🌱 Mysterious Places In CT + Hospital Capacity In Tri-Towns

Get on up, Essex-Chester-Deep River! Let's get you all caught up to start this Friday, January 21 off on an informed note. Here's everything worth knowing in Essex-Chester-Deep River today.

First, today's weather:

The calm after the "storm" today with partly sunny skies and very cold temperatures. High: 22 Low: 11.

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

1. The latest hospital capacity in the Essex-Chester-Deep River area reports that of the 168 inpatient beds currently occupied at Middlesex Hospital, 60.6 percent are being used by confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients. (Essex-Chester-Deep River Patch)
2. A new, nine-year statewide battery storage program has begun in Connecticut, offering upfront incentives for residential customers. (doingitlocal.com)
3. If you are into the macabre, you're going to want to check out this list of Connecticut's mysterious places. (i95rock.com)

Today's Essex-Chester-Deep River Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at Verizon. They're building the fastest 5G network in the country. To learn how 5G is going to change life for you and your community — and to get access to this amazing technology — click here. And thank you Verizon for sponsoring this community resource in Essex-Chester-Deep River!

Today in Essex-Chester-Deep River:

From my notebook:

• Visit Chester CT: "In case you were wondering how alpacas stay warm in this weather, they lie down in the Cushing position with their feet tucked." (Facebook)
• Town of Essex – Government: Online shopping consumers generate more than 6.1 million tons of cardboard a year. Only 36% of this is recycled. (Facebook)
• Visit Chester CT: "Have you shopped the winter clothing sale at Lark in Chester? So many warm things!" (Facebook)
• Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau: "Check out this incredible Virtual Calming Room. Find a virtual activity that speaks to you, and then share it with your neighbors!" (Facebook)

Loving the Essex-Chester-Deep River Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

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Alrighty, you're all good for today! See you all tomorrow 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.