Granby Living Dec2018

A Monthly Magazine Connecting Granby's Neighbors & Businesses
Granby Living
December 2018
INSIDE
Granby Real Estate
Granby History
Celebrating our Seniors
Calendar of Events
THE DEMAIDA FAMILY
Horses, schools and more
drew them to Granby
Photo by Amy Geigner

GRANBY LIVING MAGAZINE'S ANNUAL
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
Submitted by Francis Libby
Unique, one-of-a-kind handmade gifts by local artists and craftspeople
GLASS / ORNAMENTS / JEWELRY
Annukka Ritalahti – 860-921-1486
annukkaritalahti@gmail.com
www.silverstreetglass.com
POTTERY
Tracy Marlor – 860-653-0484
tracy.marlor@cox.net
www.granbyartists.org
KNITTING WITH AIMEE
Aimee Gilbert - 860-836-3789
gilbert-aimee@cox.net
LIGHTING / SCULPTURES
Jean Luc Godard
860-413-3569
sales@artoflamp.com
www.artoflamp.com
POTTERY / BAKING DISHES / MUGS
Avis Cherichetti – 860-841-8675
hhpots@sbcglobal.net
www.honeyhillpottery.us
BLOWN GLASS
Mark Gottlieb
860-729-2523
silverstreetglass@mail.com
www.silverstreetglass.com
WATERCOLORS / PRINTS
Sally Markey
860-653-3224
sallyspaints@Yahoo.com
www.granbyartists.org
2 | DECEMBER 2018
POTTERY
Linda Yurasevecz
860-653-3601
lgwhy@aol.com
For more information on these artists and others contact the Granby Artists Association: www.granbyartists.org.

PUBLICATION TEAM
Publisher | Anthony Serino
Content Coordinator | Bruce Deckert
Designer | Marcelle Hockers
Feature Photographer | Amy Geigner
EXPERT CONTRIBUTORS
ADVERTISING
Contact | Anthony Serino
Phone | 860-305-4065
Email | tserino@bestversionmedia.com
FEEDBACK | IDEAS | SUBMISSIONS
Have feedback, ideas or submissions? We are always happy
to hear from you! Deadlines for submissions are the 25th of
each month. Go to www bestversionmedia.com and click
“Submit Content.” You may also email your thoughts, ideas
and photos to: bdeckert@bestversionmedia.com.
CONTENT SUBMISSION DEADLINES
Content Due:
Edition Month:
December 25..................................................... February
Any content, resident submissions, guest columns, advertisements and
advertorials are not necessarily endorsed by or represent the views of
Best Version Media (BVM) or any municipality, homeowners associations,
businesses or organizations that this publication serves. BVM is not
responsible for the reliability, suitability or timeliness of any content
submitted. All content submitted is done so at the sole discretion of the
submitting party. © 2018 Best Version Media. All rights reserved.
To learn more about becoming an Expert Contributor,
contact BVM at tserino@bestversionmedia.com or 860-305-4065
PLUMBING / HEATING / COOLING
Jason Brusa
Beacon Mechanical Service
860-844-0111
jbrusa@beaconmechanical.com
URGENT CARE / OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE
Dr. Stephen A. Kei, M.D.
The Doctors Treatment Center
860-653-2382
www.urgentcarecentersct.com
FAMILY / COSMETIC / PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY
Dr. Kenneth Endres
Salmon Brook Dental
Phone 860-653-4551
salmonbrookdental@hotmail.com
HEALTH / WELL-BEING
Kristal Fiorentino, I-AYT
The Om Within LLC
702-523-0274
www.KristalFiorentino.com
SENIOR LIVING / HEALTH CARE
Christine M. Looby
The Mercy Community
860-570-8400
clooby@mchct.org
REAL ESTATE
Judy Guarco
Berkshire Hathaway NE Properties
861-651-2127
jguarco@bhhsne.com
NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE
Dr. Katherine Layman, ND
860.393.0478
info@ctnaturopathic.com
ctnaturopathic.com
PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE
With this issue we again present our
Holiday Gift Guide, a sampling of
local artists and the unique items they
offer. Creative, handcrafted gifts are perfect for
those on your shopping list. Also, be sure to check
out the Holiday Gift Show at Holcomb Farm; see
this month's Events Calendar for more details. You
can view the artists' listings at the Granby Artists
Association's website: www.granbyartists.com.
