News: June 2021

June Report

Our lacrosse teams finished their season playing against neighboring towns. They did a wonderful job playing in full gear and masked. Because of a statewide lack of Lacrosse officials, we chose to use local teenagers with extensive knowledge of the game to referee our games.  They all performed with maturity and attention to details.  The decision to use peer officials is one we will consider in future sports seasons.

Field Day – the Marion Cross School was unable to host their usual Field Day this year because of the SAU Covid Committee’s protocols.  Norwich Recreation worked with the PTO to create a safe, inclusive event at Huntley Meadows instead.  The event was open to all Norwich children, Pk-6^th grade, no matter their academic status (remote, homeschool, in person or private institution).  Boloco Burritos generously donated lunch for all participants.  The event itself was postponed from the last day of school (when we had planned to walk with the students from the school to Huntley), because of weather.  The day of the event, we had over 125 children arrive to Huntley Meadows to enjoy kickball, tennis, rope tug, sack races, face painting, water blasters and crafting.  All were masked, and the children all reported having a fantastic time.

Our Bike Smart trailer arrived two days before we opened a ‘Biking Basics’ course with Jane LeMausier.  We used the Local Motion bikes to teach children about riding bikes safely and confidently in Norwich, with our greatest triumph being teaching a child to ride a bike from not riding at all.  Drummond Cycles taught the children about repairing and maintaining their bikes during a mid-week clinic lesson, and each child received a bike repair kit.  The kits and staffing were paid for through our ‘Summer Matters for All’ grant award, so that the weeklong clinic was free to all families.

We also started our ‘Mindful Mondays’ at the end of June.  This is another grant-funded program that brings art and meditation together for adults one evening a month, with all childcare and staff paid for through our ‘Summer Matters for All’ grant.

Norwich Recreation and the Norwich Historical Society collaborated on a very popular event this month.  The Feasts from the Farms tour brought 20+ bike riders together on a mapped tour of Norwich farms to collect brunch ingredients according to recipe cards.  In the evening, drivers toured the farms, picking up dinner ingredients according to recipe cards.  The event served as a fundraiser for the Norwich Historical Society.

Huntley Meadows has been treated with fertilizer, grub control, seaweed and compost.  The results of allowing the fenced areas to remain unused has been great.  We have found the invasive weed, and are working on a plan that incorporates field rotation and an alternate use for the affected areas.  Two members of our DPW staff were sent to a turf maintenance workshop, and returned having made solid connections to other communities.  In the new fiscal year, we will work together to create a long-term field care plan.

We have been offered and accepted two summer staff members employed via Creative Workforce Solutions. They will serve as both camp counselors and general staff to help out with our department for 6 weeks this summer.