February 22, 2012

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Chester Planning and Zoning Commission Approves New Downtown Restaurant

February 13, 2012 By

CHESTER— The planning and zoning commission has approved a special permit for a new vegetarian restaurant in the former Chester Savings Bank building at 6 Main St. in the downtown village.

The commission approved the application of Chester Properties LLC of Old Lyme in a unanimous vote at a Feb. 2 meeting. The plans were presented at a two-part public hearing that began in January and continued on Feb. 2. The plans call for a 40 to 50-seat restaurant with a liquor license, along with a separate 857 square-foot retail space and two apartments on the second floor of the building. More than a dozen residents expressed support for the project at the public hearings.

The restaurant, which is expected to open later this year, will be open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 or 10 p.m. There will be a parking area with space for 23 vehicles.

Filed Under: Charles Stannard, Chester, News, Town Hall

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

February 10, 2012 By

Future Deep River Headquarters of PCI Medical

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

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

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

PCI Medical, a national leader in disinfection systems

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

Philip and Cliodhna Coles, President and VP of PCI Medical

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

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

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

The PCI disinfectant process

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

Philip Coles by a PCI Disinfection Soak System machine

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The PCI Medical success story    

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

Deep River First Selectman Dick Smith, a happy man

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

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

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

Filed Under: Chester, Jerome Wilson, News

State Department of Transportation Sets Date for Information Meeting on Main Street Bridge Project

February 9, 2012 By

CHESTER— The state Department of Transportation will hold a Feb. 16 public information meeting on the planned replacement of the Main Street bridge in the downtown village. The session begins at 7 p.m. in the Chester Meeting House on Liberty Street.

DOT engineers will be present at the meeting to outline and answer questions from residents and downtown business owners about the latest plans to replace the Main Street bridge over the Pattaconk Brook. The bridge replacement project is expected to begin in 2014.

A nearby bridge project, replacement of the bridge on Water Street, is expected to begin this summer. The town is planning a reconstruction of Main Street in the downtown village to be done over the next two years, around the same time as the two bridge replacement projects. The Main Street Committee, a group of volunteers appointed by the board of selectmen, is coordinating and supervising the town’s Main Street project.

Filed Under: Charles Stannard, Chester, News

Chester Historical Society Presents Free Program about Chester “Characters”

February 8, 2012 By

Shirley Miceli started working in Collins Pharmacy on Main Street (which she later bought and renamed Chester Pharmacy) during her college summers. She remembers the early years of being a pharmacist when many prescriptions (capsules, ointments, suppositories, liquids) were compounded - made by hand, right there in the store. She ran the pharmacy just short of 40 years, closing it in 1989. This photo is from the 1960s. Shirley still remembers when she was held up at knifepoint inside the pharmacy, but the robber got away. Later a TV crew reenacted the burglary on a crime show to see if the man could be identified by any eyewitnesses. (Photo courtesy of Rob Miceli)

What makes Chester the town it is? Many residents would say it’s the people who live or have lived and worked there.

On Sunday afternoon, Feb. 26, at the Chester Meeting House, the Chester Historical Society will present another in its series of programs about the colorful “characters” who have called Chester home for their family and their business.

As Historical Society president Skip Hubbard says, “As much as we often think of buildings and artifacts as history, it’s really about people – what they did, what they experienced, how they adapted and how they succeeded. That’s why we like to offer the ‘Chester Characters’ programs, as an opportunity to hear the stories of the people.”

Robbie's was a Chester Village institution for many years. From the Kate Silliman Scrapbook: "Robbie Collomore, born in Chester and a graduate of Chester High School,

A couple of “characters” who are still living will share how their Chester businesses got started along with interesting stories that happened to them.  Other “characters” will be described by family members or in some cases by their close friends or employees. This winter’s “Characters of Chester” will feature: Harry Archambault, the founder of Archambault Insurance Agency; Shirley Miceli, the pharmacist and owner of Chester Pharmacy; Robbie Collomore, the owner of Robbie’s store; John Dengler, owner of Dengler’s Service Station; Jim Grote, Chester Hose Co. chief and fire marshal; and John Zanardi, the original proprietor of John Zanardi Oil Co., Inc.

