Monthly Archives: June 2016

The Movie Man: “The Conjuring 2” … Enter If You Dare

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Conjuring_2 A little disclaimer: unless you like “jump” moments in movies, avoid The Conjuring 2 (there’s a lot of them).

The sequel to the highly successful 2013 film, The Conjuring, tells the story of another paranormal case tackled by real-life demonologist couple, Ed and Lorraine Warren (Ed passed away in 2006, while Lorraine still lives in their family home in Monroe, Connecticut). The Warrens are perhaps best known for investigating the claims of the Amityville Horror.

For those who are not familiar with this legend, as well as the references and parodies throughout pop culture, 23-year-old Ronald DeFeo, Jr. murdered his parents and four siblings in the middle of a 1974 night, claiming he was coaxed into committing the acts by “voices.” A new family, the Lutzes, eventually moved into the home a year later, had their priest bless the home, and claimed that during the blessing, he heard a masculine voice tell him to “get out,” accompanied by a slap across the face, bleeding hands, and flu-like symptoms. The Lutzes only lasted 28 days in the house before they took off.

Upon researching the Warrens, it came as no surprise that they were subject to a great deal of scrutiny and controversy, as many skeptics claim there are holes in their stories regarding their investigations. This can be said about the Amityville Horror, as well as another case that took place in Seymour, Connecticut, and was featured on Discovery Channel’s A Haunting program. The list goes on and on. However, even if you do not believe any piece of their stories, you cannot deny the horror that is embedded in them, and they will be sure to keep you up at night, worrying about all you cannot see.

I am not writing this as a way to propose or criticize claims about ghosts and the supernatural, although I have had certain experiences in allegedly haunted locations that have made me a believer in regards to the supernatural. The only form of apologetics I will engage in is quoting Hamlet, in regards to those who consider themselves to be “rationalists”, in saying:

“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, [t]han are dreamt of in your philosophy.”

The Conjuring 2 opens with Ed and Lorraine investigating Amityville with the Lutzes. Lorraine goes into a trance and witnesses the massacres that took place in said home, as well as other frightening supernatural images, including a large nun with a demonic appearance. After this investigation, she urges Ed that they not take any cases for a while. Unfortunately, due to their newfound popularity, a family all the way across the Atlantic is able to plead to them for help, claiming a poltergeist is harassing them, and has taken a special interest in their daughter, Janet. Much to Lorraine’s chagrin, they take on the case in hopes of defeating the evil spirit.

There is something about director James Wan’s take on depicting this story, especially through his cinematography involving slow zoom-in’s and “jump” stills in which we suddenly see something that has transcended our senses, as if it has taken off a mask that allowed it to remain unseen (or a ring, for those of us who are fond of J. R. R. Tolkien’s stories of Middle Earth?). The soundtrack proves to be unique amongst all other forms of music, focusing mainly on violins and cellos reaching low and shrill notes. But what helps make this a great horror film is not the amount of disturbing images or loud sounds, but in its stories that are woven in and out of the main plotline, depicting Ed and Lorraine’s marriage bond, and the victim family’s sad home-life.

I have said this to many people in the past, and I will say it again: too often Hollywood makes horror films that are comprised of excessive blood and gore, and hires models, not to act, but to read lines. If you want a good horror film, you need a good story and good actors, and most of all a good portrayal of everyone’s relationships. Just because you have beautiful college girl in nothing but her underwear screaming loudly and blood sprays on her does not guarantee a critical success. Perhaps a financial success, and maybe some experience for up-and-coming actors trying to get their feet in the door, and at the very most cementing a scene from the film into pop culture (but not for good reasons).

A great film for anyone who appreciates cinema, is fond of ghost stories, loves to be on the edge of their seat, or repeatedly scared to death. Enter the theaters, if you dare…

Kevin Ganey

Kevin Ganey

About the Author: Kevin Ganey has lived in the Lyme/Old Lyme area since he was three-years-old, attended Xavier High School in Middletown and recently graduated from Quinnipiac University with a degree in Media Studies. Prior to his involvement here at LymeLine.com, he worked for Hall Radio in Norwich, as well as interned under the Director of Communications at High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Center. Kevin has a passion for movies, literature, baseball, and all things New England-based … especially chowder.

LAA Hosts Two New Exhibitions, ‘American Waters’ and ‘Purely Pastel’

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'Boundless Energy" by Anthony Davis is one of the signature paintings of the American Waters exhibition.

