🌱Olivia Whitehead: Ready For Softball Season + Water Main Repair

Hello again, neighbors! It's me, Karena Garrity, your host of the Patch newsletter. Let's get this Thursday started off right, with a quick review of the most important things happening in town. In this issue, you'll find news about:

• Senate Bill 7 moves to the Senate floor for further consideration.
• Water main repair work to begin soon in Ivoryton.
• New softball head coach at VRHS is ready!

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and milder. High: 49 Low: 40.

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

1. Senate Bill 7, "An Act Strengthening Protections For Connecticut's Consumers Of Energy," seeks to relieve the pressure Connecticut residents feel in paying high energy rates, with specific points of interest in the legislation including: Drawing attention to executive and officer compensation by tying a bill credit request equivalent to their earnings in the event of a rate increase request exceeding 10%. Allowing PURA to review economic conditions including inflation and consumer interest when considering a rate hike. Strengthens the regulatory authority's ability to require utilities to participate in in-depth and rigorous rate process hearings, and mandates that they undergo management audits. Ensuring that revenue decoupling works in the favor of customers, not shareholders. Creating a means for residential and small business groups, if they demonstrate financial hardship, to access up to $200,000 in compensation for attorney's fees and expert witnesses to participate in hearings for a proposed rate increase.In a recent press release State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex), Senate Chair of the Energy & Technology Committee said, "Connecticut utility customers deserve the services they pay for, and this bill allows us to seek just that in their favor. Building on the foundation laid with the 'Take Back Our Grid Act' in 2020, this bill helps to enhance controls and measures in the energy market in support of ratepayers. It will help our state manage costs, reliability, clean energy and environmental goals all in one piece of legislation." The bill will next head to the Senate floor for further consideration. (Office of Senator Norm Needleman)
2. A Connecticut Water Company water main replacement project is set for the Ivoryton neighborhood including Summit St, Blake St. Chestnut St. and Oak St beginning on April 3rd. The project is expected to run through June 15th. Work will be ongoing Monday through Fridays from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. More information about the project can be obtained at ctwater.com/projects. (Town of Essex – Government via Facebook)
3. It's almost softball season time at Valley Regional High School and new head coach Olivia Whitehead is ready. Whitehead has a great love for the sport she grew up playing in Haddam-Killingworth. She played all four-years of her high school career as center fielder and was senior captain. After college she got busy running a local travel softball program and then began coaching for John Winthrop Middle School. This will be her first year at the helm as the VRHS head coach and she is super excited about the upcoming season. According to Zip06.com Whitehead said, '“I had planned to stay coaching at the middle school, but my Valley co-assistant coach Julie Lavvadia mentioned about the opening here,” she says. “I thought it would be a great opportunity to grow the transition and feeder program between the middle and high schools by being here at Valley. The needs of student-athletes have changed the last few years,” Whitehead says. “Our job now is to help the girls maintain a balanced life of school, jobs, sports, and family while prioritizing things and committing to them. When I played, I had coaches that meant the world to me, which made me want to go into coaching in developing relationships with players. As a coach, I also want them to learn how to be active members of the community.”' (Zip06.com)

Today in Essex-Chester-Deep River:

• American History Book Club (3rd Thurs, every 2 months) (5:00 PM)
• Disney Throwback Movie Night! Ages High School-30 (5:30 PM)
• Shell & Bee Studio: Spring Wreaths (6:30 PM)
• Lithium Ion Battery Safety (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau: "Virtual event for all parents and caregivers provided by Old Saybrook Youth and Family! Registration can be accessed below! https://www.oldsaybrookct.gov/youth-and-family-services/news/stephen-hill-presentation-april-3" (Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau via Facebook)
• Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau: "Repost from @chesterpubliclibrary. There is still room available in our upcoming children's art workshop with Shell & Bee Studio. Please call 860-526-0018 or email library@chesterct.org to register!" (Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau via Facebook)
• Town of Essex – Government: "Household Hazardous Waste 2023 Brochure All HHW Collections 9:00 am – 1:00 pm and Paper Shredding Events 9:00 am - 12:00 pm" (Town of Essex – Government via Facebook)
• Town of Essex – Government: "Recycle Your Mattress! Through mattress recycling, millions of unnecessary pounds of waste can be prevented each year: - Over 30 million mattresses are sent to landfills across the country each year! - Mattresses range in size from 27 to..." (Town of Essex – Government via Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Thursday! See you tomorrow morning for your next 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