🌱VRHS Athletes Off To Play At College + Chester Position Available

Morning, neighbors! It's me, Karena Garrity, your host of the Essex-Chester-Deep River Daily. Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening in the community today.

First, today's weather:

Very warm and more humid. High: 85 Low: 69.

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

1. Congratulations to the Valley Regional High School class of 2022 athletes who will be continuing their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level. Emi Bisson, will play lacrosse at Mount Holyoke College. Tucker Burr will play soccer at Colorado College. Chase Conrad will compete for the track and field team at Bates College. Zach Kirla will row crew at Marietta College. Connor Lunz will play football at Sacred Heart University. James Marsden will play football and baseball at Wesleyan University. Alexis Massey will row crew at Franklin Pierce University. Kenzie Mulé will play softball at Bay Path University. Andrew Salbinski will play baseball at Utica College. Cooper Strecker will play lacrosse at Albertus Magnus College. Sophia Surber will play soccer at Union College. Congratulations athletes! (Zip06)
2. The Town of Chester is accepting applications for the full-time position of equipment operator/laborer for the Department of Public Works. This position performs semi-skilled and manual work to operate trucks, dumpsters, payloaders, front-end loaders and other highway equipment to maintain streets, plowing and sanding, repair of catch basins, patching, cutting brush, mowing lawns and more. You must have a clean driving record, must possess a CDL license and be available to work off-hours during storms. Interested applicants should get in touch with the First Selectman’s Office. (Facebook)
3. Valley Regional High School senior Jack Whittaker, who has been playing tennis since before he started school, reportedly went 12-0 as the No. 4 singles player for the Valley boys’ tennis team. He helped the Warriors have a record winning season with a 13-0, and win the Shoreline Conference title. He started his high school tennis career as a doubles player and he advanced to No. 4 singles player for his senior year. Congratulations Jack on a fantastically played tennis season. (Zip06)
4. A wrong-way, head-on accident on I-95 southbound near exit 60 killed occupants of both cars involved. According to the WTNH article, the area was first reported closed just after 3 a.m. due to the two-vehicle crash. Drivers were diverted off the highway near exit 60. This continued until 9 a.m. Twenty-two-year-old Luis Garduno-Cidals of Westbrook was reportedly driving a Nissan Altima southbound on I-95 in the left lane of two. The second vehicle involved in this incident was a Chevorlet Colorado. It was driving northbound down the southbound lane and was also located in the second lane of two, directly heading toward the Nissan Altima. The driver of this vehicle has been listed as 76-year-old Johnny Bookhardt and his passengers were 68-year-old Caroline Bookhardt, located in the passenger's seat, and 66-year-old Patricia Greene-Kessler, who was sitting in the back left. All three people in this vehicle were Norwalk residents. The vehicles reportedly collided head-on and all four people involved in the accident were reported dead at the scene. (WTNH.com)

Today in Essex-Chester-Deep River:

• Memorial Day - Essex Library Association (all day)

From my notebook:

• Deep River Farms: "Let's welcome Ashlawn Farms Coffee to Deep River Farms!! Our soft opening is today from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.. There is music by Local Honey Band from noon to 2 p.m. We will be serving coffee, fresh-baked pastries and sandwiches" (Facebook)
• Deep River Fire Department: "Warsaw Street was closed in the area of #71 for a two vehicle accident involving a dump truck. The closure is between the intersection of Winthrop Road and Kelsey Hill." (Facebook)
• Essex Library: "Tweens and Teens in Grades 3-8, join us on Saturday, June 18 for a Paper Squishy Party! Register at 860-767-1560 Squishies are popular collectible stuffed toys, and can be great to use as a fidget! Come learn how to make them. " (Facebook)
• Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau: "Fast Fact by Mental Health America for Mental Health Awareness Month! The prevalence of mental health conditions is highest among adults reporting two or more races, accounting for 35.8%." (Facebook)
• Essex Library: "Did You Know? You can sign up for text message notifications to keep up-to-date with your library account using your mobile phone through Shoutbomb." (Facebook)
• Essex Library: "A reminder that the Essex Library Association closes for federal holidays, and will be closed today in observance of Memorial Day. The library re-opens Tuesday at 10 a.m. for regular hours. " (Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Your CBD Store | SUNMED - Clinton, CT WishList Wednesdays! $25 Off $100 or more!! (June 1)
• Add your event

Thanks for following along and staying informed! 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.

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