🌱Pain Relief At Gas Pump Coming April 1 + More Outdoor Dining

Happy Friday, Essex-Chester-Deep River! Here's everything you need to know about what's happening around Essex-Chester-Deep River today.

First, today's weather:

Warmer with clouds and sun. High: 62 Low: 42.

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

1. Relief at the pump is coming on April 1! Thursday, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed emergency legislation that will suspend a 25-cent-per-gallon state gasoline tax from April 1 to June 30. In addition, the bill provides free bus service between now and June 30 and also establishes a second sales-tax-free week on clothing and footwear valued under $100 per item, from April 10 to April 16. ((WTNH.com)
2. Human actions affect the health and well-being of our waterways. On the banks of the Connecticut River in Essex, Project Oceanology and the Connecticut River Museum unite, showing local students the value, importance and impact of healthy waterway practices. (NBC Connecticut)
3. It's pretty cool the tri-town area has one of the oldest continually operating taverns in the country in its community. The 246-year-old Griswold Inn and Tavern, in Essex, is a lasting legend, filled with a storied past, having survived the Revolutionary War, the prohibition, the Great Depression, and most recently, a global pandemic. This historic relic was highlighted recently by Ann Nybery of WTNH News 8. (WTNH.com)
4. Giving the hospitality industry another season of outdoor dining to help recoup losses from the pandemic, the Senate unanimously voted for final passage Wednesday, of a bill extending the right of restaurants to offer outdoor dining, by 13 months. Without the new law, outdoor dining would have expired on March 31. (The Connecticut Mirror)

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Today in Essex-Chester-Deep River:

Valley Safegrad Music Bingo (6 PM)

From my notebook:

• Essex Library: "Announcing our newest story time for ages 0-3, Wiggle Worms: A play-based music and movement story time for children and their caregivers! Starting April 5, this program will be offered weekly on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m." (Facebook)
  
• Deep River Parks & Rec: "Looking for a super fun summer job! Come work for Deep River P & R this summer! Hiring for gate guards, camp counselors, counselors-in-training and life guards. Applications and job descriptions can be found on the town web site." (Facebook)
• RiverCog: Update on the 2022 household hazardous waste collections and paper shredding events. (Town of Essex)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• "Barn Raising" Benefit Concert w/ Orleans & Aztec Two-Step (March 27)
• Orleans with Aztec Two-Step Benefit Concert (March 27)
• Spring Classes Begin March 28th! (March 28)
• Shoreline Arts Alliance Presents ARTStravaganza: The Great Connecticut Arts Raffle! (April 12)
• Earth Day Festival & Market - Help Us Celebrate 50 Years! (April 23)
• Add your event

Other classifieds:

• Help Wanted (Details)
• Add your classified

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You're all caught up for today! See you tomorrow for another 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.