By Jude Mead and Patricia Platt

For local business owners and other organizations, this is the time to start planning for 2024. It looks to be an exciting year for the community, with upcoming events, new trends and fun activities. Here are some things to look forward to in the months ahead.

The Mountain Spirit Shop
After 12 years of running the successful Mountain Spirit Shop, Susan and Luke Burke are selling the store. Susan Burke said that a town under 2,500 people cannot have a package store, but because the previous owner was grandfathered in, subsequent owners are as well. Burke hopes to sell it to someone that wants to cater to all of Norfolk and bring it up a notch by having a website and delivery service. “I will miss my customers and all the stories. My plan is to retire and spend time with my amazing four children and my even greater four grandchildren. And I want to take a vacation,” she said.

Icebox Café
Peter Crippen and Marinell Madden-Crippen have one goal for 2024 and that is to open the Icebox Café in the former train station building. They had planned to open last year but faced some unexpected challenges. Through these many ups and downs, however, they have maintained patience and good humor. “One thing we can say is the service economy is doing very well. So well that we are now on our third contractor to install our grease hood,” says Crippen.  He added that they have stopped trying to figure out opening dates. “I have accepted the fact that we will open when we open. When we do, we will all have a good laugh over the spinning of our wheels in 2023.” 

Farmers Market 
Chelsea Ryll will step into the new farmers market manager job. Lisa Auclair, the market chair, and Angie Bollard, the former manager, agreed to stay on for another year to help with the transition. The three women will run their first market together during WIN weekend, on Saturday, Feb. 24, at Botelle School. Auclair said that the focus of the farmers market will shift from supporting local agriculture and artisans through the marketplace to providing pop-up markets and offering a place for children and adults alike to learn how to grow, harvest and prepare vegetables.   

Berkshire Country Store
When Ryan Craig opened the Berkshire Country Store seven years ago, he brought with him a wealth of experience. Since then, he has had much success and faced some challenges. “Staffing is absolutely the biggest challenge, and the minimum wage has risen over the past five years,” he said. To save on costs, he has start closing early during the week in the off-season. Craig looks forward to a busier 2024 and has set objectives. “We will be replacing our scoop ice cream offerings with gelato in the spring, and we will focus on finding and developing a robust staff to navigate the summer months,” he said.

Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department
The fire department has obtained a grant to provide free reflective 911 signs to all Norfolk residents and, along with the Lions Club Ambulance, is encouraging residents to sign up for one. The signs will make it easier for the services to locate people who need help. As they say, “If we can’t find you, we can’t help you.” To get one, please contact Sandy Evans at (860) 866-7923 or email her at sandy.whitingmills@gmail.com. The NVFD will mount the signs on trees by driveways, or on a metal post if necessary.

Infinity Hall
Tyler Grill, co-owner of Infinity Hall, said to expect a variety of great music this summer as they continue to program the venue with top names in the business. The next shows listed on their website are Shemekia Copeland on March 14,  Pink Talking Fish on March 22 and the Robert Cray Band on March 29. They are also working on food options for the dining area.

Church of Christ, Congregational
The Church of Christ, Congregational raised its nearly 17,000-pound steeple back onto the top of the church on Jan. 18. The church is planning a town-wide celebration in the spring when all of the work is completed. “We want and need to recognize and celebrate the support we have received for this,” said Pastor Erick Olsen. 

The Norfolk Hub
The Norfolk Foundation has changed its name to the Norfolk Hub to more accurately reflect its mission to contribute to the vitality of Norfolk’s natural, cultural and community resources. Highlights of 2024 will include Friday Nights on the Green, Saturdays on Robertson Plaza and the Haystack Book Festival on Oct. 4-6. The Royal Arcanum is available for pop-up businesses and art exhibits. Anyone interested in holding a pop-up should contact Christal@NorfolkFoundation.net.

Noi Hair Salon
Since opening her salon in 2023, Loir Hoyt has seen her business steadily increase. She said she is particularly surprised at how busy she’s been this winter, a time when many of her clients are usually away. The salon is open Wednesday through Sunday, and Hoyt also helps clients in their home and donates her services to the Susan B. Anthony Project in Torrington.

Yale Norfolk Schools of Art and Music
The theme for the summer art school this year is “Making Light” and will include a series of lectures. Visiting artists and student also hope to engage with Norfolk residents through the newly inaugurated Community Art Project. On the music side, the Chamber Music Festival is planning some exciting events at the renovated and air-conditioned Music Shed. The theme of this year’s festival program is “Charles Ives and the American Tradition,” which coincides with Ives’s 150th birthday. Tickets for the festival will become available near the end of February.

Station Place
After 10 years of managing the building, Lindsay Boucher has left, and A. J. Ruwet has come on as the new manager. The administrative headquarters for Great Mountain Forest are now on the second floor, and their general office hours are Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The public is welcome to visit to pick up trail maps and to buy GMF products but should call (860) 824-8188 first. Station Place continues to rent to six other offices and will soon be the home of a new café.

Bella Erder and Aija
Bella Erder, owner of Aija, has turned her attention to retail pop-ups. Her recent holiday pop-up in the Royal Arcanum Building had a great response from the community and loyal customers from when she had a brick-and-mortar shop in Norfolk. Erder intends to do further pop-ups in 2024—in the summer, over WIN weekend in August and in the lead-up to the winter holidays. She would also like to explore having exhibitions with local artists during her pop-ups. “With the recent closure of The Guilded Artisan,” she said, “the need for pop-ups will be even more important.”