The Northwestern Regional School District #7 will host a Veterans Day Breakfast on Monday, November 11, 2024 at 8:00 at Northwestern Regional School. Breakfast will be served from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m., followed by a program in the auditorium.
Veterans planning to attend should RSVP to 860-379-8525, ext. 2100.
The Norfolk Conservation Commission will hold a community volunteer event Sunday, October 27th, at 11 a.m.
Work will focus on eliminating the young buckthorn sprouting at the entrance to Barbour Woods and bordering the Land Trust’s newly acquired Borden Woods along Lovers Lane. There will be a brief orientation to buckthorn and control strategies.
The Conservation Commission is looking for suggestions for upcoming events and hopes to recruit volunteers to help manage Norfolk’s many invasive plants. Keep track of events at its Facebook page and send suggestions to conservationcommission@norfolkct.org.
For more than a century, Great Mountain Forest has served as a laboratory for forest science. The focus has been on trees, but now a new element—the moose—is under its metaphorical microscope.
Moose, usually denizens of northern forests, were unexpectedly detected in the forest in 2002, even though Connecticut is on the southern fringe of moose habitat. Eight years later, research into the effects they were having on the forest was initiated and in 2020, a second study was begun to determine their population.
Deploying game cameras at known foraging spots, Great Mountain Forest has identified 21 animals: 11 mature bulls, two adolescent bulls, five cows and three calves. This accounts for about one-quarter of the moose in Connecticut, according to DEEP estimates.
Although moose are breeding in the forest, anecdotal reports suggest their population is decreasing. Climate change is one factor that allows ticks to remain active in winter, continuing to prey on and weaken the animals.
Another factor limiting population growth is less area that attracts moose. The animals are drawn to areas where trees have been cut down, allowing younger trees to grow. As moose prefer to browse at head height, they look for trees roughly four to eight inches in diameter. Moose can walk over these young trees, bending their trunks and browsing on the upper branches.
While the moose population has been resident at GMF, scientists have taken the opportunity to compare their impact on forest development to that of white-tailed deer. In 2010, researchers Ed Faison, senior ecologist at Highstead Foundation, and Steve DeStefano, retired leader of the Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, began collaborating with Great Mountain Forest to set up experimental moose and deer exclusion plots.
Each plot was fenced in different ways to dictate which species could access its vegetation. Comparing the trees, shrubs and other plants in the plots is allowing researchers to study how selective foraging patterns affect the forest.
According to Faison, the browsing effects of deer alone on the forest have been minor and often not much different from the plot where browsers have been completely excluded. The effects by moose and deer combined have been large and point to moose being the dominant browser in these harvested areas.
Here are some of the strongest patterns :
Halloween will be a little different this year. Normally, the town closes off Maple Avenue and its feeder streets to vehicular traffic from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. to allow little ghoulies and ghosties to roam safely as they trick or treat.
This year, however, Halloween coincides with early voting at town hall, so cars will be allowed to enter Maple Avenue and will be asked to proceed carefully to avoid the children until the polls close at 8:00 p.m., according to Norfolk Fire Chief Brian Hutchins.
The firefighters, who donate their services every year, will be in their usual spots at the intersections of Maple Avenue, Greenwoods Road and Emerson Street from 5:00 p.m. until 7:30-ish, he said. Signs will be posted saying that early voting is available, but that drivers should proceed carefully.
Maple Avenue and its tributaries—Terrace View, Hillside, Emerson—have been designated exclusively for trick-or-treating for years now and each year candy is collected from Botelle families and other donors to offset the burden on homeowners along those streets. Janet Byrne is heading the drive this year and has announced that candy donations can be taken to the school, the post office or the Berkshire Country Store.
Anyone on the streets who would like to receive some of the donated candy should email her.
The fun is not confined to October 31st, however. The PTO is again planning its free Boo-telle Spooktacular for Friday, October 25, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., in the covered playground behind the school. There will be games, pizzas for purchase, treats, prizes and a costume parade.
The Norfolk Democratic Town Committee is offering rides to the polls for any Norfolk registered voter starting Oct. 21. Please contact 860-201-7498 to make arrangements.
Botelle School is abuzz with fall activities. Wednesday, staff and students will celebrate Unity Day by wearing orange and pledging to make Botelle a bullying-free zone. October is Bullying Awareness Month, and the Student Council members and staff members are teaching students what bullying means and how they can help if someone is being bullied.
