Essex Planning Commission Chairman Tom Danyliw in charge of the proceedings

Even though there have been extensive public hearings in March, April, May and now June, the Essex Planning Commission under  Chairman Tom Danyliw still remains undecided as how to deal with the development plan for an eleven acre site at Foxboro Point in Essex.

The developer’s attorney, Terrance Lomme, said plaintively at one point during the June 14 hearing, “We have tried to do what you wanted us to do.” However, his plaintiveness fell on deaf ears. Instead of forthrightly rejecting  the developer’s latest proposal outright, if it did not like it, the Danyliw lead commission decided to continue to do what it has been doing for the last fourth months, namely nothing.

Developer’s attorney Terrance Lomme at the Essex Planning Commission hearing

The latest plan presented by Attorney Lomme to the Commission eliminated the previously offered, public access “pocket park” on Foxboro Road that was offered at the May meeting. Instead, a new plan for June simply leaves in place the previously proposed easement along the waterfront, and connects it with a visual access corridor, running down from Foxboro Road to the easement along the water.

A few baby steps by the Planning Commission

However, it must be granted that the Essex Planning Commission took a few baby steps in making up its mind as how it should deal with the developer’s latest proposal. After Danyliw carefully canvassed each member of the commission, a clear consensus emerged that commission members were unanimous in wanting an “open space” corridor running from Foxboro Road down to the shoreline easement.

Furthermore, the width of this newly desired “open space” corridor would be so wide that it would preclude the building of a presently planned sixth new house on the property. This would leave the developer with six rather than seven development properties at the site. (In this count the present Croft estate is included as a development property.)

However, even though there was this consensus, Danyliw and his commissioners were still undecided as how to proceed from there. Should the Commission, (1) reject the developer’s proposal out right, allowing him to file a new application without prejudice, or  (2) should it approve the application with a modification that would require the scrapping of the land of house number six?  By meeting’s end these questions remained open.

The developer could simply walk

Of course, under either of these scenarios, the developer could simply decide to walk away from the entire project, having learned the hard lesson of what it’s like to get a project approved by the presently constituted Essex Planning Commission.

Unfortunately, Attorney Lomme was unavailable for comment after the meeting as to the developer’s future plans. However, at the hearing Lomme stated repeatedly to the commission that this was the developer’s final proposal. It is now up to the commission to see if this is really the case.

However, how the Planning Commission intends to proceed remained fussy at meeting’s end.

To the Rescue, the Essex Land Trust

In contrast to the Commission’s lack of decisiveness, the Essex Land Trust presented a firm proposal as to how the Commission should proceed in its work. The proposal was offered in a letter to the Commission, signed by the Land Trust’s President Bob Nussbaum and its Land Acquisition Chairman Paul Greenberg.

Specifically, the Essex Land Trust proposes that there should be at least two acres of open space at the subdivision property, noting that “All recent subdivisions in Essex have had open space set asides, and Foxboro should be no exception.”

Furthermore, the Land Trust’s letter said, “The Planning Commission has the authority to ask for up to 20% of the land to be dedicated as open space.”

It continued, “The Essex Land Trust recommends that the Planning Commission eliminated the view and conservation easements, and in its place require the developer to set aside Lot # 6 as open space. Eliminating one house would greatly improve the view for neighbors as well as walkers and preserve the beautiful parcel of land at Foxboro to be enjoyed by the people of Essex.”

Also, the Land Trust wrote, “We do not support a fee in lieu of open space.”  This meant that the Land Trust would not accept monies in place of requiring the full amount of open space allowed at the Foxboro site.

Finally, the Land Trust wrote, “If an appropriate solution on open space cannot be achieved, then we recommend the Planning Commission deny the application.”

With this letter of the Land Trust before it, this was the way the closed hearing of the commission ended.

Letting members of the public be heard

However, left remaining was the time for commission members to hear the comments of the general public about an application that is before the Commission. Usually the comments from the public are wide ranging.  However, Planning Commission Chairman Danyliw put a different spin on what is usually the case, when members of the public are invited to express their views.   By way of introduction to the public comment period, Chairman Danyliw said emphatically that he only wanted to hear ideas that had not been discussed before about the Foxboro development project. Furthermore, he said if a member of the public strayed from this directive, he would ask them to sit down.

True to his word when one member of the public stood up to express his general views on the proposed development, Chairman Danyliw firmly told the speaker to stop speaking and to sit down. Further, the Chairman said that if he audience member refused to do so, he would call in law enforcement.  The speaker quickly took his seat.

Generally speaking, chairpersons of public bodies are reluctant to limit public comments, as long as they generally relate to the issue that is before the regulatory body. However, Chairman Danyliw was clearly adopting a new more stringent standard as to what the general public can discuss before the commission.

Finally, it might be noted that for all Danyliw’s decisiveness in shutting down a speaker at the public portion of the last hearing, this attitude was in completely contrary to the leisurely pace of his discussions with his fellow commissioners  over the past four hearings.

Essex Planning Commissioners at Foxboro development site

The Chairman of the Essex Land Trust, Bob Nussbaum and the Chairman of the Land Trust Acquisition Committee, Paul Greenberg, have met with the Foxboro Point developer’s counsel, Terrance Lomme, to work out a mutually satisfactory development plan for the Foxboro Point site.

