🌱Little House Brewing Co. Makes ‘Best’ List + Tri-Town Budget Season

Good morning, neighbors! I'm back with your fresh edition of the Essex-Chester-Deep River Patch newsletter, fresh off the presses. Let's get this Saturday started off right, with a quick review of everything you need to know about what's going on these days in town. Today you'll find news about:

• Great beer right here in Chester.
• Essex budget meeting.
• Chester budget meeting.

But first, today's weather:

Breezy with occasional rain. High: 52 Low: 47.

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

1. Congratulations to Chester's Little House Brewing Company who made the Hartford Courant's "Best craft breweries across Connecticut" list! According to the Courant, Little House is packed full of charm and character, as well as great beers. You will not find much, if any, high ABV beers at Little House. Most of its lineup showcases the intricacies and depth that pale ales and lagers can bring. There is a 5.5% coffee porter called Gone Muddin’ with roasted coffee from Ashlawn Farm. Extra Life: 2023 is a 5% New England IPA entirely brewed with CT malt and hops that raises money for Connecticut Children’s Hospital. Try the simple, crushable Exit Six Beer ESB, the fruited sour SLURGE! or the clean and crisp Chester Pils. You cannot go wrong at Little House." (Hartford Courant)
2. The Essex Annual Budget Town Meeting will be held on Monday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the town hall auditorium. The aNiall town meeting is being held to consider the proposed $26,522,194 General Fund expenditure budget to finance the operations of the town and boardd of education for fiscal year 2023-2024. Registered electors of the town of Essex and United States citizens, eighteen years or older, owning taxable property assessed at $1,000 or more on the last completed grand list of the town are eligible to vote at the town meeting. Please come out and vote! (Town of Essex)
3. A public hearing on the proposed FY 2023-2024 town of Chester budget will be held on Tuesday, May 9, at 7 p.m. at the Chester Meeting House. The Board of Finance will recommend the General Government and Chester Elementary School budgets at this hearing. This is an opportunity for the public to express its comments on the proposed budgets. Based on the public’s comments the Board of Finance will prepare the budget for vote at the Annual Town Meeting to be held May 23. To view the DRAFT FY 2023-2024 General Government Budget Summary and line item detail of proposed revenue, expenditures and capital improvement items, visit the Chester website www.chesterct.org or click to view budget documents. To view the Proposed FY 2023-2024 Chester Board of Education Budget and Proposed FY 2023 2024 Regional District 4 Budget visit www.reg4.k12.ct.us, or click to view the draft budget. Hope to see you there! (Town of Chester)

From our sponsor:

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Today in Essex-Chester-Deep River:

• STEAM Saturdays: "Harry Potter"-Inspired Light-Up Wand (10:00 AM)
• Disney’s Aladdin Kids (11:00 AM)
• Neurodiversity Day - Family Events! (11:00 AM)
• Disney’s Aladdin Kids (3:00 PM)
• Neurodiversity Day - Young Adult Events! (4:00 PM)

In partnership with T-Mobile:

Do you know an Essex-Chester-Deep River student who’s making a difference in the community? We want to hear about them! Click here to nominate a student to be featured on Patch.

From my notebook:

• Essex Steam Train & Riverboat: "Celebrate Pride Month at the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat when we host the live comedy and musical performance of the Judy & Barbra: Over Easy Drag Brunch! June 11. Feast on a delicious buffet brunch and abundant cocktail selection." (Essex Steam Train & Riverboat via Facebook)
• Visit Chester CT: "So up it goes! Thanks to our good friend Joe, always looking out for us. The NEW Little Shop reopens Friday, May 5. 1 Main Street Chester." (Visit Chester CT via Facebook)
• Essex Board of Trade: "Did you know? The parking lot behind the post office is home to an electric car charging station. So stop on down, plug in, and shop the town or grab a bite to eat!" (Essex Board of Trade via Facebook)
• Essex Library: "On May 1, 2023, the OverDrive app will be discontinued. Make the switch to Libby, the newer reading app made by the same people, with the same goal of connecting you to your library. Download Libby or visit libbyapp.com to get started. o..." (Essex Library via Facebook)
• Essex Fire Engine Co. #1: "Electric Cord Safety ~ don't overload extension cords!" (Essex Fire Engine Co. #1 via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• Farm & Landscape Equipment auction (April 29)
• Middlesex Hospital Vocal Chords 33rd Spring Concert (April 29)
• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Free Stuff And Great Perks Every Week (May 2)
• Your CBD Store | SUNMED - Clinton! BOGO WEDNESDAY! (May 3)
• SMOS Meeting May 5, 2023: First Selectmen’s Mtg (select Shoreline Towns) (May 5)
• Dancing and Great Food with String of Pearls Big Band! (May 12)
• Micro Shorts presented by Shoreline Playwrights in Collaboration with Drama Works Theatre (May 19)
• Add your event

Featured announcements:

• Guns/Ammunition Wanted Consignments Performed (Details)
• Add your announcement

Alrighty, you're all caught up for today. See you all tomorrow morning 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