Power Back in Portion of Granby Town Center

Aaaaaand we’re back. Partially, at least.

Power has been restored in parts of Granby town center, with several businesses, most notably the Food Bag Citgo gas station, opening as well.

“I’m pleased to see progress being made in town,” Granby Town Manager William Smith said. “That is a critical and a priority to have the business center active for the most part and for the senior citizen complex to be wired up.”

Getting power to that part of town accomplishes two major goals, Smith said.

First, people can obtain the essentials, like fuel, food and supplies; second, with the senior living complexes with power, the town’s emergency shelter at the Senior Center and Youth Services building will be taxed less.

“Those are crucial,” Smith said.

Next up, according to Smith, is to accommodate people who need showers.

“Some schools have power, so we are making arrangements for showers,” Smith said.

In addition, Smith said that the town would be working on “recovery” of debris - mostly fallen trees and tree limbs - that are on residential properties.

“First things first,” Smith said. “I’m pleased to see visible progress.”

As of 10 a.m. Wednesday, 78 percent of the town - or 3,694 out of 4,691 of CL&P customers - had no power, according to CL&P statistics.

Residents are cautioned that the power roll out has been, and will continue to be, gradual.

Indeed, while the Food Bag on Hartford Avenue has power, , located just a few doors down, had power in half the store, with no power in the other half.

Starbucks on Hartford Avenue did not have power, yet; according to one employee who declined to be identified, “it could be a while. Definitely tomorrow.”

None of that seemed to matter for the people who were waiting for gas at Food Bag, which had about a 30-minute wait for people looking to gas up.

“The key is to have patience,” Granby police officer Ralph DiLisio, Jr. said.
One resident who just got power back was just thrilled to be able to take a shower.

“I feel like I hit the Lotto,” Granby resident Robin Morrissey said.

Fellow resident Arnold Repetto, seen filling up several gas cans for his generators, agreed, stating that he had a lot of assistance from people who lived around him.

“We got a lot of help from our neighbors,” he said. “People we know kept stopping by neighbors were offering help, mostly with tree work and getting gas.”

Correction - the original version of this story said that 78 percent of Granby had power. It should have stated that 78 percent did not have power. The Granbys Patch regrets the error.