Monthly Archives: May 2016

Old Lyme Rowing Association Honors Long-Time Supporter Rob Roach, Christens Varsity Boat ‘Coach Roach’

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Rob Roach stands beside the just christened 'Coach Roach.'

Rob Roach stands beside the newly christened ‘Coach Roach.’

The Old Lyme Rowing Association (OLRA) held a christening ceremony Saturday, May 14, at Hains Park in Old Lyme to name the boy’s varsity coxed four boat the “Coach Roach” in honor of now retired Lyme-Old Lyme High School (LOLHS) coach and Athletic Director Rob Roach. The OLRA wanted to recognize Roach’s long history of commitment to the youth of Old Lyme and his passion for crew, noting that during his tenure as LOLHS Athletic Director, Roach was both a friend and supporter of high school crew.

Rob Roach names the 'Coach Roach' in the traditional manner.

Rob Roach names the ‘Coach Roach’ in the traditional manner.

Following a tribute by OLRA President Greg Hack, in traditional fashion Roach drizzled “champagne” on the new craft, which was promptly placed in the waters of Rogers Lake by the Lyme-Old Lyme High School first four. Old Lyme Selectmen MaryJo Nosal and Arthur ‘Skip’ Sibley, along with several members of the Roach family were in attendance, as well as OLRA board members, athletes and parents.

Rob Roach stands with LOLHS Varsity Coach Louis Zubek by the 'Coach Roach.'

Rob Roach stands with LOLHS Varsity Coach Louis Zubek by the ‘Coach Roach.’

The “Coach Roach” had, in fact, already been used with all of the other coxed fours in the largest regatta hosted at Hains Park in recent memory. Seven schools (Lyme-Old Lyme, Valley Regional and Old Saybrook High Schools; Berkshire, Hopkins, Canterbury and Dexter Southfield Schools) had enjoyed a beautiful sunny day on the placid waters of Rogers Lake. The Boys IV (rowing the “Coach Roach”) finished third while the Girls IV finished second. For more results, visit www.row2k.com

Moving the "Coach Roach" into the waters of Rogers Lake.

Moving the “Coach Roach” into the waters of Rogers Lake.

On the same day, LOLHS (Class of 2014) graduate Liam Corrigan, who is now a Harvard sophomore, won the prestigious Eastern Sprints, stroking the Harvard second eight, and LOLHS (Class of 2010) and Stanford University (Class of 2014) graduate Austin Hack was named to the US Men’s eight with a May 24 chance to compete in the Rio Olympics (click to read related story on LymeLine.com.)

Internationally Renowned Norwegian Architect Ramstad Lectures in Essex Tonight

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Trollstigen Visitor Centre

Trollstigen Visitor Centre

The Centerbrook Architects Lecture Series, hosted by the Essex Library, presents acclaimed architect Reiulf Ramstad at Centerbrook’s office this evening, Tuesday, May 17, at 7 p.m. Ramstad’s firm, Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter, has earned an international reputation for boldly simple architecture that strongly connects to its Scandinavian context and landscape.

Ramstad’s Oslo-based firm achieved notoriety for its design of the Trollstigen Visitor Centre, in Møre of Romsdal, Norway. Completed in 2012, this facility is one of the earliest and largest structures among the the now-famous Norwegian Tourist Routes. Set in a stunning natural environment, it exemplifies how the deep understanding of a place can lead to innovative modern architecture. The firm has gone on to produce a wide range of pioneering projects that have attracted international accolades, including the Architizer A+Awards Firm of the Year in 2015.

Ramstad earned a professorship from the Oslo School of Architecture and was a regular thesis advisor and juror. Recognized professionally as a board member of the National Association of Norwegian Architects, he has served on juries for domestic and international architectural competitions. In recent years, following awards and publicity of his firm’s projects, he has lectured around the world. He will receive an Honorary Fellowship into the American Institute of Architects’ College of Fellows at the AIA National Convention in Philadelphia this May.

The lecture will be held at Centerbrook Architects’ office, located at 67 Main Street in Centerbrook. Admission is free but seating is limited — call the Essex Library at (860) 767-1560 to register or for more information.

