🌱Is It A Hate Crime? + New, Modernized Unemployment Filing System

Hello, everybody! I'm back in your inbox this morning to walk you through everything you need to know about what's happening locally.Keep reading for the latest.

First, today's weather:

Times of clouds and sun. High: 79 Low: 64.

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

1. According to Eyewitness News 3, activists have contacted the State Attorney’s office in Middletown to see if 48-year-old Jameson Chapman can be charged with a hate crime. Chapman was charged with breach of peace second-degree, risk of injury to a child, and assault third-degree after he was videoed allegedly assaulting an 11-year-old biracial boy while he was riding his bike in Deep River. The video shows Chapman yelling profanities at the child and telling him to get out of his town. Chapman is also shown pushing the child off his bike and walking away. Eyewitness News reportedly showed former prosecutor and Criminal Justice Professor Mike Lawlor the video. “The comments that Mr. Chapman made are clearly indicated racial animus. He talked about are you really from here and stuff like that. There’s a basis to consider a hate crime charge but that’s going to be up to the prosecutors based on all the evidence that’s available to them,” said Lawlor, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of New Haven." (Eyewitness News 3)
2. Six years in the making the State Department of Labor unveiled its new and modernized unemployment filing system. Reportedly, The new cloud-based system replaces a 40-year-old mainframe based system, which struggled to handle a mountain of unemployment claims at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Ned Lamont hailed the new system as an important step to bring state government into the 21st century. (Patch)
3. According to a theater review of "Smokey Joe's Café" at the Ivoryton playhouse, written in the CT Insider, "if you’re looking for a good time that ping-pongs back and forth from snappy sizzle to mellow yellow, then “Smokey Joe’s Café” is the perfect place to park yourself for a musical interlude. A cast of nine is perfectly poised to light up the skies with hits from the musical pens of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller." The show will be at the Playhouse through July 31. Don't miss it! (CT Insider)

Today in Essex-Chester-Deep River:

• Online discussion for security system installers in Old Saybrook, CT (9 p.m.)
• Music with Michele @ Deep River Library (10:30 a.m.)

From my notebook:

• Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau: "Today is another Cedar Lake meetup!" (Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau via Facebook)
• Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau: "Hello July and hello neighbors. It is National Make a Difference to a Child Month, so we are turning our attention to mentorship! Check out this week's newsletter describing the benefits for the youth AND the mentor! That's right!" (Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau via Facebook)
• Essex Library: "Session 1 of STEM Kid's Space Camp is today @ 4 p.m. For kids in Grades 2-6! Register at 860-767-1560 or e-mail staff.essexlib@gmail.com. Next we will be learning about how moon craters are formed, and creating moon sand!" (Essex Library via Facebook)

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• Mammoth Security Inc. Old Saybrook — (Visit website)
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Events:

• Online discussion for security system installers in Old Saybrook, CT (July 7)
• Free zoom meeting about CCTV installation near Old Saybrook, CT (July 21)
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Announcements:

• Downtown Chester Retail / Gallery / Office Space for Rent - Avail. 8/1 (Details)
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• Matching Sofa & Loveseat (Details)
• Childrens 20”Trek bike hand brake and pedal break. Ike new. Purchased at Zane’s (Details)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Thursday! See you all tomorrow morning 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