Arson stuns, saddens Norfolk

NORFOLK — Norfolk residents were stunned by a crime spree Sunday, Dec. 18, that resulted in the burning of the Norfolk Curling Club and the arrests of two area men.Kyle Majewski, 19, of 8 Prock Hill Road, Sandisfield, Mass., and Matthew Carey, 20, of 87 Briarwood Trail, Torrington, were charged with multiple counts of arson, burglary, trespassing and larceny in connection with the series of events, which included at least one home invasion and attempted arson at a local residence.According to a report by state police, at 11:25 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17, State Police Troop B in Canaan received a call reporting a fire at a residence at 292 Wheeler Road, which is listed as being owned by Paul Provost.Troopers found the residence was unoccupied at the time of the fire, which was brought under control by several area fire departments.At 1:45 a.m., Troop B received a phone call from a homeowner at 206 Westside Road, indicating that she had heard intruders in her basement.She said the intruders left after she yelled at them.A trooper from the state police’s fire marshal’s office responded to the homeowner’s call. On the way, he discovered the Norfolk Curling Club building, located at 70 Golf Drive, and behind the Westside Road residence, had been set ablaze.At 1:26 a.m., Troop B received a 911 call from a male who said he had been involved in a car crash on Mountain Road, less than a mile from the Westside Road residence.The trooper who responded to the crash found both Majewski and Carey, along with evidence linking them to both fires.In the car, police found a number of Norfolk street signs and mailboxes which had been located near the Curling Club building.After further investigation, both men were arrested on multiple charges, including first and second degree arson, first and second degree criminal mischief, first degree burglary, second degree criminal trespassing and third degree larceny.Both men were initially held on $250,000 bonds for the combined charges.Jonathan Barbagallo, a member of the Norfolk Fire Department and the Curling Club, was one of the first firefighters to arrive at the scene of the blaze.“The shed was fully involved in fire by the time I got here,” Barbagallo said. “The whole building was a total loss. As a member of the club, in the winter time, I spent as much time in this place as I did at my house. It was like watching my own house burn down. It was such a unique part of Norfolk. The people who are part of this club are family.”Mary Fanette, president of the club, said she was devastated by the fire.“It’s a tragedy,” Fanette said. Fanette confirmed that the Curling Club was insured but did not immediately know how much of the damages would be covered.Starling Childs, whose family was one of the founders of the club, said, “What can I say? This is so devastating. The club has been part of us for over 50 years. We lost so many things that are not replaceable including many commemorative plaques made by our late member Daryl Russ along with countless trophies.”Childs said all of the club’s curling stones were lost and cannot be replaced because they were made from a rare granite that is no longer available. “Today it costs about $2,000 to replace a set of two stones,” she said. Jeff Knudsen, vice-president of the club, echoed the feelings of Childs, Fanette and Barbagallo. “The club is operated by members who put a lot of time and energy into it, and it’s all gone overnight,” Knudsen said. “It was a cozy little curling club.”Knudsen said members of the club, originally built in 1956, would plan a fundraiser in the future to help rebuild. “We will try to get the club going again,” he said.According to his Facebook page, Majewski was employed at Infinity Music Hall and graduated from Monument Mountain Regional High School in Great Barrington, Mass., this year.“Time for new friends,” Majewski wrote on his page at 7:11 p.m. on the night of the fires.Carey deleted his Facebook profile, which had noted that he graduated from Northwestern Regional High School in 2010 and was working in the U.S. Army.Before the fire, on Friday afternoon, Carey quoted the song “Forgive Them Father” written by musician Lauryn Hill.“Beware the false motives of others, be careful of those who pretend to be brothers. And you never suppose it’s those who are closest to you. They say all the right things to gain their position. Then use your kindness as their ammunition, to shoot you down in the name of ambition.”Majewski and Carey were arraigned in Bantam and sent to New Haven Correctional Facility, according to a clerk at the court. No pleas were entered.The case is now being transferred to Litchfield Superior Court. Their first hearing is scheduled for Jan. 4. Bond was set in court at $205,000 for Carey and at $230,000 for Majewski. Additional reporting by Lake­ville Journal reporter Asher Pavel.