🌱Polar Plunge Today At Cedar Lake + Black Bears Activity Increases

Hello all. Karena Garrity here with your Sunday edition of the Essex-Chester-Deep River Daily, filled with all the local information you need to know right now. Including updates on:

• Take the Plunge at Cedar Lake!
• Help make the holidays a good time of year for all!
• Black bear activity on the rise!

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But first, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy and very warm. High: 73 Low: 62.

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

1. The third annual Polar Plunge is happening today at Cedar Lake in Chester. Run by local resident and business owner Leah Kisselbrack the event raised $17,000 last year and is on track to raise even more this year. The weather is being very cooperative. The event will take place at 1 p.m. Donations are being accepted at the door. Stop by to see the costumes and cheer on your local friends and family who will be gathering to support a great cause. Proceeds will go to food programs in Deep River, Chester, Killingworth, Haddam, East Haddam and Middletown. (zip06)
2. Stuff-A-Cruiser, will be happening today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Adams parking l ot. This annual event benefits the Deep River Food Pantry. Your donations will help feed local families this Thanksgiving and beyond. Come join this annual charity event sponsored by the Community Health Committee and the Deep River Police. Stop by and say hello! (Town of Deep River)
3. Did you know that Connecticut is experiencing an acorn shortage, which could be leading to black bears in the area looking elsewhere for food? According to a recent Patch article written by Chris Dehnel, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Friday sent out a reminder that bears begin quests for "more food" in the fall and that makes them "very active" for the next few weeks and an acorn shortage may make them a bit nuttier than normal. During the fall season, black bears increase their food intake to add fat reserves needed to help them survive winter, DEEP officials said. This year, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station recently completed the 2022 Oak Mast Surveillance Program, which documented widespread acorn crop failure in Connecticut for the fall 2022 season, following an above-average crop in 2021. With two months remaining in the year, the DEEP has already tracked a record number of bears breaking into homes, with 69 incidents this year far surpassing the previous record of 45 in 2020. Fine more information at https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP-Living-with-Black-Bears. (Patch)

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Today in Essex-Chester-Deep River:

• Raffle for Valley Class of 2023 (7:00 PM)

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From my notebook:

• Chester CT Historical Society: "Thanks to Don Sampson of Deep River for giving us a bunch of postcards of Chester from his collection. Here's one - a great reminder of our historical homes in Chester." (Chester CT Historical Society via Facebook)
• Essex Fire Engine Co. #1: "23 years ago, EFD fireman, the late Jim Danks, designed and installed Essex Fire Engine Co. No. 1's proud sign in front of Fire Headquarters (11 Saybrook Rd., Essex). Time and weather took their toll, and it had to be replaced. Time and weather took their toll, and it had to be replaced. Keeping the same design, the new sign was installed this week." (Essex Fire Engine Co. #1 via Facebook)
• Essex Fire Engine Co. #1: "Don't forget to change your clocks - "fall back" at 2 a.m., Sunday morning. In the meantime, check your smoke alarms & CO2 detectors to make sure they are working properly and change the batteries, if they have any. " (Essex Fire Engine Co. #1 via Facebook)
• Ivoryton Library Association: "What every woman needs to know about retirement, 6 p.m. Wednesday at the library. Register here: https://ivorytonlibrary.org/events/" (Ivoryton Library Association via Facebook)
• Essex Library: "Teen TGIF is a week early this month, due to the holiday! We are also trying out a later time, for our teens who have after school activities! Teens in grades 7-12, come on down November 18 at 5:00! It's going to be a great time." (Essex Library via Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll see you soon.

— 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