Home Care In Colchester, CT

After a nine-day drive across the country, there was only one urgent “must-do” on our list as unpacking in our new hometown commenced: visit Harry’s Place in Colchester before it closed for the season. The 104-year-old burger stand did not disappoint. As it turned out, I’d find myself back in Colchester more frequently than expected. Realizing this, the thought occurred that spending a weekend in this New England town with a rich blend of agriculture and history might be the perfect getaway.

Where to Stay

Colchester is just 30 minutes north of Connecticut's shoreline and 30 minutes south of Hartford. For those looking for a getaway, several options are available, including Airbnb offerings.

Right on the Town Green in the Colchester Historic District is the Hayward Inn. The 1767-established house has two rooms available for guests on its second floor. Making accommodations cozy are propane fireplaces and amenities, including a microwave, mini-fridge, toaster and coffee maker. Keeping guests hooked in is free wireless internet, a TV and DVD player.

See + Do

It was my dentist who initially turned me on to Salmon River. While poking around my teeth, he regaled me with his standing Friday plans of fishing in Salmon River State Forest. Needing to check this beloved spot out, a course was charted to Comstock Covered Bridge. Technically, the bridge is at the junction where East Hampton and Colchester meet.

Covered bridges embody a sense of romance, and in the case of The Comstock, a perfect vantage of anglers on the Salmon River. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Comstock is one of three covered bridges in the state.

Romance can also be found at Allegra Farm located by Lake Hayward. When on assignment, I’d visited the farm and met owners John and Lori Allegra, along with their barn dogs, 43 horses and endless carriages. The farm offers one-hour carriage rides around the lake year-round, with prices starting at $250.

Our hearts were swept away by a glimpse into farm life. Luckily, Colchester had plenty more in store for our visit. First stop, Cold Spring Farm’s year-round farm stand. This sweet little stand that operates by the honor system is chock full of things grown and made on the property. Fresh produce, such as myriad varieties of lettuces, squash and herbs, are available. There’s also farm-fresh beef, lamb, pork and chicken. Canned beans, pickles, soups, jams and “apple pie in a jar” line the wooden shelves.

To round out shopping for future gourmet meals, a stop was made at Cato Corner Farm’s cheese shop. Let it be stated here: I adore cheese. And Cato Corner’s cheeses tantalize taste buds like no other. The farm team is very patient and willing to educate visitors browsing their offerings.

With several cheeses in hand, we planned to devour our choices at Hop Culture Farms & Brew Co., a family-owned farm and brewery. As beer and cheese pairings go, I’m fond of the Think Piece Pilsner. Don’t have cheese on hand? Not to worry, food trucks are a staple at Hop Culture.

Had there been more time, we’d have squeezed in a hike through the Ruby and Elizabeth Cohen Woodlands. Rubin “Ruby” Cohen purchased Harry’s Place in 1925, so right away, we feel an affinity to this 206-acre park with multiple ponds, streams, bridges, a butterfly pollinator garden and a Colchester Storywalk ideal for kids and families.

After a day perusing farms, exploring Colchester’s Historic District was in order. From the Town Green’s gazebo, we made a 360 turn to gaze at our options. The Color House won out for initial stop. This pottery and creative arts studio has a room devoted to pottery wheels. Otherwise, there is space for painting canvases, pottery or glassware. The Color House is also set up for parties and group activities. We spied a group of friends spending the day together working on various craft projects.

The Colchester History Museum was originally the home of Reverend John Ballard, the restored mid-18th century building is open seasonally from April to early December on Sundays between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free. The collections offer everything from Colchester’s historic figures to the Hayward Rubber Company and the evolution of the area’s agricultural scene.

Shop

Shopping choices abound in Colchester. Into antique stores? Hit up Hanauer & Seidman Antiques to discover Americana and folk art. Nathan Liverant & Son Antiques specializes in fine Americana.

