town vote on firehouse likely in early november
Norfolk’s First Selectman Matt Riiska is planning a town vote on the new firehouse for early November. If approved, the town would then immediately solicit bids from construction companies with the hope of breaking ground in the Spring of 2025. “The earlier we can get on their schedules the better off we will be,” said […]
Norfolk’s Firefighters get $186K in federal grant money
New air packs on the way By Joe Kelly Norfolk’s volunteer firefighters are getting state-of-the-art air packs thanks to a federal grant the department won by teaming up with Winsted. The air packs—officially referred to as self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)— supply clean air so firefighters can breathe inside a building or in an area with […]
Haystack woods inches forward
If all goes well, construction could begin in the fall. By Avice Meehan The Foundation for Norfolk Living has submitted a consolidated application to Connecticut’s Department of Housing for the Haystack Woods development off Old Colony Road, an important milestone before construction can begin. “Fingers crossed that construction could happen this fall,” said Kate Briggs […]
Preserving Ecological Integrity
Norfolk Land Trust Receives Generous Grant to Protect Borden Woods By Kelly Kandra Hughes Thanks to generous grants from several agencies and organizations dedicated to preserving natural landscapes and fostering community engagement in conservation, the Norfolk Land Trust (NLT) has expanded its holdings to protect and preserve natural local resources with acquisitions of two new […]
New face in the land use office
Temporary appointment made to enforcement position By Susan MacEachron Troy LaMere, supervisor for the Town of Norfolk’s road crew, has been appointed by First Selectman Matt Riiska to temporarily fill the position of Zoning Enforcement Officer (ZEO) and Wetlands Enforcement Officer (WEO) following the resignation of Karl Nilsen in mid-July. Former ZEO and WEO Michael […]
Safety Issues Raised Concerning Washed-Out Bridges
A group of South Norfolk residents met with First Selectman Matt Riiska on Friday, July 19, and presented him with a petition requesting construction of a temporary bridge on either Smith Road or Old Goshen Road, while the town is waiting for the State of Connecticut to start construction of a permanent bridge. Construction is […]
Coalition for Sound Growth Closes Its Doors
After almost 20 years, the Coalition for Sound Growth (CSG) is formally ending its work in Norfolk. In characteristic fashion, CSG is sharing the wealth: the Norfolk Community Association and the Norfolk Food Pantry will each receive grants of $1,000 from its treasury. Founded by the late Vint Lawrence in response to a proposed golf […]
Schedule Mapped for City Meadow
By Avice Meehan Friends of the Meadow held an outdoor meeting on June 4 to sketch out a rough plan for addressing invasive plants and shrubs in City Meadow during the current growing season, as well as future restoration steps. The group is also beginning to develop a vision for City Meadow and will coordinate […]
DOT Holds Norfolk Open House to Answer Questions on Route 44
Construction expected to take over four years By Ruth Melville In recent years, the Norfolk driver has been forced to learn patience—and that patience is about to be tried again. The long-anticipated project to replace the retaining wall on Route 44 west of town is officially underway, with an anticipated completion date of September 2028. […]
Firehouse Plans Buffeted by High Construction Costs
By Joe Kelly As it undertakes one of the largest and most significant public works projects in the town’s history—a new firehouse—Norfolk is also battling historically high construction costs. Since the onset of the Covid epidemic in 2020, construction materials have undergone price increases averaging 19 percent across the board, according to a report from […]