Come learn the history of what made Chester such a special place to live and work. As with all Chester Historical Society programs, audience participation is encouraged. We welcome your own stories of these Chester “characters.”

The program will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. It is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Chester, Events

Chester Grand List up by 0.70 Percent

February 1, 2012 By

CHESTER— Assessor Loreta Zdanys has filed an October 2001 grand list of taxable property that totals $502,698,090 an increase of $3,580,619, or .70 percent, over the 2010 grand list total. The increase is expected to generate about $79,000 in new tax revenue at the current tax rate of 22.11 mills.

The increase is slightly larger than last year, when the net grand list was up by .50 percent from the 2009 total, with all of the increase attributed to motor vehicles. The 2011 grand list shows increases in both motor vehicles and real estate, while personal property is down from the 2010 total. The real estate total of $451,502,570 is up by $2,412,905 from the 2010 total. The motor vehicles assessment total of $27,959,970 is up by $1,780,874 from the 2010 total. The personal property assessment total of $16,148,030 is down slightly, by $87,290, from the 2010 total.

The list of top ten taxpayers is unchanged from 2010. The top ten taxpayers in descending order are Chester Woods Inc. (Chester Village West), Connecticut Water Company, Whelen Engineering Company, The Eastern Company, Whelen Aviation LLC (Chester Airport), Connecticut Light and Power Company, Roto Frank of America, Arthur and Judith Schaller, Margaret and Robert Sbriglio, and Chester Marina LLC. Schaller and Sbriglio are residential properties on the Connecticut River.

Filed Under: Charles Stannard, Chester, News

Chester Democrats and Republicans Select Town Committees for 2012-2014

January 24, 2012 By

CHESTER— Town Democrats and Republicans have selected new town committees for the 2012-2014 term at recent party caucuses.

Democrats selected a 24-member town committee with ten new members. Incumbents returning to the town committee include Samuel Chorches, Lori Ann Clymas, Lawrence DiBernardo, Robert Gorman, Charlene Janecek, Henry Krempel, Justin Kronholm, James Miller, Isaac Ruiz, Sandra Senior-Dauer, Selectman Lawrence Sypher, John Yrchik, former Selectman Peter Zanardi, and Kurt Ziemann.

New members include First Selectman Edmund Meehan, who was elected to the town’s top job last November. Meehan’s election ended six years of Republican control of town hall that began with the election of former First Selectman Tom Marsh in 2005. Marsh resigned in August to take a job as town manager in Windsor, Vt.

Other new members are Robert Bibbiani, Joe Cohen, David Fitzgibbons, Errol Horner, Arthur Henick, Pantelis Kehayias, Suzane Levine, Margaret Meehan, and James Ready.

Incumbents leaving the town committee include former First Selectman Martin Heft, who was unseated by Marsh in 2005 after serving 12 years in the top job. Heft, an aide to Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman, moved to West Hartford last fall. Also leaving the town committee are Charles Della Rocco, Kristina Finnerty, Region 4 Board of Education member Elaine Fitzgibbons, Emily Maste4rs, Michael Peck, and Priscilla Robinson.

Town Republicans selected a 25-member town committee that includes five new members. Incumbents returning to the town committee include Joyce Aley, David Clark, Selectman Tom Englert, Terri Englert, Region 4 Board of Education member and current town chairman Mario Gioco, Laura Gioco, Victor Hoehnebart, John Huston, Alexa Jamieson, Joni Malcynski, Darolina Marguez-Sterling, Ashley Marsh, Karl Ohaus, Maria Ruberto, Kristian Seifert, Melvin Seifert, former Selectman Bruce Watrous, and Beverly Watrous.

New members are Jamie Grabowski, Jon Joslow, Tracy Ohaus, Jill Sakidovitch, and Brian Sakidovitch. Leaving the town committee are Marsh, Kathy Marsh, Frank Palka, and Betty Palka. The new town committees are seated in March, when the panels will elect officers for the 2012-2014 term.

