Essex

Our town consists of three villages: Essex, Centerbrook and Ivoryton, each part of the whole yet uniquely different.
      We are located half way between New York City and Boston, and a short commute to the capitol city of Hartford.
      Our villages were settled around the Falls River, which flows eastwardly from the hills of Ivoryton, through the plains of Centerbrook, along the rocky heights of Essex Village down to the sparking Connecticut River. A few short miles from Long Island Sound, Essex is well-known for its beautiful landscapes, majestic trees and gardens, and fascinating architecture. You can view a bit of history in our factory homes of Ivoryton, our churches and factories, and streets lined with Federal, Victorian, and Cape Cod houses. Even our town hall dates back to 1892.
      Here you'll find a long tradition of benevolence and volunteerism that brings a "can-do" vibrancy to our communities, reminiscent of our Yankee past.
      We have many cultural, historical and educational attractions as well, from the Essex Steam Train to the Ivoryton Playhouse to the Connecticut River Museum, Connecticut Audubon Ecotravel, the Bushy Hill Nature Center, and Sailing Masters of 1812 (whose members are attired in the traditional garb of a Navy midshipman of the time period).
      Essex is famous for hosting a multitude of parades, from Groundhog Day (with Essex Ed), to the "Burning of the Ships Parade" (celebrating the 1814 British raid that left 29 ships burning in the harbor). And many others as well. Parades in Essex are a way of life.
      Civic groups invigorate our town with community activism - groups such as the Rotary, Lions, Merchants Group, Historical Society, Garden Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a strong scouting program.
      Essex offers an outstanding culinary experience to residents and visitors alike - such hometown originals as the historic 1776 Griswold Inn, the renowned Cooper Beech Inn, Gabrielle's, the Black Seal, and Oliver's Tavern. For shoppers of all persuasions, we have art galleries, antique businesses, plenty of great shops and boutiques and a beautiful harbor to relax by.
      We are proud of our schools. Essex Elementary School offers an outstanding program. We participate in a regional secondary school with our neighbors in Chester and Deep River, and are currently upgrades to these facilities to a cost of more than forty million dollars.
      Emergency services are provided by a superbly trained and equipped volunteer fire department and ambulance corps, along with a professional constabulary.
      We invite you to come to our town and experience, explore and enjoy the small-town enchantment of Essex, Connecticut.

Warm regards,
Philip Miller, First Selectman

Veterans Services

You can now access your DD-214 on-line! Please pass this information on to retired military personnel you may know.
     The National Personnel Records Center has provided the following website for veterans to access their DD-214 online:

http://vetrecs.archives.gov.

This may be particularly he lpful when a veteran needs a copy of his DD-214 for employment purposes. Please see the details below.
     The National Personnel Records Center is working to make it easier for veterans with computers and Internet access to obtain copies of documents from their military files.
     Military veterans and the next of kin of deceased former military members may now use a new online military personnel records system to request documents. Other individuals with a need for documents must still complete the Standard Form 180 which can be downloaded from the online web site.
      The new web-based application was designed to provide better service on these requests by eliminating the records center's mailroom processing time.
      Also, because the requester will be asked to supply all information
essential for NPRC to process the request, delays that normally occur when NPRC has to ask veterans for additional information will be minimized.
      Veterans and next of kin may access this application at:

http://vetrecs.archives.gov.

Emergency Preparedness

• Are You Ready for a Hurricane?
• Be Red Cross Ready
• Community Emergency Response Team Poster
  (PowerPoint)
• CT Guide to Emergency Preparedness (PDF)
  
• Extreme Cold Prevention Guide ( 3.44 MG))
  
• Home Shelter Kit
  
• Hurricane Readiness
  

Home Shelter Kit
(See this in a Word Format, suitable for printing)

Assemble this now. Put aside in special box Keep heat-sensitive items inside home and mark date that you brought them on item and rotate stock throughout the year. Batteries in the refrigerator prolong their life you need a plan on where you are going to go and how you can be reached if you leave your home so family members knew.

Flashlights and extra bulbs *
Clock (windup or battery- operated)
Radio (battery operated)
Extra batteries
Toilet paper
Matches water proof
Scissors
Plastic garbage bags (50 gallon and small if you need a rain coat cut the top and side for your head and arms)
Working fire extinguisher
Clean change of clothes rain gear sturdy boots *
Fully Charged battery operated lanterns (don't use candle they are a fire hazards.)
Blankets rolls for each person in the household *
Map of the area *
List of phone numbers (doctor insurance company family members pharmacy banks) *
List of medines that your family are taking 10 day supply *
Copy of insurance policy or other importance papers banks accounts *

Emergency toilet

Garbage can with tight lid
Plastic bags for liners
Disinfectant or bleach
Deodorizer
Extra toilet paper

Baby needs *

Disposable diapers
Wipes
Diaper-rash ointment
Baby medicines
Medicine dropper
Extra formula, baby food

Food supplies

Get enough nonperishable foods for two weeks. Note stay away from high salty food they are going to make you thirsty
Water 2 quarts to 1 gallon per person per day (get enough for 2 weeks)
Shelf-stable juice and milk boxes
Canned and powered milk
Beverages (canned or powdered, fruit juices, instant coffee, tea)
Canned vegetables and fruits
Canned or bagged dry fruits
Prepared foods (canned soups, beef, spaghetti, tuna, chicken, ham pudding, tuna)
Snacks (crackers, peanut butter, jelly cheese spreads)
Cereals
Dry canned pet food *
Extra baby formula baby food *

