Monthly Archives: April 2021

Community Invited to Virtual Conversation TODAY on Creating Stronger Police Culture Through the ABLE™ Project

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LOL Partnership for Social Justice & FCCOL Sponsor Zoom Presentation by Nationally Recognized Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE)™ Program Developed by Civil Rights Activists & Law Enforcement at Georgetown Law Center

LYME/OLD LYME – On Sunday, Apr. 11, at 5 p.m., residents from across Connecticut are invited to participate in a conversation via Zoom on creating stronger police department cultures through the Georgetown Law Center’s nationally recognized Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE)™ program.

The conversation, which will take place on Zoom, is being sponsored by the Lyme-Old Lyme Partnership for Social Justice and the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme (FCCOL).

All are welcome to register for this free program by sending an email to lolpartnership4sj@gmail.com. Zoom invitations will be sent out Saturday, April 10.

Building upon a training developed by Dr. Ervin Staub, the founding director of a program on the psychology of peace and violence at the University of Massachusetts, ABLE was developed by academics, civil rights activists and police officers working together to explore innovative  and evidence-based ways to reduce harmful behavior.

The ABLE program leverages social science and real-world experience to teach practical skills to intervene in another officer’s conduct in order to prevent misconduct (be it an unlawful search or a knee on a neck), reduce mistakes, and promote officer-health and -wellness. In doing so, ABLE seeks to instill a culture within police departments where it becomes the norm to intervene before harm takes place.

Other professions, including the medical profession, already have benefited from similar training, but it has never been applied to law enforcement – until now.  

In announcing the event, FCCOL Senior Minister Rev. Steve Jungkeit said, “As the murder of George Floyd once  again enters the news cycle, there is renewed interest in measures to prevent police violence. One quite promising model for reform can be found in ABLE.”

While the program has been operational in New Orleans since 2016 under a different name, ABLE was given a national stage by Georgetown University Law Center and the global law firm Sheppard Mullin LLP in late 2020. The first national ABLE training took place in September 2020, and in the months that followed, more than 100 agencies have committed to the program, including Boston, the New  York City Police Department and Old Lyme. 

Panelists expected to speak during the presentation include: 

  • Jonathan Aronie, Partner, Sheppard Mullin; Chair, ABLE Project Board of Advisors
  • Brett Parson, Lieutenant, DC Metropolitan Police Officer (retired); Lead Training Instructor,  ABLE Project 
  • Greg Guiton, Director of Strategic Partnerships, FBI National Academy; Captain, Ocean City  Police Department (retired) 
  • Greg Hanna, Captain, Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Police (retired) 
  • Deirdre Jones, Deputy Chief and LGBTQ Liaison, Cleveland Division of Police
  • John Thomas, Deputy Chief, Field Operations, New Orleans Police Department 
  • Matt Weber, Resident State Trooper, Old Lyme 

“The ABLE Project was created to ensure every police officer in the United States has the opportunity to receive meaningful, effective active bystandership training while helping law enforcement agencies transform their approach to policing,” said Professor Christy Lopez, co director of Georgetown Law’s Innovative Policing Program, which runs ABLE.

She added, “Having duty-to intervene policies on the books isn’t enough. Building a police culture that supports and  sustains the successful use of proven peer intervention strategies is key to preventing harm.” 

During the community conversation, residents will be able to learn about the origin of the  program, hear from civil rights activists, who shaped the program, and from police departments that have adopted it, and learn about ways to bring this important training to Connecticut communities.

Whalebone Cove Friends Hold Annual Meeting; Features Talk on Handling Local Explosion of Invasive Hydrilla

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This photo was taken September 2020 during an inspection of Whalebone Cove, in which it was found that 60 to 70 percent of the waterways were clogged with hydrilla vines.

LYME — The Friends of Whalebone Cove host their annual meeting virtually Sunday, April 11, at 3 p.m. All are welcome.

