Mapping the Future of Norfolk’s Public Trails

Project will consolidate data on every hiking path in one online site Text by Andra MossPhoto by Dawn Whalen Looking for a great public trail in Norfolk? Hikers are definitely spoiled for choice, with dozens of miles of wooded paths, former carriage roads, logging trails and railway beds silently beckoning. Whatever one’s perambulatory mood, be […]

July Meeting of Board of Selectman

Eye on Town Government by Ruth Melville First Selectman Matt Riiska began the July 7 meeting of the Board of Selectmen meeting with an update on three capital improvement projects that that the town will pay for with state LoCIP (Local Capital Improvement Program) funds: 1. Replacing the fuel tank at the Public Works building. […]

Inland Wetlands And P&Z Review Haystack Woods Road

Eye on Town Government by Susan MacEachron The focus of both the Inland Wetlands Agency (Wetlands) meeting on July 12 and the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) on July 13 was the request from the Foundation for Norfolk Living to construct a new town road to access the Haystack Woods affordable-housing development, first presented to […]

EDC Prepares “Welcome to Norfolk” Booklet

Eye on Town Government by Ruth Melville At the July 8 meeting of the Economic Development Commission, the first order of business was to welcome Jenna Brown as a newly appointed member of the commission. Marie Lowe thanked the many people in town—including Matt Bannerman, Leo Groppo, West Lowe, Nash Pradhan, Christina Vanderlip and Leslie […]

Vandalism, Welcome to Norfolk Signs and City Meadow

By Matt Riiska I was recently made aware of vandalism to the play train behind the library. This vandalism included graffiti, which included racial slurs. I really don’t care who did this, but I want you to know that this is not allowed and will not be tolerated in a society that is trying to […]

Update on Haystack Woods Development

by Susan MacEachron The proposed Haystack Woods affordable housing development is under review by the Inland Wetlands Agency and Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z). The original plan for 19 homes to be built in two phases with a private road for access was approved several years ago. P&Z created a special overlay zone to accommodate […]

Freund’s Farm Offers Stroll & Graze for Enjoyment and Education

by Colleen Gundlach Combining the beauty of 200 contiguous acres of cropland with an understanding of how this land can be part of the climate change solution, Freund’s Farm in East Canaan is an example of how local farmers work for farmland preservation while protecting the environment. To share both the beauty and the science, […]

New Gateways Welcome Visitors to Town

By Doreen Kelly “Village Improvement Together!” is the motto of the Norfolk Community Association (NCA), and there couldn’t be a more fitting description of its most recently completed undertaking—the Welcome to Norfolk beautification project, made possible by a grant from The Evan Hughes Charitable Trust and in partnership with the Norfolk Economic Development Commission (EDC). […]

Winchester Youth Services Bureau Assists Young People in Area Towns

Health and Welfare in Town Budget by Colleen Gundlach Through the town budget, Norfolk residents support several nonprofit social service organizations, some of which have been featured in past issues of Norfolk Now. With pandemic-related lockdowns and social isolation, these agencies have proved to be more important than ever before in maintaining the mental and […]

Clarification on NVFD Radios

Letter to the Editor The leadership of the Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department (NVFD) would like to clarify the statements made in last month’s “Eye on Town Government” column that made it appear that we were negligent and purchased the wrong radio equipment.  As administered by FEMA, the NVFD applied and was awarded funds in 2020 […]