Schools/Sports

Aces High Aims to be World Champ

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In the six weeks allowed for designing and building, the Suffield/Windsor Locks High Schools’ team in the FIRST Robotics Competition created a sturdy, capable robot and developed good skill in operating it. Aces High did very well in their first three meets. In the team’s favor is the general high-tech environment of this region, and the very favorable circumstance that WLHS provides the team with a well-equipped meeting space and a competent machine shop including up-to-date computer-aided machines. This year the team’s chief mentor is Peter Davis, the WLHS teacher in charge of those facilities in his day job. There are about 40 students on the team – high school level and a few middle school – with a majority from Suffield.

Organizations

Scholarships Deadline Extended

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The Observer is looking for worthy high school students interested in a $1,000 college scholarship.  The Sam Fuller and Robert Warren one-year scholarships are for full-time students residing in Suffield and attending a four-year or accredited community college in the fall.  They should be planning to study history, communications, journalism, creative writing, political science or research and should have community service experience. The application can be obtained from the SHS or Suffield Academy guidance offices or online at http://thesuffieldobserver.com/scholarship-information/. The deadline for applications has been extended to May 15.

Organizations

Delayed Delivery

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Copies of the The Suf-field Observer destined for West Suffield Post Office box holders are customarily delivered by the printer to the Suffield P. O. and then forwarded to the West Suffield P.O. for the boxes there. That did not happen for the April issue. After receiving a number of complaints, we checked and confirmed the situation. When the West Suffield box problem was discovered, we carried a supply of papers to the West Suffield P. O., but it was more than a week later than the normal schedule. We are very sorry for the inconvenience.

Columns

Where in the World is the Observer?

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Gloria and Bernard Magliozzi discovered a copy of the Observer in their luggage when they journeyed to Lovers Key in Florida to celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary and renew their vows on the beach there on February 14.

Organizations

Mother’s Day Tea at Phelps-Hatheway

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Welcome spring in all its glory with the annual Mother’s Day Tea on Sunday, May 13 at 2 p.m. at the Phelps-Hatheway House! Each year, our costumed staff welcomes guests to our historic house for a splendid repast of tea sandwiches, scones with homemade lemon curd and jam, quiche, fresh fruit, a seasonal cake, and many pots of tea to lift the spirits and usher in the spring. A short tour of our museum will acquaint visitors with life in the late 18th century and the fashion of taking tea (or not!) during the Revolutionary War years. After the tour, join us in either the Summer House (weather permitting) or in the Pine Room for pleasant company and delicious fare. A walk through our formal and herb gardens or a stop in our gift shop may complete your visit.

Organizations

A Stroke of Color Exhibit at Phelps-Hatheway House

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The staff of the Phelps-Hatheway House and Connecticut Landmarks are pleased to welcome Lynda Montefusco to our exhibition gallery for the upcoming season. From May through October, visitors to the Hatheway House museum can view a selection of Lynda’s favorite paintings. An opening reception to honor Lynda will be held on Friday evening, May 4, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the historic Visitors Center, 55 South Main Street. Admission is free to the reception and to the exhibition hours of Saturdays and Sundays from May through October, 1-4 p.m.

Lynda holds a special place in our town not only as an inspired artist, but also as a passionate teacher. For over 38 years, she has owned and operated “A Stroke of Color Art Studio” in Suffield.

Organizations

Project Linus

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Cubs from Den 4 of Cub Scout Pack 266 show the no-sew blankets they made to donate to Project Linus, a non-charity organization that provides blankets to children in need due to traumas or medical illness.

Organizations

Eagle Scout Pinned

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Home from college for Thanksgiving last November, new Eagle Scout Evan Cashman had his official ceremony in Boy Scout Troop 260 and received his Eagle credentials. After graduating from Suffield High School last spring, Evan is now in his first year at Savannah College of Art and Design, where he is majoring in film. He entered the Scout program through Cub Scout Pack 209 and advanced to become the Assistant Patrol Leader of Troop 260 as well as a Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow, the Boy Scout honor society. Along with all the other achievements for the rank of Eagle Scout, Evan’s Eagle service project was to build a sand box about 6 feet square, with benches alongside the sand, for Spaulding School. The unit has been installed in the fenced playground behind the school.

Organizations

Planting for the Future

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The Suffield Tree Committee has the pleasure and responsibility to follow the directives of two special Funds. The first was left in memory of Helena Bailey Spencer, in care of the Town to be administered by a committee of the First Selectman, Town Treasurer and the President of the Suffield Garden Club. The second was a bequest from Vallyn Gallivan, a forward looking woman, who left her gift in care of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving to be administered by that same committee. Additional members have joined this committee and many of the past presidents of the Garden Club have stayed on. In the past few years the committee has planted 46 new trees with 39 of them planted within the Main Street Historic area.

