Monthly Archives: June 2018

Sing for Joy! Cappella Cantorum Hosts Vocal Camp in Old Saybrook, July 23-27

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Bring the joy of singing to your summer by attending Cappella Cantorum’s Summer Vocal Camp July 23 to July 27 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church on Great Hammock Road in Old Saybrook.

Founder of the Salt Marsh Opera and Cappella’s music director Simon Holt and nationally known tenor Brian Cheney will lead instructive sessions on improving singing skills and how to sing in a choral environment.

Physical therapist Bonnie Brenneman will talk on strengthening diaphragm muscles to improve breathing.

Each evening will consist of two workshops – one in vocal production and one in music theory. A short concert will be given by participants at the end of the week. Camp will be limited to 100 singers. Anyone interested in improving their singing from high school students to adults are encouraged to come and perfect their art.

The church is air conditioned. Cost will be $85. For more information or to register, visit CappellaCantorum.org. or e-mail wrspearrin@yahoo.com.

Lyme Public Hall Annual Meeting This Evening Features Songs of World War I

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The Lyme Public Hall Association and Local History Archives will hold its annual meeting on Thursday, June 14, at 6 p.m.

Following a potluck dinner and business meeting, Rick Spencer and Dawn Indermuehle will present a program “To End All Wars: Songs of the First World War” for the Lyme Public Hall Association and Local History Archives beginning at approximately 7 p.m.

The popular and folk songs of the First World War were patriotic and inspiring. Some were filled with pathos, describing tragedy, loss, fear and hope.  A surprising number were humorous.  Music tied the men on the battlefield to their families at home.  It united people in their beliefs, and inspired those who left home and family to fight.

To listen to the songs of the First World War is to hear the cultural history of the period brought vividly to life.  “To End All Wars: Songs of the First World War” is a presentation of period songs, some well-known, others more obscure, along with a discussion of the issues, events and personalities of the War.

The program is free and open to the public, but attendees are requested to bring a dish if planning to attend the dinner portion of the meeting.

The Lyme Public Hall Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to the appreciation of Lyme’s history, culture, and community through the preservation and use of the historic hall, its archives and historical programs. 

The Lyme Public Hall is located at 249 Hamburg Road (Rte. 156) in Lyme, Conn.  For more information, visit www.lymepublichall.org or call 860 526-8886.

Old Lyme Library Presents Information Sessions on Renovation Plans, June 20

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The Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library Building Committee and Old Lyme First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder will host a final Information Session Wednesday, June 20, starting at 7 p.m.in the library’s Community Room, on plans to renovate the library. All are welcome.

The session will include:

  • an overview of how the project came about
  • planned repairs and improvements
  • associated costs and improvements

Participants will be invited on a guided tour of the building.

There will also be an opportunity to ask questions.

At HOPE’s Request, Old Lyme Zoning Extends Affordable Housing Hearing Deadline to July 17

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Around 300 people came to Monday night’s Public Hearing held by the Old Lyme Zoning Commission in respect of HOPE Partnership’s application for a 37-unit Affordable Housing complex.  This was some 200 less than attended the meeting when the hearing opened on June 5. Photo by K. Winters.

UPDATED 1:53pm: Around 300 people attended the Old Lyme Zoning Commission’s Regular Meeting in the Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School (LOLMS) auditorium on Monday.  This represented some 200 less than were seated the previous Tuesday when the HOPE Partnership made its initial presentation to the commission in reference to their two Affordable Housing applications for 18-1 Neck Road (formerly 16 Neck Road) for a total of 37 dwelling units.

The property, which will be known as River Oak Commons I and II, falls under Connecticut General Statutes 8-30g and is currently owned by Graybill Properties, LLC.

Monday’s meeting included a continuation of the Public Hearing regarding the first of the two applications.  The Hearing had not been completed at the prior meeting due to time constraints imposed by the school.

Prior to the meeting, the HOPE Partnership had requested an extension to the Public Hearing to allow them more time to respond to questions.  The commission voted unanimously to permit the extension setting a new date of July 17 for its closure.

