Category Archives: Business

Middlesex Hospital on Target to Open New Westbrook Medical Center in April

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Middlesex Hospital’s new Shoreline Medical Center in Westbrook is on schedule to open in April

Middlesex Hospital’s new Shoreline Medical Center in Westbrook is on schedule to open in April

Middlesex Hospital is on track to open a new emergency and outpatient medical center off Exit 65 of I-95 in Westbrook this coming April.  The new 44,000 square foot medical center is located at 250 Flat Rock Road, which is on the road that leads up to the Tanger Outlet Mall.

As soon as the new Westbrook Medical Center is completed, Middlesex Hospital will make the transition from its existing Shoreline Medical Center in Essex.  The new Westbrook location will be double the size of the Essex facility.  In addition, it will have the capacity to expand up to 60,000 square feet, if there is a need to do so.

Middlesex Hospital’s new Westbrook facility will have many improvements over the present Essex facility.  These include an expanded emergency center with 24 beds, as well as an urgent care area for non-emergency patients.  Patient privacy will be also be improved at the new center and there will be a separate outside entrance to the adjoining outpatient area.

In addition, the new facility will have a full service laboratory, an infusion therapy suite, expanded radiology services and a designated women’s imaging area.

Chester Company Donates $1 Million to New Center

Whelen Engineering, Inc., which is headquartered in Chester, is donating $1 million towards the building of the new Middlesex Hospital Shoreline Medical Center in Westbrook.  The new Emergency Department in Westbrook will be aptly named the “Whelen Emergency Center.”

Whelen Engineering previously donated $1 million towards to the construction of a new Emergency Department in Middletown, which the hospital named the “Whelen Emergency Pavilion.”

Middlesex Hospital’s History of Medical Care on the Shoreline

Middlesex Hospital has a history, beginning in 1970, of providing medical care to the shoreline residents of Middlesex County.  The hospital first rented a space in Centerbrook, where it set up a full-service, satellite Emergency Department.

From its first day of operation, this Shoreline Medical Center in Centerbrook experienced phenomenal growth.  In fact, it soon became impossible for the medical center to remain at its Centerbrook location and properly serve an overrun of patients for the size of the facility.

Two Essex residents, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred P. Knapp, came to the rescue by donating to Middlesex Hospital 10.4 acres of land on which to build a new, permanent Shoreline Medical Center in Essex. Today, the facility serves on average 2,000 to 2,500 patients a month in its Emergency Department alone.  In addition, the Medical Center’s Emergency Department has received a number of prestigious awards for its excellence in patient satisfaction.

The Shoreline Medical Clinic in Essex will close this coming April when the Westbrook Medical Center opens.

The Shoreline Medical Clinic in Essex will close this coming April when the Westbrook Medical Center opens.

Middlesex Hospital to date has not announced its plans for the building in Essex, once it has been closed and replaced by the new Westbrook facility.

The Chocolate Shell Café Re-opens

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case _of_goodies

Barbara Crowley, owner of The Chocolate Shell on Lyme Street, has announced the re-opening of her Café on the premises.  The cases of cakes and pastries, which have been empty for a couple of weeks, are full once more, as shown in the photo at left.

The Café  was closed under a Cease and Desist order issued by Old Lyme’s Zoning Enforcement Officer, Ann Brown, who contends that the Café  is operating as a full-service take out restaurant and a full-service restaurant.  The Cease and Desist Order required Crowley to remove all tables and chairs from the front lawn and back patio, to stop selling coffee and to remove the “Café Open” flag.

Crowley has now filed an appeal with the Zoning Board of Appeals.  Pending the hearing of that appeal, Crowley has been advised that she can operate her Café under the regulations prior to the issue of the Cease and Desist.

No “Butts” About It, CVS Pharmacies Have Stopped Selling Cigarettes, While Rival, Rite Aid, Continues

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The nation’s largest pharmacy chain, CVS, recently announced that it would stop selling cigarettes. However, one of its major competitors in the pharmacy business, Rite Aid, has declined not to adopt a similar policy.

Rite Aid’s Bob Neveu, who is in charge of the pharmacy at the Colonial shopping center in Essex, maintains that even though Rite Aid still sell cigarettes, it is still cutting back in selling tobacco products generally.  “We used to have a special cigar section in the stores,” he says, and now they have been eliminated.

Rite Aid’s Nevey admits he has always felt that, “It was somewhat incongruous for a health goods store, like Rite Aid, to be selling cigarettes.”  However, regardless of the store manager’s personal feelings, cigarettes enjoy a prime spot behind the checkout counter at the front of the store, where Marlboro cigarette packages and other brands are on full display.

