Retail Environment
I am writing in response to your article in the February issue of Norfolk Now.
Unfortunately, the doom and gloom writing exhibited in your article only serves to negatively impact the town and all of the other successful businesses.
If a vibrant retail environment is the goal for Norfolk, we should focus on the positive developments in the community. The Speckled Hen, Mountain View Inn, Elyse Harney Real Estate, Joseph Stannard Antiques, Raynard & Peirce, and the Norfolk Corner Store and others, all attract tourists and locals.
As far as the 6 Station Place is concerned, businesses do come and go. Just because one business fails doesn’t mean the whole town fails. As a business owner, I can tell you that a lot goes into creating a successful business. It has to be a destination; you can not depend on just the residents in your town to make it successful.
I personally am excited for the prospects of 5 Station Place and the positive changes impending in this wonderful community.
Gary Schroen
The writer is the owner of 6 Station Place.

The Hardware Store
In your March 2007 issue, a letter to the editor from Everett E. Briggs attributed the closure of the Norfolk Hardware Store in 1998 to “the failure of the town administrators to lend a helping hand (for example, contracting for their services).” Nothing could be further from the truth. All branches of the town government – the Selectmen’s office, the Fire Department, the Ambulance, Public Works, the Botelle School, etc. – took advantage of the great convenience of having a local supplier and maintained accounts with Manny & Maria at the hardware store. (Payments, by the way, were prompt). Town Hall officials could well be described as “frequenting” the hardware store, purchasing everything possible from light bulbs to keys, from coffee urns to room air conditioners (the latter through their ordering service).
As far as “contract services,” there were none offered by the hardware store nor did they make any submissions to bid offerings issued by the town.
Mr. Briggs states that there was “loyal support from the townfolk.” Perhaps he is unaware that the town administrators were then as they are now, indeed, “townfolk.”
Arthur S. Rosenblatt
The writer is a former first selectman of Norfolk.

Botelle Fundraiser

One GoodSearch deserves another. Raise money for Botelle School just by searching the Internet using GoodSearch.com. It doesn’t get any easier than this.Use GoodSearch.com just like any other search engine, but every time you use it money will be generated for Botelle School or any of your other favorite charities. Search engines generated close to $6 billion in revenue from advertisers last year alone. They make most of their money from companies that pay an advertising fee when users click on links during a search. GoodSearch.com is powered by Yahoo! and its founders have developed a safe, patent-pending way to track and direct these search-generated proceeds to charities and non-profit organizations. It equates to about a penny per search. Those pennies can quickly add up to hundreds and thousands of dollars by searching on behalf of Botelle School. By clicking on the “amount raised” button you can see exactly how much has been raised.Please use GoodSearch as your main search engine from here on out. It won’t cost you anything and you won’t get any junk e-mail. Tell your friends and family. The more people who search, the more pennies will add up for cultural programs, math and science programs, field trips, supplies and materials for the children at Botelle school.We thank you for your support.
Michele Cyr
Julie Scharnberg

Clarification: On page one of the March, 2007 issue of Norfolk Now, Lorraine Weil was incorrectly identified as a federal judge. She is, in fact, the foreclosure judge assigned to the Greenwoods Theatre auction. We apologize for any misunderstanding.