Monthly Archives: August 2019

Reemsnyder Firmly Denies Wrongdoing at CT Port Authority, Explains Absence at Transportation Hearing

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Old Lyme First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder

OLD LYME — As has been widely reported, Old Lyme First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder did not appear in person at the state Transportation Committee’s hearing regarding the Connecticut Port Authority (CPA) on Tuesday.

She did, however, submit written testimony (published in full at the link below) in which she stated categorically in reference to the purchase by the CPA of photographs from her daughter, “Consistent with the State’s Ethics Code governing conflicts of interest, I had no involvement in any aspect of the sale, including no role in the initial decision, negotiations, payment, bookkeeping, or accounting for the transaction, and I did not benefit in any way financially from the transaction.”

Reemsnyder gave LymeLine.com the following explanation for her absence from the hearing in an e-mail Wednesday evening, in which she said, “I received the “invitation to attend” on Sunday night, as I was away the weekend, and the Town was committing to a bond for the Library. On Tuesday, I had to coordinate the signatures of the Term Sheet to secure the rate that was offered in a bid. So between reviewing the term sheet documents, accepting changes from the bank, and coordinating with the Treasurer for signatures, it tied up my morning.”

She continued, “In addition, I had an afternoon meeting that was already scheduled, and a Board of Finance meeting that night, which I take a considerable time to prepare for,” adding, “I did take the time on Monday, a day that I had a 4 PM Board of Selectmen meeting that I carefully prepare for, to articulate my written testimony.”

Visit this link to read Reemsnyder’s written testimony to the Transportation Committee.

 

‘Silver Cornet Band’ Plays Final Concert of Sound View Season Tonight

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The Silver Cornet Band is always a welcome addition to the Sound View Independence Day parade. File photo.

OLD LYME — The Town of Old Lyme and the Sound View Commission are sponsoring a family-friendly concert series at Sound View Beach this summer.

The final event in the 2019 series will be held Thursday, Aug.22, starting at 7 p.m. and will feature the Silver Cornet Band. Featured annually at the Norwich “Taste of Italy,” the Silver Cornet Band will present an enjoyable evening of all your favorite Italian songs and more. This concert is presented by arrangement with the American Federation of Musicians LOCAL #: 285-403

This free outdoor concert will be held on Hartford Ave. by Sound View Beach in Old Lyme, CT, at the flagpole from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Bring your lawn chair and enjoy a great evening of music!

The rain location, if required, is the Shoreline Community Center at 39 Hartford Ave.

For more information about the concert, contact the Sound View Commission at www.oldlyme-ct.gov

 

Kinship & Respite Fund Grants Available to Help Guardians With School Expenses

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Saybrook Probate Judge Jeannine Lewis

LYME — With adults already thinking back-to-school, District of Saybrook Probate Judge Jeannine Lewis reminds court-appointed guardians to apply for grants for school supplies. The State of Connecticut Saybrook District Court includes the Town of Lyme along with the Towns of Chester, Clinton, Deep River, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Old Saybrook and Westbrook.  

Probate Courts have been awarding grants from the state Kinship Fund and Respite Fund to court-appointed guardians for more than a decade.  As of last October, eligibility for the grants was expanded beyond relatives serving as guardians to all those appointed by the Probate Courts who meet low-income guidelines.

A guardianship case typically arises in the Saybrook District Probate Court when parents are unable to care for their children due to mental illness, substance abuse or incarceration. In most cases, Probate Courts appoint a grandparent or other relative to care for the children. In some cases, courts appoint a close family friend, who has a long-standing relationship with the child. While foster parents receive funds from the state, court-appointed guardians do not; guardians who meet eligibility requirements can receive some assistance through the Kinship and Respite Fund grants.

“Grandparents, aunts and uncles, and neighbors, who keep children in their familiar environments instead of going to foster care, offer an enhanced quality of life to the children in their care and simultaneously save the state tens of millions of dollars. In many cases, the guardians don’t really have extra money to spend on a child’s basic needs,” said Judge Lewis. “Kinship and Respite Grants are there to help bridge the gap and make a huge difference to the households who apply for, and receive them.” 

The Kinship Fund assists guardians in paying for necessities such as school supplies, clothing, eyeglasses, school trips and sports fees. Often such expenses are paid directly to the providers. Kinship grants are capped at $500 per child or $2000 per family per year.

The Respite Fund helps guardians with the cost of child care, housing, transportation and food. These grants are capped at $2000 per year.

Guardians who meet income requirements can apply to both funds. Previous recipients must reapply to receive funds each year. Applications are posted at ctprobate.gov under the Children’s Matters tab.

Letter to the Editor: ‘The Battle of the Beaches’; Who’s Oldest, How to Resolve it … Annually

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To the Editor:

Both Revere Beach in Revere, Massachusetts; and Sound View Beach in Old Lyme proclaim themselves as “America’s oldest public beach”. Sound View history is well-documented in Jim Lampos’ wonderful “Rum Runners …”

Revere’s public beach dates back to 1896, with a rail link that actually began in 1875. Revere remains accessible today via the MBTA’s blue line. Revere was declared a national historic landmark in 2003.

Sound View Beach, on the other hand, claims that its public beach actually began in 1892, subsequent to H. J. Hilliard’s deeding of the beach property to the “unorganized general public for its perpetual use”; thus, making Sound View America’s oldest public beach.

Bad math? I don’t think so. Revere is less than 10 miles (as the drone flies) from both Harvard and M.I.T.

Incompetent Massachusetts historians? I don’t know. Perhaps a team from Yale’s Archaeologic Studies Program can sift through the ruins and ash of the Antique Shanty and corroborate our claim.

I believe that there is an opportunity to settle the issue right on the sand with an annual beach volleyball tournament between Revere and Sound View. In time this might rival both “The Race” between Harvard and Yale’s heavyweight rowers (which began in 1859); and “The Game” between Harvard and Yale’s football teams (which began in 1875). Otherwise, our respective Chambers of Commerce should get involved and resolve the dispute.

Sincerely,

Thomas D. Gotowka,
Old Lyme.

Old Lyme Historical Society Presents Lecture Tonight on GIS Mapping of Duck River Cemetery

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James Kolb presents a lecture titled, ‘Duck River Cemetery Project : GIS mapping of Historic Cemetery,’ Wednesday, Aug. 21. This photo shows graves in the Victorian section of Duck River cemetery in Old Lyme.

OLD LYME — On Wednesday, Aug. 21, the Old Lyme Historical Society (OLHS) presents a lecture by James Kolb titled, ‘Duck River Cemetery Project : GIS mapping of Historic Cemetery.’ The event will be held at the OLHS building at 55 Lyme St., Old Lyme, starting at 7 p.m.

One of the distinctive memorials in Duck River Cemetery.

Kolb is a senior History major at U Conn with a double minor in Geography and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). He lives in Old Lyme and attended Lyme-Old Lyme Schools.

For the past year and a half, he has been working to create a complete GIS mapping of the gravestones and monuments in the historic Duck River Cemetery in Old Lyme. GIS databases allow us to link text and visuals with precise geographic coordinates. Pick a place and ask “what’s here” or pick a text string (such as a name or date) and ask “where is it?” — GIS can answer.

This coming Wednesday, Kolb will present his project and explain its historical and cultural importance.

All are welcome. Admission is free. Donations are welcome with the proceeds benefitting the OLHS.

On Sept. 26, at 7 p.m., Ellis Jewett will present the final lecture of the 2019 series, “The History of Old Lyme Fire Department.”