Norfolk Insider
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December 18th 2025

December 18th 2025

Bradley Mottashed
December 18, 2025

☀️Hello Norfolk! ☀️

Welcome to another week of local stories, community highlights, and a bit of that Norfolk charm we all love. Whether you’re a long-time reader or new to our newsletter family, we’re thrilled to have you here.

This week, we’ve got a wonderful mix of contributions from our neighbors, a lake front listing that was on TV, a nostalgic look back at a piece of Simcoe’s history, and a literary journey that might just inspire your next reading adventure. Plus, as always, you’ll find a lineup of local happenings to fill your calendar and maybe even discover a new favorite spot or two.

So settle in with your favorite cup of coffee (or tea!), and let’s dive into what makes Norfolk County such a special place to call home.

Enjoy!

-Brad

CONTRIBUTED

This week we’re going to start off with our contributed articles. If you are new here, you should know that members of our community write pieces for the Insider each week. It’s a great way to get your voice heard, and to provide something meaningful to the community. This week is a great example of that spirit in action:

Brian Humphrey reminds us of the Power of Hope HERE

David Gilbert takes us on a detour through the history of Big Creek HERE

Allen Eizinas tells this story of Friendliness and Honesty in Norfolk - virtues that he came to appreciate after living elsewhere.

Bob Wood asks us to join him on a literary trip with a local author HERE

If you’d like to contribute to the Insider - reach out to me HERE

OUR COMMUNITY

Got fines at the Library? I know, it happens. But this week you can clear your fines with a can of beans! Check out their Facebook post below:

Remember North School in Simcoe? It closed its doors years ago, and today the land is home to townhomes. But here’s the wild part—the original North School website from 1996 is still online.

It’s a fascinating time capsule. The design, the language, the expectations… it really shows how different school life was back then. There was structure, discipline, and clear standards.

If you’re in the mood for a nostalgic rabbit hole, you can check out the site HERE

A flour mill feels like something from another era. You picture a big stone wheel, powered by a stream, slowly grinding wheat.

And yet—there’s a brand-new one right here in Norfolk.

A.C.G. Premium Stone Milled Flour recently imported a traditional stone mill from Ukraine and is producing fresh, unbleached flour the old-fashioned way. It’s local, it’s thoughtful, and it’s about as far from mass-produced as you can get.

Check them out HERE

HAPPENINGS

Thursday December 18th, 2025

🚜 Simcoe Farmers Market | 8:00am | Grandstands @ the Fairgrounds | Come for the produce, stay because you ran into five people you know | More

🪑 Sit and Fit | 12:00pm | Waterford Legion | Exercise but make it relaxed | More

🍕 FREE LUNCH – South Coast Wellness HN | 11:30am | Junior Farmer's Building at Fairgrounds | Eat your heart out | More

🎪 Creators Carnival | 4:00pm | Waterford Old Town Hall | May inspire dramatic career plans | More

🎨 Branch to Branch: Holiday Craft Workshop for Grown-Ups | 5:30pm | Waterford Library | Glue guns, good vibes, zero kids | More

Friday December 19th, 2025

♠️ Catch The Ace Rotary Club of Simcoe | 4:30pm | Simcoe Legion | Feelin' lucky, Norfolk? | More

🐴 Horse Drawn Trolley Rides | 6:00pm | Simcoe Christmas Panorama | Because sometimes the best ride is the slow, scenic, horse-powered one | More

🧐 Quiz Night | 7:00pm | Waterford Legion | Bragging rights are on the line | More

🎶 Jesse Murphy Trio | 7:00pm | Wishbone Brewing Company | Live music | More

🎶 Shane Pinchen | 7:30pm | 211 Main | Live music | More

🎶 The Bee Gees – an evening with Night Fever (Tribute) | 8:00pm | Capitol 33 Theatre | Live music | More

Saturday December 20th, 2025

🛍️ Silver Lake Market | 8:00am | Silver Lake Park | Get all your market needs! | More

