Notes Archive, April - June 2002This is the archive of previous Norfolk Notes.
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6/30 8:56am Is this the elusive canta berry??!!??
Translation in Spanish, canta - it sings; para cantar -to sing.- AB
[aka Chuck? :-) - Wm.]
6/29 2:01pm Students, 14 years old & up, needed to referee Fall 2002 games for the Norfolk Lions Youth Soccer program. All games are played in Norfolk on Sunday afternoons. Training will be provided. This is a paying position - a fun way to earn some extra $$! For more information call 508-520-0163. - HK
6/29 1:41pm To RC: Ask the Selectmen to name your street "Canterberry Bell Boulevard" !! Watch them deliberate on that one. On second thought, that might be very painful to watch on TV. - ME
6/28 10:04pm In reply to RC: ... don't remember seeing too many of these around Sweetland farms. THE CANTERBERRY BELL FAIRY... but Im sure they're both spelled incorrectly as well ...
K4573 (NEW) Price: £18.75
Canterberry Bell: Lower Camp Rock Road south of Daggett [in the California desert along Route 66; population 200 - Wm.]- BD
6/28 7:06pm RC, why have you let the selectmen Get Away with no response ?? - MC
6/28 12:21pm On the Berry-Bury debate - sounds like a job for an industrial-sized bottle of white-out. - KM
6/28 12:18pm When I was a kid, I pronounced the name of our fine town "Nor-fork." But when I grew up and friends asked where I was living, they would look puzzled at my reply, then say, "OH, Norfuk!" Of course, this must be pronounced delicately, without too much emphasis on the last syllable. - HPK
6/28 11:27am Changing a street name is not all that common, but is also not without precedent ... at least in Norfolk it seems. I have an old map, but not that old, that shows a road in town that used to be named "Bird Road". It is now named "Highland Lake Drive". The task would seem to be a trail infrequently traveled, and fraught with steep slopes, rocks, and crevasses, but still one that can, through persistence, be measured with success. Canterberry, huh? Not at all an endearing version of the name, But then again, we are victim of our own folly when we speak the word "Canterbury", or Sudbury, or Waterbury, ... and they all sound so much like CranBERRY. And we further our plight when we bastardize the spelling to suit our convenience, ... as in Marlborough (Marlboro?), Westborough (Westboro?), Southborough (Southboro?), Northborough (Northboro?). Even the "Welcome to..." signs installed at our borders by the Commonwealth are rarely imprinted with the same version. And how, pray tell, do we pronounce the name of our own dear town? NorfoLK? Or NorfoRK? A wonder, it is...!! A heretofore unheard rule of speech and grammar? "I" before "E", except after "C", and "L" sounds like "R" when it appears after an "O"... as in "FORK"...oops, I forgot ... "FOLK"? As in ... "I'd like to introduce you to my forks...er..I mean, my FOLKS. - TK
6/28 9:03am Re: Street names We sent the following to the selectmen months ago ... got no response. We write this in petition to change the spelling of Canterberry Lane to the traditional spelling, which is Canterbury. Someone must have had reason to suggest this abhorrent spelling but we have been unable to discover any support for this position. We submit the following for your consideration:- RCMicrosoft Word's spell check and The Merriam-Webster Dictionary do not recognize Canterberry but do suggest Canterbury as the correct spelling. Word did suggest Canter berry as an alternative - what can you expect from Bill - but Webster didn't like that at all and suggested Candleberry or Checkerberry. Having gleaned no insight into the decision to allow such a conundrum we turned to the World Wide Web for edification. We surmised that an historical reference might have been justification for the misnomer. A quick search on Google.com revealed 547,000 Internet sites, which contained the word Canterbury. The sites referenced Canterbury-New Zealand, Canterbury-England, Geoffrey Chaucer and of course the Archbishop of Canterbury. A search on Canterberry revealed a mere 1,660 sites that referenced such notables as a pygmy goat farm, a golf course and a boarding stable in Spencer, MA. All the rest of the pages seemed to refer to various individuals with Canterberry as their last name and too much time on their hands. We did learn that Canterberry is the 41,174th most popular surname in the US and will file that fact away just in case Regis calls. Despite the popularity of the name we could not find any reference to such a moniker'd individual in the historical records of the parentage and lineage of the Town of Norfolk or in the current telephone listings for the entire Commonwealth of MA. Most Canterberry's appear to live in LA. Unfulfilled in our quest to dispel obfuscation we turned to the great outdoors in search of the rare Canta bush or Canta tree that must have been indigenous to the Sweetland Farm, hence the name Canterberry. Alas, if such a rare floral specimen ever existed, it is no more. As the Norfolk branch of the US Post Office can attest the majority of our mail is addressed to Canterbury Lane, as most folks cannot comprehend the other spelling. The development is Canterbury Estates so why can't we have Canterbury Lane?
