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12/26/2018 06:00 AMA lot happened in the town of Chester in 2018—here are the highlights:
January
Mother Nature started the New Year with raging winter weather. Students were happy to get a few extra days off of school, but the town was keeping a close watch on weather patterns with the goal of keeping roads safe without blowing snow removal budgets.
Flooding from major storms caused a spectacle, especially down by the river, where ice jams made for a beautiful yet dangerous landscape.
February
The town rallied together for local resident Lana Bargesi, a Valley Regional High School student battling osteosarcoma, setting up several fundraisers.
The Chester Land Trust kicked off 2018 with a flurry of activity, planning events and fundraisers, and working on upgrades to its website.
The Chester Merchants put together a successful Super Bowl Sunday tasting.
The Valley Mock Trial team of Sophie Spaner, Maeve Collins, Gabby Pitruzzello, Jenna LoMonaco, Erin LoMonaco, Celia Robins, and Maggie Dipierdomenico competed in the Elite 8 round of the State Mock Trial competition, held on Feb. 12 at the U.S. District Court in North Haven.
March
The town lost Barbara Delaney, 93, a longtime champion of Chester. She and her husband Edmund were integral parts of the Chester Historical Society and worked on the restoration of the Chester Meeting House as well as the annual young artists’ concert series.
On March 8, a Nor’easter dumped even more snow, adding to already exhausted snow removal costs and added extra days onto the school year, bringing kids into the classrooms through mid-June.
Chester resident Christine Palm announced her campaign for the 36th District, with a campaign slogan of “Who Leads Matters.”
Inspired by national events, Valley students gathered on Main Street in Old Saybrook to show solidarity as hundreds assembled for the March for Our Lives. John Winthrop Middle School 8th graders Emi Bisson, Abby Amara, and Lindsey and Lauren Valentino led the march.
Following the shootings in Parkland, Florida, local moms gathered to write cards to the survivors and brainstormed about how they could make a difference in the future.
Chester Historical Society’s creative challenge Pegs of My Heart kicked off; the creations were then sold at a silent auction in April to benefit the Chester Historical Society.
Three John Winthrop Middle School Mock Trial teams competed in one of this year’s regional competitions at Kingwood-Oxford Middle School.
Valley Regional High School’s performance of Cinderella took to the stage from March 9 to 11.
The Rotary clubs of Chester, Deep River, and Essex sponsored their first Four-Way Test Speech Contest at the Deep River Richard H. Smith Town Hall.
April
The Region 4 Supervision District sought a budget of $6,796,170 for 2018-’19, which reflected a $35,051 or 0.52 percent increase in spending over the previous fiscal year. The percentage of Chester students in the district increased from 24.88- to 25.74 percent .
The Chester Rotary Club and Bikes for Kids, with an assist from Boy Scout Troop 12, sent 213 bicycles and helmets to Houston victims of Hurricane Harvey.
The state Department of Transportation proposed a $1 increase to the car fare for the Chester-Hadlyme Ferry.
Chester considered short-term rental regulations in response to a problematic party house in town. Town officials considered new regulations that would limit commercial use of residential properties abusing Airbnb-style rentals.
News of a new microbrewery in Chester spread fast as craft beer aficionados readied for new brews, and local businesses prepared to welcome Little House Brewing Co. at 16 Main Street.
May
The Region 4 Budget, down 1.2 percent, went to referendum on May 2. Enrollment changes led to a decrease for Essex and increases in Chester and Deep River. The Region 4 School District requested a budget of $19,803,194 for the 2018-’19 school year, a $233,725 or 1.16 percent decrease over the current year’s budget.
Chester’s proposed a $13,722,002 town and school 2018-’19 budget, showing a $472,264 or 3.56 percent increase from last year. Chester’s proposed town spending showed a decrease of 1.38 percent while its combined Elementary School and Region 4 School budget was up 4.9 percent from last year.
Despite Deep River dissent, the Region 4 Budget passed by 2-1 margin. The $19,803,194 Region 4 Budget for the 2018-’19 school year, representing a $233,725 or 1.16 percent decrease from the current year’s budget, passed by an overwhelming majority at referendum. Under the budget, Chester and Deep River will see budget increases while Essex’s contribution will decrease. Region 4 Budget referendum totals were: Chester, 94 “Yes” 30 “No”; Deep River, 93 “Yes” 132 “No”; Essex, 189 “Yes” 18 “No”; and total, 376 “Yes” 180 “No.”
State Police identified a body found in the area of Chester-Hadlyme Ferry Landing; the deceased was identified as Steven Detoro, 56, of Portland.
The Planning & Zoning Commission decided to change short-term rental regulations for the village and commercial zones, while at the same time relying upon—and enforcing—existing regulations in residential zones.
On May 18, Valley Regional High School students participated in the sixth annual Warriors in the Community Day. Each year, approximately 600 Valley students, accompanied by their CORE teachers and other staff members, go to local sites in the Tri-Town and give back to their community.
State Representative Melissa Ziobron (R-34) was the unanimous choice for 33rd District State Senate candidate of more than 40 Republican delegates from 12 towns at a nominating convention at East Haddam Old Town Hall on May 14.
