Bell Power President Martin Bell, Congressman Joe Courtney and Essex First Selectman Norman Needleman

Congressman Joe Courtney came to Essex on April 30 to announce that an Essex based machine company has been awarded an $8 million contract to rebuild diesel engines for the U.S. Army.

Recipients of this welcome work order is Bell Powers Systems, which is located in an industrial park on Plains Road in Essex.  On hand to receive the Congressman was Martin A. Bell, President of Bell Powers Systems, and Essex First Selectman Norman Needleman.

Bell Power worker at reconfigured Yellow Godwin water pump

Company President Bell said that the new contract was an extension of an earlier contract, and was most welcome.  He estimated that work on the Army contract could take as much as four years to complete, and it will mean the continued employment of five workers. The company presently has 63 employees at its Essex headquarters, and does $60 million a year in business.

Bell Power worker at refigured Red Hole fire pump

The company also has an inventory of 1,200 engines, which vary in size from four to 600 horsepower and operates out of a 56,000 square foot building in the Essex industrial area.

Authorized distributor for John Deere and Yanmar

Bell Power is the authorized distributor of two of the world’s largest engine manufactures, John Deere and Yanmar. The essence of Bell Power’s business is that it takes engines that it gets from John Deere and Yanmar and reconfigures and provides value added components so that they fit the specifications that are required by the end user.

Bell Power's distributors' logos on display at company headquarters

Once Bell Power has reconfigured the engines to meet customer specifications, they are sold through the company’s service dealer network, who in turn sells the engines packages to the end users.

Reconfigured engine in high heat testing chamber

As for its marketing area, Bell Powers is the authorized distributor for John Deere diesel engines for all of New England, as well as New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and a part of West Virginia.  It is also the authorized Yanmar Industrial Engine distributor for all of New England, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and most of New York.

After the brief announcement ceremony, Bell Systems President Martin Bell made the point that it was small businesses, such as his, that are most important to growing the nation’s economy.

The main dock of the show, off Novelty Lane in Essex

“Calling all hands.” Come visit the Essex Boat Show, which is being held on Novelty Lane in Essex from Friday, April 27, to Sunday, April 29, open 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The first day of the show, April 27, was a wash out. The wind was blowing at 40 miles an hour, and attendance was light. However, the show’s second day, Saturday, after a cold start turned out to be bright and sunny.

Essex Boat Show is promoted on Main Street

Generally speaking, the larger vessels, both power and sail, were on display. Among the power boats, large Nordic Tugs were very much in evidence, as were the Hatteras and Grand Banks brands.  Sailboats too were in 40 to 50 feet long category. In fact, it might have been more appropriate to call the show, the “Essex Big Boat Show.”

A Nordic Tug 28' at the show

Four Essex yacht brokers are sponsoring the Essex Boat Show. They are: 1) Boatworks Yacht Sales, 2) Eastland Yachts, 3) Prestige Yachts and 4) Hank Aldrich Yacht Sales.

As with all boat shows there was more looking around and asking questions, then there was actually purchasing boats. However, in at least one instance, Leslie Guarrier of Boat Works Yacht Sales appeared to have found an interested buyer. He said to her loud and clear, “I might want to buy a boat.”

Yacht Broker Leslie Guarrier closing the deal

Also, hovering nearby was Debbie Soudan of Sterling Associates of Old Saybrook. She was ready to provide financing to buy a boat. “You can borrow money for under 5% these days,” she said.

Sailboat seller Jim Eastland of Eastland Yachts

Closed and damaged front doors of Riggio's Garden Center

It happened the morning of April 26, and by the time it was all over three parked cars in front of Riggio’s Garden Center in Essex had been smashed into, with one of them seriously damaged. Also, the front door of Riggio’s had been crushed off its hinges, and the store’s main entrance had to be taped shut with yellow tape.

According to an eyewitness, who was in the store at the time, the scenario of the incident went like this. First, a car, which was parked in front of Riggio’s main entrance, backed up forcefully, and hit another car parked behind it, “very hard.”

Next, the out of control vehicle pulled sharply forward, and smashed into a second parked car, a Saab, which was parked in front of it. The Saab in turn was pushed into the front doors of the garden center, forcing the doors off their hinges.

Then, finally, the out of control vehicle pulled forward and hit a third car, pushing this car over the store’s new statuary display in front of the garden center.

