Author: kathrynwboughton@gmail.com

Tamara Muruetagoiena, executive director of Great Mountain Forest, Inc., has been appointed Director of Sustainability at the International Fresh Produce Association located in Newark, Del. She joined GMF in 2019 to help  the organization advance new forest management plans that recognize the ecological and economic benefits of forests. GMF manages one of the larger, private forests in southern New England. The Board of Trustees will be announcing a leadership plan shortly.

In keeping with state and federal regulations on records retention and disposal, school officials plan to destroy records of Special Education and 504 students who left or graduated from Regional School District No. 7 or Botelle School in Norfolk on or before June 30, 2016 or who were born before July 1, 1998. These records could be needed for Social Security benefits or other purposes. Anyone wishing to review his/her records or to obtain the originals may do so by calling Quentin Rueckert, director of Shared Services, at 860-379-8583 before June 15. For more information, click here.

Efforts are accelerating to restore the Church of Christ Congregational steeple. The Steeple Restoration Committee has selected one of three plans presented by GNCB Consulting Engineers and Noyes Vogt Architects and fundraising efforts are beginning in earnest. To date, one-third of the approximately $400,000 needed for restoration has been pledged. To donate toward the restoration, click here.

Immaculate Conception Church is participating in a St. Martin of Tours Parish food drive during the six weeks of Lent. Donations of non-perishable items may be left in a box provided at the church. The food will be distributed through the Norfolk Food Pantry.

Botelle School is compiling a list of children eligible for pre-kindergarten in  September 2022. Any Norfolk child born in 2018 or on Jan. 1, 2019, is eligible for enrollment. It is important for parents to contact the school at 860-542-5286 – ext. 200 (or email mplasko.norfolk@snet.net) so it can plan for the upcoming year and provide information about registration and orientation. Click here for more information

The Norfolk Fire Department has fought its way through social media bureaucracy after its Facebook page was taken down for about two months. Facebook said the department violated a policy unknown to the firefighters but would not say which one. The normal appeals process did not work and  Sen. Kevin Witkos’ office had to intervene twice before the page was restored. The fire company expressed its thanks to Witkos and his staff.

A Good News Gathering at Botelle School originally set for March 15th has been postponed until warmer weather to allow longtime Norfolk teacher, Fran Fratini Cooper, to more easily mix with former and current students. Mrs. Cooper, now in her 90s, will tell students what school was like when she taught at Norfolk Center School when the event is finally held. Former students and community members are invited to this event.

The Shared Services Integrated Preschool Program (SSIPP) is an integrated preschool program serving the needs of children ages 3 to 5 in Barkhamsted, Colebrook, Hartland and Norfolk. The program is located at the Barkhamsted School and follows the Barkhamsted School calendar. Screenings are offered March 23, March 24 and March 25,  for parents who have concerns regarding their child’s development. Identified children qualify to participate in the Shared Services Preschool Program. For more information, click here.