February 22, 2012

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North Cove Outfitters Going “Out of Business” After Almost a Quarter Century in Old Saybrook

February 22, 2012 By

No secret, North Cove Outfitters going out of business

North Cove Outfitters in Old Saybrook has been a landmark store on Main Street for hunters, fisherman and campers for nearly a quarter century. Now, it is closing its doors with one big final sale.

“I’m very sad, I will miss a lot of my friends,” said Kathy Fowler, who has worked at the store for 23 years. Closing the store she said “will be a big loss for the town, especially Main Street.”

However, in its final “going out of business” sale, the store is not exactly giving things away. In fact, on a recent visit it appeared that most items were a modest 10% off, or at most 30% off.  As one bargain hunter who was looking around noted, “Ten percent is nothing.”

"Ten percent is nothing," said one shopper

Store owner Norman Cavallaro, who owns the store with his partner, Edward Carney, was asked about the prevalence of sale items that were only 10% off. In response he promised that as the “going out business” sale progresses, prices will get lower and lower, “even as low as 50%.”

Sweaters for 30% to 50% off

Cavallaro said that one alternative to the extended “going out of business” sale, which could last as long as six to eight weeks, could have been to close the doors immediately, and sell all of the store’s merchandize “to a jobber.”

“But we did not want to go away in the middle of the night,” he said, “That is not the legacy that we want to leave. We did not want to do that,” Cavallaro said. We wanted “to try to keep employees on the store’s payroll as long as possible.”“It is not about me,” he said.

Lots of people looking for bargains

When asked which were the most popular items being sold at the “going out of business” sale, Cavallaro mentioned clothing and even some canoes. Also, the store has “always been selling a lot of firearms,” he said. The store’s extensive inventory includes, “guns, rifles, shot guns and pistols, and it has always been a strong line,” he noted.

North Cove Outfitters received many awards

Cavallaro also mentioned with pride the many awards that North Cove Outfitters had received over the years. He said the store was judged as the “Best Outdoor Store in the Country” by Backpacker Magazine. Also, it was considered the “Best Retailer of the Year” by Canoe & Kayak Magazine. In addition, the store received a “Recognition” plaque from the Old Saybrook Land Trust.

The store owner then brought up again the store’s employees, some forty of them in all, who will be losing their jobs because of the store’s closing. “I love their professionalism,” he said, noting the number of employees who have worked for many years at North Cove Outfitters, which is still located for awhile longer at 75 Main Street in Old Saybrook.

As for what has been the store’s secret of success over the years, Cavallaro had this to say, “As an owner you yourself don’t have to be smart, you just have to hire smart people.”

Filed Under: Jerome Wilson, Top Story Tagged With:

Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Commission has no Objections to Foxboro Point Development

February 18, 2012 By

Windmill at Foxboro Point will remain undeveloped in the new proposal

The Essex Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Commission at a public hearing on February 14 voted unanimously that a plan by a New York City developer to subdivide eleven acres of waterfront land at Foxboro Point will not adversely impact the town’s inland wetlands, or its watercourses.

The New York City developer, Frank J. Sciame, Jr., did not personally appear before the Commission at the hearing; however, he was represented by Essex private attorney Terrance Lomme and Joe Wren, PE of Indigo Land Design of Old Saybrook. A representative of the developer, John Randolph, monitored the hearing but did not speak.

The subdivision would consist of seven separate lots, including the property of the existing Croft house, and sites for six new houses. Each of the sites in the development plan would have frontage on North Cove.

The Croft house, presently the only house on the proposed new subdivision at Foxboro Point

One unique feature of the development, according to Wren, is a proposed 150-foot wide conservation easement, extending landward from the edge of the river along the entire river frontage of the property. The proposed conservation easement will preserve that area and protect it from any development in perpetuity.

The total acreage of the conservation easement is 2.43 acres, or 22% of the 11.03- acre property.

In his presentation before the Commission, Wren stated that no new roadways would be required, because all seven lots have adequate frontage along Riverview Street or Foxboro Road.

As for the fate of the iconic Windmill on the northern portion of the proposed subdivision, Wren said in an interview after the hearing, “In my opinion it will not be destroyed but will stay a windmill.” However, he pointed out that, although the windmill would be on land owned by the developer, it is a separate lot and is not part of the proposed subdivision.

Seventy five foot visual corridor to North Cove in plan

Another unique feature of the proposed Foxboro Point subdivision would be the creation a 75- foot wide, open visual corridor protected with a view easement from Foxboro Road down to the waters of North Cove.  The windmill is not within this visual corridor, but it could be seen, obliquely, from the road after the homes have been built, Wren said.

Wren noted that the creation of the visual corridor from the Foxboro Road to the waters of North Cove was the idea of the developer, who wished to preserve a visual open space to the waters of North Cove.

Another issue that was discussed at the hearing was the question of whether docks would be allowed to extend out into North Cove.  Wren said that the water is very shallow in front of the properties of the proposed subdivision and that any proposed dock would be subject to full D.E.E.P. permitting requirements.

Commission members were in agreement that if there were any plans to build new docks by property owners in the subdivision, they would have to appear before Wetlands Commission for approval.