6/28 8:37am To KB: At least they are spelled correctly! Or worse yet they could have been spelled Jimy with one "m," Donnie with an "ie" on the end instead of a "y", and Jennifer could have been spelled Gennifer, Jen'fer, Jennipher or Jehenifer. - AB
6/28 8:36am When I was growing up in Franklin, "Donny Drive" always made me cringe. Where's the dignity in that? But now Franklin has "Lily Waye" (exact spelling). There's also, I believe, a "Concetta Way" -- tribute to the developer's grandmother? JP, your contribution of the term "hundreds and thousands" just cleared up years of confusion caused by reading Rumer Godden children's books at a young age. Thank you! - HPK
6/27 9:17pm The naming of all subdivision streets is a discretionary function of the Board of Selectmen by statute. The Board has a list of names that it selects in naming streets. The naming of a subdivision is done by the developer, who can call it whatever catchy name to sell houses. The naming of a subdivision's streets by a developer results in names like Jimmy, Donny and Jennifer Streets (seriously, these are names of actual streets in Franklin); would you want a $500k on Jimmy Street? Call the Selectmen Office if you want a list of street names. - KB
6/27 4:24pm Re: the discussion of sprinkles and jimmies. I come from England and over there we call them all "hundreds and thousands". - JP
6/27 1:45pm In reply to JW: Watering for flower, vegtable gardens and car washing is allowed from 6-8am or 6-8pm, for odd numbered houses on Mon and Thu, for even numbered houses on Tue and Fri - no lawns, no watering at all on Wed and weekends. - BD
6/27 8:41am About the water ban, I was looking at notices on the Norfolk Cable Station and it said a full water ban is in effect. I also looked at the water dept. web page and it also says a full water ban is in effect. The date on that though, is April, where can we find an actual update so we don't end up getting a warning or worse yet a fine? - JW
6/26 3:34pm To RG: Please enlighten me as to the naming of streets in Town - the responsibility is of which Town Board? Who is responsible for the correct naming of a road, what I mean by that is specifically the paved surface. Is it a road, an avenue, a lane, boulevard, a way, a path, etc. As for the correct spelling of a road way I quote Mark Twain " ...simplified spelling is all right, but, like chastity, you can carry it too far."- AB- The Alphabet and Simplified Spelling speech, 12/9/1907
6/26 10:44am Re: Are "Jimmies" only chocolate and "Sprinkles" multicolored? To JW: I agree with BD's personal opinion: Yes. In my 50++ years of experience in various parts of this country, admittedly not a world view (Weltanschauung), Jimmies are only chocolate, and Sprinkles are only multicolored. And regarding the web discussion of "expert opinions" in an ad, one must consider the reliability and knowledge of the advertising types who write the stuff. Advertising types remind me of the lawyer's answer to the question: "How much is 2 + 2?" The scientist answers: 4. The engineer answers: 4. The lawyer answers: "How much do you want it to be?" - AN
6/26 10:40am To JW - Don't you wish all of life's problems were this simple?? - PR
6/26 10:36am Volunteers are needed to mow lawns in Millis. Interested parties should call Charmagne LaPrise at the Millis Council on Aging [508-376-7051]. - RD
6/25 10:56pm In 1930, in Bronx, New York. James Bartholomew is working a job at Samuel Born's candy company, Just Born, Inc. Bartholomew operates a machine that cranks out Born's newest product, tiny hot-dog shaped sprinkly things. But what to call them? Sam Born ponders that question for maybe a millisecond. They he decides that because Jimmy Bartholomew makes them, he'll call them Jimmies. That's still a trademarked name, but Just Born no longer makes the product. I guess if Bartholomew had shown up late for his job interview, maybe we would now be eating chocolate Wallies or Herbies or Eddies. Born's other claim to fame - lollipops - received a major boost from Samuel Born. He was a Russian immigrant who invented a lollipop-making machine that automatically inserted the sticks. - BD
6/25 10:37pm To JW: In my personal opinion, experience and Weltanschauung Jimmies should only refer to the chocolate bits, sprinkles only to multi-colored candy - the heck with Merriam and Candyland BUT here's a sample from a discussion on the web, on this very subject: Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines "jimmies" as follows:
jim-mies \'ji-mez\ n pl [origin unknown] (ca 1947) : tiny rod-shaped bits of usu. chocolate-flavored candy often sprinkled on ice cream.Rod-shaped is listed as a given; they are only usually chocolate flavored. So they can be color-flavored some of the time.
Some may argue that the dictionary people aren't experts in the field of candy and cake decorations but in the expert opinions of the people at Candyland Crafts. The only text on the page is as follows: "Jimmies These are also known to you `aficionados' out there as the familiar `sprinkles', good for a lot more than just ice cream! They come in 4 or 12 ounce bottles." But look at the pictures. Jimmies of all colors! ZING!
- BD
6/25 3:36pm Here's a mind boggling question for you. Are "Jimmies" only chocolate and "Sprinkles" multicolored? Are "Jimmies" native to the East Coast and "Sprinkles" the rest of the world? - JW
6/25 3:36pm Reply to AB, Re: Perhaps the Historical Commission can inform the general public about the current development threat to the Warelands property. It is my understanding that the owner of the Warelands property was under the impression that the property contained viable building lots and as such, presented a redivision of the property to that effect, before the Planning Board. It is also my understanding, however, that there are conservation restrictions on the property that preclude any new construction and that furthermore the owner has been notified of this in writing by the Planning Board and others. The Warelands, since November 10, 1977 has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This listing is granted to buildings, structures, objects and sites that have received local, state or national designation based on their historical or archaeological significance. We at the Historical Commission would be vehemently opposed to any construction or demolition that would affect any of the so designated historic structures on the Warelands property - as these structures and grounds provide one of the few direct links with the group of hearty pioneers who first settled the Norfolk area and that the value to the Town of Norfolk of these remaining as unaltered as possible would be of significant historical and archaeological importance. - Bill Domineau, NHC
6/25 3:01pm Has anyone noticed that the street for Canterbury estates is named CanterBERRY? Now I've heard of a jumping bean, but what's a cantering Berry? - RG
[Shh, don't tell! Of course we've noticed, but if we start discussing it, someone might feel pressured to go and fix it. It's been that way since the start, and it really is funny. Besides, who are we to say that that's not its real name? :-) - Wm.]
