OLD LYME — Doris Pearce, 89, passed away in her beloved home surrounded by love Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. Doris Jane Grimes was born May 21, 1932, in Waterford, to Helen Machnik Grimes and Leslie “Red” Grimes …
They retired to Old Lyme, in the early seventies. Doris loved spending time with her Machnik relatives: aunts and uncles and cousins …
Visit this link to read the full obituary published Dec. 20, in The Day.
Photo by CDC on Unsplash.
LYME-OLD LYME — The Daily Data Report issued Monday, Jan. 3, 2022, at 4 p.m. by the Connecticut Department of Health (CT DPH) shows 33 new, confirmed COVID-19 case in Old Lyme taking the town’s total of cumulative cases to 654.
Eight new cases were reported in Lyme, taking that town’s cumulative total to 170.
Theses are record daily numbers for both towns but it must be noted that they are three day totals due to the way the New Year fell on the 2021-22 calendar, with Friday, Dec. 31, 2021 being declared a state holiday.
Emphasizing the rapidity of transmission of the Omicron COVID variant, however, the state hit a new COVID-19 positivity number in the Jan. 3 report at 21.52% and COVID-related hospitalizations jumped by 301 to 1,452. Significantly, 999 (representing 68.89%) of those hospitalized are not fully vaccinated.
To give context to the state’s positivity rate of 21.52% on Jan. 3, 2022, an article by Alex Putterman published in the Hartford Courant on Dec. 28, 2021, reported that, “Connecticut blew past its previous record for COVID-19 positivity rate … for a daily rate of 14.98%. Previously, the state hadn’t reported a positivity rate higher than 11% on any given day since widespread testing began in spring 2020.”
The next report from CT DPH will be issued Tuesday, Jan. 4, at around 4 p.m.
As we reported in our Thursday, Dec. 30 weekly COVID-19 Update, the weekly COVID-19 Average Daily Case Rate Report issued by the state on that day showed that the total number of towns in the Red (highest) Zone for case rates has increased from last week’s total of 166 to 168, leaving only one town in the state — Canaan — not in the Red Zone. This number of 168 is equivalent to 99.4 percent of towns in the state.
The CT DPH will issue an updated map of the zones Thursday, Jan. 6 — the map is updated weekly on Thursdays.
All the towns in the Ledge Light Health District (LLHD) are in the Red Zone.
Lyme-Old Lyme Schools closed Dec. 23, 2021 and reopened Monday, Jan. 3, 2022 after the winter break meaning no new cases were reported by the schools during that period. See below for a full listing of all LOL Schools-related cases since schools opened in the fall on Aug. 26, 2021.
Here are some significant extracts from the Dec. 30 CT DPH report:
As of Dec. 29, 2021:
For the week beginning Dec. 19, 2021:
The cumulative total of confirmed cases for Old Lyme has now increased by 211 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 282 new cases there since that date. Meanwhile, Lyme’s cumulative total on Aug. 26 was 114 indicating 56 new cases have also been confirmed there during the same period.
In an email sent Thursday, Dec. 30, regarding the latest COVID-19 data, Ledge Light Health District (LLHD) Director of Health Stephen Mansfield stated, “We continue to see a high number of new COVID cases within our jurisdiction, which is consistent with an increase in COVID cases statewide. Unfortunately, we expect this trend to continue as we move into the holiday season.”
He 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/
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 Thursday, Dec. 23, Lyme-Old Lyme (LOL) Schools Superintendent Ian Neviaser informed the school community that two positive cases of COVID-19 impacting Lyme-Old Lyme High School (LOLHS), a positive case of COVID-19 impacting Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School (LOLMS) and a positive case of COVID-19 impacting Mile Creek School had been reported.
On Tuesday, Dec. 21, Lyme-Old Lyme (LOL) Schools Superintendent Ian Neviaser informed the school community that a positive case of COVID-19 impacting Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School (LOLMS) had been reported.
On Monday, Dec. 20, Neviaser informed the school community that a positive case of COVID-19 impacting Lyme-Old Lyme High School (LOLHS) had been reported.
On Thursday, Dec. 16, Neviaser informed the school community that two separate positive cases of COVID-19 impacting LOLHS and Lyme School respectively had been reported.
On Monday, Dec. 13, 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 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 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.
LYME — Today, Tuesday, Jan. 4, from 4 to 6 p.m., the Lyme Emergency Management Department will distribute free at-home COVID self-tests and N-95 face masks to Lyme residents at the Hamburg Fire Station, while supplies last. The distribution will be made on a drive-by only basis — no walk-ups will be accepted.
The Town has received a small number of the test kits and an adequate supply of the face masks:
Drivers will be required to show proof of residency in Lyme.
Editor’s Note: The article is based on information from the Town of Lyme.
An Afghan flag flies against a backdrop of the Hindu Kush mountains. Photo by Farid Ershad on Unsplash.
LYME/OLD LYME — The mission of the Refugee Resettlement Committee of Lyme/Old Lyme is to provide shelter and sustenance to families who need support due to a traumatic/catastrophic event that has forced them from their homes.