The developer’s engineer also said that the new houses on the site would have access to public water, and that each new property owner would have to construct an individual septic system.

Now that the Wetlands Commission has found no objections to the Foxboro Point development, permission to proceed with town approval of the new subdivision will be considered at a public hearing of the Essex Planning Commission on March 8, according to the Essex Zoning Enforcement Officer Joseph Budrow.

Site plan of seven housing sites, with open space and a visual corridor in shades of green

Click here to view detailed site map

 

 

Filed Under: Jerome Wilson, Top Story

Eagles put on a Show at the River Museum’s “Eagle Watch Boat Tour” on the Connecticut River

February 14, 2012 By

Boat tour vessel, the 65 foot "Project Oceanology"

The eagles must have known we were coming! Soaring in the sky high above the decks of Project Oceanology’s 65 foot research vessel, was a solitary bald eagle, circling slowly, already in view. So began, on a recent Friday afternoon, another Connecticut River Museum “Eagle Watch Boat Tour,” pulling away from the museum’s Essex docks on the Connecticut River.

Soon after departure the passengers on board began to spot even more eagles. Some were in pairs and others were single eagles drifting lazily in the sky above. Later in the tour, there would be a final triumphal sighting on Nott Island of a female bald eagle, peeking out of her nest, patiently waiting for her eggs to hatch into baby eaglets.

This afternoon was made for eagle watching, with an unclouded sky, and unseasonably warm temperatures. However, once the vessel got underway, and out into the middle of the river, it was pretty chilly, notwithstanding the warmth on the land.

Passage ways are safe for passengers

39 paying passengers were on board for the tour, designed to spend an hour and a half in search of bald eagles. Even at a ticket cost of forty dollars per person, all those on board truly got their monies worth.

At the microphone the museum’s Naturalist and Educator Bill Yule was at first apologetic that there might be too few eagles to see during the tour. It had been such a warm winter, so perhaps the eagles might not have needed to fly south to find ice free, fishing waters. However, he had no need to apologize. There were plenty of bald eagles to be seen in the sky on this bright, bright day.

Bill Yule, master spotter of the eagles               

Bill Yule is the “Eagle Watch Boat Tour,” Master of Ceremonies. At times he is assisted by Project Oceanology’s Chris Dodge and Allyce Irwin, but Yule handles most of the speaking chores himself.

Boat Tour Moderator Bill Yule at the mike

Early on in the trip, Yule set out an eagle spotting system to help the passengers on board find the eagles in the sky. If an eagle were spotted dead ahead, off the bow of the boat, Yule would call this location “twelve o’clock.” If an eagle was spotted dead astern, it would be “six o’clock.”

Similarly, if an eagle was spotted mid ships at the right side of the vessel, it would be “three o’clock,” and mid ships on the left side of the ship, it would be “nine o’clock.” It was a simple system, but throughout the voyage, it helped guide the on-board eagle watchers to find their visual prey.

Although a few of the passengers needed only the naked eye to enjoy the sight of the eagles, most of the passengers made use of long range cameras, or powerful binoculars, to see the birds. Binoculars, incidentally, were provided at no extra charge to passengers.

DDT and the survival of the eagles

At about midpoint of the boat tour, Yule became very serious. He said that not too many years ago, “the eagles were almost gone from the river.” The reason was that that back in the 1950’s and 1960’s, DDT was widely used as a pesticide, and this pesticide in turn made its way into the waters of the Connecticut River.

The DDT was then ingested by the fish in the river, the very fish that was the staple of the eagle’s diet. DDT’s effect on the eagles turned out to be severe. It made the shells of the eggs of the female eagles too brittle to sheath properly embryonic baby eaglets. Unable to reproduce live birds, the eagle population declined rapidly, even to the point where eagles were put on the nation’s endangered species list.

However, in 1972 DDT was banned, and as a result no longer was DDT in the diet of the fish that the eagles consumed in the river. Able to reproduce again, the eagle population increased along the river; the shells of the mothers now strong enough to hold baby eaglets until their normal birth.

Ultimately, it reached the point where Bill Yule could say the other day, “The eagles have now come back to the river in abundance.”

“It is truly an environmental success story,” he said with a tone of triumph in his voice.

Also a bit of sightseeing on the boat tour

Yule occasionally diverted his attention from eagle spotting to becoming a Connecticut River tour guide.  “We are now passing Selden Island,” he said at one point. “It is the largest island in the State of Connecticut. There are four campsites on the island, and there is an old forge there as well.” He also told the stories of Joshua Rock, the Mount St. John School for Boys and the Gillette Castle.

While the eagle spotting by the passengers was still in full force, Yule mentioned a few eagle statistics. For one, they can fly as high as 12,000 feet in the sky. To reach these heights they take advantage of rising, warm air currents from the land. Also, according to Yule, eagles can fly at up to 50 miles an hour.

Continuing, Yule said that it is only after it reaches the age of four that an eagle’s tail turns white. Also, eagles are not particularly friendly to other birds, and they have been known to take fish out of the mouths of sea gulls.

