Home Care In Marlborough, CT

On a quiet summer evening in Marlborough, the food shack at Jessica’s Garden releases the scent of warm butter and the sounds of a grill cooking, the shack’s bright pink paint appearing in the reflection of the lily pond nearby. Someone just ordered one of its popular lobster rolls.

Watch More

The fresh lobster meat is served in a grilled bun, both of which are doused in real butter. According to co-founder Jessica Carroll, the food item is one of the many qualities that separates Jessica’s Garden & Lobster Shack from other outdoor dining spaces in the state.

“There are people who come here religiously for lobster. You don't have to drive all the way to the shore,” she said. “There are certain people that come here just for their birthday. Families get together from all different states, and they all meet here."

Advertisement

Article continues below this ad

Taste of Connecticut

Haven Hot Chicken planning locations in Fairfield, Oxford

CT's top lunch restaurants for 2024, according to Connecticut Magazine

CT's new speakeasy The 196 Club opens inside Emrey's Soda Shop

Cava opens in Westport this week, serving Mediterranean food

Sally's Apizza in New Haven set to reopen before Super Bowl

Jessica’s Garden & Lobster Shack on East Hampton Road is an outdoor restaurant and garden center that also serves as a giant backyard for families. Since they started Jessica’s Garden in 2004 after their honeymoon, Jessica and Matt Carroll have combined their landscaping and food industry skills to maintain their local family-run business for 18 years.

Jessica said the garden serves as a sanctuary from the stressors of the outside world.

Advertisement

Article continues below this ad

“It's just a break from your normal day, especially for people who are local,” she said.

Whether guests need comfort food or a quiet place to think, the garden has something for everyone. Behind the pink food shack and garden center, a rope swing hangs by a large oak tree, adults socialize at the picnic table or read in one of the rocking chairs and children compete in a serious game of capture the flag or play in the miniature house.

The atmosphere is almost as calm as the lily pond, which is encircled by a walking trail and fairy garden. On the trail, people can find small fairy houses, miniature statues and a wide array of vegetation like Clethra, a shrub with white flowers and a strong scent. The only sounds are crickets, birds and sometimes the toads that live in the pond.

Growing up in East Hampton, Jessica knew of the sanctuary long before it became her garden center and restaurant, she said.

Advertisement

Article continues below this ad

“I fell in love with the pond. I lived in this area. So I’ve always liked this little spot, and then it came up for sale,” she said.

She bought the property as a place to keep her landscaping equipment and keep an inventory of her trees and plants, but it turned into a garden center when people expressed interest in buying the greenery she grew. They deliver mulch to customers in 15 different towns across the state and are open from March to the end of October.

The decision to add an ice cream shack and other food items didn't come until a few years later after the Carrolls noticed a decline in plant sales during the summer.

“We thought, ‘How can we balance this business and make it more sustainable? And allow people to enjoy the property?’” Matt said.

Advertisement

Article continues below this ad

The pink shacks that now sell ice cream and food were originally painted green to blend in with the rest of the garden, Jessica said, but then a friend visiting from Florida who had trouble finding them gave her an idea.

“He’s like, ‘You really need it to be a color that's going to stand out.’ And Florida has pink houses,” she said. “I definitely like things to blend into nature. I don't like to be a sore thumb. But if you want business, you've got to be a sore thumb, right?”

The menu includes Gifford’s ice cream (they even sell ice cream for dogs), grilled cheese sandwiches, pulled pork, smoothies, kids meals served on frisbees and hot dogs, which they feed to the bass in the pond. They are currently building a new kitchen and indoor dining space, which is expected to open in the spring of 2023. With the new kitchen, they plan to add French fries, onion rings and more seafood options, Matt said. They have also partnered with Burger Heaven & Sweet Açai in Portland, and plan to bring its açai bowls to Jessica’s Garden.

Advertisement

Article continues below this ad

Matt said adding quality food has helped sustain their business and has even drawn in loyal customers from across the country.

“We have regulars who come in from California every year and we're their first stop. People travel from far away,” he said.

Besides the menu, the garden is constantly changing due to the weather. Jessica is at the garden almost every day weeding, pruning and watering the plants. Three employees help out on the weekends.