The featured speaker will be Margot Burns, who is an environmental planner for the Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments (RiverCOG.) For a Zoom link to the meeting, send an email to: fowchadlyme@gmail.com

In the last three years, underwater invasive hydrilla (water thyme) vines have been spreading rapidly throughout the Connecticut River, choking its coves, bays, and tributaries and making them almost impassable for kayaks, canoes, motor boats, and many fishermen.
The spread of hydrilla is a major problem for the Connecticut River, which has exploded exponentially in just the last two years. More than 65 percent of Whalebone Cove was covered by it last year and 90 percent coverage is anticipated this year. Selden Cove, meanwhile, experienced 80 percent coverage in 2020.

This aerial picture shows hydrilla covering the Mattabasett River north of Middletown, CT, August 2020 by Greg Bugbee, Conn Agriculture Extension Station, New Haven.

Burns will discuss the worrisome spread of hydrilla and what steps need to be taken to mitigate its effect on the Connecticut River watershed and prevent its spread elsewhere in the State.
For more information about the problem and current responses to it, watch Invading the CT River — The Spread of Hydrilla and/or visit this link.
There are also four informative webinars on CT River Aquatic Invasives: Parts 1 through 4, links to which are provided below:

 

Letter to the Editor: Region#18 BOE Seeks Community’s Help in Finding Ways to Thank Lyme-Old Lyme Staff for Remarkable Efforts in Extraordinary Year

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To the Editor:

An Open Letter to the Lyme-Old Lyme Community

The sights and sounds of springtime are in the air and with those come thoughts of the end of the school year and the beginning of summer. As we look toward the end of this historic year, the Region #18 Board of Education asks your assistance in thanking our school staff for everything they have done this school year.  

Lyme-Old Lyme is unique for having offered full in-person instruction for the entire school year. This is nothing short of amazing and deserves our recognition and thanks. Therefore, we plan to recognize our staff for their commitment to making this year so successful. In this effort, we would like the community’s assistance.  

We are asking for donations that we can provide to our staff to show appreciation. We are not looking for monetary donations but instead are looking for opportunities within our community that will help our staff relax and recharge for another successful school year. These donations will be given to the staff at our annual end of the year banquet, which will be held outdoors this year in a COVID-safe environment.

If you own a business, or work in a business that may be willing to help, or just want to show your appreciation, please consider some of the following donation ideas.

  • Gift cards/certificates to restaurants, gyms, spas, recreational activities, hair salons, barbers, nail salons, etc.
  • Tickets to special events
  • Exercise or sporting equipment
  • Car services
  • Home services
  • Babysitting services

Donations can be sent to or dropped off at the Board of Education, ℅ Michelle Dean, Center School, 49 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT 06371.  

All donations are welcomed, no matter the size. Of most importance is the community’s thanks and appreciation for our staff who have provided our children with a sense of normalcy in what was a year like no other.

Sincerely,

The Region #18 Board of Education
Diane Linderman, Chair, Old Lyme
Rick Goulding, Old Lyme
Stacey Leonardo, Lyme
Jennifer Miller, Old Lyme
Mary Powell St. Louis, Lyme
Martha Shoemaker, Old Lyme
Suzanne Thompson, Old Lyme
Jean Wilczynski, Old Lyme
Steven Wilson, Old Lyme

Resolution on Racism Raised Again in Old Lyme BOS; No Progress Made, ‘Nothing to Discuss’ (Selectman Kerr)

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Old Lyme First Selectman Timothy Griswold (File photo)

***COMMENTING ON THIS ARTICLE IS CLOSED***Our apologies to those who  submitted comments after they were closed. We had not set the ‘Comments Closed’ option correctly — that has now been resolved. 

OLD LYME — The subject of the Resolution Declaring Racism a Public Health Crisis was again raised at the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen’s (BOS) meeting held this past Monday, April 5.

It came up first in Public Comment when George Clough of Old Lyme called in and said, “I want to ask the board of selectmen why the Resolution on Racism has not been acted upon.”

First Selectman Timothy Griswold (R) responded, saying, “I don’t subscribe to the idea that we have a public health crisis in Old Lyme.” He added that he felt the Resolution was written in a very negative way and “that it characterizes the townspeople” and “I just don’t buy it.”

Clough challenged Griswold’s response, noting other municipalities had already approved the Resolution and then asking, “So you don’t feel the problem of the systemic nature of racism is evident in Old Lyme at all?”

Griswold replied, “I don’t justify what other towns do. I’m just giving you my opinion.”

