Monthly Archives: August 2013

Gomes Petitions to Run for Two-Year Term on Board of Education, Not Endorsed by Either Party

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Russ Gomes

Russ Gomes

Russ Gomes, who has served four consecutive terms on the Region 18 Board of Education and is currently both its Secretary and chairman of the Building Committee, filed today as a petitioning candidate for the two-year term on the board in the upcoming November election.

He was endorsed by the Old Lyme (OL) Republicans for all four of his previous terms, but neither the OL Republican nor Democratic Town Committees endorsed him for this election.
In a letter to Gomes dated July 23, David Kelsey, OL Republican Town Committee (RTC) Chairman wrote, “I first want to thank you very sincerely for the dedication, time and commitment you have generously given to the town in the past, most significantly the years you have spent on the Board of Education.  Your service to the community has been considerable, and I express on behalf of the Old Lyme RTC our strong appreciation for your efforts.”

Kelsey continued, “At its July 23rd special meeting … , the RTC chose to endorse five candidates, and unfortunately there was not a nomination for your endorsement this year,” concluding, “I emphasize again our gratitude for your past contributions…”

Gomes was chairman of the Lyme-Old Lyme High School Renovation Ad Hoc Building Committee for a year — this committee was formed after the failure of the first referendum on Lyme-Old Lyme High School by a roughly two to one margin.  He then went on to chair the District 18 Building Committee for the next five years.

Gomes told LymeLine, “I was obviously disappointed not to be endorsed by the Republicans.  Many people have told me that my contributions to the board of education have been valuable and urged me to run again.”

He added, ” The building project is almost complete and I am confident we will bring it in on time and under budget.  But there is still more work to do, with the heating and ventilation systems in particular, to see them through a complete cycle of the seasons.  So I really want to see the project through to its completion on behalf of the community.”

The RTC endorsed board of education incumbents Steven Cinami and Steve Spooner and newcomers Max Greenwood, who is an unaffiliated candidate, and Kirk Hoerauf, while the DTC endorsed Diane Linderman, who ran unsuccessfully against Steve Spooner in the recent Special Election, and newcomers Sarah Smalley, Jean Wilczynski and Nancy Lucas Edson

Democrat Rick Goulding was cross-endorsed by both parties.

Businesses Still Snapping About Sound View Parking

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The issue of parking at Sound View was raised yet again at the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen’s meeting on Monday.

Heidi Dinino, saying she was speaking on behalf of a number of the Sound View businesses, presented the board of selectmen with numerous complaints regarding the new angled parking on Hartford Ave.

Citing a recent parking study conducted on the street, she claimed the new parking system is a, “threat to public safety,” noting children are forced to stand in the street to access their car trunks, and so far, two people have backed into the curb, nearly damaging street property.

Furthermore, she submitted, the new parking is inconvenient for the residents living on Hartford Ave.  Delivery trucks, street cleaners, snow plows, and garbage trucks are all unable to access one side of the street due to the angled parking.  Sound View residents state that this is discouraging tourists from visiting the beach area because the street looks, in Dinino’s words, “unsightly”.

She also argued that the parking is negatively impacting small businesses on the street since foot traffic is significantly less on one side of the street, and parking spaces for customers are limited.  According to Dinino, one potential business owner backed out of an agreement after finding out about the parking situation on Hartford Ave.

Frank Pappalardo, chairman of the Sound View Commission, wrote in an email to LymeLine, “The concern for public safety is paramount and it is our intention to provide a safe and accessible environment for residents and guests,” continuing, “While there may not be any one perfect solution, this parking configuration had been presented and discussed at a number of public forums and meetings over the past two years prior to implementation.”  he also notes, “The Sound View Commission welcomes public involvement and comments.”

At the end of the meeting, Dinino requested for more communication with small business owners when major changes are being implemented in the area.  First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder responded that the engineering firm is familiar with the Department of Transportation standards and open to concerns and considerations of both residents and business owners in the Sound View area.

This is not the first time there has been a parking dispute in the Sound View area.  Just last year, the townspeople were divided over the issue of free parking with business owners pushing for free parking, while residents supported the $25 parking fee.

Click here to view the Sound View parking regulations published on the Old Lyme website.

Next Concert in ‘Music at the Meetinghouse’ Series Features ‘Homegrown String Band,’ Aug. 18,

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The next Music at the Meetinghouse Summer Series Concert at the First Church of Christ, Congregational in East Haddam will take place on Sun., Aug. 18, at 3 p.m. when the Homegrown String Band from Long Island, will perform.January 2013 marked the 16th anniversary of the Homegrown String Band, which consists of Georgianne and Rick Jackofsky and their daughters, Erica and Annalee.  They have been performing around the country, from the National Theatre in Washington, D.C., to the Festival of American Music at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, since 1997.

This family band from New York carries on the tradition of families making a joyful noise and sharing it with their neighbors.  While the music is based on the sounds of rural American country sound, their program of acoustic music also includes unique interpretations of traditional material as well as original music in the same genre.  They improvise and interact like only a family can, using an assortment of traditional acoustic instruments including guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, banjo ukulele, mountain dulcimer, harmonica, jawharp, doumbek and percussive flatfoot dance.