As the weather was taking on an unexpected chill, we went to Boutique at 56 in search of some extra layers to wear. There is much more than clothing there, including everything from accessories to candles.

A favorite haunt of ours is Gifts on the Green. Whenever in Colchester, we check out the latest creations from local artisans, pick up some great books or see if the toy selection has something irresistible. It’s always a worthy treasure hunt.

Eat + Drink

Having grown up in the South, I’m always down to see how barbecue from other regions stacks up. With this in mind, Oz’n Bones BBQ received a lunch visit. A glance at the specials made it obvious this is no run-of-the-mill barbecue. Expect specials that bring an international twist to the plate—think Mexican, Peruvian or Asian spins on this American classic.

A return visit to The Inishmor Pub was also in order. We started with hard-boiled eggs filled with flavor and topped with slices of jalapeno peppers. A big thumbs up goes to the fish n’ chips and the Bobcat Burger topped with cheddar, Guinness onion, bacon and homemade BBQ. The atmosphere in this friendly pub calls for lingering. Just next store, and worth a try, is the newly launched, seafood-focusedInishShor with menu items like lobster tacos and fried clam strips.

Ice cream always gets its due when traveling. Fifties-themed Mel’s Downtown Creamery drew us in. In lieu of the Big Kahuna, an eight-scoop, seven-topping, one banana, one brownie sundae topped with whipped cream and four cherries, we opted for chocolate peanut butter cup cones.

Having spent time at the local brewery, it only seemed fair to give the 40-acre vineyard and 20-year-old winery Priam Vineyards its due. Though the rolling fields were enticing, the weather saw us ducking indoors to taste Priam’s 14 handcrafted wines. Three levels of guided tastings and self-guided wine flights are available. Tastings showcase four, six and eight wines, priced at $15, $20 and $25. Wine flights that highlight four wines of guests’ choice cost $30. Deciding what to toast was simple. “Here’s to Harry’s Place, which first brought us to Colchester.”

Locals of note

Singer/songwriter Jonathan Coulton, aka JoCo, was born in Colchester. The second album he released, “Where Tradition Meets Tomorrow,” was named after the town’s motto.

The first owner of the New York Giants baseball team, John B. Day (1847-1925), was a tobacco merchant born in Colchester.

“Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo” is one of many notable songs written by Colchester-born musician Rick Derringer.

Colchester native Lyman Trumbull (1813-1896) was an abolitionist and legislator who wrote the Confiscation Acts, which served as the basis of the Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil Rights Act of 1866. He served as a senator of Illinois from 1855-1873.

Incorporated: 1698; Named after Nathaniel Foote’s birthplace and that of his grandfather, Colchester, England. Prior to European settlers’ arrival, Colchester was Mohegan territory.

County: New London

Population: 15,572 (2022 census)

Total area: 49.8 square miles

Upon moving to Connecticut in 2021, Bekah Wright went into full exploration mode, along the way, discovering some of the state's most unique spots. She has written for publications including TV Guide, Bon Appetit, Reader's Digest, Nat Geo Kids and Los Angeles Magazine.

COLCHESTER — Town officials are divided on whether to use $300,000 of federal coronavirus relief funding to pay for a direct “give back program” for town residents or to give the money to the town’s social services to direct it toward people in need.

In July, Selectman Jason LaChapelle proposed a program that would allow Colchester residents to apply for up to $1,000 per household if they were negatively affected by the pandemic. According to LaChapelle, the money would go to as many households as applied for the funds and be divided evenly, with the amount each person receives depending on the total number of people who applied.

LaChapelle said he wanted this program to provide relief not only to low-income residents, but to the middle class as well. He said he felt that even a limited, one-time payment would mean a great deal to households trying to put food on the table.

“This idea that $1,000 isn’t going to help a family in need I think is … coming from a really privileged position. $1,000 to a family struggling is a massive amount of money,” said LaChapelle.