As for the CVS pharmacy chain, in its pharmacy in downtown Old Saybrook on Boston Post Road, it indeed appears that CVS is not selling cigarettes, true to its word.  Not a single cigarette package was evident on recent visit.  However, it does appear that CVS has not given up selling other tobacco products.  On a recent visit right behind the checkout counters, although there were no cigarettes in view, there were clearly other kinds of tobacco products for sale.

When asked what they were, “We sell pipe tobacco and cigars,” said one of the women behind the CVS checkout counter.

Essex Savings Bank Reflects on Successful Year at Annual Meeting

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Essex Savings Bank held its semi-annual Trustees’ Meeting Monday, Jan. 27,  at the Bank’s Plains Road corporate office in Essex.  Bank Chairman Douglas Paul welcomed the attendees and stated that he was proud to preside at the completion of the Bank’s 162nd year.

Gregory R. Shook, President and CEO, reported on the Bank’s performance for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2013 by stating, “I am pleased to report that the Bank posted a net profit of $1.7 million. Bank assets grew by $6.7 million to $331.5 million. While core deposits rose by $12 million, credit quality remained strong with zero foreclosed properties and capital increased by $1.8 million to $40.4 million – far exceeding regulatory requirements.”

He continued, ” Our branches continue to attract new relationships and our newest branches in Madison and Chester are operating ahead of our projections.  During the year, the Bank generated over $76 million in loans which were comprised of both residential and business loans. We are also proud to report that our Trust Department, led by professionals, Granville Morris and Moira Martin, has brought assets under management to over $300 million. ”

Shook added, ”  As part of our Bank’s success, we will again be distributing 10% of our after-tax net income or $224,000 to non-profits in our market area.  By year end, we will have contributed back to the community in excess of $3.9 million over the past 18 years that the Community Investment Program has been in existence.”

Charles Cumello, President & CEO of Essex Financial Services Inc., reported that gross revenue for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2013 was $18.7 million, which is up 12 percent.  “This year’s performance is one of the firm’s best, and marks the fourth year in a row with record revenue growth.”

Cumello informed the trustees of  the  many improvements and investments in technology and infrastructure currently underway that will increase the excellence of the firm’s client service as the firm continues to grow.  He stated that these investments in infrastructure are critical as the addition of new clients to the firm has been very robust and inquiries from potential clients continue to rise.

Editor’s Note: Essex Savings Bank is a FDIC insured, state chartered, mutual savings bank established in 1851.  The Bank serves the Connecticut RiverValley and shoreline with six offices in Essex (2), Chester, Madison, Old Lyme and Old Saybrook.  Financial, estate, insurance and retirement planning are offered throughout the state by the Bank’s Trust Department and subsidiary, Essex Financial Services, Inc, Member FINRA, SIPC.

Investments in stocks, bonds, mutual funds and annuities are not FDIC insured, may lose value and are not a deposit, have no Bank guarantee and are not insured by any Federal Government Agency.

Chester Celebrates Winter With Annual Winter Carnivale, Sunday

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Photo by John Stack. An ice carving at the 2012 Carnivale.

Photo by John Stack.
An ice carving at the 2012 Carnivale.


Who can object to winter when it’s celebrated with magnificent ice carvings, a chili contest, and a decorated tractor parade? Throw in some Mardi Gras-style beads, face painting, and street performers, and you’ll never hate winter again!

The town of Chester celebrates its 24th Annual Winter Carnivale on Sunday, Feb. 16, beginning at 10 a.m. The event, which takes place in the center of town in snow, rain, or shine, is free, with the exception of the Chili Cook Off.

The Ice Carving Competition, with professional and student carvers, will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with judging shortly after. Spectators may vote for their favorite sculpture to win the “People’s Choice Award.”

The “Chilly Chili Cook Off” will be held at the Chester Hose Company Fire House, 6 High Street, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Attendees can pay their $5 donation at the firehouse door, which allows them to taste all the different chilis made by restaurants and chefs and to vote for their favorite. All proceeds go to the Chester Hose Company.

2012 Chili Cook Off (Photo courtesy of John Stack)
2012 Chili Cook Off (Photo courtesy of John Stack)

And last but not least, festively decorated tractors will parade down Main Street beginning at 2 p.m. in the highly anticipated 13th Annual Chester Tractor Parade. Judges choose the winners of their Iron Steed Awards for the best decorated tractors.

Restaurants, shops and galleries will have special events all day. The Chester Museum at The Mill will also be open at no charge, offering another place to warm up and take a break while seeing Chester history, including two early ice cutting machines.

Parking is available in the commuter lot at the foot of Rte. 9 (Exit 6) and at Greenwald on Rte. 154, both served by a courtesy shuttle bus to the town center.

For more information, visit facebook.com/chesterctwintercarnivale