Soon after the incident Police and Fire officials arrived, and in the words of the eyewitness, who declined to give her name, “It was just like the movies,” with lights flashing and emergency vehicles on hand.

Reportedly, the driver of the runaway vehicle was a 74 year old woman, who was escorted away from the scene by authorities.  Fortunately, no one was hurt in the incident, according to the eyewitness.

Riggio employees were particularly concerned that the vehicle smashing incident occurred just before its open house this Saturday, April 28, when the store in gratitude entertains its customers with a picnic.

Banner for April 28 "cook out" for Riggio's loyal customers

Although the official police report of the Essex Police of the incident was requested, it was not made available.

First Preservation award winner, the Ivoryton Library

The Essex Historical Society is sponsoring a town wide referendum to determine what local residents consider to be the best preserved, historical building in town.  Voting for a favorite choice will be take place during the month of May, during which time ballot boxes will be made available at the town’s three post offices in Essex, Centerbrook and Ivoryton for the voting.

The historical building that receives the highest number of votes will receive the Essex Historical Society’s second annual Preservation Award, as well as an accompanying certificate.

Last year’s winning historical building, which received the first annual Preservation Award from the Essex Historical Society was the historic building of the Ivoryton Library, located at 106 Main Street in Ivoryton. The certificate for last year’s award hangs above the fireplace inside the library building.

Eligibility requirements for the Preservation Award   

Either residential or commercial buildings are eligible to receive the Preservation Award.  However, to qualify the building must have been built in 1936, or earlier, and if the structure has been renovated in any manner during its existence, the renovations must have preserved the original style and form of the building, as well be in the style of the time period during which the building was built.

This year’s Preservation Award winner will also be honored at the Essex Historical Society’s Annual Spring Strawberry Social, which will be held on the grounds of the Pratt House on June 25th. The Pratt house is the headquarters of the Essex Historical Society, and it is located at 19  West Avenue in downtown Essex.

Developer's attorney Terrance Lomme

By the time the April 17 public hearing of the Essex Planning Commission was over, current residents of Foxboro Point were practically oozing their praise for New York City developer, Frank Sciame.  His proposal of seven homes on eleven acres would after all keep property values on Foxboro Point very, very high, and this is fine with the residents of this upscale section of Essex.

Just to rub it in, Sciame noted in passing at the public hearing that Essex town zoning regulations would permit as many as 24 new homes on his eleven acres of Foxboro Point property. Without saying it, Sciame let hang in the air, which neighboring properties would they prefer: (1) 24 new homes jammed on little lots; or (2) seven spacious new parcels, each possessing over an acre of land?

New York City developer Frank Sciame at the Planning Commission

Or putting it another way, would neighbors want new homes which would lower property values, or a few big homes, which would sustain higher property values. Obviously, the second choice was preferred, and for this reason homeowners on Foxboro Point became allies of the developer.

New layout presented and rejected by all

Sciame’s private attorney Terrance Lomme, who has maintained a private practice of law, while serving as a sitting Judge of Probate over nine shoreline communities, began the developer’s presentation by offering a new layout for the 11 acre, Foxboro Point property. This new scheme was meant to meet some of the objections that were expressed at the March 8 public hearing of the Essex Planning Commission.

However, Sciame, himself, immediately, got up and attacked the new plans after they were presented by Attorney Lomme. “We don’t like it,” Sciame said of his own handiwork. “We do not want to do it,” he continued, and he added that the new layout “would block all views to the windmill.”

The windmill at Foxboro Point

Commission reverts to old plans

It turned out that the members of Commission did not like the new plans either, (they even had a parking lot in the middle of it), and so the new plans were quickly shelved, and the Commission members went back to working with the plans originally proposed by the developer in March.

With this settled, developer Sciame began a discussion of the architectural guidelines that he would insist upon before conveying the parcels to their new owners.  Furthermore, these guidelines would not only be embedded in the initial buyers contract to buy the property, they would be carried forward to apply to any future conveyances of the property he said.

Planning Commission Chairman, Dr. Thomas Danyliw, expressed doubt that these architectural guidelines could be carried forward in future sales of the various individual properties. However, Sciame was confident that they could be made in effect “to run with the land.”

One architectural guideline that was mentioned by Sciame was that a new owner would not be allowed to build a new home in a contemporary style. Another architected guideline would prohibit further subdividing the original purchased property. In fact, Sciame was adamant that the original density of the seven properties on the eleven acres of land would be preserved. “We shall make it,” he said, “so this [breaking up of parcels] can’t be possible.”