At the reception following the concert is a Trunk Show of the family’s creative endeavors when not playing music.  During their many car rides Erica taught herself to knit, and soon was designing her own projects, eventually starting Fiddle Knits Designs.  Her original designs have been published in numerous international magazines and books, and as part of KnitPicks independent designer program.  She soon began dyeing her own line of yarn to complement her designs.

Noticing her need for quality buttons, Rick began to make fine artisan metal buttons handcrafted in pewter and copper, and Rick and Georgianne worked together to make Navajo spindles decorated with Georgianne’s original pyrographic designs.  Inspired by Erica’s shawls and Rick’s forged copper buttons, Georgianne designed a line of shawl pins.  Annalee noticed that everyone’s hands needed pampering, and created her own line of handcrafted soaps.  All will be shared during the social hour after the concert.

Sponsored by the Board of Music and the Arts at First Church of Christ, Congregational in East Haddam this concert represents the intention of the Concert Series by providing unusual and quality entertainment and education for the community.  Tickets may be purchased at the door for $15. or in advance for $12. by calling 860-537-2052 for reservations.  All children are admitted free.

Concerts will continue in September with the Fall Concert Series.

Simple, Real Food: Summer Delights

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Amanda Cushman

Amanda Cushman

Summer produce is here and with it come many requests for how to use up all this gorgeous fruit, vegetables and herbs.

Amanda Cushman is back with some mouth-watering recipes for our readers.

She notes that something she recommends in all her cooking classes is to make sauces, pestos and vegetable fritters, and try freezing them, commenting, “Then you can enjoy later in the year when you have a hankering for fresh basil, zucchini or mint.”

Here are some delicious recipes to utilize  the abundant produce of summer. They are, in order:

Feta Pesto
Simple Tomato Sauce
Papaya-Lime Salsa
Minted Zucchini Fritters with Lemon Yogurt Sauce

Pesto_205KB

Feta Pesto

Makes 1 cup

Ingredients

1 clove garlic, peeled

1 large bunch basil washed, dried, stems removed

8 oz. feta cheese

3 Tb. toasted pine nuts

Fresh pepper, to taste

Procedure

  1. Place the garlic in a processor and chop finely. Add the basil, feta, nuts and pepper and blend well. Add a small amount of water to produce a smooth sauce. Transfer to a container and freeze or serve at room temperature.

 

Simple Tomato Sauce

Makes 2 cups

Ingredients

2 Tb. olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

Salt, pepper

1/3 cup torn basil leaves

10 to 15 ripe tomatoes, finely chopped

1/3 cup red wine (optional)

2 tsp. sugar or 2 small carrots, peeled, diced

Procedure

  1. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan and sauté the onion and garlic until softened about 5 to 6 minutes.
  2. Add salt, pepper, basil, tomatoes, wine and sugar or carrots and cook over low heat until thickened slightly about 45 minutes. Season to taste and puree if desired. Freeze in plastic containers or use on pasta, grilled fish, chicken or as a sauce for vegetables.

Papaya-Lime Salsa

Makes 2 cups

Ingredients

1 small ripe papaya, mango or half a pineapple

1/2 red pepper, finely diced

3 scallions, very thinly sliced

1/2 red onion, finely diced

1/2 English cucumber, seeded, diced

2 limes or lemons juiced

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional

1 Tb. chopped cilantro

2 Tb. chopped mint

Salt, pepper, to taste

Procedure

1. Peel the papayas and remove seeds, finely dice. Combine the papaya and remaining ingredients in a medium bowl. Stir and taste for seasoning. Cover and chill until ready to serve.

 

zucchini_frittersMinted Zucchini Fritters with Lemon Yogurt Sauce

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 pound zucchini, coarsely grated

Salt

3 scallions, minced

1/2 cup grated parmesan

1/2 to ¾ cup plain breadcrumbs

3 Tb. chopped mint

½ cup chopped Italian parsley

1 egg, lightly beaten

Fresh pepper

Vegetable oil for cooking

Sauce:

1 cup plain low-fat yogurt

3 Tb. lemon juice

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 Tb. chopped mint

Salt, pepper

Procedure

1        Place the zucchini in a colander and toss with 2 tsp. of salt. Place over a plate and weigh down with a heavy can, drain for 1 hour or overnight in the refrigerator. Squeeze out all the excess water.

2        Add the zucchini to a medium bowl with the scallions, cheese, breadcrumbs, mint, parsley, egg and fresh pepper. Using slightly moistened hands, form the zucchini mixture into 12 balls. Flatten them to make a ¾ inch patty. Test one out in a small skillet for seasoning. Re-season with salt and pepper if needed.

3        Heat a 2 1/2 -inches of oil in a medium saucepan and fry the patties until golden on both sides about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to paper towels to drain and sprinkle with salt.

4        Meanwhile, combine the yogurt, lemon, garlic, mint, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Stir and taste for seasoning. Serve the patties warm or room temperature with the yogurt sauce.