So far, according to Nussbaum, a single meeting has been held with Attorney Lomme, and a second meeting has been requested.

Frank Sciame, New York City developer

The reason for the Land Trust’s attempt to become involved in the site’s approval process is that the Essex Planning Commission and its President Dr. Thomas Danyliw have declined to suggest any alternative plans for the development.

The developer’s plan would include the construction of six new, luxury residences on the 11 acre water front site plus an upgrade of the existing Croft estate at the site.   The developer, Frank Sciame of New York City, has a conditional contract to buy the property from its current owners, if he finds conditions acceptable for the purchase.

Pocket Park Proposal Offered at May Hearing

At the last Planning Commission meeting on May 10 the developer’s attorney, Terrance Lomme, proposed a so-called “pocket park” on Foxboro Road, which would give visitors along the road, “visual” public access to the North Cover waters below. This plan would preclude a “public access,” pedestrian walkway running across the development property from Foxboro Road to the shore.

This kind of shoreline public access was suggested by Essex resident Reichenbach.  However, Foxboro Road neighbors of the development were adamant in their opposition to such a proposal at the May public hearing.

Developer’s Attorney Questions Land Trust Involvement

In a related development, the developer’s attorney, Terrance Lomme, in a separate interview said that although his client “certainly appreciates” the Land Trust’s interest in the Foxboro Point development, he made it clear that in his view the Land Trust “does not have any jurisdiction” in the approval process of the Foxboro site’s development.

Therefore, it remains to be seen if Lomme will have any further discussions with the Essex Land Trust regarding the project.

On the eve of the June 14 meeting of Planning Commission, Attorney Lomme said that this would be the fourth and last public hearing on the project by the Planning Commission. Previous hearings have been held in March, April and May. Lomme also noted his two site walks of the property with Commission members.

Attorney Terrence Loome on site walk

Ultimately, Lomme anticipates approval of the application at either the July or August meetings of the Commission.  The Commission’s approval could also include suggested amendments to the application.

However, Attorney Lomme believes that the pocket park, with visual public access to the shoreline and the site’s windmill, will be approved by the Planning Commission.

Lomme also said that he agreed with Attorney John Bennet’s argument that he made at the May meeting of the Commission, asserting that the Commission lacks the power, its present regulations notwithstanding, to mandate “public access” at a development site.

Of course, if the Commission suggested a modification in the developer’s plan, which the developer did not find objectionable, then any judicial testing of the validity of the Commission’s regulations would be unnecessary.

The proposed "pocket park" is shown at the top of a blue vertical strip. The horizontal green strip indicates the shoreline easement.

Boats jockey for position at the starting line of the race

Sailing regattas, sailboat racing clinics, U.S. Sailing Association courses, powerboat instruction and “learn to sail” courses are all on the agenda at the legendary Pettipaug Yacht Club’s 62^nd year season. The club, which is located on the Great Meadows along the Connecticut River, is one of the nation’s premier sailing organizations dedicated to small boat sailing, especially for young people.

The club presently has some 325 active members, including a small group of members whose sailing days are over. They use the club’s private grounds, with its elegant new stainless steel grill, for evening cookouts, when the busy club is not engaged in other activities.

Pettipaug Yacht Club officially opened on May 20

The first official event of the club’s 2012 sailing season was the Forty-Second Annual Commodore’s Trophy race held on Sunday, May 20.  The race was designed for small, racing sailboats, either personally owned by club members or owned by the club.

Race Chairman John Kennedy briefing skippers and crew before the race

When the Trophy race began the wind was blowing a strong 15 knots or more, and it was coming upriver from the south. The tide was also running up from the south. This meant that the upriver legs of the course would be easy, whereas the sail downstream against the tide and the wind would be long and hard.

One boat capsized even before the race began, and another floundered at the end of the race. Both were retrieved by the club’s crash boats, two of which were on duty.

Two sailboats getting ready to sail. The one on the left lost its rig before the race

After the race was over and the boats put away, there was an after the race cocktail party for the club members. This in turn was to be followed by a formal Commissioning ceremony. However, the formalities got mixed up a bit with the American flag being lowered before the club’s trumpeter was ready to play the appropriate bugle call.

However, Pettipaug Yacht Club Commodore Chis Manero kept the proceedings moving, and before the gathered crowd knew what was happening, the club’s Chairman of Races and Regattas, John Kennedy, was reading off the results for the afternoon race. The results were read with a reverse order of their finishes, and even the skipper of the tenth place “winning” sailboat received appropriate applause.

Race Chairman John Kennedy, First Place winner Chris Moore, Club Commodore Chis Manero, Third Place Winner Ed Birch. (Second Place winners, Will and Bill Platt, not pictured)

The top three winners of race received silver platters, with the first place winner receiving the largest in size. The winner of the first place trophy was Chris Moore. The second place winners were Will and Bill Platt, and the third place winner was Ed Birch. Birch is not infrequently in the winning circle in local sailboat races.

The tacking duel at the end of the race between Moore and Birch, both in Lasers, was something to see, and Race Chairman Kennedy made a point at the award ceremony that the official times of the three winners were in a matter of nine seconds apart.

