BoE Budgetary Maneuvering

By Avice Meehan The Board of Education addressed routine—and not so routine—matters at the March 31 meeting, including a resolution to request an additional $58,000 for the current year budget to resolve the fact that the town ran afoul of the state’s minimum budget requirement. The request will ultimately come before voters at the annual […]

Town Meeting is Quick Vote

By Avice Meehan The more than 100 Norfolk residents who gathered in the Hall of Flags at Botelle Elementary School made quick work of four major items at the April 6 town meeting. Gaveled into order at 7 p.m. by Town Clerk Debbie Nelson, the meeting lasted all of 20 minutes once voters elected Richard […]

Wetlands Plans New Bridges Over Troubled Waters

By Susan MacEachron CHA Consulting and Garg Engineering presented plans for replacing the bridges over Hall Meadow Brook on Old Goshen Road and Smith Road at the Inland Wetlands Agency meeting on April 6. The work on Old Goshen Road is expected to begin in April 2027 and should be completed by the fall. The […]

P&Z Considers Compounds, Junk

By Susan MacEachron At the April 14 Planning & Zoning Commission meeting discussion of various regulations continued where it left off at the March meeting. The definition of a family compound was debated, as were aspects of regulations addressing junk and blight. Discussion of changes to the existing regulations for accessory dwelling units was postponed […]

Board of Finance Sends Budget to Town Vote

By Susan MacEachron First Selectman Henry Tirrell reviewed the proposed budget for fiscal year 2026-27 with the Board of Finance at a meeting on April 14. The total cost to run the town and fund the schools is $9.4 million, a 2.05 percent increase over the current year. With a reduction in the capital reserve […]

Noteworthy Natives: Arrowwood Viburnum

By Jill Chase For some, a mass of viburnums in bloom on the woodlands edge rivals the beauty of any formal garden around. The fresh white flowers on green foliage let you know that the spring garden season is well and truly on. There are several good varieties of viburnum—some produce blooms like snowballs, while […]

Botelle Beat

Power Goals and WIN Time Personalize Learning at Botelle By Lauren Valentino One of Botelle School’s SOAR expectations is to Achieve Your Goals. We believe that when students know their goals—what they are learning, why and what success looks like—they are more engaged and motivated. They are partners in the learning process and own their […]

Norfolk Weather

Very Little March Snowfall—Again By Russell Russ March brought a change in the weather. It was cool and raw the first week of the month with several days of freezing rain, something we had not seen much of this winter. Temperatures then increased for the remainder of the month, with several days reaching the 60s […]

The Celestial Sphere

Star Systems and the Red Star of Spring By Matthew Johnson A prominent spring constellation is Leo. It is one of the star groups found crossing the sky from east to west during May’s later hours and is located along the ecliptic, below and to the left of Orion’s belt. The brightest star in the […]

Cook! for Goodness Sake

America, The Melting Pot: Some Like it Hot, Some May Not by Linda Garrettson It’s May, yahoo. Daffodils are up; forsythia is in bloom. You may agree that after a long, cold winter, food with some heat seems appropriate. Inspired by the celebration of America’s 250th birthday, and who we are vis-a-vis the foods we […]