December marks the end of the year, and our thoughts turn to the new
year that lies ahead. It's a time of year when most people reflect on their
past successes and failures.
Would you consider 2018 a success for you? Were you able to move
a little closer to achieving your dreams? What do you consider success?
Some regard money and status as markers of success. But I posit that true
success in life lies with the realization of our highest potential as a human
being.
Are you a success as a person? I've always loved this quote attributed
to Ralph Waldo Emerson: “To laugh often and much; to win the respect
of intelligent people and the affection of children … to leave the world a
better place...to know even one life has breathed easier because you have
lived. This is to have succeeded.”
Here's wishing you much success in the coming year and blessings and
joy throughout this holiday season.
Sincerely,
Anthony Serino, Publisher
tserino@bestversionmedia.com | 860-305-4065
Like us on FB | Granby Living - Best Version Media
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COMPUTERS //
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subseven
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GRANBY LIVING | 3

FEATURE STORY
THE DEMAIDA FAMILY
By Bruce Deckert
Photos by
Amy Geigner
Horses, schools and more
drew them to Granby
If you’re looking for a local family that
loves animals (especially horses) and features
a family member who is an avid archer, an
accomplished gymnast and dancer, an up-andcoming
soccer player, and a nursing home
advocate ... look no further! The DeMaida
family fits the bill.
Rachel DeMaida and her three children
moved to Granby in 2015.
“We were looking for a horse-friendly
community that had both a quiet rural feel and
an outstanding school system,” says Rachel,
who also works in town at MeadowBrook of
Granby. “We fell in love with Granby’s country
roads and local farms, and the abundance of
activities for the kids.”
Before moving to Granby, the DeMaida
family lived in Burlington, Connecticut, for five
years.
“We have been so happy to be a part of this
small but strong community in Granby,” says
Rachel.
Rachel has two sons and a daughter — Colby
(12 years old), Madeline (11) and Blaise (5).
“We are an animal-loving family ... and a
hockey-loving family,” Rachel notes.
On the hockey side, the teams of choice are
the New York Rangers and Hartford Wolf Pack.
And the animals? The ample space in town for
their horse is “what brought us to Granby,” says
Rachel.
The DeMaida clan has a 14-year-old
thoroughbred mare named Sierra. They rescued
her in 2012 from Horse Rescue United in
New Jersey. A friend’s horse, Mac, also lives in
their backyard. Sierra is a former race horse
with “the perfect blend of energy, spunk and
experience,” Rachel observes.
“As a family, we love taking care of the farm
and the horses,” she says. “They bring a lot of
joy to our lives.”
Three cats — Pinkie, Tutor and Val —
balance out the size ratio of animals on the
4 | DECEMBER 2018

FEATURE STORY
“The Granby community
has a big heart.”
—Rachel DeMaida
DeMaida property.
“The Granby community has a
big heart,” Rachel affirms, “and that
is evident through overwhelming
support of grassroots programs
such as Open Farm Day...Our
friends and neighbors are diverse
in political and social views, and
the town allows citizens to display
this diversity appropriately in
many ways.”
Rachel has been the
administrator at MeadowBrook of
Granby for three years. Since 2010,
she has been a state and federal
board-certified License Nursing
Home Administrator. She holds
a B.A. from Central Connecticut
State University and a graduate
degree from UConn, and she
has done graduate coursework at
Walden University.
“I was heavily inspired by my
mom, who was a nurse manager
in a nursing home,” recalls
Rachel, who grew up in Avon
and graduated from Avon High
School. “At a very young age, I
learned about older adults and
the challenges they faced each
day as their physical, mental and
emotional wellness changed and
declined. I learned about the lack
of services, support and funding
available to older adults and
knew from a very young age that
I wanted to be a part of a better
solution for the senior population.”
