February 12, 2026
.com
Clinton, Westbrook, & Old Saybrook Vol. XXIX Iss. 7
Dock and Dine Swap Heads to March 31 Vote By Eric O'Connell Staff Writer
It’s up to the public now. Following a wellattended public hearing where residents expressed both support and opposition, the proposed acquisition of the former Dock and Dine property in exchange for the Vicki Duffy Pavilion at Saybrook Point will head to a referendum on Sunday, March 31. Polls will be open from noon to 8 p.m. that day in the Old Saybrook High School gym,
where voters will weigh in on a proposed deal in which the town would acquire the Dock and Dine site in exchange for transferring the title to the Vicki Duffy Pavilion and leasing the land under and around it to Dock6, LLC, owned by local restaurateur Jon Kodama. If the deal is approved, both parties would have 120 days to complete due diligence before the swap is finalized. All eligible voters in Old Saybrook, including nonresidents who own at least $1,000 in
taxable property in town, may vote in the referendum. Absentee ballots will be available. No minimum turnout is required for the vote to be valid, and the Board of Selectmen cannot override the results, officials said. Frequently asked questions and supporting documents are available on the town website for public inspection. See Dock page 9
Tara Helen O’Connor is helping lead the Essex Winter Series into a new season..................................2
Defeated A parking sign leans half-buried in the snow on Main Street in Clinton on Feb. 9 after more than two weeks of extreme cold. Morning temperatures hover around 17 degrees, with wind chills frequently dipping below zero. The state’s Severe Cold Weather Protocol, activated Jan. 23 to protect residents at risk of cold-related illness or death from exposure, marks its longest continuous activation since 2015.
Postseason Clinched The season just got a little longer for Old Saybrook’s boys’ basketball team............................................19
ONE Concert for Spring Orchestra New England (ONE) gives a prelude to spring with its BaroqueFest concert................................23
Photo by Wesley Bunnell/ Harbor news
KEEP CALM
AND
EAT
CHILI POTSTICKERS CHILI
Just up the Road
Red House, Deep River