Letter to the Editor

Meals on Wheels Lacks Funding!

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I have been a volunteer at Meals on Wheels in Suffield for a number of years, and was shocked recently when I was advised that no new meal recipients could be added to the program. This apparently is due to lack of funding. I find this unacceptable, especially when I’m positive that the state budget includes funds for items that are far less important than providing meals for Suffield residents who are either unwell or unable to prepare them themselves. I feel strongly that we must reorder our priorities and make sure we address the real needs of those in our community. I understand that money is tight, but our first priority must be to take care of those in need.

Letter to the Editor

Festival Comment

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On a warm Saturday afternoon, the Suffield Arts Festival was held July 14th at Bruce Park. My family and I had the opportunity to see Suffield Youth Theater’s talented members in action along with guest acts perform. They were comedic, talented and exciting to observe. The low turnout was a disappointment. The Suffield Youth Theater’s members worked hard to put this event together and I commend them for their valiant efforts!

Editorial

Aces High Owns the Sky

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The Suffield-Windsor Locks joint robotics team, known as Aces High or Team 176, had one of their best seasons this past school year. This year’s robotics competition revolved around placing cubes (sometimes 7 feet high) on a scale type contraption. This would give the team points for every second the scale was leaning in their direction. At the end the robots had to climb up a bar about 6 feet high, which was quite a sight to see. Aces High competed in two local competitions in Waterbury as well as Hartford.

Editorial

Whose Choice Is It, Anyway?

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It’s more than a little frustrating for supporters of a community center to see both the Town’s proposal for a new Town Hall, whose cost will most likely be well over the approved bond amount from the 2015 bonding vote, as well as a seemingly fast-track proposal to move the highway garage to a location on East Street where we would be leasing, not owning, the property, ignoring, again, the vote in 2015 approving the bonding for the renovation of Bridge Street School (BSS) as a community center.

Suffield’s Pride

Suffield’s Pride – Sandra Bixler

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Brains, beauty, and a fearless desire to be of service, Sandra Bixler has it all. The daughter of Richard and Linda Bixler was raised in Suffield along with her twin brother Steven, and is now a Principal Investigator at the Therapeutic Development Center, Molecular and Translational Sciences Division, at the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID). What does that mouthful of words mean you may rightly ask? Basically, Sandra, who has a Ph.D. in Emerging Infectious Diseases works trying to find vaccines or antidotes to the most deadly viruses on the planet such as Ebola, Lassa, and other hemorrhagic fever viruses. USAMRIID, located in Fort Detrick, Maryland, is the Army’s main facility for research into countermeasures against biological warfare and the Department of Defense’s only laboratory equipped to study BSL4 (biosafety level) viruses.

Organizations

New Name – ­Same Trusted Resource

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“Renewing, refreshing, and better connecting Suffield residents to our services”: these are the words of Janet Frechette, Executive Director of the newly renamed Suffield Community Aid (SCA). The new name and logo you will see is: Suffield Community Aid, Your Local Safety Net. Formerly known as the Emergency Aid Association, or EAA, the organization opted to update its name to better connect Suffield residents to all the services it offers. Its phone number, 668-1986, and address at 450 South Street, remain the same. The new web address is: www.suffieldcommunityaid.org.

People/Business

Holyoke Bank to Acquire FNBS

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PeoplesBancorp, MHC, the parent company of PeoplesBank, both of Holyoke, Massachusetts, and First Suffield Financial, Inc., the parent company of The First National Bank of Suffield, Connecticut, jointly announced on July 17 that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement for PeoplesBancorp to acquire First Suffield Financial and PeoplesBank to acquire The First National Bank of Suffield.

Organizations

What’s Happening at the EAA this Month?

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School Supply Collection Needs Your Help:

We are already starting to collect for the “Return-to-School Backpack Program” to assist low-income school age children in Suffield. Spiral notebooks, one-inch three-ring binders, pencils, pens, calculators, ear buds, page dividers, rulers, glue sticks, glue, erasers, pencil sharpeners, highlighters, scissors, index cards, folders, ruled paper, and pencil pouches are needed. Monetary donations are also welcome! If you can help, please drop off your donations by August 13, to the EAA, located at 450 South Street in Suffield. Rental Rebate Program for Elderly & Disabled Residents:

State law provides a reimbursement program for Connecticut renters who are elderly or totally disabled, and whose incomes do not exceed certain limits.

People/Business

Picnic was Rainy but Great

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On a rainy Sunday in the crowded Sportsmen’s cabin during the annual picnic for Cpl. Steve Bixler, USMC, Kevin Goff and his grandchild, along with an unidentified youngster, examine some of the display material about Steve’s short, heroic career.

Organizations

Polish Heritage Society

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The Polish Heritage Society (PHS) will not meet in July or August but there are several things going on behind the scenes that may be of interest. Monthly meetings of the Polish Heritage Society will resume on Wednesday, September 5 at 10 a.m.

This past spring several members of the PHS created a small Polish Heritage exhibit at the library. A second display to celebrate Polish Heritage Month will be set up in October. Do you have any Polish items to loan to the exhibit? As a subcommittee of the Suffield Historical Society, the PHS will share their booth during Suffield on the Green, September 8 and 9.

Parks and Rec

Staff Welcomes New Chief

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Posing in front of their Town Hall Annex office are new Parks & Rec Director Peter Leclerc and his staff. From the left: Director Leclerc, Special Programs Coordinator Donna Carney-Bastrzycki, Recreation Supervisor Cindy Fisher and Registration Clerk Pam Cocca.

Parks and Rec

Sign Up for Summer Fun!

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Looking for great programs for your family to make this summer the best ever? You don’t have to travel far to make the most beautiful memories.

Organizations

Declaration of Independence Reading

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Join the staff of Connecticut Landmarks’ Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden for a dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence on Sunday, July 8, at noon, as we continue to celebrate July 4th!

Organizations

Successful Blood Drive

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The Suffield Woman’s Club (SWC) held its annual Red Cross Blood Drive recently at the Second Baptist Church. The drive collected 21 productive pints of blood which equals up to 3 lives saved. The SWC would like to thank the American Red Cross for all their work setting up and working the blood drives (especially ours!), our Club volunteers, bakers and sandwich makers and a very special thank you to all the donors who take time out of their busy schedules to come out and donate. You made a difference in someone’s life.