The majority of those who spoke at the meeting were not in support of the project. Old Lyme resident B.J. Bernblum clarified to LymeLine (see his entry in the Comments below) that he spoke, “in support of the project, provided that questions raised can be successfully addressed.”

Zoning Commission Chairman Jane Cable told LymeLine by email, “Our traffic engineer from Milone & Macbroom presented his review of the HOPE traffic report. He agreed with most of the conclusions and performed a sightline/stopping distance analysis of the off ramp traffic. He agreed that the 37 percent increase for summer traffic is appropriate.” She added that in addition to the July 17 meeting, “zoning will hold its normal meeting on July 9, but it is too early to know what will be on the agenda.”

Asked when a vote on the application was likely to occur, Cable replied, also by email, “We can vote only after a public hearing is closed. Mr. Royston’s (Royston is the attorney for the applicant) request is based on his expectation that we will receive our outstanding information. If we do, we can then close the public hearing (and the record) and vote based on the information in the record.”

For a more comprehensive report of the meeting (we were unable to have a reporter present at the meeting), read this article by Kimberly Drelich titled, Old Lyme Zoning Commission continues affordable housing hearing until July, which was published June 12 on TheDay.com

Anyone for Bocce? St. Louis Renovates Lymes’s Senior Center Courts for Eagle Scout Service Project

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Evan St. Louis’s volunteer crew stain the frame of the bocce courts before a new surface of stone dust was applied.

On Saturday, June 2, Evan St. Louis, Life Scout of Boy Scout Troop 26, completed his Eagle Scout Service project at the Lymes’ Senior Center on Townwoods Rd.  St. Louis’s project focused on refurbishing the bocce courts at the Lymes’ Senior Center – this included tree, brush, and weed removal, reconditioning the bocce court surface, cleaning and staining of the court frame structure, and installation of 2 wooden benches for viewing.  

Evan St. Louis (in orange hat) instructs some of his volunteer crew about the day’s activities.

The project benefits the Lymes’ Senior Center and community members, who can now utilize the courts again after they had fallen into disrepair over the years. 

This photo shows the state of the bocce courts prior to St. Louis’s project. Overgrown trees hang over the courts, which are full of weeds.

St. Louis gathered more than 30 volunteers for the event, who contributed an estimated 150 man hours to help accomplish this task.  His project involved some April and May pre-work with chainsaws, clippers, and a power washer by family members to address the impinging tree line, weed growth and mildew on the frame lumber.

Bocce in action by members of Troop 26 after completion of St. Louis’s project.

St. Louis said the most difficult task of the Eagle Service Project was the preparatory work leading up to the actual project day on June 2, and engaging area community businesses for donations or discounts of materials.    He is grateful for the following donations:

  • surface aggregate (stone dust) for courts from Adelman’s Sand and Gravel in Bozrah
  • transportation of the stone dust by Al Bond of Old Lyme
  • discounted lumber for his benches by Shagbark East Haddam
  • assistance with final tree removal by the Town of Old Lyme Department of Public Works
  • discounted food for lunch provisions by Big Y Old Lyme
  • a generous monetary donation to the project from VFW Post 1457
  • financial donations from several private individuals. 

Evan St. Louis and his project mentor Skip Beebe of Old Lyme. Beebe earned his Eagle Scout honor with Troop 26 earned in 1962.

He also benefited significantly from the guidance provided by his service project mentor, Arthur “Skip” Beebe, who earned his Eagle Scout rank with Troop 26 in 1962.

Evan St. Louis with Lymes’ Senior Center Director Stephanie Lyon-Gould holds two new bocce ball sets in bags monogrammed ‘LOL Seniors’ that St. Louis presented to the senior center.

Drawing off his fundraising efforts, St. Louis purchased and presented two quality bocce ball sets from LL Bean to Lymes’ Senior Center Director Stephanie Lyon-Gould for the members of the Senior Center to use on their revitalized courts.    

Our hearty congratulations to Evan on completing such a challenging and worthwhile project!