Monthly Archives: January 2021

Death of Vincent Scordino Announced; Old Lyme Beaches Were “His Favorite”

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“If we would just slow down, happiness would catch up to us.” R Carlson, Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff

Quick with a smile, open heart, and listening ear, Vincent Scordino knew how to be happy. He also knew how to worry. Here’s to hoping he only leaves the first trait behind. If not, he left us Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff … And It’s All Small Stuff in his office, so we too, can be open, kind and happy in his honor.

On Thursday January 21, 2021, at age 77, Vincent Scordino of East Longmeadow, MA and Venice, FL, passed away. He fought for weeks against COVID, beating the virus but not the after effects …

… Friends and family will miss his warmth, humor, love and generosity, but we celebrate a life well-lived, traveling and enjoying the waters and beaches from Prince Edward Island to Hawaii (and always comparing them to Old Lyme, CT, his favorite).

Visit this link to read the full obituary published Jan. 26, 2021 in The Republican.

Jan. 25 COVID-19 Update: Cumulative Cases in Lyme Rise to 72, Old Lyme’s Hold at 241

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LYME/OLD LYME — The report issued Monday, Jan. 25, by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) detailed that Old Lyme’s COVID-19 cumulative case numbers since the pandemic began held steady at 241 showing no change over Friday’s number. Lyme’s cumulative total, however, rose by three to 72 compared with Friday’s number of 69.

The two-week case rate per 100,000 population in Old Lyme announced Thursday, Jan. 21, continues to rise going from 51.4 to 58.2 while the same statistic in Lyme has fallen from 78.3 to 55.0.

The state issues a COVID-19 metric report daily around 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, which includes current data up to the previous evening. The Monday reports include data for the weekend as well as the previous Friday.

The Daily Data Report for Connecticut issued Monday, Jan. 25, by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) for data as at 8:30 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 24, shows the following:

Both Lyme and Old Lyme are still in the state-identified ‘Red Zone;’ where they have been for the past several weeks.

As of the Jan. 25 report, five towns in the state — Canaan, Cornwall, Colebrook, Norfolk and Warren — are now in the ‘Gray Zone.’

  • The red category is defined as when the Average Daily Rate of COVID-19 Cases Among Persons Living in Community Settings per 100,000 Population By Town exceeds 15.
  • The gray category is defined as when the Average Daily Rate of COVID-19 Cases Among Persons Living in Community Settings per 100,000 Population By Town is less than five or less than five reported cases.

In all cases, this rate does not include cases or tests among residents of nursing home, assisted living, or correctional facilities.

Old Lyme

Old Lyme now has a cumulative total (since the outbreak began) of 236 confirmed COVID-19 cases and FIVE probable cases, making a TOTAL of 241 cases.

This represents an INCREASE of ONE in the cumulative number of confirmed cases over the number (236) reported Friday, Jan. 22, and a DECREASE of ONE in the number of probable cases (6) reported the same day.

The total number of Old Lyme residents tested is 4,327.

There have been two fatalities in Old Lyme.

CT DPH Two-Weekly Report

The Jan. 25 report issued by CT DPH shows that during the two-week reporting period from 01/03/21 through 01/16/21, Old Lyme had 33 cases in Week 1 and 27 in Week 2. This data was updated Jan. 21, 2021.

The case rate in Old Lyme for 100,000 population is 58.2, reflecting an increase from the previously reported two-week rate of 51.4. A case rate of 15 or more cases per 100,000 population places a town in the state’s ‘Red Zone.’

Lyme

Lyme has a cumulative total (since the outbreak began) of 67 confirmed cases and FIVE probable cases, making a TOTAL of 72 cases.

This represents an INCREASE OF THREE in the number of confirmed cases and NO CHANGE in the number of  probable cases from the numbers reported Friday, Jan. 22.

There have been no fatalities in Lyme.

The total number of Lyme residents tested is 1,159.

Connecticut Hospital Occupancy

At the request of several readers, we are adding a new report today showing the respective rates of hospital occupancy at local hospitals. The data for this report is obtained from the Connecticut Hospital Occupancy Report published weekly by the CT DPH and extracted from the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) facility-level data for hospital utilization aggregated on a weekly basis (Friday to Thursday).

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CT DPH Two-Weekly Report

The Jan. 21 report issued by CT DPH shows that during the two-week reporting period from 01/03 through 01/16/21, Lyme had 14 cases in Week 1 and 4 in Week 2. This data was updated Jan. 21, 2021.

The case rate in Lyme for 100,000 population is 55.0 reflecting a decrease from the previously reported two-week-rate of 78.3. A case rate of 15 or more cases per 100,000 population places a town in the state’s ‘Red Zone.’

Editor’s Note: In light of the serious rise in Coronavirus cases, we have started a new weekday update reporting confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases in Lyme and Old Lyme. The next CT DPH Daily Data Report for Connecticut will be issued Tuesday, Jan. 26.

Ledge Light Opens Moderna Vaccination Appointments

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LYME/OLD LYME — Ledge Light Health District (LLHD) has received 300 doses of the Moderna COVID vaccine and scheduled clinics at the Groton City Municipal Building on Meridian Street for Thursday and Friday, Jan. 28 and 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

These clinics will be posted to the VAMS site at approximately 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26. Visit https://llhd.org and enter your name and email address to begin your registration in VAMS. Each person enrolling must have a unique email address, meaning you cannot sign up multiple people under one email address. Phone appointments cannot be made at this time.