Sciame was also confident that by the method of architectural guidelines, “We can have a visual corridor to the windmill,” and he added, “We want the restrictions in architectural guidelines to be recorded and reflected in the deed.

A new public access corridor to the water?

After these discussions, there ensued a long discussion about the mapping of a public access corridor running from the road to the waters of North Cove. This topic was first introduced by Essex resident Bill Reichenbach, and later echoed in a letter from the Conservation Commission.

The essence of both Reichenbach’s remarks, and the letter of the Essex Land Trust, is that the developer is required to provide some viable scheme of pedestrian, public access from the road at Foxboro Point to the waters of North Cove.

A pedestrian pathway from the street to water was discussed extensively, especially one that would run down the south side of the development from road to water. In fact, it appeared that the developer was going to draft such a path to present at the next meeting of the Planning Commission, which will be held on May 10.

However, in informal discussions after the meeting with the developer’s consultants, it did not appear that they felt that there was a compelling need to address this public access pathway.

Sciame’s meetings with Foxboro Point residents

New York City developer Frank Sciame

Without question one of the major factors at the April hearing of the Planning Commission was the strong support for the project by the residents of Foxboro Point. In fact, prior to the meeting Sciame, made a number of personal visits with the residents of Foxboro Point.

He even perhaps encouraged one Foxboro Point residents to attack, preemptively, requiring any kind of public access from the road to North Cove. “We do not want public access,” this neighbor said. “There are already twelve locations in the Town of Essex where there is public access to the water.”

Focusing specifically on visual access from the road to the windmill will be the subject of another site walk of the Essex Planning Commission on Friday, April 20 beginning at 6:00 p.m. on the road above the development property. Members of the commission and those interested  in the topic are invited to attend.

Valley Regional high school has 630 students

Education expenses for the public school children of Essex received a major portion of the Essex town budget in the last fiscal year. In fact, close to 3/4 of the town’s total budget, 73.1 % to be exact were dedicated to education expenses.

In contrast the town’s general operations budget, covering everything from park maintenance to policing, was just over 1/4 (26.9%) of the town’s budget.

Education expenses by category

In the present 2011/2012 Essex fiscal budget, education expenses on a percentage basis break down as follows: Essex elementary school  (24.45%).  Region 4 schools of John Winthrop middle school and Valley Regional high school (27.9%); Education supervision expense (12.6%) and Education debt service (8.1%).

Essex elementary school has 572 students

John Winthrop middle school has 340 students

To those who say that the Town of Essex is spending far too much of its budget on education, in defense James D. Francis, Chairman of the Essex Board of Finance, points to what he refers to as “the contract.” This means in his words, “When you sent your children to school, the town paid much more than your property taxes covered to educate them.  You balance out that gift by continuing to support the schools, even after your children are grown.”

Picking up a child at Essex elementary school

This could mean, for example, if the true cost of educating your child in public school was $13,000 a year, and your current property tax was $5,000 a year, you would be on the plus side of “the contract.” When your child is finished attending public schools of course, this would no longer be the case.

Complicating this “payback” concept of course is that town education costs, “keep moving up,” as Francis puts it.  He cited the growth of “special education” costs as one such factor.

Also, although Francis’ feels it will add little extra expense, in the next school year full-day kindergartens will replace the present half-day classes.   Furthermore, there is even discussion at the state level that public elementary schools in the future will be required to offer nursery school classes.

Two public proceedings on the Essex town budget

Two public proceedings are scheduled to focus on the next fiscal year’s Essex town budget.  Both will be held at Essex Town Hall.

The first will be a public hearing on April 19 at 8:00 p.m., sponsored by the Essex Board of Finance, to discuss the new 2012-2013 town budget. Both the Board of Finance and the Board of Education will participate.

The second will be an open town meeting on May 14, at 7:30p.m., to decide whether to adopt next year’s fiscal budget at the meeting, or to submit the budget to a town-wide referendum.

Which of these approval methods is decided upon, will be announced in advance of the May 14 meeting, according to Francis.

Region 4 budget referendum

In addition to the two Essex meetings on its new town budget, there will be a referendum on the Region 4 Board of Education’s new budget. It will be held on May 8 from noon to 8:00 p.m.at Essex Town Hall.