As for the younger generation,
Colby is a seventh-grader at
Granby Memorial Middle School
(GMMS). An avid archer, he has
competed for two-plus years as a
member of the Hot Shot Archers
Team at the Farmington Valley
YMCA, achieving the Silver Level.
Colby’s favorite thing about
Granby? That’s easy: “My friends
and my school,” he says, noting
that he likes the increased
independence of middle school,
where he is part of the Science
Club. He hopes to serve his
community as a police officer
when he grows up. Between now
and then, he hopes for — you
guessed it — less homework.
A sixth-grader at GMMS,
Madeline (or Maddie) is
a member of the Twisters
Competition Gymnastics Team
at the Farmington Valley YMCA.
Further, she has been a dedicated
dancer for the past seven years
and most recently danced at New
England Dance of Granby. She is
also a member of the GMMS choir
and participates in the Granby
Open Rec program.
“Communication from the
schools and town services is always
available electronically and is easy
to follow,” Rachel says.
Colby and Maddie have
participated in the Granby 4H
Club for the past two years and
have been members of the 4H
Goat Club.
“I love animals,” Maddie says.
“I like Salmon Brook Park and
Grassroots [Ice Cream] and all my
friends at school.
Meanwhile, Blaise is enjoying
kindergarten at Kelly Lane School
and soccer on Saturdays via
Granby Parks & Recreation. “I love
helping take care of the horses at
our house,” says Blaise, who is a
Lego enthusiast like his brother.
Unlike his brother, Blaise says he
likes — wait for it — homework!
“He pretty much likes
everything,” his Mom offers.
What could be improved about
this horse-friendly town?
“As a parent I am thrilled with
the schools and parks/recreational
services and the variety of shops
and restaurants available to us,”
Rachel says. “But as a town citizen
I have to say I struggle with the
Judy Knows Granby!
• Customer Service Awards for 10+ years
• Five-Star Professional Realtor Award for
the last 5 years.
• Awarded the 2017 “President’s Circle”
• Top 4% Nationally for Berkshire
Hathaway Designation for Company
Excellence
• Granby resident for over 50 years.
Oh, by the way...I’m never too busy for any of your referrals!
MAY YOU BE WRAPPED IN THE
JOY OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON!
Judy Guarco | 860-651-2127
judyguarco@bhhsne.com
www.judyguarco.bhhsneproperties.com
GRANBY LIVING | 5

FEATURE STORY
“We were looking
for a horse-friendly
community that had
both a quiet rural feel
and an outstanding
school system.”
—Rachel DeMaida
traffic in the center of town,
especially during the morning and
afternoon rush-hour commutes.”
That late-day commute brings
her home, of course, where she
seeks to build strong relationships
within her family.
“Strong, healthy family
relationships are about
setting the expectation for
respect, encouragement and
responsibility,” she says. “Each
family member should have
responsibilities within the team
and be willing to help each other
out.”
She notes that all three children
have chores each week and will
often work together to get them done, whether it’s feeding the horses or
setting the table.
“We encourage each other in our hobbies, sports and schoolwork
— we attend all meets and competitions and cheer each other on,” she
says. “And most importantly, we respect each other’s strengths and
weaknesses, use only positive language, and emphasize not getting into
typical sibling name-calling and banter.”
Yes, those guidelines fit the bill for the DeMaida family as they grow
together in Granby.
DO YOU KNOW A NEIGHBOR WHO HAS A STORY TO SHARE?
Nominate your neighbor to be featured in one of our upcoming issues!
Contact us at bdeckert@bestversionmedia.com.
BERKSHIRE
HATHAWAY
HomeServices
Diamond Award Winner
Top 1/2% Nationally
#1 Sales Agent Award
in Connecticut
Top Customer Service
Award in Connecticut
Five-Star Award Winner
#1 Top Selling Agent
in Granby
#1 Top Listing Agent
in Granby
Wishing you and your family a
wonderful Holiday Season and
may your New Year be blessed
with Peace, Love and Joy!
Nancy Reardon 860-836-7506
www.NancyReardon.com nreardon@bhhsne.com
Call Me . . . Whether buying or selling I greatly appreciate the opportunity
to be of service.
