Author: Kathryn Boughton

Work on the retaining wall being constructed by the state Department of Transportation on Route 7 will be paused for a couple of weeks because of the cold weather, according to First Selectman Henry Tirrell. He noted that much of what is being done now requires pouring concrete, which is not easy in super-cold weather.

The multi-year highway project is expected to be completed next September, 400 days before the original end date. The crews started affixing the final dress stone to the front of the structure this week. 

Tirrell said he has requested that the DOT address another section of the old, deteriorating retaining wall that is outside the scope of the main project and Tirrell is waiting for the state’s decision. “They shortened the job by more than a year, so they have a little wiggle room,” Tirrell said.

The state is scheduled to start replacement of a second bridge on Mountain Road in April with a completion date of November.

“It would be great if by next Christmas we could have a finished bridge, a new wall and a fire house,” he said. 

—Kathryn Boughton

The Norfolk Fire Department will host Santa on two occasions this December. The Jolly Old Elf will swing through town Saturday to take part in the department’s 33rd annual Breakfast with Santa from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at Battell Chapel. 

A family style buffet will feature scrambled eggs, pancakes, home fries, French toast, breakfast meats and beverages. The cost is $13 for adults, $10 for seniors and $8 for children younger than 12. Youngsters under the age of 5 are admitted free. Cash, debit and credit cards are accepted. Proceeds benefit the fire department.

Santa will give the firefighters a boost by coming to breakfast, but they will turn around and give him a hand on Christmas Eve when he briefly trades in his sleigh for a ride in a fire truck to deliver packages locally. Between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m., Santa and his helpers will spread holiday cheer by delivering gifts right to participants’ doorsteps.

Those who wish to receive a visit should drop off pre-wrapped, labeled gifts at the firehouse, 20 Shepard Road, on one of the three Monday evenings before Christmas (December 8, 15, or 22) between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.

A $10 donation per gift recipient (check made payable to Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department) is requested.

Participants can fill out the delivery form online. Santa will do his best to honor preferred delivery times. The service is available to town residents and, time allowing, to homes close to Norfolk.

—Kathryn Boughton

First Selectman Henry Tirrell said this week that his board has referred a proposal to make Haystack Woods Road a town street to the Planning and Zoning Commission. 

The Foundation for Norfolk Living, which is developing a 10-house affordable community on the road, originally proposed making it a private road but the state Department of Housing decreed it should be made public. 

The street has recently been paved, bringing it up to the town zoning specifications.

Seven prospective buyers have started the application process to purchase a house in the development, which is just off Old Colony Road. 

A third open house, scheduled for Sunday, has been postponed because of the predicted cold weather. The super energy-efficient homes are expected to be ready for occupancy in early 2026. 

Details about income eligibility and the application process for Haystack Woods can be found at the website for the Foundation for Norfolk Living: norfolkliving.org. 

The foundation is also developing a stand-alone, three-bedroom house near the development that’s available to first-time buyers earning up to 100 percent of area median income, or a total of $104,800 for a household of three. The modular home is a joint project with the Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunity. More information about the Norfolk house, as well as others being built in surrounding towns, can be found here: cho.thehousingcollective.org/regions/litchfield-county.

—Kathryn Boughton

Ann DeCerbo of Norfolk, who has previously guided the annual theatrical productions at Botelle Elementary School, has taken her skills to Northwestern Regional School #7 this year to direct “Sense and Sensibility.” 

Her co-director, John DeShazo, a theater and film technician and actor who lives in Norfolk, has also been deeply involved with school performances.

The curtain rises on the production Friday, Nov. 21, at 7:00 p.m. Additional performances will be on Saturday, November 22, also at 7:00, and Sunday, November 23, at 2:00 p.m.

The adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic tale follows the Dashwood sisters as they navigate love, family and society and features the high school and middle school thespians from both the district’s four member towns: Norfolk, Colebrook, Barkhamsted and New Hartford.

Tickets are available online and at the door. The school is located at 100 Battistoni Road, Winsted.

—Kathryn Boughton

The 40-year-old elevator at Botelle School has broken down and the motor must be replaced. School Superintendent Kevin Case told the Board of Finance Tuesday night that restoring it could cost up to $50,000. 

The funds will be taken from the school’s non-lapsing fund and from this year’s budget. 

—Kathryn Boughton

The Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department gave the Board of Finance a detailed description of its needs and operations during the Board’s meeting Tuesday night, at the invitation of finance chairman Michael Sconyers. 

Sconyers said the company, whose operations budget is funded by the town, had appeared before the board to explain its budgetary needs only once before in his memory.

Assistant Fire Chief Matt Ludwig described the operations, reporting that the volunteers logged 5,500 hours last year in training and responses, a figure that does not include hours spent writing grants, serving on committees and the like. The company currently has 55 active members, 16 of whom are certified interior firefighters and 23 who attack fires from outside structures. 

The cost of operating a volunteer fire department is formidable. Ludwig said the current price to replace a fire truck is $1.1 million and the time to design and construct a truck can consume three years.

