A New Year, New Pathways
Northwestern Regional 7 expands opportunities for students By Virginia Coleman-Prisco As students and staff return to Northwestern Regional School District No. 7 (NWR7) middle and high schools for the 2026-27 school year, district leaders say the focus will be on strengthening student opportunities, preparing young people for an evolving workforce and building an even stronger […]
Selectman’s Corner: As Summer Winds Down…
By Henry Tirrell It has been a busy summer. Construction, events, elections, town meetings and more have all been happening while we try to enjoy the local summer offerings and the time away on vacations. Throughout all of this, I continue to be moved by the small and large actions that people in our community […]
EYE ON TOWN GOVERNMENT
New Fire Truck and Three-Bay Garage Considered by Board of Finance By Susan MacEachron A new fire truck and a three-bay garage for the Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department (NVFD) were the focus of the Board of Finance meeting on Aug. 18. NVFD members have made several presentations to the Board of Finance (BOF) over the […]
HEARD AROUND TOWN
Third Time’s the Charm It took a diver working for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) three tries—plus the help of a trapper—to clear a flood-control pipe that manages water flow from Wood Creek. The result, on Aug. 4, was perceptible to everyone living around or traveling on North Street near the […]
When Is a Check Really in the Mail?
By Joseph Kelly The United States Postal Service (USPS), longtime target of many complaints and butt of numerous jokes, may seem an unlikely source of metaphysical speculation. But this year the USPS added a new wrinkle to an age-old question: When can it truly and truthfully be said that “a check is in the mail?” […]
Caring for Forests: Ethan Tapper’s Message of Stewardship
By Jude Mead Ethan Tapper recently spoke at the Church of Christ Congregational on the green about his work as a forester, author and advocate for the natural world. The evening centered on his 2024 book, “How to Love a Forest: The Bittersweet Work of Tending a Changing World,” which explores how forests function and […]
IT’ S ONLY NATURAL: Putting the Brakes on Bittersweet: a September Strategy
by Susannah Wood Over the last couple of years, Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) has increasingly taken hold on Norfolk’s roadsides. Anyone who has driven back and forth to New York City over the years has seen how, unchecked, the vines can envelope trees, girdle and kill them, and leave behind a wrecked woodland. A member […]
Woodman Spare that Tree—Or Don’t
The somewhat lopsided Japanese Zelkova tree that once stood near the entrance to Nor-folk’s Post Office on Station Place is no more. Likely planted some 30 years ago during Ar-thur Rosenblatt’s tenure as first selectman, the hardy tree fell victim to progress and the need to replace the adjacent sidewalk. The planned removal of the […]
NORFOLK WEATHER: High Temperatures and Excessive Rain
By Russell Russ July came in hot. The first three days of the month recorded temperatures in the 90s. Thanks to one other 90 degree day in May, Norfolk, so far in 2026, has recorded four days at or above 90 degrees. The long-term average per year is two to three days. Over the last […]
COOK FOR GOODNESS SAKE! Continuing the 250th Celebration
by Linda Garrettson It’s September, and two months into my year-long celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Curiosity over the contributions to our American fare has not lessened. And everyone with a garden is begging me for recipes using the abundance of tomatoes and peppers. So, how does all that link together […]
