🌱Electric Bills On The Rise + Cannabis Amendment In Essex

Hello, everybody! It's me, Karena Garrity, your host of the Essex-Chester-Deep River Daily — here to tell you everything you need to know about what's happening in town these days. In today's issue, we'll cover these stories and more...

• Energy costs will rise in Connecticut!
• Cannabis in Essex?
• Have fun with your Thanksgiving guests!

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and cold. High: 41 Low: 27.

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

1. Energy bills in Connecticut may be going up big time on January 1. According to New Hampshire Public Radio, "Connecticut’s two biggest electric utilities requested a massive rate increase Thursday. The proposal could raise the average electric bill for residential customers of Eversource and United Illuminating by about $80 each month and would take effect Jan. 1.
   The eye-popping requests from Eversource and UI come as the state heads into winter and immediately set off a flurry of responses from consumer advocates and politicians. Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont said Eversource and UI were “enjoying historic profits” while “customers are experiencing economic hardships” and called on both utilities to find “long-term solutions that untether us from the volatility of global fossil fuel markets.” But any long-term solution won’t solve the more immediate problem: how to reduce a massive rate request fueled by skyrocketing global energy costs, which state law essentially allows utilities to pass directly along to customers. “Today’s record increases in the generation of electric rates proposed by Eversource and United Illuminating show just how flawed our energy markets are, and how those flaws are harming Connecticut households,” state Sen. Norm Needleman (D-Essex), co-chair of the Energy & Technology Committee, said in a statement. (New Hampshire Public Radio)
2. According to Zip06.com, "In a unanimous decision at its Nov. 1 meeting, the Essex Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) has approved a text amendment that would allow for the cultivation and sale of cannabis. The vote came following the Commission’s first and only public hearing on the matter. Prior to an Aug. 2 meeting, members of PZC received a draft of a proposed zoning text amendment application to add a section regarding adult-use cannabis cultivation and sale and medical marijuana dispensary and production. At that meeting, the commissioners voted to receive the amendment application and scheduled a public hearing for Oct. 4. The Oct. 4 meeting was canceled, and the public hearing was continued to the Nov. 1 meeting. Under the newly approved text amendment, "no marijuana dispensary facilities, medical marijuana production facilities, and adult-use cannabis retail (for recreational use) and cultivation shall occur within the Town of Essex until such time as a Special Exception has been granted by the Commission." While the text would appear to disallow cannabis sales, it serves to set limitations on where such a facility would be allowed to file an application. According to Land Use Official Carey Duques, the text amendment spells out three different areas in town that would allow consideration of cannabis-related facilities. In addition to allowing applications for limited zones, the text amendment also prohibits marijuana- and cannabis-related facilities within the same building or structure of any building used for residential purposes. It additionally prohibits facilities within 1,500 feet of a school or within 200 feet of a religious institution."(Zip06.com)
3. Looking for something fun to do with Thanksgiving guests? According to a Facebook post on the Town of Chester page, "the Chester Museum at The Mill will be open on the Friday and Saturday afternoons following Thanksgiving Day from 1 to 4 p.m. We have found in the past that people welcome this opportunity to entertain their guests. Of course, it is free to all visitors. [Also,] Chester is filled with many beautiful historic homes. We are proud of our rich history! The Chester Historical Society is celebrating the town with the publication of a new edition of “The Houses & History of Chester.” When published in 1984, it included the history of 180 buildings built by 1875. Now, they are excited to begin work on a new version with updates of the historic homes and will now include homes built by 1900. If you own a home that falls into that category, please email us at chestercthistoricalsociety@gmail.com with your home’s street address." (Town of Chester via Facebook)

Today in Essex-Chester-Deep River:

• Family Thanksgiving Movie and Centerpiece Event (3:00 PM)
• Shell & Bee Studio: Healing Creatively (4:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Essex Steam Train & Riverboat: "Thank you to all who joined us last Saturday for our opening night dress rehearsal! All of us at The Essex Steam Train & Riverboat are ready for some Christmas magic!" (Essex Steam Train & Riverboat via Facebook)
• Chester CT Historical Society: "Now you can watch our film about the Flood of 1982 and hear people's memories about it (and about when the back part of the Pattaconk restaurant fell off, see photos). It's on our website here." (Chester CT Historical Society via Facebook)
• Deep River Public Library: "Librarians getting it done! #bookaddict #books #book #booknerd #bookstagram #library #librarylife #readersofinstagram #readersgonnaread #readingtime #reading" (Deep River Public Library via Facebook)
• Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau: "Don't forget to have your little turkeys create a turkey with this craft of the month!" (Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau via Facebook)
• Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau: "Behaviors are non-verbal communication. Take the time to “listen”, connect, and love them." (Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• St. Mary's 34th Annual Heart Christmas Fair (November 19)
• Your CBD Store | SUNMED - Clinton, CT! CIDER SUNDAY 2 (November 20)
• Add your event

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Saturday! See you tomorrow for 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