Plans are being laid for this year’s PTO Spooktacular, a haunted Halloween scavenger hunt, and Veterans Day. The school always pauses to honor veterans with an assembly on Veteran’s Day, and vets and families who would like to be included in the event should notify Mary Beth Lasko in the main office, 860-824-5286.
At its Tuesday night meeting, the Planning and Zoning Commission scheduled three public hearings for November 12.
A hearing on a proposed ground-mounted solar array at 400 North Street originally slated for 6:45 p.m. was rescheduled because one member of the commission recused himself and the commission did not have a quorum without him. The property is listed as belonging to Bonnie Pritzker and Steve Landes.
With the recused member available to consider the next matter, P&Z members accepted a special permit application from Terry Anstett, 542 Greenwoods Road East, for construction of an accessory structure larger than the primary building.
Anstett was present and said he needs more space to modernize his maple syrup operation. His plans have not been completed but he said the building will be no taller than 16 feet and probably 20 by 60 feet.
Asked if sewer or water would be connected to the building, Anstett said they would not. He reported that he had consulted the Torrington Area Health District and anticipates no problem with getting approval for the use.
Anstett makes about 300 gallons of syrup a year and sells out all his product. Member Edward Barron asked if a special permit is needed for production of syrup and P&Z Chairman Tom Fahsbender said there would be no change of an established use.
A public hearing was scheduled for November 12.
The last issue on the agenda for action was a special permit application to change a non-conforming use for 16 Maple Avenue. If the application were to be approved it would not change exterior uses of the building but would alter the interior to provide an art studio, office and woodshop. The question before the commission is whether this would make the use more non-conforming.
Zoning Enforcement Officer Kelsey Sefcik requested a floor plan and the commission added that it wants business and site plans.
The application will go to a public hearing November 12.
The Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department is currently holding a couple of fundraisers. To support the new firehouse project, it is selling “Fire House Ale,” a Kölsch style beer in a limited edition can, in partnership with Norbrook Farm Brewery. The ale can be purchased at Norbrook, 204 Stillman Hill Road, Colebrook, for $16 a four-pack.
Engraved pint glasses featuring NVFD’s mascot, Roger, are available from firefighters for $10 each.
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, NVFD is also selling 2024 Fighting for a Cure t-shirts. The shirts are available for purchase at the National Iron Bank in limited sizes and colors. All proceeds benefit the Norfolk Children’s Foundation in memory of Laverne Barbagallo.
The Board of Finance voted Tuesday night to pay new town clerk Deborah Nelson back pay for the months when she covered for Linda Perkins, who resigned October 1. Perkins had been out of the office for health reasons since May.
First Selectman Matt Riiska said that Nelson was certified to be a town clerk in June and has performed all town clerk functions since Perkins has been out. She was formerly assistant town clerk.
The difference between her pay scale as assistant and as town clerk amounts to $6,808, Riiska said.
“I think she should be compensated for that amount,” he said. He also stated his desire to make the town clerk job appointed and not elected. That would have to be approved at a town meeting.
Riiska also reported to the board on continuing issues. The major reconstruction of Maple Avenue that was completed this summer cost less than budgeted, he said. The town had $2.6 million in funding available for the work and the final tabulation was $2,506,058. Treasurer Chelsea DeWitt told the board that the STEAP grant of $500,000 to help pay for the work has been received.
The Town has also submitted $750,827 worth of bills to the insurance company representing the trucking firm whose driver caused a disastrous gas spill in 2022. It is not certain when or if this final claim will be paid.
Riiska also said that the culverts for the temporary replacement bridge on Smith Road would cost $63,000 and the total cost of the project is estimated at $150,000. The sum would have to be taken from the town’s capital reserve account.
Edited 10/12/24
Reminder: Thanks to a generous donation, members of the Norfolk Volunteer Fire Department are installing blue number signs on every residence in town.
The firefighters are installing them on trees at the end of driveways or on a pole that the company will supply for the homeowner. Property owners who feel it necessary to move their signs after they are installed are asked to make sure they are visible from the road and from both directions.
The reflective signs help the fire department, ambulance and police respond quickly to homes in case of an emergency. For further information, email Info@norfolkfire.org.