🌱Chester Makes The List For Small Towns +Plunging Into Freezing Water

Connecticut follows closely behind New York, as the state with the eighth-smallest increase in house prices. The average house price in Connecticut is $350,651 as of 2023 after rising 39.4% in the past five years.Hey, neighbors! I'm here with your Saturday edition of the Essex-Chester-Deep River Patch newsletter, filled with all the community information you need to know right now. Today's briefing includes:

• Chester makes the list!
• Braving the chilly waters of Long Island Sound for a good cause!
• House prices in Connecticut!

But first, today's weather:

Periods of snow and rain. High: 40 Low: 25.

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

1. Chester has reportedly been voted America's 74th favorite small town to visit. According to a press release, FamilyDestinationsGuide.com surveyed 3,000 families to find the top 150 small towns across the country. Chester, our little slice of heaven, came in 74th place. The press release stated that it was chosen because, "Families can enjoy a peaceful stroll through the historic downtown area, explore the nearby hiking trails, and visit the nearby museums and galleries. With its picturesque scenery, friendly locals, and plenty of things to do, Chester is the perfect place for a family getaway." We agree! Congratulations Chester, we've always know you are great! (Family Destination Guide)
2. On Sunday local Chester resident Susan Moroso Strecker will brave the weather and dive into the chilly waters of the Long Island Sound to raise money for Valley Unified Sports and Valley Best Buddies as part of the Special Olympics Penguin Plunge. Funds raised will be put towards the first Valley Unified Buddies prom so the Valley Regional High School students can have a dance with other CT schools tailored to their needs. To donate go to https://give.soct.org/fundraiser/4357566. Good luck Susan!(Essex-Saybrook Progressive Connections via Facebook)
3. Bad news for the Nutmeg Stare’s real estate market. According to data compiled by Boulder Home Source, from Zillow, for the past five years, across all fifty states, determining which states had seen the smallest rise in house prices, Connecticut ranked as the state with eight-smallest increase in house prices, following closely behind New York. According to the informaiton gathered, the average house price in Connecticut is $350,651 as of 2023 after rising 39.4% in the past five years. (Boulder Home Source)

Today in Essex-Chester-Deep River:

• Second Annual Jigsaw Puzzle Contest (10:00 AM)
• Korean Lotus Flower Lantern Workshop (11:00 AM)
• WhatTrivia with Ivoryton Library (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Visit Chester CT: "Repost from @chestergallery • Our current exhibition features a collection of meditative works by three of Chesters’s most revered artists – Elizabeth Gourlay, Richard Ziemann, and Dina Varano." (Visit Chester CT via Facebook)
• Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau: "A quick little reminder about the Student Leadership Project happening at JWMS! Bins are located at the Ivoryton and Deep River libraries for your convenience!" (Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau via Facebook)
• Ivoryton Library Association: "Please help us feed our neighbors. We're collecting items for the Backpack Program. You can learn more here: https://ivorytonlibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/backpack-program-brochure.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0KuhzQEKcQ7MZ38k7wp9hMmpzcVpWNPq..." (Ivoryton Library Association via Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Saturday off right. I'll see you around!

— 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