Former Club Commodore Sandy Sanstrom next to the "like new" stainless steel cooking grill that he retrieved from the Essex town dump

Even before the club’s official opening on May 20, in April and early May there have been a number of preview sailing contests held by local high school sailing teams. Specifically, the sailing clubs of Xavier High School, Valley Regional High School and Madison’s Daniel Hand High School have engaged in vigorous sailing contests, when sailing can be a brisk affair, especially when the boat capsizes. However, these high school sailing team activities were completely finished before the club’s official sailing season began.

Teaching would-be teachers how to teach sailing

One of the major sailing courses given at the club, after the official sailing season begins, is those sponsored by the U.S. Sailing Association.  These two and four day courses are designed to teach the teachers at the Pettipaug Sailing Academy how to teach their students how to sail in various sailing situations.

Level 1 of these sailing courses is designed to teach the teachers how to instruct their students in the general principles of how to sail. This course will run on June 9, 10, 16 and 17. Level 2 will concentrate on teaching teachers how to teach the racing of sailboats, and this course will be on June 14 and 15. Finally, a windsurfer course will train teachers on how to teach wind surfing, and this course will be on June 18 and 19.

Tuition for these specialized “how to teach” sailing courses is free, that is if the student teacher stays on the job throughout the sailing season at the club. However, should the teacher stop teaching at the club during the summer, she or he will be charged the full tuition for taking these courses. The charges for dropping out are steep: they are $350 for Level 1, $200 for Level 2, and $100 for the windsurfing course.

Also, on the roster of the club’s learn-to-sail programs is the club’s special sailboat racing course for young people. This course runs from Monday thru Friday, June 25 to June 29. The course is taught by Paul Risseeuw, Director of the Pettipaug Sailing Academy, and 30 students are expected to take the course.

Powerboat courses throughout the sailing season

In addition to a raft of sailing courses at the club, there will be nine powerboat courses sprinkled throughout the sailing season. The courses will feature an intensive, one day, in the boat, on the water, course of powerboat instruction.

The tuition for the powerboat course is $175, and over 150 students are anticipated throughout the season.  The fact that the club has a powerboat course during its sailing season has also meant that the U.S. Coast Guard has given the club a grant of $13,000 to purchase powerboat vessels for use in the courses. The Coast Guard very much wants local powerboats operators to be well trained in safe boating techniques before they go out on the water.

The first date of the powerboat course of April 29, May 6 and May 13 have However, the remaining six of the one day courses will be held on June 2 and 24, July 8 and 22, and August 5 and September 8. The courses begin at 8:30 a.m. and run to 6:00 p.m., and they are rigorously taught by Pettipaug Sailing Academy Director Paul Risseeuw.

Pettipaug Sailing Academy, the club’s crown jewel

The crown jewel of the club’s commitment to teaching young people how to sail is without doubt the Pettipaug Sailing Academy. Directed by Sailing Academy Director, Paul Risseeuw. The purpose of the Academy is to introduce and instruct young student to the fundamentals of how to sail. Not infrequently the Academy teaches its students to love sailing as well. This in turn can lead to a lifetime of loving to sail, whether in small sailboats, or on larger sailboats as well.

The Academy teaches sailing at both morning and afternoon sessions. The first morning session at the Academy will run on weekdays from July 2 to July 24. Presently, 40 students are enrolled in this morning session, and the session is considered full.  The afternoon session is on the same dates as the morning session, and it will have 60 students, and it is considered full as well.

There will also be a second round of morning and afternoon sessions of the Sailing Academy, which will begin on July 26 and will run on week days to August 17. Both of these sessions are full, and in fact, there are 30 would be students of the waiting list to attend sailing courses at the Academy.

To address the sailing needs of those young people who wish to learn to sail, but are stuck on the waiting list, the Academy is planning to offer a series of evening sailing courses during the summer. The club’s web site will announce when these evening courses will be given, and this information will also be posted on the bulletin board down at the club.

Graduation Day for all of the graduating students at the Sailing Academy will be held August 17.  Also, on the heels of the Academy’s graduation ceremonies is the Pettipaug Junior Sailing Regatta to be held on August 19. The regatta will give recent graduates of the Sailing Academy a chance to test their new skills in sailing and racing in the familiar waters in front of the club.

Other official sailing regattas to be held at the club include an open one-design regatta on September 15. Also, on September 22 there are two races, the Charles Birch Memorial Race at 11:00 a.m., and the Robin Starr Handicap Race at 1:30 p.m.

Following the races on September 22, there will be a Decommissioning ceremony at the club, which will officially end the club’s 2012 sailing season.

After that in subsequent weekends, club members will take the docks at the club out of the water and stack them safely on land.  Also, club boats will be stored on the deck of the club, hopefully high enough to keep them safe from the Connecticut River’s  off season, high waters.

Even the club’s new stainless steel grill, in its new life as a gleaming cooking ornament and out of the dump, will be brought up on the club’s deck for safe keeping. After that there begins the long wait until next year’s spring.

The scenic landscape in all its splendor the morning after the Planning Commission meeting

The sentiment was loud clear at the Essex Planning Commission’s public hearing on May 10 at Essex Town Hall. The future neighbors of the Foxboro Point development do not want “public access” at the site.

Specifically, (1) local residents do not want to give the general public the right to walk down a pathway from the road to the water, and (2) they do not want to allow the general public to walk along the water’s edge of the site.

