Water Bodies Committee Working to Protect Waters of Norton

Committee issues first press release in series leading up to Town Meeting.

One of the most precious resources in the Town of Norton is its bodies of water. These water bodies provide residents with wonderful scenes of wildlife and hours of recreation. There are four water bodies in town. They are: We all know how important it is to take care of our water resources. This past year the Board of Selectman formed a Water Bodies Committee. The Water Bodies Committee is made up of volunteer residents in Norton. The Committee is working to protect and enhance the life of the Town’s Water Bodies in the following ways: The Water Bodies Committee meets on the first and third Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. The current activities of the Committee are: From time to time the Water Bodies Committee will be sharing …

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Vote to purchase Pheeny's Island

Letter to the editor by Herbert Ellison.

To the editor:   During the October 29th Fall Town Meeting Norton voters will have a unique opportunity to complete a process started 26 years ago.  In 1986 the Town of Norton purchased the Norton Reservoir from the Wading River Reservoir Corporation for the purpose of preventing the Reservoir from being drained and then developed for commercial use.  The goal also was to restore it for regional recreational use for everybody.  A vote for a citizen's petition to purchase Pheeny's Island will almost complete the protection of the Reservoir, a municipal treasure that secures open space, protects wildlife, and expands recreational opportunities. The 500+ acre Norton Reservoir was created in the 1860s by damming the Rumford River for fire …

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PATCH FACTS

5 Things Sept. 19: After-school Paddle, DramaKids and More

Your Patch Facts for the day.

Five Things You Need to Know Today is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. Check back later for more, and let us know what you think of the feature in the comments section. 1. High near 68, low around 47 There is an 80 percent chance of rain, mainly before noon. The temperature high will be near 68. Northwest wind will be 8 to 13 mph. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Tonight will be partly cloudy, with a low around 47. North wind will be 3 to 7 mph. 2. After-school paddle Norton Kayak Company and Norton Parks and Recreation will hold an after-school paddle for ages 12 and older at 3:30 p.m. Cost is $50. Tours are three hours and include kayak rental, lesson…

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PHOTO GALLERY: Norton Reservoir Cleanup

Volunteers from Wheaton College and beyond help to keep the waters and islands of Norton Reservoir clean.

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5 Things Aug. 19: Family Paddle, Ames Mansion Tour and More

Your Patch Facts for the day.

Five Things You Need to Know Today is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. Check back later for more, and let us know what you think of the feature in the comments section. 1. High near 79 Patchy fog is expected before 8 a.m. Otherwise, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 79. Northeast wind will be 3 to 7 mph. Tonight will be mostly cloudy with a low around 60. 2. Family Paddle Norton Recreation Department will host a Family Paddle with Norton Kayak at 1 p.m.This guided three-hour tour of the Norton Reservoir includes kayak rental/lesson and guide. Reservations are required. Cost is $60 for adults, $55 for teenagers and $50 for seniors. A portion of the proceeds benefit Norton Recreation…

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Viewfinder

PHOTO GALLERY: Norton Reservoir

A recreational activity in your backyard.

Norton Reservoir is a recreational gem in your backyard. Whether you like fishing, kayaking or simply gazing at the wildlife, the 530-acre body of water is the perfect destination for summer fun. Scroll through the photos to see the water and wildlife that Norton Reservoir has to offer until you get a chance to see it for yourself. If you already have photos of the reservoir, feel free to upload them here. Don't own a kayak? Rent one from Norton Kayak Co. and take a tour of the reservoir with local experts.  Rates: May, June and October Youth 12-17 years: $50 per paddler Adult: $55 per paddler Seniors: $45 per paddler July, August and September Youth 12-17 years: $55 per paddler Adult: $60 per paddler Seniors: $45 per paddler Here is a …

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Norton Residents Take Pride in the Reservoir

Letter to the editor from Mike Masone.

Dear Editor,   After reading Kenneth Leavitt’s condescendingly titled opinion piece I was left what apparently is an increasingly  common impression of him.  He thinks everyone but him is an ignorant bumpkin.  His piece implies that after he works his magic on the Reservoir, Norton residents will have something that we can finally be proud of.  This notion is insulting.  Insulting because he implies that prior to his arrival The Reservoir was used as a combination dump/jet-ski park and that no one took any pride in her.  Long time residents of town know that this simply isn’t true.    60 years ago The Norton Reservoir was known for great fishing and clean water.  Fed by local rivers and underground springs it became a recreation …

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Family Donating a Slice of Norton Reservoir

Pino family will donate waterfront land off Robinson Lane to boost recreational access to the water.

Water Body Committee Complete

Ten members selected.

Appointment of the 10-member water bodies committee is complete, with a rotating representative from the conservation commission to be added as the committee begins to meet. But selectmen said Thursday they want the fledgling group to keep their collective eye on the ball, and not get distracted by political issues. The committee will be convened to assess the health of the town’s major water bodies; Chartley Pond off South Worcester Street, Barrowsville Pond off Power Street, Lake Wunnecunnet and the Norton Reservoir. Selectmen have appointed the 10 through a series of interviews over the past two months, after selectman Robert Kimball and others brought up the issue of the gradual silting up of area ponds. The first interviews were in …

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THE WAY I SEE IT

A Three Hour Tour: Gilligan Meets Pheeny's Island

Oh boy! Where is the columnist going with this?

“……we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender….”  ~ Sir Winston Churchill  Battle lines are being drawn. Nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong. Thus begins, For What It’s Worth, the classic siren call touting the turmoil and social change of the sixties; an anthem for an entire generation.  It’s now 2012, and it seems that battle lines have again been drawn; not over anything as momentous as radical social change and rioting in the streets; not over an unjust war in Southeast Asia, nor the horror of the killings at Kent State. Nothing as newsworthy as the trial…

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Bob Havey

8:00 pm on Thursday, March 1, 2012

If you click the link at the end of the column that asks, 'Which one of you is Gilligan?' - you'll see it goes to the story about the vandalism on the island. My theory is that the morons(s) who did this is/are ideal to portray the Gilligan character, since Gilligan never fails to screw up everything he touches. So the question remains - who's Gilligan? Who are the vandals?   more ›