Monthly Archives: June 2018

BREAKING NEWS: Change of Venue for Old Lyme Zoning’s Public Hearing on 37-Unit Affordable Housing Proposal Tonight

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1:20 p.m., June 5: We just received word from the Zoning Commission Chairman Jane Cable that, “Because of large expected attendance, the presentation section of the affordable housing application will take place at the [Lyme-Old Lyme] middle school auditorium, so that all present can see the details of the proposal. The school is available until 9:15 p.m., so the remainder of the meeting and public comments will be held at the town hall meeting room.”

The Old Lyme Zoning Commission holds a Special Meeting this evening, which includes a Public Hearing in Old Lyme Memorial Town Hall starting at 7:30 p.m.  The Affordable Housing Application for 18-1 Neck Road (formerly 16 Neck Road) for a total  of 37 dwelling units will be discussed: the applicant is Neck Road HOPE Housing, LLC.  The property, which will be known as River Oak Commons, falls under Connecticut General Statutes 8-30g and is currently owned by Graybill Properties, LLC.

The proposal has aroused considerable debate in town, even to the extent of it being mentioned from the pulpit in a local church service on Sunday!

We have published two op-ed’s on the topic and by way of what we hope will serve as a helpful reminder to our readers of some of the issues raised and the process followed, we are providing links to both articles here:

Op-Ed: SECoast Questions Proposed HOPE Development in Old Lyme by Greg Stroud, Executive Director of SECoast.org, published May 11, 2018.

Op-Ed: HOPE Explains Background, Process to Their Affordable Housing Proposal in Old Lyme by Lauren Ashe, Executive Director of HOPE Partnership, published May 24, 2018.

Letter to the Editor: Proposed 23-Lot Subdivision in East Lyme Questioned, Previous Application Denied Unanimously by Wetlands in 2017; Public Meeting Tonight

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To the Editor:

In 2017, the Inland Wetlands Agency of East Lyme unanimously denied an application presented by Joe Wren of Indigo Land Design for a 25-lot subdivision built on a parcel of property abutting Four Mile River and consisting mostly of wetlands. The five-page denial details the many reasons this application would likely have an adverse impact on the wetlands and watercourses. It discusses the hazards of groundwater pollution, questions the capability of the proposed septic systems to successfully remediate nutrients or pollutants, challenges the efficiency of the proposed stormwater management measures, and points out that the proposed activities would make it less likely for the existing wetlands to perform as a vernal pool where they exist, among other important environmental concerns.

In 2018, a new plan has been proposed and will be presented to the Inland Wetlands Commission on Monday, June 25, at 7 pm at East Lyme Town Hall. The new plan is for a 23-lot subdivision  that seeks to address the concerns of the previous denial without fully addressing many of the issues noted by the previous commission. This new plan will be presented to a commission consisting of a new Chair and new Vice Chair, as the Chairwoman who led the commission during the denial was told her seat would not be renewed.

The new plan does not protect this valuable natural resource. We hope that people will come express their concerns at the public meeting on June 25th. For more information visit: https://www.facebook.com/protectgreenvalleylakes/

Sincerely,

Nancy Barwikowski,
East Lyme.

Greenho, Danes are Class S State Tennis Doubles Champions

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From left to right, Morgan Greenho celebrates his Class S state doubles tennis victory with coach John Pfeiffer and partner George Danes.

Last Thursday, Lyme-Old Lyme High School senior Morgan Greenho and freshman George Danes won the CIAC Class S boys’ tennis doubles championship at Yale. The pair, who were top seeds, defeated Patrick Markovics and Matthew Newfield of Morgan High School 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.

Moment of victory! Morgan Greenho raises his arms in celebration while his doubles partner George Danes gives a thumbs-up sign.

Old Lyme has not won the Class S doubles championship since Dane Pfeiffer and David Neaton’s success in 2003. Dane is the son of the current coach, John Pfeiffer.

Reaching for the sky … or rather the ball!

Sadly, Greenho and Danes lost on Saturday in the quarterfinals of the CIAC State Open at Amity, but despite that, the pair still enjoyed an extraordinarily successful season.

Many congratulations to Morgan and George!

 

‘Run for Something’ Endorses Matt Pugliese for Connecticut General Assembly

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Matt Pugliese

Matt Pugliese has received the endorsement of Run for Something (RfS), the groundbreaking organization that recruits and supports strong voices in the next generation of progressive leadership.

“I am excited and honored to be endorsed by Run for Something. Hearing about the work that was being done by this organization to help encourage candidates to step forward was a motivating force in my own decision to run for office. I want to work to make a difference in our community.  This is a crucial moment in our state and our nation. I’m proud to be among the candidates stepping forward,” said Pugliese.

“RFS endorses candidates on two major criteria: heart and hustle. That’s what defines viability to us,” said Ross Morales Rocketto, RFS co founder. “These are candidates who are going to work hard to run grassroots, community-led campaigns. We are a critical time in history and the momentum these candidates generate will have a lasting impact for years to come.”

A selection of statistics from RfS are:

  • 40 first or second time candidates endorsed this month
  • RFS has endorsed 409 candidates total, from 45 states. 256 candidates have upcoming elections.
  • Campaign budgets range from $3000 to $300,000
  • Win numbers range from 645 to 100,000 votes

The endorsement process includes an extensive internal review with background check, staff interview and insight from local state experts.

Amanda Litman and Ross Morales Rocketto launched RfS on Jan. 20, 2017 with a premise to help young diverse progressives to run for down-ballot races in order to build a bench for the future. RfS aims to lower the barriers to entry for these candidates by helping them with seed money, organization building, and access to trainings needed to be successful. So far, about 18,000 young people from across the country have signed up as candidates and gained access to RfS resources.

Run for Something recruits and supports talented, young people who advocate for progressive values now and for the next 30 years, with the ultimate goal of building a progressive bench.

Matt Pugliese is running for State Representative in the 23rd District.  Pugliese is a non-profit theatre arts administrator and Chair of the Old Saybrook Economic Development Commission.  He holds his Masters in Public Administration from UCONN and lives in Old Saybrook with his wife and their two daughters. Learn more at mattpugliesect.com and at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at mattpugliesect.

For more information, visit www.runforsomething.net

State Awards $1.25M to Valley Shore Emergency Communications for Upgrades

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Essex First Selectman Norm Needleman stands with Paul Fazzino, President of Valley Shore Emergency Response after the announcement was made.

After years of planning and local town coordination, the Valley Shore Emergency Communications received critical state funding to upgrade emergency communications for numerous towns in the region. Valley Shore Emergency Communications serves the towns of Lyme and Old Lyme along with Chester, Deep River, Durham, East Haddam, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Middlefield, and Westbrook. 

The State Bond Commission approved $1.25 million in grant-in-aid to the Town of Essex on behalf of the Valley Shore Emergency Communications, Inc. The funding will be used for upgrades to the outdated emergency radio dispatch system serving 11 towns. The upgrades will interconnect all member towns and allow coordination with adjoining systems to allow for better communication for police, fire and ambulances.

“I want to thank the tremendous work of the various public safety departments to make today a reality,” said Essex First Selectman Norm Needleman. “Throughout this process we worked together to bring our local emergency communications into the 21st century. This new funding will strengthen the safety of our towns and allow our public safety employees to better serve our communities.”