Monthly Archives: January 2016

Two New Exhibitions on View at Lyme Art Association

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'Cipollini Onions and Company' by Randie Kahrl is one of the signature paintings of the exhibition.

‘Cipollini Onions and Company’ by Randie Kahrl is one of the signature paintings of the ‘Annual Associate Artist Exhibition.’

The opening reception for the 24th Annual Associate Artist Exhibition and Wonders of Winter will be held this Sunday, Jan. 31, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Lyme Art Association (LAA) at 90 Lyme St. in Old Lyme.

Both exhibitions are on view from Jan. 22 through Feb. 26.  The 24th Annual Associate Artist Exhibition is on view in the Association’s front galleries and features landscape, portrait, and still life paintings, as well as sculpture by Associate Artist members while Wonders of Winter showcases winter scenes by members of all levels and is on display in the Goodman Gallery.

'Beaverbrook Farm in Winter' by Joan Wallace is found in the 'Wonders of Winter' exhibition.

‘Beaverbrook Farm in Winter’ by Joan Wallace is found in the ‘Wonders of Winter’ exhibition.

“The Annual Associate Artist Exhibition highlights the range, creativity, and excellence of our Associate Artist members. This exhibition includes a variety of subjects, media, and styles: paintings or sculptures that capture the range of human emotion, the beauty and grandeur of the Connecticut landscape, or the personal objects and surroundings of everyday life,” notes Jocelyn Zallinger, LAA’s Gallery Manager. She adds, “The Wonders of Winter exhibition in the Goodman Gallery celebrates the beauty of the winter landscape, its colors, textures, and dramatic lighting.”

The LAA was founded in 1914 by the American Impressionists and continues the tradition of exhibiting and selling representational artwork by its members and invited artists, as well as offering art instruction and lectures to the community. The Association is housed in a building designed by Charles Adams Platt and located within the Old Lyme Historic District.

Admission is free with contributions appreciated. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10am to 5pm, or by appointment. For more information on exhibitions, purchase of art, art classes, or becoming a member, call 860-434-7802 or visit www.lymeartassociation.org.

Carney, Formica Oppose NE Corridor Future Rail Study Affecting Old Lyme

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Area Legislators are requesting the proposal be removed or a public hearing be held

Sen. Paul Formica (left) stands with State Rep. Devin Carney.

Sen. Paul Formica (left) stands with State Rep. Devin Carney.

State Rep. Devin Carney and State Sen. Paul Formica are calling for action in response to a number of constituent concerns regarding the Northeast Corridor (NEC) Future Tier 1 Draft EIS “Alternative 1” that includes a study to improve rail service and travel time between major cities at the expense of the Old Lyme community.

NEC Future maintains that “Alternative 1” would increase service to keep pace with growth in population and employment. This is accomplished by expanding capacity, adding tracks, and relieving key chokepoints. However, this new track would dramatically change the path of the railroad, moving the tracks inland, cutting right through the heart of Old Lyme.

Carney stated that “this will negatively affect homeowners, the Old Lyme Historic District (including many shops, historic art galleries, the Florence Griswold Museum, and the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts), businesses, and the character within this quiet, beautiful community. Not to mention, the environmental impacts including additional pollution and the demolition of wetlands, open space and our natural resources.”

“This proposal would have negative social and environmental impacts on Old Lyme, and these consequences have not been properly taken into consideration,” Formica said.  “There are severely worrisome eminent domain implications regarding this proposal that would destroy Old Lyme’s infrastructure, community, and overall way of life.”

Carney and Formica said that along with their constituents, they too were not given any official notice about this study by the federal government.  The legislators said they found out via word-of-mouth, which is unacceptable. Furthermore, both legislators feel that before this process moves any further, this proposal must be removed from any current and future studies. In the event that this proposal is not removed, they have requested that there be a public hearing in Old Lyme before the comment period for this project ends on February 15; they have yet to receive a reply.

“The people of Old Lyme and the region deserve to have their voices heard on a proposal that would drastically alter their lives,” added Carney.

Residents that have concerns or would like to testify are urged to do so by February 15th, which is the comment period deadline. Residents can comment online at http://www.necfuture.com/get_involved/, via e-mail comment@necfuture.com, or by mail U.S. DOT Federal Railroad Administration, One Bowling Green, Suite 429, New York, NY 10004.

Carney and Formica also believe people should contact Congressman Joe Courtney, Senator Chris Murphy and Senator Richard Blumenthal urging them to take action. Courtney’s Norwich office number is (860) 886-0139, Murphy’s Hartford office number is (860) 549-8463, and Blumenthal’s Hartford office number is (860) 258-6940.

NEC FUTURE is a comprehensive planning effort to define, evaluate, and prioritize future investments in the Northeast Corridor (NEC), from Washington, D.C. to Boston. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) launched NEC FUTURE in February 2012 to consider the role of rail passenger service in the context of current and future transportation demands. Through the NEC FUTURE program, the FRA will determine a long-term vision and investment program for the NEC, and provide a Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Service Development Plan (SDP) in 2016 in support of that vision.

For more information, visit http://www.necfuture.com/alternatives/alternatives_comparison.aspx

Op-Ed: Proposed Northeast Corridor High Speed Rail Route Cuts Through Old Lyme Historical District, Public Comment Now Extended to Feb. 16

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Proposed routes for high speed rail track under Amtrak's Northeast Corridor modernization plans.

Proposed routes for high speed rail track under Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor modernization plans.