Heavy rain can bury the fairy houses and sometimes slow business, an issue they hope the new interior dining space will fix. The heat wave also affects the quality of the plants and requires higher maintenance. Jessica said while the heat makes the plants harder to maintain and requires her to work all the time in the summer, she will always keep the garden.

Advertisement

Article continues below this ad

“That’s my passion. That’s what keeps me going,” she said.

Matt said seeing how much families enjoy the place makes the long hours worth it. The restaurant’s motto even reflects its focus on family: "Family Time Matters."

Their own kids also grew up playing in the garden, and some of the high school and college students who scoop ice cream for them have been visiting since they were infants.

“We've been in town a long time. We've seen a lot of places come and go, and we just stick to our formula and what we know works,” he said. “It’s good having all the regular customers return every year and the kids, who we see grow, come back and they talk about how much they've always loved the place. And seeing our employees over the years now are doctors. It’s pretty cool to see.”

MARLBOROUGH — A developer that is in the process of building 475 apartments in Marlborough is seeking to double that number, and is asking the City Council to increase a local apartment cap to allow it to happen.

Attorney Brian Falk said Post Road Residential, the Connecticut-based group that he represents, had already planned to develop more apartments in the city before the cap was introduced as part of a new district created in 2019.

Post Road Residential has already developed a 235-unit complex called The Burrow, off Simarano Drive, and is currently constructing a neighboring 240-unit complex titled The Lodge. The affected land is part of what's called the Executive Residential Overlay District.

“When Post Road sought the enactment of the Executive Residential Overlay District, the proposed ordinance did not have a cap on multifamily dwelling units," Falk said during Monday's City Council meeting. "Post Road planned, at the time, to develop the project in four phases over several years. (But) As part of its deliberations on the overlay district, the council added a cap of 475 dwelling units.”

Falk said the cap was introduced so that the city could examine how development at the location would go, but he also said The Burrow is a thriving community that has set a “very high” bar for multifamily construction in the city. Falk said that given the success of The Burrow and upcoming completion of The Lodge, the city should raise the cap to 950 apartments in the district.

“Those additional units would come under two phases," he said. "We envision a very similar community in terms of size and quality as The Burrow."

What the new buildings would look like

The plan from Post Road Residential would be to build two additional, but similar buildings on the site, doubling the footprint. Falk also said the developer is seeking clarification on whether mixed-use developments could be constructed within the district, saying a mix of retail and residential space is planned for phases three and four.

Post Road Residential owns 48 acres in the area — 40 in Marlborough and 8 in neighboring Southborough. Falk said all of the proposed construction and plans for the project are in Marlborough.

Council appreciates developers, has concerns

During Monday's meeting, councilors indicated general support for the work that Post Road Residential has done so far, but also expressed concern over such a large expansion.

Councilor David Doucette praised the work Post Road Residential has done with The Burrow.

“I think this is an amazing addition to the city and wish you the best of luck,” he said.

Councilor Mark Oram asked about the impact The Burrow has had on Marlborough Public Schools. Andrew Montelli, who founded Post Road Residential, responded that there are currently 160 leased apartments at The Burrow and that they contain seven students who attend school — two of whom moved from elsewhere in Marlborough.

Oram said The Burrow is a nice facility, but is concerned that if the city allows Post Road Residential to double the size of its previously approved plans, it will set a precedent for future proposals.

“I do have to take into account, if we are allowing someone to go 100% more, who will be here next to determine why we let you do it and not anyone else?” Oram said. “There is more than just you developing in Marlborough, so that is one of those things I have to take under consideration.”

Councilor Sam Perlman pointed out that the city still does not have a west side fire station, and that expanding housing and construction on that side of the city might strain current services. Montelli responded that given that phase two of the development, The Lodge, remains under construction, construction of any additional housing complexes is still several years away.

“We are probably about two-and-a-half to three years out from where we would start the third phase,” he said.

The proposed ordinance change was referred to the council’s Urban Affairs Subcommittee. Post Road Residential is also slated to have a public hearing before the Planning Board on June 5.

If the zoning change is approved, Post Road Residential would still need additional special permits from the council to construct the future apartment complexes.

[Download image]

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that sixteen members of the Connecticut Interstate Fire Crew (CIFC) mobilized early this morning from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s (DEEP) Eastern District Headquarters in Marlborough to fight wildfires in Montana.