6/25 8:38am Leaving Norfolk? We are moving to Norfolk during the first week of July and will have many slightly used boxes (all sizes, including wardrobes) available to you for free. Email me at edup127@hotmail.com if you would like to save money and relieve the Norfolk dump of a large influx of cardboard in July! - Thanks, ED
6/25 8:32am The Friends of the Norfolk Public Library are seeking donations of used books for their annual Book and Bake Sale. Books should be in good condition and can be dropped off at the library during normal business hours from now until September 14. Funds raised support the library and its programs. The Book and Bake Sale will be held Saturday, September 21 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friends of the Library are invited to the the Friends Only Preview Sale being held on Friday, September 20 from 7 to 9 p.m. To become a Friend, please inquire at the library. For further information, call Candace Lavin at 508-520-1098. - CL
6/25 8:31am To BC and BS, belated thanks for your info. I sincerely appreciate your help. - EK
6/24 7:46pm in response to MMB's comments on mosquito spraying: The board of Health would be the one to contact on whether or not the town is spraying this year. From what I've seen in the past, spraying is not mandated unless there is a reason other than a nuisance. Now before everyone jumps on the concerns of WN [West Nile - Wm.] and Triple E virus, let me relieve your minds that we do not as of date have the type of mosquito that carries the WNV,and no positive mosquito pools as of yet in the state (updated daily). Yes, we had quite a few birds last year test positive to the disease, but without the intermediary host, the specific mosquito, the risks of contracting WNV are extremely limited. I agree though. Waiting all winter for these wonderful days and then only to have these little flying "leeches" is bittersweet. As far as the direct coverage for the town, I believe that is set up by the mosquito control programs themselves. Instead of taking up all of Norfolknet's space, here is a direct link to the Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health's West Nile Virus Page. This have information on dead birds reports, positive mosquito pools, info on mosquito spraying, how to properly protect yourself from contacting west nile, how to handle a dead bird, human symptoms, etc. Please note, as of now the state is only testing crows and blue jays as they seem to be the most popular carrier of the disease. West Nile Virus Information Web Site (http://www.state.ma.us/dph/wnv/wnv1.htm). If you find a dead bird please report it to the Norfolk Police Station's dispatcher at 508 528 3232 and it will be determined if it is a candidate for testing. - Hilary N. Penlington, Animal Advisory Agent, Norfolk Board of Health
6/24 7:09pm Re: spraying for mosquitots: Spraying is done by the Norfolk County Mosquito Control Project; see this website:http://www.ultranet.com/~ncmcp/ They have a lot of information, including this: "Mosquitoes thrive in smaller bodies of water in protected places. Examine your home and neighborhood and take the following precautions:
- Dispose of unwanted tin cans and tires.
- Clean clogged roof gutters and drain flat roofs.
- Flush sump-pump pits weekly.
- Stock ornamental pools with fish.
- Change water in birdbaths, fountains, and troughs twice a week.
- Clean and chlorinate swimming pools; when not regularly used, they should be emptied.
- Turn over unused wading pools and other containers that tend to collect rainwater.
- Cover containers tightly with window screen or plastic when storing rainwater for garden use during drought periods. "
The Project has a spraying schedule listed at: http://www.ultranet.com/~ncmcp/spraysch.htmClicking on the highlighted town name produces a .jpg picture of a detailed schedule. Note that a comment on the Needham line says "No party calls", so simply report your high mosquito population. (Well prior to any planned party.) I have e-mailed them in the past and they have been helpful in spraying an area wherethere are a lot of mosquitoes. There is a recent invention described and available at: https://www.mosquitomagnet.com/orderset.html These devices are reported to be quite effective, and are available at local retailers. Refer to the dealer locator on the site.- AN
6/23 7:05pm Does any one know if the town is planning on spraying for mosquitoes this year? It seems that in the past the spraying has been sporadic at best, missing some neighborhoods all together. Is it money saving? Or perhaps just waiting for the first frost...? With the recent damp weather the mosquitoes are now at full force and it is impossible to enjoy the yard after 2:00 PM. - MMB
6/23 6:25pm To HF, Thanks for your interest in Norfolk's historic sites - it's very gratifying that you are displaying an interest in your local town history. The reason I'm including the addresses on the house pictures is so everyone can know where they are located and can drive/walk by if they so choose. This project is very much a work in process and only at its beginning stages. So far I've only written about 25 houses or so but I believe that eventually I'll be documenting over 250 different home sites - we are still determining which sites to include. The commission will be glad to create a map so you can see where all the buildings are located once we complete the project. For now stay tuned because for the last several weeks or so I've been updating the website literally daily and I'll continue at this pace throughout the summer - except for my 2 weeks vacation in July. My plan is to keep adding houses as well as new sections to the site - today I added the section on obtaining Historic House Plaques, for instance. In the meantime you can get a map of Norfolk from the Town Hall and can plot the houses as I add them if you like - kind of like I used to do plotting Don Kent's reports of changing hurricane coordinates, when I was your age. If you drop a note or email the commission I'll be glad to get you a copy of the Town of Norfolk map from 1851 to get you started. - Bill Domineau, NHC
6/23 4:26pm It would really be nice to have a map of Norfolk with the historic homes starred on it. - HF, 5th Grade, Freeman Centennial
6/22 7:06pm My compliments to the Historical Commission on their hard work and dedication to the documentation of Norfolk history. Perhaps the Historical Commission can inform the general public about the currrent development threat to the Warelands Property. - AB
6/22 12:09am We have a new web site [for Norfolk Lions Youth Soccer] www.norfolklionssoccer.com that is up and running. I tis very much in the infancy stages but people can down load the registration form. - CS
6/21 11:59pm Thanks for the plug Wm. We are currently researching other sites and if anyone has information regarding the history of your house or any other residence in town and would like to see it included on our web site pages - see the historical buildings page - just let me know ... - Bill Domineau, Chairman, Norfolk Historical Commission (contact info)
6/21 8:44pm Re: recreation complex - According to the Sun Chronicle, Friday 6/21, page 15, ``the recreational complex, located off Pond Street, should open by the end of next week, recreation officials say. And it won't be just the basketball and tennis courts as expected, but also two of the athletic fields.'' The two fields are baseball/softball fields, the article quotes the recreation commission Chairman Noelle Tonelli. (per Sun Chronicle Reporter Stephen Peterson, op. cit.) Darn! Just when I was going to put up a sign reading: ``GRASS MUSEUM, KEEP OUT!'' P.S.: There was no notice of this on the Municipal Website, http://town.norfolk.ma.us/ which isn't used very much, even for notices of interest to the Townspeople. - AN
[Mostly true about the municipal page, unfortunately, but the historical commission has been quite active putting up content. For example, check out the historic homes page, currently under construction! - Wm.]
