Monthly Archives: March 2020

Death Announced of Old Lyme’s 2017 Citizen of the Year, Captain Roderick M. White

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This photo was taken Jan. 22, 2018, on the night that the late Captain Roderick M. White was named Old Lyme’s 2017 Citizen of the Year. From left to right standing are Old Lyme Selectwoman Mary Jo Nosal, Selectman Chris Kerr, Judy White, and then First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder, who presented the award. Captain White, whose death was announced yesterday, is seated.

OLD LYME — The death of Captain Roderick M. White on March 11, 2020, has been announced. He was 91. A service for White will be held at the United States Coast Guard Chapel with an inurnment in the Columbarium at the Academy. Services will be scheduled when the Academy re-opens.

Captain White was Old Lyme’s 2017 Citizen of the Year and the proclamation announcing that read, “Over the course of his 50+ years in Old Lyme, Rod White has set a high standard for community service. Born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts, Rod graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1950. He spent the next quarter of a century making his mark in the Coast Guard. A faculty member from 1969 to 1974, he served as Dean of Academics from 1974 to 1983. In 1969, he was named the outstanding Naval Engineer of the year, receiving the prestigious Gold Medal from the American Society of Naval Engineers.”

Commenting in more detail on White’s Gold Medal citation, the Proclamation said it, “refers to “his exceptional analytical skills and technical competence… [and] significant contributions in the advancement of icebreaker design …” It was Rod’s “White Bow” design that made it possible for the SS Manhattan to make the first successful transit of the Northwest Passage by a commercial vessel.”

Another photo from the 2017 Citizen of the Year celebrations shows Captain White (seated) being congratulated by previous Old Lyme Citizens of the Year, Jeff Sturges (left) and Lynn Fairfield-Sonn (right.) See more photos of that night at this link.

The Proclamation continued, “Rod White has used his exceptional skills in our community in so many ways. A founding member of the Harbor Management Commission, he served as Chair from 1988 to 1994, and was elected Registrar of Voters from 1993 to 2004. An active member of the Republican Town Committee, serving as both secretary and vice-chair, he was elected for two terms to the Regional District 18 Board of Education, serving from 1997 to 2005.  Rod was our Town’s representative to the Southeastern Tourism District for many years, and currently serves on the Board of Assessment Appeals, a position to which he was first elected in 2007.”

Adding, “Despite his obviously busy schedule, Rod willingly shared his talents with a larger community, as well,”  the Proclamation listed that Captain White served as Executive Director for the Eastern CT Foundation for Public Giving, Executive Director of the Coast Guard Foundation, Chair of the Boy Scouts Long Range Planning Committee and as a member of both the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Board and Connecticut’s Olympic Committee. He was also a loyal and active member of Rotary International since 1975.

Read Captain White’s obituary at this link.

Editor’s Note: We extend our deepest sympathies to Captain White’s family on his passing. We knew him as a kind and gracious gentleman, always ready to help anyone at any time, and a pillar of public service .

And Here’s Something We All Need … 23 Pieces of Good News Regarding COVID-19

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Photo by CDC on Unsplash

Christina Ausley from SeattlePI was thinking things were just too depressing so she decided to look for some positive news about the coronavirus.

She found, “there’s a handful of worldwide news doling out glimmers of hope in the midst of frightening times,” so, in her words, “we’ve rounded up all the good news about the virus worth catching up.”

Here’s her article, Stay positive: Here are 23 pieces of good news regarding COVID-19, which was published on NewHavenRegister.com today.

Selectmen Declare State of Emergency for Old Lyme

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Old Lyme First Selectman Timothy Griswold

OLD LYME — Old Lyme First Selectman Timothy Griswold called this morning to let us know that, at their meeting yesterday evening, the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen approved the declaration of a State of Emergency for the Town of Old Lyme. The immediate effect of the declaration is in Griswold’s words, “to keep the public at bay” [from town hall] meaning that the public will no longer have access to Memorial Town Hall from tomorrow onward.

Town hall staff will still be working, however, and reachable by phone and email.  People who need to conduct face-to-face business with a department must call that department to discuss whether they can schedule an appointment.

Griswold said tonight’s scheduled Old Lyme Board of Finance meeting would go ahead as planned but noted that the selectmen are looking into “a service to enable some meetings to be held probably telephonically,” in the future. He explained “the recording of the meeting could then be put online,” and that would “satisfy [Governor] Lamont’s recommendations” regarding not getting together in person for meetings. Griswold stressed, however, that boards, commissions and committees are being “encouraged to postpone” whenever possible unless “there is something they really need to meet for.”

Responding to a question as to why the State of Emergency was justified, Griswold said it gives the board “more flexibiility” and “the ability to take action without a meeting … more quickly and more unilaterally.” He added that it also enables volunteers, who becomes ill [from the virus] to claim Worker’s Compensation and significantly, allows the Town to have a “higher chance of reimbursement” if it spends any unanticipated monies during the crisis.

