Monthly Archives: December 2021

Letter to the Editor: Update on Old Lyme American Rescue Plan Committee’s Community Survey

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To the Editor:

Thank you very much for supporting these efforts. There has been considerable activity on the community survey since your recent coverage (published December 13th.) By yesterday morning, December 15, we had already received 270 online surveys completed by residents, businesses, and/or organizations. We have not yet had any submissions of the paper survey that is available at the Town Hall reception desk.

This is a great start, but we want to be confident that we have thoroughly and broadly polled our community. To achieve that goal, we are placing posters in high visibility locations in Old Lyme, and mailing post cards to residents.

I can’t overstate the importance of these survey results; they will provide a framework for the Committee’s estimate of Old Lyme’s collective need, and help set priorities that will be included in the funding recommendation made to the Board of Selectmen.

Note that the online survey will remain open for submissions past the end of the year; but end on January 7, 2022.

Sincerely,

Thomas D. Gotowka,
Old Lyme.

Editor’s Note: The author is the chairman of the Old Lyme American Rescue Plan Committee.

Dec. 14 COVID-19 Update: Four New Cases in Old Lyme Take Cumulative Case Total to 541, Lyme Holds at 140

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LYME-OLD LYME — The Daily Data Report issued Tuesday, Dec. 14, at 4 p.m. by the Connecticut Department of Health (CT DPH) shows four new, confirmed COVID-19 case in Old Lyme taking the town’s total of cumulative cases to 541.

No new cases were reported in Lyme, keeping that town’s cumulative total at 140.

The state does not issue reports over the weekend nor on public holidays. The next report from CT DPH will be issued Wednesday, Dec. 15, at around 4 p.m.

This past week, between the state’s reporting days of Friday, Dec. 3, and Friday, Dec. 10, a total of 31 new cases were reported in Old Lyme. During the same period, Lyme reported three new cases.

The Monday, Dec. 6 case total of 18 was the highest single-day increase in Old Lyme since the first case was recorded in town on March 31, 2020.

The previous highest number was 17, which was recorded Nov. 6, 2020.

As we reported in our Thursday, Dec. 9 weekly COVID-19 Update, Lyme and Old Lyme are now in the Red Zone in the weekly COVID-19 Average Daily Case Rate Report issued by the state on that day. The CT DPH will issue an updated map of the zones Thursday, Dec. 9 — the map is updated weekly on Thursdays.

The number of towns statewide in the Red Zone has increased dramatically in the past two weeks with 135 towns in it last week and 162 this week. To give a further indication of the significance of the increase, the number of towns in the Red Zone on Oct. 7, 2021 was down to 37.

All the towns in the Ledge Light Health District (LLHD) are in the Red Zone.

The cumulative total of confirmed cases for Old Lyme has now increased by 98 since Wednesday, Nov. 10, when the total stood at 443 — that number had stood unchanged for a week since the previous Thursday, Nov. 4.

On Aug. 26 — which was the day Lyme-Old Lyme Schools started the new academic year — Old Lyme’s cumulative case total stood at 372, meaning there have now been 165 new cases there since that date. Meanwhile, Lyme’s cumulative total on Aug. 26 was 114 indicating 26 new cases have also been confirmed there during the same period.

In an email sent Thursday, Dec. 9, regarding the latest COVID-19 data, Ledge Light Health District (LLHD) Deputy Director of Health Jennifer Muggeo stated, “There is a sharp increase in the number of new COVID cases within our jurisdiction, which is consistent with an increase in COVID cases statewide, according to DPH data. Unfortunately, we expect this trend to continue as we move into the holiday season.”

She added, “LLHD continues to focus our vaccination efforts on homebound populations and providing initial vaccinations and boosters to individuals who were vaccinated previously. Information about vaccination opportunities can be found at https://llhd.org/coronavirus-covid-19-situation/covid-19-vaccine/

It is imperative that we remain diligent in our mitigation strategies. We strongly advise everyone to continue to wear masks indoors in public settings, regardless of vaccination status.”

COVID-19 Cases in Lyme-Old Lyme Schools

This is the latest information that we have with the most recent case first — there may have been further updates, however, which we have not yet received.

