Author: kathrynwboughton@gmail.com

Restoration of City meadow, which was reclaimed several years ago as a wildlife habitat, will be an ongoing effort, cautioned Elizabeth Borden, co-chair of the Friends of the Meadow Committee, at its recent meeting.

Invasive species have already mowed twice and will be treated with herbicides in August. Woody invasives will also be cut and have herbicides applied. 

Restoration could be accomplished within two years, Borden said, but would be more expensive if the group does not try to preserve native cattails growing there.

Looking forward, the group discussed where sculptures could be placed along the sculpture trail proposed by the Norfolk Community Association. Doreen Kelly, co-chairman of the association, said they usually work in a two-year timeframe for installations and asked when the Friends anticipate having the meadow ready for a sculpture. Borden predicted three years. 

Discussion then turned to seating on Robertson Plaza, which overlooks the meadow from Station Place. The group talked about various ways of rearranging the seating and providing shade but did not reach a conclusion.

—Newsletter Editor

A group of South Norfolk neighbors is waging a battle against a cell tower being erected in their midst.

Last spring letters were sent to South Norfolk landowners from Smartlink, a leasing agent for telecommunication companies, seeking property on which to place a cell tower. None of the homeowners in this residential neighborhood responded and thought that ended the matter.

However, Sloane Klevin, who owns a house at the corner of Old Goshen Road and Route 272, recently noticed trucks and people on vacant land opposite her property. Inquiring, she found there is a pending lease on the land and that the people were verifying that the parcel could support a cell tower, which could be as tall as 120 or 130 feet.

Investigating further, Klevin discovered that the land is owned by Michael Farrington, a Florida resident who inherited it and who has never set foot in Norfolk. “He didn’t even know there were neighbors,” she said. “It’s literally smack in front of everyone, but he sees this as a windfall.”

The neighbors contacted him to see if he would consider selling them the property. Klevin said the neighborhood includes environmentally sensitive elements such as a heron rookery and residents harbored the idea of donating it to the Norfolk Land Trust. “I told him his land is on a natural diversity map and we offered $100,000 for it,” she said.

Farrington responded with a figure of up to $300,000, beyond the reach of neighboring property owners.

Since that exchange, the neighbors have sought additional funding to procure the land, but even an offer of $200,000 has met with no success. “We realized he is playing us off Verizon,” said Klevin. 

The group approached an environmental lawyer, who advised that their best chance of forestalling the development is to find an alternate site for Verizon. Two less intrusive locations nearby, accessible from Route 272, have been identified but, to date, Smartlink and Verizon have not responded.

“We’re willing to file an intervention with the Siting Council and to propose other sites, but we can’t get through to them,” Klevin said. “Once they have found a site, they are not reachable.” 

—Newsletter Editor

The Firehouse Building Committee is making progress in hammering out a building design that suits the town’s needs with no added frills. “Everyone fully understands the budgetary constraints,” First Selectman Matt Riiska said.

He said the building committee, with input from other firefighters, is looking at “what we can get rid of, what we can do later. There are no BarcaLoungers, no big TVs, no bunk rooms—what is there is for function. The committee is very aware of the costs.”

Indeed, although a firm cost analysis has yet to be completed, projected costs for the project have risen from around $5 million when the project was first proposed several years ago to $8 million or more in the current market. 

“We’re trying to plan for 50 to 75 years out,” Riiska continued. “We’re all going to be on the same page as to what is needed.” 

“It is up to date as far as equipment, technology and mechanics, proper ventilation—all the critical stuff—are concerned,” he said. “It’s a very function-oriented building.” 

—Newsletter Editor

The threat of rain did not deter the Norfolk Library Associates, who raise funds to provide children’s and cultural programming at the library, from celebrating their 50th anniversary last Sunday with a spirited little street fair in Station Place.

The weather forecast was dire, with strong storms predicted for the afternoon. A stiff breeze seemed to presage rain, but the fair went on in the plaza without a mishap and the plaza was filled with booths that offered visitors snacks, face painting, the chance to adopt a stuffed animal, an opportunity to learn juggling, to take a ride behind a tractor or marvel at the massive puppets from the Sova Dance and Puppet Theater that were roaming the street.