He invited the other two members of the board to give their opinions. Selectman Christopher Kerr (R) said, “I have no comment,” while Selectwoman Mary Jo Nosal (D) noted she planned to speak to the issue in Other Business.

Clough continued, “As one resident, I’m not going to let this go unchallenged … We do have issues in this town and we need to address them.”

He added, “I would say that if we don’t, we’ll end up with a Planning Commission sending a letter to legislators saying that we want to keep the character of the town as it is and don’t support changes in zoning regulations regarding Affordable Housing.”

Clough stated firmly that he found the Old Lyme Planning Commission’s recent letter, “Offensive,” and told Griswold and the board, “If it’s your opinion that it’s not offensive, you’re not fully understanding the nature of the problem.”

He offered to sit down and discuss the issue on a one-to-one basis noting it was inappropriate to “tie up the phone line” during the meeting, but concluded by saying again, “This issue has not been brought to a vote and I’m asking why.”

Old Lyme Selectwoman Mary Jo Nosal (File photo)

The board then moved to Other Business and Nosal followed up immediately with further comments on the Racism Resolution, expressing thanks to Clough for his support and reminding her fellow board members, “We’ve had many people calling in their support. People have come in [to do so] and a petition has been sent in.”

She noted that since August 2020, when she first mentioned the Resolution, she has been, “Requesting the board of selectmen to engage in a discussion to support the Resolution,” adding, “I’ve provided various versions [of the resolution] and lots of reading materials.”

Emphasizing that, “I have been sensitive to your concerns,” while mentioning that Griswold had, in fact, spoken at last year’s Black Lives Matter rally in Old Lyme, she said, “I hope we can have an open dialogue on it.”

Nosal noted, “CCM (Connecticut Conference of Municipalities) supports it. More than 21 towns have signed onto it. Our legislature is looking at it,” and then urged Griswold and Kerr to remember, “We don’t have to wait for a mandate.”

Saying, “We can show Old Lyme resolves to doing the work with the first step being to admit racism keeps people from enjoying the quality of life in Old Lyme,” she continued, “We should show a commitment to this goal by signing the Resolution and putting in place the time, effort and people to move forward.”

Noting that “So many people support this and are ready to help,” she said, “I’m asking the board to bring it up for a vote,’ adding that, as has been widely learned during the time of COVID, “We are all in this together.”

She invited Kerr and Griswold to discuss the matter.

Kerr responded, “I have nothing to discuss.”

Nosal said, “It’s really disappointing,” pointing out to her fellow board members that over the past eight months or so since she first brought attention to the matter, “Mostly I’ve talked … and you’ve ignored me. You haven’t been open to discussion,” commenting, “We can’t negotiate because we haven’t had a discussion.”

Stressing that she has been regularly raising the Resolution issue since last August, she concluded, “It’s been a long time. I will keep bringing it up, I will keep talking about it because by not signing it, we are on the wrong side of history.”

Editor’s Note: i) Nosal first raised the request at the Aug. 8, 2020 BOS meeting. It was not on the agenda at the Aug. 17 BOS meeting, but was discussed at the Sept. 8 BOS meeting and then again at the Sept. 22 BOS meeting.  Nosal raised the matter once more at both the Dec. 21 BOS meeting and the Jan. 4 BOS meeting.

ii) A draft of the Resolution is printed below for reference.

WHEREAS, racism is a social system with multiple dimensions: individual racism that is interpersonal and/or internalized or systemic racism that is institutional or structural, and is a system of structuring opportunity and assigning value based on the social interpretation of how one looks;

WHEREAS race is a social construct with no biological basis; 

WHEREAS racism unfairly disadvantages specific individuals and communities, while unfairly giving advantages to other individuals and communities, and saps the strength of the whole society through the waste of human resources; 

WHEREAS racism is a root cause of poverty and constricts economic mobility; 

WHEREAS racism causes persistent discrimination and disparate outcomes in many areas of life, including housing, education, employment, and criminal justice, and is itself a social determinant of health; 

WHEREAS racism and segregation have exacerbated a health divide resulting in people of color in Connecticut bearing a disproportionate burden of illness and mortality including COVID-19 infection and death, heart disease, diabetes, and infant mortality; 

