Zone 6: Want a Better Garden? Compost is the Answer
By Jill Chase If you garden at all, you probably know the power of compost. If your soil is too sandy and free draining—compost is the answer. If your soil is heavy clay—compost is the answer. Basically every garden can be improved by compost, but not enough people use it, much less make it. Most […]
Northwestern Regional High School to Perform “Mary Poppins”
Rehearsals are in full swing for Northwestern Regional 7 High School’s 2024 spring musical, “Mary Poppins.” Reflecting the influence of Norfolk’s strong elementary school drama club, the cast and crew of the musical features many Norfolk students. Directed by John DeShazo, also of Norfolk, the show will be performed on April 26, 27 and 28. […]
Local Farmers Navigate Shift in Weather Patterns, Hardiness Zones
Norfolk reclassified as zone 6 By Jude Mead Gardening and farming have always been important in the Northwest Corner, and those involveddepend on the Plant Hardiness Zone Map released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to helpthem determine the best practices in these activities. Growing zones help identify the types of plantsand crops that […]
Eight long months with no end in sight
By Colleen Gundlach Eight months. The residents of Smith Road and Old Goshen Road (of which I am one) have had limitedaccess to their homes and property for eight months, after rain in excess of 10 inches fell in Norfolk onJuly 9, 2023, washing out roads and destroying property. At the time of the floods, […]
This Old Norfolk House
Stevens House By Joe KellyWhen our Puritan forebears arrived on these shores in the early 1600s, they were no doubt surprised todiscover how the traditional thatched roof cottages they knew from back home were no match for thewind and cold of a typical New England winter. But it would have likely surprised them even more […]
P&Z Gives No to Parking Lot on Ashpotag
By Susan MacEachron Norfolk’s Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) has given the green light to construction of a drivewayand parking lot across the street from the sober house now operating on Ashpohtag Road. Mountainside Treatment Center in North Canaan, which runs the sober house as part of its extendedresidential treatment program, said the additional parking […]
With P&Z Approval, Firehouse Heads into Budget Review
By Joe Kelly After being scrutinized and approved by both Norfolk’s Wetlands and Planning & Zoning (P&Z)Commissions, the plans for a new Norfolk firehouse on Shepard Road are now undergoing a detailedbudget estimate. The architects of the firehouse, Silver Petrucelli and Associates of Hamden, are converting their sketchesinto detailed blueprints that can be used by […]
Regional 7 increase, town debt lead budget review
By Susan MacEachronThe Board of Finance (BoF) had a first look at the town government portion of the fiscal year 2024/25budget at its meeting on March 12. The overall budget of about $8 million has three major components:town government and services, Botelle School and Northwestern Regional School District Number 7(Regional 7). Absent finding ways to […]
Selectman’s Corner
Rethinking the Waste Stream to Cut Costs and Reduce Landfills By Matt RiiskaOne topic that has always interested me, believe it or not, is the amount of municipal solid waste wegenerate, how we can reduce it and how we process what we cannot recycle. In recent posts I haveexpressed my concern that the cost for […]
Sláinte
The StepCrew brought their energy-packed show of Irish stepdancers and fiddlers to the Norfolk Library on March 17. The amazing company was led by Cara Butler and Pilatzke brothers Jon and Nathan. The building is still shaking.
