The Work Continues in Ellington

Ellington has heard from CL&P that progress is being made in town.

First Selectman Maurice Blanchette is happy about this, but understands that not everyone is in great shape.

“The numbers sound like they’re making progress,” he said. “Since (Tuesday) midday to now, it’s looked very good. We’re being told by CL&P that 99 percent of the state will have power at the poles by Sunday evening. We’re hoping that the bit of good news generates some enthusiasm and optimism. Others are still a number of days away.”

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is sticking with it that the state will have power on Sunday, and Blanchette hopes he’s right.

“It seems optimistic,” he said. “I’m rooting for them. I really hope they’re right. If they can get 99 percent of hookups, I’m going to give them a lot of credit.”

So far, power has been restored from Main Street all the way down Route 83 into Rockville. The power also runs down Main Street and goes a short way down Pinney Street and up to Jobs Hill Road.

“By them powering up our commercial section, I think that that was a big thing,” Blanchette said.

Some work was also being done in the Crystal Lake area because of the sewer pump station. The station went down and had been being pumped by Skip’s Septic. Blanchette said that parts are on order and hopefully it can be fixed, but this is now a priority.

“Otherwise we’ll have a health situation,” he said.

He added that the town is continuing to aid those with grinder pumps, including those that are privately owned.

Back in the center of town, the shelter is hopping. Approximately 65 people were sheltered on Tuesday night and many more have come fore meals, showers, and charging.

Blanchette said that this shelter use is unprecedented for Ellington. He said that it has been opened before and people have come, but not like this.

“Apparently there’s a need for it,” he said.

The shelter received a shipment of MRE’s – Meals Ready-to-Eat – and has enough of those – and water – for 500 people for two days. Regular food is still being served, but these are here just in case.

According to Blanchette, for the personnel, the top priority is clearing the roads, except where there are wires.

“They’re still working on that,” he said.

He added that the Hoffman Road Brush Dump will be open 24 hours a day until further notice. Residents can put brush curb-side and it will be picked up at a later date. Trash collection is on schedule as long as your house can be reached.

The election is right around the corner and Blanchette said that Secretary of the State Denise Merrill is bound and determined to have the election on Tuesday, as scheduled. In Ellington, the two polling places are and . This may require some juggling, but hopefully the situation will look at least a little bit better by then.

The town is just doing what it can to get by.

“We’re just trying to survive the present problem and come out of it without too much damage,” Blanchette said.

He added that fortunately, nobody has been seriously hurt, even though driving at night can be quite treacherous.