As evidence of the opposition of neighboring property owners to “public access,” every time a speaker attacked it, there was vigorous applause.  By contrast when Essex resident Bill Reichenbach got up to urge the Planning Commission to require “public access” at the site, both to the water and along the water, when he sat down there was nothing but a stony  silence.

Developer offers a little area of “public access”  

In something of a surprise, Judge of Probate Terry Lomme,  acting in his “after hours” capacity as counsel to the Foxboro Point developer, offered a new, very modest “public access” proposal to the Commission.

The essence of the proposal was that the developer would allow a small “pocket park” of “public access” at the site. Also, immediately below this “nice little park,” as Judge Lomme called it, there would be a visual, “public access” easement down to the waters of North Cove. This meant that a visitor to the “pocket park” would have a small viewing area to look down at the waters of North Cove, but not to walk there.

The proposed "pocket park" is shown at the top of a blue vertical strip. The horizontal green strip indicates the shoreline easement.

Planning Commission Chairman Dr. Thomas Danyliw appeared miffed that the developer had come forward with this new “pocket park” plan. He said that he thought that the developer had agreed at the last meeting to formulate a “public access” plan  that would incorporate a pedestrian path to the water from the road, as well as a pedestrian strip along the waterfront.

“I thought there was a general agreement to focus on this,” Chairman Danyliw said.  Instead, Judge Lomme was now ignoring what the Chairman thought the developer had agreed to, and was proposing an entirely new plan of “pocket park” access.

“This is a new proposal, and this is not what we agreed to at the last meeting,” Chairman Danyliw said, heatedly. “I was surprised,” he added.

Planning Commission Chairman Dr. Thomas Danyliw and Vice Chairman Linda Herman

In an attempt to deflect the Chairman’s ire, Judge Lomme said that he had, “listened to the neighbors of the development,” and that the new proposal was closer to what they wanted than what had been discussed at the last meeting. He added, “You can’t make everybody happy.”

“Public access” is not legally valid attorney charges

The next development at the public hearing was an even greater surprise. A resident of the Foxboro area had hired a private lawyer, named John Bennet, to represent him and his wife at the Planning Commission proceedings.

In his appearance before the Commission, Attorney Bennet began by not only attacking the Commission for recognizing “public access,” but also the entire legal authority of “public access” under Connecticut law. He said that if the Commission in any way recognizes a right of “public access” in its deliberations, “We will oppose you.”

“You are wrong to recognize “public access,” Attorney Bennet said, and he added, “It is unfair to foist public access [upon his clients].”

Bennet then cited case after case, which he said demonstrated that “public access” could not be recognized, because it had no legal legitimacy under Connecticut law. Essex subdivision regulations purporting to grant “public access,” he said were wrong.

In response Chairman Danyliw said to Bennet, “You are challenging the very core of our authority.” To which Attorney Bennet responded, “You cannot hold as legitimate a public access easement.”

Interrupting the litany of cases that Bennet was citing to show that no state law in Connecticut legitimizes “public access,” Chairman Danyliw asked Bennet to put his arguments in writing. In a conversation with Attorney Bennet after the hearing, he said that he intended to write a letter to the Commission summarizing his arguments against the validity of “public access.”

Attorney John Bennet seated after his stand up attack on the legal legitimacy of "public access"

A lawsuit could delay the Foxboro project for years

 It remained an open question as to whether Bennet’s arguments before the Planning Commission, questioning the very legitimacy of “public access,” would ultimately lead to a lawsuit against the Planning Commission. This could be the result, if the Commission were to recognize “public access” in its decision approving the Foxboro Point development.

If a lawsuit were brought, the development of Foxboro Point could be set back for years, as the lawsuit made its way through the courts.

After this contretemps over “public access” was finished, the Commission continued its public hearing in a normal fashion, with speaker after speaker stating that they were against applying “public access,” as part of the Foxboro Point development.

The hedging threat to the new development

Another topic mentioned at the public hearing was to note that the developer had promised to establish a perpetual visual easement that would restrict overly large hedges and other visual obstructions at the development in perpetuity.

Just what tall hedges would look like at the site is demonstrated by the dense, nine foot hedges that are presently in place along Foxboro Road on the other side of the road from the development site. Such tall hedges and other tall obstructions could block the view to North Cove, and of course to the windmill, if they were permitted.

Nine foot, visually impenetrable hedges across the street from the site. A foretaste of things to come?

Essex Land Trust favors “public access” at site     

Essex Land Trust President Bob Nussbaum and Land Trust Acquisition Committee Chairman Paul Greenberg made a presentation that essentially endorsed Bill Reichenbach’s view that the Commission should approve “public access” via a new public pathway from the river to the road, coupled with a pathway along the shore.

However, in an interview after the meeting, Greenberg said that he was reaching out to the developer’s counsel, Judge Terrence Lomme, to see if the Land Trust could reach a compromise with the developer that would be satisfactory to both entities.

At the public hearing the Land Trust representatives noted, “We are neighbors of the Foxboro Point property in that the Land Trust’s Great Meadows area is located just across from North Cove.” Mentioned as well was that if a compromise on “public access” failed at the site, the Essex Land Trust was empowered to accept monies from a developer to acquire an equivalent open space property in other areas of Essex.