© 2018 An independently operated member of BHH Affiliates. ®Equal Housing Opportunity
bhhsNEProperties.com
6 | DECEMBER 2018

REAL ESTATE LISTINGS
RECENTLY SOLD IN GRANBY
Address Town List Price Sale Price Beds Bathroons Rooms Sq Feet
18 Copper Brook Circle, Unit #18 Granby $419,900 $500,361 3 2 Full & 1 Half 6 2,084
11 Copper Brook Circle, Unit #11 Granby $419,900 $475,659 3 2 Full & 1 Half 6 2,084
15 Copper Brook Circle, Unit #15 Granby $419,900 $448,330 3 2 Full & 1 Half 6 2,084
17 Silver Brook Lane Granby $399,900 $385,000 4 2 Full & 1 Half 9 3,273
279 Silver St. Granby $379,900 $371,000 4 3 Full & 1 Half 9 2,372
218 Case St. Granby $359,500 $350,000 3 2 Full & 2 Half 8 2,470
127 Silkey Rd. Granby $299,900 $302,000 4 2 Full & 1 Half 8 2,344
110 Silver St. Granby $299,900 $300,000 3 2 Full 8 2,105
29 Heather Lane Granby $300,000 $294,500 3 2 Full & 1 Half 7 2,048
225R Hartland Rd. Granby $269,900 $260,000 4 2 Full 7 1,448
35 Buttles Rd. Granby $149,900 $120,000 3 1 Full 6 1,182
Granby Real Estate page is sponsored by Santa Realty
Best Version Media does not guarantee the accuracy of the statistical data on this page. Any real estate agent’s ad appearing in this magazine is separate from any statistical data provided which is in no way a part of their advertisement.
GRANBY LIVING | 7

CELEBRATING OUR SENIORS
Lori Lee Love lives her life
and runs her business with giving spirit
By Sarah Merrill
Lori Lee Love says the most important requirements for working at Granby Village Health are an
inherent love for people and the ability to foster a welcoming environment.
“We get to know many of our customers very well,” she says. “I know their families and their
health struggles and their victories — and I get attached. My favorite days are when someone
brings in their baby or their dog.”
Lori was born on Aug. 8, 1958 in Fredericksburg, Virginia, part of a big family. She is the only
one of her siblings who ended up in an “earthy, crunchy” industry. Her passion for natural foods
and wellness arrived along with her kids. She explains, “When my first daughter was born, I really
became aware of what I did and didn’t want to put into my child’s body.”
“Via various life journeys,” Lori and her family landed in Granby in 1990. Around 1995, a friend
with a business in the Granby Village Shops mentioned to Lori that there was an empty spot in the
plaza. The landlord had actually suggested a health food store would be a great addition. So Lori sat
in her car in the plaza parking lot, day after day, doing her demographics.
“I would just sit there and daydream,” Lori says. “I’d never had my own business. I’d had lots of
jobs, but raising my children was always my priority. But I thought to myself, ‘I can do this!’”
When Granby Village Health opened in October 1995, it was located across the plaza and was
a labor of love. “We had to count every penny,” Lori says. “My first counter was built on boxes
assembled with duct tape and covered with table cloths!”
“I’m not sure if starting a small business was an act of bravery or foolishness — probably a combo
of both,” adds Lori. “I never take the success of the store for granted. I am grateful every day.”
The store moved to its current location at 10 Hartford Avenue in the fall of 2008, and Lori was
able to realize her dream of adding produce, a café and a juice bar.
In addition to a favorable business location, Lori chose the center of Granby because her three
daughters were still in school in town and could walk to the store: “I needed to have a business that
allowed me to still be completely available to my kids. That was not negotiable.”
The store’s central location has made possible Lori’s involvement in charitable pursuits and
community outreach, which she says is her favorite part of her business. One of Lori’s significant
High School Photo 1976
contributions to the Granby community is the
Waste Not Want Not Community Kitchen,
which she launched in 2009.
Celebrating Our Seniors is sponsored by McLean
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8 | DECEMBER 2018

Lori was troubled by the amount of food
being wasted by her own store and by other
local businesses. In 2008, she over-ordered
about a dozen turkeys to sell at Thanksgiving.