The committee was established in 2016 in response to the world-wide refugee crisis and co–sponsors with IRIS (Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services based in New Haven). IRIS is a non-sectarian, non-profit refugee resettlement agency that has welcomed more than 5000 refugees to Connecticut since 1982.
The committee has recently welcomed an Afghan family to Old Lyme and, in its efforts to make Lyme and Old Lyme a welcoming, safe haven for displaced people, has sent out the following letter and asked us to publish it to reach a larger audience.
As many of you may know by now, an Afghan family of seven, including five young children, has started their new lives in America, right here in Old Lyme.
A month after their arrival, the father is enrolled in ESL classes and the children are in school and loving it.
As we have done successfully for four other refugee families, the Lyme/Old Lyme Refugee Resettlement Committee is working to support this family as it navigates the language, customs and laws in its new home. Imagine the learning curve from rural Afghanistan to Connecticut!
The family requires substantial resources and support by our volunteers. Refugees typically arrive with very little and we need to provide them with temporary housing, medical care, transportation, educational support, employment opportunities, as well as essential material items.
How can you help?
Donations of time (such as driving family members for shopping, or appointments) and, of course money are needed. All donations are tax deductible and can be made online or by check.
TO DONATE ONLINE: Visit this link on the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme website and select Refugee Resettlement from the Fund dropdown list.
TO DONATE BY MAIL: make your check payable to First Congregational Church of Old Lyme with Refugee Resettlement Committee in the memo line. Mail to P.O. Box 172 Old Lyme Ct. 06371
TO VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME: Email: jdstaves@gmail.com with your contact information and we reach out to you with what’s needed.
We greatly appreciate any support you may provide.
Sincerely,
Kathy Kronholm & Cookie Staves
Co–Chairs Lyme/Old Lyme Refugee Resettlement Committee
Editor’s Note: The Refugee Resettlement Committee of Lyme/Old Lyme is an ecumenical organization formed by The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme with Christ the King Roman Catholic Church and Saint Ann’s Episcopal Church. Donations are tax deductible.
Cars in line at Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School wait patiently yesterday afternoon to pick up state-funded, free COVID-19 tests.
OLD LYME — Although holding many reservations about holding a drive-through event to pick up the highly anticipated COVID-19 self-tests finally delivered by the state, Old Lyme Director of Emergency Management David Roberge ended up pleased with its outcome. He commented cheerfully in a phone call to LymeLine after the 180 test kits received had been distributed Sunday afternoon in the space of an hour and a half, “It all went very smoothly.”
Vehicles were lined up in front of Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School well before the official 3 p.m. start time of the event and using an efficient system of checking ID’s and having several people handing out tests simultaneously, 90 test kits were handed out in the first 10 minutes. Things then slowed down a little and the remaining 90 were gone by 4:30 p.m.
Old Lyme Visiting Nurse Association volunteers Sarah Gleason (left) and Cindi Taylor prepare to hand out COVID-19 test kits to Old Lyme residents in need.
Noting that the Old Lyme Office of Emergency Management had successfully distributed 180 COVID test kits to residents in need, Roberge noted, “While we did not yet have enough test kits for all, (he was expecting a delivery of 3,000 rather than the 550 received) we are grateful that we did have those on hand to share.”
He had nothing but praise for all involved, saying, “We wish to thank the Old Lyme Police Department, the selectmen from town hall along with the Old Lyme Visiting Nurses Association (OLVNA) and Lyme’s Youth Services Bureau (LYSB) for assisting in the distribution.” Both Selectman Matt Ward and Selectwoman Martha Shoemaker were on hand to assist with the effort. (First Selectman Tim Griswold was out of state on a prearranged trip) as were representatives of Old Lyme’s VNA and LYSB.
Roberge also expressed his thanks to, “Our social media specialists and LymeLine for sharing the most current and dated information during this event. Their help made the event go very quickly and efficiently.”
Finally, he gave what he described as his “biggest thank-you” to all the residents, who came out to pick up their test kits, saying, “Their patience and cooperation while waiting in the long line allowed the distribution go very smoothly without any altercations.”
Looking to the future, Roberge commented, “As the state is in the process of obtaining additional test kits, we look forward to providing the same high level of service for future distributions.”
He concluded, “I thank you for all your support, patience and kindness during the afternoon. It was truly a team effort pulled together at very short notice,”
Roberge also took the opportunity to repeat his ongoing message to the community, saying, “As we continue to navigate this pandemic, please carry on taking precautions, and above all, stay safe.”
Olafur, Director of Emergency Management David Roberge’s dog, carefully guards the precious cargo!
The response to the event has been overwhelmingly positive with several residents expressing their thanks on social media to all who made the event a reality. Gail Najarian also spoke for many when she wrote in a comment on LymeLine,”I was quite apprehensive about going out but was so impressed how orderly the distribution went. Thank you everyone who made this possible.”
Editor’s Note: We would be remiss if we did not extend our sincere thanks to David Roberge himself for all his efforts in organizing this event. We look forward to supporting future distributions with timely communications.