As the drumbeat of speakers’ rejecting “public access” continued, one member of the audience said, “Our property is our first priority, except possibly our children.”  She continued, “If you let the public in, it is going to be a pig sty out there.”

Another speaker said simply, “Public access, I just don’t get it.”

There followed a brief discussion about installing docks along North Cove by property owners, and it was agreed that any party who wished to install a dock would have to get Planning Commission approval.

Near the end of the public meeting Judge Lomme made the point that in his opinion, “The developer has offered benefits to the community above and beyond those that are required.”

Chairman polls Commissioners for their views

After the public portion of the hearing ended, Commission Danyliw called on Commission members to express informally their views on the developer’s application. The result was that support for “public access” at the site was underwhelming.

With the applicant’s latest “pocket park” proposal before them, the next Planning Commission public hearing on the Foxboro development is June 14.

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.

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.”

The “nays” appeared to be in the majority at an Essex Town Hall meeting convened to discuss new environmental policies for Essex that would affect the owners of property next to the Connecticut River, for the overall protection of the river and its shores. The “informational” meeting was convened by the Essex Zoning Commission at Town Hall on December 19.

Essex is a member of an eight town Gateway Conservation District. Seven of the eight towns in the district, which are located at the southern base of the Connecticut River, approved these environmental standards years ago, but Essex has been holding out adopting them.

The new rules at issue would do the following: (1) the present 50 foot limit on building next to the shoreline would be extended to 100 feet, (2) new restrictions on “clear cutting” trees along the river’s shoreline would be adopted by creating a “no cut” riparian buffer, (3) an additional  procedural step, by requiring a Special Permit, would be required before new structures of 4,000 square feet or more can be build, and (4) measuring the height of a new structure from its “existing natural grade” rather than from a built-up platform would be put in place.

Among those attending the meeting were recently re-elected Republican Selectman Joel Marzi, as well as the defeated Republican candidate for First Selectman Bruce MacMillian. Democratic First Selectman Norman Needleman and Selectwoman Stacia Rice-Libby did not attend.

The vast majority of speakers at the meeting opposed the proposed Gateway rules for Essex. “We don’t need Gateway,” said one. Another questioned whether home owners, who lived right next to the river’s edge, could even cut the grass on their properties. “Essex as a town would not exist, if we had had these rules in effect,” said another critic.

A member of the town’s Wetlands Commission also spoke in opposition to applying the Gateway rules to Essex, saying that all the perceived problems addressed by the proposed Gateway District rules for Essex could be addressed by the town’s Wetland Commission.

A few speakers at the meeting supported Essex’s adoption of the proposed Gateway rules, but they were decidedly in the minority. One said, “It is an embarrassment for Essex,” not to adopt the Gateway rules, like the other seven Gateway towns have done.

The Gateway Conservation district consists of eight towns. They are: Haddam, East Haddam, Chester, Deep River, Lyme, Old Lyme, Essex and Old Saybrook. As noted, Essex is the only town in the district that has not approved the Gateway rules.

Friend Connie Connor; owner Celene Sweck, and customer Judy Heiser

For one, Sweck owns Porky Pete’s BBQ out on Westbrook Road. (“Pete” is the name of Sweck’s husband.) This extremely successful business has its tenth anniversary coming up soon.

Sweck also owns an extensive catering business, which she used to run out of Porky Pete’s. However, she felt that wedding planning was a bit incongruous in the middle of a barbeque operation, so she moved her catering consultations to the room right next to the Sweet Shoppe.

This new room is tastefully decorated, and just perfect for wedding planning and other special events. As for planning a wedding, Sweck says that her Event Planner, Lori Blair, “can handle the whole thing.”

Cake in the window of new Sweet Shoppe

Completing the reach of Sweck’s businesses is the outdoor food station that she and her husband run at the Clinton Crossing Shopping Mall. Open from Spring until November, the menu is hot dogs and grilled meats, which they sell to hungry shoppers.

A sweet spot for the Sweet Shoppe

Still, among all her ventures, Sweck clearly takes great pride in her new Sweet Shoppe. The staff members at the shop are all personal friends, and sometimes there appears to be more chattering going on among sales people and customers, than there is about selling the sweet stuff.

People who are shopping at the new Sweet Shoppe give it rave reviews. “It’s wonderful,” said Judy Heiser of Essex the other day; “It bubbles. It’s gorgeous, and it’s just what you need for Christmas.”

Children's candy on the Honor System

Another tantalizing specialty at the Sweet Shoppe is a collection of chocolate turtles of varying sizes. The turtles have a pecan base, a caramel inside, with the whole encased in chocolate. If you want to buy a little turtle, they are a reasonable ninety cents, with a larger turtle costing $3.95, and they can be addictive.

The Sweet Shoppe sells four kinds of special breads. They are: (1) a French baguette, (2) an Asiago cheese bread, (3) a multi-grain baguette and (4) a black cranberry and walnut bread. In addition, of course, the Sweet Shoppe sells a wide variety of cakes with thick, thick frosting.

Children on the honor system

Another highlight of the Sweet Shoppe is that one whole side of the shop is now dedicated to offering tempting delicacies for children. The children can select whatever candies they wish, and they pay for them strictly under the honor system. Small piggy banks are among the candies, so that the children can insert the proper number of coins for their purchases.

