Monthly Archives: August 2017

Cournoyer Named LOL Schools 2016-17 ‘Teacher of the Year’

Posted on by
Reply

On an unseasonably cold day, Lyme-Old Lyme (LOL) Schools sailed smoothly into the 2017-18 academic year today with both a new principal and assistant principal — Mark Ambruso and Noah Ventola respectively — in charge at LOL Middle School.

The middle school is also home to the LOL Schools ‘Teacher of the Year’ Patricia Cournoyer, who was “crowned” yesterday at the All-School Administration, Faculty, and Staff Convocation. A popular choice, Cournoyer has been the physical education and health teacher for more than 10 years at the middle school and interacts with all students at each grade every year.

Lyme-Old Lyme Schools Non-Certified Employee of the Year Eileen Griswold stands with Lyme-Old Lyme Schools Business Manager Holly McCalla, and Lyme-Old Lyme Schools Superintendent Ian Neviaser.

Eileen Griswold, who works in the Business Office was named Non-certified Employee of the Year at the same event.

Asked his aspirations for the new school year, Ian Neviaser, Lyme-Old Lyme Schools Superintendent, responded, “We are excited for another year of new learning, growth, and development in the Lyme-Old Lyme Schools. It is our intention to continue on the path of success that has been our standard for many years. We are excited to welcome all of our students back to campus to continue the tradition of excellence that has become synonymous with Lyme-Old Lyme.”

Final Days to See ‘Saturday Night Fever’ at Ivoryton Playhouse

Posted on by
Reply

Michael Notardonato plays ‘disco king wannabe’ Tony.

Put on your “Boogie Shoes” and get ready for Saturday Night Fever, one of the most loved dance stories of all time, which plays through Sept. 3, at Ivoryton Playhouse.

The year is 1979 and in Brooklyn, New York, Tony Manero, a young man with a dead-end job and an extraordinary ability to dance, has only one ambition in life … to become the disco king. When he meets Stephanie, who also dreams of a world beyond Brooklyn, they decide to train together for a dance competition and their lives begin to change forever.

Based on the 1977 film that became a cultural phenomenon, the electrifying score is packed with legendary hits from the Bee Gees including the classics: “Stayin’ Alive,” “Night Fever,” “Jive Talking,” “You Should Be Dancing” and “How Deep is Your Love?”

Caroline Lellouche plays aspiring dancer Stephanie.

Originally based on Nik Cohn’s 1975 New York Magazine article, “Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night,” this stage adaptation premiered in the West End in 1998 at the London Palladium, and then at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre Oct. 21, 1999, playing 27 previews and 501 regular performances before closing Dec. 30, 2000.

Almost all of the songs from the original movie sound track are included in the stage musical. The album remained 24 weeks on the top of the U.S. album charts and stayed until March 1980 on the charts. In the UK, the album also achieved first place for 18 weeks and is one of the most successful movie sound tracks ever. In 1979, it won a Grammy as Album of the Year. In 2003 it reached #131 of Rolling Stone’s “500 best albums of all time”.

The production stars Michael Notardonato* as Tony and Caroline Lellouche* as Stephanie. Lellouche was seen last year in Ivoryton’s production of Chicago. Notardonato is reprising the role of Tony, which he has performed twice previously to critical acclaim.

The production is directed and choreographed by Todd Underwood and musical directed by Mike Morris, with set design by Martin Marchitto, lighting design by Marcus Abbott and costume design by Lisa Bebey.

Be advised that Saturday Night Fever, in similar fashion to the movie, contains adult language and situations.

Saturday Night Fever opens at the Ivoryton Playhouse Aug. 9 and runs through Sept. 3. Performance times are Wednesday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Evening performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.

Additional matinee performances on Saturday, Aug. 19, at 2 p.m. and Sept. 2, at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $50 for adults; $45 for seniors; $22 for students and $17 for children and are available by calling the Playhouse box office at 860-767-7318 or by visiting www.ivorytonplayhouse.org

(Group rates are available by calling the box office for information.) The Playhouse is located at 103 Main Street in Ivoryton.

Photographs courtesy of Ivoryton Playhouse

*denotes member of Actors Equity

Rogers Lake Drawdown to Begin After Labor Day

Posted on by
Reply

Every leap year, Rogers Lake is scheduled to be lowered in the fall so that landowners can perform any maintenance at the waters edge. But this did not happen in 2016 due to the drought.

Because of this, the drawdown will take place this fall (2017) as follows:

  • The drawdown will start after Labor Day and the full drawdown of a maximum of 14 inches should occur by mid-September.
  • The drawdown will be maintained from mid-September to Nov. 1.

The Rogers Lake Authority can be contacted at Rogers-Lake-Authority@googlegroups.com

A la Carte: When it’s Humid and Hot, Salmorejo Hits the Spot

Posted on by
Reply

Salmorejo

Yes, it has been humid and hot, hot, hot.

Usually at this point in late summer, I am sort of done with the beach. Last Saturday I went out to dinner with friends and to see a movie (“Wind River” is terrific. Don’t miss it.). Because we  had decided to go to see the movie in Mystic, although it is not our favorite destination cinema hall (don’t like the recliners that don’t “recline” our legs), we had wine at my condo before the movie.

Nancy mentioned that I was pretty tan and had I been at the beach that afternoon. “No,” I explained, “this was pretty much left over from my four days at the New Jersey shore. Anyway, it was too hot to go to the beach,.”

As September begins to beckon, I think about cooking. Sure, I cook during the summer, but I grill meats, vegetables and desserts on my Weber, prepping salad and eating inside. Of course, produce is gorgeous this time of year and, finally, there are tomatoes.

Last week I stopped at Becky’s in Waterford and bought tomatoes, beets and a pint of those yellow cherry tomatoes. Maybe they are called Sun Gold. In any case, I ate the full pint by the time I got off I-95.

Last night I looked over my new issue of Food & Wine, the issue about Spain. I looked up the recipes and found one for a tomato soup. It sounded divine. I had enough tomatoes to double the recipe. It should be served cold. I love cold soup, especially when the weather is still sticky and hot, so I would happily eat it for a couple of days. And the recipe uses no heat, just a blender.

Salmorejo

From Food & Wine, September, 2017

Yield: serves 4

2 and one-half pounds vine-ripened tomatoes, cored and chopped
One-half pound rustic white bread, crust removed, cubed (2 and one-half cups)
2 garlic cloves
1 teaspoon sherry vinegar
One-quarter cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving, if you like
Kosher salt
2 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and chopped
One-half cup chopped serrano ham (prosciutto will do nicely)

In a blender, puree the chopped tomatoes with the bread, garlic, vinegar and one-half cup of water at high speed until very smooth. about 1 minute. With the blender on, drizzle in the one-quarter cup of oil until incorporated. Season with salt, Cover and refrigerate until the soup is cold, at least 30 minutes.

Divide the soup among 4 bowls. Garnish with chopped eggs and ham, then drizzle with olive oil and serve.

Make ahead: The soup can be refrigerated for up; to 2 days.

I-95 Exit 71 Northbound On-Ramp to be Closed Overnight Monday & Tuesday

Posted on by
Reply

The I-95 northbound Exit 71 on-ramp on will be closed this evening (Monday) and tomorrow (Tuesday) nights through to the morning of Aug. 29 and Aug. 30 respectively.

Message boards and a detour will be in place prior to the closure redirecting traffic to avoid the ramp in question.

We have not yet been advised of a time when the closure will commence, but will post it as soon as it is made available.