The company rotates its vehicles every 30 years, five years longer than is recommended and now needs to replace Engine 30. The truck was refurbished in 2014 to add another 10 years to its lifespan.

The firefighters explained that there are three paths to replacement. First would to purchase a new truck at more than $1 million. A second option would be to refurbish an existing truck at approximately 70 to 80 percent of the new purchase price. The downside of this option is that the vehicle would be out of operation for two years and it must be replaced either through a rental or by some other means. 

The third possibility is to buy a used truck at about half its lifespan, a problematic option as trucks are designed for the physical conditions in which they must work. The firefighters pointed out that Norfolk is rural, hilly, with homes in locations that can be difficult to reach. The company has one smaller truck that is sent up long, narrow driveways that cannot accommodate the bigger trucks that are 33 feet long and weigh 47 tons.

Fire trucks are not the only formidable expenses facing the department. For instance, turnout gear can cost $5,000 for each set and must be replaced every five years; air packs used by interior firefighters cost $10,000 each, and tires on the fire trucks, which must by law be replaced every seven years, are “very, very expensive.” 

Even insurance is an issue. Ludwig said Norfolk does not insure its trucks for full replacement so if one is damaged beyond repair the town might get as little as $10,000 or $15,000 for an older truck. “We need to make sure that the new firehouse is properly insured,” he said. 

An additional $11,000 expense is encountered for annual OSHA-required medical evaluations for the 38 firefighters who actively fight fires, for training, repairs of equipment and the like. 

The town’s 2025-2026 budget includes $132,000 for the department’s operation. For other expenses the company seeks grants, holds fundraisers and sends out an annual appeal letter. 

Ludwig said the company has applied for and received an aggregate $1.5 million in grant money since 2010 to lessen the impact on taxpayers. 

—Kathryn Boughton

Unrestricted short-term housing rentals can be seen as a blessing for travelers and property owners or a curse for town officials and neighbors. During Tuesday night’s meeting, the Planning and Zoning Commission again mulled over the need, or lack thereof, to regulate short-term housing rentals.

The P&Z had addressed the issue earlier this year and decided that short-term rentals are currently covered under two sections of the zoning regulations. Members steered clear of trying to define and regulate the use.

Zoning Enforcement Officer Stacey Sefcik said many towns are waiting for guidance from the state legislature before crafting regulations.

Under Norfolk’s current regulations,  a property owner can rent an accessory dwelling unit to one other family, or a homeowner can rent up to two bedrooms. 

While some members had reservations about the status quo, the consensus appeared to be that the issue would be better handled through a town ordinance that could encompass other regulations, such as the fire code, and where enforcement would be easier.

In two other matters the commission approved a site plan modification for 879 Winchester Road where Joanne Charon operates a farm and CSA. She wants to build a 24-by-36-foot barn and to relocate her parking lot.

Neighbors expressed concerns about agricultural runoff into a pond and contended that the farming operation is changing the character of the neighborhood. But Chairman Christopher Schaut said that the commission was considering an application for a structure and not a change of use. Charon said her existing use will not expand.

For the second application, Michael Halloran appeared for George Auclair, owner of George’s Garage, with a plan to add a second storage building to a narrow strip of land across Route 44 from the garage. Auclair received permission to build his first garage on the parcel in March 2022. 

Because of the lot’s size, the applicant will have to go to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a variance from setback regulations. The ZBA can grant variances when a hardship on a site does not allow the applicant to comply with the zoning code. In this instance, the only buildable site on the plot would not meet the setback requirement. The Planning and Zoning Commission cannot act on the application until the ZBA makes its determination.

The commission decided it needed a better description of what Auclair plans to do and set a public hearing for December 9. The ZBA may act on the request for a variance on December 4. If it does not, the PZC will continue its hearing until January.

—Kathryn Boughton

Starting Monday, there is a new face behind the first selectman’s desk in town hall.

For months, Norfolk’s new First Selectman, Henry Tirrell, and veteran First Selectman Matt Riiska have worked toward a smooth transition in leadership. 

With Tirrell running unopposed, there was no question of who Riiska’s successor would be, and the men have been meeting weekly to familiarize Tirrell, a one-term selectman, with all the paperwork and projects he will take over next week.

“I know a lot of what’s going on but it will be different to actually be behind the desk,” Tirrell said this week. He will be sworn in Sunday and will head a board composed of incumbent Republican Selectman Sandy Evans and Democrat Leo Colwell, a former selectman.

Tirrell said this week that he expects to take the first year of his incumbency to carry through pending projects and will start to bring his own vision to the job the following year. 

“I have a decent amount to chew on right now,” he said. “There is a lot of stuff like the new firehouse that is going on immediately. Basically, I will be getting my feet under me and hopefully by this time next year I will have a framework for looking out into the future.”

The $10-million firehouse project is nearing the point when ground can be broken. Tirrell said one of his first tasks will be to meet with the town’s financial advisor and bond counsel to get a bond anticipation note in place. 

Next week will also include a meeting with the Fire House Committee when he expects to get a clearer idea of what the construction schedule will be. 