One month ago, with little fanfare, the Federal government announced a plan to modernize the Northeast Corridor by rerouting high-speed rail lines over a new bridge crossing the Connecticut River, across the saltwater marshes at the Lieutenant River and through the historical district of Old Lyme.

The plan appears so nonsensical, from a local perspective, that it is very easy to dismiss out of hand. It will never happen. A high-speed rail through our little town, the home of American Impressionism? A town so wonderful, in its own way, that from a local perspective we feel well-neigh untouchable.  It will never happen.

But then, I ask you, when did you first hear of the plan? And why not? Public comment was originally scheduled to close on January 31st. It has been extended two weeks until February 15th. After that, I am told, our leverage will be immeasurably weaker, and our task considerably more difficult and more lengthy. This odd silence should give us pause. Why haven’t we heard?

To be sure, this is a slow train. And it will take years of revision and appropriations, and very likely it will never happen in its entirety. But I urge you to look at the plan. It’s available for study and comment at www.necfuture.com. There is no doubt that at least part of this plan will happen. The Connecticut River crossing will be modernized. And the preferred alternative—there are three—will be chosen later this year. If Alternative 1 is chosen as the preferred option, even if it is later blocked, it will hang over our town for a decade, or more, promising destruction, lowering property values, troubling mortgages.

Yes, from a local perspective the plan is absurd, but the plan was not written from a local perspective. Alternative 1, the plan that most directly impacts Old Lyme, from the Federal—even on the state level—appears, on its face, the most sensible, the least expensive, the least impactful. In fact, if you look carefully through the footnotes, which discuss in detail the cultural and historical casualties, you will find that for the entire rail line from Boston to Washington, D.C. only one town is slated as a serious loss: Old Lyme. That should give us pause.

In fact, what concerns me most about Alternative 1, is just how sensible it appears, if you’ve never visited Lyme Street, or paddled down the Lieutenant or heard of the Old Lyme Art Colony.  One plan will be chosen. Let’s not make it easy for the politicians, the planners in Washington and Hartford.

Please contact our representatives at the Federal level, in particular, and submit public comment at http://www.necfuture.com/get_involved/ . We only have two weeks.

Dr. Gregory Stroud
Old Lyme, CT

Dredging Update From Old Lyme Harbor Management Commission

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Dredging in progress on the Four Mile River upstream of the railroad bridge.

Dredging in progress on the Four Mile River upstream of the railroad bridge.

Steven A. Ross, Old Lyme’s Harbor Management Commission (HMC) Chairman and Ned Farman, HMC Vice-Chairman, sent us the following update regarding the dredging on the Four Mile and Black Hall Rivers:

The Town of Old Lyme’s waterway dredging project shifted in late January from the Four Mile River to the Black Hall River.

The dredge company, Patriot Marine of Boston, plans to employ two dredge units at a time on the Black Hall in order to make up for work days lost due to high winds and waves.

Due to the low-lying Amtrak rail bridge, the Four Mile project was unusually challenging and labor-intensive. The general contractor for the dredge operations, working on behalf of the Town of Old Lyme and its Harbor Management Commission, is Coastline Consulting of Branford.

Permitted by Connecticut DEEP (Department of Energy and Environmental Protection) and the federal Army Corps of Engineers, the dredge projects are designed for environmental protection– improved water flow prevents stagnation and collapse of the salt marshes– and safer navigation at all tidal levels.

It is expected that users from all over the state — boaters, kayakers, those that fish and crab and bird — and the three marina owners will benefit from these infrastructure improvements.

With 100 percent grant financing from the Connecticut Deptartment of Transportation, the dredging of the two rivers is taking place at no cost to the Town of Old Lyme.

Sunday Deadline for Entries to Land Trusts’ Amateur Photo Contest

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2013 Land Trust Photo Contest winner by Hank Golet.

This photo by Hank Golet was a winning entry in the 2013 Land Trust Photo Contest.

Five local land trusts invite amateur photographers of all ages to help celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Land Trusts Amateur Photo Contest. Everyone is welcome to share their love of the natural world by entering their favorite photographs. Submissions are being accepted until Jan. 31.

A panel of three judges will award prizes in five categories for photographs that best capture the beauty of the scenic countryside, wildlife, plants, and cultural and historic features in the towns of Essex, East Haddam, Lyme, Old Lyme and Salem. Children are encouraged to enter in the Youth category for ages 14 and below.

Entry Forms are available only by email at photocontest@lymelandtrust.org. A copy of the Contest Rules with details about submission will be included in the reply.

For more information and details for submission go to lymelandtrust.org. http://www.lymelandtrust.org/news/photo-contest/

Cash awards are being funded with the generous support of our sponsors: RiverQuest/CT River Expeditions, Ballek’s Garden Center, Lorensen Auto Group, Evan Griswold at Coldwell Banker, Essex Savings Bank, The Oakley Wing Group at Morgan Stanley, ChelseaGroton Bank, and Alison Mitchell in honor of her late husband John G. Mitchell.

The Lyme Land Conservation Trust, Essex Land Trust, the Old Lyme Land Trust, Salem Land Trust, and East Haddam Land Trust are sponsoring the event. Previous Land Trusts Photo Contest winning photos are viewable at https://landtrustsphotos.shutterfly.com/.

All of the photographs entered will be displayed and celebrated at the Photo Contest Reception on March 11, at the Lymes’ Senior Center. The winning photographs will be announced at that time.