See Video of Old Lyme Board of Selectmen’s Debate, Read Full Report

Old Lyme First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder (D), who is running again for the position in November.

Former Old Lyme First Selectman and 2019 First Selectman Republican challenger, Tim Griswold.

OLD LYME — The Lyme-Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce hosted a debate between the candidates for the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen last Wednesday, Oct. 23, in the Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School auditorium.

First Selectman candidates Bonnie A. Reemsnyder (D, incumbent) and Timothy C. Griswold (R), and Selectman candidate Mary Jo Nosal (D, incumbent) were present. Chris Kerr (R, incumbent) did not attend the event but submitted an opening statement, which was read by Chamber President Rich Shriver.

The other three candidates all gave opening and closing statements, and answered questions posed by Elizabeth Hamilton, Executive Editor for CT Mirror, the event moderator. The questions were selected by a committee comprising Shriver, Hamilton and Olwen Logan, publisher of LymeLine.com, the event sponsor.

Visit this link for a full report of the event by Mary Biekert of The Day and published Oct. 24 on theday.com.

Visit this link to view a video recording of the debate made by The Day.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Polls at Cross Lane Firehouse in Old Lyme will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Absentee ballots are available through the Town Clerk.

Lyme, Old Lyme Adults Offered Free Flu Shot Today at Drive-Thru Clinic Exercise in Groton

Photo by Ibrahim Boran on Unsplash.

GROTON — No time to get a flu shot? Drive up with ease and roll up that sleeve!

Ledge Light Health District will host their 8th annual Drive Thru to Beat the Flu clinic in the parking lot of Fitch High School located at 101 Groton Long Point Rd. in Groton on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. while supplies last.

Flu shots will be available for adults 18 years and older at no cost who live in Lyme and Old Lyme, as well as East Lyme, Groton, Ledyard, New London, Stonington, North Stonington, and Waterford.

The Drive Thru to Beat the Flu is a full-scale exercise that allows Ledge Light Health District staff, Medical Reserve Corps and partners to practice mass dispensing plans. This year’s clinic is a regional exercise spearheaded by Ledge Light Health District in which area local health districts and other partners will work together using a scenario of the bird flu to provide vaccinations quickly and safely.

A flu consent form is required for each participant. Forms can be downloaded from www.llhd.org or obtained at the Drive-Thru. It is recommended that people wear a tank top, short sleeve shirt or loose-fitting clothes for easy access to the upper arm.

Call 860-448-4882 with any questions.

LLHD’s mission statement – to prevent disease, illness and injury; to protect and nurture our environment; and to promote improved health and prosperity for all residents – describes in more detail their slogan of “promoting healthy communities.”

Senators Formica, Somers Endorse Tim Griswold for Old Lyme First Selectman

State Senator Paul Formica (R-20th)

OLD LYME — (Press Release from Old Lyme RTC) Senator Paul Formica, 20th District and Senator Heather Somers, 18th District have announced their endorsement of Tim Griswold, candidate for first selectman in Old Lyme. Both Senators Formica and Somers served in their respective town governments while Tim was Old Lyme first selectman prior to 2011.

“I had the pleasure to serve as First Selectman of East Lyme when Tim served as First Selectman in Old Lyme”, said Senator Formica. “I got to know Tim’s abilities closely, and he has a tremendous knowledge of local, regional and state government and the effective management of a town. I feel Tim will do a fantastic job for Old Lyme reviewing current initiatives, evaluating what may be the true town priorities and quickly pursuing those priorities to complete projects with a transparent style.”

Senator Somers remarked, “I have been very close to the issues with public/private organizations here in Connecticut, and this summer’s revelations about financial misdeeds at the Connecticut Port Authority were alarming. Tim’s opponent, Bonnie Reemsnyder, was the head of the CTPA finance committee for several years before rising to chairwoman of the CTPA. She has not yet answered many questions about her leadership, an accounting of the arrangement by which the CTPA purchased $3,000 of photograph’s from Ms. Reemsnyder’s daughter, nor the abrupt firing of the office manager by the executive director, Evan Matthews, a week before he was put on administrative leave.

“Tim is an excellent leader for his town, with the right balance of administrative detail, financial understanding and care for the town voters’ priorities. I urge everyone to get behind Tim and his team and vote Row B on November 5th.”

Letter to the Editor: Vote Republican Trio to Help ‘Lift the Veil’ on BOE Proceedings

To the Editor:

I am writing to urge Old Lyme residents to vote for the Board of Education team of Suzanne Thompson, Jenn Miller and Steven Wilson.  I served on the Board of Education for two years, and I have three daughters in Lyme-Old LymeSchools.  Having served on the Board of Education as well as being a parent of LOL students, I have a strong interest in keeping our schools and facilities excellent.  The Board of Education must return to a more robust role in overseeing the school administration.  In recent years, major issues like universal pre-k, the $35.1 million budget, and (coming soon!) $1.5 million artificial turf field have had remarkably limited Board discussions and public questions.  I believe in strong community backing and buy-in on these significant projects.  Our Board of Education must lift the veil and allow all sides of these issues to be debated and discussed.  We MUST avoid another boathouse debacle in our town.

Thompson, Miller and Wilson represent the strength of leadership to return OUR Board of Education to a proper balance between the administration and the Town’s elected officers whom are charged with vigorously debating key issues before arriving at a conclusion.  All of these Row B candidates have either had kids through our system or have kids in the schools today, so their interests are vested.  They all have significant personal and professional accomplishments that have shaped their leadership, and all of them are active, contributing community members.  Please join me November 5th in voting for Row B for Old Lyme!

Sincerely,

Steve Spooner,
Old Lyme.

Letter to the Editor: Support Griswold, Kerr for Honesty, Integrity, and to Retain Old Lyme Charm

To the Editor:

It is my honor and pleasure to offer this letter of support for Tim Griswold and Chris Kerr for Old Lyme First Selectman and Old Lyme Board of Selectman.
Both Tim and Chris have a demonstrated track record of honesty, integrity and thoughtful, reasoned leadership.
Both seek local solutions and change informed by Old Lyme stake holders. Tim and Chris possess inherent skills and embrace basic tenets of transparency in good governance in providing leadership on behalf of all of the town’s citizens.
Tim and Chris capably understand the nuances of how Old Lyme and New England more broadly comprise the land of steady habits. As such, radical plans for large scale housing developments, town wide sewers, or other state influenced or state sponsored initiatives that significantly change what gives Old Lyme its classic New England small town charm are not necessary and not wanted.
Voters should ask themselves why they originally chose to reside in Old Lyme. If one wishes to have the things that drove that choice unmolested together with a public policy that is averse to increases in local taxes, then the only decision on November 5th is to cast your vote for Tim Griswold, Chris Kerr, and the entire team on Row B.
Sincerely,

Christopher Carter,
Old Lyme.