Monthly Archives: December 2021

Dec. 13 COVID-19 Update: 11 New Cases in Old Lyme Raise Cumulative Case Total to 537, One New Case in Lyme Takes Total to 140

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Photo by CDC on Unsplash,

LYME-OLD LYME — The Daily Data Report issued Monday, Dec. 13, at 4 p.m. by the Connecticut Department of Health (CT DPH) shows 11 new, confirmed COVID-19 case in Old Lyme taking that town’s total of cumulative cases to 537.

One new case was also reported in Lyme, taking that town’s cumulative total to 140.

The state does not issue reports over the weekend nor on public holidays. The next report from CT DPH will be issued Tuesday, Dec. 14, 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.

On Monday, Dec.13, Lyme-Old Lyme (LOL) Schools Superintendent Ian Neviaser informed the school community informed the school community that a positive case of COVID-19 impacting Mile Creek School had been reported. 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 continue to attend school as scheduled. (See below for a full listing of all LOL Schools-related cases.)

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 94 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.

A la Carte: Terrific (Homemade) Treats to Take to Friends

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Lee White

Column #1

A year ago, a COVID vaccine was my holiday hope to family and friends (and everyone else in the world). I think all we wanted was a vaccine that this once-a-century pandemic could be handled and we wouldn’t have to watch Andrew Cuomo every single morning on television (although we didn’t know then that his final showstopper would be his last ever).  By the end of February, I got my first shot and the second three weeks later. Last August I got my booster.

So here it is:  December, 2021. Thanksgiving is behind us. Many of us spent that holiday with friends and family. And what do we talk about now? We talk about the idiots who refuse to be vaccinated. And the problems with delayed flights (although we are thrilled we can begin to fly).

And a new phrase has entered dictionary: supply chains. We see pictures of enormous ships hugging the coast of Long Beach, California. Will there be enough toys for the kids and, for us, every new computer gadget made in China? 

Some years ago, as I drove home after Christmas, I heard this on NPR: Here is what each child should get for Christmas [or Hanukkah]: one thing she needs, one thing she wants and one book.

To this I add: something homemade from your kitchen to take to friends at the holiday. And next week I will give you Richard Swanson’s recipe for the best granola clusters I have ever tasted, along with my daughter’s recipe for fudge. And maybe my dentist’s peanut brittle.

Photo on Unspalsh by Food Photographer | Jennifer Pallian

Chocolate Syrup
Recipe from my grandparents’ grocery store a century ago.

2 cups granulated sugar
4 big tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup boiling water
Dash of salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

In a saucepan, add whisk sugar and cocoa.

Stir in water and continue cooking the mixture until it begins to boil; bring the heat to simmer and continue to cook for 5 minutes.

Remove from the stove, add a dash of salt and the vanilla extract.

When cool, add to little Mason jars.

Caramel Sauce
From Cecina Simpatica by Johanne Killeen and George Germon, Harper Collins, New York, 1991

2 cups heavy cream
½ cup sugar

In a saucepan, scald cream and reduce heat to very low;  keep warm.

Heat sugar in another saucepan over medium heat, stirring often with a wooden spoon. The sugar will slowly melt into a clear liquid and gradually darken (don’t worry if the sugar lumps; break up lumps with the wooden spoon and they will melt into the caramel as it darkens.)

When caramel has turned a medium-dark mahogany, pour it slowly into the hot cream, whisking constantly. The caramel will splatter so be careful. If the temperature is too low, you may find portions of the caramel solidify. In that case, increase the flame under the cream and stir until the bits melt and mixture becomes smooth.

The caramel sauce thickens as it cools and will solidify in the refrigerator, where it will keep for days. It may be reheated gently to pouring consistency. Pour the caramel into little Mason jars and refrigerate.

Column # 2

Wow, has my kitchen gotten a workout since the day before Thanksgiving. I made two apple pies, two pumpkin ones, a batch of corn bread and Asian-style green beans. The latter became just green beans, since the sauce I made created would have seared the mouth of anyone who tried it.

Over the weekend, I made chili and a butterflied boneless leg of lamb for three meals, and today I made a batch of the tastiest granola ever. I was also going to make the famous H.G. Sawyer peanut brittle, but it really needs weather a little colder, perhaps below 32 degrees, for it to break into chunks. But I have made it so many times that you can trust the recipe. 

Both the granola and the brittle are easy to make and are wonderful housewarming gifts when you are invited to visit over the holidays. I have even more recipes, so if you need a few more than those from last week’s column, and the ones below, e-mail me at leeawhite@aol.com and I’ll send a few more.

Amazing Peanut Brittle
From the late H.G. Sawyer, dentist from Groton, CT

4 cups sugar
1 ½  cups white and/or dark Karo syrup
1 ½ cups water
4 cups Spanish peanuts
3 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon vanilla
3 tablespoons baking soda

Butter two rimmed cookie sheets.

Mix sugar, syrup and water into a heavy-bottomed large pan. Stir with long wooden spoon.

Place candy thermometer into the mixture. Heat at medium-high until thermometer reaches 320 degrees (this will take a long time to hit 290 degrees and very little time to hit 320.)