The hope is to vaccinate LLHD residents that are eligible under phase 1A, as well as those aged 75 and over.

Both of these clinics are expected to fill up quickly.

Old Lyme Joins Growing Pollinator Pathway Initiative with ‘Pollinate Old Lyme!’

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OLD LYME — A town-wide initiative in Old Lyme will give migrating birds and butterflies a more bountiful stopping ground this year. Pollinate Old Lyme! launches Jan. 26 with two free presentations via online Zoom meetings open to the public. The one-hour Zoom presentations will be held at 12 noon and 6 p.m. and require pre-registration via email. 

Created by the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen’s Sustainable Old Lyme Team, the initiative is part of a growing national effort to establish pollinator-friendly habitats and food sources for wildlife.

“A growing number of people want to support pollinating insects and birds, but they don’t know where to start, or they need help along the way. We’re going to make it easier and fun to do as a community,” said Suzanne Thompson, a gardener and co-leader of the Pollinate Old Lyme! initiative.

She adds, “Simple actions can add up to big benefits for our natural ecosystem. So many people took up vegetable gardening and really got back out into nature this past year. We see that continuing in 2021, so we’re looking forward to sharing ideas and information across our community.”

The Old Lyme initiative is part of Pollinator Pathway Northeast (Pollinator-pathway.org), with its geographic focus on Massachusetts to Pennsylvania. The program emphasizes including native plants and trees on one’s property, managing invasive species, reducing or eliminating pesticide and herbicide use, and practicing pollinator-friendly lawn care. There are activities for non-gardeners, too; “green thumbs” are not required.

Pollinators, including native bumblebees, and species of butterflies, insects, birds, and bats are threatened with extinction due to the loss of their natural habitats that provide food and shelter, widespread use of pesticides and other lawn chemicals, and climate change.

Pollinate Old Lyme! will encourage residents to take steps to support pollinators which live or migrate through these habitats. Simple actions such as adding native plants to flower boxes or choosing to keep native oaks, maples and shrubs contribute to this ecosystem.

Residents will see an increase in butterflies and birds in their backyards by planting Milkweed for Monarch Butterflies or Cardinal Flower for hummingbirds. Many species of pollinators depend on specific native plants for food and survival.

The Jan. 26 web presentations will introduce Old Lyme residents to the new initiative and share simple ways they can be a part of the regional “pollinator pathway” which links individual properties and gardens along with public lands and open spaces. Participants will be invited to add their location to a virtual map of the Northeast Pathway.

Over a dozen Old Lyme organizations, including the Duck River Garden Club, the Roger Tory Petersen Estuary Center, and the Old Lyme-PGN Library, are participating by hosting anchor gardens and providing educational opportunities during 2021.

Email  PollinateOldLyme@gmail.com to sign up for either the 12 or 6 p.m. web presentations and to receive Zoom log-in information. Other questions and information can also be found by emailing PollinateOldLyme@gmail.com.

LYSB Screens ‘LIKE’ Documentary to Spark Community Discussion on Real Impact of Social Media

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LYME/OLD LYME — Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau hosts a virtual screening of the compelling new documentary LIKE, Tuesday, Jan. 26, at  7 p.m. The event is free of charge and all are welcome.

Parents, educators and community members interested in attending must pre-register for the Zoom link either here or by visiting www.lsyb.org.

More than 2 billion people have smartphones today … and we check our phones on average 150 times every day. Technology makes our lives easier in so many ways – but what is the cost of our dependence, and our children’s reliance, on screens?

LIKE is a new documentary exploring the impact of social media on our lives. It reveals the true effects of technology on the brain and uncovers the impact social media can have on our lives. The film’s mission is to educate, inform and inspire people to effectively self-regulate their screen time.

Social media is a tool and social platforms are a place to connect, share and care… but is that what is really happening? When social media users chase “likes” or seek followers, they lose sight of the fact that their devices are now using them. The goal of the screening is to raise awareness about the hidden costs of social media as well as start a conversation about how to ensure our own, and our children’s, healthy use of technology.

The LIKE screening will be followed by an informative panel discussion featuring experts from the film.

The following day, Wednesday, Jan. 27, the film will be viewed by all students at Lyme-Old Lyme Middle and High Schools.  This is a great opportunity to start conversation with your children about a real issue in their every day lives.

The film features interviews with experts including Max Stossel, Head of Education & Content at Center for Humane Technology; Leah Pearlman, Co-Creator of the Facebook “Like” button; Dr. Jerry Bubrick, Senior Psychologist at Child Mind Institute; Professor Jevin West, DataLab, iSchool, University of Washington; John Borthwick, CEO, Betaworks; and Professor Katie Davis, author of The App Generation.

To learn more about LIKE, visit http://thelikemovie.com

Editor’s Note: IndieFlix Group Inc is a global screening and streaming service that promotes and supports social impact films to create positive change in the world. IndieFlix screening service books offline community screenings in schools and corporations around the world while IndieFlix online streaming offers a monthly subscription based service to access thousands of high-quality shorts, features, documentaries, and series from around the world.

For more information, visit https://www.indieflix.com/