🌱What To Do With All Those Leaves? + Jump Start Your Holiday Shopping

Hey, neighbors! It's Friday in Essex-Chester-Deep River and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in town, including news about:

• Get shopping this weekend at SoMa.
• Leaves everywhere, what should you do?
• Connect River Museum getting ready for Steve Cryan's train exhibit!

But first, today's weather:

Tropical rainstorm. High: 68 Low: 63.

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

1. Get a jump on holiday shopping this weekend join SoMa in Deep River, for its 2nd annual holiday art fair with local artists, makers and crafters from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on November 13. There will be acoustic music by Frank Jr. of Face Arts Music and over 20 local artist and creators. Vendors will be indoors and outdoors! River Valley Dance Project will be hosting 15 minute meditation/yoga sessions for $5 starting at 1 p.m. This event is free (no dogs please). Hope to see you there! (Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau via Facebook)
2. The town of Essex has posted these suggestions on its Facebook page to help area residents answer the question, "What should you do with all those fallen leaves you're not sending to the landfill? Here are some tips:

• Let leaves stay where they fall. They won't hurt your lawn if you chop them with a mulching mower.
• Rake leaves off the lawn to use as mulch in garden beds. For finer-textured mulch, shred them first.
• Let leaf piles decompose. The resulting leaf mold can be used as a soil amendment to improve structure and water retention.
• Make compost. Combine fallen leaves (“brown material”) with grass clippings and other “green material” and keep moist and well mixed. You’ll have nutrient-rich compost to add to your garden next spring.
• Still too many leaves? Share them with neighbors, friends, schools and others. Some communities will pick up leaves and make compost to sell or give away.
• Build a brush shelter. Along with branches, sticks and stems, leaves can be used to make brush piles that shelter native wildlife." Hope this helps with your fall clean-up efforts! (Town of Essex – Government via Facebook)

3. Train and art enthusiasts take note! Its that time of year again. Time for local famed train guy and artist Steve Cryan, of Old Saybrook, to build his model train layout for his 29th annual Holiday Train Show at the Connecticut River Museum in Essex. According to theday.com, "Cryan began putting together the 8-foot by 26-foot HO scale model train layout 17 days ago and expects to finish the day after Thanksgiving. Visitors to the model train layout can have fun looking for items on a scavenger hunt list. There is also a toddler sized viewing layout that is six feet by nine feet with S Gauge American Flyer trains and Lionel O Gauge trains. During the train show, Cryan’s original artwork will be on display. The event takes place Nov. 22 through Feb. 19." (theday.com)

Today in Essex-Chester-Deep River:

• Veterans Day - Essex Library Association (12:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• Deep River Fire Department: "Fire Prevention -Teaching the students of DRES what to do in case of a fire." (Deep River Fire Department via Facebook)
• Town of Essex – Government: "Trees in the Riggins Parade Info 2022 Sunday 11/27/2022 from 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm starting at the Essex Town Hall The holiday season kicks off in Essex with the annual TREES IN THE RIGGING Community Carol Sing and Parade." (Town of Essex – Government via Facebook)
• Deep River Public Library: "We enjoyed hosting the Deep River Elementary School kindergarten classes today -- Class of 2035! The students got their library cards, checked out books, and enjoyed a program on what dinosaurs and butterflies have in common." (Deep River Public Library via Facebook)
• Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau: "We are so excited for this Sunday 11/13! Tri-Town Youth Services will have a table inside SoMA for their annual Holiday Art Fair! Faith will be there slinging baked goods, water, and smiles galore to raise funds for SoMA's scholarship fund." (Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau via Facebook)
• Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau: "What do teen mentors and the Early Childhood Council have in common? Check out this week's newsletter to find out because we bet you will never guess! - https://mailchi.mp/ttysb/gt7pycu4ed-10257105" (Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau via Facebook)
• Essex Library: "A reminder that the Essex Library Association closes for federal holidays and will be closed Friday, November 11, 2022 in observance of Veterans Day. The library re-opens Saturday at 10:00 am for regular hours. Digital services are avail..." (Essex Library via Facebook)

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Events:

• Online Webinar about Old Saybrook security system installers (November 15)
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That's it for today! I'll see you around.

— 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