“It was accidental but also — subconsciously
— on purpose,” says Lori. When a friend
came to the store and said he had 250 pounds
of donated rice in the back of his car, Lori
thought, “We have a meal!”
“I knew there was a need,” says Lori. “This
area is prosperous but I knew people who were
sleeping in cars. And there are always people
in need of fellowship. At our first meal, we
fed only six people. Now they feed 100!” The
meals are served on Wednesday evenings in
the Fellowship Hall at South Congregational
Church.
“It makes me so happy to know that people
are coming there for community and food —
they’re being nourished in both ways,” says
Lori. She now brings her passion for service
to the Healing Meals Community Project in
Bloomfield.
“If you just walk around with your eyes
open, I guarantee that every single day you are
going to find someone who needs help — and
maybe you are the one to offer it,” she says.
While Lori loves to visit with her customers,
she also treasures her “little wood cabin up in
the woods” of East Hartland: “Something that
people might be surprised to know is that I’m
actually an introvert. I’m talkative and bubbly
“I guarantee that every single
day you are going to find
someone who needs help —
and maybe you are the one to
offer it.” — Lori Lee Love
With Daughters in 1995
in the store, but I also like to retreat to the
woods.”
When she can get away for a bit, Lori favors
service trips that offer her opportunities to
give back. For example, she’s traveled with an
organization called Simply Smiles, working
with Native American communities. “This
work fills a hole inside of me. It gives me the
most pleasure in life,” says Lori. “Other than
my grandchildren, of course!” Lori has five
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grandchildren, three in the Windsor school
system and two in Bloomfield.
Lori has been in Granby for about 30 years.
“The town is certainly growing,” she says.
“And while a lot of it is good, to be honest,
I’d love to see it slow down a little! When I
was a kid, I dreamed of having a store like the
Waltons [the TV show], a cozy mom-and-pop
shop with a squeaky screen door.”
Lori mentions that she’s excited to see
discussion of a community center being
established in the former Kearns School on 5
Canton Road: “It would be so great for the kids
in this community to have a place to go after
school.”
Businesses like Starbucks and Jake’s Wayback
Burgers have brought a lot more young traffic
to the plaza, and Lori would love to see more
young folks visit her store for a smoothie or
a snack. “We try to always make kids feel
welcome in our store,” she says. “These kids are
our future — they need to be listened to and
respected. Sometimes I give them a free piece
of organic chocolate.”
Sarah Merrill is a personal historian
with Merrill Memoirs, based in Granby.
She works with individuals and families to
capture and record their personal memoirs
and family histories. Visit her website at
www.memoirsbymerrill.com.
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Granby
Pharmacy
9 HARTFORD AVENUE
GRANBY, 9 HARTFORD CT 06035 AVENUE
860-653-2517
GRANBY, CT 06035
860-653-2517
WWW.GRANBYPHARMACY.COM
WWW.GRANBYPHARMACY.COM
860-653-2517
9 HARTFORD AVENUE, GRANBY, CT 06035
WWW.GRANBYPHARMACY.COM
GRANBY LIVING | 9

EXPERT CONTRIBUTOR
Meditation, a practice
to achieve a mentally
clear and emotionally
calm state, has been practiced for
centuries in various cultures, religions
and traditions. Nowadays,
it has even infiltrated the Western
medicine paradigm, with studies
showing it can slow heart and
respiratory rate, lower blood pressure,
reduce cortisol levels, lessen
stress and anxiety, and heighten
feelings of peace and well-being.
I can already hear you saying,
My mind doesn’t slow down long
enough to meditate, or even, I don’t
have time to meditate. In answer to
your objections: Yes it can, and yes
you do! The mind can be trained to
focus, and we all have a couple of
minutes to spare.
There are many forms of
meditation, but the most common
are concentration meditation and
mindfulness meditation.
Concentration meditation
involves focusing on a single
point, whether it be your breath, a
word or a candle flame. When the
mind wanders, and it will, simply
refocus your awareness on the
object. Since focusing the mind
is challenging, a beginner might
meditate for only a few minutes.