On Monday, Dec. 13, Lyme-Old Lyme (LOL) Schools Superintendent Ian Neviaser informed the school community that a positive case of COVID-19 impacting Mile Creek School had been reported.

On Thursday, Dec. 9, Neviaser informed the school community that a total of three positive cases of COVID-19 impacting Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School (LOLMS), Center School, and Lyme School respectively had been reported.

On Monday, Dec. 6, Neviaser informed the school community that a positive case of COVID-19 impacting Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School (LOLMS) had been reported.

On Friday, Dec. 3, Neviaser informed the school community that a positive case of COVID-19 impacting Center School had been reported.

On Monday, Nov. 30, Neviaser informed the school community that a positive case of COVID-19 impacting Lyme-Old Lyme High School (LOLHS) had been reported.

On Monday, Nov. 29, Neviaser informed the school community that a positive case of COVID-19 impacting Mile Creek School had been reported.

On Tuesday, Nov. 23, Neviaser informed the school community that a positive case of COVID-19 impacting LOLHS had been reported.

On Monday, Nov. 22, Neviaser informed the school community that a positive case of COVID-19 impacting Mile Creek School had been reported.

On Thursday, Nov. 18, Neviaser informed the school community that a positive case of COVID-19 impacting LOLHS had been reported.

On Wednesday, Nov. 17, Neviaser informed the school community that a positive case of COVID-19 impacting LOLHS had been reported.

On Sunday, Nov. 14, Neviaser informed the school community that over the weekend a positive case of COVID-19 impacting LOLHS had been reported.

On Wednesday, Oct. 20, Neviaser informed the school community that a positive case of COVID-19 impacting LOLHS had been reported.

On Wednesday, Oct. 5, Neviaser informed the school community that a positive case of COVID-19 impacting LOLHS had been reported the previous evening.

On Thursday, Oct. 23, Neviaser informed the school community of two intrafamilial positive cases of COVID-19 impacting LOLMS. He stated, “We were able to complete our contact tracing and the one individual who must quarantine has been notified.”

On Thursday, Sept. 23, Neviaser informed the school community of two intrafamilial positive cases of COVID-19 impacting LOLMS. He noted, “We were able to complete our contact tracing and the one individual who must quarantine has been notified.”

On Wednesday, Sept. 22, Neviaser informed the school community of a positive case of COVID-19 impacting LOLHS.

On Thursday, Sept. 16, Neviaser informed the school community that a previously reported positive case of COVID-19 is now impacting Mile Creek School and Center School.

On Monday, Sept. 13, Neviaser informed the school community that a positive case of COVID-19,  which had been reported the previous day, was impacting LOLMS.

On Wednesday, Sept. 1, Neviaser informed the school community that a positive case of COVID-19 was impacting Mile Creek School.

On Tuesday, Aug. 31, Neviaser informed the school community that late on Monday, Aug. 30, a positive case of COVID-19 impacting LOLHS had been reported.

On Saturday, Aug. 28, Neviaser informed the school community that late on Friday, Aug. 27, a positive case of COVID-19 impacting Lyme School had been reported.

In all cases, contact tracing was completed and those individuals who needed to quarantine were notified. They will be able to return to school following their quarantine period. All other students and staff will continue to attend school as scheduled.

Fatalities Due to COVID-19 in Lyme, Old Lyme

There has been one COVID-related fatality of a Lyme resident: a 57-year-old male passed away Nov. 16, 2021. On Nov. 30, the state finally included this fatality in its data

Three COVID-related fatalities have been reported in Old Lyme. The first two fatalities from Old Lyme, which were reported in 2020, were a 61-year-old female and an 82-year-old male.

Details of the third, which was reported in 2021, have not been made available.

SECWAC Presents Bary on ‘Healthcare Policy Insights from Around the Globe,’ Tonight

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Gery Barry

OLD LYME — On Wednesday, Dec. 15, at 6 p.m., the Southeast Connecticut World Affairs Council (SECWAC) hosts Health Care Management Executive Gery Barry, who will give a presentation titled, “Healthcare Policy Insights from Around the Globe.” Barry is also a local SECWAC Member.

The in-person event will be held at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme on Ferry Rd. An online option will also be available.