Christine Palm won the unanimous May 16 endorsement of delegates in the four towns comprising the 36th General Assembly District serving Chester, Essex, Deep River, and Haddam.
Essex First Selectman Norm Needleman was nominated on May 21 as the Democratic Party State Senate candidate for the 33rd District.
State Representative Bob Siegrist, III (R-36) received the unanimous endorsement at the 36th District Republican convention held recently in Chester.
The Chester Republican Town Committee organized the 26th annual Town-Wide Tag Sale.
Chester’s Memorial Day Parade began at the War Memorial and concluded at the Old Meeting House.
Chester veterans planned renovations to the War Memorial Grounds at the American Legion Post 97, including the wooden fence that surrounds the Chester War Memorial.
Chester’s $13,722,002 town and schools budget for fiscal year 2018-’19 was approved at a Special Town Meeting on May 30. The approved budget showed a spending increase of $472,264 or 3.56 percent from last year.
June
Famed Chester Sunday Market had its 2018 debut on Sunday, June 10.
The Huckleberry Adventure Recycled Raft Race, sponsored by the Chester Land Trust, happened on June 10 at the Carini Preserve. The land trust provides recycled materials to build small rafts and the contest was opened to participants of all ages. When the raft building is finished, the crafts are launched and a race is held.
Faced with a Health Department that could no longer meet state standards and impending staff retirements, Chester joined Deep River, Clinton, Old Saybrook, and Haddam in the Connecticut River Area Health District.
Valley Regional High School graduates from the Class of 2018 received their diplomas.
July
The Chester Rotary Club held its 40th annual 4 on the 4th Road Race.
Maple & Main Gallery of Fine Art in Chester closed.
The Chester Public Library was nominated by The Connecticut Chapter of the American Institute of Architects as a Connecticut Treasure.
The Planning & Zoning Commission approved the application for special exception to include the coffee and tea service at Sprouted Coffee Bar, located at 1 Main Street.
August
The Main Street Project Committee and Nathan L. Jacobson & Associates Inc. completed a trial paint of the potential new parking design in front of Chester Wall in the village for the parking and sidewalk area between Spring Street and the Water Street Bridge.
In an effort to probe into the wants and needs of Chester’s residents, the town put together a second survey to gather additional information to be used in completing the state-mandated Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD), which is required to be updated every 10 years.
The iconic end of summer Chester Fair had a great weekend of weather for another fantastic three-day event.
School started on Aug. 30, during a heat wave. Temperatures were in the mid-to-high 90s for much of the first week of school and heat indexes in several towns topped out above 100.
Continuing onward with the town’s quest to stay environmentally responsible and energy efficient, Chester Elementary School’s roof got a make-over. The 42 town-owned solar panels that adorned the school’s roof were removed, making way for more energy efficient photovoltaic panels.
September
The 48th annual Chester Rotary Lobster Fest was held on Sept. 8 at the Chester Fair Grounds.
Celebrating its 150th anniversary, the Chester Fife & Drum Corps held a commemorative muster at the Chester Fair Grounds on Sept. 22.
The Chester Fairgrounds went to the dogs on the weekend of Sept. 15 and 16, for the fourth annual Chester Dog Fair.
Resident state troopers put out a warning to all that backyards, driveways, garages, sheds, and houses were at risk of being burglarized and to keep everything locked up.
Tri-Town Youth Services received a $125,000 grant in continuation funding from the Drug-Free Communities Support Program to prevent youth substance abuse.
On Sept. 25, torrential rains caused localized flooding. Chester was hardest hit locally, with a bridge collapse, road closures, store flooding, and evacuations.
October
October marked Valley Regional High School’s final visit from the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program. Valley Regional was an IB candidate school awaiting authorization to become an IB world school; final approval came later in the year.
It was the end of an era in Chester when Cummings & Good and the Chester Historical Society’s Barbara and Edmund Delaney Estate Sale both took place on the same weekend.
Chester’s Farmers’ Market packed it in for the season.
Principal William Duffy, who was at John Winthrop for the past six years, announced he took a position in Avon as principal of Thompson Brook School.
In an effort to conserve and improve the collective environment, the town held the sixth annual Conservation and Energy Fair.
The annual Halloween parade was another huge success.
November
Repairs were scheduled to begin the first week in November for the Liberty Street Bridge, which was destroyed in the September rains.
The Nov. 6 election saw a record high voter turn-out. In Chester, 2,178 or 79.81 percent of the town’s 2,729 eligible voters participated. There were 30 voters using Election Day Registration and 183 voting by absentee ballot.
Democrat Christine Palm unseated Republican Bob Siegrist in the race for the 36th Assembly District.
Following a recount in the race for the 33rd State Senate District seat, Democrat Norman Needleman remained the winner. Needleman’s opponent, State Representative Melissa Ziobron (R-24), conceded the race on Nov. 20.
John Winthrop Middle School Principal William Duffy served his last day in that position on Nov. 20.
December
Chester merchants hosted their annual Starry Night Holiday Festival and Stroll.
Valley Regional High School became an authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) High School, the first public high school in Middlesex County to achieve this designation, joining the ranks of seven other public high schools in the state.
The property at 33 Liberty Street was offered for sale to the town with a price tag of $1.