6/21 7:35pm Along time ago the fire department sent kids out to paint them and cut around them, and sometimes the water department would paint them and they looked good. Look at them now, they look good - RIGHT. What I am trying to say, it's not only the highway department, but other departments should look at them too. - KC
6/21 5:52pm LS - I guess the NO TRESPASSING signs at the complex were for other people and you were exempt from them. - [Anonymous, to avoid ``big trouble'' - Wm.]
[7:37pm The point of the question is, as I understood it, why is there still a No Trespassing sign on fields that have seen no activity other than grass growing for the past two years now. - Wm.]
6/21 5:50pm To Wm.: I have been waiting all year for the long, long days of summer... now I can look forward to each day becoming shorter. You just burst my bubble. Still waiting for JD to substantiate the comments. - ME
[Yes, I'm also curious what happened at the auction. And sorry about the bubble, though tonight may just be the perfect long long day of summer :-) - Wm.]
6/21 4:23pm On the subject of mowing grass ... The Town should mow the corner patch of grass that is getting very high and cutting off the view looking up Park Street from Lawrence Street. It seems it could be classified as a major hazard. And No, I have no intention of doing it myself unless the Town will pay me. Another Rant ... Any closure on the Pond street recreation complex! This is beyond ridiculous. It's very laughable. I parked my car at the gate and was walking around the fields when a Norfolk cop told me I was trespassing!! I almost told him where to go but didn't feel like making a call to my wife for bail money. When will it open? Anyone ... Anyone .... Enjoy the weekend! - LS
6/21 10:30am to JD ... still waiting for a response ... - ME 6/21 8:37am Happy Summer Solstice! Today is longest day of the year. Even though summer's only started, from today on the days will be getting shorter and shorter again, until Winter Solstice in December (12/22). The longer, warmer days have a cumulative effect, however, which is why the hottest days are usually later in the year. - Wm.
6/21 8:27am Just out of curiosity, were you on some kind of "mission" to seek out each and every hydrant in town? :-) In most towns, this work usually comes under a heading like regular roadside maintenance, or mowing the grass, and is most often the responsibility of the town highway department. They own the mowers and have the personnel charged with using said mowers to keep the roadside grass within reasonable limits. The fire department folks are charged with other responsibilities. To extrapolate some, or a whole lot, from the tradition and, I think "law", as citizens are responsible for clearing snow from hydrants in front of their homes in winter, perhaps the citizens who find this situation objectionable should trim the green masses from around the hydrants. After all, it only takes a minute, and if the expectation is that the town is not about to undertake the task for whatever reason, it will only get done if the observer does it him/herself, with a lawn mower, weed wacker, hand clipper, or perhaps even scissors. I would think of this in a couple of ways. One, the unsightly circumstance of unmowed grass growing high around the hydrant in my otherwise neatly trimmed neighborhood, detracts from the quaint, and neat-as-a pin appearance that we strive to maintain. Two, in winter, I clear the snow from the hydrant so the fire department can find the darned things if my house has a major problem. Same with the grass. As you suggested, the FD may not see the things through the native flora making up the jungle. As to the suggestion that kids do the work as some kind of community service, having spent a whole lot of years with the Boy Scouts, I'd rather see the kids performing their community service in ways that give back to the community, not simply doing tasks that others are paid to do. - TK
6/20 8:13pm I was going around town today and I was looking for hydrants. The ones I found were covered with high grass and brush, some you could not see. I bet the fire dept can't find them. That dept should go around town and cut around them or paint the stake in back of them. I bet there is commuity service kids out there that would be glad to do it. - KC
6/19 11:07am The weather seems to have warmed up nicely, the yard is full of daisies, and the crickets sure are loud at night. Even saw a firefly the other evening, flying high up at tree-top level. Summer's here. - AR
6/18 8:16pm OK, JD, I'll bite. What did you see at the auction?? - ME
6/18 8:13pm To JD: Then, I expect that you know that the Town was less than forthright in disclosing information about the properties that were auctioned off. - PAB
6/18 6:12pm JD, I missed the auction, care to elaborate on what took place? - MC
6/18 3:52pm Anyone who attended the Town Land Auction knows exactly why the head of the Conservation Commission was ``removed.'' - JD
[I missed that one; anyone willing to fill us in, particularly eye-witnesses? - Wm.]