In addition, eagles mate for life, although if one of the pair dies they quickly find a replacement. Also, a mother eagle sits on her eggs for 35 days before the eggs hatch, and while she is nesting, her mate brings fish for her to eat.

After they are born, the eagle mother will feed her young for several months, and ten weeks after birth the young eagles will learn to fly.  However, eagles are not genetically born to know how to fish, Yule said. It is a skill that they must learn on their own during their first year of life.

Since many young eagles cannot learn to fend for themselves, as many as 50 percent die in their first year of their lives, according to Yule.

The egg-laying season for eagles in the Essex area, this year is from February 2 to 23, Yule said. By June all of the eagles will be gone from our part of the river, having left for cooler waters up north.

                    Eagle watchers were well pleased with the tour

Among the passengers on this “Eagle Watch Boat Tour,” not a single one said they were disappointed with the tour.

Lee Bradley of Newington said, “I thoroughly enjoyed it,” and “the narration was very, very good.” For her part Sandy Clark of Manchester found the trip, “very interesting,” and “it was very good at showing us everything.” Lorraine Trinks of East Hartford simply called the boat tour, “fabulous.”

Close up of a Bald Eagle watcher

The Eagle Watch Boat Tours, sail only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and they began the 2012 season on February 3. The Friday boat tours will continue sailing until March 9, and the Saturday and Sunday boat tours, will continue sailing until March 10 and 11, respectively.

As for departure times, the Friday boat tours cast off from the museum’s docks at 1:00 p.m., and the Saturday and Sunday boat tours depart on both days at 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

We shall give Bill Yule the final word on the Eagle Watch Boat Tour. As he puts it, “It is better than any other method to get up close and personal with our national symbol, the Bald Eagle.”

Bill Yule enjoying the ride home

 

Filed Under: Essex, Jerome Wilson, News Tagged With:

High Tech, Medical Company to Move from Chester to Deep River; and Deep River is Delighted

February 10, 2012 By

Future Deep River Headquarters of PCI Medical

Deep River First Selectman Dick Smith is a happy man. He has convinced a high tech firm, which manufactures disinfectant medical machines, to move from Chester to Deep River. The precise address of the new plant is, 6 Winter Avenue, which is off the north end of Deep River’s Main Street.

Extensive renovations of the former factory building of 36,000 square feet are now 80 percent complete, according PCI Medical, the new company that is coming to town. When finished and operational, an estimated 50 new jobs will have moved into Deep River. Over thirty of them will be employees of PCI Medical, and the rest will be those of a tenant, according to PCI.

Deep River’s Smith said that he was “very excited about PCI’s move back to Deep River.” “Industrial and commercial development is very important to us,” he said, noting that they add new tax revenues to the town. Also, Smith said that the building that PCI is now remodeling was “in tough shape.” It once housed a metal stamping company, and has been vacant for a number of years.

PCI Medical, a national leader in disinfection systems

“Everything we do is related to disinfection,” says Philip Coles, President of PCI Medical, speaking from PCI’s present headquarters in the industrial area of Chester. Coles runs the company with his wife, Cliodhna Coles, who holds the title of Vice President, and who shares an office with her husband.

Philip and Cliodhna Coles, President and VP of PCI Medical

The essence of PCI’s business is manufacturing machines that disinfect heat sensitive, medical devices used by hospitals, health care facilities and medical laboratories throughout the country. Over 6,000 of these health care facilities are currently customers of PCI Medical.

Many of the disinfectant processes that are addressed by PCI machines are mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Joint Commission for Hospital Accreditation.

Coles says that because its disinfectant machines protect health care professionals, the company even receives “thank you” letters from workers in the health care industry.

The PCI disinfectant process

These diagnostic devices in the health care industry that PCI machines disinfect are those that are inserted into to various parts of the human body to determine the health of an individual medical patient. These devices include endoscopes and ultrasound probes.

Philip Coles by a PCI Disinfection Soak System machine

After these medical devices have been used, they are disinfected and “the vapor from the disinfectant can be very dangerous,” says PCI President Coles. To address these dangers PCI manufactures no less than twenty different disinfection soak stations that remove the toxic vapors.

These PCI disinfectant devices fall into two categories. The first are used for endoscopes, and the second are for ultrasound probes.

The endoscope process, according to Coles, “provides an actual medical peek inside a person’s body.”  The ultrasound probe on the other hand generates an ultrasound picture of the probe within the human body to a “live” visual display machine.

PCI’s business consists of manufacturing Disinfection Soak Stations that disinfect the devices that are used in both endoscope and ultrasound medical examinations.

“We provide machines to disinfect these instruments, which also protect the person doing the disinfecting,” Coles points out. The Soak Station machines of PCI are equipped with specially activated carbon filters, which by chemical adsorption protect the user while the medical instruments are disinfected.

Coles says that the machines manufactured by PCI Medical used in the disinfecting process are designed (1) to protect the health care professional using the device, (2) to protect the delicate medical instruments that are being disinfected, and (3) to minimize the use of the liquid disinfectant involved in the process. In fact, PCI’s processes use 75% less disinfectant than other systems, according to Coles.