The crew represents the latest team of personnel and resources sent from Connecticut to assist with national and Canadian wildfire response. Their flight departed from Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks. During the multi-week deployment, the crew will primarily work in western Montana.

“Interstate compacts are critical in times of emergency, providing lifesaving resources to our friends in need when a crisis occurs,” Governor Lamont said. “The Connecticut Interstate Fire Crew is comprised of an amazing group of people who are dropping everything at a moment’s notice to travel hundreds of miles away and provide assistance. They embody the finest of what our small but mighty state offers. I thank them for their heroic service.”

“Our brave firefighters once again make Connecticut proud as they head far from home to help battle wildfires, this time in Montana’s Rocky Mountains,” DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said. “We are so grateful for their selfless courage as they take time away from friends and family. We wish them and all the responding firefighters well and look forward to their safe returns.”

The CIFC members who deployed include 12 people from Connecticut, among them three full-time DEEP staff members. The remainder of the crew is composed of volunteers from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York. A Connecticut crew member is also supervising the administrative and financial responsibilities for the deployment. The Connecticut firefighters deployed are from the following towns:

DEEP’s Forestry Division coordinates the CIFC, for which it maintains a roster of agency staff members and private individuals, many associated with local fire departments, who have been certified to fight forest or wildfires. Crew members must complete a rigorous training program and participate in an annual physical work capacity test and refresher training. CIFC crewmembers have also assisted Canada in the provinces of Quebec and Nova Scotia this year.

Connecticut maintains this firefighting capability to participate in a reciprocal aid program operated by the U.S. Forest Service. Under this program, trained personnel from other parts of the nation are available to assist Connecticut in the event of a fire emergency or other natural disaster in return for the support of Connecticut personnel when needed. All state agency expenses directly associated with these deployments are 100% reimbursed to the state by the U.S. Forest Service.

For more information about the CIFC, visit portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Forestry/Forest-Fire/Connecticut-Interstate-Fire-Crew.

PORTLAND — After several years of delays, Portland’s Brainerd Place mixed-use development, which will house apartments, businesses, offices — and a Starbucks — has finally broken ground.

With the tagline “A Modern New England Town Center,” Brainerd Place will sit at the site of the old Elmcrest psychiatric Hospital, which was mostly demolished last summer. Earlier this spring, construction began on building E, which will house 99 residential units.

Developer Dan Bertram of Bright Ravens Development says the project is coming along nicely. He anticipates construction to soon begin on Building D, which will be home to the Starbucks. Town can expect the coffeehouse to open in spring 2024, he added.

The 240 residential units on the site are about 15 to 18 months out from being habitable. Following Starbucks, the next building to be constructed will be Building F, home to another 130 residential units.

Other progress in the development includes the decision to split Building B, a commercial building originally slated to be a CVS, into two buildings on the corner of Main and Marlborough streets. These spaces are now intended to house retail on the first floor and offices on the second.

“I'm always focused, not on the thing that's getting built right now, but on the next thing to be built at that site, and making sure we're listening to market feedback and adjusting accordingly,” Bertram said of the decision to alter plans for Building B.

The overall timeline of the project has been adjusted to account for delays in breaking ground, and changes that have been made since. Due to inflation, the developers previously struggled to obtain the necessary supplies and engage construction workers on the project.

However, Bertram expects to soon bring a new estimated completion date to the Board of Selectmen.

First Selectman Ryan Curley expressed hope that the development will be a catalyst for further economic growth in town, especially with the addition of so many housing units.

“[We’re] hoping to attract young business professionals, maybe some elderly looking to downsize, which will increase the population of the town somewhat,” Curley said. “We've been stagnant for several years now… and with 240 units, we could be talking about 500 new people in town, which [means] 500 new people that are going to Portland businesses, restaurants, eating [and] shopping in town, which is great.”

Another element of the project is the tax abatement, which Curley has been working on with the Town Council to amend the October 2021 version. The abatement will account for all three phases of the project rather than two, and will allow construction to continue progressing.

“It shouldn't be too much longer until we get this amended agreement in place,” Curley said. “I think both sides are probably in a pretty good place. And we need to get this agreement so that the developer can secure the financing for phase two of the project, which is important.”

