Library

Library Update

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The Observer reported last month that the Permanent Building Commission voted to reject all of the several proposals that had been submitted on April 18, as the lowest offered a contract price of $1.45 M for the necessary PCB remediation work. Facilities Manager Julie Oakes quickly changed the Request for Quotation, allowing a new choice of coating removal method, including grit blasting, and allowing the work start date to slip to the fall, when labor costs would likely be lower. Three bids for the newly defined task were received by May 16 and discussed by the Commission at their May 17 meeting.  The lowest was $1.298 M, from Bestech of Ellington; the next was $1.385 M, from Hazpros, of West Hartford; the highest was $1.498 M, from AAIS, of West Haven. All three are creditable companies in the field, according to consultant Bob May. The Commission decided to invite each of the bidders to separate interviews on May 30.

Library

Library Foundation Receives Generous Donation

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The Suffield Public Library Foundation (SPLF) wishes to acknowledge Ron and Jackie Birmingham for their generous donation of $25,000 for ongoing and future improvements to our town library. Ron and Jackie have lived in Suffield for several decades, having raised their daughters, Wendy and Sarah, here and  who all have participated actively in community life. They are committed to keeping library services supported and want it “home” (asap) at Kent Memorial Library, but more urgently, they want to keep program momentum supported to provide continued quality and accessibility of services. Among the benefits of their substantial gift to our community, the SPLF is commissioning a beautiful handmade Thomas Moser rocking chair that will sit in our newly reopened building once the final work is completed. The SPLF board members express their deep appreciation to the Birmingham family for their generous gift.

People/Business

New Business Coming to South Street

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A Suffield entrepreneur who moved his family from one end of Halladay Avenue to the other recently is now planning to move his business from Southwick to a warehouse he will build on South Street. Jeff Wasilewski intends to move his third-party Amazon retailer business from Southwick, with eight employees now and plans for more. He had hoped to have broken ground by now, but a Suffield administrative snag interfered. He expects the delay to be brief. The planned 14,600-square foot warehouse will also accommodate Wasilewski’s Artisan Owl business, identified in his website as a multi-faceted business specializing in toys, housewares, books, games, jewelry and more.

Library

KML General Programs

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For more information or to register for programs, stop by the library, call 860-668-3896, check suffield-library.org, or follow us on Facebook. All of our programs are free! Most of our programs are funded by The Friends of the Kent Memorial Library. Become a member! Please register for programs.

Continuous Programs

New members welcome

Photo Café: First Tuesday, June 5, 6:30 p.m.

Writer’s Workshop: Fourth Monday, June 25, 7 p.m.

Socrates Café: Last Monday, June 25, 6:30 p.m.

Ask George: Technical questions about your digital devices, computers & gaming.

Library

KML Teen News

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Teen staff are busy generating new ideas and programs after attending the Connecticut Library Conference last month. Can anyone say “Escape Room!”

Last month we hosted a Teen Prom Dance program held at the senior center with Christine from Ballroom Fever in Enfield and made Bath Fizzies with our moms during the May Science Saturday. Teen Tech Fair

Join us Saturday, June 2 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. for the KML Teen Tech Fair. Roller coasters, racing robots, 3D maker pens and electrical experiments that will shock you. Spread the word!

Director’s Corner

Walking the Streets of Dublin

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Recently, I was in Dublin, Ireland with my husband. We walked the same streets that Maeve Binchy, Roddy Doyle and James Joyce walked. One rainy day, we posed for a group photo in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where Dean Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver’s Travels, presided. We visited the quirky Little Museum of Dublin where author John Banville (also known as Benjamin Black) promises to donate his brain.

Organizations

Glenn T. Packard Golf Tourney

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The 27th Annual Glenn T. Packard Golf Tournament has been scheduled for Friday, August 10, at Oak Ridge Golf Course. For over a quarter of a century, this tournament, memorializing Glenn, has benefitted the Town of Suffield and its athletes. Player registration and sponsorship opportunities are available; contact jkozloski@windsorfederal.com, kpascoecpa@aol.com, or gayledemko@gmail.com for tournament information. Please join us and enjoy an outstanding event!!