Talk and Walk on Czikowsky Preserve with Lyme Land Trust, May 28

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Explore the flora of the Czikowsky Preserve on the Lyme Land Trust's walk.

Enjoy the flora of the Czikowsky Preserve on this Lyme Land Trust walk.

Join The Lyme Land Trust on Saturday, May 28, at 9:30 a.m. on a walk to explore the many habitats that contribute to a healthy watershed. Anthony Irving, Lyme Land Trust board member, chairman of the Eightmile River Wild and Scenic Committee, and well-known ecologist, will lead a talk and walk at the Czikowsky Hill Preserve.

The Preserve is managed as a nature sanctuary with minimal human interference. The walk is moderately strenuous as there are no trails and the walkers will make their way to the top for a view. This parcel is particularly special on account of the range of habitat types from river and moist lowlands with their deep sandy soils to the dry, thin soils and large rock outcroppings on top, with an altitude change of nearly 400 ft.

Meet at the entrance to the preserve by the Old Hamburg Bridge on Joshuatown Road. The walk is family friendly and will take about two hours.

The rain date for the walk is Sunday, May 29 at 9:30 a.m. Directions for the start point of the walk are as follows: Rte. 156 north to left on Joshuatown Road. Parking is permissible along Joshuatown Road between Rte. 156 and the bridge.

Registration is appreciated at info@lymelandtrust.org

Old Lyme to Hold Annual Budget Meeting Tonight

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The Old Lyme Board of Selectmen has announced that the Town’s Annual Budget meeting will be held next Monday, May 16, at 7:30 p.m. in the Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School auditorium.

The agenda includes the following items, on each of which a hand or voice vote will likely be held:

  1. To adopt the Budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017, as recommended by the Board of Finance.
  2. To adopt a proposal that taxes in the Town of Old Lyme on Real Estate and Personal Property shall be paid in two (2) semi-annual installments, the first payment being due on July 1, 2016 and the second payment on January 1, 2017.  Any tax in these categories under $100.00 will be due in full in one payment in July, 2016, as are vehicles on the Supplemental List due in January, 2017 in one payment.
  3. To approve the acceptance by the Town of private monetary donations designated by the donors for the Boathouse Project and to approve the expenditure of such donations for said project in addition to the project funds approved by prior Town Meetings.

Republicans Nominate Art Linares for Third Term in 33rd Senate District

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Art Linares (file photo)

Art Linares (file photo)

Republicans Tuesday nominated incumbent State Senator Art Linares of Westbrook for a third term in the 12-town 33rd Senate District. Linares was the unanimous choice of about 45 delegates and alternates gathered for the nominating convention at the Old Town Hall in East Haddam.

Linares is facing a challenge in the Nov. 8 vote from Democratic First Selectman Norman Needleman of Essex, who is expected to be nominated for the seat at the Democratic convention on May 23 in East Hampton. Needleman, 64, has served as first selectman of Essex since 2011. As well as the Town of Lyme, the district includes the towns of Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Portland, Westbrook, and portions of Old Saybrook.

Linares was nominated by State Rep. Melissa Ziobron of East Hampton, who described the incumbent as a “great advocate for all of the towns,” in the district. The nomination was seconded by Edward Marcolini of Old Saybrook, who described Linares as, “young, vibrant and personable.”

In brief remarks, Linares said he has worked for spending reform and fiscal responsibility at the capitol, contending that overly optimistic budget planning by legislative Democrats had led to first ever cuts in the state ECS (Education Cost Sharing) grants for cities and towns. Linares, 27, said he is ready for the election challenge. “I stand before you a four-year-veteran, a little more seasoned, but just as ready to knock on thousands of doors and wear out shoes as that 23-year-old kid was four years ago,” he said.

Linares declined to comment on Needleman’s candidacy, but confirmed he is ready to debate his opponent on more than one occasion during the fall campaign.

Linares, a co-founder of the Middletown-based Greenskies solar energy company, was elected in 2012 in a district that has been represented for 20 years by the late former Democratic State Senator Eileen Daily of Westbrook. He won a second term in 2014, defeating democrat Emily Bjornberg of Lyme on a 22,672-17,326 vote in a race where Bjornberg also had the Working Families Party ballot line and Linares had the ballot line of the Connecticut Independent Party.