Monthly Archives: June 2020

Death of Peng Patana of Old Lyme, Formerly of Laos, Announced

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OLD LYME – Peng Patana, 79, passed away May 15, 2020. He was born Dec. 3, 1940, in Luang Prabang, Laos and emigrated with his family to the USA in 1980.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Bouasy; and his sons, Vong (daughter-in-law Touny), Vahn, Soukahn, Kampahn, and Sichanh. He was predeceased by  his youngest son, Santy, in 2018. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Abby, Bryce, Louis, Logan and Monroe.

With many relatives and friends to speak of, Peng has left behind a lasting impression.

After escaping the heavily bombed country of Laos in 1979 …

Visit this link to read the full obituary published May 21 on TheDay.com.

Governor Changes Graduation Ceremony Rules, But Lyme-Old Lyme HS Commencement to Stay as Planned with Parent, Student Support

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The traditional hat toss will not happen this year for the Lyme-Old Lyme High School Class of 2020 but plans have been made for a ‘Drive-up Graduation’ ceremony instead. File photo by Kim Tyler.

LYME/OLD LYME — It’s just a week until the Lyme-Old Lyme (LOL) High School Class of 2020 graduates on June 12. Detailed plans for this year’s unusual commencement ceremony, which involves a drive-up event due to COVID-19 restrictions, had already been made when Governor Lamont announced this past Wednesday that outdoor graduations for a maximum of 15o students at one time would be permitted from July 6 onward.

Asked whether Lyme-Old Lyme Schools had any plans to change the format for their ceremony, Superintendent Ian Neviaser explained that there had been two separate virtual meetings held via Zoom with parents of seniors and similarly two separate meetings with students when graduation options and plans were discussed in detail. “We had a completely open conversation,” he noted.

The parent meetings involved around 60 families on the first call and roughly 75 families on the second while approximately 25 students attended each of their meetings. The overwhelming consensus at all four meetings was that people were on board with the drive-up graduation, which has now been planned in detail.

Neviaser pointed out that Region 18 still awaits official notification from the Governor’s office of the revised guidelines and that with only a week and two days to go after the announcement was made and before the planned graduation date of June 12, it was extremely short notice to consider making a change. Moreover he noted many students already had plans in July with respect to college, jobs, and vacations .

Emphasizing that with 127 graduates, LOL Schools could never have held a single ceremony — as is done traditionally — because the Governor’s 150-person restriction would not permit that, he concluded, “The vast majority are excited about next week’s ceremony … they did not want to push graduation off … they all want to get some closure.”

Inaugural Online Exhibition at Lyme Academy Now on View, Features Artwork by Lyme School Students

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“Nature Rings,” a remarkable work by Morgan Buerger, Grade 5, is on view in the “Art is … Elementary” online exhibition, hosted by Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, which opens June 5.

OLD LYME — Lyme Academy of Fine Arts is launching a new online gallery with an inaugural exhibition titled “Art Is … Elementary. Selected Works by the Fine Artists of Lyme Consolidated School, Lyme.” The exhibition will be open for viewing Friday, June 5.

Lyme Academy has hosted the Lyme-Old Lyme Schools K-12 “Youth Art Show” in the Sill House Gallery for more than 30 years. This year, which would have been the 35th annual show, had to be cancelled since all schools in Connecticut were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic,

This delightful work, titled,”A Mandolorian Cuteness,” by Renee Viera, Grade 4, is included in the online exhibition.

The revitalized Academy has been expanding into the online arena in recent months offering both lessons and demonstrations. “An online gallery therefore seemed the next logical step,” explains Kimberly Monson, Instructor and Programming Director at Lyme Academy, adding, “It’s a way to offer our community a means to share art.”

This cheery”Happy Frog” by Colton Schroder, Grade 1, is on show in the new exhibition.

