August 27, 2026
.com
Chester, Deep River, & Essex Vol. XXVI Iss. 35
Foundation Funds ASL Board at Essex Elementary Press Release from the Essex Foundation
The Essex Foundation Board of Directors awarded a $6,000 grant to the Essex Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) to fund the design, materials, and installation of an American Sign Language (ASL) communication board at the Essex Elementary School playground in Centerbrook.
Production of the sign was completed in August before the start of the new school year. Essex Elementary serves a diverse student population, including deaf and hard of hearing children who are fully mainstreamed into the school community. While classrooms strive to provide inclusive and accessible learning environments, the play-
ground lacked tools to support communication for all students, according to the foundation. The ASL communication board provides a visual and interactive way for students of all hearing abilities to communicate using basic signs, symbols, and shared language. The See Foundation Funds page 4
Here Comes the Sun June Pena, 6, carries a bouquet of sunflowers as she walks down Main Street with her mother, Gemma Pena, during the Chester Sunday Market on Aug. 23. The weekly market brings vendors and shoppers to downtown Chester throughout the summer.
Photo by Wesley Bunnell/ Valley Courier
George Garner is leading a new generation of service.....................2
Scoring Surge Deep River Horseshoe League falls just two points shy of its single-night scoring record as the Giants hold first place.....................................29
Remembering the Revolution New research reveals the identities of Norwich’s long-mysterious French casualties........................19
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