6/18 1:31pm MH, You are not suggesting that Mr. Perron's dealings are not above aboard ? I could that be? Is he not a law enforcement professional? - MA
6/18 11:14am OK, I'll be the first to wade in on this subject. What in the world is going on between the board of selectmen and the conservation commission? The rumor mill is going at full power and the selectmen won't even discuss it. I was watching the selectmen's meeting last night and they won't tell the rest of the conservation commission why they removed their chairman. Could it be a continuation of the personal vendetta that Mr Perron discussed in the press last year? Could it be that the selectmen don't like the commission carrying out their legal duties to protect the land and water in our town? Could it be that Mr. Borrelli of Medfield has undue influence on the board due to his "generous" donation of land to the town? Who knows? Also, who is the fellow Mr. Perron does business with that he now wants the town to buy insurance from? The tone of town government is shifting again. Maybe the Board of Health will start their televised boxing matches again? - MH 6/17 12:46pm ``A Rose is a Rose,'' my sentiments exactly. My little friend is a happy as I am. - JW
6/17 11:13am I had a very frightening morning. I may be scarred for life. When I woke up, there was this eerie silence all around me. It took a while to get the courage to open my eyes. Where was that incessant noise on the roof, where was the gloom, what the hell happened to the world I have come to know? Most of all, I wanted to know what that bright light coming through the windows was. How come I wasn't shivering? Then it came to me, from the far recesses of my memory. Could it be? Could it have really stopped raining? Could that brightness be the sun? Could I be warm? Yes, it was true, the sun, the warmth the glorious hope of summer. I stepped outside, spread my arms toward the heavens and said to myself. "Ouch, what's that pain on my arms and legs? Run, get back in the house, the mosquitoes have replaced the rain." I just knew it was to good to be true. So I sprayed my body with the deadly chemical Off, so I could go to the back yard and make sure I put enough RoundUp on the Poison Ivy that invaded my property this delightful, wet, spring. - JW
6/17 12:26am I have in the past written to the Sun Chronicle asking Congressman James McGovern to get all the politicians to put pressure on Monsanto to stop selling Roundup which is being used to spray areas in Colombia. No response or in itiative has been forthcoming from McGovern Yet he has made trips to Colombia decrying the absence of human rights. How does he explain the absence of congressional action to outlaw this chemical? Roundup has residual effects - I would rather use ammonia plus water as well as to smother the plants with leaves. Do not burn the plants as the smoke is toxic. Meanwhile write McGovern to get some action from him or to at least find out the quantity Monsanto is selling for the action in Colombia. - JO
6/16 11:02am With all the rain we have had, is the ban still on and to what extent? What about washing cars? - JQB
[The latest we've heard was from this 6/13 post by BD: watering gardens is allowed, and so is restricted car washing. - Wm.]
6/15 11:50pm Well, if you don't want to use roundup or a spray to kill the poison ivy there is another way to kill it. 1. Locate plants. 2. Be sure to wear shorts and short sleeve shirt. 3. Roll on plants like putting out a fire, your body weight will break the stems, and if you roll enough, killing the roots in the ground. 4. Repeat when necessary. - SW
[This sounds like a job for professionals only. Do not try this at home, kids - Wm.]
6/14 7:57pm Make a Beeline to Vacation Bible Camp! Join us as we embark on a Bug Safari, an exciting Vacation Bible Camp for kids entering grades 1-6. This free adventure will be held August 5-9, 2002 from 9:00am - noon at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 63 Rockwood Road, Norfolk. For more information or to register, call (508) 528-5862. - SD
6/14 7:36pm Think I'll go with option 3 to get rid of the poison ivy, or I'm going to start playing with mercury again. - JW
[6/14 7:59pm For those who didn't study the links in DAF's post, here's a summary:
You definitely don't want to get this stuff on you or in you. Although glyphosate is not acutely toxic (ie, it won't kill you overnight), there are serious concerns are about the health of agricultural workers who are exposed repeatedly over a period of time. Glyphosate is highly toxic to fish and water-borne organisms, and any overspray will linger and remain chemically active for a relatively long time (up to a year or more), with possible negative effects on beneficial micro-organisms in the soil. The closing paragraph I found intersting:Public perception of Roundup has largely been shaped by high profile advertising campaigns of its manufacturer, Monsanto, which has a high economic stake in its continued use. According to The Wall Street Journal (1/2/96) Roundup accounts for one half of Monsanto's earnings. Monsanto's advertises that Roundup can be used, "where pets and kids play" and that it, "breaks down into natural materials when its work is done." But in 1996 the New York Attorney General fined Monsanto $50,000 for these false claims and extracted a promise from Monsanto to never again advertise in the state that Roundup is safe.- Wm.]
6/14 4:37pm I hate to be a pesticide party pooper, but the active ingredient in Roundup, glyphosate, is nasty stuff (see the writeup at alternatives2toxics.org) -- not stuff you want to be spraying a lot of on your land. Some less toxic alternatives can be found at over at ibiblio.org. - DAF
6/13 10:40pm Alrighty then, I guess I'm moving. There is enough poison ivy on my property to infect the entire town. I am spraying RoundUp on the plants, they are dying and I was happy, until I read that even dead it is deadly. In this case I think ignorance was bliss cause now I am having nightmares about being snuffed out by the stuff. Oh well, I can't think about this anymore I am going to go back to ignoring it. Yeah, that's better. - JW
6/13 8:56pm To those cursed with beds of poison ivy: hie thyself to Ocean State Job Lot in Medway, where in the hardware department ye will find welder's gauntlets made of toughest suede. Use thy gloved hands to pull the offending plant out by the roots, but take caution when storing the magic gauntlets lest ye encounter the very oils ye have tried to avoid (put them fingers-down in a labeled plastic bag so that you can slip them on again without touching them!) - HPK
6/13 2:10pm I response to T.M comments on 6/12 My name is Steve and I live in Norfolk. I may be able to help with your computer issues. You can contact me at 508-520-1489 - SC
6/13 9:39am Wm.: Check out what Concord thought about Huck in 1885: http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/railton/huckfinn/nyherald.html - BD
[The Concord public library threw out the book, declaring it ``trash of the veriest sort.'' Well, that's only 117 years ago, which is not really that far back; no wonder little has changed since. - Wm.]