Asked how this particular show featuring student artists from grades K-5 at Lyme Consolidated School came about, Monson says, “It felt like these kids were experiencing a lot of loss. It’s hard enough for them to be away from school, their teachers and their friends, but then to have all of the extra-curricular activities cancelled as well, that’s an awful lot to take away” Lyme Consolidated School art teacher, Jennifer Pitman adds,“The pandemic has cost us so many of our cherished traditions. I’m really glad that this is one tradition we’ve been able to uphold.”

“The Amazing Principle” by Jonah Scheckwitz, Grade 4, is an instantly-recognizable drawing of the real Lyme School Principal James Cavalieri.

 

Monson went on to explain, “Jen [Pitman] and I felt this was something we could give back to the kids. It’s a way to celebrate them with an exhibition, which is still hosted by Lyme Academy.”

This evocative work, titled, “A Sunset Reflection,” by Brooke Burgess, Grade 5, is featured in the upcoming show.

Pitman credits Monson with really making the show happen, noting, ““I’m really grateful for Kimberly’s support. Showing our students’ art on the Lyme Academy’s new Online Gallery is a real treat. It’s exciting for the kids to be able to see their work displayed by such a prestigious institution. And she provided a big assist by putting the exhibition together.” Monson was well-suited to serving as a catalyst for the show since, in addition to her employment at Lyme Academy, she is also a professional, working artist.

“On The Rails” by Zak Benedetto, Grade 2, utilizes wonderful colors.

Pitman concludes, “The annual Youth Art Show is a real highlight for me. I hope all of the students and their families will enjoy seeing the results of their hard work in this new way. I’m so proud of their growth as young artists.”

This wise-looking “Owl” by Mary McAdams, Grade 2, makes its debut in the Lyme Academy online show.

View the exhibition at this link.

 

 

 

COVID-19 Cases in Old Lyme Rise to 18, Lyme Holds at One

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Photo by CDC on Unsplash

OLD LYME/LYME — Old Lyme First Selectman Timothy Griswold confirmed by text message Thursday to LymeLine that one new case of COVID-19 was reported on May 26 in Old Lyme. This confirmed case, which he mentioned at the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen’s meeting on Monday, June 1, was a 67-year-old male.

Ledge Light Health District issues an update on COVID-19 statistics in their coverage area each Friday afternoon.  We will publish any additional details from that as soon as we receive the update.

There are now 17 confirmed COVID-19 case in Old Lyme plus one fatality.

In an effort to clarify the growth in confirmed COVID-19 cases in Old Lyme, the table below is a summary of the cases that LymeLine has reported since March 31 when the first case was announced and also includes the fatality.

[table id=3 /]

Details of all Old Lyme’s confirmed cases to date are now as follows:

  • a 64-year-old female
  • a 21-year-old female
  • a 27-year-old male
  • a 53-year-old female
  • a 61-year-old female
  • a 29-year-old female
  • a 40-year-old male
  • a 53-year-old male
  • a 60-year-old female
  • a 48-year-old male
  • a 85-year-old female
  • a 95-year-old female
  • a 20-year-old female
  • a 43-year-old female
  • a 48-year-old female
  • a 70-year-old male
  • a 67-year-old male

The fatality, which is in addition to the confirmed cases listed above, was a 61-year-old female.

Griswold has previously noted that the 21-year-old female with a confirmed case was tested in Florida, but used an Old Lyme address although she does not live here. Because she gave the Old Lyme address, Griswold said that Ledge Light Health District must report her as an Old Lyme resident.

Lyme’s first and only confirmed case was a 34-year-old male.

Work Starts on Lyme-Old Lyme Schools’ Tennis Courts, End Date Scheduled Early August

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All photos by Mary Jo Nosal.

OLD LYME — Work on the six Lyme-Old Lyme Schools tennis courts at the central campus on Lyme Street began yesterday.

Superintendent Ian Neviaser told LymeLine, “We are installing post tension concrete courts over the old courts,” clarifying,  “No paving [is] involved.”

The work is being done by Classic Turf Company, LLC and is expected to be completed by early August at a cost of  $431,772.

Take a look at this video to see the construction in action.