By Charles Stannard

ESSEX— The renovations to the first floor at town hall are complete, a project that includes a new floor and improvements to offices entranceways.

First Selectman Phill Miller announced the completion of the work at Wednesday’s meeting of the board of selectmen. The project that began in late December was prompted by severe deterioration of the original floor of the building that was discovered during a carpet replacement. The town hall was constructed in the early 1890s and served as the town’s high school until 1952.

Miller said the work, which includes a new laminated floor and upgrades to the town clerk and registrar of voters offices, cost a total of $41,700, about $1,700 more than was initially anticipated. Funding for the work, which was done by Riggio and Sons Inc. of Ivoryton, was available in the current town budget.

In other business, Miller announced that town police would be conducting enhanced speeding and stop sign enforcement on Lynn Road in the Ivoryton section in response to recent complaints from residents. The selectmen in 2008 rejected a request from residents for a new stop sign at the intersection with Winthrop Hills Road . A traffic consultant had advised against putting a stop sign at the location, which is on an incline in the road.

By: Charles Stannard

ESSEX— The board of selectmen has lowered the posted speed limit for Ivoryton center between the Ivoryton Inn building and the intersection with Ivory St.

The board, acting as the town’s traffic authority, approved the change at a meeting Wednesday. First Selectman Phil Miller said concerns about vehicle speeds on Main Street in Ivoryton center were first raised by the Ivoryton Library Association and some library patrons. Miller said Resident State Trooper David Mallek ran radar in the vicinity recently, and found the highest daytime speeds in the 30-miles-per-hour zone to be around 37 miles-per-hour.

But the trooper suggested a reduction in the posted speed limit from the 30 miles-per-hour to 25 miles-per-hour. Signs for the new speed limit will be posted near the Ivoryton Inn and the Ivory St. intersection.

In other business, Miller announced the town is on “a short list” for a $450,000 state Department of Transportation Safe Routes To Schools grant that could fund sidewalk improvements in the vicinity of Essex Elementary School. He said the grant funds could also pay to improve a one-acre parcel abutting the school property for use as a parking area. The town acquired the parcel in 2007 during the renovation and expansion of the school.

While the grant funding is not guaranteed, Miller said state officials have determined the town’s application meets all criteria for the grant. The town will be required to hold a public hearing and town meeting vote affirming its support for the grant within the next three months.

One of two missing sculptures in Ivoryton has been returned unharmed, the Hollycroft Foundation told LocalOnlineNews.TV Friday. Another sculpture, pictured here, was stolen on October 30th and the foundation is seeking its return.

Those with information are asked to call the Essex Police at 860-767-1054 or the foundation offices at 860-767-2624.

The missing piece, “Sharon and Lester,” is a bust depicting a young woman holding her pet cat on her shoulder. It was displayed along the walkway leading to the front door of the Ivoryton Playhouse. The sculpture, which was cast in resin, was created by the nationally known sculptor, William Evans, who lives and works in Boston.

The foundation plans to return the recovered piece to the Ivoryton Sculpture Mile soon.

ESSEX–Town police are investigating the theft of a sculpture from the Hollycroft Foundation’s Sculpture Mile exhibit in Ivoryton. The theft of a sculpture that was located in front of the Ivoryton Playhouse was reported Sunday morning by town police Corporal Marc Pisciotti.

The peice, a bronze recreation of a monster with a tail, was located on the east side of the playhouse property. Another sculpture in the exhibit was stolen from a different location on Oct. 30.

The Sculpture Mile exhibit was set up in June, featuring 28 scuptures on residential and commercial properties along a mile of Main Street. The exhibit is sponsored by the local Hollycroft Foundation, whch presented the first Sculpture Mile exhibit in Ivoryton in 1994. The sculptures are expected to remain in place through June 2010, when some peices will be replaced by new sculptures.

Our prior video story on the Sculpture Mile can be found below:

From a press release provided by the Essex Park and Recreation Department:

The Essex Department of Park and Recreation announced the completion of the Ivoryton Village Park Improvement Project this week.

The project’s goal was to improve the safety and usability of existing facilities within the park. Improvements include a new irrigation system, gazebo restoration, fencing, and a newly planted garden area.

This project was completed with the support of the Town of Essex Public Works Department, Park and Recreation staff, and Zoning Official Marian Staye, who designed the new garden area. The project was also supported in part by Riggio’s Garden Center and the Ivoryton Garden Club.

Dedicated and opened in the mid 1950’s, Ivoryton Village Park is run by the Essex Department of Park and Recreation. The park is home to the Annual Ivoryton Village Pumpkin Festival and the Summer Concert Series.

Links:
Essex Park and Rec

We received the following notice of a street closure taking place in Ivoryton Saturday for the upcoming Pumpkin Festival:

NOTICE OF A STREET CLOSURE
For the Ivoryton Pumpkin Festival

Saturday, October 24th from 4:45 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

(Rain date Sunday, October 25th):
There will be a 4 hour and 15 minute street closure on Main Street in Ivoryton from the intersection of Ivory Street and Main Street (in front of The Gather) on down to the intersection of Summit Street and Main Street (in front of the Ivoryton Playhouse).
Officers will be on duty that night and detour signs will be used. The street closure will make it safer for attendees

The feature itself will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Ivoryton’s Gather moved into the building that once housed the Ivoryton Store one year ago this week. The shop celebrated this milestone on September 12th, with a day long event that included live mannequins, story readings, vintage photography, and even a cabaret ensemble.

LocalOnlineNews.TV’s Meredith Rizocki was there and filed the above report.

Summer and warm weather in Essex and Ivoryton has usually meant peace and quiet. But a string of recent crimes has law enforcement sending word that those in Essex and surrounding communities should be on alert.

Police are following several leads, but those with information are encouraged to call the Essex Police at 860-767-1054. LocalOnlineNews.TV’s Danica Pecirep has more in the above video.

Links:
Essex Police

Now in its fourth year, the Ivoryton July 4th parade drew hundreds to main street this weekend.

The parade has grown in popularity each year and features an eclectic mix of vehicles including cars, trucks, tractors, bikes, and many more on foot (and hooves!).

Local resident Walter Budney was the Grand Marshal this year.

You may have noticed many new sculptures showing up on the lawns of a number of Ivoryton homes and businesses recently. LocalOnlineNews.TV’s Kate Dowd met up with the The Hollycroft Foundation, the organization behind the “Sculpture Mile.”

Links:
Hollycroft Foundation