What A Swell Party
By Veronica Burns

The verdict is in. The festivities that heralded the town’s anniversary were a
resounding success. “I have never seen the center of town so crowded with
people,” says First Selectman Sue Dyer, “every venue was well attended.”
Sandy Evans and Beth Podajecki, co-chairs of the event, immodestly
enthused how the event was successful beyond their hopes. Beaming, Evans
said, “You can’t do this without cooperation and we got it, from the town
and from the townspeople.” “It was like a well-oiled machine,” added
Podajecki.
Addressing the crowd at the ball field on Sunday, Representative George
Wilber pointed out that the lovely weather was not a stroke of luck, “Mother
Nature,” Wilber told his audience, “knows better than to interfere with
Norfolk.”
Evidentially, the festivities stirred up an appetite. The Fire Department’s
Explorers sold out their 250 hot dogs and burgers on Friday. The Lions Club
sold 800 sandwiches over the two days. And the Curling Club and Girl
Scouts slaked thirst with ices and water melon, respectively.
Barry Webber, president of the Norfolk Historical Society, was particularly
appreciative of the 100+ people who showed up for the society’s open
house. “It was great to see that people were genuinely interested in the
history of it all.”
The fireworks display, organized by the NVFD, was acknowledged as a
major highlight of the weekend. West Lowe, more familiar as the chairman
of the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission, was in attendance in
another guise, that of Mark Twain. And Twain was ecstatic about the
pyrotechnic show. “I thought it was very impressive, the best I have ever
seen. With Haystack as the backdrop, it was awesome.” Awesome? Is that
a Twain word?

Never mind. For this particular weekend, the superlatives are acceptable.
Capped with a rousing performance at the Music Shed by the United States
Coast Guard Band, the weekend festivities drew to a close.
“We should do this every year!” Evans heard again and again. Maybe not
every year, but Norfolk merits a good party and a pat on the back at least
once a decade.