Kitchen supplies

Waterless hand sanitizer *
Manual can opener
Water purification tablets
Bottle opener
Matches in a plastic bag
Pocketknife
Camp stove with plenty of fuel, gas grill with extra propane tank full or charcoal grill and extra charcoal (use only canned fuel indoors sterno)
Ice chests or coolers
Paper plates, napkins, and plastic cups plastic utensils
Disposable pans for cooking
Plastic bags jugs or containers for water or ice

Hardware

Hand tools; hammer, screwdriver, shovel pickax hand saws chain saw
Power screwdriver
Tarps
Rope
Sturdy work gloves
Duck tape *
Nails
Plywood

Medical supplies *

First aid handbook
Insect repellent
Citronella candles
Insect bite lotion
Petroleum jelly,
Ointments for burns, cuts
Antiseptic solution
Sunscreen
Extra over-the counter medicine (for colds, allergies, cough)
Aspirin acetaminophen, antacid tablets
Children's medicines
Diarrhea medication
Feminine hygiene items
Incontinence supplies
Rubbing alcohol
Iodine
Disinfectant
Soap in plastic bags hair shampoo
Moist towelette packets

Other supplies first aid kit that has this items

Medic alert tags
Hypoallergenic adhesive tape
Thermometer
Cotton-tipped swabs
Sterile rolls
Sterile adhesive bandages
Sterile gauze pads
Roller bandages
Scissors
Tweezers
Plastic sheeting's
Adhesive tape
Safety pins
Latex gloves

* Shelter kit if you are asked to leave you home

Disclaimer

The Town of Essex is dedicated to the practice of democracy and strongly believes in the free exchange of ideas. However, we also believe in maintaining a strict standard of excellence in all of the material associated with the Town of Essex web site, by virtue of links from this site. We do not favor one group over another, and any references herein to any organizations, specific commercial products, process, or services by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, do not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement or recommendation by the Town of Essex, its department or employees.

With respect to documents available from this server, neither the Town of Essex, its departments nor any of its employees make and warranty, express or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately-owned rights.

Official, legal documents are on file in the Essex Town Hall for your examination. The Town of Essex, its officers, boards, commission, employees, and volunteers hereby disclaim any and all liability for any damages, whether direct or indirect, special, consequential, or otherwise, resulting from the use of the information herein provided.

The Town of Essex is not responsible for the content of any off-site pages referenced through links. The responsibility for the content rests with the organizations who are providing the information. Specific details regarding a document should be directed to the appropriate organization and not necessarily to the Town of Essex or Web Site Administrator.

   See Don's Articles

Donald Malcarne, Town Historian

It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of Don Malcarne, our Town Historian and himself a much heralded presence.
Don was born and raised in town, the grandson of Italian immigrants.
He grew up playing, sailing, landscaping, delivering papers, and being fascinated with a plethora of characters of different generations who all made up the fabric of Town.

He made a success of himself as an adult in sales and then later parlayed his love of history into getting his Masters degree from Wesleyan, under the advisorship of Dr. John Pfeiffer, one of Don's best friends.

Over the last twenty years, especially, Don shared his love and knowledge most generously with everyone. He built up the Essex Historical Society into a juggernaut of many interested people who he turned on to the fascination of historical interpretation.

He was devoted to his family. Shirley was his best friend and mate and their daughters were close. Don also loved his dogs and could often be seen driving with his canine sidekick.

Mostly, Don was a gracious presence, generous of heart, and especially fond of the elders whom he knew his whole life.

He has left us with a gift of his time here making things a little better for everyone. He loved the people of the Town and was most generous with his time for others.

Philip Miller

SAVE THE DATE! DECEMBER 12

Child & Family's 10th biennial Holiday House Tour will take place on Saturday, December 12, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The tour will feature seven beautiful, historic village homes that date from the 18th and 19th centuries. Essex Historical Society's Pratt House and Hill's Academy and the Connecticut River Museum will also be included. All the homes on the tour will be on or close to West Avenue and Main Street for easy access as well as for the enjoyment of village shopping and dining. Enticing boutique wares, table top trees, silent auction items, and refreshments, will also be available at the Town Hall.

Tickets will be available at $25 each in advance from Stonewear and the Peddler (Essex), Gather (Ivoryton), Saybrook Country Barn and Thurstons (Old Saybrook), The Bower Bird (Old Lyme), Celebrations (Deep River), Ceramica (Chester), Walter Loden and Homeward Bound in Madison. The day of the tour, tickets will be sold for $30 at the Essex Town Hall. Tickets orders received after December 7 will be held there. When ordering by mail, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope, and send your checks to: Child and Family Agency, Holiday House Tour, 168 River Road, Essex, CT. 06426.

For more information, please visit our website at www.childandfamily.com or call (860) 443-2896. (extension 901)

This is the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Child and Family Agency. Tracing our history back to 1809, the mission of the Agency is to help children at risk in the context of their families. Programs deal with child abuse prevention, the treatment of family violence, teen pregnancy prevention, children's health care, childcare, parent education and children's mental health issues. Last year over 13,000 children were served in 67 towns in Middlesex and New London Counties at 26 Child and Family Agency offices. Out of every dollar donated, 91 cents benefits the children.