Mike Case Lived Life to the Fullest
Edward “Mike” Case, Jr. passed away peacefully on Jan. 31, 2026, at the age of 75. Mike was the loving son of the late Edward Case, Sr. and Virginia (Jasmin) Case. Mike was born and raised in Colebrook. From a very young age Mike worked in the woods, logging with his father and at times […]
Norfolk Weather
January 2026: Deep Freeze By Russell Russ In recent years, winter did not get going weather-wise until January or even February. Although, that was not the case last year and it was certainly not the case this year. This winter it has been cold and snowy since early December. January was about average—for a normal […]
Norfolk Then
By Ann Havemeyer It was a busy afternoon at the General Electric plant in 1953. On the banks of the Blackberry River in a building that had been a 19th century stone mill, General Electric opened a branch in 1946 to make starters for fluorescent lights. Twelve Norfolk women were employed at first, but the […]
Remembering Jerry and DeVere Oakes
Jerry Oakes and his wife of nearly 72 years, Ellen DeVere Bechtold Oakes, passed away 10 days apart in August 2025, both at the age of 94. Born in Indiana and Hoosiers to the core, Jerry and DeVere lived in Norfolk for 21 years before moving to assisted living in Farmington in 2023. Jerry was […]
Norfolk Centenarian Was a Strong Advocate for Peace
Norfolk will remember Joanne Davis Hohmeister as a quiet but strong woman who was known for her kindness and compassion for family, friends and strangers alike. Joanne died Dec. 27, 2025, in Stamford, just a month after she enjoyed a celebration of her 100th birthday with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Born on Nov. 16, […]
Remembering John Barry: Veteran and Volunteer
John Michael Barry, 83, of The Villages, Fla., died peacefully on Jan. 1, at the Moffitt Cancer Center, after a brief period of illness, in the presence of his loving family. John was born on June 4, 1942, in Winsted and raised in Norfolk, where he developed the values of faith, service, hard work, and […]
Generations of Service in Norfolkart
By Avice Meehan Something that was equal parts mundane and remarkable occurred on a Sunday afternoon in November in the large, second-floor meeting room in Norfolk Town Hall. A majority of those elected to town office came together to take the oath of office administered by Town Clerk Debbie Nelson. Cider and doughnuts followed, with […]
Connecticut State Northwestern Celebrates 60 Years
Norfolk connections continue to grow By Virginia Coleman-Prisco This year, Connecticut State Community College Northwestern marks a significant milestone: 60 years of serving as the primary institution of higher education for the state’s Northwest Corner. Many know it as Northwestern Connecticut Community College (NWCC), but as of 2023 it has been the Northwestern Campus of […]
Why Do Electricity Rates Go Up?
Study cites range of factors, no easy solutions By Joe Kelly The normally staid, quiescent, if not completely somnolescent subject of electricity rates and their regulation has lately become a hot topic. It figured in this fall’s gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia, including active discussion over the role that AI data centers play […]
Botelle Beat
Botelle Young Authors Take a Magic Tree House Adventure By Lauren Valentino This fall, Botelle’s third- and fourth-grade students completed an extraordinary writing project that brought the magic of literature to life. As part of their first English Language Arts unit, students studied Mary Pope Osborne’s beloved “Magic Tree House” series—with close attention to the […]