This program and many following will be offered as a hybrid event – both in-person and available by Zoom. In-person attendance is preferred, as SECWAC tries to return to its regular meeting format.

Registration is requested for in-person attendees; click here to register as an in-person attendee.

In the interests of the safety of all, in-person attendees will need to produce evidence of vaccination and wear a mask throughout the event, except when asking a question. Apologies are offered in advance for any discomfort/inconvenience, but this will reduce the risk of infection and have the benefit of allowing a return to in-person events.

Registration is required to receive your Zoom link; click here to register as a virtual attendee.

If you are new to Zoom virtual meetings and would like to learn more about how to join a SECWC event, visit zoom.us for more information. Also, feel free to call 860-912-5718 for technical advice prior to the event. It will not be possible to resolve issues during the meeting. A link to the recording will be shared via email following the meeting.

Barry will discuss healthcare in the United States and around the world. Few, if any, policy issues in the US are as rancorous and intractable as those related to healthcare. Barry believes that breaking through the associated political paralysis starts with an objective, comprehensive understanding of the performance issues of our healthcare system.

He also believes that it is most helpful to dispassionately evaluate our system’s performance relative to other countries, while avoiding the temptation to make political presumptions of the desirability of policy changes, which simply mimic them.

Barry will speak to why evaluating our healthcare system requires a healthy appreciation for why changes in healthcare policy everywhere in the world are intrinsically difficult.

Barry is a senior advisor specializing in health care management and health insurance. He was most recently engaged with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health, where he reported directly to the Deputy Minister responsible for orchestrating the transformation of the Kingdom’s public healthcare system.

He began his career at Aetna, where he held a wide range of responsibilities before moving to Toronto as the Country Leader for Liberty Mutual Ins. Subsequently, Barry was recruited to be CEO of BlueCross BlueShield Louisiana, where he dealt with the ravages Hurricanes Katrina and Rita inflicted throughout the healthcare system in south Louisiana, and was tapped to lead the Louisiana Recovery Authority’s Task Force on Health Care Reform.

In 2010, Barry was hired by a San Diego-based healthcare management company to develop an international subsidiary, focused on managing cost, quality and safety of prescription drug use for public and private payers and large hospital systems. Based in Hong Kong, he and his team developed successful businesses in the Middle East and Mainland China, and engaged with senior government officials around the globe exploring the use of prescription drug management tools to benefit their health care systems, most notably India, Turkey, Sweden, and Qatar.

Barry retired in December of 2017, but continues to take on selective advisory roles such as the one in Saudi Arabia.

Annual membership of SECWAC is $95 per person, or $35 for Young Professionals under 35. Membership is always free for students and educators. Corporate memberships are available for $1,100 (unlimited memberships for employees of member organizations – contact SECWAC for more details).

Learn more and download the SECWAC application here.

Death Announced of Mark Daniel ‘Dan’ Marderosian, 59, of Old Lyme; Noted Attorney, Who Took on Conspiracy Theorist Alex Jones, Ku Klux Klan, Among Many Others

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OLD LYME — Mark Daniel Marderosian, known to many who loved him as Dan, of Old Lyme, CT, died on Monday, December 6, at the home he shared with his wife, the “love of his life,” Maris Wacs, after a long fight with a rare form of cancer. He was 59 …

He was a noted attorney, who took on conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and the Ku Klux Klan in the courts …

He was modest about his contributions as an attorney, but one former colleague said he was “the best of the profession” who brought to the law “sensitivity, intuition, passion, compassion” and scholarship and who infused “the law with such creativity that it is astounding.” …

He fought for United Sates citizens in Puerto Rico seeking Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security benefit parity. He successfully took on the Austrian government and industry in a Nazi-era reparations fight …

In addition to his wife, Maris, he is survived by his son Jordan Feinstein and daughter in-law Abigail Clyne, his daughter Sydney Kriegsman and son-in-law David Kriegsman, and his daughter Lindsey Feinstein and her partner Dylan Young. …

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Dan’s honor to Safe Futures CT (SafeFutruresct.org) and High Hopes (HighHopestr.org)

Visit this link to read the full obituary published Dec. 12, in The New York Times.

