Granby America 250 Committee approves Decker Bandits, spring dog swim and lays out July Fourth weekend plans

The Granby America 250 Committee met Feb. 19, 2026, at the Granby Youth Center and unanimously approved several items to advance planning for the town's 250th-anniversary events. Committee Chair Mark Neumann called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m.

Committee member Tod Vibert moved to approve the previous meeting's minutes; Bill De Nio seconded and the motion carried unanimously. Holly Johnson moved to book The Decker Bandits as the band for the July 3 evening event; Bob King seconded and the committee voted unanimously to approve the booking. Bill De Nio moved to hold a spring dog swim at Salmon Brook Pond as a fundraiser; Holly Johnson seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Why it matters: The committee's decisions set the framework for Granby's Fourth of July weekend programming and early fundraising. Members identified multiple events and partnerships intended to involve civic organizations, local clubs and schools in a series of commemorative activities through the summer.

Under planning, the committee listed a parade on the Fourth weekend, a picnic, a bonfire (with Tod Vibert to contact Chris Lesiak about a suitable location), public-speaking opportunities and tryouts to arrange readings of the Declaration of Independence, and a lecture series on historical events leading up to July 4. The committee also discussed a Tree Trail highlighting the 13 original colonies' state trees (tags have been made and will be installed in collaboration with the Holcombe Farm Tree Trail committee), an essay contest at the high school (with Junior Marshal status discussed as a prize), a time capsule at the Salmon Brook Historical Society grounds planned for later in the summer, and lawn signs produced and funded by the Salmon Brook Historical Society noting homes present in Granby in 1776.

Committee members discussed co-sponsoring events with existing community activities such as the Agriculture Commission's Farm Day and the Granby Artist Association's Open Studio, and forming event partnerships with groups including the Camera Club, Granby Artist Association and Simsbury's Daughters of the American Revolution. The American Legion Post 182 agreed to marshal the parade.

Assignments and next steps included Mark Neumann organizing the picnic and Holly Johnson organizing the lecture series. The committee also identified potential fundraising sources to research, including the Greater Together Grant from the Hartford Foundation, bottle-tax revenues referenced as the Nip bottle tax, and support from the Granby Education Foundation. The committee scheduled its next meeting for Thursday, March 19, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.

Public session highlights: Kurt Johnson spoke about the town's different light poles and which banner sizes are appropriate for each pole. Heather of the Granby Horse Council said the council would like to participate as a parade unit and organize an activity at Salmon Brook Park on July 4.

The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m. on a motion by Mark Neumann, seconded by Bill De Nio.