6/13 9:38am DAF The only other cemetery I am aware of is one for the prison colony. There are also a few private crypts in town, as well. Contact me at the Historical Commission and we'll gladly let you know what information we may have on specific individuals or surnames you're researching. - Bill Domineau, Historical Commission
6/13 9:37am EB There have been some lifting of water ban restrictions. 1. Watering is now allowed for flower and vegtable gardens. 2. Car washing is allowed from 6-8am or 6-8pm, for odd numbered houses on Mon and Thu, for even numbered houses on Tue and Fri - BD
6/13 8:16am SH & SW, The Round-Up suggestion is good. But remember that the dead leaves, stems, and roots of the plant ... dead as dead can be ... still harbor the agents and oils that can produce the afflictions for which the plant is so dreaded. Touch not the plant with bare hands ... alive or dead ... do so only with protection, like gloves. Burn not the plant, alive or dead, for the agents and oils that produce the affliction can be carried within the smoke, and if you breath it in ... need I say more? Unfortunately, although spraying with Round-Up will kill the demon, it will still reside where it sits (or lies), and is still something to be wary of. Physical removal will still be necessary to achieve peace and safety in the yard, without worry over the nasty beast. That said ... good luck!! - TK
6/12 11:06pm If you haven't done so already - Norfolk Lions Youth Soccer will be holding registration Thursday, June 13th at the HO Day School library from 4:00 to 5:30. Forms may also be picked-up at the Norfolk Public Library and mailed in. Don't delay - registration deadline is June 25th. Look on Organizations if you need more information about the program. - HK
6/12 8:48pm To SH: try Roundup. You don't need to soak the plants, just spray a little on them, and in less then a week they're DEAD. It costs a little more, but works great. - SW
6/12 3:08pm To Wm, et.al: I am in need of a computer consultant. Having difficulty resolving a problem with Outlook Express 6 that simply will not go away. Use a Dell Inspiron Laptap 4100 (Operating System Windows XP Professional). Telephone support from all the usual places has resulted in frustration, confusion, headaches, etc. Am also looking to graduate from dial-up to broadband and need someone to get me through it all. Will pay going rates. No telephone help. I've had enough of that! I need someone LIVE and on the premises. I live in Norfolk. - TM
[Yes, I admit it; I do computer consulting. I normally make my living developing software under Unix, but I too have my war stories about Windows. I've done a fair amount of OS installs and setup, some network configuration, and of course my favorite, web page design. Anyone need a web page built? :-) - Wm.]
6/12 11:04am Newsweek has an interesting essay about living in our Politically Correct times. Literature used as part of exams is censored to sanitize it per political sensibilities. References to race, ethnicity, even the word ``slave'' were edited out, supposedly because it ``could cause an emotional reaction in some students that could distract them from the test and affect their performance.'' Personally, I would have a hard time following eg. Huckleberry Finn with references to race and ethnicity removed. - Wm.
6/12 10:58am JH, my neighbor Gerry Martel is a Master Electrician and has done work for me. He is professional, and his prices are reasonable. He can be reached at (508)-344-4896, or (508)-528-0159. - CR
6/12 10:54am I'm doing some genealogical history and wondering if there are Norfolk cemeteries other than Pondville, City Mills, and the big one on Main Street? Does anyone know where else I might look? -DAF
6/11 8:54pm JH - I had some work done the other day by Glenn Saltis of Saltis Electric 508-543-3168. He was professional and prompt, but most of all honest and reasonable with pricing. I would highly recommend his services. - RH
6/11 7:59pm Does anyone have any news about the water ban? I would think with all the rain we had in May that they would at least drop the ban down to an odd/even ban. This is getting ridiculous. - EB
6/11 1:33pm Does anyone have any suggestions for removing poison ivy plants? We have lots of myrtle and pachysandra in our yard, and have recently discovered (the hard way) that poison ivy is scattered throughout. Thanks, - SH 6/11 1:32pm TK Interesting you should point that out - the snapper did indeed look very primitive and dinosaur like - is the alligator species ever found this far North? He did indeed have plant growth on his back. I saw it while taking my son fishing there approx. 5 years ago - so maybe he's still growing ! Meanwhile the swans appear to be doing fine - here some shots from 11:00 AM today. - BD
6/11 12:36pm Does anyone have a recommendation for an electrician do some in-home projects? Thanks, - JH
6/11 11:05am BD, Should you see that snapper again, contact Mass Audubon. If he is, indeed, upwards of 4 feet across, that would be about the largest Common Snapping Turtle ever seen in this country, never mind Norfolk. Unless, of course, he's an Alligator Snapper. They get quite a bit larger than the Common, but rarely that large. - TK
[Apropos alligator snapper - click here (from VR) - Wm.]
6/11 11:03am RP & TMB, Thanks very much for the feedback - I will check both out! - HM
6/11 8:34am The swans observed at Bush Pond are the Mute Swan, these are easily identified by the orange marking on their beaks. A search of the DEM website did not locate any policy or specific protection guideines for Mute Swans. In fact this website from Maryland http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/mstfpc.html has a detailed discussion on the problems of the Mute Swan. While a very majestic bird, they are considered a threat to other native species of water fowl. - AB
[The mute swan has a light-colored bill (orange in the adult), with a black band above it and between the eyes; other swans have a black or mostly black bill. Like the pheasant, common sparrow and purple loosestrife, the mute swan is a recently introduced species that is not native to North America. All sorts of interesting information is available through a Google search for ``exotic mute swan''. - Wm.]