Mindfulness meditation
encourages an observation of
thoughts as they drift through
the mind. The intention is not to
get involved with the thoughts or
to judge them, but simply to be
aware. This is a great way to notice
ARE YOU MEDITATING?
Take the time
and reap the benefits
your thoughts and feelings. Over time, you can become more aware of the human tendency to judge an experience.
Both concentration and mindfulness can be practiced anywhere and anytime. While it may be easier to practice
in a quiet space, as your skill increases, you will be able to find inner calm regardless of your surroundings.
Just remember, meditation is a lot like life: Sometimes it will be easy, and other times it will be hard. Stick
with it, and your work will pay off. So, are you ready to try it?
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10 | DECEMBER 2018

BUSINESS PROFILE
Business Name: Merrill Memoirs
Owner: Sarah J. Merrill
Address: Granby, CT
Email: sarah@memoirsbymerrill.com
Website: www.memoirsbymerrill.com
Phone: (401) 258-5129
What services does your business provide to
the community?
I work with individuals and families to record
their family stories, research their family
histories, and write their individual memoirs.
I typically refer to myself as a “personal historian,”
but “memoirist,” “family historian” and
“ghost writer” are also accurate. Working with
Merrill Memoirs, the final product is generally
a beautiful heirloom-quality book, complete
with family photos. And from my perspective,
equally as important as the product, the experience
of life review and family story gathering is
enjoyable and rewarding, and can be fascinating,
energizing and even cathartic.
MERRILL MEMOIRS
Compiled by Francis Libby
PRESERVING FAMILY STORIES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
What is the history of your business?
I launched Merrill Memoirs eight years ago
after working as an editor and journalist for
12 years. I earned an English literature degree
from Middlebury College, with a focus in fiction
writing, followed by programs in oral history
and documentary writing. About 15 years
ago, I launched a volunteer effort to gather the
stories of nursing home residents. This work
was so rewarding and so enjoyable, I decided
that oral history and memoir work was my
“calling.” I then discovered that a large network
of professionals was already doing “personal
history” work. I had all of the key skills — as
well as the passion — and I developed my business
skills along the way.
What is the philosophy behind your business?
My philosophy is simple: It’s important to
preserve personal and family history, beyond
just the photographs. Recording your stories
is a gift to yourself, your family and future
generations. There is no more important legacy
that a person can leave. I wish I’d asked my
maternal grandfather more questions about his
life before he passed away when I was in college.
I adored Grandpa Eldon but I really know
very little about his life. What a gift it would be
to have his stories in his own words! So many
people echo this sentiment when they learn
what I do. I encourage people to ask questions,
listen, learn and preserve, while they still have
the chance.
What do you enjoy most about the business?
I am a writer and I adore working with language
and crafting stories. But I also love the
process of interviewing people, of guiding them
through a review of their lives. I’ve worked
with dozens of individuals, and this process
has been significant and enjoyable for each and
every one of them. And for many of my clients,
it’s a tremendous comfort just to know that
their stories have been saved — a legacy.
Do you have a special message to share with
the Granby community?
It’s a message for everyone, actually. Don’t wait!
If you have family members who you believe
would enjoy having their stories recorded; if
you have a loved one who is aging; if you have
a family history that you’d like to pass along to
your kids and grandkids — it’s time now to begin
the process of writing things down. If you
are inclined to do it on your own, try to record
or write a story each week. Sit down with family
members, particularly those of advanced age
or poor health, and record their stories.
How do you make your workday fun?
Honestly, every workday is fun. I’m either in
the field, interviewing an interesting person, or
I’m in my home office in Granby, conducting
research, listening to recorded stories and transcribing
them, and crafting a narrative. I work
with local clients, many New England clients,
and I also travel further afield — last year I
worked with families in Maryland and Florida.
I typically have four or five projects going at
any given time. I feel fortunate and honored to
be working with such great families.
Tell us about yourself and family:
In addition to my roles as personal historian
and businessperson, I am a mother to two busy
boys, both in the Granby school system, Ray
(grade 5) and Luke (grade 8). My husband, Kevin
Staples, works as an actuary in Hartford. Our
family loves to hike and spend time outdoors;
we’re avid readers; we like watching movies
together; and we love Granby! When we moved
here four years ago from Rhode Island, we felt
immediately at home, and have found Granby
to be a very good fit for our family.
