🌱 Boy's Swim Team Wins Big + St. Patrick's Day Train Ride With Family

Hello again, Essex-Chester-Deep River! It's me, Karena Garrity, your host of the Patch newsletter. Let's get this week started off right with a quick dive into the most important things happening around town, including updates on:

• Congratulations swimmers!
• Looking for a new home?
• Celebrate St. Patrick's Day!

But first, today's weather:

Turning cloudy. High: 39 Low: 27.

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

1. Congratulations to The Haddam-Killingworth and Valley Regional High School Co-op boys swim team, who stapled down the Division II title of the Southern Connecticut Conference Championship. The team reportedly had a record of 5-0-1 in the conference. According to Zip06.com, "Swimmers Josh Colandrea (100 freestyle), Jack Ferguson (200 and 500 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, and 200 individual medley), AJ Campo de La Vera (100 butterfly), Onno Knoop (50 Freestyle), Tristan Smith (500 freestyle), Jackson Smith (500 freestyle) and Lucca Giordano (100 butterfly) have all qualified to swim in the State Championships." Good luck athletes! (Zip06.com)
2. When you’re in the market for a new home, keeping tabs on all the latest listings can be a laborious job. That’s why we here at Patch have stepped in and done the initial work for you.
   Here’s a sampling of the newest batch of homes to go up for sale in and near Essex-Chester-Deep River — including a home in the Essex area with 2 beds and 1 bath for $389,900, and another in the Chester area with 3 beds and 3 baths for $1.8 million. (Essex-Chester-Deep River Patch)
3. Celebrate St. Patrick's day with the kids! Why not take a ride on the Essex Steam Train? Mommy & Me Leprechaun Tea will be held on March 11 and 18 from 12 to 1:30 p.m. Wear your Irish green, and hop aboard the Essex Steam Train through the picturesque Connecticut River Valley aboard this celebratory St Patrick’s excursion. An assortment of teas, finger sandwiches, scones, and more will be offered. The excursion is $45.99 per person. For more information click here. (Essex Steam Train)

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From my notebook:

• Town of Essex – Government: "Valley Regional High School Musical in March! Little Shop of Horrors!" (Town of Essex – Government via Facebook)
• Essex Board of Trade: "The Essex Steam Train & Riverboat. Glorious, classic, and oh so much fun! Check out their spring schedule. There is so much to do for St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Thomas, and more!" (Essex Board of Trade via Facebook)
• Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau: " There is a whole lot going on soon! Check it all out!" (Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau via Facebook)
• Essex Library: "The many thousands of great books, audiobooks, magazines and films on Essex Library’s Libby app are available for free 24/7." (Essex Library via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Free Stuff And Great Perks Every Week (February 28)
• Your CBD Store | SUNMED - Clinton! TINCTURE TUESDAY! (February 28)
• Circophony’s Cirque du Schooleil: Operation Snakeout opens March 2 (March 2)
• SMOS Mtg Mar 3, 2023: Yale Prof Emeritus Brian Spinks- My trip from Essex UK to Yale University, CT (March 3)
• Add your event

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Monday. I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with a new 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