The Suffield Observer (https://thesuffieldobserver.com/page/280/)
The next time you visit Kent Memorial Library and hear giggling from the children’s department, it could be from kids transfixed by a puppet show.
After seven meaningful years, this year’s Run for Dustin will be our final race.
If you are tired of paying high cable TV prices then you might want to consider switching to an internet streaming service.
Boy Scout Troop 66 Spring Vacation Trip
Troop 66 sent four photos from the spring vacation trip taken by eight adventurous Boy Scouts to Philadelphia and vicinity. Clockwise from upper left: the Scouts took the Observer along as they visited Rocky at the Museum of Art, saw some ships at the Navy Yard, toured the exhibits at Independence Square and learned some Revolutionary War history at Valley Forge.
At this year’s May Market, on the 12th of the month, Joyce Zein, right, contemplates the utility of an unusual narrow spade as Jan Piepul of Chicopee and Kathleen Horrigan discuss other matters.
Summertime Blues
According to the knowledgeable experts at Birds & Blooms, in a 2015 poll more than one-third of people surveyed around the world chose blue flowers as their favorite. Yellows, pinks and oranges bloom everywhere you look, but regal blue blossoms aren’t quite so prevalent. To me, that makes summertime blues all the more special. Blues look spectacular when paired with pink or yellow blooms. For real color punch, add orange. You will find orange across from blue on the color wheel, creating a complementary relationship.
What’s happening at the EAA this Month? Rental Rebate Program for Elderly & Disabled Kicks Off Another Year
State law provides a reimbursement program for Connecticut renters who are elderly or totally disabled, and whose incomes do not exceed certain limits. Persons renting an apartment or room, or living in cooperative housing may be eligible for this program. The EAA is now taking applications for the CT Renter’s Rebate program. Call the EAA for more information!
Survivor Journeys™, a nonprofit organization offering support for cancer patients, survivors, their caregivers and families, is offering a free seminar entitled Cancer Survivorship 101—What Happens Next? at Max’s Tavern’s Julian Appleton Room at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield on Saturday, June 9 at 8 a.m.
Natasha Verma, an award-winning film director, philanthropist, television reporter/anchor at NBC Boston, and cancer survivor will be the keynote speaker. In addition a taped message from Hoda Kotb of the Today Show will be played at the session. The morning will begin with a continental breakfast followed by presentations by experts in their respective fields. In addition to the introduction and survivorship offerings by Dr. Jay Burton, Founder and President of Survivor Journeys™, topics will include the late effects of cancer treatment, anxiety and fear of recurrence, fatigue and sleep, nutrition issues, exercise and rehabilitation, and disability law as it regards cancer patients.
Make your Fourth of July special this year by attending an outdoor concert with The Kevin Prater Band! The free concert will take place on Wednesday, July 4, in the bandstand on middle green in the center of Suffield. Music will begin around 5 p.m. and will continue into the evening. There will be food and soft drinks available for purchase, or you can bring your own picnic. The Kevin Prater Band (KPB) bases their sound on strong vocal harmonies.
Did you know that the Observer, your community newspaper, is run by friendly and dedicated volunteers? If you are interested in helping to keep this vital community resource running smoothly, please consider volunteering your time and energy. Some of our volunteer jobs (which include training) are:
Downloaders – download articles from email and put articles into the computer system. Preppers – retrieve articles from the system and put them in column format. InDesigners – need to have computer system skills, but we will teach anyone who has the desire to learn.
Photographed on the White’s Pond Dam in Sunrise Park, a DEEP Instructor demonstrates basics to Jake Lamberti at the Family Fishing Fun program!
It is time to register for Summer Camps and Activities! We are looking forward to another great summer with a variety of offerings for Suffield youth. Visit our On-Line Registration Website: www.SuffieldRec.com. First create an account (if you didn’t already create one), then register for the camp or activity and pay by credit card, and you are done! Register early, as these programs fill up fast and there are limited spaces!
Babb’s Beach & Park will be opening this month for the second season. This gem of a park is located on Congamond Lake in West Suffield. Beginning June 23, patrons to the park will be greeted by gate attendants who will welcome you and point you in the right direction to park in the upper lot or to access the lower lot for handicap parking. The beach and park will be open daily, 9:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. and earlier as the sun begins to set earlier in August. Suffield residents may visit the park free of charge with proof of residency and non-residents will be charged $20.00 per vehicle.
Join us to celebrate summer, local food and Connecticut history at the Phelps-Hatheway House & Garden! On Friday, June 15, from 6 to 9 p.m., savor farm-to-table offerings by The Federal, wine, and signature cocktails at Connecticut Landmarks’ signature summer event Cocktails in the Hatheway Garden. Tour the 18th-century Phelps-Hatheway House and splendid garden, lovingly maintained by the Suffield Garden Club for over 50 years. Enjoy music by The Chris Marolda Duo, who will have you out of your seat and dancing! Bid on a variety of Connecticut productions and experiences in our silent auction.