Add Spanish peanuts, stir, then add butter and vanilla.

Stir, then add baking soda and stir until frothy, about 15 to 20 seconds.

Pour into cookie sheets and thin to about one-peanut high. (It is great to have a silicone spatula for this.)

Place outside at it is cold out or put sheets in refrigerator until hardened, about 20 minutes.

Break brittle apart and place in tins or zippered bags.

Photo by Alice Pasqual on Unsplash.

Granola Cereal Clusters
from Richard Swanson of Waterford

Yield: as gifts in small boxes, perhaps 10-12

½ cup vegetable oil
½ cup light corn syrup
1/3 cup honey
4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
2 1/4 cups old-fashioned oats (best not to use quick oaks)
3 cups Cinnamon Toast Crunch
4 cups Honey Nut Cheerios
2 cups chopped pecan, walnuts or almond
¼ cup finely chopped coconut

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line half-sheet baking pan (17” by 13”) with parchment; spray parchment lightly with cooking spray.

Place oil, corn syrup, honey, vanilla, cinnamon and salt together in bowl of stand mixer with flat paddle and stir on low until fully mixed. Add oats, cereals, nuts and coconut and stir on low until thoroughly combined and cereals are somewhat crushed into smaller pieces. About 2 minutes.

Transfer mixture to prepared sheet and spread across entire surface in even layer. Using a stiff metal spatula, press down firmly on mixture until very compact. Bake until lightly brown around edges, 35 to 40 minutes, rotating halfway through baking. 

Transfer sheet to wire rack and let cool completely, about 1 hour. Mixture will be slightly soft until fully cooled. Break into chunks. Store in airtight container.

About the author: Lee White has been writing about restaurants and cooking since 1976 and has been extensively published in the Worcester (Mass.) Magazine, The Day, Norwich Bulletin, and Hartford Courant. She currently writes Nibbles and a cooking column called A La Carte for LymeLine.com and the Shore Publishing and the Times newspapers, both of which are owned by The Day. She was a resident of Old Lyme for many years but now lives in Groton, Conn.
Contact Lee at leeawhite@aol.com.

State Rep. Carney Honored as 2021 National ‘Rising Star’ by Millennial Action Project

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On Dec. 9, Connecticut Rep. Devin Carney (R-23rd), second from left, and Arkansas  Rep. Jamie Scott (D), second from right, received the 2021 Millennial Action Project’s (MAP) Rising Star Awards from Layla Zaidane, President & CEO of MAP at a ceremony held in Washington DC. At the same event, Kansas Representatives Nick Hoheisel (R), left, and Brandon Woodard (D), right, accepted the Cherisse Eatmon Collective Impact Award on behalf of the Kansas Future Caucus for which they serve as Co-vice-chairs. Photo by the Millennial Action Project.

Award Recognizes Two Lawmakers — One R, One D — For Transcending Political Polarization Through Public Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last Thursday, Dec. 9, in Washington, D.C., the Millennial Action Project (MAP), the largest nonpartisan organization of Millennial elected officials in the U.S., presented the 2021 Rising Star Award to Connecticut State Rep. Devin Carney (R-23rd) and Arkansas State Rep. Jamie Scott (D). Carney’s District includes the Towns of both Lyme and Old Lyme.

The annual Rising Star Awards highlight young leaders—one Republican and one Democrat—and their contributions to the State Future Caucus Network (SFCN) over the last year. This is the fourth year that the award has been presented.

The Awards recognize lawmakers, who have embodied MAP’s mission to transcend political polarization through their public service and taken initiative in shepherding bipartisan legislation that addresses priority issues in today’s political climate.

The MAP elaborated on this saying in their announcement of the awards, “This year’s awardees went above and beyond to build relationships with their colleagues across the aisle. Their exemplary leadership and collaboration is a model of American democracy at its best. We applaud and thank them for their dedicated public service.”

Both Rep’s Carney and Scott are co-chairs of the Future Caucus in their respective states. 

Immediately after receiving the award, Rep. Carney said in a Facebook post, “[I am] so incredibly honored to receive the Millennial Action Project’s Rising Star Award tonight in DC!”

He added, “As a millennial legislator, I have worked hard to push policies that can make Connecticut a better place to work, go to school, and raise a family. I’m proud of the friends and positive relationships I have made on my side and across the aisle, which is what MAP is all about.”

In a press release issued by MAP prior to the awards ceremony, Rep. Carney said, “I’ve always placed tremendous effort in supporting good public policy, regardless of where it originates from, so I’m incredibly honored to receive the Rising Star Award from my peers at the Millennial Action Project for my work in promoting their mission of transcending political tribalism.”

He continued, “Despite the polarization that seems to be overplayed in the news, I firmly believe there is so much more that unites us politically than divides us, particularly among younger generations. I hope more young people get involved in public service; it’s amazing what you can accomplish when you put your name on a ballot or actively support a cause or organization.”

Carney concluded by expressing thanks, “to MAP for all of their amazing work and this distinguished recognition.” 