Asked what his message was to the residents of Old Lyme, Griswold urged them to “follow all the advice we’ve been hearing,” by “being sensible,” and “minimizing social contact with other people.” Saying, “I feel for small businesses and we’re really hoping there will be some relief for them from the Feds or the state,” he noted, “LYSB is going to assist where needed,” and stressed, “We’re all doing the best we can.”

All Old Lyme Municipal Buildings to be Closed from Wednesday Onwards

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File photo of a Flagpole Ceremony at Old Lyme Memorial Town Hall. The Town Hall will be closed to the public from Wednesday, March 18.

OLD LYME — The Town of Old Lyme issued the following announcement this evening:

Due to the threat of the global COVID-19 pandemic, several measures are taking place to protect public safety and limit the spread of the virus within the town.

Town Buildings Closing to the Public

The Town will be closing all municipal buildings to the public on Wednesday, March 18, until further notice. Municipal Town Hall will be staffed and offices will be reachable by phone and email.  A list of phone and email contacts will be available on the Town of Old Lyme COVID-19 home page shortly. People who need to conduct face-to-face business with a department must call that department to discuss whether they can schedule an appointment.

Lymes’ Senior Center Closed, Lunches Offered “To-Go”

The Lymes’ Senior Center will be closed until further notice as of Tuesday 3/17/20.  The town nurse will still be available M-F 11:15 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. Those who normally eat lunch at the center will be able to order a lunch “to go” through the Estuary Senior Center in Old Saybrook by calling (860) 388-1611 x216 before 11 a.m. on the Monday before the week. Those wishing to use this service can pick it up curbside at the Lymes’ Senior Center on Tuesday’s between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. One reservation will provide five frozen meals. For more information, visit this link.

Public Safety Operations

Old Lyme public safety services including Fire, EMS, and Police are fully functional. If the needs arise to call 911 to report an emergency, advise the dispatcher of any COVID-19 related symptoms or issues that may exist for that call. This will give first responders the ability to better prepare themselves for any type of response. 

Remain Vigilant

During this time it is imperative that all persons practice recommendations provided by public health officials. Those include practicing social distancing, refraining from touching your face, avoiding crowds, using appropriate methods to clean surfaces, and practicing personal hygiene including washing your hands.  

Additional Updates from the Town of Old Lyme

More information will be available shortly on the Town of Old Lyme website and Facebook page, as well at the Town of Old Lyme Emergency Management Facebook page.

As a reminder, here at LymeLine.com, we are updating our list of local Closures & Cancellations daily.

Mattson Issues Update on Town of Lyme’s Public Health Responses

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Lyme First Selectman Steven Mattson.

LYME — Earlier this evening, Lyme First Selectman Steve Mattson issued the following update on the Town of Lyme’s Public Health responses to the Governor’s declaration of a public health emergency. He stated that the Town has taken the following actions:

  • Meetings and conference calls with Ledge Light Health District, the State Department of Public Health and the Governor’s office have been held and the Town is receiving multiple updates each day.
  • All Town Boards and Commissions and most private organizations have been advised to limit the size of events and give special protection to the at-risk population above 60 years of age and those with underlying medical conditions. Most events are being cancelled.
  • The Town website has been reorganized around the public health response. The emergency-notification ability has been activated and it is hoped everyone is checking for updates and has signed up for emergency notifications. The website will not be used for the moment-by-moment news available through many other outlets, but will communicate the Lyme-specific information as it changes.
  • A new email address is provided for contacting the Board of Selectmen for answers to resident’s questions: AsktheLymeBOS@gmail.com
  • The CEO issued an Executive Order closing all town buildings to the public while maintaining our staff on-site to assist residents by phone or email (see website for contact information of the departments). Meetings of Town Boards and Commissions have been cancelled.
  • The First Selectman formed a COVID-19 Response Team based on the Emergency Operations Plan previously adopted and updated. Individual assignments are being made and all included organizations and departments have their planning activities underway.
  • First responder organizations (Fire, Ambulance and Emergency Management) have been mobilized and entered their planning phases. Inventories of available materials and equipment have been made and efforts to acquire additional supplies are being sought. Volunteers to assist these groups will be needed.
  • The Response Team is forming a “high-risk resident outreach” and a “volunteer coordination” effort led by the Lyme Social Services Director and Lyme Town Clerk, supported by the Emergency Management Department and the Lyme Second Selectman. Email the townclerk@townlyme.org if you are willing to help. The need to phone and check on residents and to transport or distribute food and supplies if things get really bad is anticipated. Any other expertise should be mentioned should other needs arise.
  • A list of isolated residents will hopefully become available and should residents want to be included on that list for follow-up, they can also contact the board of selectmen for inclusion.

Mattson added, “At present, there has not been a positive case of COVID-19 in New London County, but it will happen, including here in Lyme. Lyme faces an unimaginable period that has never happened before.”

He stressed, “We will survive it. If all of us employ social distancing and look out for each other – which is one of the values that makes Lyme special – we can minimize the damage to our residents and our way of life,” concluding, “Please protect yourselves and your families and volunteer where you can and don’t panic.”