Government/Town

Town Hall Contractors Selected

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As reported last month, the bid requests for renovating and slightly expanding the Suffield Town Hall were published in late February, with a response date of March 21. Seven architects and three construction contractors responded and participated in the mandatory walk-through. When the bids came in, five architect firms and two contractors had responded.  At their April 4 meeting, the Permanent Building Commission reviewed the seven colorful proposal booklets and evaluated the bidders’ qualifications, using an evaluation system Chairman Joe Sangiovanni had developed in connection with the proposed Community Center project some years ago. The system requires the commissioners to assign numerical scores in a number of relevant categories; then the scores are weighted by a relative importance factor for each category and combined to obtain an overall score for each bidder.

Organizations

Stomp Fundraiser

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For the fifth year, the barn and grounds of the historic Phelps-Hatheway House & Gardens will be transformed into a Texas-style hoedown by the Stomp Out Cancer fundraiser on May 19. The fundraiser, locally referred to as Stomp, raises funds for non-profits that focus on cancer treatment and research. For a second year, the event will support Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), which raises funds for childhood cancer research. The Stomp Planning Committee is excited to announce that Liz Smith, Alex’s mother, will be this year’s special guest. ALSF has recognized Stomp as one of their premier Grandstand events and identified it as a top fundraiser in 2018.

Churches

Suffield Sings

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The Suffield High School Chamber Ensemble, shown above, was one of eight choral groups from three schools and three churches in Suffield to perform in Suffield Sings.

Churches

Mother’s Day Luncheon

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The Greater Suffield Interfaith Council is hosting a free luncheon and guest speaker from The Network on various domestic violence topics followed by questions and answers.

Churches

First Church News

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The following events are happening in May at First Church, An Open and Affirming Church. Worship is held every Sunday at 10 a.m. All are Welcome!

People/Business

Brewery Work Continues

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With the wrangling on how to correct the project’s problems settled, construction work on the new Broad Brook Brewery on South Street resumed over a month ago after a delay of almost a year. The recent work has been inside, not apparent to passers-by. Floor drain pipes have been laid for the lower level floor, some wiring has been installed, and rebar for some of the needed structural connections has been set in place. Proprietor Eric Mance, undoubtedly frustrated at the delay, has himself been a member of the work crew. From his recent comment, work outside to refill the deep excavation along the front and north foundation wall with big blocks of polystyrene foam, as explained in the Observer’s March 2019 article, may have commenced before this issue is published.

Government/Town

Preliminary 2019/20 Town Budget Proposed

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As of this writing, the Board of Finance is in the process of reviewing various department budgets and capital requests in order to propose the FY 2019/20 budget for the Town meeting on May 8.

People/Business

Internet Provides Opportunity for Local Startup

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On Monday, March 4, a new way to generate some income from your property was introduced. Launching from Suffield, Events at HOME (your dream home for your dream day) offers homeowners the opportunity to rent out their private land, house or barn for weddings, events and corporate gatherings a few times per year. No sleepovers are allowed, and rental rates are by the hour. A typical profit for a home owner ranges from $600–$900 for a 12-hour land rental (no home access) to $1,200–$1,800 for a 12-hour rental which includes access to both the house and the land. If you own a waterfront estate with all the bells and whistles, the hourly rate ranges between $600 and $800 which can quickly add up to over $9,000 for a single day event.

Suffield 350th Anniversary Committee

Be a 350th Sponsor

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The 350th Committee has lots of exciting events, programs and projects in the works for Suffield’s anniversary celebration, and we need your financial support now to make them a reality. Please consider becoming a 350th Sponsor. There are multiple levels of sponsorship available with recognition at events and in promotional materials. To learn more about sponsorship levels please check www.tinyurl.com/Sponsor350, send an email to Suffield350@gmail.com or leave us a message at 860-758-0115. Thank You!

Organizations

$1,000 Scholarships Still Available

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The Observer is still looking for worthy high school seniors interested in a $1,000 scholarship for college. Surely, there are parents and high school seniors out there who might find an extra $1,000 helpful toward college expenses. The deadline for applications is May 15. The one-year scholarships are for students residing in Suffield and attending a four–year college in the fall. They should be planning to study history, communications, journalism, creative writing, political science or research and should have participated in community service.

Suffield 350th Anniversary Committee

What’s a Barn Quilt?

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When Donna Sue Groves decided to honor her Mother Maxine by painting a big quilt block on their Ohio tobacco barn, she did not realize she was starting a movement! Today barn quilt “trails” are found across all 50 states and Canada!

Government/Town

Retiring Officer Well Feted

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According to the dictionary, to fete is to honor with a celebration, and Officer Peter Osowiecki was very much honored at the big retirement party his friends held for him on April 5. Over 200 came to the Sun Valley Resort banquet hall in Stafford that evening, including fellow officers and leaders of the Suffield Police Department, along with a diverse crew of folks he had helped during his 30 years of service. Peter, who graduated from Suffield High in 1979, had begun his law enforcement career in Suffield as a dispatcher and supernumerary but soon became a certified officer. He served in a wide variety of assignments, which may not be unusual for a person of his competence. The main organizer of the party, Ashley McMann, now a key aid at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, said she first met Peter as one of the Police Cadets in the Police Cadet corps when he was the Corps advisor.