Furthermore, PCI’s disinfection processes are “ductless,” which means that in the disinfecting process, it is not necessary for a PCI customer to construct ducts to the outside air, according to Coles.

In addition, Coles says that PCI Disinfection Soak Stations prevent splashes and spills.

The PCI Medical success story    

According to Deep River First Selectman Dick Smith, PCI Medical’s first manufacturing site was a 2,000 square feet space in Deep River’s industrial park.  It was in what the town calls an “incubator space.” At the very first the company had only three employees.

Deep River First Selectman Dick Smith, a happy man

However, PCI Medical grew rapidly, and eventually after renting progressively larger sites in town, the company was up to renting a 14,000 square feet space at 12 Bridge Street in Deep River.

But then in 2010 the company had growing pains again. However, this time the amount of rental space that was needed was simply not available in Deep River, so the company moved to a rental property in Chester’s industrial park.

Now, when the extensive reconstruction of its new property on Winter Avenue is complete, PCI will be coming back to Deep River. No one could more pleased by this than Deep River First Selectman, Dick Smith.         

Filed Under: Chester, Jerome Wilson, News

“Fine Line Tattoo Parlour” Adds a Certain Class and Character to the Town of Deep River

January 31, 2012 By

Deep River tattoo parlor on Main Street

Mark Roberts of Marlborough is the owner of the busy tattoo shop located at 160-B on Main Street in Deep River. His many tattoos on his own hands and arms make it obvious that Roberts is sold on tattooing; even though when he points to his own tattoos, he does so, a bit self consciously.

Owner Mark Roberts in his "parlour"

Tattooing these days is no longer an activity catering only to sailors on leave and the working class. Now having a tattoo is almost preppy. Also, many women, young and old, these days adorn various parts of their bodies with tattoos.

On a recent Sunday afternoon at the “Fine Line Tattoo Parlour,” three tattooing artists were busy at work. Roberts, himself, was tattooing an intricate design of waves of water along the sides of a young woman’s feet.

Roberts gives woman client a retouch

 

In a second chair in the shop, tattoo artist Jay Kelly of East Windsor was also busy. Kelly, who has spent 17 years in the trade, will soon be working full time in Roberts’ new tattoo parlor in West Hartford.

In the third tattooing chair in the shop, tattoo artist Melissa Stolzmman was updating and enhancing an existing tattoo on the chest of former Marine Corps Sergeant Jeff Beno of Westbrook. Stolzman has 15 years of experience in the tattoo trade.

Marine Corps veteran gets a new design

Talkative and friendly, the shirtless Beno served in Iraq with the Marines, and Stolzman is adding an American flag backdrop to one of Beno’s existing tattoos. Another of Beno’s tattoos paid tribute to his former wife, and Beno says he is going to have it removed.

The kinds of tattoos which are popular these days  

“These days everyone wants a custom designed tattoo,” says shop owner Roberts. “It used to be that people wanted eagles, hearts, daggers, and other traditional designs,” such as the American flag. “Now everyone wants something different,” he says, although tattoos of Jesus remain popular.

There are even “photo reality” tattoos these days, which are tattoos of a portrait of an actual person. As for the clientele of a tattoo shop, Roberts says, “We do lawyers, judges, policemen, and we did a tattoo for a dentist the other day of a smiling tooth.”

One tattoo that Roberts cautions against is having a tattoo with the name of a current girlfriend or boyfriend. “It might change,” he says. “We tattoo names, only if the name involved is a blood relative,” he says.

As for tattooing young people under the age of 18, Roberts says that “parental consent is always requested.” Though he adds, “I am not the morality police,” as to whether people should get a tattoo, and, “I don’t get paid to say no.”

As for the cost of tattooing at the Fine Line Tattoo Parlour, a small tattoo, or a touch up of an existing tattoo, can cost as little as $60. More complicated designs cost as much as $100 to $150 dollars, and even more.

It is a firm policy at the “Fine Line” shop that the tattoo artist will first tell the customer exactly how much his or her tattoo is going to cost, before the work begins.

As for who is getting tattoos these days, according to Roberts and Kelly, roughly 25% of their customers are women, and the remaining 75% are men. Also, three quarters of the people getting tattoos are retouching their original tattoos, or adding new ones.

There are also times when tattoos can serve a very worthy purpose. After a woman has had a mastectomy, drawing a nipple appearing tattoo on her breast can be very important. “These tattooed nipples can be lifesaving,” Roberts says.

The micro-dermal, tattooing process

Roberts describes a tattoo as a permanent cosmetic, or a “design sketched into the skin.” More technically he says that a tattoo is, “a micro-dermal pigmentation that is injected into the skin.”

In applying a tattoo, first, the spot on the body where the tattoo is going to be placed is washed thoroughly with soap and water. Next, an outline of the desired design of the tattoo is sketched by the tattoo artist on to the customer’s skin.

After this pen outline is finished and has dried, a sterilized tattooing needle is injected into the skin with “single use” ink, and the actual tattoo is put into place in the skin. It takes roughly a week for a new tattoo to heal. During the healing process it is important to keep the tattoo clean. According to Roberts, there are rarely any infections caused by tattooing.

