulance Association. Worldwide medical professionals appreciate the knowledge they receive at his annual hands-on spine course at the Cleveland Clinic.

Organizations

Public Reading of the Declaration Of Independence

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The public is invited to make history at the Phelps-Hatheway House this summer! Please join us for a reading of Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence on the front steps of the Burbank House, Sunday, July 7 at noon, 55 South Main Street. All ages and abilities are welcome! Preregistration is required so that we can distribute portions of the text. Following the reading, we will have a special ceremony to renew our rights as citizens as encouraged by the “Sworn Again America” program (https://www.swornagainamerica.us/).

Organizations

Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden Celebrates

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Please join us in celebrating the Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden’s inclusion into an esteemed group on Connecticut’s Historic Gardens Day statewide celebration of Connecticut’s stunning historic gardens with special events and activities at Phelps-Hatheway.

Parks and Rec

Parks & Recreation Bowling Luau Was a Hit!

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The highly anticipated season end banquet for the Parks and Recreation Bowling Buddies and Bowling Buddies Jr. Group was held at Sunrise Park on Wednesday, May 15. The Pavilion was transformed into a “Tiki Hut” with our beach themed BBQ and Party. The sun was finally breaking through the clouds and smiles were abundant for our annual awards celebration and party. Everyone sang and danced the evening away as our dedicated volunteer-DJ Kevin Landolina kept the great music playing. Sunrise Park is a true gem for Suffield, and it makes a fantastic location for large parties and reunions.