Organizations

Preserving Our Main Street Trees

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The Suffield Garden Club will hold a monthly meeting on Monday, April 2, at 5:45 p.m. at the Second Baptist Church, Fellowship Hall, 100 North Main Street. A light fare precedes a business meeting and program. Guest fee is $5 and guests are cordially welcomed up to three visits per year. Our guest speaker, Barbara Yaeger, is a professional landscape architect and accredited nursery pro as well. She has been an advisor and inspiration to the SGC’s long-term project of researching and documenting the type and health of our Main Street trees.

Suffield Garden Club

Grow Your Own

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A great combo – eat better and save money! Your inner guidance will help you plan on starting or building on the success you’ve already achieved with your gardening endeavors. The only sure way we can be certain of eating organic produce is to be proactive and grow it ourselves. We all know there is no way we can always dine on 100% pure, chemical-free food but, it behooves us to reduce or eliminate buying and eating toxic items whenever and wherever we can. Read this:

“Glyphosate is widely used on genetically engineered crops, and the pesticide [sic] cannot be washed off, as it’s taken up into every cell of the plant.

Organizations

What’s Happening at the EAA This Month?

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In memory of our late volunteer and Board Member, James F. Coggins, Jr., the EAA offers a $1,000 award to a graduating Suffield high school senior who demonstrates selflessness, generosity and concern for the community through their volunteer activities.

Farming/Nature

Correction

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In the Observer’s March issue, two of the four birds pictured with Abby Wolcott’s article on Page 35 were misidentified by our near-sighted caption writer, and one was inadequately identified. According to the photographer, to whom we defer, they are, clockwise from the upper left: Goldfinch, Downy Woodpecker, Black-capped Chickadee, and White-throated Sparrow. Regarding the Goldfinch, it is the male in spring and summer who wears that well-remembered bright yellow.

Farming/Nature

Bobcats are Back!

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I’ll come clean that I spend a lot of time fantasizing when I am in the woods. But, rest assured these fantasies are mostly g-rated and they go back in time to the days of the Bering land bridge between Asia and North America and lots of cool animals sauntered over to our neck of the woods. It’s wildly exciting to ponder the presence of lumbering wooly mammoth, ground sloths, and short faced bears taking this route. And I, for one, am sorry that they are not here today as they are very much part of my trail fantasies. But, that’s the deal with fantasies; they operate best when they keep clear of reality.

Organizations

Cub Scouts Cross Over

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Eleven proud boys of Pack 266 celebrated the successful completion of their advancement in the Cub Scout program at a traditional Blue and Gold Banquet on February 24. Fellowship Hall at Suffield’s First Congregational Church was crowded with parents, grandparents, and friends along with the other boys in the Pack: Bobcats, Tigers, Wolves, Bears, and those who are completing their first year Webelos level, hoping to cross over to become Boy Scouts when they earn their Arrow of Light rank next year. (Webelos means We’ll Be Loyal Scouts.) Boy Scouts and leaders of Troop 66 and Troop 260 were present to receive the cross-over Cubs. Following the Presentation of the Colors, First Selectman Melissa Mack spoke briefly, recognizing the boys’ progress and the good efforts of the pack leaders. The Story of the Blue and Gold – the origin of Cub Scouting – was told by the boys themselves, who also recited the program’s elemental tenets in the traditional candle-lighting ceremony.

Parks and Rec

Recognizing National Volunteer Month

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April is National Volunteer month. The Parks and Recreation department knows all too well the importance of volunteers as they play such a significant role with the success of our programs. A large component of our programs rely on the dedication and expertise you share with our community. We would like to take this time to thank each and every one of you who has volunteered throughout the year. We are grateful to all the Boys and Girl scouts who have lent a helping hand to clean up our parks. Middle and High school students who are at the annual road races distributing water to runners, helping with afterschool programs and gaining valuable experience volunteering as junior counselors during our summer camp programs. Special partners who bowl weekly and encourage athletes in our Bowling Buddies program.

Parks and Rec

Spring is in the Air!

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After a long winter of being cooped up inside, now is the time to get outdoors and burn off some energy. Learn a new sport this spring and register for golf or tennis lessons for both youth and adults! Pre-schoolers can interact in the popular Family Fitness Fun class where mom, dad or caregiver can get fit with their child. There are still spaces available in the Body Makeover and Sculpt and Slim exercise classes that will keep you healthy and toned and begin in early April. Calling all Cheerleaders!