🌱Congratulations High Honor, Honor Roll Recipients + Budget Time

Hello again, everybody! It's Tuesday in Essex-Chester-Deep River and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on all the most important things happening locally. Today's briefing includes news about:

• Chester Elementary School proposed budget is $5,789,666.
• Looking for a new home?
• John Winthrop Middle School 2nd quarter honor roll is out!

But first, today's weather:

Colder; breezy in the p.m.. High: 39 Low: 25.

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

1. It's budget season in the tri-towns and the Chester Elementary School's proposed 2023-’24 budget requests a total of $5,789,666 for next academic calendar year. According to Zip06.com, "This represents a 6.4 percent increase in spending, or $348,144, from the current year. A large portion of the budget, over 64 percent accounts for staff salaries, representing an increase of 7.49% from the current year. Superintendent Brian White said, "The only new spending initiative in the Chester Elementary budget is funding for a building substitute,” which has an attached budget request of $45,000, according to the Feb. 16 workshop minutes. This position has existed in all Region 4 schools with the support of grant dollars through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, but would be solidified as a salaried position if approved in the final budget. Chester BOE has scheduled its next workshop on Monday, March 20th."
2. Looking for a new home nearby, but getting tired of looking through the same old real-estate listings over and over? Never fear! To keep you in the game, we've got the latest batch of five new listings nearby. Here are the five newest properties to hit the market in and near the Essex-Chester-Deep River area — such as one in the Killingworth area with 3 beds and 2 baths for $334,900, and another in the Chester area with 3 beds and 3 baths for $1.8 million. Like what you see? Just click on any address in the list to get additional pics and details. Happy house hunting! (Essex-Chester-Deep River Patch)
3. John Winthrop Middel School's High Honor and Honor Roll recpient list for the 2nd Quarter is out. Congratulations students! Well done! (Zip06.com)

Today in Essex-Chester-Deep River:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Fresh Perks Every Week (8:30 AM)
• Decoupage Craft Night! Ages High School-30 (5:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Deep River Public Library: "At the library, we have TBR shelves!!(Deep River Public Library via Facebook)
• Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau: "Change is inevitable for all sectors, and ours is no exception. Here's looking onward in realignment! (Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau via Facebook)
• Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau: " Check out everything planned within our community libraries! Be sure to click through so you don't miss anything that may be happening soon!" (Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau via Facebook)
• Town of Essex – Government: "Finished with your freezer, snack, and sandwich bags? Don't throw them in the garbage or your recycling bin! Please be sure to make them clean and dry and take them back to the store to be recycled." (Town of Essex – Government via Facebook)

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Featured events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Fresh Perks Every Week (March 7)
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Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with 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