But other town officials disagreed with the idea of a direct give-back program, saying the funds should be more targeted toward low-income families, or used for town projects.

LaChapelle’s proposal would require using $100,000 in ARPA funds earmarked for Colchester social services, and add an additional $200,000 that would be taken from other projects. LaChapelle said he believed that the unassigned fund balance or the capital reserve could be used to make up for funds that were designated toward fixing the town hall roof or the HVAC system.

First Selectman Andreas Bisbikos said he would support a program giving cash to the middle class. And during an Aug. 14 meeting, he said that with the town’s decision to use the money under the category of “revenue loss,” the Colchester had a “tremendous amount of discretion” on how the program could work.

“We could technically give money to every household in the Town of Colchester if that’s the program that we wanted to move forward on,” said Bisbikos.

Bisbikos said that if the committee were to make any family who made $75,000 or less eligible for funding, they could reach up to 40 percent of Colchester households. He said that anyone in Colchester who made under the median income would be immediately considered to have been negatively impacted by COVID.

At a meeting on July 31, the Board of Selectmen voted to task the ARPA committee, UHY and Social Services to create a “give-back program” to distribute up to $300,000.

LaChapelle said during the July 31 meeting that he did not believe it was fair to expect town residents to show proof of financial harm from the pandemic when businesses received grants through the federal funding without having to offer similar proof.

“It seems like if it was okay for businesses, the way we handled it for businesses, the same exact thing should be fine for the citizens,” said LaChapelle.

But Claire Collins, a consulting senior manager for the accounting firm UHY, which the town has contracted to oversee distribution of the ARPA funds, said the federal guidelines for the funds required people to show proof of hardship, including information regarding taxes and unemployment. She said that UHY had checked business’ financial records “behind the scenes,” which wasn’t possible with individuals.

Collins also said she believed that lump sums that people received through the program would be subject to taxation, and that it could push people into a higher tax bracket, threatening their eligibility for benefits.

She also warned that a direct cash program would restrict how people could spend the money. According to the ARPA guidelines, families would not be able to use the money on food, groceries, clothing, gasoline, loan payments or entertainment. If a person spent money on things that weren’t allowed, that family would have to pay the money back to the federal government.

The money from a direct cash program could be used for medical bills, utility bills, childcare, rent or mortgage payments.

David Koji, chair of the town’s ARPA Committee, said that a direct-assistance program would also mean that the town would have to pay $30,000 to UHY to administer the program.

The other proposal, to allow social services to take charge of the $300,000 and distribute the money, also brought up challenges.

Valerie Geato, the town’s director of social services, said she wasn’t sure if she would be able to spend $300,000 by the 2026 deadline.

Geato said at a meeting on Aug. 14 that additional funding might be used by local social services to support local residents with home improvements required for medical conditions, and car repairs. But she also warned that the department would need a system to pay for these things, and she said that there would need to be clear guidelines regarding who would qualify for assistance.

In the meeting on Aug. 14, Selectwoman Rosemary Coyle and Debbie Bates said they believed Social Services could reach people outside the income guidelines of $75,000. She said that Social Services had helped households making up to $82,000.

“We have a mechanism for screening, we have a mechanism for paying for it, there’s no tax burden … Why would we not want to expand that?” said Coyle. “I want this program to support as many people as we can that find themselves in a difficulty under different circumstances, plus the people that normally need the assistance of social services.”

But LaChapelle cautioned that residents might be reluctant to come to social services for help.

“We can make $5 million available. That money will sit there forever because people aren’t’ going into social services to ask for help because they don’t want to ask for help,” he said.

At a meeting of the ARPA committee on Monday, questions also arose over the necessity of setting aside $300,000. According to a PowerPoint presentation to a meeting of the ARPA committee on Monday, town social services expect to receive a $36,000 grant each year “for the foreseeable future,” but had spent just $7,000 over the past three years on assistance other than funding the food bank and fuel assistance.

