• Botelle Students Move Up

    By Avice Meehan Four sixth graders bid farewell to Botelle Elementary School at a laughter-filled, but occasionally serious, ceremony on June 16 that was attended by family, friends and town officials. First Selectmen Henry Tirrell, a Botelle graduate whose mother and aunt taught at the school for many years, reminded the students that they would […]

  • Norfolk Rail-Trail Project Pedals Forward

    By Jude Mead After more than a decade of planning, permiting and redesign work, Norfolk’s long-await-ed Rails-to-Trails initiative has reached a major milestone, bringing the community closer to the creation of a new multi-use recreational trail along a historic railroad corridor. The project is the North Brook Trail, a planned three-quarter-mile ADA-accessi-ble pathway that will […]

  • LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: Budgets, Beetles, Nips and More

    By Avice Meehan State Rep. Maria Horn came prepared to share details about the Connecticut budget (she is co-chair of the legislature’s Joint Finance Committee) and the progress that has been made toward paying down the state’s unfunded pension liability, increasing the rainy day fund (now up to $18 billion) and allocating more state funds […]

  • Noteworthy Natives: Coral Honeysuckle

    By Jill Chase Do you go to other people’s gardens and envy all the hummingbirds they have? I did. But then I realized I had completely overlooked one of their favorite plants: The native coral honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens. It was practically designed for humming-birds. Their long beaks and extra-long tongues are a perfect fit for […]

  • CELESTIAL SPHERE: Honoring an Astronomer and Patriot

    By Matthew Johnson As America celebrates its semi-quincentennial and the 250th year since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, this writer also celebrates the life of David Rittenhouse, an astronomer and political thinker who helped build the nation’s scientific infrastructure and informed its founding documents. The customary astronomical notes will follow at the end […]

  • Norfolk Then

    As we prepare for the 250th anniversary of our country’s independence on July 4, let’s look back 50 years to June 12, 1976, and the American Revolution Bicentennial parade in Norfolk. The parade was the largest parade ever held in Norfolk with almost everyone participating, many dressed in colonial garb. The Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department […]

  • GoodWorks Shares Plans for Infinity Hall

    Restaurant, more concerts coming to historic venue By Avice Meehan When Dave Rosenfeld walked onto the starlit stage at Infinity Hall, many of the more than 200 people gathered to hear what he had to say, were unsure about what to expect. The co-founder of GoodWorks Entertainment, which acquired the green Victorian gem of a […]

  • A New Tradition Begins for Litchfield County Choral Union

    Generations come together to refresh a century-long legacy By Jude Mead Music from singers young and old filled Battell Chapel on May 22 as the Litchfield County Choral Union (LCCU) joined the Torrington High School choir for a collaborative concert aimed at connecting generations of choral musicians. Organizers hope the successful event will become an […]

  • Hanging Up the Whistle

    Coach Sebach is retiring from Regional 7 By Rex Crippen Doug Sebach, Boys’ Varsity Head Basketball Coach at Northwestern Regional 7 High School (NW7), announced his retirement earlier this season. Sebach, who had served Northwestern as a coach for 22 years, ended his tenure with 332 career wins, six regular season Berkshire League championships and […]

  • Botelle Student Receives Student Leadership Award

    By Kevin D. Case The Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents’ Student Leadership Award is an annual honor presented by the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS). It recognizes outstanding middle school students who demonstrate exemplary leadership, academic prowess, and a strong commitment to community service. Each local school district’s Superintendent selects a student […]

  • A Centennial Celebration of Long-Term Forest Research

    Aton Forest has a long history in Norfolk By Carol Goodstein Along with a growing population of moose, black bear and red fox, Norfolk’s roughly 1,500 residents have plenty of room to roam. Great Mountain Forest, The Norfolk Land Trust, state-owned lands and public parks welcome hikers, bikers, skiers, strollers and even, to a limited […]