‘Boundless Energy” by Anthony Davis is one of the signature paintings of the American Waters exhibition.

The Lyme Art Association (LAA) hosts American Waters: A Marine Art Exhibition; Purely Pastel, and Celebrating Lyme’s Beauty will run concurrently with American Waters in sequential shows.

Visitors of all ages can enjoy American Waters, the LAA’s summer exhibition of work by the country’s premier maritime artists, which is on view in the LAA’s sky-lit galleries through Aug. 26. An opening reception for American Waters will be held this evening, Friday, June 17, from 5 to 7pm at the LAA, 90 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, Conn. Admission is free, all are welcome and refreshments will be served.

The exhibition features work by the American Society of Marine Artists as invited guests, alongside marine works by LAA artists. Russ Kramer, an internationally recognized marine painter, juried the exhibition. Kramer notes, “What better place for an exhibition of marine-inspired art than the Lyme Art Association … a true landmark in our region’s artistic history, whose proximity to the Lieutenant and Connecticut rivers and Long Island Sound has inspired artists for a century. “

He continues, “These new works in the exhibition American Waters are by many of the finest practitioners of marine art working today. To think the same subjects continue to inspire us a hundred years later is testament to this area’s enduring, irresistible allure.”

Concurrent with the American Waters exhibition, the Lyme Art Association will present two shorter exhibitions. From June 10 through July 15, the Connecticut Pastel Society presents Purely Pastel, their annual exhibition. Then from July 22 through Aug. 26, a juried show of paintings created during this year’s paint out at the Hamburg historic district will be shown in Celebrating Lyme’s Beauty.

Lyme Art Association Board President, Katherine Simmons, states, “American Waters continues an LAA tradition of exhibiting the very best of fine contemporary American marine painting. We are grateful to the members of the American Society of Marine Artists who are joining us as invited guests, and we would especially like to thank our premier media sponsor, The Day, and our presenting sponsor, Suisman Shapiro Attorneys at Law, along with juror Russ Kramer, for making this exhibition happen.”

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 located at 90 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, in a building designed by Charles Adams Platt and located within an historic district. Admission is free with contributions appreciated. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 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

Discover the “Art of Growing Food” with Celebrated Author Ellen Ecker Ogden, Today; Benefits Child & Family

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Ellen Ecker Ogden will speak at Child & Family's Kitchen Garden Author Luncheon on June 17 at Old Lyme Country Club.

Ellen Ecker Ogden will speak at Child & Family’s ‘Kitchen Garden Author Luncheon’ on June 17 at Old Lyme Country Club.

Are you tired of tasteless tomatoes, half-ripe honeydews, or limp lettuce? Do you worry what else might be on the produce you purchase at grocery stores?  If you’ve considered growing your own food so it will be fresh, natural, and ready when you want it (without a trip to the store!), then spend an afternoon with acclaimed food and garden writer Ellen Ecker Ogden, who will present “The Art of Growing Food” as the featured speaker at Child & Family Agency’s Kitchen Garden Author Luncheon.

Ecker Ogden is the Vermont-based author of The Complete Kitchen Garden, The Vermont Country Store Cookbook, and The Vermont Cheese Book, among others.  She is also co-founder of The Cook’s Garden seed catalog, a small family seed business dedicated to finding the best-tasting European and American heirloom vegetables, herbs, and flowers, and she lectures widely on kitchen garden design. Her articles and designs have been featured in such national publications as Better Homes & Gardens, Martha Stewart Living, and the New York Times.

Child & Family Agency’s Kitchen Garden Author Luncheon takes place on June 17, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Old Lyme Country Club (I-95, exit 70).  The event begins with a book signing by Ogden at 11:30 a.m., followed by lunch at noon; Ogden will then give her talk, in which she will outline her six steps for successful garden design, based on classic garden design principles.

At the end of her presentation, Ogden will raffle off a one-and-a-half-hour vegetable garden consultation. Tickets are $50, and may be obtained by mailing a check to P.O. Box 324, Old Lyme, CT  06371 (include name, address, phone, email), or by visiting www.childandfamilyagency.org.  Questions? Call 860-443-2896 or email CFA.LOLAuxiliary@gmail.com. Seating is limited.