The site also includes three historic homes: the circa 1852 Erastus Brainerd Jr. House, circa 1804 John H. Sage House, and Hart-Jarvis House, built in 1829. The latter was originally scheduled to be moved from its original location and installed in the southwest corner of the development.

The restoration of this structure was slated to be undertaken by a local nonprofit, according to Bertram. However, its financing fell through, so the developer decided to take on the additional task of incorporating the Hart-Jarvis House into the plans in its current location.

“It will bring a special character to the development and preserve the best of the best elements of the past,” Bertram said.

Sage House will be a restaurant, and Brainerd House will become a clubhouse for people who work or live at Brainerd Place. Bertram anticipates the restored Hart-Jarvis House will be used as office space.

Bertram also mentioned that the development has been designed around the presence of specimen trees, such as beech trees.

“You have these legacy components that you then try to bring a modern living and service-level business experience to,” he said.

Sitting on a hill overlooking the Arrigoni Bridge and the Connecticut River, the site will be landscaped to create a park-like feel, with more trees planted once buildings are constructed. Certain views will be preserved, such as from the terrace of Sage House and specific locations within the new structures.

The combination of history and modernity, in addition to residential and commercial use, will contribute to the overall role that Brainerd Place will play in the community.

“It's so important because it's going to have a lot of character, and I do believe that these historic homes that they save are going to really set this property apart from other mixed-use developments that you may see throughout the state,” Curley said.

In demolishing Elmcrest Hospital, the developers salvaged some brownstone from the site and plan to use it on the new buildings to be constructed. Given Portland’s historic brownstone quarries, the incorporation of such a cultural element serves as an homage to Portland's history.

“It's going to be basically one of the very first things that you see when you come over the Arrigoni Bridge into Portland, so we want to make sure that we present it in the best way possible, and that's why they're incorporating things like the brownstone features into the project,” Curley said.

Curley elaborated on the importance of the development, not only to Portland’s commerce but that of the entire Route 66 corridor.

“It's definitely an important part of Portland's future,” Curley said. “I've told the developers this many times: their success is our success in the town.”

"We've got combs and baby diapers and baby wipes and deodorant and stuff," said 9-year-old Lydia Merritt.

And there's a lot more that Marlborough Elementary School fourth graders are hoping to collect.

Merritt and Sara Irani said seeing families in Ukraine leave everything behind made them realize that women and children there could use some help.

"We've seen pictures of things that are happening in Ukraine, and it's disturbed us to the point where we feel we need to do something," said Merritt.

"A lot of people in Ukraine, like, don't have stuff," said 9-year-old Irani.

The two students asked their principal if they could start a collection at school.

"We were looking for something to do for the people of Ukraine, and fortunately, we had two of our students come to us and pitch an idea. They had posters and they had a flier, and they thought it would be great to collect toiletries for mostly the women and children that are making the move from Ukraine to Poland," said Marlborough Elementary School Principal Dan White.

In addition to toiletries, Merritt and Irani said they want to collect personal hygiene items and items for newborns.

"It's just, like, our first day, and that much stuff came already," said Irani, who was talking about the boxes filled with donated items behind her.

Principal White said it's no surprise they've collected so much from students, parents and staff already because that's what this community does. He said he hopes this also teaches students that what they do can make a difference.

"One of the students kind of shared that he wished that people would be nice to the people in Ukraine. So even at that level, somebody who is 7-, 8-years-old, there is an impact. So I think if they can do anything to know they're helping, that'll go a long way," said White.

Students are hoping for a lot more donated items before Monday's deadline. After that, the school said a parent who has a contact with an airline is arranging for everything to be flown to Poland early next week.

Merritt and Irani said they want Ukrainians to know they're not alone.

"I hope that they know that a bunch of 9-year-olds and 10-year-olds put this together, and there's always someone to go to," said Merritt.

The last day for the collection is Monday, March 21. For those who don't have children in the school but would still like to donate, Marlborough Elementary School will have a drop off on Saturday, March 19, at the front of the school from 9 a.m. to noon. The address is 25 School Dr. in Marlborough.

Merritt and Irani said they're looking for diapers, baby wipes, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, shaving cream, razors, toothbrushes, mouthwash, deodorant, feminine products, lotions and other similar items.