WHEREAS Black, Native American, Asian and Latino residents are more likely to experience poor health outcomes as a consequence of inequities in economic stability, education, physical environment, food, and access to health care and these inequities are, themselves, a result of racism; 

WHEREAS more than 100 studies have linked racism to worse health outcomes; and 

WHEREAS the collective prosperity and wellbeing of TOWN depends upon equitable access to opportunity for every resident regardless of the color of their skin: 

Now, therefore, be it Resolved, that the TOWN Board of Selectmen

(1) Assert that racism is a public health crisis affecting our town and all of Connecticut; 

(2) Work to progress as an equity and justice-oriented organization, by continuing to identify specific activities to enhance diversity and to ensure antiracism principles across our leadership, staffing and contracting;

(3) Promote equity through all policies approved by the Board of Selectmen and enhance educational efforts aimed at understanding, addressing and dismantling racism and how it affects the delivery of human and social services, economic development and public safety;

(4) Improve the quality of the data our town collects and the analysis of that data—it is not enough to assume that an initiative is producing its intended outcome, qualitative and quantitative data should be used to assess inequities in impact and continuously improve;

(5) Continue to advocate locally for relevant policies that improve health in communities of color, and support local, state, regional, and federal initiatives that advance efforts to dismantle systemic racism;

(6) Further work to solidify alliances and partnerships with other organizations that are confronting racism and encourage other local, state, regional, and national entities to recognize racism as a public health crisis;

(7) Support community efforts to amplify issues of racism and engage actively and authentically with communities of color wherever they live; and

(8) Identify clear goals and objectives, including periodic reports to the Board of Selectmen, to assess progress and capitalize on opportunities to further advance racial equity.

April 8 COVID-19 Update: Old Lyme Falls From Red (Highest) Into Orange Zone, Lyme Stays in Gray (Lowest) for Two-Week Case Rates; Both Towns Up One in New Cases, OL at 317, Lyme at 98

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This map, updated April 8, shows the average daily rate of new cases of COVID-19 by town during the past two weeks. The Town of Old Lyme has moved down into the Orange (second highest) Zone, while Lyme remains in the (lowest) Gray Zone. (Only cases among persons living in community settings are included in this map; the map does not include cases among people who reside in nursing home, assisted living, or correctional facilities.)

LYME/OLD LYME — The report issued Thursday, April 8, by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) for the average daily rate of new cases of COVID-19 by town during the past two weeks shows a very marginal improvement for the whole state.

The number of towns in the state in the Red (highest) Zone for two-week new case rates has fallen from 146 last week to 142 this week. Old Lyme, which last week was in the Red Zone, is now one of the 10 towns in the Orange (second highest) Zone.

Lyme remains in the Gray Zone for two-week case rates, recording a fourth straight week in the lowest zone. Thirteen towns were in this zone last week and that number is the same this week. (Four zones are specified by the CT DPH — see details below.)

Overall, the number of towns in each zone is shown below with the previous week’s number in parentheses:

  • 13 (13) towns are now in the (lowest case rate) Gray Zone
  • 4 (2) are in the (lowest but one) Yellow Zone
  • 10 (8) are in the (second highest case rate) Orange Zone.

All the remaining 142 towns are in the Red Zone.

Lyme joins 12 other towns in the Gray (lowest rate) Zone: Ashford, Canaan, Chaplin, Chester, Cornwall, Eastford, Franklin, Hampton, New Canaan, Norfolk, Scotland, and Warren.

The Yellow (second lowest rate) Zone now has four towns: Essex, Lisbon, Salem and Willington.

Old Lyme joins nine other towns in the Orange (second highest rate) Zone : Barkhamsted, Canton, East Lyme, Pomfret, Sharon, Simsbury, Stafford, Stonington, and Waterford.

  • 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.
  • The yellow 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 between five and nine reported cases.
  • The orange 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 between 10 and 14.
  • 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.

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

This report is issued daily, but only updated weekly on Thursdays. The most recent report was updated Thursday, April 8; the next updated report will be issued in the afternoon of Thursday, April 15.