Filed Under: Charles Stannard, Chester, News

Guest House Retreat and Conference Center Announces Free Yoga Classes

January 24, 2012 By

Chester, CT – Guest House Retreat and Conference Center in Chester, Connecticut, will offer a series of public events. The outreach programs will kick off with “Gentle Yoga for Every Body”, an all-inclusive gentle yoga class designed for all levels of experience, taught by Lisa Uihlein, owner and operator of Turning Point Yoga. These classes will run on Wednesday mornings, from 8:00 – 9:30 a.m., from February 1 to March 21.  Additionally on Wednesday evenings, Guest House will resume its year-long series of free meditation classes, titled  “Meditation in the World.”

About Guest House: Guest House is a delightful retreat and conference center in the scenic Connecticut River Valley. Founded in 2008, the not-for-profit educational facility rents out its conference rooms and provides accommodations to organizations and teachers who wish to present their own programs.  In addition, programs generated by Guest House aim to support the development of the human potential of individuals. Located in the town of Chester, Connecticut, the structure is a beautifully renovated country inn situated on private wooded land, adjacent to a state forest.  For additional information about Guest House and its programs, visit www.GuestHouseCenter.org.

Filed Under: Chester, Events

Chester Planning and Zoning Continues Hearing on Proposed Main St. Restaurant

January 18, 2012 By

CHESTER— The planning and zoning commission has continued the public hearing for a new vegetarian restaurant at 6 Main St. in the downtown village to Feb. 2. The hearing will reopen at 7:30 p.m. at the Chester Meeting House on Liberty St.

The commission on Jan. 5 opened the public hearing on the application of Chester Properties LLC of Old Lyme for a restaurant in the former Chester Savings Bank building at 6 Main St. The proposed restaurant would have 40 to 50 seats, with a liquor license and bar. It would serve organic vegetarian cuisine.

The site plan for the building also calls for a 700-square-foot retail space with a separate entrance, and two residential apartments on the second floor. The project also requires a permit from the inland-wetlands commission because of the proximity of the building to the Pattaconk Brook. The IWC is expected to review the permit application at a Jan. 30 meeting.

The planning and zoning commission elected new officers last month, with Jon Lavy named as chairman. Lavy, a Democrat, has served on the commission since 2005. Lavy replaces Michael Joplin, a Democrat who had served as chairman of the panel for more than a decade before losing his seat in last November’s town election.

Michael Sanders was named as vice-chairman. Sanders, a leader of the Chester Common Ground Party, was elected to the commission in 2007.

Filed Under: Charles Stannard, Chester, News

Maple and Main Gallery Winter Show

January 16, 2012 By

CHESTER – Maple and Main Gallery is planting “Summer Dreams” in its downstairs gallery during the new Winter Show, opening  Wednesday, February 1.

Visitors can shake off the winter doldrums in the lower gallery where all the art will be devoted to the theme of flowers, gardens and bright, beautiful summertime.

Over 200 paintings, in a variety of mediums and all new to the gallery, will be on display during the Winter Show. Please come to the opening party Friday, Feb. 3 from 5 to 8 p.m. when food and drink will be offered and the artists will be on hand.

Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The gallery is located at the corner of Maple and Main streets in Chester. The web site is mapleandmaingallery.com. and the phone number is 860-526-6065.

Filed Under: Chester, Events Tagged With:

CMS To Present Cabaret Singers with Karli Gilbertson in Chester

January 16, 2012 By

Karli Gilbertson

CHESTER – Join Community Music School for an entertaining performance by members of Cabaret Singers On Thursday, January 26 at 7:45 p.m. at Chester Village West, 317 West Main Street, Chester.

Under the direction of Karli Gilbertson and accompanied by Sue Sweeney, the group of ten adult students will perform favorite ballads, Broadway hits and toe-tapping pop rock standards of the 1950’s. A selection of titles to be performed include: Standing on the Corner, Baby It’s Cold Outside, I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter, Hymn L’amour, Bella Notte, There’s No You, Secret Love, Lipstick on Your Collar, Sixteen Candles, and Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me.

Karli Gilbertson, CMS Artist-in-Residence,  is a graduate in vocal performance of the New England Conservatory of Music and the University of Minnesota. Her esteemed vocal teachers have included Doris Yarick-Cross, Susan Fischer-Clickner, and Donna Pegors. Ms. Gilbertson was previously a Resident Artist with the Connecticut Opera Company.

The concert is free and open to the public. Please call 860-767-0026 or visit www.community-music-school.org for additional information.

Filed Under: Chester, Events Tagged With:
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