🎅🏼 Santa's Elves: Kids' Holiday Craft Workshop | 11:00am | Waterford Library | Elf-approved crafts for festive kiddos | More

🎶 Albatross LIVE AT THE LODGE | 2:00pm | Live at the Lodge | Live music | More

🎅🏼 Come Meet Santa at the Panorama | 6:00pm | Simcoe Panorama | Bring your Christmas lists and your cameras | More

🎅🏼 Come Meet Santa | 6:00pm | Simcoe Christmas Panorama | As Buddy The Elf would say, "SANTA!" | More

🐴 Horse Drawn Trolley Rides | 6:00pm | Simcoe Christmas Panorama | Because sometimes the best ride is the slow, scenic, horse-powered one | More

🎶 The Shrubberies | 6:00pm | Wishbone Brewing Company | Live music | More

🍷 Christmas Frisky Social | 7:00pm | Frisky Beaver Winery | Santa might blush | More

🎶 Shari & Jonny | 7:30pm | 211 Main | Live music | More

🎶 ABBAMANIA – Tribute | 8:00pm | Capitol 33 | Dancing Queen energy incoming | More

Sunday December 21st, 2025

🎯 Youth Darts | 10:00am | Waterford Legion | Bring your bullseye energy | More

🥓 All You Can Eat Brunch | 9:00am | Simcoe Army Navy Air Force Club | Elastic waistbands encouraged | More

🥞 Breakfast With Santa | 10:00am | Capitol 33 | It's not Christmas until you eat with Santa | More

🕯️ Christmas Candlelight Service | 7:00pm | Woodhouse United Church | Everyone is welcome | More

Monday December 22nd, 2025

🪑 Sit and Fit | 12:00pm | Waterford Legion | Exercise but make it comfy | More

Tuesday December 23rd, 2025

🎶 Felicia McMinn | 7:00pm | Capitol/Lounge 33 | Live Music | More

Wednesday December 24th, 2025

🎶 Felicia McMinn | 8:00pm | 211 Main | Live Music | More

🎯 Delhi Belgian Club Archery | 7:00pm | Delhi District Hungarian Hall | Unleash your inner Robin Hood | More

🏠️ REAL ESTATE 🏠️

A note:

Some of you may already know this, but alongside publishing The Norfolk Insider, I’m also a local REALTOR® — servicing Norfolk County for many years.

I’ll be using this real estate section to share useful local context, observations, and the occasional insight from the ground here in Norfolk. The goal is to inform, entertain when possible, and add value. People love real estate, and it is part of our community.

To that end, here is some useful/fun info this week:

THIS LISTING caught my eye this week. It’s a waterfront stunner, that was featured on the TV show “Lakefront Luxury”. A 4 bed, 5 bath beauty with your own boat slip! A fun example of the kind of Real Estate that exists here in Norfolk. Listed by Rod Fess at Remax Erie Shores Realty Inc., Brokerage.

As always, I’ve rounded up the upcoming OPEN HOUSES across Norfolk for the week ahead. Go ahead and plan your route - maybe you’ll snag a new home before Christmas!

Wonder about your home’s value? Get a quick, no pressure opinion of value HERE.

TRADE UP

We’re thinking about starting a new community project in the Insider.

We’d begin with something small (think: a pen), and trade it up — one local trade at a time — until we end up with something meaningful we can gift to a local charity.

A pen for a mug, a mug for a hockey stick, a hockey stick for a couch, and so on.

No money. Just trades, creativity, and a bit of fun.

Would you be interested in playing along?

Would you play along and help us trade up items for charity?

THROWBACK

The Waterford Star - December 13th - 1928

WEATHER

Thursday High 7°C 🌡️ Low 1°C 🌧️
Friday High -7°C 🌡️ Low -1°C 🌨️
🌡️ View current weather HERE
🚗 Check out local gas prices HERE

Like what you see?
Don’t like what you see?
Just want to say hi?
Reach out to me HERE