The new sweet shop appears to be on its way to becoming a great success, if the number of people visiting it the other day is any indication.  Also, very importantly, the existence of this evidently successful new business on Essex’s Main Street is a healthy sign of a better local economy.

Right next door to the Sweet Shoppe is another new business that has just opened its doors on Main Street. It is a new interior and decorating business, which offers professional decorating consultations by its co-owners, Jessica Whelen and Dennis Pough. Also on the premises is an extensive line of home accessories including, pillows, candles, faux floral arrangements and hand blown glass creations.

Giving even further evidence that new, good things are happening on Main Street, is the new ownership of the “Silkworm of Essex Village” just down the way. The new Proprietor, Raeann Groves, notes that the new Silkworm offers a variety of high end women’s clothing that cannot be found in ordinary department stores. She mentions, specifically, the Gerard Darel and the Sitamurt clothing brands that the store carries.

Also, there is presently a 20% off sale on select items at the Silkworm.

The "Silkworm" on Main Street under new ownership - has 20% off sale

Finally, on the down side of Essex having a truly vibrant Main Street is the still empty, former Left Bank Gallery space. This property is owned by the Paul family, who also own what is truly an Essex landmark, the Griswold Inn.

Still vacant, former Left Bank Gallery

One possibility that ever the entrepreneurial Sweck tossed out in a recent conversation, is that the old gallery space might be converted into an entertainment venue for wedding receptions, anniversary celebrations and the like. If this were to happen, you can be assured that Sweck would be delighted to do the catering.

Holiday branches decorate the Essex roundabout

Budrow had send Coldwell Banker a Notice of Violation for Peters’ earlier signage posting stating, “The location of the signage in the middle of the roundabout in Essex square must cease.” He also said that Peters’ posting of Coldwell Banker signage had been “placed in a public right-of-way from time to time to promote Open Houses.”

As authority for his Notice of Violation, Budrow cited Town of Essex Zoning regulation, paragraph 111A.6, which provides that no sign may be designed in a way, “which may be confused with a traffic control sign or signal.” He cited two other paragraphs in the zoning regulations which might apply as well.

In a separate interview Budrow also said that by March of next year the Essex Zoning Enforcement office was going to promulgate new zoning regulations that were going to apply specifically to real estate signage.

Presently, there is no reference to real estate signage in Essex’s Town zoning regulations, nor are real estate signs referred as an exception to the blanket prohibition of all signs found under Essex Town regulation, 111C. “Political signs,” on the other hand have a specific exception from this regulatory prohibition.

For her part Coldwell Banker real estate agent Laurel Peters confirmed that she had met with Zoning Enforcement Officer Budrow, and that she herself had initiated the meeting with him.

Coldwall Banker office on Main Street in Essex

Pettipaug Yacht Club clubhouse and grounds in winter

It is all quiet now. The Pettipaug Yacht Club, located on 12 acres of land on the Connecticut River, has been put to bed for the winter. The heavy docks are stacked. The anchors and their chains for the sailboats are out of the water, their mooring balls resting beside them.

Also, the club’s office in the clubhouse is locked up tight, and the clubhouse deck is now a jumble of stored picnic tables. On the club’s grounds, there are still many boats scattered about. Although the club-owned powerboats are fully accounted for, according to the club’s ever present Paul Risseeuw, “We just don’t know who many of the other boats belong to.”

The cold stillness at the club is starkly different from the way it was last summer. Then in the bright, hot days of July and August, over 150 young people were actively participating in the sailing courses of Pettipaug Sailing Academy. Under the watchful eye and careful supervision of the Academy’s instructors, the club’s grounds were literally teeming with activity. Boats were being launched, sails hoisted, and races getting underway, amidst the happy voices of the young participants.

 Sailing Academy Director Paul Risseeuw

Paul Risseeuw, who is the Director of the Pettipaug Sailing Academy, is a retired naval architect and engineer, who spent his career at Electric Boat, designing and constructing atomic submarines for the U.S. Navy. Now during the summer he spends literally seven days a week, every week, working at the club’s Sailing Academy, among other activities.

Paul Risseeuw among the boats at the club

Each of the two sessions is in turn divided into a morning program and an afternoon program. The morning programs offer sailing lessons to children, ages 8 to 11 years old; and the afternoon programs are designed for more advanced, young sailors, ages 12 to 16.

There are 41 students in each of the morning programs and 55 students in each of the afternoon programs.  Tuition to attend the Sailing Academy costs $375 to attend a single program, and $600 for a student who takes both of the morning programs, or both of the afternoon programs.

105 students at a Sailing Academy picnic on Nott Island last summer. (Photo courtesy of Paul Risseeuw)

In directing the Sailing Academy Risseeuw supervises a faculty of seven sailing instructors. Each of the instructors is out on the water in his or her own powerboat, while the students are sailing in the waters off the club. Also, it is a strict rule at the Academy that all students wear lifejackets, while they are on the dock or sailing.

One factor in learning to sail is that it is a fairly common occurrence for young novice sailors to be hit by a sailboat’s boom. The boom is not particularly heavy on a 7’ 6” Opti sailboat, which is used in the morning programs, but it can still hurt. All of the sailing instructors are First Aid and CPR trained, and know how to handle these and other mishaps.

