How did we shape up?

By Colleen Gundlach

When something momentous happens in a town, it sometimes begins quietly, without fanfare, and quite innocuously. Then slowly, like a snowball rolling down a hill, it gains girth and strength until it becomes a vital source of information and communication in the lives of the townspeople. Such an event happened 20 years ago in a kitchen on Estey Road, when Lloyd Garrison and Rosanna Trestman called together the first advisory committee for a new endeavor called Norfolk Now.

Since that time, Norfolk Now has become a vital lifeline for news in our small town. Even though digital newsletters and other means of communication have popped up over the years, Norfolk Now has stood the test of time and continues to be the main source of news and features about our friends and neighbors.

Ten years ago, Norfolk Now sponsored a special townwide event called “Norfolk 2023!” to celebrate the paper’s 20th anniversary. At this event, John Dankosky of National Public Radio facilitated a panel discussion about where we all thought Norfolk would be in 2023 and what we needed to do to get there. Ann Havemeyer presented a bit of history of the town, after which the panel, consisting of Ann DeCerbo, Tom McGowan, Libby Borden, Lou Barbagallo and Michele Sloane, discussed the richness and beauty that is Norfolk, while town planner Glenn Chalder offered his thoughts on the future of the town. From the floor, many residents expressed their thoughts and offered advice.

So, how did we shape up now that it is actually 2023? In looking back, it is obvious that many of the concerns expressed at Norfolk 2023! have been addressed. One concern was the problem of how expensive it is to live in town. Since then, the Foundation for Norfolk Living has successfully developed several affordable housing opportunities.

Ann DeCerbo expressed that the first priority of the town should be our school. While it has gone through many changes over the past 10 years, Botelle School is still, with the help of a strong parental organization, serving the needs of Norfolk children. The issue of class size and overall school enrollment is still being worked on.

Kim Maxwell addressed Norfolk 2023! about the importance of getting fiber optics in town for internet. That has since come to fruition, though in a different iteration, through Frontier.

West Lowe imagined a linked trail system through town on the old railroad beds. Today, thanks to the hard work of many in town, Rails to Trails is a reality.

Norfolk 2023! served as a vehicle for the people of Norfolk to talk about the good and the bad of the town. Now, each month Norfolk Now continues to serve that purpose. We want the people of Norfolk to read Norfolk Now and know what is happening in town, and we want townspeople to also express their opinions through letters to the editors.

The current editors, Ruth Melville, Andra Moss and I, along with our newest editor, Patricia Platt, strive to make each issue more informative and entertaining and to uphold the standards set by Lloyd and Rosanna 20 years ago—to provide the highest quality in writing, editing and photography in each issue while providing the people of Norfolk with a regular, monthly means of communication. We thank the people of Norfolk for their support over the past 20 years and look forward to the next 20.

Happy anniversary to us!

If you would like to view the video of Norfolk 2023! go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSsTWy42XvY&ab_channel=robinhoodradiotv