Lyme-Old Lyme HS Junior Earns Prudential Spirit of America Award

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Lyme-Old Lyme High School student, Hanna DeBruyn (pictured above), was recently recognized as a distinguished finalist in the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, for her impressive community service activities.  She will receive an engraved bronze medallion for her efforts.

These awards are part of a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism.

DeBruyn, a junior at LOLHS and Old Lyme resident, raised more than $25,000 to support children with rare brain cancers through Caroline’s Miracle Foundation, an organization started by the family of a local girl diagnosed with a rare brain cancer.  She raised the funds by hosting three benefit races each year since 2010, which have not only raised funds, but also raised awareness about these rare forms of cancer.

Many congratulations, Hanna!

Click to read our stories on the three races Hanna hosted:

Run for a Reason  Published 08/01/10

Running to raise Funds for Caroline’s Miracle Foundation  Published 07/31/11

Caroline’s Run/Walk Draws More Than 550 Participants  Published 07/29/12

Another Record Breaking Day for Lyme-Old Lyme Athletes

Samantha Lee and Ali Scott race for the finish in the 300 Meter Dash.

Samantha Lee and Ali Scott race for the finish in the 300 Meter Dash.

Lyme-old Lyme High School senior Devin Bryne and sophomore Jared Stanland each broke a school record Saturday at the Shoreline Conference Indoor Track Championship meet in New Haven.

Byrne’s 20 ft. 51/2 inch long jump earned him third place in the competition and Stanland’s 44 ft. 6 inch shot putt broke his own school record, also earning him third place in the shot putt contest.

The boy’s 4 x 800 relay team of Jack Castonguay, Jeff Davis, Cole McKnight and Stuart Ross earned first place with a time of 8:44:12 and with it a place on the All-Shoreline First Team.

Junior Ali Scott also earned a place on All-Shoreline First Team. with her two event wins in the 600 meter track race with a time of 1:42:58 and 300 meter dash with a time of 43:01.  Sophomore Samantha Lee turned in a  time of 44:52 in the 300 meter dash to come in third.

Also competing at Saturday’s meet were Jake Watts-StGermain, Peter Hine, Sean Robertson. John Fairfield-Sonn, Josh Krasney, Jeff Davis, Brian Buttrick, Alex, Bellas, Tim Shoemaker, Mike Mann,  Megan Burns, Isobel Wilke, Mae Lucey, Rande Gearing, Ally McCarthy, Georgia Cummins, Liz Scott and Abby Guitar.

The indoor track state championships are this Saturday, Feb. 9, in New Haven.

Congratulations to all and … Go Wildcats!

Kelsey Elected Chairman of Old Lyme Republicans, Replaces Bysko

full_6048At its February monthly meeting, the Republican Town Committee (RTC) unanimously voted John David Kelsey to be its new chairman to succeed John Bysko, who is stepping down.

Kelsey is active in various capacities in town serving as an Alternate on the Old Lyme Board of Finance since 2010, a member of the Sound View Beach Committee, a member of the Region 18 Board of Education’s Facilities Committee and as Treasurer of the Phoebe-Noyes Library Board of Trustees.

He is a principal of Hamilton Point Investments LLC, a  a real estate investment company that owns and manages investment property, which he co-founded in 2008.  The company is headquartered at 2 Huntley Rd. in Old Lyme.

After the vote, Kelsey commented, “I am very honored to have the vote of confidence the Old Lyme Republican Town Committee has offered me with my election.  I look forward to working with the Town’s Republican residents to build upon the strength created by past RTC leaders and to grow our representation with prudent fiscal policies balanced with the appropriate and reasonable needs of our community.”

In other business, the RTC also voted to elect Margaret Jane DeRisio as Secretary to fill the vacancy created by the passing of its long-time member, Frances Sadowski.

The complete roster of RTC Officers and Committee members can be found atwww.OldLymeRepublicans.com.