Boys and girl sailors, there’s a difference

After directing the Sailing Academy for many years, Risseeuw has made a number of observations about the different ways boys and girls approach learning to sail. For one, whereas the number of boys and girls taking sailing lessons is about fifty-fifty in the morning programs; in the afternoon programs the ratio is about seventy percent boys and thirty percent girls.

“The older they get, the fewer the number of girls there are in classes,” Risseeuw says. Also, he observes, “Boys like the racing; they like the competition.” As for the girls, “Girls generally are less competitive sailors. Girls like to be together. They prefer socializing.” Also, he says that sometimes in the afternoon programs, “Some of the girls show up in bikinis, at an age when boys don’t know where they are.”

Also, Risseeuw observes that as a general rule the younger sailors in the morning programs are easier to manage than the teenagers in the afternoon.

A singular treat for teenage sailors in the afternoon programs is that every Monday they hold races with the junior sailors of other yacht clubs. Sometimes these races are held at Pettipaug, and other times at other clubs. When they travel, Pettipaug sailors and their boats are transported with the help of parents.

Generally, when Pettipaug sailors race other clubs they engage in what is called “team racing,” which is a very popular and competitive type of racing. The goal in team racing is to have the team win the race, and not a single individual sailor, as is the case with traditional “regatta” racing.

Boats engaged in team races make extensive use of the priority of the starboard tack while sailing, and other right of way rules, so as to clear the way for the members of their team to advance.

The club's Opti sailboats on the river last summer (photo courtesy of Vic Hoehnebart)

Something for adults as well at Pettipaug

In addition to running the Sailing Academy, Risseeuw oversaw the running of twelve U.S. Powerboat courses last summer. The courses consist of one full day of training, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with a guaranteed six hours on the water.

The tuition for taking the course was $170, and the U.S. Sailing Association contributed $10,600 to support the program.

There are also many traditional yacht club programs at the Pettipaug Yacht Club run by other club members. Specifically, there were ten sailing races and regattas for members of the club throughout the summer sailing season. They include the traditional Charles Birch Memorial Race, won this year by veteran sailors, Ed Birch and Jeff Going. Charles Birch was the father of Ed Birch.

Also, last summer the club conducted a two-evening windsurfing course for adults.

Organizationally, there are three commodores at the club, which presently include Commodore Cameron Taylor, Vice Commodore Chris Manero and Rear Commodore Vic Hoehnebart, as well as a Board of Governors.

If they ever need help in running the club, they can always call on club member “extraordinaire,” Paul Risseeuw.

Coldwell Banker signage at the Essex roundabout, Nov. 13

The Notice was sent to Coldwell Banker’s Essex office on Main Street, c/o Laurel Peters.

The Coldwell Banker signage that triggered the Notice of Violation took place on Sunday, November 13, when one of its brokerage signs was placed next to Essex’s “silent policeman” in the middle of the roundabout at the top of Essex’s Main Street. The sign advertised an Open House by Coldwell Banker real estate agent Laurel Peters, and gave a contact telephone number.

In an interview on November 13, when the sign was in place, a Coldwell Banker real estate agent at the firm’s Essex office, who declined to give her name, said that the posting of real estate signs in the Essex roundabout was a common practice. “Everybody does it,” she said, “particularly on Sundays, when real estate brokers hold open houses at the properties that they are selling.”

Sign on roundabout said to violate Zoning regulations

 Zoning Agent Budrow’s letter to Coldwell Banker said, “The signage appears to violate the Town of Essex’s zoning regulations,” and he cited three regulations.

1) 111A.6, which provides that no sign may be designed in a way “which may be confused with a traffic control sign or signal.”  Budrow said in an interview that this regulation was particularly relevant to the Coldwell Banker sign placed in the roundabout.

2) 111A.9, which provides that a posted sign must be necessary to the same use as the premises on which it is located. (This could mean, for example, that Coldwell Banker can clearly place signs at its office on Main Street, as they are necessary to the business on the premises.)

3) 111C, which lists exceptions to the requirement that signs must be necessary to the use of the premises. The listed exceptions include off premises signs for church and charity events, political signs, signs of civic and fraternal organizations, and museums signs, among others. Real estate signs are not mentioned in any of the exceptions found in regulation 111C.

Permissible signage at Coldwell Banker offices on Main Street

This appears to mean that off premises real estate advertising signs, unless they are related to the necessary use of the premises under regulation 111A.9, such as a broker’s “for sale” sign on the premises, are currently not permitted in the town of Essex.

Attempts to reach real estate agent Laurel Peters, whose name appeared on the Caldwell Banker sign at the Essex roundabout, were unsuccessful.

Old Glory flying at the Essex firehouse

But for the young, who wants to eat, when you can climb all over a fire truck? And even pretend you are driving one? And talk with real firefighters?

For some it is not too easy climbing aboard a fire truck

Five kids in an Essex fire truck

In addition to raising funds, the breakfasts are designed “to show the community what we are doing,” Chief Olson said. As for training to be a firefighter, he said that each firefighter has to have over 100 hours of training, and that training for a firefighter was on going.

According to the Chief, the Essex Fire Station gets between 800 and 900 calls a year. The calls relate not only to fires, but to accidents, medical emergencies and transporting hazardous materials. “We are the first responders in Essex,” he said.

