🌱VRHS Students Named Commended Students +Learn To Write Flash Fiction

Good morning, friends! It's me, Karena Garrity, your host of the Daily. Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening in town. Today's issue includes:

• VRHS students Quentin Baron, Jack Finnegan, Alex Ligget, Patrick O’Rourke, and Alison Safran have been named Commended Students in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program.
• Learn the art of writing Flash Fiction with author Paul Beckman.
• CT eclipsed $2 million in cannabis sales during the first eight days of operation.

But first, today's weather:

Partly Sunny. High: 41 Low: 30.

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

1. According to Zip06.com and a press release from Valley Regional High School, " VRHS Principal Michael Barile has announced that Quentin Baron, Jack Finnegan, Alex Ligget, Patrick O’Rourke and Alison Safran have been named Commended Students in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program. A Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the program, was presented by Barile to these scholastically talented seniors. Approximately 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although Baron, Finnegan, Ligget, O'Rourke, and Safran will not continue in the 2023 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, they placed among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2023 competition by taking the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). “Those being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” said a spokesperson for NMSC." (zip06.com)
2. Do you love to write? Do you want to learn more about it? According to a recent e-mail from the Ivoryton Libray now you can. "Learn the art of writing Flash Fiction in this free 4-week workshop with the author of several published stories and collections. Classes will be held Wednesdays, February 1 - 22 at 6:30 p.m. Flash fiction is a genre of fiction, defined as a very short story. Flash fiction is a favored genre among the English-speaking world’s most celebrated writers for its ability to convey deep truths and universal human emotions in just a few short paragraphs. Click here to register for this workshop." PaulBeckmanStories.com (Ivoryton Library via Facebook)
3. According to a Patch article written by Rich Scinto, "the state eclipsed $2 million in cannabis product sales during the first eight days of operation, according to the state Department of Consumer Protection. Opening day (Jan. 10) was by far the most popular, with $359,000 in sales. Jan. 14, which was the first weekend day of sales, was also a strong day with $317,000 in sales. Seven dispensaries opened for recreational sales on Jan. 10. Still River Wellness in Torrington and The Botanist in Danbury will have delayed openings." (Patch)

From my notebook:

• Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau: "Hey moms, There is still time to sign-up for our Positive Parenting Solutions series, starting next week! This group is your chance to connect with other moms in the same parenting stage and learn some strategies to help you." (Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau via Facebook)
• Essex Park and Recreation is looking for some community feedback. Essex Park and Recreation would like to host a family and friends night at the Hartford Yard Goats in May - August. Any feedback from our community would help us in determining the interest and the day of the week that would be best. We were thinking a Friday night? Attendees would pay the group rate for tickets and must provide their own transportation." (Essex Park and Recreation via Facebook)
• Deep River Public Library: "Our Ramen Noodle Cooking Program has been moved to next Wednesday, January 25 at 6:30 pm." (Deep River Public Library via Facebook)

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Saturday off right. I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with your next 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