More Detail on Two-Week Case Rates

LLHD Director of Health Stephen Mansfield

On Thursday, April 8, Ledge Light Health District (LLHD) also issued their latest weekly report of COVID data for the municipalities within their District. Ledge Light Director of Health Stephen Mansfield prefaces the report with the comment, “We continue to see relatively steady case numbers within our jurisdiction. Our contact tracers report clusters associated with daycares, schools, and workplaces, and transmissions linked to social gatherings and sporting events.”

He stresses, however, “Although we are making great strides with our COVID vaccination program, it is still imperative that we remain diligent in our mitigation strategies.”

The latest two-week case rates announced Thursday, April 8 (from 3/21 to 4/3) have decreased in both Lyme and Old Lyme.

The two-week case rates are as follows:

  • Old Lyme from 15.5 to 12.6
  • Lyme from 12.2 to 9.2

The same report shows that the case numbers in Week 1 and Week 2 respectively and recorded for the period 3/21 to 4/3  (compared with the previous two-week case rate for 3/14 to 3/27 shown in parentheses) are as follows:

  • Lyme had 2 (2) cases in Week 1 and 1 (2) in Week 2
  • Old Lyme had 9 (7) cases in Week 1 and 4 (9) in Week 2

This data was updated April 8, 2021. The next Ledge Light Weekly Data Report for its District will be issued in the afternoon of Thursday, April 15.

Old Lyme – Cumulative Cases Up One

The Daily Data Report for Connecticut issued Thursday, April 8, by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT-DPH) for data as at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 7, shows that Old Lyme has a cumulative total (since the outbreak began) of 309 confirmed COVID-19 cases and EIGHT probable cases, making a TOTAL of 317 cases.

This represents an INCREASE of ONE  in the cumulative number of confirmed cases and NO CHANGE in the cumulative number of probable cases compared with those reported Wednesday, April 7.

The total number of Old Lyme residents tested is 4,988, an increase of 11 over Wednesday’s number of 4,977.

Lyme – Cumulative Cases Up One

Lyme has a cumulative total (since the outbreak began) of 89 confirmed cases and 9 probable cases, making a TOTAL of 98 cases.

This represents NO CHANGE in the cumulative number of confirmed cases compared with those reported Wednesday, April 7, and INCREASE of ONE  in the number of probable cases.

The total number of Lyme residents tested is 1,354, an increase of four over Wednesday’s number of 1,350.

Vaccination Rates

At the request of several readers, we have started a new section reflecting the status of community vaccination rates in Lyme and Old Lyme. The data is taken from the COVID-19 Vaccinations by Town report published by CT-DPH, which is published roughly weekly.

Lyme is ahead of Old Lyme in terms of the percentage of its total population that have received a first dose, with 65.2 percent vaccinated compared with 57.08 percent in Old Lyme.

The percentages for both towns for the age segments 65-74 and 75+ are very encouraging with Lyme now having 107.66 percent of seniors 75 and above having received their first dose and 96.1 percent of the same age segment having received it in Old Lyme.

The detailed data below is the most recent and was updated April 8.

Old Lyme
Total population:  7,306
Estimated population age 65-74:  1,067
Estimated population age 75 and above:  794

[table id=12 /]

Lyme
Total population:  2,316
Estimated population age 65-74:  372
Estimated population age 75 and above:  274

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Three Fatalities in Old Lyme Since Pandemic Began, None in Lyme

According to the report mentioned above, there have now been THREE fatalities in Old Lyme. Asked Tuesday, Feb. 9, for details of this third fatality, Ledge Light Health Department Director of Health Stephen Mansfield responded, “We have not been notified of any recent deaths in Old Lyme. Keep in mind that that report is compiled by the Connecticut Department of Public Health; deaths are not reportable to local health districts.”

He added, “I can’t speak for their data sources.”

The two fatalities from Old Lyme previously reported in 2020 were a 61-year-old female and an 82-year-old male.

No fatalities have been reported in Lyme.

Connecticut Hospital Occupancy

At the request of several readers, we have added a new report 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).

The most recent report is dated Feb. 19 and covers the two-week period from 2/12 to 2/18. No subsequent updates have been issued.

[table id=10 /]

Editor’s Note: 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. In light of the ongoing rise in Coronavirus cases, we publish a new weekday update reporting confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases in Lyme and Old Lyme.