Essex Fire Chief Steven Olsen

Meanwhile, the Sunday pancake breakfast was attracting larger and larger numbers number of people, and the floor of the firehouse was getting more and more crowded. Whereas at 8:30 a.m. there had been 147 people who showed up, twenty minutes later there were 230.  Then, by 9:10 a.m. there were 300 pancake eaters on hand. The target goal of 500 in attendance was clearly going to be reached.

Breakfast is served at the Essex firehouse

Also, circulating both out among the fire trucks, and inside among the pancake eaters, was “Sparky.” He was a human firefighter dressed up as a big fire dog for the occasion.

Making fiends with Sparky, the firehouse mascot

Coldwell Banker advertising sign by Essex’s “silent policeman”

Frequently, the structure is adorned for town celebrations such as Ground Hog Day; and a holiday decoration is now being put in place.  However, Coldwell Banker appeared to be breaking new ground with its use of the “silent policeman” to post a real estate advertising sign last Sunday, Nov. 13. The sign was removed in the afternoon.

However, a broker at Coldwell Banker at the Main Street office, who asked that her name not be used, refuted that only Coldwell Banker’s real estate agents use the “silent policeman’” for advertisement purposes. “Everybody does it,” she said, “particularly on Sundays, when brokers have ‘open houses’ at the properties that they are selling.”

As to whether the posting of advertising signs on Essex town property is permissible under present town regulations, Joseph Budrow, the town’s Zoning Wetlands and Enforcement said, “as of now the signage regs will be updated in early 2012.   So right now there isn’t a clear plan on what the Zoning Commission wants.”

However, Budrow said that he would have an update on the issue in mid-December.

Artist rendering of the Essex Basketball Center to be completed in the spring of 2012

A wonderful dream is on its way to becoming a reality. After over three years of intense effort, by as early as next spring the Town of Essex is going to have its very own basketball center. Situated on a now underused  area next to the imposing Connecticut Light and Power transformer substation, and neighboring the Essex Fire Engine Company’s Fire House, there will soon be a beautifully laid out basketball center.

The center will be situated at the southeast quadrant of West Avenue and Route 154, just as you enter the Town of Essex.

Officially called the “Essex Basketball Center & Gateway Project,” the new facility will include a full sized basketball court with two backboards, as well as two practice backboards, for a total of 7,140 square feet of playing surface.  The surface of the new courts will have a new cover of treated asphalt; and there will be spectator bleachers, large enough to seat 70 people.

The basketball center will be lighted until 10:00 p.m. every evening, and will be monitored by security cameras for safety. In addition, the entire facility will be designated as a Safe Zone, meaning that  alcohol, drugs and tobacco products will be strictly prohibited.

The central purpose in building the basketball center is to create a facility for young people, “where they can safely hang out together and play basketball in a secure environment.” The center will be used for friendly pick-up games and informal play and practice, but it will not host league games of local school teams.

A prime mover of the entire effort to bring the Basketball Center to Essex is local resident James Rawn. Rawn serves as one of three Co-Chairs of the Essex Park and Recreation Subcommittee of the Park and Recreation Commission. Other Co-Chairs are Dennis Robida and Tony Mosa. The Essex Rotary Club is a co-sponsor of the project.

Local Essex resident James Rawn, leading the effort to build the Essex Basketball Center

These monies will pay for a wealth of improvements, including the construction of the basketball courts and practice area with fencing; new bleachers, bike racks and picnic tables; and new lightings fixtures, which will match the style of the lighting fixtures of the neighboring Fire House.

Also, covered in the projected costs will be new asphalt for the adjacent parking lot, an extensive new grass sprinkler system and new landscaping for the lawn areas of the property. Also covered will be expenses for the construction of new sidewalks around the edges of the property, and new landscaping around the Connecticut Light and Power substation.

New crosswalks and crossing lights are being installed by the State Department of Transportation at no expense to the town.

It is the firm intent of the sponsors of the project to fund the entire construction of the basketball center with private monies, without the expenditure of a single dollar of Town of Essex funds. To date, according to project Co-Chair Rawn, there is already over $50,000 in cash and firm commitments.

Rawn says that he is confident that the rest of the money can be raised.  In fact, he believes, “The rest of the money will come in easily.”  He adds, “Money is coming in from contributors, when they understand that this is all about the kids.”

Young Essex residents ready to play basketball with "Park and Rec" Commissioner Jack Spangler and project Co-Chair James Rawn

To obtain a donor package supporters of the project should go to: www.essexct.gov, next click on “Park and Recreation,” and then click on, “Essex Basketball Center.” The donor package will specify how contributions can be made directly on line.

Contributions can also be made to the new Essex Basketball Center by mail, by making out a check payable to: “Town of Essex, Basketball Center & Gateway Project,” and sending it to: Essex Park and Recreation Department, 29 West Avenue, Essex, CT 06426. All contributions are tax deductable.

Although not responsible for any initial construction costs, going forward the Town of Essex will incur upkeep expenses for the new facility, which will include lighting the parking area at night for “park & ride” users, and for the general public.

Actual work on the new basketball center is scheduled to begin this coming March, and the construction period is estimated between four and five weeks. This means that the facility will be available for play as early as next spring, then into next summer and fall, and even into next winter on good days, not to mention for years to come.

Not a bad thing, when you think about it … “for the kids.”