🌱Time To Put The Masks Back On? + Share Your Garden Bounty In Chester

Happy Sunday, people of Essex-Chester-Deep River! Let's get you all caught up to start today off on an informed note.

First, today's weather:

Breezy with periods of sun. High: 50 Low: 46.

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

1. Volunteers with green thumbs are currently being sought by the Chester Food Program to help populate the spring/summer food program with lots of homegrown fresh vegetables for those in need. If you are expecting an abundance of produce from your garden join Grow-A-Row and donate to the Chester Food Program. Harvest your extra vegetables and drop them off at the produce stand located in the corner of the Chester Town Hall parking lot anytime between 1- 3 p.m. on Tuesday afternoons. Share the bounty of the harvest season. (Facebook)
2. A proposal to provide behavioral health services for young people in the tri-towns of Chester, Deep River and Essex over the next 24 months has been drafted by Tri-Town Youth Services (TTYS). The document outlines ways to increase access to mental health services and provide early intervention for the area's youth, as well as, strategies to help reduce youth substance abuse, depression, and suicide attempts. TTYS has a goal of applying concepts of this proposal in conjunction with the area schools, community and town governments. (Zip06)
3. It's high alert once again in all eight Connecticut counties in regard to COVID-19 transmission warning levels. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the entire state is either in medium or high warning levels and Hartford, Middlesex and New Haven counties are being warned to wear masks when indoors when in public. (Patch)

From my notebook:

• Deep River Ambulance: Saturday, May 21 4 PM – 9:30 PM Jams for Cans at the Deep River Ambulance. A Night of Live Music Benefiting the Deep River Food Pantry. Price of Admission: 15 or more non-perishable items per family. (Facebook)
• Town of Chester: The Chester tradition, Town Wide Tag Sale, takes place on Saturday, May 28. Tag sale shoppers want to make the best use of their time and utilize the all-important map. To get your location on the map, please complete the online form. (Facebook)
• Town of Essex: If your weekend plans involve wine, make sure you're recycling the materials the correct way.(Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Premier Subaru — (Visit website)
• Add your business here

Events:

• Hire A Pro To Tackle Mom's To-Do List (May 8)
• Financial Planning Boot Camp: Strengthen Your Financial Fitness through Investing (May 10)
• Capella Cantorum Spring Concert (May 15)
• Add your event

For sale:

• Deep teal leather sectional. $1,900. (Details)
• Add your item

You're officially in the loop for today. I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with a new 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.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Essex-Chester-Deep River Daily? Contact me at karena.garrity@patch.com