Monthly Archives: August 2020

Mosquitoes in Stonington Test Positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) Virus

Posted on by
Reply

Mosquitoes can carry Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE.)

AREAWIDE/LYME/OLD LYME — (Froma Press Releas)Ledge Light Health District announced today that mosquitoes trapped in Stonington have tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus. The virus was found in Culiseta melanura species mosquitoes, which is a species that primarily bites birds.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis is a rare but serious disease caused by a virus that is transmitted by mosquitoes. In Connecticut, the virus has been found in trapped mosquitoes in most years. In 2019, there were four human cases of EEE in Connecticut.

Residents who live in towns or near towns where EEE virus has been found are advised to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites, including:

  • Be sure door and window screens are tight fitting and in good repair.
  • While outdoors for long periods of time, wear shoes, socks, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts. Clothing should be light colored and made of tightly woven materials that keep mosquitoes away from the skin.
  • Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors and to protect small babies when outdoors.

Consider the use of mosquito repellents recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), such as ones containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, IR3535, or 2-undecanone, and apply according to directions, when it is necessary to be outdoors.

  • When using DEET, use the lowest concentration effective for the time spent outdoors (for example, 6 percent lasts approximately two hours and 2 percent for four hours) and wash treated skin when returning indoors. Do not apply under clothing, to wounds or irritated skin, the hands of children, or to infants less than two months.
  • Minimize time spent outdoors between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.

Measures to reduce mosquitoes around the home include:

  • Dispose of water-holding containers, such as ceramic pots, used tires, and tire

Swings, clogged gutters.

  • Drill holes in the bottom of containers such as those used for recycling.
  • Change water in bird baths on a weekly basis.
  • Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, and cover pools when not in use.
  • Use landscaping to eliminate areas where water can collect on your property.

Additional resources for information on EEE and mosquito management can be found at http://www.ct.gov/mosquito/site/default.asp

Ledge Light Health District – LLHD – serves as the local health department for East Lyme, Groton, Ledyard, Lyme, New London, North Stonington, Old Lyme, Stonington and Waterford, Connecticut. As a health district, formed under Connecticut General Statutes Section 19a-241, LLHD is a special unit of government, allowing member municipalities to provide comprehensive public health services to residents in a more efficient manner by consolidating the services within one organization.

It’s Primary Day! In-Person Voting Open 6am-8pm, Absentee Ballots Deposited by 8pm Also Accepted

Posted on by
Reply

LYME/OLD LYME — The polls are open today, Tuesday, Aug. 11, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Lyme Town Hall for Lyme residents to vote in person and Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School for Old Lyme residents to vote in person.

If you are voting by Absentee Ballot and have not already mailed your ballot or deposited it in the secure drop box in front of the appropriate town hall, you still have time to place your ballot into both the inner and outer envelopes and then deposit it into the appropriate drop box.

Once deposited in the secure drop box, your ballot is considered received by your municipality.

Your ballot must deposited in the secure drop box no later than 8 p.m. this evening, Tuesday, Aug. 11.

Registered Democrats can view their sample ballot at this link. They are only voting in the Democratic Presidential Preference Primary and their choices on the ballot are:

  • Joe Biden
  • Bernie Sanders
  • Tulsi Gabbard
  • Uncommitted

Registered Republicans can view their sample ballot at this link. They are voting in the Republican Presidential Preference Primary AND the Republican 2nd Congressional District Primary. Their choices on the ballot are:

Presidential Preference Primary:

  • Donald J. Trump
  • Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente
  • Uncommitted

Republican 2nd Congressional District Primary:

  • Thomas Gilmer
  • Justin Anderson

Lyme Town Hall is closed to all other public business today to reduce the number of people in the building and potential virus exposure.

Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School gymnasium is at 53 Lyme St., Old Lyme. This new voting location for all Old Lyme residents will also be used in the November election.

At both locations, masks will be required and social distancing will be observed.

For more information on the election tomorrow, visit our related post: CT’s Primary is Tuesday; Have You Completed, Sent In Your Absentee Ballot? Do You Know Where, When to Vote in Person?

 

Yale Performs Alewife Sampling in Rogers Lake From Sunset to 2am Through Saturday

Posted on by
Reply

LYME/OLD LYME — Rogers Lake Authority has announced that Yale University will be doing their annual alewife sampling on Rogers Lake from Aug. 10 through Aug. 15. This activity will take place between sunset and 2 a.m.

The researchers will be using a large net and some floating green and white lights.

DEEP has been notified of this activity.

All persons out on the lake during this time are requested to stay clear of this work.

A Final Message to the Town from Old Lyme Emergency Management

Posted on by
Reply

OLD LYME — Old Lyme Emergency Management issued this final update on Tropical Storm Isiais at 7 p.m. this evening.

Restoration Status

Proudly we can say we are only eight residences away from being 100 percent restored. While we hoped this announcement could have come sooner, the support we received from Eversource has been exceptional beginning with the initial response and throughout the restoration process.

This has a been a long and hard seven days for all Old Lyme residents, local businesses and visitors. We wish to thank you for your patience and perseverance though this ordeal.

To those few who remain without power, we have been informed by Eversource that your restorations should be completed this evening. We are still using our Call Center TEXTING feature at 860-598-0120 for persons who wish to share their status. This new system has been excellent and extremely helpful to pinpoint where outages remain.

Moving forward, the Public Works crews are back today continuing to remove storm debris. Residents are reminded that the Transfer Station is open to accept your storm debris at no charge until the 15th of August. Charging stations and potable water will remain available at the Old Lyme Police Department Office, Lymes’ Senior Center and the Fire House at Boughton Road through the end of the week.

As we wind down our Emergency Operation Center and return to normal monitoring conditions, this will be our final update to the community for this storm. Future storm information including information for FEMA support programs for individual assistance relating to storm related losses will be forthcoming soon.

Please follow Old Lyme Emergency Management across our town website and social media platforms for further information. As always, please remain personally prepared for the next major event.

I and the entire emergency management and public safety team for the Town of Old Lyme wish to thank everyone in town for their assistance, and patience through this major event. The feedback and support we received from the community greatly assisted us at all times.

Thank you all, and please remain safe.

David W. Roberge
Director – Old Lyme Emergency Management

PS: In addition to our existing our Old Lyme Emergency Management Facebook and Twitter accounts, please consider  “Opt[ing]-in” to our new community enhancement feature from Everbridge. Simply text OLSTORM to 888-777 and you will receive text messages with storm-related news.

Editor’s Note: We here at LymeLine.com would like to express our thanks to David Roberge for keeping us posted throughout the storm and its aftermath, and also to him and the entire Town of Old Lyme Emergency Management and Public Safety Team for a job well done.