2026 may also bring the construction of three new bridges and, while the state is expected to absorb all costs for them, he will have to arrange upfront financing that will later be reimbursed. 

There has been much comment in recent months about Tirrell’s youth as a town leader. “People say I am so young,” he commented, “but I am 38 and I feel 40 creeping up.” Born and bred in Norfolk, he said it was his love of the town that made him run.

Tirrell predicts that younger people will begin to fill posts on town boards and commission in coming years. “There are a lot of people who have put an amazing amount of time and work into the town,” he observed, “but they will want to move on and then the next generation will have to step up. A few people from all walks of life are already doing that kind of stuff.”

Tirrell has already left his former occupation as a brewer with Big Elm Brewery in Sheffield, Mass., and will be a sworn-in Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the Town Hall.  A reception will follow. Family members and guests are welcome to attend.

—Kathryn Boughton

With Thanksgiving only two weeks away, the Food Pantry is busy gathering food and donations to fill 70 baskets for needy area residents. 

The baskets will consist of turkeys with side dishes of vegetables, stuffing, pies and more and will be available to people living in Norfolk, Colebrook, Winchester (including Winsted), Falls Village and Canaan.

“We have two principal drives,” said Church of Christ Administrative Assistant Beth Deane. “People can either donate turkeys or they can donate money.” A Turkey Sign-up link has been posted on the church’s home page and the turkeys must be delivered by November 23rd. “We’re asking for turkeys that weigh 15 pounds or more,” Deane said. 

Families who need the baskets will pick them up Monday, November 24th.

Checks and cash can be delivered to the church office or to one of the Food Pantry volunteers during open hours. The church office is open Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and Sundays, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Food Pantry is open Tuesday through Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Both are located in Battell Chapel. 

Checks should be made payable to the Norfolk Food Pantry with a memo noting the money is for Thanksgiving baskets. Online donations can be made here.

The Congregational Church is also launching its Angel Tree, an online project that allows donors to select a child and to purchase gifts for it from a list provided by the parents. The recipients are anonymous, identified only by a tag number for donors to use. Gifts must be delivered to the church office on or before December 5th.

Lynn Deasy and Lisa McClave organize the Thanksgiving baskets and Angel Tree. 

In a final effort to make the holidays merry and bright, the church plans a Reverse Advent Calendar project that is open to all townspeople. Donors will fill a box with one recommended item each day throughout December and then deliver it on Christmas Eve to the Food Pantry. Calendars are available at the church office and a copy appears on the church website. 

With Thanksgiving only two weeks away, the Food Pantry is busy gathering food and donations to fill 70 baskets for needy area residents. 

The baskets will consist of turkeys with side dishes of vegetables, stuffing, pies and more and will be available only to people living in Norfolk, Colebrook, Winsted (including Winchester), Falls Village and Canaan. The Food Pantry has had to cut back its service area because of the increased demand. 

“We used to be open to just everyone, but with the increased cost of groceries, the Food Pantry just couldn’t keep up with the demand,” said Church of Christ Administrative Assistant Beth Deane.

“We have two principal drives,” she continued. “People can either donate turkeys or they can donate money.” A Turkey Sign-up link has been posted and the turkeys must be delivered by November 23rd. “We’re asking for turkeys that weigh 15 pounds or more,” Deane said. 

Families who need the baskets will pick them up Monday, November 24th.

Checks and cash can be delivered to the church office or to one of the Food Pantry volunteers during open hours. The church office is open Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and Sundays, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Food Pantry is open Tuesday through Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Both are located in Battell Chapel. 

Checks should be made payable to the Norfolk Food Pantry with a memo noting the money is for Thanksgiving baskets. Online donations can be made here.

The Congregational Church is also launching its Angel Tree, an online project that allows donors to select a child and to purchase gifts for it from a list provided by the parents. The recipients are anonymous and donors identify them using a tag number. Donors are asked to attach a list of what is being given to the wrapped gifts and to include any receipts for clothes and shoes. Gifts must be delivered to the church office on or before December 5th.

Lyn Deasy and Lisa McClave organize the Thanksgiving Baskets and Angel Tree. 

In a final effort to make the holidays merry and bright, the church plans a Reverse Advent Calendar project that is open to all townspeople. Donors will fill a box with one recommended item each day throughout December and then deliver it on Christmas Eve to the Food Pantry. Calendars are available at the church office and on the church website.

—Kathryn Boughton

You may have noticed the nip in the air recently. The Clothes Closet at the Church of Christ Congregational certainly has and it is accepting donations of winter clothing and coats, according to organizer Jen Pfaltz.

Gently used men’s, women’s and children’s clothing is greatly needed, she said. 

Pfaltz, who recently organized a popular Mending Café, where volunteers stitched and patched patrons’ garments in exchange for donations to the Norfolk Food Pantry, added that she is always looking for sweaters to repair and upcycle. 

“Sweaters with moth holes or other damage? No problem!” she said.

Items can be dropped off at the Food Pantry at UCC Norfolk Tuesday through Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the church office Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. or at the Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department Monday evenings.

—Kathryn Boughton