Another factor in the steady increase of the Town of Essex education expenditures is that the town’s percentage share in the Region 4 budget continues to climb. This is because Essex’s school age population is increasing at a rate greater than those of the other towns in the Region 4 school district, which are Deep River and Chester.

Yet another factor in the darkening cloud of ever increasing education expenses in Essex, according to Finance Chairman Francis, is that in Essex there is very little open space remaining, within the town’s boundaries that could be developed into new taxable land.

Bravo for new “Citizens’ Guide” on Essex town budget

To further budgetary understanding, the Town of Essex recently published a new “Citizen’s Guide to the Essex Town Budget,” which is available in the literature rack just inside Town Hall, when coming in from the parking lot. The guide is also accessible on line at the Essex Town web site, www.essexct.gov.

The guide’s explanation of important budget terms and procedures is outstanding!

Although the “Citizens’’ Guide” is overall a thoughtful and comprehensive guide to the intricacies of the town’s budget, and where the money goes, there is one very minor flaw. There is sometimes an over use of abbreviations.

For the reader of the guide, BOS means Board of Selectman; BOE means Board of Education; BOF means Board of Finance, and even Chairman Francis was baffled by this one, ADM means, which means “Average Daily Membership.”

Role of Essex Board of Education

The Essex Board of Education, chaired by Essex businessman Lon Seidman, also plays a major role in determining the funding of Essex schools. Seidman said recently that the new proposed Board of Education budget “reflects a 1.78% increase over last year’s budget.”

He also said, “The [Essex] Board of Education started work on our budget in December … [and] … We’ve worked collaboratively over the last several months to put together a fair budget that meets the educational needs of our young people.”

Seidman also invited Essex residents to review the Board’s budget document, which can be found at bit.ly/eesbudget2012. As noted, the Essex Board of Education will give a report at the April 19 Town Hall meeting.

The Town of Essex will unfurl an “organ donation” flag, which will fly just below the U.S. flag on the town flag pole, during the month of April, according to First Selectman Norman Needleman. The “organ donation” flag will be part of a state and national effort to raise public awareness as to the importance of organ and tissue donations.

The new flag will say, “Donate Life,” and, “Donation Saves Lives.” The Town of Essex will be one of 50 Connecticut towns, hospitals and organizations that that will participate in the national “Flags Across America” campaign to encourage organ donations.

“I personally support organ donations, because they help so many people,” said Essex’s Needleman, as he posed with the flag that will go up the Town Hall flag pole in April. “Becoming an organ donor is one of the most generous decisions a person can make to help others,” he said.

“Connecticut residents can register to save lives by an organ donation two ways: when they renew their driver’s license, or by visiting the secure online website, www.DonateLifeNewEngland.org ,” he continued.

Needleman said that he personally is a registered organ donor, a status that is indicated on his driver’s license.

 1,200 in Connecticut need organ transplants

Recent estimates are that 110,000 people in America, and 1,200 in Connecticut alone, are waiting for a transplant from an organ donor, and that the need for organ donations has never been greater. By signing on to “Flags Across America” campaign, the Town of Essex has became a partner with Donate Life New England.

Donate Life New England is a joint project of three federally designated organ procurement organizations that serve New England. The three organizations are (1) New England Organ Bank, (2) LifeChoice Donor Services, and (3) the Center for Donation and Transplant and the Connecticut Eye Bank.

The New England Organ Bank is the oldest independent organ procurement organization in the country, and it serves over 160 acute care hospitals for organ and tissue donation and 12 transplant centers.

LifeChoice Donor Services serves 23 acute care hospitals for organ and tissue donations and two organ transplant hospitals, one of which is Hartford Hospital.

The Center for Donation and Transplant coordinates the retrieval of donated organs and tissues for the Connecticut Eye Bank and other health services organizations in New York and Vermont.

Former Commodore Sandy Sandstrom directs the lowering of dock sections by means of the electric hoist

Then in spring, the docks go in again.

Pettipaug’s docks are put together by joining 15 separate dock sections, each of which measure 16 feet by six feet, and which weigh 1,200 pounds. The sections, once in place, form an up-river North Dock, constructed with five joined sections, a Middle Dock, designed especially for rowers, of four joined sections, and a South Dock of six joined sections.