Organizations

Suffield’s Past in Photographs

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Curator Lester Smith and Trustee Anne Borg will host their annual picture show at the Suffield Historical Society’s June 13 meeting at the Senior Center at 7 p.m.

Come and enjoy photos from Suffield’s rich and varied past.

People/Business

Cormier Named Senior VP at FNBS

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Joseph Greco, President and Chief Executive Officer of The First National Bank of Suffield, announced on March 8 that James Cormier has been promoted to the role of Senior Vice President of Commercial Banking. “In the eleven years that Mr. Cormier has been with the bank, he has consistently displayed skills and personal qualities that have allowed us to grow our commercial lending business,” said Mr. Greco. “Those same qualities have resulted in steady career growth for Mr. Cormier, who has responded to his increasing responsibilities with aplomb. I am both happy to acknowledge his promotion and eager to see what comes next.”

Mr. Cormier began his career at the Bank in 2007 as a Commercial Credit Analyst, became an officer of the Bank in 2011 and was promoted to Vice President of Commercial Lending in 2015. He earned a BS degree in Finance from the University of Massachusetts in 2003 and in 2017 completed the American Bankers Association’s Stonier Graduate School of Banking and Wharton Leadership program.

Organizations

Polish Heritage Society Meeting

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The June meeting of the Polish Heritage Society will be held on June 6, at 10 a.m. at the Suffield Ambulance Center. Sara Zak will discuss “The Polish Declaration of Admiration and Friendship for the United States of America.” This 111-volume “Birthday Card” was sent from Poland to the United States in 1926 to recognize our 150th anniversary of independence. Signed by political and cultural leaders as well as more than five million school students and their teachers, this document conveys Poland’s appreciation for U.S. support during their fight for independence.

History

Our Polish Heritage

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Irish immigrants were the first non-British to come to Suffield. They came in the early 1800s to make money working on the canal system. When the potato famine devastated Ireland, they emigrated in great numbers. The next group to diversify Suffield was from Prussia. Several were listed in the 1870 and 1880 Censuses but by 1900 they only numbered 45.

Through the Looking Glass

I Love Facebook

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It was my younger brother who pulled me into becoming a Facebook member. He’d been following the activities of his three kids on it and thought I should be tuned in to the activities of the younger generation as well. So I floundered around on my computer, filled out the member form, and managed to upload my picture up onto it. My first friends were members of my immediate family, but I came across more and more friends and relatives who were also on Facebook. After a high school reunion, some of my classmates “friended me” as well and I started learning about the lives of classmates I had lost touch with.

Churches

First Church Events

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First Church of Christ is holding the following events in June. All are welcome! Worship, Sundays, 10 a.m., Sanctuary

6/4: Community Conversations–Building Communities of Care. First Church participates in these conversations, held at Suffield Police Department–Amiel P. Zak Community Room. These conversations help promote healing, recovery, and healthy communities.

Government/Town

Firefighters 5k Road Race

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The Suffield Firefighters Association proudly announces the 22nd annual Firefighters 5K walk/run.  This year on June 3 at 9 a.m. sharp, The Suffield Firefighters will once again host the annual road race. The race route remains the same beginning on South Grand Street going south to Sheldon Street, then to Mountain Road and ending at Bruce Park. The event was re-named a few years ago and is now entitled a Paul R. Simison Memorial Annual 5K Road Race, named for Paul who was the founder of the race. Paul’s hopes for the race was to draw attention to health and fitness—an important attribute for firefighters as well as for volunteerism. Each year trophies and medals are awarded for the first place male and female winners in various age group categories.

Now and Then

Memorial Day

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Memorial Day holds a place of great honor in Suffield, in the nation. Many people cherish long memories of the Day: sunny morning parades, marching officials, scouts, leaders, police, fire and rescue departments marching with the high school band, veterans in the honor guard and members of the American Legion waving from open convertibles and timely, respectful attention. Histories abound of Memorial Day as originating after the Civil War to commemorate those who died in the war. Later, Veterans Day was established to honor all veterans who served our country in war and in peace. We think of military deaths that have occurred in recent years.