Removing at tattoo is difficult

A major characteristic of a tattoo, which adds to its sense of daring, is that tattoos are designed to be in the skin forever. They are extremely difficult to remove. Touch ups consisting of more tattooing can be done again and again, but removal of a tattoo is very different story.

Two kinds of techniques are used to remove tattoos. (1) An existing tattoo can be covered over with another tattoo of a darker color, or (2) a tattoo can be removed by a plastic surgeon using a laser treatment. However, Roberts belittles this treatment, saying, “You can still see it,” or at least the outline as to where the tattoo once was.

To become a fully competent tattoo artist can be a long process. Roberts said that he spend five years as an apprentice in the trade, and his colleagues in the shop served many years of apprenticeship as well.

As for the ambiance of a modern tattoo parlor, It reminds one of a friendly bar or an old fashion barber shop with everyone chatting away. Also, Roberts emphasizes getting to know his customers, “and establishing a relationship of trust.” As for how the tattoo artist feels, Roberts says, “Giving a tattoo to a person is a performance for the tattoo artist,” he says.

Artists at work inside the tattoo parlor

The tattoo shop in Deep River, which was founded in 1980, is the oldest tattoo parlor in the state. As for its present Deep River location, Roberts says, “We will always be here.”

Finally, although “not a piercing shop,” Fine Line Tattoo Parlour does some skin piecing. The most common is piercing the navel and attaching a tiny barbell.

Filed Under: Deep River, Jerome Wilson, News

Chaos Reigns, and the Ladies Love it, at Deep River Store on Main Street

January 24, 2012 By

The grand view of Chaos

Joann Hourigan refers to her store, Chaos, as “my therapy,” when she is talking about her truly unique enterprise at 114 Main Street in Deep River. Then, when asked why she named her store “Chaos,” she says, “Because that’s my life.”

In addition to owning Chaos, in real life so to speak, Hourigan is also Executive Director of the Deep River Housing Authority, where she has worked for 19 years. The Authority operates Kirtland Commons, which is a home for 31 elderly and disabled residents. “I love my residents and their families,” she says.  One of the residents is 102 years old.

Chaos owner Joanne Hourigan in mirror

“It’s social work,” is what she calls her work at the Commons, and it   gives her a lot of satisfaction to help people in need. At Chaos on the other hand it’s “another story.” “There, I have a chance to create, and that is what I really enjoy.”

Because of her schedule at the Commons, Hourigan frequently leaves running Chaos to Caroline Lemley, a 19 year old U-Conn sophomore. Hourigan calls Lemley, “My main girl.  She runs the place. People love her, and she is awesome at picking things out for customers.”

Chaos staffer Caroline Lemley

Regardless of who is in charge at a particular time, don’t think for a minute that the operation of Chaos is in any way “chaotic.” In fact, it is a tightly run and very successful enterprise, one that by offering an apparent jumble of goods, arouses a customer’s curiosity to find just the right thing; and then once found the customer buys it, even though they didn’t know they wanted it in the first place.

The floor space at Chaos is 300 square feet, allowing only a fifteen by twenty foot sales area. If the clutter of items was spread out in a normal manner, the floor space would have to be twice the size.

Above all, Hourigan wants Chaos to be “a fun place to come into.” “There are treasurers everywhere,” she says, “even stuff in birdcages.” “I love it that it is so packed in here,” she continues, “That is part of its charm.”

Looking about carefully cluttered Chaos, one sees practically every kind of feminine accessory known to man. “We are selling scarves, handbags and jewelry, and a lot of custom jewelry,” Hourigan says.

Crowded table top at Chaos

Also, partially open draws at Chaos bulge with cascades of objects, and every open space on tables are piled high with a profusion of necklaces, clasps, pins, bracelets and many other ornaments that intrigue and enhance the feminine taste.

Turnover is very quickly,” says Hourigan. Quick turnover means that even if a customer was in the store just a few days before, when she returns to the store a few days later, she can find new things to buy on her return visit.

The recent Christmas holiday was a boom at Chaos. “Christmas was fabulous,” says Hourigan. Racks of women’s clothing were sold, “and we even ran out of boots,” she says.

Chaos’ reasonable prices also encourage a quick turnover of goods for sale. At Chaos earrings cost $18, necklaces $20, and dresses and tops $28. Some of the necklaces sold at Chaos can be mistaken for heirlooms, according to at least one regular shopper at the store.

Bottle caps from Chaos

Also, when it’s warm enough, Chaos offers a running sequence of appealing sidewalk sales. One item of particular popularity is the “buck bowl.” Everything in the bowl costs a buck, i.e. a dollar, no matter what its original price.

When asked, how she selects the items that go into the “buck bowl,” Hourigan says, “I throw in things that I am tired of, or have only one left.” Fishing in the “buck bowl” is a very popular pastime for shopping anglers.

Store hours at Chaos are: Wednesday thru Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There are some stores in our area, when at times you cannot find what you are looking for. However, most of the time at Chaos, you’ll find it.

