City Meadow Sets a Deadline
By Avice Meehan The Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department (NVFD) in 2027 will mark the 125th anniversary of its founding and the Friends of the Meadow decided at their October meeting to adopt that milestone for achieving many major goals. “We want have [City Meadow] look as good as possible in two years,” said Co-chair Libby […]
Eye on Town Government
Wetlands Approves Path Change By Susan MacEachron Swapping a boardwalk for a gravel path between City Meadow and the proposed new firehouse, elimination of a manmade pond and the installation of a drain pipe without a wetlands permit were the major matters addressed at the Inland Wetlands Agency meeting on Sept. 7. Inland Wetlands had […]
City Meadow Update
Native Plants Begin to Show Their Colors By Avice Meehan Looking out from the height of Robertson Plaza, the expanse of City Meadow is marked by large patches of dead, brown vegetation and bleached plant stalks. Don’t be fooled. These are signs of progress: the result of selective herbicide treatment of phragmites, invasive cattails, mugwort […]
Eye on Town Government
Inland Wetlands Agency Debates Permit Fee By Susan MacEachron The July 7 meeting of the Inland Wetlands Agency was devoted primarily to a discussion of the appropriate fees for wetlands’ permits. The proposal to change the access to City Meadow from the new fire house was also on the agenda, but with no representatives from […]
Annals of Democracy
Norfolk Voters Speak Their Minds By Avice MeehanIn recent years, Norfolk’s annual town meeting has been short, sharp and poorly attended. Not so this year, when more than 100 residents crowded into the Hall of Flags at Botelle Elementary school on May 12 to make their voices heard on two disparate topics: an appropriation for […]
Eye on Town Government
Finance Board Approves Mill Rate, Firehouse By Avice MeehanHuddled in a rough circle moments after the conclusion of Norfolk’s May 12 annual town meeting, the Board of Finance (BoF) voted on two major actions: adoption of a new mill rate for the tax year beginning July 1 and a resolution approving a new firehouse. The […]
City Meadow Update
Friends Group Readies Spring Plans By Avice Meehan The seeds of City Meadow’s spring renewal are already visible beneath the coating of snow that covers the 400 woody shrubs and trees planted by the team working for Beth Roemaker of Meadowscapes. From button bush and winterberry, to sycamores and a single black tupelo, the plantings […]
Planting Day at City Meadow
A team from Meadowscapes under the direction of Beth Roemaker began the replanting of City Meadow on the cold morning of Oct. 28 with pots of American hazelnut, native winterberry, azalea and dogwood. Jaimie Konopka of Winsted placed hydrangeas in a loop off the boardwalk. Konopka (above, right) and Taylor Shaw of Litchfield (above, left) […]
city meadow progress
Invasives removed as town considers a new planting plan By Avice Meehan Sometimes a “closed” sign can be good news. That is certainly the case for City Meadow, where staff from Native Habitat Restoration are now treating invasive plants like phragmites and non-native cattails with a selective herbicide. Their broad-brimmed hats are barely visible above […]
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 […]