6/11 8:32am To HM: If you are looking for a car service, I've used a number over the years and found Bristol County Coach to be the best - most reliable, competitive price (~$75 + tip to Logan?), courteous drivers. 508.222.1773. - TMB
6/11 12:48am To JW & MG:
Loch Bush
I've seen a lot of snapping turtles over the last 50+ years but none the size of one that lives in the Bush Pond. One day I was peering down into the water while looking over the bridge - staring at the long water weeds bending with the current on the bottom of the pond - when all of a sudden that bottom started to move and swim away - he's got weeds growing on the back of his shell and must be at least 4 feet across - amazing ! Hoping he doesn't have an appetite for those young swans - or at least maybe moves too slow for them.- BD
6/10 10:23pm To JW: The swans are located at Bush Pond on Lawrence Street [ ... ] Unfortunately, it looks like three of the babies have not survived. Driving to work this morning I noticed that there were only three babies with the adults. This same thing happened last year (or the year before that). None of that litter (?) of six survived. Rumor has it that there are pretty large snapping turtles in the pond, and they may be the culprits. It's a shame because they are beautiful creatures, and the adults take great care of the babies. Wondering if there is a state agency (DEM?) that could do something to ensure the survival of the remaining three? - MG
6/10 9:49pm To: HM - Depending on your schedule, the Bonanza bus line runs a direct shuttle from the Foxfield Plaza off Rt. 140 in Foxboro directly to Logan Airport in Boston or to T.F.Green Airport near Providence. Check their schedules at: www.bonanzabus.com. - RP
6/10 3:40pm Hi, I am new in town and was looking for an airport shuttle service. Anyone have a recommendation? Thanks! - HM
6/10 11:28am We set Norfolknet as the home page on our browser - does that inflate your statistics? <teasing> - HPK
[Inflate is the wrong term ... how about ``improve?'' :-) But yes, every time you start your browser, it registers one additional ``hit'' on the page. But if you then scanned the page for new posts, it would not be inflation, just an (accurate) tally of how often someone checked the page for news. And thank you for your support! - Wm.]
6/9 10:37pm Check out http://www.kids.gov/ - AN
[It's the U.S. government interagency Kids' Portal, run by the Federal Consumer Information Center. It's filled with links to information for kids - Wm.]
6/9 10:31pm Some statistics about visits to this site, for those who're curious. The numbers are culled from the web server logs, which record every visit in a line like the following:
216.243.8.231 - - [05/May/2002:22:48:06 -0400] "GET /norfolk/ HTTP/1.0" 200 29288 "-" "Mozilla/3.04 (X11; I; FreeBSD 2.2.6-RELEASE i386)"The major fields are, from left to right: the internet address of the visitor (216.243.8.231, a modem in my service provider's dial-up pool), the date and time of the page hit (6:48pm on May 5), the name of the page requested (/norfolk/, the Norfolk page on norfolknet.com), response code (200 - success), number of bytes transferred (29288, low average), referring page ("-", none, since the site is on my favorites list), and the browser identification string (FreeBSD, PC-based). The last item, the browser identification string, is the source for most of these statistics, since it usually identifies the operating system by name and version, eg. Windows 95 or 98 or NT. On to the numbers. During the month of May, 2002:
Total visits to the Norfolknet.com front page : 6196 By Browser: MS Internet Explorer users : 4023 Netscape/Mozilla users : 745 using AOL's browser : 371 By Operating System: Windows 95 users : 457 Windows NT users : 2362 Windows 98 users : 2209 Macintosh (PowerPC, every one) users : 181 Unix, Linux and FreeBSD users* : 85 Miscellaneous: Visits that followed a search result : 521 Number of times google.com updated its directory : 5 Number of known virus attacks on site : 2374 Total number of hits to Norfolknet** : 44738 Total number of hits to the Wm's domains** : 53776 *: only one reader is using Unix, and all the visits from PCs running the Linux or FreeBSD (and Lynx, a text-only web browser) were by the webmaster :-) **: total hits count every single downloaded item separately. For example, on the main page, the top image, the little envelope in the introductory paragraph, the signature at the bottom, and all the images shown on the page would each be one hit. Right now, loading the front page with all images would result in six hits, one text page with five small pictures. - Wm. 6/9 6:34pm While driving home from canoeing, we swung by the horse farm on Miller Street. I pointed out the horses in the paddocks, and observed that horses had been ridden a bit farther down along the road. My daughter's sleepy response: ``Were they nice people?'' That was all. And here I am, several hours later still trying to absorb that brilliant insight into humanity, beauty, and our existence, out of the mouth of a three-year-old. - AR
6/9 5:25pm We went to Spruce Pond, in Franklin, for ice-cream on Sat. In the pond we watched a couple of families of geese and a family of beavers. They were going back and forth to their den with branches, etc., totally oblivious to all the people around. On the bank we also saw what we believed to be gophers. It was great to see so much wildlife in such a busy place, course the ice-cream was terrific too. I saw a sign at Dunkin Donuts that starting June 15th, they will also be a Baskin Robbins. - JW
6/9 5:24pm To EK - I have used Angel Foods run by Deb Raymond once and am using her for a bridal shower this month. She has a small operation and what is good about her is that she will serve, clean up and let you use your own food as well as her own. In otherwords it can be mix or match. Her phone number is 508-740-1047. - BS
6/9 5:22pm We have used Fire and Ice Catering in the past and have been very satisfied. They have servers to help with your function as well. 1-800-355-1522. Penny is the contact person. - BC
6/8 2:33pm Will be hosting a small bridal shower in early August and need info on caterers in the area. Any insight will be greatly appreciated. - EK
6/7 12:34pm To JH (5/30) - There is a Tri-County Mom's club that serves Norfolk, Wrentham, and Plainville. The contact person is Kathy M. at 508-643-2050. - RN
6/7 12:34pm Never let it be said that our coast is seismologically inactive. Even if I did sleep through it without noticing, there was a 2.2 quake early this morning. The official record can be viewed here. - AR
[The epicenter was in South Walpole; the Globe has coverage here. - Wm.]