Filed Under: Deep River, Jerome Wilson, News Tagged With:

Connecticut River Museum has Spent $500,000 to Restore Historic Landmark After Fire

January 22, 2012 By

Destroyed East face, roof and decking of CT River Museum after August 2010 fire

The Connecticut River Museum, located at 67 Main Street in downtown Essex, had two choices in the wake of the devastating fire that took place on August 11, 2010, a fire which caused enormous damage to the Museum’s building, as well as to its decking.

One approach would have been to repair the damage, essentially, to the extent that the insurance money would cover the costs, and then hope for the best that other repairs, some very necessary, could be deferred until another day.

The second approach would address every single item that needed to be repaired, and in the process restore the museum not only to the condition of what it was before the fire, but perhaps even improve it from what it was. This full restoration plus choice, obviously, would cost a lot more money than the first, bare bones scenario.

The Board of Trustees of the Connecticut River Museum never blinked. They whole heartedly adopted the second alternative of fully repairing and restoring the Museum. In doing so, the Board chose to address every single item that required repair and the full restoration of the Museum.

Executive Director Jerry Roberts pridefully shows off restored Connectiuc River Museum

Furthermore, in adopting the full restoration plan the Board implicitly accepted the responsibility to raise the necessary money.

Board of Directors Chairman Maureen Wiltsie-O’Grady in a recent interview said, “The Museum had to be restored, because of the love that the community has for the Museum.” She added, “It is just a jewel. The fire made people think what Essex would be like without the Museum.”

Board Chairman Maureen Wilsie-O'Grady points to announcements at new Museum portal

These observations by the Chairman underscored the fact that the increased public attention and sympathy that was generated by the fire could be converted into a unique fundraising opportunity to pay for the level of restoration needed to ensure that the Museum would withstand the next 100 years.

With the stars thus aligned, the Museum Board, led by former Chairman Timothy Boyd, and the staff, led by the energetic Executive Director Jerry Roberts, went ahead and successfully raised the funds needed to repair the fire damage, and enhance generally the Museum’s building and grounds.

The fundraising steps included the establishment of the CMT Fire Fund for donations from Museum trustees, members and the public at large, as well as a successful effort to attract new government grants for the Museum’s restoration. Both these steps were in addition to achieving the Museum’s already established fundraising goals for the Annual Fund Appeal, Fall Ball, RIVERFARE and Privateers’ Bash.

These aggressive, and breathtakingly successful, fundraising steps has allowed the Museum, to date, to expend over a half million dollars, $565,500 to be exact, to repair and restore the Museum to a point where it is in even better condition than it was before the fire.

For example, with the funds raised the entire east face of the Museum building, which was destroyed by the fire, has been fully repaired and restored.

Similarly, large portions of the roof and the decking, which were destroyed by the fire, have been restored, as has the third floor gallery, which suffered water damage, and the Museum building, which experienced smoke damage.

Also included in this roster of fully paid for items was the installation of 29 new, energy efficient, museum-quality windows, as well as the installation of 70 new pilings under the decking of the Museum.

A further breakdown of the fully paid for repairs and restoration in the wake of the fire are as follows:

Building restoration and repair

This $300,000 item paid for by insurance monies and private donations, included a smoke and water clean-up; roof and siding repairs; window replacement of four fire destroyed windows and the upgrade of 25 other gallery windows; replacement of the building sign; repair of indoor mural; removal of carpets and restoration of the original wood flooring on the second and third floors.

Decking replacement and repair

This $185,000 item, which was funded from grants, donations and insurance, as well as funds from the Museum’s own historic building maintenance fund, provided money to replace the substructure pilings and decking surrounding the Museum building.

Grant funds for this project included $73,955 from the Connecticut Commission on Cultural and Tourism’s Historic Preservation Office.

Perimeter and Security/Grounds

In this category, $80,000 of private donations funded a new Museum perimeter security project, coupled with a grounds’ renovation plan. This initiative included new lights, a new portal at the entrance of the property, new walkways and the refurbishment of plantings. This project is now in its final stage of completion.

As for the new portal, according to Roberts, it will serve two purposes: 1) to establish a demarcation line between town property and Museum property, so that Museum property can be gated after hours, or whenever necessary, and 2) to provide information about Museum exhibits, programs and events.

The items regarding the perimeter and the security of the Museum property, obviously, go beyond simply repairing the Museum’s fire damages. Also, one of the items in this initiative has been objected to by a few Essex residents.

Specifically, the new portal structure, a few residents charge, takes away from the sense of openness of the Museum’s grounds that existed previously. Museum officials acknowledge that there have been a few objections to the portal structure; however, they assert that the objections are far from general, and that the upsides of the portal far outweigh the downsides, particularly from the standpoint of the Museum’s security.

Also, this very minor ruffle should in no way take away from the monumental achievement of the Museum’s Board and staff, who on their watch brilliantly restored the Connecticut River Museum to a condition that is even better than it was before the fire. In so doing they have preserved this historic asset for the edification and enjoyment of generations to come.