The associates began their year-long celebration with a gala last January.

—Newsletter Editor

A swimming lesson schedule will be announced soon, according to Josh DeCerbo, administrator of Tobey Pond beach.

Monday he had an instructor work with lifeguards interested in running swim lessons. He anticipates announcing the schedule as early as next week. “We haven’t decided when lessons will begin,” he said, “but it will be sooner than later.”

DeCerbo also wants to do some drills for his lifeguards in concert with the ambulance service. “We would run simulated rescues,” he said. “Pretty standard stuff, but everyone would know how to respond.”

—Newsletter Editor

Tobey Pond, the town beach, now has a handsome new changing room for swimmers, sponsored by the Lions Club.

It replaces an earlier one removed several years ago because of its deteriorating condition. 

“Sandy Evans, a Lions Club member, came to me and asked if I would volunteer to make it,” said fellow Lion Philip Cyr of J&P Building & Remodeling in Norfolk. He agreed and John Funchion said he would pitch in. The club paid for the materials.

“John came up with the [design] concept,” said Cyr, “and I built it on the fly. It probably took me a month and a half, working on it when I could—maybe 15 hours. I used rough-sawn lumber and tried to make it as rustic as possible because it is in the woods.”

Funchion also helped with construction. “It was hard work,” he said. “Phil is a master craftsman, but he let me help. He took my design and tweaked it.”

Interesting touches include door handles and towel hooks made out of tree branches. “It’s all-natural light, so we painted the floor a sky blue to give it brightness as well.”

Something else new at Tobey Pond is also very old. 

Long before Norfolk residents splashed happily in its waters, Tobey Pond was home to a rich array of forest and aquatic creatures and remains a sanctuary for wild and aquatic life—a fact recognized by the beach staff this year. 

Sensitive to the rights of longtime denizens of the 58-acre pond, the lifeguards responded quickly when on June 2 a snapping turtle—what could be more primordial?—emerged from the glacial pool to lay her eggs on the beach. The staff hastily created a circle of brightly painted stones around the nest and posted a sign advising, “Do Not Disturb Turtle Eggs.

Norfolk is a notably enlightened town and, to its credit, momma turtle, christened Teresa, can look forward to her brood hatching in late August, even though Tobey Pond beach administrator Josh DeCerbo hopes the little turtles will emerge for the Tobey Day celebration in mid-August.

Teresa posed for staff and her picture is available upon request. One thing is certain—she will be a no-show for Tobey Day. Notoriously nonchalant about their families, turtles lay their eggs and leave their offspring to their own devices.

The staff has tipped its hat to other “Tobey Pond Pets,” as well. A whimsical sign near the new changing room describes the creatures who claim the area as their own. Teresa, of course, has a mate, Tom. The staff advises that he is “a big snapping turtle who has lived here his whole life” and “has two children.” (Who counted?)

Not all the area inhabitants are aquatic, however. Larry, the cormorant, is cited “as the lifeguard boss,” while Al, the water snake is reported to have been “born in Norfolk,” but “travels a lot.” Unsurprisingly, there is also the lunch-stealing “Bearnice the Bear,” and Shy Di, the Deer.

So, look closely, folks, when visiting Tobey Pond. You may just meet some Norfolk’s natives, still living as their ancestors did in days of yore. 

—Newsletter Editor

The prolonged process of restoring Norfolk roads advanced significantly this week. Guerrera Construction returned to town and put the final course of paving on Maple Avenue and the River Place bridge project resumed.

“Maple Avenue is paved,” said First Selectman Matt Riiska. “There are just a few places to touch up—a couple of minor things to adjust—and some landscaping.”

The work, which was scheduled to begin in spring 2023, was delayed while the town completed remediation of contamination caused by the November 2022 gas spill. Riiska had hoped it would be completed by the first week in June this year, but the construction company was pulled away for a job elsewhere.