6/6 10:19pm A reminder - all Norfolk Serve orders must be called in and paid for by June 9, 2002. Thank you. - PW
6/5 8:46am AW - We have used Prancing Paws (508.482.9860) for several years to walk our two labs. They can't wait each day till she arrives. For doggy daycare or overnight, we have been going to The Red Dog Inn in Mansfield. They're terrific. - PN
6/4 4:47pm My family and I are moving to Norfolk in July and we need to find a good dog walker. We have a terrific, energetic 2 yr. old male Vizsla that will miss his walker in Newton. Does anyone know a good walker or doggie daycare in the area? Are there any "off leash" dog friendly parks/woods in Norfolk? Thanks for any help or suggestions. - AW 6/3 9:21pm We received another letter about the Ponds; we excerpt portions with permission: I live near the Pondville Cemetery in Norfolk, where there are many from the Pond family interred. I took a look there today but did not see a Lewis or a Frank, though some of the stones are difficult to read and I didn't look at all of them. I could look for a particular name, if you wish. Some of the stones do not photograph well and may need to be transferred to paper by rubbing, if you need an image of the inscription.
I enclosed a photo taken today of one stone memorializing a lot of folks. A quick check for "Lewis Pond" via Google found http://www.rootsweb.com/~manorfol/hd_hses.htm [...] ``Lewis Pond was born in Pondville (now Norfolk), a town that took its name from the prominent Pond family that populated the area. The son of General Lucas Pond and brother of Virgil Pond, he was a shoemaker by trade. He married Mary Fuller December 24, 1844 and they moved into their new home at 21 Baker St. on June 3, 1854. Lewis was practicing his trade on the second floor of his brother's box mill on Gilmore Street. He also earned a considerable reputation raising pears, and had a large orchard on Baker Street. Lewis had a son Frank who was interested in photography and stereoscopic pictures and had a shop on Central Street. Lewis then built Frank his own studio on their Baker Street property, located to the rear of the lot. The building now faces Railroad Avenue. It was used for many years as a photographic studio. Following the death of his wife, Lewis Pond married Anna Capen who retained the property several years after his death. The property was purchased by Harrie Quimby in 1922. A local builder, he erected a bungalow for himself on the north edge of the lot.'' [...]
Best wishes, ...
6/3 8:57pm The Federated Church of Norfolk Sunday Service will be held at 9:00 am starting on June 16 and continuing until September 15, when 10:00 am service will resume. There will be no Sunday School Classes during the summer, but there will be childcare for children under age 3, whose parents are attending the service. - KM
6/3 8:54pm The Norfolk Community League announce the disbursements granted to various community causes. Most of the money went to education-related items. The detailed list is here (click link).
6/3 8:50pm The publication for Serve New England is called "Volunteer Ventures" and it is available all over town, or, if you need a copy and cannot find one, please call Pam at 508-528-5884 or Roselle at 508-541-0103. You can pick up a copy at the Norfolk Town Hall, Linda's Variety, Norfolk Food Mart, Martin's Cleaners, Norfolk Fine Wine, Bourque's, Bradbury Insurance, the Library, the Housing Office, and the Senior Center. Thank you for your support. - PW
6/3 8:48pm I just discovered that I goofed - I missed some posts that arrived in the morning, and posted an afternoon message out of order. My apologies - Wm.
6/3 4:17pm Is the King Philip concert on the town hill Tues or Thursday? I thought the concerts were on Thursday but the KP website says Tuesday. http://www.kingphilip.org/KPHigh/music/spring02.html - SF
[The school says tomorrow, Tuesday, at 6:30 - Wm.]
6/2 11:35pm Dare I say the weather is looking up? We actually had 2 weekend days with sun and warmth. I've had to mow the lawn twice this week. What drought and who needs to water? I have been looking for the swans with the babies but can't find them, which pond are they in? I found a deer tick on my cats eye yesterday, first one I've ever seen, they are tiny. Happy Anniversary Norfolknet. I have really enjoyed looking at you each day. It is one of the highlights of my day; oh brother, tells you what kind of days I have. - JW
6/2 10:58pm Reply to David C. Pond: Per your inquiry here are some brief highlights re: the Pond history in our area - hope this helps to add to your search for your Pond ancestors. Contact me at the Norfolk Historical Commission if you want to discuss this further. See our website at http://town.norfolk.ma.us/historical/ or email me at bdomineau@yahoo.com. - Regards, Bill Domineau, Norfolk Historical Commission
[The detailed writeup was put on a page of its own; it's accessible by clicking this link - Wm.]
6/2 1:15pm Hello, My name is Dave Pond, and I'm looking for information on family ancestors. I'm from the Philadelphia area and do not have the time to visit your town as yet. I am the great-great-grandson of Lewis Pond. My grandfather was the son of Frank Pond. Any information would be appreciated. Big interest in Civil War participants. - Thank you, David C. Pond
6/1 10:24pm Happy anniversary! I think that this web page is one of the greatest things about Norfolk - it makes me feel like we really are just a small town. Even when I don't agree with the comments made, I appreciate hearing them and often learn things about the town that I wouldn't otherwise. Thank you so much for creating and maintaining Norfolk Net; I hope you continue to for a long, long time! - AL
6/1 7:19pm Happy Birthday, Norfolknet!
Tomorrow, June 2, will mark the third year that Norfolknet's been up on the web. For a glimpse back into the past, one of the earliest versions of the page has been preserved through this link.
6/1 7:02pm Re: post of 5/29 about spam: We received an e-mail pointing us to information about the Direct Marketing Association's program on opting out of direct marketing. In particular, on the DMA consumer assistance page is the following: