Printer Friendly Version - 2023: The Year in Review

A Little Compassion lights the way for all abilities at a lantern event at Plattwood Park on May 20. Photo courtesy of Kim Tyler

Steam billows from a North Pole Express steam train engine during a long exposure at Essex Steam Train & Riverboat on Dec. 21. Photo by Wesley Bunnell/Valley Courier

The Today Show was welcomed to Essex on Dec. 12 as part of its “Merriest Main Streets” series with a crowd gathered onto the front of Ivoryton Playhouse dressed in costumes and holding signs. NBC News correspondent Emilie Ikeda stands among the crowd as they wave for the cameras. Photo by Wesley Bunnell/Valley Courier

Boaters pass on display past the CT River Museum on Nov. 26 with the return of Trees in the Rigging. The event was held together with the Essex Historical Society, Safe Harbor Dauntless & Essex Island, and the Connecticut River Museum. The event was expanded this year featuring children’s activities, and a holiday fair. Photo by Wesley Bunnell/Valley Courier

Essex Resident State Trooper TFC Mark. E. Roberts disposes of prescription drugs dropped off at his collection point outside of the Essex Police Department on Oct 28. during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The event was designed to give people a way to dispose of unused prescription drugs in a safe manner. For a list of year round locations visit deadiversion.usdoj.gov. Photo by Wesley Bunnell/Valley Courier

David Kitzman was named principal at Essex Elementary School effective Aug. 7. Photo courtesy of Regional School District 4

Runners make their way onto North Main St at the start of the Ivoryton Pumpkin Chase on Oct. 21. The Ivoryton Pumpkin Chase is a 5K mixed road and trail race held during the peak of foliage season for southern New England benefiting the Ivoryton Library. Photo by Wesley Bunnell/Valley Courier

Chester’s Constance Baker Motley is honored by the U.S. Postal Service with a stamp. The Motley stamp is the 47th in the post office’s Black Heritage series. Image courtesy of the U.S. Postal Service

A team competes during the horse pulling competition at the Chester Fair on Aug 26. The fair which ran from Friday to Sunday featured live music, carnival rides, and games as well as exhibitions and activities for the whole family. Photo by Victoria Fennell/Valley Courier

Students at VRHS participate in Warrior in the Community Day on May 23. Photo courtesy of Lenore Grunko

Two-year-old Charlie dances with her mother, Allie Mesite, at High Nine Brewing as Ken Chmielewski of the band Butter Jones steps closer during a fundraiser for the arts and music programs at John Winthrop Middle School and Valley Regional High School on Sept. 23. High Nine Brewing’s Music and Arts Festival featured music and art over three days from Sept. 22 through Sept. 24 raising $5,134 for the school’s programs. Photo by Wesley Bunnell/Valley Courier

A miniature golf course will open for play at the Essex Library on Jan. 14 and 15.

The parish center at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church is destined for a new life with information sessions for a proposed affordable housing development scheduled on Jan 31.

Deep River will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the town’s World War I monument in May, thanks to a unanimous decision on Jan. 24 by the Board of Selectmen (BOS) to form a new committee to oversee the festivities on Memorial Day.

Developers presented the proposed "Artisan Village" housing development at a joint Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) and BOS meeting held on Jan. 31 at Chester Town Hall.

The Deep River PZC is seeking resident input for ideas on how to best move forward with its decennial plans as part of its Plan of Conservation and Development.

The Little Shop of Horrors is to be held by Valley Regional Musical Productions at Valley Regional High School.

Essex Historical Society invites the community to focus on Black American history as part of a presentation at Essex Library on the issue of race, industry, and injustice in the Connecticut River Valley.

The 2023-'24 Chester Board of Education (BOE) budget, reviewed and discussed at a workshop on Feb. 16, calls for a 6.4% increase.

With SNAP benefits drying up for Connecticut residents, Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries continues to provide dining and food pantry services in its coverage area.

Town electors in Deep River approved six requests in the form of monies from the town’s American Rescue Plan Act fund at a special town meeting by the BOS on March 13.

A Little Compassion gatherers at its Nest Coffee House to celebrate the opening of its sensory-friendly Community Gathering Room on March 18.

The Essex Historical Society gets a boost thanks to a grant from the Connecticut Humanities agency to better serve the community and bolster its technological capabilities.

A nearly $10 million plan for significant structural and safety improvements to outdoor athletic facilities at John Winthrop Middle School (JWMS) and Valley Regional High School (VRHS) heads to a vote by referendum on May 2.

The Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments was awarded a $240,000 grant from the Safer Streets and Roads for All federal program to construct comprehensive action plans to improve traffic safety and reduce the increasing number of automobile-related deaths and injuries.

Construction of the River Road Sidewalk project in Essex is ready to begin as a way to bring safety for pedestrians, motorists, and cyclists in the area near downtown.

