Megan O’Neill fourth from left) stands with some of her students at the Imagine Scholar’ facility in the Nkomazi region of South Africa.

“By supporting ‘Imagine Scholar’, you are providing access to empowering education – something everyone deserves to have!” Megan O’Neill

Imagine Scholar is an after-school, youth mentorship program working with high-achieving, low-income secondary school students based in the rural Nkomazi region of South Africa. Through academic enrichment and leadership training, students gain the skills to excel in school, become innovative thinkers, and gain the confidence to drive change in their community.  

Former Old Lyme resident Megan O’Neill, who was a member of the Lyme-Old Lyme High School Class of 2011, serves as Imagine Scholar‘s Associate Director. She tells LymeLine.com exclusively, “After three and a half years of living and working on the ground in South Africa where I was a facilitator and mentor for our students, I’m now back in the US managing all advancement efforts including partnership and fundraising development.”

She is hosting a fundraiser for Imagine Scholar on Sunday, July 28, from 4 to 7 p.m., at Stone Acres Farm, 393 North Main St., Stonington. The event will include beer tasting from more than 10 local craft breweries, Woodfellas wood-fired pizza, live music and a silent auction. Tickets are $40 each and can be purchased in advance at bit.ly/ISStoneAcres. All of the proceeds from the event will benefit Imagine Scholar.

These students certainly seem to enjoy their ‘Imagine Scholar’ experience.

In addition to full-time public school enrollment, students attend Imagine Scholar an additional 26 hours per week. During their time in the program, students focus not only on general academic studies but also critical thinking, project management, learning to ask big questions, and becoming the future leaders in the local community.

O’Neill’s involvement with Imagine Scholar dates back to her time at Dickinson College, where she pursued her undergraduate degree. Between her freshman and sophomore years, she traveled to Kenya and assisted the nonprofit organization Marafiki Community for a month. In addition to teaching, she volunteered at orphanages and an internally displaced persons camp.

Students attend the ‘Imagine Scholar’ program for enrichment activities after a full day in public school.

The experience helped O’Neill decide on Africana Studies for her major, and in her junior year she began an internship with Imagine Scholar. After graduating from Dickinson, O’Neill was hired as Imagine Scholar’s Communications Manager and has spent 10 months of each year since working in South Africa.

She says, “At Imagine Scholar, we believe that there are smart kids everywhere in the world but the biggest defining factor is access to opportunity. Our program invests in youth development to cultivate South Africa’s powerful next-gen leaders. By supporting Imagine Scholar, you are providing access to empowering education – something everyone deserves to have!”

A large and happy crowd gathered last night to enjoy Nikita Waller’s concert on the grounds of the FloGris Museum.  Photo courtesy of the Old Lyme Arts District.

OLD LYME — To kick off this years Midsummer Festival, Nikita Waller gave a concert to remember last night on the grounds of the Florence Griswold Museum.

Connecticut State Troubador Nikita Waller (right) delights the crowd at Friday night’s concert.

As one veteran Museum volunteer commented, ” Oh, what a night! Beautiful setting on the serene river, perfect weather, and great music. Fabulous outdoor concert at Flogris. Nekita Waller had the whole joint jumpin’. Who knew so many people in Old Lyme had rhythm?! Music so great everyone was dancing down by the riverside.”

The Old Lyme Midsummer Festival takes place today, Saturday, June 27.

And so to today … it might be a dog’s winning costume, the perfect art find, or the chance to dance to live R&B music, there is sure to be something for everyone at the 33rd annual Old Lyme Midsummer Festival. The annual “Celebration of Art, Food, Music, and Family Fun” takes place all day today, Saturday, July 27.

The Festival is produced by the Old Lyme Arts District, a partnership of businesses and nonprofits on Lyme Street, Old Lyme. All events and activities are free unless otherwise noted. A printable pdf with full descriptions of all the event’s activities can be found at this link. We present a summary of the highlights below.

Saturday Morning 5K

Ready to run! Photo by Missy Colburn Garvin.

Saturday’s festivities begin with a morning 5K Run/Walk and Kids K supporting the programming of the Lymes’ Youth Services Bureau (LYSB). The 5K Run & Walk begins at 8am at 59 Lyme Street and features a fast and flat road bringing participants through the historic Old Lyme village. The Kids K takes place on the high school track at 9am. Registration fees for the 5K (run and walk) are $30 for adults, $15 for youth (18 and under). Registration for the “Kids K” fun run is $10. Chip timing will be provided by Timing Plus New England for 5K runners only. Commemorative T-Shirts will be available for the first 200 registered participants. Registration is online at lysb.org or onsite beginning at 6:45am behind LYSB.

Classic Car Show

The Lyme-Old Lyme Lions Club will host their Classic Car Show on the lawn of the Bee & Thistle Inn from 9am to 2pm on Saturday.

Saturday at 9am, the annual Classic Car Show begins on the lawn of the Bee & Thistle Inn. Produced by the Lyme-Old Lyme Lions Club, the show supports scholarships and the good works of the Lions. Car Show attendees pay $5 at the gate and submit their ballots for show favorites among the antique, classic and exotic vehicles. To register a participating automobile for $15, go to lymeoldlymelions.org.

Dog Show

Everyone — regardless of how many legs you have — loves a parade?

The annual Parading Paws Dog Show will be held at the Florence Griswold Museum and will judge participating canines on a number of qualities including best costume, best trick and best smile. Presented by Vista Life Innovations, dog registration will be held from 10am-10:30am, and judging will begin at 10:45am.