Read Commodore David Courcy brought his daughter Aurora, age 8, to assist and supervise

Past club Commodore Walter (aka “Sandy”) Sandstrom said he would try to fix the ailing machine in time for another work party next Saturday. As for the general condition of the back hoe, another Past Commodore, Paul Risseeuw, says, “Its put together with bailing wire.”

Installing the North and Middle Docks, thankfully, does not entail using the “back hoe.” Rather the sections for these two docks are piled up for the winter within the radius of the club’s electric hoist.

This hoist can be positioned to pick up individual dock sections from the ground, one at a time, and then swing them over, and then down into the water.  The hoist has the capacity of lifting as much as one ton or 2,000 pounds of dead weight, and it always works.

The anatomy of a dock section

As for the make-up of the 15 dock sections, each of them has a wooden deck on top; and underneath there are six fitted “plastic buckets,” each filled with foam, which gives the dock section its buoyancy. In addition to the deck on top and the foam infused plastic buckets below, the floating dock sections have heavy metal fixtures at each their ends to hold the dock sections together.

A motor boat is launched to haul the joined sections of the North Dock into place

Also, generally supervising things at the dock launchings was Club Commodore Chris Manero.

With motor boat pointing backwards the North Dock is floated upstream to its location

The Middle Docks are primarily used for rowers. Also, tied up to the dock on a permanent basis are four powerboats, called “crash boats” by club members. These are used to pluck capsized sailors out of the water, when the occasion arises. Also, the crash boats serve as water taxis, taking club members out their boats during season.

Powerboat Classes and Sailing Academy coming up

In addition to launching, hopefully, the South Dock this coming Saturday, Risseeuw and fellow teacher, Beth Robinson, will be teaching a Powerboat Class for 18 Boy Scouts, ages nine to fourteen, with ten powerboats in the water.

The scout’s Powerboat Class will go from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and both instructors this coming Saturday will be donating their time to the Boy Scouts. Upon completion of the one day course, the scouts are eligible to receive a scout Motor Boating Merit Badge.

Also, day long, powerboat instruction classes will continue to be held throughout the sailing season. The cost of tuition for the course is $175 for a very full day of hands on the throttle.

In addition, ahead on the Pettipaug Yacht Club’s season is the exceedingly popular Pettipaug Sailing Academy. Risseeuw is the Director of the Sailing Academy, the first session of which begins on July 1. The mission of the academy is to teach young people how to sail.

The Sailing Academy accepts 150 students in all for its summer programs, and according to Director Risseeuw, “We have more applicants than we know what to do with.”

The Academy splits its students into various categories. Among the ranks in ascending order of sea competence are, “Seaman, First Mate and Boatswain (pronounced “bos’n).” Also, the Academy has two separate sessions of three weeks each during July and August.

It’s a busy time ahead for the Pettipaug Yacht Club, if they can just get those South Docks in.

Immediate Past Commodore Cameron Taylor poses on completed North Dock

The pictures really tell the story. Here it is, the hugely successful St. Patrick’s Day Parade that took place down the Main Street in Essex on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2012.

Click on pictures below to see full size image:

The iconic windmill at Foxboro Point, preserved at the choice of developer

There would be strict, esthetic requirements in place on the private houses that would be built. There would be a 150 foot conservation easement back from the shore for all of the seven building lots, and a generous 27% of the development would be designated as open space.

Furthermore, the Croft mansion on the site would be preserved; and finally, finally, the iconic windmill adjacent to the site would be preserved, even though Sciame made clear to those attending the Essex Planning Commission public hearing on March 8, that he was not required to preserve the windmill.

The historic Croft mansion on Foxboro Point to be preserved in the proposed development

One thought was to propose building on the property, a sliver of public access land from the road down to the 150 foot conservation easement, perhaps some eight feet wide with a high hedge on both sides. However, comments were not forthcoming that such a compromise would be acceptable to the developer

Sciame does not own the property; he could walk away

One thing to consider is that Sciame does not presently own the property, neither the eleven acres of his proposed development, nor the property under the windmill.  Sciame has only a contingent right to buy these properties, and if he is prevented from developing the property in the way he wishes, he could get out of his contract to buy it, and simply walk away.

If he did so, one can fairly assume that Sciame would shelve his presently expressed plans to become an Essex resident.

Besides deferring immediate approval of the proposal, some of Sciame’s advisors were concerned about the informality of the meeting, where clapping and audible noises of approval of the speakers’ remarks were permitted by Planning Commission Chairman Thomas Danyliw.

