By Matt Riiska

As fall starts, the Public Works Department has taken on the major project of getting its fleet of trucks back into shape. The treatments applied to our roads before and after snowstorms, Morton rock salt with Ice B’Gone, are great to keep the roads clear, but they require careful cleaning and maintenance of our equipment. Of our six plow trucks, three were in need of attention. To make them last as long as possible, their frames and dump bodies were sandblasted and painted. In addition, we have started a program of applying Lubra-Seal, an encapsulating lubricant, to the trucks’ frames and body components. Spraying the Lubra-Seal into every nook and cranny helps to combat the elements, but frequent washing is also needed. We have been inspecting each of our trucks and all of their snow-removal equipment to ready them for another winter in Norfolk. 

As you are going through your cupboards, garages and sheds in preparation for fall cleanup, don’t forget the upcoming Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day, scheduled for October 12. The collection point is the Torrington Street Department, at 107 Arthur Street, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can stop in at the Selectmen’s Office to register beforehand. This free event is sponsored by the Northwest Hills Council of Governments.

The Rails to Trails “Tour de Forest” bike ride is also on October 12,^, with registration starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Curling Club. And the outdoor Farmers Market continues through October 12. Enjoy your fall.