  • Norfolk Comes Together to Remember Those Who Gave All

Articles

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Heartfelt Thanks

Several months ago, I fell from a ladder onto a concrete floor, landing headfirst. What fol-owed was a long and difficult hospital stay and a recovery that at times seemed uncertain. The medical details are not nearly as important as what happened next. What I experienced was nothing short of a medical miracle, made possible […]

HEARD AROUND TOWN

Nature’s Classroom Receives a Boost Going on a multi-day adventure to Nature’s Classroom has become a beloved rite of passage for many students across Litchfield County, including Norfolk’s upper intermediate students. This year, 10 students made the trip to Pondside in Charlton, Mass. Much of the $420 per student cost was underwritten by the Norfolk […]

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: Budgets, Beetles, Nips and More

By Avice Meehan State Rep. Maria Horn came prepared to share details about the Connecticut budget (she is co-chair of the legislature’s Joint Finance Committee) and the progress that has been made toward paying down the state’s unfunded pension liability, increasing the rainy day fund (now up to $18 billion) and allocating more state funds […]

Regional Trash Authority Faces New Hurdles

Will there be enough trash to operate? By Joe Kelly The rocky, contentious rollout of a new regional trash authority to serve Norfolk and other Northwest Connecticut towns has become even rockier and more contentious. Now there are worries that the new entity—known as the Northwest Resource Recovery Authority (NRRA)—may not have enough volume to […]

SELECTMAN’S CORNER: Dunk a Selectman on July 3?

By Henry Tirrell Another busy summer is upon us. Tobey Pond is open, we have a new place for dinner in town, Friday Nights on the Green are in full swing. The season promises a number of other fantastic activities around town, but don’t forget that it’s also the season for new stickers to access […]

EYE ON TOWN GOVERNMENT

Bridges and More By Avice Meehan The Board of Selectmen moved quickly through the agenda for the June 3 meeting, completing its work in 32 minutes. First Selectman Henry Tirrell and Selectman Leo F. Colwell Jr. were in attendance. The big news came from the state Department of Transportation (DOT) which has informed the town […]

Noteworthy Natives: Coral Honeysuckle

By Jill Chase Do you go to other people’s gardens and envy all the hummingbirds they have? I did. But then I realized I had completely overlooked one of their favorite plants: The native coral honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens. It was practically designed for humming-birds. Their long beaks and extra-long tongues are a perfect fit for […]

CELESTIAL SPHERE: Honoring an Astronomer and Patriot

By Matthew Johnson As America celebrates its semi-quincentennial and the 250th year since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, this writer also celebrates the life of David Rittenhouse, an astronomer and political thinker who helped build the nation’s scientific infrastructure and informed its founding documents. The customary astronomical notes will follow at the end […]

COOK FOR GOODNESS SAKE! Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday with Food

By Linda Garrettson Meeting in Philadelphia 250 years ago, American patriots took the bold step of announcing their separation from the British Crown by signing the Declaration of Independence. Connecticut’s Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams and Oliver Wolcott were among those who pledged “to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor” […]

GoodWorks Shares Plans for Infinity Hall

Restaurant, more concerts coming to historic venue By Avice Meehan When Dave Rosenfeld walked onto the starlit stage at Infinity Hall, many of the more than 200 people gathered to hear what he had to say, were unsure about what to expect. The co-founder of GoodWorks Entertainment, which acquired the green Victorian gem of a […]

HEARD AROUND TOWN

Poll Workers Needed Paul Madore, the new Democratic registrar of voters, took the opportunity of a visit with Town Clerk Debbie Nelson to put out a call for help to staff the upcoming primary. The pay isn’t bad (in the neighborhood of $20 an hour) but the demand is great and the hours long. The […]

Owner Alan Nero ends 41-year run

Winsted’s Gilson Theater Closes By Joseph Kelly The message posted on the marquee of the Gilson Movie House & Café in Winsted by its owner Alan Nero summed everything up in a few words: “Here’s to 41 years. Thank you & good night.” Nero operated the quirky movie house/ café for more than four decades, […]