“There is no indication that future social service demand would necessitate additional funding outside of current balance and future revenue streams(s),” the presentation noted.

Koji said that the committee could also recommend the town stick with the original allocation of $100,000 for social services and leave the additional $200,000 to the projects it was originally encumbered for.

“We don’t have to scramble to find something,” said Koji.

Geato said she was willing to look at the possibility of using a lump sum to help people with rental assistance, but that giving out funds to people simply based on their income levels was outside the scope of social services.

“The way that we could utilize these funds would be through our normal processes, which is not giving people money because they fall into a certain income category. No part of what we do really operates that way,” said Geato. “That’s not really the nature of social services. We exist to help people meet their basic needs.”

The ARPA Committee will meet next Monday to determine what program recommendation they will make to the Board of Selectmen.

Emilia Otte covers health and education for the Connecticut Examiner. In 2022 Otte was awarded "Rookie of the Year," by the New England Newspaper & Press Association.

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COLCHESTER — The town is asking voters to approve an additional $1.5 million in bonding for the new senior center, saying the building will go unfinished without the extra money.

Tony Tarnowski, chair of the Senior Center Building Committee, told the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance on Tuesday that the project still has the same $1.4 million shortfall reported in December.

“If you take a look at where we were back in November of 2021, when the referendum was approved, and where we are now … during that period of time, you had an unprecedented 18 to 22 percent across the construction industry inflation factor,” Tarnowski said.

In November 2021, the town approved $9.5 million for the senior center, but by October, the estimated cost rose to $10.8 million. The building committee then removed about $370,000 from the project cost, leaving a shortfall of just under $1 million. In December, the town voted to make up the shortfall using a combination of a $575,000 donation from a private citizen and money from the town’s unassigned fund balance.

After Selectman Jason LaChapelle sued the town to prevent Colchester from entering into a contract with a builder without first going to referendum, a judge ruled that the town could enter into the contract, since the original project total would be below $9.5 million. The town signed a contract for $8.625 million with BRD Builders in early February.

LaChapelle also pushed back against the use of the $575,000 donation without first taking it to referendum, arguing that citizens should have the opportunity to vote on whether they wanted to pay more for the project. First Selectman Andreas Bisbikos said at the time that he was in favor of holding a future referendum to allocate the grant to cover the additional costs.

Tarnowski noted that although the town would be voting to borrow $11 million for the project, the actual amount they would bond would be $8.5 million, because of a $2.5 million state grant the town would put toward the project.

Selectwoman Rosemary Coyle said that the town still plans to use the $575,000 private donation to cover some project costs, as well as $32,691 from a grant program created by the state to direct American Rescue Plan Act funds that the state created specifically for senior centers. This would leave the additional amount the town needed to bond for at roughly $900,000.

Tarnowski said if the project was limited to $9.5 million, the building would be constructed — walls, roof, windows — but that it likely would not be able to obtain a certificate of occupancy. The floor would go unfinished, he said, and the kitchen would have no equipment.

But LaChapelle disagreed that the town could not build a functioning senior center with $9.5 million, and criticized Tarnowski and Board of Selectmen members for what he saw as forcing a choice between supporting the seniors and supporting the taxpayers.

“When you say the only answer is to give us more money and you will not have a functioning senior center … you have completely removed the possibility for people to support the senior center and support the seniors and also support fiscal responsibility and support not increasing the cost,” he said.

Bisbikos said he was committed to finishing the senior project, but he agreed that a Plan B was needed.

“It ain’t going to be under my watch that this senior center doesn’t get built. It may be under somebody else’s watch, but I’m not a guy that likes to quit,” said Bisbikos.

Bisbikos asked Tarnowski whether the building committee had performed any value engineering, or had looked for cost savings since the bid was awarded. Previously, Bisbikos testified in court that the town would use value engineering to look for cost savings on the project.