Sarah Merrill writes the Celebrating Seniors column for this publication.
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DECEMBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS
MUSICAL: HONK! JR.
Friday, November 30 — 7 pm
Saturday, December 1 — 2 pm & 7 pm
Sunday, December 2 — 2 pm
@South Congregational
Church, Granby
Good Company Theater presents
a wonderful family musical, HONK!
JR. — a retelling of Hans Christian Anderson’s
ugly duckling tale that won
the 2000 Olivier Award for Best New
Musical. The volunteer-run, intergenerational
community theater is based at
South Congregational Church in Granby.
More than 30 area youth (ages 5
to 17) are collaborating on HONK! JR.,
which gets audiences laughing out
loud while conveying a touching message
about acceptance. Tickets can be
purchased online through Eventbrite,
on the Good Company Theater website
or at the Granby Pharmacy.
Cost: $12.50 in advance • $15 at door
www.GoodCompanyTheaterCT.org
HOLIDAY GIFT SHOW AT HOLCOMB
FARM: HOLIDAY ART & HOLIDAY
MARKETPLACE EVENT
Saturday, December 1 — 10 am-4 pm
Sunday, December 2 —12 noon-4 pm
@Holcomb Farm, West Granby
In the past these events have been
separate, but this year the Granby
Artists Association and Granby Recreation
are collaborating to create a
bigger and better holiday event with
more vendors. Holcomb’s North Barn
Pavilion and Main Barn will be filled
with booths selling a variety of arts
and crafts, much of it made here in
Granby. Some of the association’s talented
members will have a wonderful
array of distinctive items at this a buylocal
event. You will find treasures to
wrap, handmade cards, stocking fillers
and more. The festive atmosphere will
include music performances by local
schoolchildren, with coffee and lunch
available at the Waste Not Want Not
pop-up café.
Cost: FREE ADMISSION
www.granbyrec.com/info/activities/
CASUAL BIKERS: UPCOMING EVENTS
Throughout December
@Various locations
Check the Casual Bikers website for
details about weekend and weekday
bike rides all month long.
Cost: FREE
www.meetup.com/Casual-Bikers/
events/calendar/
GARY HOEY’S HO HO HOEY
CHRISTMAS SHOW
Sunday, December 2
@Infinity Hall, Norfolk
Gary’s series of “Ho Ho Hoey” Christmas
CDs and in-person visits have
become an annual staple for hundreds
of radio stations and high-profile concert
venues nationwide. Gary is truly a
guitar guru and will help you celebrate
the Christmas season with a rocking
show. Time: 7:30 pm • Cost: $24 - $39
www.infinityhall.com/Events/
CHRISTMAS WITH THE CELTS
Thursday, December 6
@Infinity Hall, Hartford
Revel in this uplifting, spirited holiday
celebration featuring Irish and Scottish
Christmas carols, some never before
heard by modern ears, along with
traditional Christmas favorites, hosted
by the international Irish music group
The Celts.
Time: 8 pm | Cost: $39 - $64
www.infinityhall.com/Events/
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GRANBY LIVING | 13

GRANBY HISTORY
This Month in Granby History
By Ken Kuhl
GRANBY
December 4, 1786 — In early America, the first
Monday of December was Election Day. When
Granby broke off from Simsbury in 1786, Dec.
4 at 10 a.m. was a special day. At that time, a
new group of Granby citizens gathered, and the
first order of business was to elect officers to
the jobs needed to run a happy and harmonious
community.
The population of Granby in 1790 was
around 2,500, and the number of men needed
to fill the slate of positions was approximately
80 elected officials. A few of these offices
remain into the 21st century, such as the selectmen,
but modern commissions like Planning
and Zoning, Inland Wetlands and Watercourses,
Board of Finance and the Board of Education
did not exist then. There was no assessor
but there were Listers, as several men held this
position each year.
In place of the town attorney, each year a
man was elected town agent and was responsible
to represent Granby in court. The town
collector was the official who collected town
and state taxes (there were no federal taxes at
this time).