Filed Under: Essex, Jerome Wilson, News Tagged With:

“Trendy” or Not, a Successful Men’s Store is Adding Class to Downtown Deep River

January 17, 2012 By

Front windows of Anchor & Compass, "A Store for Guys"

“I really don’t like to be classified as trendy,” says owner Sage Novak,  referring to her very successful men’s store, Anchor & Compass, located at 163 Main Street in heart of Deep River. “I feel I am anything but,” she says, terming the clothing theme in her store as “conservative and traditional New England.”

Also, she says, “A large portion of my guy customers are working class folk that come in for the Carhartt brand, T-shirts,” and “I work hard to convey an ‘every man’s’ image.”

To burnish this image she even holds “beer tastings” at the store. Also, the store’s slogan is, “A Store for Guys.”

Inside, it is easy to navigate Anchor & Compass. Each name-brand line of clothing has its own discreet sales area. Among the most popular, especially for the over 50-years-old set, is the “Old Guys Rule” line.

"Old Guys Rule" T-shirts are a best seller

These T-shirts carry sayings on their fronts that poke fun about getting old, and remembering the glory days of youth. Some customers have whole collections of the shirts, saying such things as, “The older I Get, The Better I Was.” “Old Guys Rule” shirts are $24 for a T-shirt, and $28 for long sleeves.

Another popular brand, which features shirts displaying fishing humor, comes from the “Fish On!” company, located in Chester, Connecticut. These shirts cost $24 for T-shirts and $29 for long sleeves.

Yet another popular men’s clothing line, carried by Anchor & Compass, is the Old Harbor Outfitters from Block Island, New York. Old Harbor makes outdoor apparel, as well as fishing gear. One specialty is a wide selection of fishing knifes. The knives sell for $10 to $24 a piece, and Novak says, “We sell tons of them. They make great gifts.”

“We also sell tons of flannels every Christmas season,” she says, “and flannels never go out of style.” Over the past Christmas season, Novak reports, the store sold close to 200 flannel shirts. Their price range is from $49 to $59.

Selling the “layered look” for Guys

Speaking of flannels the savvy shopkeeper suggests to her customers that they might like the “layered look.” This look consists of first putting on an ordinary shirt, then covering it with a flannel, and then over them both a shirt jacket.  There are other layered look combinations as well. Shirt jackets go for $79 at “A Store for Guys.”

Store owner Novak shows off some outer wear

At one point while touring the store, a fashionably dressed woman came in and asked, if she could make a few returns. It turned out that the woman did not have just a few returns, but seven of them. All of the items were still in their original boxes, and some had not even been unwrapped.

It turned out that the woman’s husband, before the big holiday, had explicitly told his wife, “Do not buy me any clothes for Christmas.” However, the wife, thinking she knew best, blithely ignored this instruction, and bought lots of them. Now she was forced to return them.

While this was going on, the woman tried to make conversation. “Maybe I should exchange my husband rather than the shirts,” she said, attempting humor.

With no sign of displeasure whatsoever, store owner Novak removed the seven items from their boxes, and went ahead and restored their full cost to the woman’s credit card.

After the woman left, Novak pointed out that many stores offer only “store credit” for returns. However, at Anchor & Compass the policy is to give a full refund, as long as the purchaser has a receipt.

“Most people exchange stuff,” Novak says, but getting full credit for an unwanted purchase is still an option at the store.

Among her favorite items in the store, Novak calls attention to the Leathermen Limited line. The company is based in Essex, Connecticut, and offers a variety of canvas belts, flip-flops and key chains. Featured in the store as well are rows of men’s pants, a wide variety of sweaters and lots of T-shirts.

Adding a good citizenship quality to the store, Anchor & Compass offers a 10% discount on all merchandize purchased by volunteer firefighters and emergency rescue volunteers, whether they come from Deep River or beyond.

All for men, a colorful collection of T-shirts, caps and mugs

Not only are sales on the increase generally at the store, Novak is particularly pleased that more and more men are purchasing clothing.  The present gender breakdown at the store is that about 60 percent of the buyers are women, buying clothes for men; and 40 percent are men, buying clothes for themselves or for their best buddies.

If this ratio could even out to 50-50, Novak would be a very happy. As an inducement to get more men into the store, she has built a large, man sized fitting room. Also, she may give men shoppers just a little extra attention in making their purchases. After all it is, “A Store for Guys.”

The overall growth in sales at Anchor & Compass is truly impressive. Sales in the month of January, to date, are running 56 percent higher than they were over the same period last year.

Big Selling Seasons, Christmas and Father’s Day

As a general rule the store has two big selling seasons each year. One is during the run up to Christmas, and the other are the shopping days before Father’s Day. Since Anchor & Compass focuses on men’s clothing, it has an especially big boost in sales before Father’s Day. It is so big that Novak calls Father’s Day “a second Christmas.”

As for staff at the store, Novak pretty much runs the place on her own, although she has two part time helpers, both from Deep River.

Novak feels anchored in Deep River, and she has, if you will, found her compass in the town. In starting up her venture a year and a half ago, she received encouragement from Deep River First Selectman Dick Smith, and both Smith and his son are customers. Also, in remodeling the store Novak is proud that she used exclusively local labor.

