🌱 Anna Benson Having A Great Season + The Perfect Storm For Ticks

Hey, neighbors. Karena Garrity here with your Tuesday edition of the Essex-Chester-Deep River Patch newsletter, filled with all the community news you need to know right now. In today's newsletter, you'll find these stories and more:

• Anna Benson is having a great season.
• Look out for ticks.
• It's summer camp time.

But first, today's weather: Mostly sunny and breezy. High: 76 Low: 57.

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

1. Anna Benson, captain of the Valley Regional High School Girls Softball team and pitcher, is having a great season. According to Zip06.com, "[Benson] currently owns a .652 batting average with an on-base percentage of .750. Pitching-wise, she currently has 40 strikeouts and a 3.75 earned-run average across 11 games for the 5-8 Warriors." Way to go Anna! (Zip06.com)
2. It's like a perfect storm for ticks this season; a warmer winter, an early spring and increased rainfall have created a perfect environment for the parasites, which is leading to an increase in tick activity here in the Nutmeg state. According to CTInsider, "According to Goudarz Molaei, director of the Tick Testing Program for Lyme and Allied Diseases at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES), we are entering peak tick activity for blacklegged ticks, or deer ticks, which make up 80 percent of all ticks in Connecticut. The month of June will see another peak in tick activity. The last peak in tick activity this year will take place in November. Additionally, an increase in the state's deer population has made it easier for deer ticks to find hosts to feed on. Molaei said that there are 12 active tick-borne illnesses that the state is monitoring, including Powassan virus, which killed a Connecticut woman in 2022, anaplasmosis and Lyme disease." Be sure to check yourself and your pets when coming in from outside, wear light-colored clothing so ticks are easier to spot and be aware. Stay safe! (CTInsider.com)
3. Getting ready for summer with the little ones? Registration is now open for The Essex Parks and Recreation Summer Camp. There will be sports, games, arts & crafts, and more. Camp is offered to children that are at least 5 years old and entering grades K-6 Fall 2023 no residency required. Camp hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Choose any week or all seven; the cost is $135.00 per child. Camp is at Essex Elementary School Monday-Thursday, and Field Day Friday at Grove Street Park. (Essex Parks and Recreation Department)

From our sponsor:

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Today in Essex-Chester-Deep River:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Delighted Every Week (8:30 AM)
• RiverFire Glass: Fuseday Tuesday, Glass Garden Art (3:00 PM)
• Batik Workshop 5/16 and 5/30 6-7pm (6:00 PM)
• RiverFire Glass Garden Art and more (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau: "Oh, events at the local libraries? So glad you asked! Here's our weekly library roundup!" (Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau via Facebook)
• Essex Library: "Don't miss next week's STEAM Saturdays: Make a 3D Book! Learn about the science of vision, and how 3D art is created! Registration required. 860-767-1560 / staff.essexlib@gmail.com" (Essex Library via Facebook)
• Essex Library: "Free Score Webinar Public Relations + Earned Media: Taking Control of Your Story Thursday, June 1, 2023 / 12:00 -1:30 PM EDT http://ow.ly/KQK550Oh6uT Learn the blueprint for a successful public relations strategy with the award-winning Miranda Creative content team." (Essex Library via Facebook)
• Essex-Chester-Deep River Patch: "Area Prospective Homeowners: See 5 New Houses For Sale." (Essex-Chester-Deep River Patch)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Delighted Every Week (May 16)
• Add your event

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Tuesday off right! See you all tomorrow morning for another update.

— Karena Garrity

About me: Journalism is in my veins. I have been a community reporter for the better part of the past 20 years. I love my 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 Patch newsletter? Contact me at karena.garrity@patch.com