Community News

The Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department will give Santa a hand Christmas Eve, delivering gifts throughout Norfolk. Residents can print and fill out the form, bring their pre-wrapped presents and suggested donation to the Norfolk Fire House on either December 12 or 19 between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Thats it! The Fire Department will do the rest, ferrying Santa through town Christmas Eve. It is for Norfolk residents, but those living on the other side of the town’s lines, the firefighters might go that extra mile. Message first to confirm.

Each spring, the Botelle School administrators survey parents about four key areas of their children’s experience in the K-6 elementary school. Data show a steady increase in parent approval since 2018. Scores for 2018-2019 were: safety, 71 percent, teaching and learning, 74 percent, interpersonal relationships, 77, and institutional environment, 80 percent.

Figures 2019-2020 were 70 percent for safety, 82 percent for teaching and learning, 85 percent, interpersonal relationships, and 91 percent for school environment. In 2020-2021, scores were 73 percent, safety; 89 percent, teaching and learning; 89 percent, interpersonal relationships, and 95 percent, institutional environment.

The PTO will hold its annual non-profit Holiday Fair December 20 to 22, allow Botelle students to shop for holiday gifts for family members. Gifts are priced (with a few exceptions) between $1.00 and $4.00. The school is asking for donations of homemade items, pet treats, golf balls, socks, pencils, notebooks and the like for the event. All donations may be sent to the main office.

We have added a new page to this website for news, updates and resources on the November 5 gas spill. The link’s on the top navigation bar, but you can also click here.

A beautiful quilt is now hanging in the library, in front of the teen cove now under construction. The Norfolk Library Associates quilt was pieced and quilted by 36 Norfolk residents in 2005. Stop in and find out who made each square! Each depicts a classic Norfolk scene.

Norfolk will be merry and bright Saturday evening following the annual carol sing in the great room at Norfolk Library and the tree lighting on the Village Green. The carol sing, with seasonal refreshments, begins at 5:00 p.m. For those who choose not to sing, the Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department will be passing out cups of hot coco and munchkins free to all on the Green, starting at 5:45 p.m. At 6:00 o’clock sharp, Santa arrives on his fire engine sleigh-of-lights, passing out candy canes to children then lighting the Towns tree. Hope to see everyone there!

Immaculate Conception Church will set up its Giving Tree November 27 and keep it in place through December 11. Those wishing to make Christmas merrier for a child in need can choose a tag from the tree and purchase the gift listed on it. Gifts must be under the tree by December 11 for distribution by local social service agencies.

Sockin’ It At Botelle

Botelle School is gathering socks to fight the cold for those in need. Donations, large and small, are being displayed on a line in the school office before distribution. Donations may be left in the main office.

The “Raise the Steeple” committee has announced that the community’s support and generous donations have allowed the steeple restoration project to move forward. More than $575,000 has been raised, some of which has been spent to lower the steeple to the ground for repairs (approximately $100,000) and about $35,000 on the engineering work. In addition to renovating the steeple, the Church of Christ plans to repair the clock face and chimes. The original estimate for repairs and refurbishment of the clock doubled but because of the generous community support, the church is in a good position to complete the work.

Soon architectural and engineering plans will be completed and the project will go out to bid. Once quotes are received, future expenditures will become clearer. Even with uncertain building costs, the Committee is confident that the work will be done with the support of the community.

“We do want to thank all who have contributed so much to this effort. We are lucky to be part of our community that cares so much for our church and its place in Norfolk,” committee members said. “We truly appreciate donations of all sizes. Every donation helps brings us closer to our goal of raising the steeple.”

Click here to visit “steeple campaign” on (norfolkucc.org) to learn more.

With winter on the horizon the Clothes Closet at Battell Chapel is looking for donations of cool/cold weather items. Please do not donate shoes with heels. It is helpful if sets of sheets are clipped together with a label of the size. In addition, the need for food donations continues at the Food Pantry. Two-percent milk is particularly needed.