Owner Sage Novak in front of her Deep River store

Among the things that she likes about Deep River is that her kids can walk to school, and, “I love the quality of life in the town.” Beyond that, “I want people to enjoy the store. I love just love it, when people run into other people that they know, while they are shopping here.”

Novak is a native of Deep River, and sometimes refers to herself as “a river rat.” Not only did she grow up in town, her family used to own the Deep River Marina.

Not that Sage Novak has always had happy times in her life. In June of 2008 her husband, who was a college sweetheart, died in a car accident, leaving her with two daughters, aged four and one. “I took off a year to heal,” she says. “Still, I don’t believe in wallowing. You have to go on and enjoy life in the time that you have.”

Finally, the name of her store, Anchor & Compass, has a special meaning for Sage Novak as a person.  As you get to know her, she just might share it with you.

 

Filed Under: Deep River, Jerome Wilson, News

Essex Wetlands Commission Takes “Site Walk” of Potential Foxboro Point Development

January 15, 2012 By

Commission members gather in front of the Croft house

On an extremely cold, sunny Saturday, members of Essex’s Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Commission took a “site walk” of 11 presently vacant acres on Foxboro Point. The purpose of the wintry visit was to give members of the Commission a first-hand look at property on which a private developer has filed an application to build seven new houses.

The 11 acres subject to this development are located on arguably one of the most scenic points in all of Essex, namely Foxboro Point. The site offers a sweeping view of North Cove and, in the distance, the Connecticut River.

Commission members set off on the "site walk" of the proposed development.

The application to develop the property was filed on Jan. 3 of this year by Frank J. Sciame, the Wall Street businessman, who bought and updated the Katharine Hepburn home in Old Saybrook a few years ago. He also owns a private home next to the Hepburn estate.

The sellers of the targeted property are members of the Croft family and their associates, who have owned the property for many years. The Croft house at the entrance to Foxboro Point is a familiar town landmark, and will not be demolished, according the developer’s present plan. Under the proposed plan, the famous windmill will also stay in place.

The Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Commission has scheduled a public hearing on the proposed development on Feb. 14, which will be held at Town Hall. According to the Commission’s web sites it has the following powers that could be relevant to the proposed new development. The Commission:

          “Hears, consider[s] and decide[s] upon applications for regulated activities involving inland wetlands and water courses and/or the regulated upland area to a wetland. Determine[s] whether proposed activities are exempt from, or otherwise not subject to, the regulations. In Essex, the commission reviews the activities that are within 60’ [feet] of a designated wetland and within 100’ [feet] of a water body or water course.”

The Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Commission Chairman's gloved hand seeks to prevent his picture being taken.

ValleyNewsNow contributor Jerome Wilson joined the site walk since it was an official activity of the Inland Wetlands  &  Watercourses  Commission, which is a governmental body.

His presence did not seem entirely welcome, although, as a general rule, such activities would as a matter of course be open to the public and press, unless some extraordinary circumstances are demonstrated.

 

Filed Under: Essex, Jerome Wilson, News

Congressman Lauds Chester Aerospace Firm for Receiving Federal Award for Export Sales

January 12, 2012 By

AeroCision CEO Andrew Gibson accepting award from Congressman Courtney and trade rep. Evans

Congressman Joe Courtney visited the headquarters of the Chester based aerospace manufacturer, AeroCision, recently to attend a ceremony at which AeroCision received the United States, “Export Achievement Award.” The award was presented to the company for its success in achieving a total of $1 million in exports in the year 2011.

The award was personally presented to the firm by Anne S. Evans, Director of the Connecticut District Office of the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce and eastern Connecticut Congressman Joe Courtney. It was accepted by Andrew J. Gibson, CEO of AeroCision.

“Here is a company that is absolutely competing and winning in export markets,” said Director Evans in presenting the award.

A statement issued by Congressman Courtney office provided background about the award:

“Last year Rep. Courtney and Anne Evans of the U.S. Department of Congress joined AeroCision representatives on a trade mission to the United Kingdom. During the trip, the company was able to solidify the international relationships and expand markets, boosting their overall exports from $300,000 in 2010 to $1 million in 2011.”

In the statement AeroCision CEO Andrew Gibson was quoted as saying, “When we were in the UK with Congressman Courtney, we were at a crucial point with Rolls Royce.”

Gibson continued, “The fact that I was in the UK with a member of the Armed Services Committee seeking global opportunities within the UK demonstrated our sincere commitment as a global supplier. The timing was perfect. The supply chain people at Rolls were impressed. In sum, the trip and our association with Department of Commerce added prestige and credibility at a critical time.”

AeroCision workers attended the ceremony enjoyed the lunch

The award ceremony was followed by a sandwich luncheon with many of the 60 AeroCision employees that work at the aerospace plant in Chester.

Congressman Courtney chows down with AeroCision workers

An AeroCision spokesman said that in connection with the trade mission to the UK, the company paid for all of the travel expenses of its employees in connection with the trip.

Filed Under: Chester, Jerome Wilson, News
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