Sharp criticism from Essex resident Reichenbach

Some of the harshest criticism of the development plan of Foxboro Point was made by Essex resident Bill Reichenbach. In addition to maintaining that “public access to and along the waterfront” was required under Section 5.8.3 under Town of Essex regulations, Reichenbach termed the development itself as “tragic,” and “a most unfortunate application.”

Reichenbach’s objections were seconded by Essex resident Frank Hall.

Another quarrel with the proposed development was the charge that the proposed “view easement” is not mapped out so that a person can see the windmill from the road at Foxboro Point.

One of the last speakers at the over one hour and a half discussion came from a woman from the back of the room, who said that she was a lifelong resident of Essex. She spoke so forcefully in favor of the development that Chairman Danylwi asked her, if she were in anyway retained by Sciame.

She gave a firm “no,” adding the interesting footnote that when they first built the windmill on Foxboro Point years ago, “everyone was against it.”

Background of developments of Frank Sciame  

Without a doubt Frank S. Sciame heads one of the leading constructions firms in the country, most especially in New York City. Not only has his company built a number of smaller developments, the type of which he showed at the Planning Commission hearing, he has also developed some extremely high profile projects.

Much praised Morgan library restoration, exterior view

Interior of Sciame restored Morgan library

Aerial view of Sciame restored Katherin Hepburn estate in Old Saybrook

Asked for a comment by Frank Sciame, regarding the Planning Commission public hearing on March 8, John Randolph, Executive Vice President, Sciame Development, Inc., said in an e-mail message, “I spoke with Frank [Sciame]. We have no comment at this time.”

The Planning Commission at the end of the March 8 meeting requested that the developer come back to the Planning Commission with an open space version of its development plan. The “no comment” response the day after the meeting could make it an open question, as to whether or not the developer will do so.

Windmill at Foxboro Point will remain undeveloped in the new proposal

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

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.

Click here to view detailed site map

Commission members gather in front of the Croft house

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 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.

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.

Outdoor sign of Aggies of Ivoryton

Aggies restaurant on Main Street in Ivoryton is certainly the place to be for Sunday breakfast. That is, if you want a breakfast that is big enough “to sink a battleship,” and a camaraderie among the regulars that is warm enough to make you feel right at home, even on your first visit.

Why do people like Robin and Jim Keating of Westbrook, make the trek almost every Sunday from Westbrook to go to Aggies for breakfast? As Robin puts it, “Because the food is good. The service is good, and the people are friendly. She adds, “Also, the place is clean, and it feels like home.”

"Breakfast at Aggies," the best

Their favorite, Sunday after Sunday, is two orders of eggs and sausage, and together they split a blueberry pancake.

Marty Radomski of Ivoryton also has a take on Aggies. He says, “The food is good and healthy.” He also likes that they don’t chase you out, if you want to linger.” “There are a lot of nice people here,” he adds.

At the counter of the restaurant one of the diners, who identified himself as “Glenn G,” orders a substantial breakfast consisting of bacon, sausage, two eggs, home fries, toast and coffee. When it arrives, he says, “It’s worth waiting for.”

Then way in back of the restaurant is the table of regulars, who are-pleased enough with Aggies to raise their coffee mugs to toast her.

Regulars raising their mugs toasting Aggie

Working in the restaurant on a recent Sunday morning, there was of course Aggie, whose last name is Waterman. Aggie personally does most of the cooking herself. She in turn is assisted by her husband, Bill Waterman, and a wait staff of two daughters, Mary Bowers and Rachelle Waterman, and of two granddaughters, Alexa Clark and Madison Estelle.

Aggie and her chief assistant, husband Bill

Although Sunday breakfast is Aggies’ number one event, the restaurant is also open Monday thru Friday from 6:00 a.m. to two p.m., and Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to noon. Sunday it is opened 7:00 a.m. to noon (breakfast only).

As for the breakfast menu there are eggs any style with bacon, ham, and sausage, as well as hash and eggs and omelets. There is also a choice of one, two or three pancakes, as well as French toast, cereal, waffles and Kielbasa and eggs.

A "modest" Sunday breakfast

Also, for lunch Aggies serves homemade shrimp chowder and other luncheon specials, and there are traditional soft drinks, coffee and tea. Coffee refills are free.

When asked what she does after the big, big Sunday brunch, Aggie said, “I go home and put my feet up.”