Riiska said the final step is administrative as he submits the paperwork for state reimbursement.

The River Place bridge project came to a halt in November 2022 when it was discovered that the footings on one headwall were deficient. It is now hoped repairs will be completed in May 2025. “It’s been a long and arduous task,” Riiska said. “Hopefully, it will move along.”

—Newsletter Editor

Bad things often come in threes. As if the hot weather were not enough, now the Great Mountain Forest weather station, although still gathering data, has lost its connection to weatherunderground and Norfolk weather aficionados have to rely on stations that may have very different conditions, such as Doolittle, Colebrook, Winsted or even the New Bedford Regional Airport.

“It went offline yesterday at 5:00 p.m. and I’m not sure why,” said Russell Russ, who manages the station. “I’m investigating, but it might take a while. Unfortunately, the station is 15 years old and it might be worn out [and] getting a new one might be complicated.”

Russ is planning to talk with GMF’s fundraising group and hopes he’ll have something back online soon. What’s next?

7/2/24 Editor’s note: The GMF weather station’s connection with weatherunderground.com has now been restored.

—Webmaster

Work on Maple Avenue has temporarily ground to a halt because Guerrera Construction has been called away to work at the Danbury Airport. “We’re a little delayed because I guess an airport takes precedence when you are talking to the FAA,” said First Selectman Matt Riiska. 

He had hoped to have the work completed in the first weeks of June.

Riiska expects work to resume in two weeks when there will be some final cleanup to do and a top coat of paving will be put down. Final landscaping will be delayed until the weather is more seasonable.

Riiska has been in contact with the state about replacement of two South Norfolk bridges swept away in last July’s flash flood. The Smith Road bridge final design will be completed by July 2025 with work expected to be done by spring 2026.

“When they are finished with that, they will start on the Old Goshen Road bridge,” he said. It is hoped that bridge will be complete by fall 2026.

The state has held the town harmless in reconstruction of the bridges, assuming all costs for engineering and replacement. Riiska said there is no plan to install a temporary replacement for the Smith Road bridge because of the cost.

“We just don’t have the funds for that,” he said, citing a figure for the temporary structure of just under $500,000. “The state doesn’t want anything to do with it.”

On River Place, Riiska has been promised that bridge work on will start by next week after a 20-month hiatus. “They said they would start Friday, but I will believe it if I see it next week,” he said. “It’s been a long, arduous process of coming to an agreement on pricing and timing.” 

The project was stopped in November 2022 when it was discovered that one headwall was not sitting on a firm foundation.

Finally, Riiska said he is negotiating with the state DOT to mill and pave Route 44 in west Norfolk where the road has been disturbed by infrastructure changes being made this summer. “I’m trying to talk them into milling and paving so it is not so bumpy for cars and plowing during the winter,” he said. 

—Newsletter Editor

The Norfolk Library Associates will continue its 50th anniversary celebration Sunday, June 23, with a Street Fair at Station Place from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. A DJ will play music on Robertson Plaza and there will be a photo booth, hayrides for kids, large puppets, a llama, crafts and much more. All activities are free.

Because of the flurry of activity expected, attendees should leave their dogs at home. 

The weatherman predicts a better than even chance of rain and, if it is indeed inclement, the event will be moved to the library, 9 Greenwoods Road.

Norbrook Brewery has created 50 cases of a special lager, “To Beer or Not to Beer,” and is donating proceeds from its sales to the associates to aid its mission of bringing education, enlightenment and entertainment to the community. Pre-ordered cases will be available for pick up at the library during the Street Fair. To order, call 860-309-9473.

The library was originally gifted to the town in 1888 by Isabella Eldridge, who maintained it as a cultural center for the town. After her death and the disruptions of the Great Depression and World II, lavish entertainments became a thing of the past until 1974 when library trustees Tibby Robinson and Martha Walcott decided to restore it to its rightful place as the centerpiece of the community. The library associates formed in June 1974.

Currently, most of the programs and special events at the library are funded by monies generated through the associates.

—Newsletter Editor