Honor Roll for Ginny DeCerbo

Good news about Botelle alums is always welcome here at Norfolk Now. So three cheers for Ginevra “Ginny” DeCerbo, who made the Dean’s List this fall at the University of New Hampshire—and with highest honors. A sophomore, she is working toward a bachelor’s degree in music and education. While a high school student, DeCerbo was the musical director and set designer for Botelle’s production of “Alladin” and during her first year in college, she came back to Northwestern Regional 7 as a production assistant for the high school’s play and musical. Brava Ginny!

Hats, Coffee, Soup and Yarn

The Norfolk Knitters, who meet each Friday in the Great Hall of the Norfolk Library, know a thing or two about community. Since its founding in 2016, Norfolk Knitters have made dozens of hats and given them away to the Gathering Place in Torrington, to Massachusetts children in need of warmth and to folks who needed cheering up. Periodic yarn sales have benefited the Norfolk Food Pantry.

To kick off the 2026 knitting year, the knitters gathered on Jan. 3 at a local home for hearty soup and conversation—and to do something for Norfolk. The 20-plus knitters—including some contributing from New Mexico and Texas—gathered 26 hats of all shapes and sizes for the Clothes Closet plus 16 containers of coffee, 16 jars of peanut butter and other goodies for the Food Pantry. Best of all? A good time was had by all. And for the record: knitters and crocheters at all skill levels are welcome to pull up a chair in the Norfolk Library on Fridays at 3 p.m.

On the Road with the Plows

First Selectman Henry Tirrell went out with Norfolk’s road crew on Martin Luther King Day (Jan. 19) as they cleaned from the weekend storm. He started the day at 4 a.m. with Mike Girolamo as he cleared the roads in the northeast corner of town from Doolittle out toward the Colebrook line. Tirrell said the repurposed tanker truck doesn’t have as much power as other vehicles in the town fleet so it went a up the hills a little more slowly while still getting the job done.

Les Renards at Six (Months)

Some shops can feel as though they have been around for years. Such is the case for Les Renards, the quirky bookstore that opened last July in the Royal Arcanum. Each visit reveals something fresh in the stock of new and used books, fragrant French soaps, pencils and notebooks. “It’s wonderful to meet people over books, to hear people talk about books. It’s a great equalizer,” said founder Trish Deans. “I am also getting better at understanding what people want.”

Deans noted that a recent customer spent two hours wandering the shop and found four of the “most obscure” books in the inventory for the princely sum of $6. That sale likely benefited the Norfolk Library since Les Renards sells books left over from the annual sale, as well as special volumes that are better marketed in a less frantic environment. She reported writing a “healthy check” to the Norfolk Library Associates at year end. “People definitely want to read books that are uncomplicated, that have a good story,” Deans said, adding that two popular titles are “The Frozen River” by Ariel Lawton and “Raising Hare” by Chloe Dalton. Not on the list? Historical fiction by Ann Cleeves. Those remain in the library basement for sorting by Bridget Starr Taylor and her team for the coming summer sale.