🌱Winter Weather Coming This Way Later In The Week + CT Fiscally Solid

Hey, everybody! It's me, Karena Garrity, your host of the Essex-Chester-Deep River Daily. Here's all the local news you need to know right now, including...

• Keep a watch out for winter weather later in the week!
• CT looking good fiscally!
• Senator Needleman reappointed as Senate Chair of the Energy and Technology Committee.

But first, today's weather:

Breezy. High: 38 Low: 22.

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

1. Winter weather is on its way for the latter part of the week according to a Patch article written by staff member Brian McCready, "The National Weather Service said a powerful coastal storm is expected to impact the entire state late Thursday and for most of Friday. Currently, it appears most of the snow will stay to our north. Current weather models show the storm will bring mainly rain to Connecticut and strong wind gusts. However, both the weather service and local meteorologists say that the exact track of the coastal storm could change and wintry impacts can't be ruled out either. The weather service said we can expect "some precipitation to move in mainly by Thursday afternoon for western areas, overspreading the rest of the forecast area by Thursday evening. ... It's possible that interior sections of southern Connecticut could begin with a brief period of frozen precipitation, but it's expected to transition to plain rain quickly. For now, the I-95 corridor towns are looking at just plain rain." (Patch)
2. State Representative Christine Palm wrote a letter to area residents recently, "After several years marred by a bleak fiscal outlook, there is finally some good news. I’m pleased to report that responsible budgeting and major structural changes the state has made to pension and teachers' retirements plans are putting Connecticut on much more solid fiscal footing. As a result, financial rating agencies continue to upgrade our status, because ultimately, this prudent management will save taxpayers billions in debt payments. In a recent report to the Legislature’s finance committees (watch it HERE) the Office of Policy and Management noted the Teachers' Retirement Fund unfunded liability — which has dogged us for decades — has been reduced by a billion dollars in the last year alone. That contribution, combined with other recent deposits, means the State will save $9.4 billion over the next 25 years. Consequently, millions of dollars that would have otherwise gone to debt payments are now freed up. (While our unfunded liability is being reduced by billions, the annual impact to the general fund is in the millions because, like a mortgage, we pay only a portion of the amount owed every year.) To learn more, read this CT Insider Article:" (ctinsider.com)
3. According to a recent press release, Senator Norm Needleman has been reappointed as Senate Chair of the Energy and Technology Committee. "Preparing for his third term in the State Senate, [Needleman] was reappointed as Senate Chair of the Energy & Technology Committee in the General Assembly. Sen. Needleman was also named Vice Chair of the Planning and Development Committee. He has served as Senate Chair of the Energy & Technology Committee since his election to the Senate in 2018. "In the last four years, Connecticut has seen progress due to my colleagues' hard work on the Energy and Technology Committee, and I'm excited to get more good work done," said Sen. Needleman. "With the momentum provided us by the Take Back Our Grid Act, bills supporting data center development and stronger access to broadband internet and continued focus on energy costs and technology advancements in our state, I'm encouraged by the prospects of another two years chairing this committee. I am also looking forward to working with my colleagues on the Planning and Development Committee regarding the future of our towns." (Senator Norm Needleman via Facebook)

Today in Essex-Chester-Deep River:

• Operation Holiday® Donors Invited to “Adopt" those in Need of Help (9:00 AM)
• Music Together Demo Class at the Essex Library (10:30 AM)
• Music Together at the Essex Library - Essex Library Association (10:30 AM)
• Little Hands (10:30 AM)
• ELA Board of Trustees meeting - Essex Library Association (6:00 PM)
• Shell & Bee Studio: Wooden Snowmen (6:30 PM)
• Shell & Bee Studio: Watercolor Workshop (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Essex Fire Engine Co. #1: Santa and the Essex Fire Dept will be driving through town on Friday evening, Dec 16 and Sunday evening, Dec 18. Click on the link below to add your street to the route.⤵️ https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScPTWfluoN..." Essex Fire Engine Co. #1 via Facebook)

• Essex Fire Engine Co. #1: "Thank you Blue Star Mothers CT 3 for delivering Girl Scouts of America Cookies for Heroes to fire headquaters. We appreciate your thoughtfulness. We'd like to thank your sons & daughters for their service to our country. " (Essex Fire Engine Co. #1 via Facebook)
• Essex Library: "The Hard Candy Contest starts today! Stop by the library between December 12 and 29 to enter. Winners announced December 30. Guess the number of candies in any jar and win a book bundle! Closest guess in each age group wins!" (Essex Library via Facebook)
• Deep River Public Library: "Beginner Chess, Winter Session starts January 4! Link to register: https://www.eventkeeper.com/code/ekform.cfm?curOrg=DRPL&curID=590990&CFID=66615297&CFTOKEN=4981cb79d35943db-481035E6-D4AE-528A-5350CAF8D41A1FBB" (Deep River Public Library via Facebook)
• Deep River Public Library: "We still have spots available for Wellness Wednesday! Link to register: https://www.eventkeeper.com/code/ekform.cfm?curOrg=DRPL&curID=599605&CFID=66615297&CFTOKEN=4981cb79d35943db-481035E6-D4AE-528A-5350CAF8D41A1FBB" (Deep River Public Library via Facebook)
• Deep River Public Library: "Advanced Chess, Winter Session, Starts on January 11! Link to register: https://www.eventkeeper.com/code/ekform.cfm?curOrg=DRPL&curID=590993&CFID=66615297&CFTOKEN=4981cb79d35943db-481035E6-D4AE-528A-5350CAF8D41A1FBB" (Deep River Public Library via Facebook)
• Deep River Public Library: "We still have spots left for our Healthier Holidays class! Reduce stress and manage your expectations this holiday season with tips from a Certified Health Coach! Visit our website calendar, Linktree or call to sign up." (Deep River Public Library via Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! 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.

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