Organizations

SGC Receives Grant

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The Suffield Garden Club announced the receipt of a grant from the Fred and Astrid Hanzalek Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. The good news was shared at the club’s November meeting held at the Suffield High School with students in the Agriscience Program. Our long-time member, Astrid Hanzalek, attended this event and was warmly thanked by all our members. The grant is for the special care of a few trees on Main Street, two of which are in front the King House. Included is treatment for the prevention of the Emerald Ash Borer.

Organizations

SGC Meeting

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The Suffield Garden Club will hold a monthly meeting on Monday, December 3, at 11:45 a.m. at the Second Baptist Church, Fellowship Hall. Coffee, tea, a light lunch and a short business meeting will be followed by a guest speaker at 1 p.m.

Our guest speaker, Susie Hanna of the Daisy Stone Studio in the Berkshires, studied floral design at the famous New York Botanical Gardens. Susie will demonstrate examples of holiday floral designs for the home, and her arrangements will be raffled at the end of the presentation. All are welcome to attend. There is a $10 guest fee.

Schools/Sports

Cancer Awareness

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The SHS Boys Varsity Soccer team seniors felt in the pink during breast cancer awareness month in October. From the left, in shocking pink jerseys are, top row: Blake Baskin, Michael Sattan, Evan Mankouski, Niko Ford, Will Motherway; bottom row: Brandon Bigos, Matthew Sweeney, Quinn Cardaropoli, Brendan Fitzgerald, Aiden Werenski.

Suffield Garden Club

Christmas History Facts

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Greetings, friendly reader! May your Christmas season be filled with joy and light! The first recorded display of a decorated Christmas tree has been traced to Riga, Latvia, in 1510, and the custom proliferated in Germany in the 1600-1700’s, as Protestant elites bedecked their homes and guildhalls with pines and firs garnished with nuts, dates and apples. Christmas trees grew in popularity in Germany throughout the early 1800s, and German immigrants to the United States brought the yuletide tradition with them to their new homeland. In his book, The Battle for Christmas, Stephen Nissenbaum writes that, in spite of claims that Hessian soldiers fighting for the British during the Revolutionary War erected the first Christmas trees in America, it was the Pennsylvania German community, likely after 1820, who first brought the custom to the United States.

Government/Town

Scare-It-Up Suffield

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“You’ve Got Friends,” the Friends of Suffield scarecrow exhibit in the Town’s Scare-It-Up Suffield event, held on October 20 at the Suffield Senior Center, won first prize in the “Spirit of Suffield” category.

Organizations

Winterfest and the Tunnel of Lights

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The Connecticut Trolley Museum presents Winterfest 2018 and the Tunnel of Lights beginning Friday, November 23. Winterfest will be open from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve. Santa will be onsite in a historic caboose for photos and to give a small gift to each child until he has to fly back to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. Admission prices are $15 for adults, $14 for seniors (62+), $10 for children (ages 4-12), $3 for children (3 & under). On Friday and Sunday nights, ALL adults and seniors receive a $2 discount on admission.

Organizations

Local Project Provides Pet Shelters

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Local resident Susan Panaccasio created Project Pet Houses from an idea she had three years ago. The non-profit operation provides free houses for dogs (and feral cats, who otherwise live outside most of their lives). She realized it was crucial for pets to have shelter, especially during extreme weather. Shelter for these animals is especially crucial during the winter and summer months. During the winter, dogs and cats can suffer from hypothermia in just 40-degree temperatures, experiencing frostbite, seizures and even death.

Government/Town

Parks & Rec News

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It is getting cold, it is getting darker out earlier and maybe you have been on your electronic gadgets too much. What is the solution? Sign up for some fun and exciting programs offered at the Parks and Recreation Department! There is a variety of programs offered for children-adult. Please visit our website at www.suffieldrec.com Below is partial listing of our upcoming programs.

For the pre-school age children and their caregivers, kick off the New Year right on January 7 with the Fun Family Fitness program that boasts keeping the family fit and healthy while developing gross motor skills with movement and music. The Children’s Fitness Squad program and The Speed Training Clinics will begin in January for elementary school children and both of these classes offer great cross training, strength and agility for all sports.

Organizations

Library Showcases Springfield Artist

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The Suffield Arts Council will feature the work of Joseph Lanier, an award-winning artist from Springfield, in the Pinney Gallery of Suffield’s Kent Memorial Library, still operating in their temporary home at 61 Ffyler Place in Suffield. A self-taught artist, Joe is a member of the Tobacco Valley Artists Association. His work has appeared in several area shows, capturing numerous awards including many First Place and Best in Show. Retired, he is married and the father of two adult daughters. Painting for ten years, he enjoys capturing images found in nature on canvas.

