Next step for firehouse: federal funding

town waits approval of $1.5 million By Joe Kelly Before a vote on the new firehouse gets scheduled, the town is waiting to ensure that a promised allocation of $1.5 million in federal funds actually becomes available. The funds are already included in the federal government’s 2025 spending plan for the 2025 fiscal year, which […]

Voters to Decide An Absentee Voting Question

By Andra Moss Connecticut voters have several decisions to make in November, including whether to give their approval for “no-fault” absentee balloting.  The state’s constitution currently allows voters to request an absentee ballot only if they cannot make it to the polls on election day for one of six specific reasons. A statewide ballot measure […]

Norfolk’s Town Clerk Resigns

Linda Perkins, who has served as Norfolk’s town clerk for nearly 16 years, has resigned from her post. A Democrat, Perkins took office in 2009 and has been on leave for some months. Assistant Town Clerk Deborah Nelson has fulfilled the responsibilities of the office during Perkins’ absence and recently completed the certification requirements to […]

Firehouse Cost Estimated at $9.35 Million

Preliminary report sees price tag of $788 a square foot By Joseph Kelly Norfolk could spend as much as $9.35 million on a new firehouse according to a preliminary budget projection, but First Selectman Matt Riiska is pushing back on the numbers, expressing confidence that the actual cost will be hundreds of thousands dollars less. […]

Special Tree to Honor Local Veterans

Raising funds for veteran’s issues A very special tree will be growing inside the Norfolk Hub, starting Oct. 1. The Veteran Remembrance Tree offers an opportunity for townspeople to honor and remember our veterans. This initiative is sponsored by the Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department (NVFD) as a way to bring the community together for those […]

South Norfolk Bridges

Temporary solution identified By Susan MacEachron Residents of South Norfolk, impacted by the loss of two bridges in the July 2023 flooding, have met with First Selectman Matt Riiska twice to urge action on installing a temporary bridge. The message they delivered was simple: Three years is too long to wait for the start of […]

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 […]