The Suffield Woman’s Club (SWC) proudly presented the Suffield Historical Society with a $7,200 donation to preserve the garments in the attic at the King House Museum. The SWC first learned about these garments from Pam Baldini, who did a presentation at a Club meeting last year. Ms. Baldini had been working on a catalogue of the garments for her degree at UConn. The project was researched by the SWC Giving Committee, who determined that the project would benefit the many visitors to the museum and future generations, and it would be devastating if these garments were lost. The Club members agreed by voting to donate the funds.
Open Cockpit Day
The New England Air Museum will hold an Open Cockpit Day on Father’s Day, Sunday June 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Helicopter Day
On Saturday, June 23, NEAM will feature many of the helicopters in its extensive collection. For the first time, the museum will display over 20 helicopters and equipment. Some of the helicopters will be open to the public for tours. The program will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., but the museum will remain open until 5 p.m.
From her apartment at Suffield by the River, Odette Makari looks toward the garden where a handcrafted tile reads, “In loving memory of Jack Makari.” Odette’s late husband died in May 2013. The tile was made by Celia Moffie’s daughter, Hannah Donnelly. Dr. Makari was a medical researcher. He and Odette came as newlyweds from their native Lebanon to Texas where he was appointed director of immunology at the Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Later established in New Jersey, the doctor developed the Makari Intradermal Skin test that detected cancer before it became clinically observable.
The way I see it, there were many advantages to growing up with a whole slew of brothers. We spent most of our days crawling around in the dirt or rerouting streams using mud and sticks. And when we were cooped up inside, we had a book entitled The World We Live In. We pored over its oversized illustrations, including those of dinosaurs. It fired our imaginations, and I still get the chills when I leaf through it.
Barbara (Berube) Leone April 13 Age 82 Dorothy (Seatland) Hinckley April 17, Age 91 Leslee Yuodis April 18 Age 81 Francesco “Frankie” Vono April 18 Age 79 Brianna Mailloux April 19 Age 18 Gertrude Johnson April 30 Age 99
Beginning in April, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services began sending new Medicare cards to beneficiaries. The new cards are being sent to decrease Medicare beneficiaries’ vulnerability to identity theft by removing the Social Security-based number from Medicare identification cards and replacing it with a new unique Medicare Number. Although an exact time has not been specified for Connecticut, the roll-out for Connecticut residents will be after this month (June). Here’s what you need to know before they arrive:
• Make sure your address is up to date because Medicare will be sending it to the location associated with your Social Security account. To update your address information, contact Social Security at 800-772-1213 or go on-line to www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
Do you enjoy the annual festivities at Suffield on the Green? Are you someone who likes giving back to the community? If so, please join us at the Friends of Suffield’s first-ever Summer BBQ to kick off planning for the 2018 Suffield on the Green (SOTG) & Craft Fair. Our dinner meeting will take place on Tuesday, June 12, beginning at 6 p.m.
The Friends of Suffield, the civic group that puts on SOTG annually, is looking for people to help with all aspects of this year’s event – from planning out activities, music and booth locations, to assisting with setup just prior to the weekend’s happenings. This year’s Suffield on the Green & Craft Fair will take place September 8-9.
Local community service got “a shot in the arm” on May 8 at the Suffield Senior Center when the Friends of Suffield presented several local organizations with grants to fund their activities in 2018. Representatives from groups across town—ranging from Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts to the Crossroads Food Pantry and Emergency Aid Association—took part in a brief awards ceremony to accept their checks and pose for a photo. People from other local organizations receiving grants attended on behalf of the Second Baptist Church, The Suffield Players and the Parks & Rec Department of Suffield. Each year, the Friends of Suffield donates the proceeds it raises through activities and special events, most notably Suffield on the Green & Craft Fair, back to local non-profit groups for projects that enhance the community. A sampling of how this year’s grant monies will be spent includes: canoe rental for Girl Scout “Camporee”, fuel assistance, tools for farming activities, and children’s eye test equipment.
Two Scout projects from Troop 10983 are being completed by the teams of Veronica Jacobs and Samantha Chapman and Katie Uzdarwin and Suyannah Ruiz. The Girl Scout Silver Award is the second-highest award for Girl Scouts and the highest award that a cadette can earn. To earn a Silver Award you are required to help improve your community in some way. For their Silver Award, Veronica and Samantha made a reflection room for McAlister. A reflection room is a room where people go to calm down.