Colebrook Annual July 4th Celebration
This Fourth of July celebration starts at 10:15 a.m., with a children’s bike parade.At 11:00 a.m. Nora Mocarski will give a talk at the Colebrook Meeting House on the 75th anniversary of D-Day, where she will speak about how Colebrook reacted to the liberation of Europe. At noon there will be a luncheon on the green. This annual celebration, sponsored by the Colebrook Associates, has been going on for more than 60 years.

Bridget Starr Taylor Recent Work at Library Bridget Starr Taylor, a resident of New York and East Canaan, is a children’s book illustrator. She has for many years run the Library Associates Annual Book Sale, organizing thousands of books in the basement, designing ads using her book-themed images, and supervising the event. This exhibit of her recent work is about animal interactions and other things she finds interesting. Please join us for the opening reception for the artist on Sunday, July 7, from 4 to 6 p.m., hosted by the Library Associates.

Courtney Maum at the Norfolk Library
On Friday, July 12, at 10 a.m. Courtney Maum will speak about her new novel, Costalegre.  A work of historical fiction, the book is based on the relationship between the heiress and art collector Peggy Guggenheim and her daughter Pegeen. Courtney will talk about the fictionalization of historical characters and how she incorporated her research on World War II and the Guggenheims into the fictional diary of a 15-year-old girl who is waiting out the war with her mother and a group of Surrealist artists in western Mexico.

Presentation on Early American Textiles
The Colebrook Historical Society invites you to a social gathering on Friday, July 12, at 7 p.m. Highlighting the evening will be a presentation by historian and journalist Kathryn Boughton: “Starting From Scratch: Textile Production in Early America.”Many beautiful examples of these textiles will be on display in the society’s exhibit, “The Fabric of Our Lives.”The gathering will be held at the Seymour Inn, located at the intersection of Routes 183 and 182A in Colebrook Center. All are welcome; refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Carol Lord at carol.9508@yahoo.com or 860-738-8244.

Makerspace at Battell Chapel 
On Saturday, July 20, from 2 to 4 p.m., Norfolk Net will host a makerspace at Battell Chapel. After a tour of the chapel’s stained glass windows, participants can try their hand at a variety of maker tables, including puppet making with Eve Thew, metal art or watercolors with John Thew and bike repair with Bill Eckert. If you would like to demonstrate a maker skill, contact Karen Rossi at 860-305-6579 or karen@karenrossi.com.

Kids’ Painting on the Library Lawn
Children in grades 3-6 are invited to join a weekly painting class on the library lawn with art teacher Shana Bazelmans, on Tuesdays, July 23 & 30, Aug. 6 & 13, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Please call the library at 860-542-5075 to register your child for this program.

Land Trust Hosts Wildlife Program
On Sunday, July 28, at 2 p.m. on the village green, the Norfolk Land Trust will sponsor wildlife rehabilitator Gerri Griswold from White Memorial Conservation Center in Litchfield to present an hour-long program, “Animal Adaptations,” which will include some of her furry friends. Griswold uses natural props, animal mounts, and a couple of surprise guests to illustrate the definitions of both structural and behavioral adaptations and to show how adaptations help animals survive in different environments. For more information, contact Michelle Childs at 860-542-5953.

What’s New at School?
On Monday, July 29, 6 to 7 p.m., join Botelle Board of Education chair Sally Carr, principal Lauren Valentino and superintendent Mary Beth Iacobelli at the Hub to learn about enrichment clusters and makerspace programs at Norfolk’s elementary school. There will also be  a roundtable discussion about future school initiatives.  All Norfolk residents are welcome to attend, a diverse audience will ensure a rich conversation! 

Vendors for Colebrook Fair Labor Day Weekend
The Town of Colebrook is looking for vendors to participate in its 75th annual Colebrook Fair on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, Aug. 31, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Colebrook Center. Spaces are available at a discounted rate of $25 if paid by August 1; $35 afterward. For more information or an application form, please contact Debi McKeon at dmckeon@colebrooktwonhall.org or call 860-379-3359, ext. 213.