In the same press release, Rep. Scott said, “I am honored to be chosen by the Millennial Action Project and I love that we share the same mission to find common ground with our adversaries. In my service to the Arkansas legislature and as a young woman of color, I have led by example to build relationships across party and demographic aisles to wage inclusive efforts to pass meaningful legislation.”

She added, “I believe our generation needs to be the change we have been waiting on. Our generation owes a great debt to the ones that came before us. I cannot think of a better way to repay that obligation than by working across partisan and racial divides to solve the great challenges of the 21st century. It is time to reunite these great states of America.”

The Cherisse Eatmon Collective Impact Award, recognizing an outstanding state caucus for their future-focused leadership and political bridge-building, was presented to the Kansas Future Caucus. The Kansas Future Caucus is led by Co-chairs Rep. Tory Arnberger (R) and Rep. Rui Xu (D); and Co-vice-chairs Rep. Brandon Woodard (D) and Rep. Nick Hoheisel (R). 

Rep. Rui Xu commented in the MAP press release, “Winning the 2021 Cherisse Eatmon Collective Impact Award means a great deal to me, both because of who it honors and because of the work we’ve done in Kansas to turn down the heat politically and show people what bipartisanship looks like.”

He continued, “While there are many issues we disagree on, we have all worked hard to become friends first and then use that friendship to try to understand each other better, which in turn has made us better friends. It’s an honor to serve with Reps. Arnberger, Hoheisel, and Woodard and it’s an honor to receive this award.”

Layla Zaidane, President & CEO of MAP, congratulated the awardees, saying, “We believe we can create a more inclusive, effective, and representative democracy if we can support the next generation of political leaders. The legislators recognized are living proof of how young people can transform how we do politics.”

She said, “The Rising Star Award and the Cherisse Eatmon Collective Impact Award honor those leaders for their commitment to building a better future together, while shifting the narrative about what is possible in our democracy.”

The Rising Star Awards reception was held at the Colada Shop in the District Wharf of Washington, D.C., where awardees were joined by a community of MAP leaders, supporters, and members of Congress in celebration of their accomplishments. 

‘Con Brio’ Presents a Christmas Concert in Old Lyme This Afternoon

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File photo of the December 2019 Christmas concert featuring the Con Brio Choral Society and Con Brio Festival Orchestra under the direction of conductor Dr. Stephen Bruce. The concert was held at Christ the King R.C. Church in Old Lyme. Photo by Peter Coffey.

OLD LYME — The Con Brio Choral Society will continue to celebrate its 25th season with a Christmas concert on Sunday, Dec. 12, at 3 p.m. at Christ the King Church in Old Lyme at 1 McCurdy Lane.

The concert is dedicated to the memory of Old Lyme resident Sheldon Arthur Baker, who passed away Aug. 6, 2021 and sang with Con Brio for many years. He served as its president from 2006 to 2008.

The concerts will feature Gloria’s by Bach, Rutter and Rossini and the Con Brio Festival Orchestra performing under the baton of Dr. Stephen Bruce

The audience will be invited to sing a number of Christmas carols, joining Con Brio’s singers and orchestra.

Con Brio’s singers, numbering more than 60 and selected by audition, come from Connecticut towns stretching from Deep River and East Haddam in the north to Essex and Old Saybrook in the south, west to Clinton, Guilford and Madison, and east to Old Lyme, Niantic and Groton. The group rehearses weekly in Old Saybrook at St. Paul Lutheran Church.

The full program for the concerts is as follows:

Fanfare For Freedom, (newly commissioned by Con Brio for the occasion of its 25th Season),  composed by William J.  Thomas, Director of Music Ministries, Christ the King Church
Gloria  (Cum Sancto movement from Petite Messe Solennelle), Rossini (1792 – 1868)
Joy to the World, Watts/Handel, arr. Wilberg
Gloria (from Mass in B minor), Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Mary’s Lullaby, Rutter
Gloria (Quoniam Tu Solus Sanctus movement III), Rutter
Kyrie, (from Mass in F), Gabrieli (c.1554/57- 1612)
Kyrie, (from Mass in E major), Rheinberger (1839 – 1901)
*Shepherd’s Pipe Carol, Rutter
*Hodie Christus Natus Est,  Willan (1880 – 1968)
The Three Kings, Housman/Willan (1880 -1968)
Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Wesley/Mendelssohn, arr. Willcocks (1919 -2015)
The Christmas Song, (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire), Tormé/Wells arr. Hayes
Angels We Have Heard on High, Chadwick/French trad. arr. Wilberg

*These two pieces were performed at Con Brio’s inaugural concert on Dec. 2, 1997, at the First Congregational Church of Westbrook, CT.

Tickets for the Friday evening concert are $30 and for the Sunday afternoon performance, $35.

For more information about the concert and to buy concert tickets, visit www.conbrio.org or call 860-526-5399.

Today, Old Lyme Fire Dept. Holds Holiday Toy & Giving Drive

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OLD LYME — The Old Lyme Fire Department will holding a Holiday Toy & Giving Drive on Sunday, Dec. 12, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Lyme Street Fire Department and on Halls Rd. near Big Y.  Donations are welcome as well as new unopened toys.

All donations will be distributed with the assistance of Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau to Lyme and Old Lyme families in need.