As I reviewed this curious list of offices, I
noticed many we no longer elect. It seems that
a discussion of them would help shed a little
light on the everyday life of Granby in the 18th
century.
Justice was a very important matter to the
early American who had recently removed
himself from the shackles of life under a king.
In the newly formed Granby, men were elected
to three distinct law enforcement positions:
the Constable, the Tythingmen and the Grand
Jurors.
As the chief law enforcement officer in the
town, the Constable was similar to today's
police chief. Meanwhile, the Tythingmen were
citizens who led a small group of approximately
10 neighboring families (in early England this
was referred to as a "tything") in what was an
early form of community policing. If a citizen
was accused of a crime, the Grand Jurors would
determine whether there was enough evidence
found that the accused had indeed committed
the crime and should therefore be indicted and
brought to a trial before a jury of his peers.
Another important area of early Granby life
was fairness and equity in the marketplace.
Since currency was rarely used at this time
and bartering was the way one purchased and
sold a product, the job of the Packer was to
certify the contents of containers marketed in
town. The Sealer of Weights and Measures was
the official elected to inspect and place an official
seal on scales and other measuring devices
to ensure accuracy and fairness. The Gauger
was the official elected to ensure proper measurement
of saleable items such as firewood,
lumber and nails.
In some years the position of Surveyor of
Lumber was even a distinct office. The Sealer of
Leather was the town officer who had authority
to see that all sales of leather were made honestly
as to quality and quantity. This sealer was
authorized to put his seal or stamp of approval
on items he inspected, tested and certified.
Travel in the 18th century could be challenging.
The Surveyors of Highways were officials
elected to supervise the construction and repairs
of roads in a district. A compulsory labor
statute authorized financial penalties on those
men who failed to meet their annual road work
obligation of two days per year: “If any refuse
or neglect to attend the service in any manner
aforesaid He shall forfeit for every dayes neglect
of a mans worke two shillings sixpence, and of a
Teame, sixe shillings."
Another office that is recorded occasionally
is the Chimneyviewer. This position may have
been held for a longer period of time because
it does not appear as an office filled at each
annual meeting. Before the days of the town
building inspector, the chimneyviewer was
elected to inspect chimneys for fire hazards.
In my opinion, one of the most interesting
aspects of everyday life in rural New England
was the issue surrounding the care and husbandry
of livestock.
Two important officials elected in this regard
were the Fenceviewer and the Howard or Key
Keeper. The fenceviewers were elected to enforce
the upkeep of fences in a district in order
to prevent damage by errant livestock. They
were also the "fence police." If there was a dis-
Ken Kuhl is a board member of the Salmon Brook Historical Society in Granby.
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14 | DECEMBER 2018

pute between neighbors, this official, armed with his tools and measuring
devices, would make a judgment on who was right and who was wrong.
If your livestock escaped, the Howard (or Hayward), who kept the
town pound in his district, would collect charges for damages done by
stray animals. This position also had an official key, which would unlock
the pound at any time of the day or night.
How big of problem was this, you ask? The Granby town record is
packed full of entries where citizens would report finding stray livestock.
The practice may have been a type of finders-keepers in which the town
became the official lost-and-found record for wayward farm animals. At
the first town meeting, residents elected a Brander of Horses to register
and brand the horses of town residents.
With the population of horses in Granby today, this would likely be a
full-time paid position!
CONNECTICUT
December 20, 1786 — Hannah Ocuish is executed at the age of 12 years
and 9 months. Believed to be the youngest person legally executed in
America for murder, she was hanged in New London.
UNITED STATES
December 26, 1786 — Revolutionary War veteran Daniel Shays assembles
1,200 men near Worcester, Massachusetts, and heads toward Springfield
in what became known as Shays’ Rebellion. Gov. James Bowdoin
then orders mobilization of a 4,400-man force.
WORLD
December 29, 1786 —The Assembly of Notables is convened, as King
Louis XVI appoints a group of high-ranking men in France to be summoned
as deputies in times of a national crisis. The ultimate outcome of
this assembly leads to the French Revolution of 1789.
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GRANBY LIVING | 15

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