Letter to the Editor

A Town Treasure: Suffield Academy

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Dear Editor,

As a proud resident of Suffield (since 1970), I am writing to detail the positive impact that Suffield Academy has had on my children and other children who went through the Suffield Public school system. I coached travel basketball for boys and girls, grades 5–8. Gym space in Suffield was always limited. Not only did Suffield Academy allow us to practice in their gym, but the Academy staff and students were always welcoming. The teams I coached were able to practice in a better facility for longer periods of time and extra days during the week.

Organizations

Correction

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 In the Observer’s November issue, an editorial on Page 2 misstated the amount of land in Suffield that has been preserved from development. (The “237,000+ acres” stated would be almost ten times the area of the town.) In the Town administration’s presentation to the October 10 Town Meeting, the amount preserved by the Town was listed as 1,373 acres, about five percent of the town’s total area. The Observer reported that number on Page 8 of the same issue in an article about a decision at the October 19 meeting protecting 43 acres of farm property on Hill Street. Including property protected in some other manner, a little over half the land in Suffield is preserved from development. 

Editorial

Shakepeare’s Henry V

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Recently I attended a performance of Shakespeare’s Henry V at the Hartford Stage Company; I found it satisfactory though not exemplary. Because I had not read the play since college, I watched the rendition on DVD by Kenneth Branagh. It was bloodier than I had remembered, and modern movie techniques allowed for a great deal of violence and agony—enough, I thought, to almost overwhelm the beautiful language. A few days ago I watched the Laurence Olivier version, which was filmed in 1944, with the kinds of sets that reflected the war shortages experienced in England, and the kinds of somewhat melodramatic costumes and makeup that were more prevalent in that era. In fact, Olivier’s Henry V was one of the first to be recorded on film and the first, I believe, to be recorded in technicolor.

Editorial

There Is Goodness Afoot

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It’s sometimes hard to hear the good things happening around us, what with all the stories about continued gun violence, invasions of immigrants, hacking of voting places, media disparagement, name calling, and worries about health care, to name a few. It’s good, then, to reflect on some of the good that regular citizens do that make this country great. #1–According to CBS News, as thousands of people gathered to mourn the 11 Jewish souls murdered at the Tree of Life Synagogue, Wasi Mohamed, the executive director of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh announced that the Muslim community had raised over $100,000 to pay for funeral and medical expenses of the victims. He also offered the protection of the Muslim community at Jewish services- literally offering to stand outside the synagogues—as well as to escort anyone there and back or even to a grocery store if they were scared. #2–The many national and local organizations and individuals who step up to donate money, but most especially time, whenever there is a disaster or crisis like hurricanes, tornados, fires, and shootings, should be noted. #3–We recognize those many random acts of kindness like police buying boots for a barefoot homeless man, getting a lost wallet/phone returned intact, meals for the homeless supported and served by many, many organizations, dry cleaners that clean an outfit for unemployed job interviewers, paying for the meal of the person behind you at McDonald’s (or wherever), standing up to bullies, helping to build/repair homes for veterans or the elderly, inviting lonely people into your circle, offering a kind word or gesture, showing respect for others in word and deed.

Schools/Sports

SHS Teacher Heads for Antarctica!

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Suffield High School is sending one of its own to Antarctica. SHS Alumnus (1994) and current freshman science teacher Justin Kaput was selected as a 2018 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow by National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions. Mr. Kaput was selected from a national pool in an extremely competitive application process. When teachers and students were asked what they thought separated Mr. Kaput from his fellow applicants, a common theme emerged: passion for teaching science, love for the planet we live on, and dedication to teaching the importance of preserving our world to future generations. On December 6th Mr. Kaput’s journey will begin when he sets sail from the southern tip of South America.

Organizations

Observer Owls Perch in Tree for SGC Gala

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Observer Managing Editor Ann Kannen and her daughter Kelly Manning prepared a Christmas tree for the Suffield Garden Club’s Christmas Tree Gala at the Senior Center, December 1-15 (see Page 35), but it spent a few days brightening the newspaper’s office. The pages on the wall in this mid-November photo are that month’s issue. (The office seldom looks this neat.)

Suffield’s Pride

Jack Patterson, Suffield’s Pride

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When Jack Patterson was shagging flies for his First Church team in the Suffield Little League, his dream was like that of young boys everywhere – to be a baseball player when he grew up. Fast forward to June 2018 and Jack’s dream is coming true as he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 32nd round of the MLB draft. While he still has a long way to go before playing in the Major League, Jack has already beaten the odds. According to NCAA statistics for the year 2016/17, only 7% or 34,198 of the 486,567 playing high school baseball play it in college. Of that 34,198, just over 2% or 735 are drafted by professional teams.

While it was a dream, it didn’t really occur to Jack that he could play baseball for a living until late in his college career.

Government/Town

Christmas in Suffield

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Christmas in Suffield is a unique experience. No other community in our area features multiple Christmas fairs on the same day. This year five fairs will be held on November 3, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

This year First Church will be offering a luncheon of soups, sandwiches, and desserts in Fellowship Hall. The Ebenezer Gay room will feature our craft vendors, a bake sale, attic treasures, a country store featuring Vermont cheeses, slab bacon and other delicacies staffed by the Men’s Fellowship, and a Children’s Shopping Boutique, book sale, breakfast bar and snack bar. Outside the Ebenezer Gay room, there will be a raffle of theme baskets all attractively wrapped for holiday giving.

Organizations

Garden Club Field Trip

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On Monday, November 5 the Suffield Garden Club is invited to join students of the Suffield High School Agriscience Center for a tour and discussion on their work and aspirations.

People/Business

Broad Brook Brewery Work Resumes

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October 6 and 7, after many months of idleness at the construction site, excavation work was under way at the incomplete Broad Brook Brewery on South Street. Proprietor Eric Mance was there to consult with another contractor as the back hoe from Diversified Services, an Enfield company, did its work. CBYD markings had been placed a few days before, and several utilities had come in to flag their cables and pipes. By the end of the day, there was a big ditch along most of the east and north sides of the building, about seven feet deep and four feet across the bottom, tapering back up to grade level. With that, the soil pressure against the tall foundation walls was relieved, as required by the stop work order, removing any danger of collapse.

Government/Town

Parks & Rec News

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Fall is one of the favorite times of year for many, especially in beautiful New England.