🌱Ivoryton Playhouse Brings On New Staff + Lotus Flower Lanterns

Hello all. It's me, Karena Garrity, your host of the Essex-Chester-Deep River Patch newsletter — back in your inbox with all the most important things happening in town these days. Including news on:

• Come be creative and learn about Lotus Flower Lanterns.
• An Old Saybrook police officer has been fired!
• The Ivoryton Playhouse has new staff members.

But first, today's weather:

Sunshine and some clouds. High: 48 Low: 39.

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

1. A Lotus Flower Lantern workshop will be held on March 4 by the Chester Library at 11 a.m. at the Town Hall. Members of the Korean Spirit and Culture Promotion Project will be on hand to help attendees create traditional lotus flower paper lanterns using colored paper and wire frames. After the class, a short documentary will be shown and complimentary books will be available for taking. All materials will be provided. Registration is required. Call 860-526-0018. (Chester Library)
2. The Old Saybrook Police Commission unanimously voted to terminate Old Saybrook police officer Josh Zarbo's employment with the Old Saybrook Police Department. The decision was made by the department at a special meeting held on February 13. According to Zip06.com, "Zarbo was accused of illegally accessing the Connecticut On-Line Law Enforcement Teleprocessing (COLLECT) system to obtain vehicle registration information of a young woman he had seen earlier in the day so that he could get her name and follow her on the social media site Instagram. Misuse of the COLLECT system is punishable by criminal charges. Following an investigation, Zarbo was charged with computer crimes in the third degree, a felony to which he has pleaded not guilty, according to the state judicial website. Zarbo is next due in court on Feb. 21." (Zip06.com)
3. The Ivoryton Playhouse has welcomed husband and wife Ben Hope and Katie Barton to the Playhouse staff. According to press release from the Playhouse, Hope will serve as executive producer alongside executive Artistic Director Jacqueline Hubbard and Managing Director Krista May and Barton has been brought on as the director of special projects. As executive producer, Hope, who holds a degree in theatre administration, will collaborate as a member of the Playhouse’s producing staff. Barton will oversee, among other things, the Ivoryton Women’s Playwright Festival. (Ivoryton Playhouse)

From my notebook:

• Town of Essex – Government: "Scam of the Week! Scams related to the Turkey-Syria Earthquake." (Town of Essex – Government via Facebook)
• Essex Library : "STEAM Saturdays series for kids continues with kaleidoscopes at the Essex
  Library on March 18, at 10:00 AM. Children are invited to explore light and reflection by making their own kaleidoscope. Free and open to children in kindergarten through grade 6. Registration required. Call 860-767-1560 to register. Held at the Essex Library, 33 West Ave."(Essex Library)
• Chester Library : "Dr. Seuss' birthday is Thursday, March 2! Visit the Chester Public Library to get a free copy of Gerald McBoing-Boing and make your own noise-maker (while supplies last)." (Chester Library via Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Sunday off right! I'll see you around.

— 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