Author: kathrynwboughton@gmail.com

The Norfolk NET Food Pantry continues to need more food to share with those in need. Persons wishing to donate half-gallons of 2 percent milk can do so during Food Pantry hours, Tuesday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Battell Chapel. Those are the hours when it can be quickly refrigerated. Non-perishable food items can be left in the blue bin at the back of the building, Particularly needed is ground coffee, kids’ snacks and juice boxes and cookies. Also needed are cereal, pasta and sauce, soups, canned fruit and juices, canned meats, peanut butter, rice, protein bars, and macaroni and cheese. Toilet paper, pater towels and personal care items are also appreciated.

Need a ride? Transportation in Northwest Connecticut can be difficult if you don’t drive, but there are three options available for public transport to doctor’s appointments, shopping and picking up prescriptions. The Norfolk van runs Monday, Thursday and Friday, with Friday designated for shopping in Torrington; call 860-542-5829. Geer Village Dial-a-Ride is available weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m; call 860-824-7067. Finally, Northwestern CT Transit operates Wednesday for rides in Norfolk or to Torrington and Winsted; call 860-489-2535. Its RITS Program is available for local doctor’s appointments and longer distances, such as Hartford Hospital, UConn Medical, Yale-New Haven and the Greater Waterbury area. At least 24 hours advance notice is required for the Norfolk van and Geer, and 48 hours for Northwestern CT Transit.

Geer does not charge for rides; it is funded by grants and donations. Northwestern CT Transit charges $2.00 for a one-way ride ($4.00 round trip); RITS has a suggested donation. Norfolk asks for a $2.00 donation for round trips within the Norfolk/Canaan/Winsted/Torrington area and charges a $5.00 fee outside that area.

The ever-popular Farmers Market, held at Town Hall, 19 Maple Ave. continues Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., though October 4.

Immaculate Conception Church invites all to participate in this year’s Northwest Connecticut Virtual Crop Walk to end hunger. The “walk” will be conducted during September. Donation envelopes are available at the back of the church. for more information on how to join the team, click here.

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.