Art Sales

Art is for sale at four locations during the festival. The annual Fence Show Artist Sale on the front lawn of the Old Lyme Inn features paintings, photography, and more by local artists and will be hung Parisian style on a winding fence for customers to peruse and talk to artists on site. Students, alumni, and faculty of the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts will present their works for sale on the front lawn of the Academy. Paintings of all sizes and price points can also be found at the Lyme Art Association, and Studio 80 is hosting several photographers and other artists selling their works. All four art sales run from 9am to 4pm. For a list of participating artists, go to OldLymeArtsDistrict.com.

Artisanal Merchants

A Bohemian Street Fair will be held on the front lawn of the Florence Griswold Museum Saturday from 9am-3pm. Over 50 vendors will be on hand with a selection of artisanal home goods, specialty food items, jewelry, and more. The street fair is named for the bohemian spirit of the artists who once stayed in Miss Florence Griswold’s boardinghouse at the turn of the 20th century. A list of vendors can be found at OldLymeArtsDistrict.com.

Other outdoor shopping includes a variety of merchant tents on the lawn of the Lyme Art Association, and the annual “Midsummer Book Sale” at the Old Lyme-Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library where “gently loved” books will be available from 9am-3pm. This year, a special bag sale will take place in the Library’s Community Room: Buy a library bag for $5 and fill it with books on display. The Library is located at 2 Library Lane with parking available, or arrive by shuttle bus.

Patricia Spratt for the Home opens its workshop at 60 Lyme Street for its annual Midsummer Warehouse Sale Thursday, July 25 through Saturday, July 27 from 9am-4pm. The annual three-day sale offers up to 80% off of Spratt’s high-end table linens, pillows, and more.

Musical Performances

Sophia Griswold and friends will be performing at Lymestock 2019.

In addition to the Friday night concert there are ample chances to listen to live music throughout Saturday afternoon. Beginning at noon, MusicNow Foundation presents Lymestock 2019, featuring emerging Connecticut artists (under 25 years old) performing singer/ songwriter, jazz, blues, folk, classical guitar and indie rock. This year features a bohemian vibe with musicians performing in a relaxed setting where listeners can sit on the shady lawn to enjoy. A full lineup of performers can be found at OldLymeArtsDistrict.com.

Other musical performances include the funk music of festival favorite Mass-Conn-Fusion, beginning at 11am under the food tent at the Old Lyme Inn. At Studio 80 + Sculpture Grounds, festival attendees will enjoy a dynamic modern dance performance by GUSTO Dance at 1pm, followed by the engaging vocals of local acoustic duo Jekyll & Hyde from 4-5pm.

Family Fun and Learning

The Hands-On_Minds-On Station at the FloGris has something for everyone regardless of age or ability!

The Hands-On/Minds-On Station will once again be at the Florence Griswold Museum’s Hartman Education Center. With over a dozen participating nonprofit organizations, including Arts District partners Lyme’s Youth Services Bureau and the Old Lyme Historical Society, children are sure to find a creative or thought-provoking activity to enjoy.

In addition, young and old will enjoy stopping by the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center and Horizon Wings tents at the Lyme Art Association. A community sculpture will be on display at the entrance of Studio 80, and participants can use available markers to draw on the sculpture.

Last year’s costumed model at Lyme Academy drew many budding artists to try their hand at painting her.

The Lyme Academy of Fine Arts will have a costumed model on its front lawn with easels set up for anyone who would like to try their hand at sketching the posed model.

Exhibitions

The historic Lyme Art Association currently hosts American Waters: A Marine Show and the Hudson Valley Art Association, both of which will be on view during the Festival.

As a celebration of Old Lyme’s artistic heritage, attendees are encouraged to visit art exhibitions during the Festival. Studio 80 + Sculpture Grounds presents its Summer Sculpture Showcase 2019 on its outdoor sculpture grounds. The Lyme Art Association features American Waters: A Marine Show and the Hudson Valley Art Association. The Florence Griswold Museum features Fragile Earth: The Naturalist Impulse in Contemporary Art and the historic home of the Lyme Art Colony (Special Museum Admission $5).

Outdoor Dining

The Old Lyme Inn will be serving both inside in their restaurant and on the patio during the Festival.

In addition to food trucks serving both sweet and savory refreshments at the Florence Griswold Museum, three restaurants will be open for lunch during the Saturday Festival. Café Flo, at the rear of the Museum, offers seated lunch on the veranda overlooking the Lieutenant River. The Old Lyme Inn will serve on the patio and indoors 11am-9pm. The Lyme Art Association will have Del’s Frozen Lemonade on site. Dinner options include the Bee & Thistle Inn will a summer menu in its Chestnut Grille and dining rooms.

Town of Old Lyme Fireworks

The Town of Old Lyme’s fireworks display rounds off a very special day.

The day ends with a free fireworks display around 9:15 p.m., which can be viewed from the field between Lyme-Old Lyme High and Middle Schools.

Directions, Parking and Shuttle Buses

The Festival takes place on historic Lyme Street, Exit 70 on I-95 South, or left off of Exit 70 on I-95 North, right onto Halls Road to Lyme Street. Although the festival length is considered a walkable distance, a shuttle bus will be available to all locations. Parking is available at the Florence Griswold Museum, Middle School complex, Old Lyme Marketplace (at Bowerbird location), and at the Lyme Academy field. Most activities take place between 80 Lyme Street and 100 Lyme Street.

The 33rd annual Festival is a production of the Old Lyme Arts District, a partnership of more than a dozen arts and cultural organizations and businesses on Lyme Street. For a complete list of participants, sponsors, as well as a printable guide to the Festival, go to OldLymeArtsDistrict.com.

Platinum Sponsors of the Arts District include Pasta Vita, Essex Financial Services/Essex Savings Bank, and LymeLine.com.