A Quick Preview of the Midterm Election

The midterm elections on Nov. 6 will see the election of a new governor in Connecticut, as Dannell P. Malloy leaves after eight years in office. Also in contention are Christopher Murphy’s United States Senate seat and the Fifth Congressional District seat currently held by Elizabeth Esty, who has chosen to step down in the […]

Squirrels: They Are Everywhere

  By Jude Mead On a good day it seems like there’s an overpopulation of squirrels this year, but the professionals disagree. According to Michael Gregonis, a wildlife biologist at the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the number of squirrels racing about in our backyards is actually lower than last year. “There has […]

At Budget Meeting, Parents Debate Botelle’s Future Direction

  By Wiley Wood The tone was confrontational. “I really don’t care about that,” said Heather Adams, a parent. The superintendent was saying that each student at Botelle Elementary School gets a computer tablet. “The amount the school spends on technology,” said Adams, “is a concern for me.” The meeting was intended to give parents […]

Shrinking Our Water Footprint on ‘The Blue Marble’

How Norfolk measures up   By Kathy Robb We connect with water, and our lives depend on it. The quality and availability of unpolluted drinking water has topped our environmental concerns in polls for a quarter of a century. In 2017, Americans expressed more concern about water pollution than they had since 2001. Low-income and […]

A New Priest Joins St. Martin of Tours Parish

Norfolk parish welcomes Father M. David Dawson   By Colleen Gundlach After serving the Norfolk community for the past five years, Father Ian Highet celebrated his final Mass at St. Martin of Tours Parish on Sunday, September 9. During his last homily at the Norfolk church, Fr. Highet thanked the parishioners for their love and […]

Instrumental Education Hits the Right Note at Northwestern Regional

Program attracts budding musicians   By Charlotte McDevitt Music is very significant part of a child’s education, but music education is often one of the first academic areas cut during budget negotiations. Botelle School was recently forced to eliminate their stringed instrument program, but band class at the school is still ongoing. A very encouraging […]

New Teachers Bring Renewed Energy and Broad Experience to Botelle School

  By Ann DeCerbo Three new faces greeted Botelle’s elementary school students this year—fourth grade teacher Nichole Pitruzello, music teacher Sandra Kleisner, and school nurse Donna Pequignot. These women bring a wide range of experiences and perspectives to the school. A recent UConn graduate, Nichole Pitruzello is a bubbly, enthusiastic new teacher certified in elementary […]

Is a Maker Lab in Norfolk’s Future?

Local group explores the possibility on a field trip to New Haven   By Karen Rossi In New Haven there is a special scent to the air in early fall. It’s born from the rustling leaves of the tree-lined streets, the cool nights and hot days mixed with a bit of salt air rolling in […]

Norfolk’s Club Activities: The Shooting Sports

  By David Beers If you head past the Norfolk landfill toward Winsted on Route 44, you may have noticed a few red buildings, a gated gravel road and some archery targets in the woods across from the Rock Pile Driving Range. What you are seeing as you whiz by is just the tip of […]

The Paperback Revolution That Started in Norfolk

How Modern Age Books changed the way Americans read   By Lucy Mookerjee Modern Age Books, Inc., founded by Norfolk’s Richard S. Childs in 1936, was the first large-scale publisher to produce paperback books in the United States. Modern Age released progressive paperbacks that were inexpensive and accessible to the general public. On display at the […]