Tarnowksi replied that the building committee had saved $16,000 in value engineering, and that they were continuing to consider other options, such as eliminating a lighting package that would save the town approximately $30,000.

But he said that while there might be some opportunity for further cost savings, it wouldn’t be enough to balance the increased cost.

“If you think we’re going to find a million and a half dollars worth of savings, that’s not going to happen,” said Tarnowski. “That’s the reality. The value engineering will not bring you those kinds of numbers.”

Tarnowski said he had sent an email requesting a joint meeting of the Board of Finance and the Board of Selectmen in February. But Bisbikos said he wanted the building committee to look for more opportunities for value engineering, and that he wanted citizens to approve the town and school budget before talking about the senior center.

Board of Finance member Tim Vaillancourt joined LaChapelle in insisting that the town create a “Plan B” for what to do if the town voted down the referendum. LaChapelle and Bisbikos said part of that plan could be to direct the $575,000 donation toward furniture, fixtures and equipment, which LaChapelle said he didn’t consider to be part of the building cost.

Multiple members of the building committee spoke in favor of proceeding with plans for the new senior center. Geraldine Transue, an alternate member of the Senior Center Building Committee, showed pictures of the current senior center and pointed out the lack of handicapped access entrance, water damaged ceilings and bathrooms with missing tiles and a utility sink that she called “absolutely disgusting.”

A few members of the Board of Selectman and the Board of Finance mentioned that the project had been in-process for 20 years, and that they wanted to see a resolution.

“I think we can all agree, no matter what we have to do, we’ve got to find a way to finish this,” said Board of Finance member John Thomas.

Board of Finance Chair Andrea Migliaccio said the board would meet with the town’s bond counsel, the financial director and the town planner to draw up a draft referendum. The next meeting for the Board of Finance is Aug. 23.

—This story has been clarified and corrected to show that the Board of Finance meeting is on Aug. 23, and that the woman holding pictures of the current senior center is an alternate member of the building committee

Emilia Otte covers health and education for the Connecticut Examiner. In 2022 Otte was awarded "Rookie of the Year," by the New England Newspaper & Press Association.

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COLCHESTER —For nearly nine years, Alex Levere has taken pride in his Inishmor Pub in Colchester, "a lil' pub that does a lotta cookin'," and its farm-to-table fare, using beef and produce from farms and purveyors practically in its backyard. At his new concept, it's all about the fresh seafood.

In mid-July, Levere opened The Inishshor, a fried seafood and lobster joint, two doors down from the Main Street Irish pub by the town green. The small eatery offers a focused menu of fish and chips and fried shellfish, along with an assortment of lobster sandwiches.

The space at 16 Main St. became available when the farm-to-table Vintage Restaurant closed, Levere said, and their shared landlord gave him the first opportunity to take the spot. Once he decided to move forward with the new eatery, he began thinking about what cuisine the area needed.

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"I'm a big seafood guy," he said. "Always, I'm having to drive 25, 30 (minutes), maybe even longer, to find good seafood. That's really ultimately where it came from. And then from there, it was just making sure we did it right."

The Inishshor serves several items "from the chip pan," including fried-to-order fish and chips, shrimp, scallops, clam strips and whole-belly clams. Levere said he was on the fence about serving fish and chips at the new spot, as it's on the menu at the pub, but it's become the best-selling item. The Inishshor version is made with wild-caught cod loin, where the pub's dish features fried haddock.

Inishshor also offers a traditional Connecticut-style lobster roll, with six ounces of buttered claw and knuckle meat on a griddled brioche roll, and a lobster grilled cheese, with a mix of mascarpone and cheddar cheeses. But the surprise hit has been the Dublin lawyer sandwich, he said, a take on a classic Irish dish. Butter-poached lobster joins shaved ribeye steak on a warm banh-mi style roll, topped with a whiskey cream sauce.

The surf-and-turf sandwich is the second-best seller behind fish and chips, Levere said.

