🌱Help Make-A-Wish And Get Your Sunflowers+Be Careful Around The Water

Hello, everybody. Karena Garrity here with your fresh copy of the Essex-Chester-Deep River Patch newsletter. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about what's happening locally, including updates on...

• Be careful in, on and near the water.
• Mother and daughter die after being swept down river.
• It's sunflower time.

But first, today's weather: Humid with some sun. High: 84 Low: 67.

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

1. Due to recent extreme weather, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is asking everyone to exercise extreme caution in, near and on the water in the area. According to Eyewitness News 3, "Excessive rainfall over the past few days has created abnormally high waters for this time of year. Hot temperatures are likely to bring many people to the shoreline and inland water bodies for swimming, boating, fishing, and spending time on the beach. 'With a busy Connecticut State Parks summer season in full swing, we want to remind all visitors to have fun and be safe,' said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes." (Eyewitness News 3)
2. It's been reported that 39-year-old Dora Kelly and her daughter 5-year-old Aralye McKeever died following a tragic water-related incident that swept the two down the Shetucket River in Sprague earlier this week. Initial reports were that the mother had died, and the little girl was in stable condition at the hospital; however, later reports confirmed that the child also passed away. (NBC Connecticut)
3. It's sunflower time of year and the Buttonwood Farm, located at 473 Shetucket Turnpike, in Griswold, Connecticut, is once again hosting its famed Make-a-Wish Connecticut's 20th Annual Sunflowers for Wishes event from July 22-30. There will be over 300,000 sunflowers in bloom across 14 acres. What a spectacle! Visitors are invited to enter the cutting field for $3 to cut their own stems for $3 per flower. All proceeds benefit Make-A-Wish Connecticut. (Make-A-Wish)

Business owners and marketers in Essex-Chester-Deep River: Do you want to build awareness with local customers? I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. Click here to learn more.

Today in Essex-Chester-Deep River:

Thursday, July 20

• Grove Street Story Time! (10:00 AM)
• Seeds of Intention: Crystal Terrarium Workshop (3:00 PM)
• Inside Government (Ages 9-12) (4:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Essex Board of Trade: "We [love] a good sidewalk sale! Join us on July 28." (Essex Board of Trade via Facebook)
• Town of Essex – Government: "The restrooms at the Main Street Park in downtown Essex are compostable! Please follow instructions!" (Town of Essex – Government via Facebook)
• Essex Library: "Teen Anime & Manga Club meets next week! Thursday, July 27 at 5 p.m. Sign up at 860-767-1560 or e-mail staff.essexlib@gmail.com Come explore the world of anime and manga with us! Try something new, share ones you enjoy, and hang out." (Essex Library via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• Sunflowers for Wishes (July 22)
• Summer Marketplace (July 23)
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Featured job listings:

• Part time Dining Services Associate (Details)
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You're all caught up for today. See you all tomorrow for 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