Organizations

Suffield Community Aid

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Did you know that the money that is raised through the Salvation Army Kettle Drive stays in Suffield to support various programs for persons in need? The kettle will be at the Subway/Dunkin Donut plaza on Mountain Road several weekend days in December.

Government/Town

Highway Garage Plans Circle Back to Austin Street

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For many years since the Laureno Stevenson Lumber Yard and fabrication shops on Ffyler Place closed, Suffield planners have been looking at the Town Highway Garage on the other side of the street with critical feelings. If the garage were gone, they felt, the desired commercial development of the 27-acre combined properties would become more likely, with good consequences for the town in land values, tax revenue, and convenient new services. So three years ago Town leaders proposed that the garage be relocated into an existing building on Austin Street which had been built for FEB Landscaping & Construction and was later owned by Moosehead Harvesting. The application for a $2-million state grant to help buy the building was approved by the Selectmen on January 6, 2016 and by the Board of Finance the following week. But the plan never went to town meeting, perhaps because a new possible location came into view.

In Memoriam

In Memoriam

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Edward G. Mele October 11, Age 89 Dr. Judith L. Vaitukaitis October 19, Age 78 Timothy M. Mandirola October 20,  Age 31 Annette Ceniglio October 19,  Age 74 Ted E. Pohorylo October 22,  Age 75 James Gordon Ruth Jr. October 23,  Age 67 Chester P. Madey October 23, Age 99 Kathleen Polley October 24, Age […]

Organizations

Help Needed!

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Enfield Loaves and Fishes (Soup Kitchen) is in need of a volunteer for Thursdays with a truck or a van to pick up food, etc. at local store. Call Priscilla at 860-741-0226.

Organizations

Hunger Has No Season

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The Enfield Loaves and Fishes and its directors, volunteers and guests would like to thank all the EL&F gardeners who help plant, nurture, and deliver vegetables to the Soup Kitchen. Many generous people from both Enfield and surrounding communities have made a wonderful contribution by helping provide food for those who have so little. Planting, cultivating, weeding and picking a garden is hard work, as it takes countless hours and sacrifice to produce such wonderful results. Good nutrition is vital in fighting off diseases and remaining healthy, making a difference in people’s hearts, as well as in their everyday lives. Recognizing and meeting the increasing needs of the community is a challenging yet rewarding opportunity that each one of us can identify with.

People/Business

Welcoming a New Business to Suffield

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If you ask James Thomson, owner of NFP Sports, why he moved his business from Manchester to Suffield, he’ll tell you that he wants to plant roots and support the local community. He has a vested interest – James, his wife, and three sons live in West Suffield. James’ participation in high school/college sports and past professions led him to a business that is focused on enabling athletics opportunities. The benefits of athletics extend beyond health to problem-solving, teamwork and increased self-esteem:

1. Tightly-stretched funding can make it tough, with costs nearly doubling over 10 years through 2017

2.

Organizations

Phelps-Hathaway Tea

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The ladies of the Phelps-Hatheway House and Garden cordially invite you to a tea in honor of Jane Austen’s birthday! On Sunday, December 16 (which marks her 243rd birthday) indulge in savories, sweets and teas popular in the early 19th century. The afternoon includes a dramatic reading of a favorite Jane Austen passage and a tour of the festively decorated Phelps-Hatheway House, all the way up to the third floor, designed by Old Hill Gardens. Tickets are $25 per person, $20 for CT Landmarks Members. Reservations are required as space is limited.

Book Reviews

Book Reviews

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Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver. Harper Collins, 2018. 660 pp.(large print)

 This is the story of two families who live in the same house, but in different centuries. One is in more modern times and the other in the past, and both families are struggling to even begin to make ends meet. The house had been badly built to begin with, and the passage of time has not been kind to its condition.

Organizations

Ever Dream of Editing?

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Editors of the Month meet with the editor in chief to determine the type of material to seek that month. Many submissions arrive through an originator’s own initiative, but the editors often call seasoned writers and request articles on key issues or topics. Between the 8th and 16th of the month, the editors read and edit all submissions, typically in two-hour sessions. The editors of the month have the option to write an editorial and to help select front page material. 

Contact inbox@thesuffieldobserver.com if you are interested in joining our team of volunteers. 

Farming/Nature

Porcupines

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Our weekly pilgrimage on the trails around town helps us to lead a wide awake life. Earlier this fall, I had launched into one of my endless narratives while climbing the hills; my friends may or may have not had their hands clapped over their ears, but their peace on the trail was short-lived, as my faithful pup uttered a strange bark and bounded off after two woodland creatures. She was in hot pursuit of a pair of porcupines. I watched as they headed towards the nearest tree. They were still on the ground, so I needed to rein in the pup, and I resorted to all the tricks I had learned at the dog obedience class which we had pretty much flunked earlier last spring.