"I thought that was the riskiest thing we were going to put on the menu," he said. "We've had people coming back the next day for it."

The menu also experiments with fried lobster options, with tacos featuring crispy lobster on warm flour tortillas with lettuce, corn and bell pepper relish and lemon aioli. A lobster po'boy features battered and fried meat with a hint of Cajun seasoning on a banh mi roll with lemon aioli, lettuce and tomato.

Levere has added occasional specials to the Inishshor menu, frying up fresh calamari with the pub's signature candied jalapeños and crafting a chilled lobster salad with a hint of ginger and lime, served with corn and basil from Colchester's Savitsky Farm. For landlubbers and vegetarians, he's also done an avocado toast with basil butter, charred corn and heirloom tomatoes.

The menu may shift as the weather turns cooler, he said. The lobster options will stay, and he's likely to keep one or two fried items, but he's thinking ahead to heartier dishes for winter, after talking to customers at the pub.

"We're thinking about doing fried chicken," he said. "And we'll try to mix in some nice chilis, maybe a venison stew, and an upscale grilled cheese or two."

The Inishshor is open Thursday through Sunday from noon to 9 p.m. Visit The Inishshor on Facebook for more information.

Aug 8, 2023|Updated Aug 14, 2023 5:46 p.m.

By Leeanne Griffin

Leeanne Griffin is a senior food reporter for CT Insider, handling coverage of restaurant openings and closings, trends, events and general news about Connecticut food and beverage businesses. She covers statewide food happenings, with a focus on Hartford County, and curates CT Insider’s weekly Taste of Connecticut food newsletter.

Leeanne joined Hearst Connecticut in 2021, but has been working in Connecticut news since 2006. Before joining Hearst, she was the food and dining reporter for the Hartford Courant for a decade.

She has earned several awards over the years from the Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists and the New England Newspaper & Press Association, including a recent first-place SPJ honor for a story about lobster rolls. She has also served as a past Northeast regional panelist on the James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards Committee.

Leeanne lives in Hartford County with her husband and their three-pound Holland lop rabbit. A native of Worcester, Massachusetts, she holds a master's degree in journalism from Quinnipiac University, where she first learned about the magic of New Haven apizza.

Reach Leeanne at [email protected].

Connecticut has no shortage of places to eat, and once again, Connecticut Magazine has surveyed a panel of food experts to share their favorite places.

Experts have named restaurants in dozens of categories, from top cuisine (American, Mexican, Chinese, Italian, Middle Eastern, vegetarian, etc.) to outstanding apps and desserts, romantic ambiance, beer and wine selections and the best places to grab a burger or a slice of apizza.

Here, explore the top traditional American restaurants in the state, including spots in Shelton, Bethel and Pawcatuck.

Looking for something brand new to try? Connecticut Magazine experts also shared their picks for the 27 top new restaurants that have recently opened around the state.

Scroll below to see which traditional American spots were named as the top restaurants by Connecticut Magazine experts.

Bar 140

140 Center St., Shelton, 203-513-2164

Broken Symmetry

5 Depot Place, Bethel, 203-826-9907

C.C. O'Brien's Sports Cafe

8 Mechanic St., Pawcatuck, 860-599-2034

Dew Drop Inn

25 North Ave., Derby, 203-735-7757

Fife ‘n Drum

53 N. Main St., Kent, 860-927-3509

The Griswold Inn

36 Main St., Essex, 860-767-1776

Home

1114 Main St., Branford, 203-483-5896

The Inishmor

20 Main St., Colchester, 860-603-2369

J. Timothy's Taverne

143 New Britain Ave., Plainville, 860-747-6813

The Monkey Farm Cafe

571 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook, 860-388-4866

The Village Restaurant

25 West St., Litchfield, 860-567-8307

The White Horse

258 New Milford Tpke. (Rte. 202), New Preston, 860-868-1496