🌱Valedictorian Also Presidential Scholar + Half Of CT In Drought

Good morning, everybody! It's Saturday 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. Hope you all have a great day.

First, today's weather:

An afternoon shower in spots. High: 78 Low: 61.

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

1. Valley Regional High School graduating senior and valedictorian Nicolas Wyszkowski is among a select group of semifinalists chosen as a U.S. Presidential Scholar, a recognition that acknowledges outstanding scholars from across the country. Reportedly, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program is one of the highest honors bestowed upon graduating high school seniors. Candidates are chosen from a list of criteria including academic and artistic success, accomplishments in career and technical fields, leadership, character and community involvement. Wyszkowski will be attending Yale University this fall. Congratulations Nick! (Presidential Scholars Program )
   
2. CT Water has been working since the beginning of April replacing approximately 1.2 miles of 60-year-old water main on Main Street (Route 604) in Centerbrook and Ivoryton. In a newsletter to town residents, First Selectman Norman Needleman wrote, "We anticipate completion of this project in July followed by the State Department of Transportation (DOT) repaving the entire roadway in August. Please consider rerouting to Route 153 when possible, to help reduce traffic. Water main work on New City and North Main streets in Essex will also be completed in July. The restoration of these capital projects will conclude with repaving Maple Avenue, Riverview, New City Street and a section of Foxboro Road in August. (essexct.gov)
3. Local farmers and state authorities are reportedly on alert as almost half of Connecticut is experiencing drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. According to a CT Inside article, "farmers in eastern Connecticut said Wednesday that the dry weather has prompted them to take some proactive measures to protect fruit crops that are coming into season, such as strawberries and blueberries. However, the conditions have yet to pose a risk to water-intensive apple and peach orchards that will not start bearing fruit until later in the summer. Forecasters are split on whether New England will continue to see parched conditions throughout the summer." (CT Insider)
4. Here's a sampling of the latest batch of homes to hit the market in and around Essex-Chester-Deep River — including a house in the Essex area with two beds and one bath for $349,000, and another in the Killingworth area with four beds and three and a half baths for $3 million. (Essex-Chester-Deep River Patch)

Today in Essex-Chester-Deep River:

• Exercise Your Mental Fitness! (10 a.m.)
• CT OPEN HOUSE DAY: Drop In Arts & Crafts (1 p.m.)
• Celebrate Rev. Tim Haut's 50 years of ordained ministry (5:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Essex Fire Engine Co. No.1: "Every 40 seconds someone in the United States has a heart attack. Four out of five of those occur at home. When you call 911 in our community, not only does an ambulance respond, but also the Essex Fire Engine Company No. 1 or commonly referred to as Essex Fire Department (EFD). As one of the town’s first responders, sometimes the fire department arrives on scene before the ambulance and takes the lead on patient care. All of the Officers in the department and our EMS First Responders carry medical bags and the apparatus are equipped with medical bags and AEDs." (Essex Fire Engine Co. #1 via Facebook)
• Deep River Public Library: "Open books/open libraries = open minds" (Deep River Public Library via Facebook)
• Visit Chester CT: "June is Pride Month and Chester is full of rainbows this month in celebration of the LGBTQIA community! About the flags we are flying: While retaining the common six-stripe rainbow design as a base, the"Progress" variation adds a chevron along the hoist that features black, brown, light blue, pink, and white stripes to bring those communities (marginalized people of color, trans individuals and those living with HIV/AIDS and those who have been lost) to the forefront. "The arrow points to the right to show forward movement, white being along the left edge shows that progress still needs to be made." (Visit Chester CT via Facebook)
• Essex Library: "Announcing Summer Playground Story time! This story time for families of all ages will take place Thursdays throughout the summer at Grove Street Park at 11 a.m. Dates include: June 30, July 7, 14, 21, and 28, and August 4, 11, and 18." (Essex Library via Facebook)
• Essex Fire Engine Co. No. 1: " Grilling Fire Facts - Gas grills were involved in an average of 8,900 home fires per year, including 3,900 structure fires and 4,900 outdoor fires annually. Leaks or breaks were primarily a problem with gas grills." (Essex Fire Engine Co. #1 via Facebook)
• Essex Library: "Attention parents and guardians of children under 18: The 2022 Connecticut Child Tax Rebate is now open. See below for more details." (Essex Library via Facebook)
• Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau: "Parents of kiddos from 6 weeks to 12 years old, we need your feedback! Please fill out this survey to better help inform community needs regarding a *potential* new care program." (Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau via Facebook)
• Visit Chester CT: "Summer fun at @chesterpubliclibrary #visitchesterct #loveyourlocal . . . @chesterpubliclibrary Start getting excited! Chester Public Library's Summer Reading Program is right around the corner and here are just a few things we have planned. Goodnight Storytime and Stuffie Campout: kids will enjoy seeing what their stuffed animals are up to when they think nobody is looking! Morning Yoga: get your mind right and your body moving on Saturday mornings. Ideal for girls ages 7+, but open to all! Tween and Teen Craft Nights: just be creative! Sign up for this summer's reading challenge at the kick-off party June 20. Make a s'more and draw on the sidewalk while you're at it!" (Visit Chester CT via Facebook)
• Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau: "Don't forget to sign up through the Google Form if you are interested in being included in communications regarding upcoming anti-racist community conversations! Once everyone's contact information has been received, the planning process will begin." (Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau via Facebook)
• Essex Library: "Book pickup continues for this month's Dystopian Reader's Society (Gr. 7-12)! This month we will be discussing The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness, which explores a town where everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts." (Essex Library via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Drive Thru Chicken BBQ (June 18)
• Hire A Pro To Clean Up The Yard For Dad (June 19)
• Summer Marketplace (June 25)
• Chester Rotary 44th 4 on the 4th Road Race (July 4)
• Add your event

For sale:

• Dining room table and chairs (Details)
• Add your item

That's it for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another 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