The Essex Board of Finance moves its proposed 2023-’24 budget to a public hearing following a meeting on May 8, calling for $26 million in annual expenses for the fiscal year.

Tri-town elector overwhelmingly approved $10 million for significant structural and safety improvements to outdoor athletic facilities at JWMS and VRHS.

A Little Compassion lights the way for all abilities at a lantern event at Plattwood Park on May 20.

A $26.5 million budget is approved by Essex town electors at the annual town meeting on May 8

Deep River voters approve a $19.9 million budget at the annual town meeting in Deep River on May 15.

The Tri-Town Sustainable Committee's Food Scrap Composting and Education campaign advocates for food scrap programs in all Region 4 schools.

Town electors approved a $16 million budget at an annual town meeting in Chester on May 23.

The Chester Charter Commission begins its work on restructuring the town government of Chester at its first meeting on May 31

Valley Shore Community Television and short-video platform Flip the Lens collaborate on a summer video-making program for high school-aged filmmakers.

Students at VRHS participated in Warrior in the Community Day, performing over 550 collective hours of community service in the tri-town area.

The Connecticut River Gateway Commission adds a new measure to its regulations regarding light pollution along the Connecticut River.

The Valley Regional High School Class of 2023 looks to the future at its graduation ceremony on June 13.

The Deep River BOS adopts a resolution on June 13 to ban smoking in all public parks and recreational areas.

The Chester Charter Commission holds its first public hearing on June 21 to outline its mission, goals, and key dates over the next year in developing a report to rearrange the town government structure.

The Essex BOS holds its first public hearing on a draft regulation document regulating short-term rental properties in Essex on July 5.

Chester PZC keeps sights on its Plan of Conservation and Development for improvements in conservation and economic development efforts in Chester.

Attendance for children under the age of 18 is free at the Connecticut River Museum as it takes part in the Summer at the Museum state program.

The Chester Sustainability CT Team releases the “Lower Connecticut River Valley Heritage Trail Action Plan” for a multi-town 18-mile pedestrian and cycling trail.

State and federal representatives of Connecticut hold a press conference on efforts to fight the invasive water plant hydrilla, which has become a major ecological threat to the Connecticut River.

A proposed text amendment change to Essex’s zoning regulations in its rural zone meets sharp criticism from residents at a PZC public hearing on Aug. 1

The Concerned Residents of Chester raise multiple concerns over the development of the proposed "Artisan Village" apartment complex in light of the upcoming public hearing on Sept. 14

A proposed text amendment change to Essex’s zoning regulations meets even greater criticism from residents at a PZC public hearing on Sept. 5

Students and faculty at JWMS relocate classes to VRHS following the discovery of mold in the former building.

Chester’s Historical Society and Land Trust to honor civil rights hero U.S. Judge Constance Baker Motley at a ceremony on Sept. 23

The "Artisan Village" proposal proves divisive at a PZC public hearing on Sept. 14 and receives sharp criticism and some support from residents.

The Region 4 BOE holds its first meeting to address the remediation and a timeline for return to JWMS following the discovery of mold in the building.

The Connecticut River Museum celebrates its 50th anniversary with new additions, features, and programs for visitors and students.

The Essex PZC rejects an unpopular text amendment that was proposed to change zoning regulations in a rural zone.

The Chester Charter Commission prepares to present a draft Charter at a public hearing on Oct. 26 following five months of research, meetings, and discussions.

The "Artisan Village" proposal continues to face sharp criticism from concerned Chester residents at a second public hearing.

The Region 4 BOE begins seeking vendors to address the mold situation at JWMS and releases request-for-proposal documents for services of mechanical engineering firm.

The U.S. Postal Service issues a new stamp featuring a picture of local civil rights hero and former Chester resident U.S. Judge Constance Baker Motley.

Democrats take top spots in contested races; Cindy Lignar wins the first selectman seat in Chester, Carol Jones wins in Deep River, and Norm Needleman is reelected in an uncontested race for a seventh term in Essex.

Voters appropriate $623,000 at a referendum for the cost of the JWMS Security Project for a secure vestibule to be constructed at the building.

Downtown streets in Essex prepare to undergo flood prevention efforts with the support of a $444,000 state grant.

Chester Planning and Zoning Commission approves ‘Artisan Village’ plans that were heavily scrutinized by concerned residents at deliberation session on Nov. 20

Town electors prepare to vote on a proposed pay-as-you-throw ordinance brought forth by the Deep River Ad-Hoc Committee on Waste Reduction program as a method to reduce waste at the Transfer Station at a town meeting on Dec. 11.

The Chester Charter Commission reviews the cover letter and language in a preliminary draft charter “ahead of schedule,” according to its members.

Town electors in Deep River overwhelmingly reject the pay-as-you-throw ordinance at a standing-room-only filled meeting on Dec. 11