Community News

Haystack Book Festival Returns

The Haystack Book Festival returns to Norfolk as an in-person event Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 at the Norfolk Library’s Great Hall and will also be shown live online. The festival is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required at norfolkfoundation.net/book-talks.    

Coffee with Shakespeare

Melissa Cook leads a seminar at the library on Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” on Tuesday mornings in October from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Cook holds an M.A. and ABD in English Literature and won the Graduate School Prize for Excellence in Teaching at Boston University. Visit norfolklibrary.org or call 860-542-5075 to register. 

Learn American Sign Language

A live sign language instructor from SIGNING Basics®, LLC will teach how to sign basic phrases and vocabulary during Zoom sessions on Oct. 5, 12, 19 and 26, from 6 to 6:45 p.m. Participants should attend all four Wednesday sessions. Limited to the first 20 registrants at norfolklibrary.org or by calling 860-542-5075.

Leonard Marcus Talk on Golden Books

In the 1940’s, publisher Golden Books revolutionized American children’s literature by making quality picture books available for just 25 cents. On Thursday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m. via Zoom, renowned historian Leonard Marcus presents the tale of the visionary enterprise that brought together artists, writers and marketing wizards to make Golden Books a cultural icon. Visit the Norfolk Library website or call 860-542-5075 to register.

Mindfulness Series with Miranda Lee

The mindfulness series continues via Zoom every Friday morning in October from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. All are welcome to join at any time. Miranda Lee guides participants on living a more mindful life and building resilience against life’s challenges. Sponsored by the Norfolk Library. Register at norfolklibrary.org or call 860-542-5075.

Tour de Forest and Icebox Gravel 

The annual Tour de Forest fundraiser for Norfolk Rails to Trails and Great Mountain Forest will be held Sunday, Oct. 9. Bike the 13-mile forest ride or 29 miles through Norfolk’s mostly-gravel back roads. Sponsored by National Iron Bank. Register at bikereg.com/norfolk-ct-tour-de-forest-2022.

Janet Andre Block Exhibit at the Library 

Janet Andre Block’s latest work, “Silence Moves,” is on view at the Norfolk Library for the month of October. The abstract paintings came to life during the isolation of the pandemic and reflect a sense of rapid movement, change, and at times, imbalance. Please join the opening reception for the artist on Sunday, Oct. 9, from 4 to 6 p.m., graciously hosted by the Library Associates. 

Books & Boots Hike 

In honor of Indigenous’ Peoples Day, the Norfolk Library, the Norfolk Land Trust, the Norfolk Church of Christ and the Norfolk Climate Coalition will host a program at Dennis Hill State Park on Monday, Oct. 10, at 9 a.m. A discussion of Robin Wall Kimmerer’s “Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants” in the park pavilion will be followed by a hike. The first 10 registrants at norfolklibrary.org or 860-542-5075 will receive a free copy of the book.

The Norfolk Sewer District: Past & Present

On Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 6 p.m., Norfolk Sewer District Superintendent Bill Hester will give a presentation at the Norfolk Hub on the sewer district’s history, provide an update on the two-year relining project and explain how we can all keep the sewer district operating most efficiently. Register at norfolkfoundation.net/hub-events.

Andean Music at the Library

Equadorian band Andes Manta will perform Andean music at the Norfolk Library on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 5:00 pm. Please register on the library website for this free concert.  

Outer Order, Inner Calm

Join the library for a virtual decluttering series following Gretchen Rubin’s book “Outer Order, Inner Calm: Declutter & Organize to Make Room for Happiness” on Mondays from 1 to 2 p.m., Oct. 17 through Nov. 28. Each week the group will read a chapter, implement the strategies that most resonate and then meet via Zoom to discuss progress and insights. Register at norfolklibrary.org or call 860-542-5075.

Documentary Film on Haiti

Development, history and colonialism collide when a seemingly simple aid project spirals out of control in Haiti, forcing a reckoning on privilege and power. The documentary film “How (not) to Build a School in Haiti” will be screened on Thursday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m. at the Norfolk Library and followed by a live virtual Q&A with director Jack Newell. Please visit norfolklibrary.org or call 860-542-5075 to register. 

City Meadowtations

Practice mindfulness along the City Meadow nature path on Saturday, Oct. 22. There will be a brief introduction on meditation, followed by 30-40 minutes of silent walking or seated meditation. Please register with the Norfolk Library and meet at Robertson Plaza at 9 a.m.  

Richard Alan Cohen Exhibit at the Hub

 “Along the Waterline,” a new exhibit on display at the Norfolk Hub throughout October showcases Richard Alan Cohen’s photography of the exposed waterline of boats resting in boat yards that, encrusted with the residues of years past, suggest imagined landscapes and horizons. Please join the artist reception on Thursday, Oct. 27, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. For details, contact jenp@norfolkfoundation.net.

French New Wave Film Series 

The Norfolk Library begins a series of three French New Wave films on Thursday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m. with François Truffaut’s “The 400 Blows,” introduced by French writer/director/editor and Norfolk resident, Diego Ongaro. Considered a masterpiece of French cinema, the film is based on Truffaut’s own childhood and the difficult life of a teenager in 1950s Paris. Visit norfolklibrary.org or call 860-542-5075 to register.

The Films of Alfred Hitchcock

On Sunday, Oct. 30, at 4 p.m. via Zoom, film historian and Professor Emeritus at Fordham University Brian Rose will examine Hitchcock’s extraordinary creativity as one of the 20th century’s greatest filmmakers. Register at norfolklibrary.org or call 860-542-5075.