The Kitchen Garden Author Luncheon is presented by the Lyme/Old Lyme Auxiliary of Child & Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut, who bring you the Lyme/Old Lyme Garden Tour every other year. (The next Lyme/Old Lyme Garden Tour will take place next year, in June 2017.) Meanwhile, with this year’s Kitchen Garden Author Luncheon, you can satisfy your garden cravings and help children and families at the same time!

Proceeds from the Kitchen Garden Author Luncheon benefit the programs and capital projects of Child & Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut, a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping at-risk children in the context of their families. With a staff of more than 190 dedicated professionals and a service area covering 79 towns in New London, Middlesex, and New Haven counties, Child & Family Agency is the largest private, nonprofit children’s service provider in southeastern Connecticut. In 2015 more than 18,000 children and their families received services from Child & Family Agency. Find out more at www.childandfamilyagency.org or call 860.443.2896.

Climate Forum on Resiliency Initiatives Scheduled in Old Lyme, Saturday

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climate-change-graphic_640x360

Three ‘Climate Change’ forums related to Old Lyme’s beach communities’ strengths and vulnerabilities have been organized by the Environment Committee of the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme in loving memory of Richard Blair.  The Town of Old Lyme is also sponsoring the forums and all the forums will be held in the Old Lyme Town Hall.  Speakers will be limited to 40 minutes at each forum to allow ample time for question and answers.

The forums are scheduled as follows:

Thursday, June 9
6:30 to 8 p.m.
Marine scientist, Dr. Frank Bohlen will discuss the storm vulnerability of Old Lyme.

Thursday, June 16
6:30 to 8 p.m.
Three experts will review extreme weather and local responses.

Saturday, June 25
10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
A panel of four will cover resiliency initiatives available to the Town of Old Lyme and its townspeople.

For more information, visit the Old Lyme Town Hall website.

 

DMV, Municipal Officials Ask Residents to Check Motor Vehicle Tax Bills

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The Department of Motor Vehicles, the Connecticut Association of Assessing Officers and the Connecticut Tax Collectors Association today asked residents receiving motor vehicle tax bills to review them carefully to ensure the correct information is listed on the bills from their municipalities.

DMV and municipal officials are taking this pro-active approach to check bills following DMV’s conversion of data from an old registration computer system to the new one last August. DMV and the associations have estimated that about 50,000 vehicle owners could be affected.

“We are advising residents early so that they look immediately at their tax bills and make any necessary changes before paying them. All of us are being pro-consumer in this effort and wanting to prevent inconveniences for taxpayers,” said DMV Commissioner Michael Bzdyra.

Data in that old system was compiled from customers over decades and could have old addresses never changed by someone who moved or incorrect information given when registering a vehicle. DMV has collected registration information for decades in a variety of inconsistent ways. The new computer system attempts to standardize information so that there is consistency in DMV records as well as those given to towns for tax billing purposes.

DMV and the municipalities across the state are also working to resolve inconsistencies among some residents’ having both mailing addresses as well as separate “domicile” listings for a different municipality where their vehicle is garaged (e.g.,someone lives in one town, but keeps a vehicle in another town where it is most often used).

“The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles, the Connecticut Association of Assessing Offices, and the Connecticut Tax Collectors’ Association have worked for several months at addressing these discrepancies.~ While we have made a great deal of progress in addressing these issues, and have significantly reduced them, there will be some cases where people receive tax bills from the wrong town.~ It is important that if anyone receives a tax bill from the wrong town, they contact the town that issued the bill as soon as possible so that the bill can be forwarded to the correct town.~ If anyone receives a tax bill from the wrong town, it is important that they do not ignore the incorrect tax bill,” said John Rainaldi, president of the Connecticut Association of Assessing Officers (CAAO) and Launa M. Goslee, president of the Connecticut Tax Collector’s Association.

Officials advised residents that if they received a tax bill from a municipality in which they did not reside or in which they did not have a vehicle (both as of October 1, 2015), they need to contact their assessor to request a transfer to the correct town or city of residency as of October 1, 2015. Customers who need information to make a registration address change at DMV can go toct.gov/dmv/changeaddress or call DMV at 860-263-5700.

There are also several services customers can obtain online at DMV now. These include verifying whether they have a delinquent motor vehicle property tax, emissions and insurance compliance issues as well as renewing vehicle registrations, reprinting registrations and canceling registrations. Go to ct.gov/dmv/online today to see what is offered.