🌱Activities Abound This Weekend In CT + Could Dock & Dine Be Revived?

Hello again, everybody! I'm back in your inbox this morning with your fresh copy of the Essex-Chester-Deep River Daily. Keep reading for everything you need to know about what's happening in town these days. Today you'll learn about these stories and more...

• Celebrate Deep River!
• Get out and vote!
• Do something fun this weekend in CT.

But first, today's weather:

Partly sunny; breezy, cooler. High: 59 Low: 39.

🏡 Attention, real estate pros in Essex-Chester-Deep River! We're now offering an exclusive sponsorship opportunity for an agent interested in attracting local clients and standing apart from the competition. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top four stories in Essex-Chester-Deep River today:

1. Celebrate Deep River's 75 Years of Independence on Sunday, October 23. Deep River will continue its celebration of its “official” re-naming with a commemoration consisting of live music, refreshments and historical presentations. According to the town's Facebook page, "Tickets can be obtained at Anchor & Compass, Celebrations, Deep River Hardware, The Nest and Town Hall. Please get your ticket today – you don’t want to miss out on this extraordinary event!" Hope to see you there! (Town of Deep River via Facebook)
2. The owner of the old Dock & Dine restaurant and the town of Old Saybrook are pairing up. According to a CT Examiner article, "Jon Kodama and the Town of Old Saybrook are applying for $3.7 million from the Connecticut Communities Challenge Grant to re-establish a restaurant on the riverfront property and to create a riverfront walkway that would extend through Gardiner’s Landing. If the grant proposal is approved by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, Old Saybrook would contribute $600,000 in matching funds for the project, while Kodama would contribute about $3.2 million. A decision on the grant is expected in December. Dock & Dine was a fixture at the mouth of the Connecticut River, and the site was home to a restaurant for more than 70 years, until Dock & Dine was badly damaged by Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Kodama has owned the property since 1987. Along with the restoration of the restaurant, the project would include building a large deck with picnic tables along the waterfront and a new sidewalk connection that would allow someone to walk about a mile from Gardiner’s Landing to Fenwick on a sidewalk along the riverfront, Old Saybrook's First Selectman Carl Fortuna said." (CT Examiner)
3. There is a lot to do in the Nutmeg State this long weekend. According to Fox 61 Hartford, "If you are looking for something scary, head over to Lyman Orchards for the Evidence of Evil- Haunted Orchards open now through November 6. Do you dare enter the dark orchards after dusk? Connecticut's Interactive Haunted attraction will send you running for the orchard hills with four new terrifying frights along the haunted trail. Tickets on sale now! Or, if you are looking to find out more about Indigenous Peoples Day, head over to Mystic Seaport for its Indigenous Peoples Day activities on Monday. There you can attend a cooking demonstration with Tomaquag Museum in the Buckingham Hall House and a discussion with Silvermoon LaRose (Narragansett/Niantic), and Dr. Jason Mancini about the recently recovered autobiography of a Native American mariner, published anonymously in 1832." For a list of more Connecticut events this weekend click here. (FOX61 Hartford)
4. Incumbent Norm Needleman, D-Essex, faces Republican East Hampton Councilor Brandon Goff in the 33rd Senate District which includes Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Lyme, Portland, Westbrook and part of Old Saybrook. According to Yahoo News, "Needleman is first selectman of Essex and CEO of Tower Laboratories. Needleman, 71, has been chairman of the legislature's Energy and Technology Committee for four years. Goff, 26, East Hampton town councilor and Navy reservist who works at Northup Grumman said on his website said he would work to reduce the tax burden on residents, rein in utility costs, repeal sections of the 2020 Police Accountability Act and support parents' rights to have greater control over their children's education. " We live in a democracy, be sure to get out and vote! (Yahoo News)

Today in Essex-Chester-Deep River:

• Secret Seller FALL Artisan Market (10:00 AM)
• Secret Seller FALL Gift Market™ (10:00 AM)
• Secret Seller FALL Market Craft Show (11:00 AM)
• Valley Safe Grad Graduation Celebration Raffle Fundraiser (9:00 AM)
• Annual River Valley art tour (9:00 AM)
• Shell & Bee Studio: Inktober (9:00 AM)
• Fire Prevention Touch-a-Truck Event - Essex Library Association (10:00 AM)
• Mensa - Essex Library Association (11:00 AM)
• Cello Recital with Julie Ribchinsky - Essex Library Association (4:00 PM)
• Twilight Tour of River View Cemetery (4:00 PM)
• Shell & Bee Studio: Healing Yourself Creatively (4:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Visit Chester CT: "@markerthirtyseven Happy Fall! Our New Fall Hours begin, October 1st. We are open from 11:30 AM till 9:00 PM from Tuesday through Sunday and Closed on Mondays. We offer both indoor and patio seating. Our patio is completely enclose-able and heated. It's the perfect season for drinks by our fire tables. Open to the public year-round at Chester Point Marina" (Visit Chester CT via Facebook)
• Town of Essex – Government: "The Town Hall will be closed on Monday, October 10th for Columbus Day. We will reopen on Tuesday, October 11 at 9 am. The Transfer Station will be open on Monday, October 10th." (Town of Essex – Government via Facebook)
• Deep River Parks & Rec: "There’s still time to get in on the fun! Celebrate fall! Build a scarecrow for the annual contest! Voting starts next week!" (Deep River Parks & Rec via Facebook)
• Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau: "Suicide Prevention Coalition Updates - https://mailchi.mp/ttysb/gt7pycu4ed-10110777" (Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Secret Seller FALL Gift Market™ (October 8)
• Your CBD Store | SUNMED - Clinton, CT! TOPICAL TUESDAY! (October 11)
• Online Webinar with experts for security systems in Old Saybrook (October 15)
• Add your event

You're all caught up for today! See you tomorrow for another update.

— Karena Garrity

About me: I am a native of Connecticut, who currently resides in the Tri-Town community of Chester, Deep River and Essex. I have been a community reporter for the better part of the past 20 years. I love my small town community and I am honored to be a part of Patch.com. You can reach me at; karena.garrity@patch.com.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Essex-Chester-Deep River Daily? Contact me at karena.garrity@patch.com