Old Lyme Resident Hartmann’s Company, Elm Tree Communities, Breaks Ground on Upscale, 56-Unit Development in Haddam

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Jeff Hartmann of Old Lyme (fourth from right) participates in the groundbreaking for the upscale, 56-unit, multifamily community named Blueway Commons in Haddam, which Hartmann’s company, Elm Tree Communities, is planning. Photo credit: Elm Tree Communities.

“We welcome Mr. Hartmann and Elm Tree Communities’ new Blueway Commons development as an integral part of the [economic] growth [that Haddam is experiencing.]” (Haddam First Selectman Robert McGarry)

OLD SAYBROOK — Last Friday, Dec. 10, Elm Tree Communities (ETC) announced that it had broken ground on Blueway Commons, an upscale, 56-unit multifamily community in Haddam, Conn.

Old Lyme resident Jeff Hartmann, founder and CEO of Elm Tree Communities. Photo courtesy of J. Hartmann.

Old Lyme resident Jeff Hartmann is the founder and CEO of ETC, a private real estate company headquartered in Old Saybrook.  Elm Tree Communities pursues real estate development and investment opportunities throughout the Northeastern U.S.

With more than two decades in CFO, COO, and CEO capacities, Hartmann now develops, implements, and oversees ETC’s development strategy and all capital markets activities in his capacity as ETC President.

Hartmann’s career, which began at at PricewaterhouseCoopers, spans the landmark casinos of Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods in Connecticut and Ocean Casino in New Jersey.

Blueway Commons will consist of three two-story buildings and a state-of-the-art resident clubhouse. The project is slated to open in the winter of 2022, with preleasing to begin in the summer of 2022.

Located east of Exit 7 off Rte. 9 and 12 minutes north of I-95, the development is convenient to the Amtrak and Shoreline East trains. The complex is 15 minutes south of Middletown and I-91.

Blueway Commons is being built on Brookes Court adjacent to Rte. 154, and will consist of 56 upscale apartment homes. Conveniently located near the popular downtown Chester, nearby stores and restaurants include Adams Market, Stop and Shop, CVS, Dunkin, Cumberland Farms, The Blue Oar, Little House Brewing Company, and more.

The development is also located near the iconic Swing Bridge that links Haddam and East Haddam. It will offer residents an outdoor lifestyle near the Connecticut River with kayaking, biking trails, and waterfront dining in the surrounding area.

“This development will offer the first modern apartments in Haddam – with complete lifestyle amenities, like the health and fitness clubhouse, a co-working lounge, a community room for events, and an outdoor patio contribute to the resort-like setting and overall sense of place,” said Hartmann.

Blueway Commons will provide an attractive home for young professionals, families, and empty-nesters no longer needing a large residence. Offering a variety of floor plans to cater to an array of lifestyles, the development will feature one- and two-bedroom options ranging from 815 to 1180 sq. ft. with smart technology throughout the complex.

In 2012, the Connecticut River was declared the first National Blueway, after which Blueway Commons is named, and from which the development draws its inspiration. The upscale development is intended to offer residents a resort experience with innovation, community, wellness, and a connection to the natural environment.

The project will be completed over a 15-month construction period, with the first residents scheduled to move in in the winter of 2022.

Blueway Commons property’s community amenities will include:

  • 2,500 square foot community center.
  • Secure package system for residents.
  • Digital access control systems throughout the community
  • A state-of-the-art fitness center.
  • Co-working spaces and a lounge area.
  • A community gathering room for resident use.
  • An outdoor lounge area with grills and fire pits.
  • The community will be pet-friendly and feature an outdoor pet exercise area.

Haddam First Selectman Robert McGarry commented: “We are excited about the economic growth that Haddam is experiencing, and we welcome Mr. Hartmann and Elm Tree Communities’ new Blueway Commons development as an integral part of that growth.”

Gary Coursey & Associates of Atlanta, Georgia, is the project architect, and The Associated Construction Company of Hartford, Conn., is construction manager. Elm Tree Communities has contracted with Real Page and Lease Labs as the technology partners for the development.

Editor’s Note: This article is based on a press release issued by Elm Tree Communities.