🌱Utility Moratorium Has Been Extended + Check For Ticks

Hello, Essex-Chester-Deep River! I'm here in your inbox this spring morning to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on around town, including updates on...

• The utility moratorium has been extended.
• Looking for a new home?
• Ticks are out.

But first, today's weather:

Showers early in the morning. High: 60 Low: 47.

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

1. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority extended its utility moratorium shutoff for customers in financial need to October 31. This move will help protect thousands of residents experiencing financial strain from facing power shutoffs this spring and summer. With the existing shutoff protection program going into place from November 1 to May 1, 2024, customers needing aid have protection for another year - and will be able to enroll for new discount rates for low-income customers at the beginning of next year. (Senator Norm Needleman via Facebook.
2. Looking for a new house, and want to get a better understanding of what's available near you? Need some help finding the perfect place for you and your loved ones? You've come to the right place! To save you some time, we've compiled a fresh batch of five new listings nearby.
   Here are the five most recent houses to hit the market in the Essex-Chester-Deep River area — such as a home in the Haddam area with 4 beds and 3 baths for $479,900, and another in the Essex area with 3 beds and 3 baths for $2.0 million. Like what you see? Just click on any address in the list to get additional pics and details. Happy house hunting!(Patch)
3. It's tick season so be aware! According to a Patch article written by Rich Kirby, "Hospital emergency rooms in Connecticut and the Northeast are already seeing springtime spikes in the number of people seeking treatment after being bitten by ticks. These blood-suckers can transmit a host of serious illnesses, including Lyme disease. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that so far in April, 109 of every 100,000 emergency room visits in the Northeast have been for treatment of a tick bite. Compare this to March, when 37 of every 100,000 ER visits were for a tick bite. Biting-tick species that can transmit severe and sometimes fatal illnesses that are found in Connecticut include the Gulf Coast, brown dog, American dog and Lone Star tick. Ticks are active anytime the weather is above freezing, but especially now through mid-May and from mid-August to November. Adult ticks and nymphs can transmit Lyme disease, Ricky Mountain spotted fever and other tick-borne illnesses."(Patch)

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Today in Essex-Chester-Deep River:

• Children's Book Week: Star Wars Scavenger Hunt (9:00 AM)
• Shell & Bee: Parent and Me - Cars Trucks and Bicycles (9:30 AM)

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From my notebook:

• Essex Library: "STEAM Saturdays for kids in grades K-6 continues in May with Binary Code Bracelets, May 6 @ 10 AM! Registration required. Contact 860-767-1560 / staff.essexlib@gmail.com Scroll to see all of May's STEAM Saturdays projects!" (Essex Library via Facebook)
• Essex Library: "Yet another Early Literacy Craft is set up in the Children's Room (while supplies last). Use shapes like circles, rectangles, and triangles to create Olivia the Pig! A great craft to learn or reinforce shape and color recognition." (Essex Library via Facebook)
• Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau: "Feel like you are missing out on programs or other resources? Trying to limit your own time on social media? Then don't forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter! It only comes out once a week, twice if we have a big registration dropping, and that's it! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain!" (Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau via Facebook)

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Featured events:

• 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)
• Open House for Outdoor School (May 6)
• 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

That's it for today. I'll see you around!

— 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