Monthly Archives: April 2022

NY Academy Provost Presents Free Artist Talk, Live Drawing Demo TONIGHT at Lyme Academy, All Welcome

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OLD LYME — This evening, Friday, April 8, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Peter Drake, Provost of  New York Academy of Art, will present an Artist Talk and Live Drawing Demonstration at Lyme Academy of Fine Arts. The event is free and all are welcome.

Drake was appointed Provost in January 2018 and previously served as the Dean of Academic Affairs since 2010 at the New York Academy of Art.

Drake continues to be a Thesis Advisor having previously taught at Parsons the New School for Design, the School of Visual Arts, and the Maryland Institute College of Art.

As a visual artist his work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions throughout the US, China and Europe, including solo shows at Linda Warren Projects (Chicago) and District & Co. (Dominican Republic) and group shows at Bernarducci Gallery (New York), Sloan Fine Art (New York / LA) and the Phoenix Museum of Art.

He has curated exhibitions for the New York Academy of Art, the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Parsons and the Drawing Center. He is the recipient of numerous grants and awards, including a fellowship from the New York Foundation for the Arts, a National Endowment for the Arts Award and a MTA Arts for Transit Public Art Commission.

His work is the public collections of the Whitney Museum, the Phoenix Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, the Achenbach Collection and the Los Angeles County Art Museum.

Drake maintains a studio in DUMBO, Brooklyn through the Two Trees Cultural Space Program and is represented by Bernarducci Gallery, New York and Linda Warren Projects, Chicago.

​This artist talk is made possible by the generous support of the Robert Lehman Foundation.

Guests will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. The Lyme Academy of Fine Arts has removed the mask mandate for students, staff, faculty, models, and visitors inside its buildings.

The health and safety of guests are of the utmost importance. CDC guidelines are regularly monitored and the Academy’s policies adjusted accordingly.

Lyme-Old Lyme Students Present Findings from Community Survey at Forum

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These Lyme-Old Lyme students led the 2022 Community Forum, which presented the findings of the 2021 Community Survey.

LYME/OLD LYME — On March 29, results from the 2021 Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau (LYSB)/Lyme-Old Lyme Prevention Coalition (LOLPC) Youth Survey were discussed at a Community Forum at Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School.

This survey was conducted in December 2021 with 662 students in 6th through 12th grade reporting on behaviors and trends related to alcohol, marijuana, vaping, other substances, and mental health.

Eight Lyme-Old Lyme (LOL) High School students participated in a youth panel to offer parents and other community members an opportunity to learn directly from them what it is like to be a teenager in Lyme-Old Lyme.

Highlights from their well-spoken, direct dialogue with the audience included kids growing up much too fast in a time of easy access, reduced perception of harm of substances, perfectionism, being over-scheduled, and being inundated with social media platforms from a very young age.

The Youth Survey reported that alcohol is still the number one substance used by LOL students with average age of first use being reported at 14.0 years old. Lifetime and recent use trends of alcohol have reduced since 2019, but national trends advise that we should understand that a “COVID Effect” might be in play resulting from isolation and lock-down.

An alarming statistic shows that the number of students, who think drinking every day is harmful, decreased from 50.9 to 27.7 percent in just two years. Similar numbers were reported for binge drinking (five or more drinks at a time) and using marijuana one to two times per week. 

The panel of students offered some insight for this drop in perceived harm. 

One reason they provided is that during isolation kids turned to their phones and social media for entertainment and communication. They explained that Snap Chat, TikTok, and Instagram normalize drinking and drug use, and kids don’t actually realize the amount of danger they can be put in with substance use. 

Social media also supports a climate for bullying, social influencing, negative mental health and self-image. The Youth Panel reported feeling that kids aren’t ready for today’s social media in Middle School or younger. Panel members encouraged parents to educate themselves and think about their own choices for their young children when it comes to phones and social media.

Survey data revealed that the mental health of our youth has followed national trends and reduced over the past two years. 

Of the students surveyed, 70 percent reported feeling stressed, 60 percent reported feeling anxious, 28% reported feeling so sad over the past two weeks that it limited daily activity, and 21 percent reported thinking about suicide. The Youth Panel agreed with these numbers and strongly encouraged audience members to understand the challenges of growing up as a teenager right now.  

Teens are inundated with pressures, intense schedules, social media influences, and the connection with drugs and alcohol plays a definite role. The survey data shows that youth, who reported marijuana use, identify coping with stress and other challenges as a primary reason they use. 

The survey also showed that only 40-60 percent of students (grade-dependent) feel that their families have clear rules around alcohol and drugs. This is an important statistic because the October LOLPC Community Survey showed that 100% of participating parents reported clear rules around alcohol. 

This is an opportunity for parents to recognize the importance of early, consistent, and on-going conversations around drugs and alcohol. The Survey and Youth Panel identify parents as role models with parental disappointment being one of the main reasons kids choose not to drink or use drugs.

The panel reported that kids are watching their parents and how they deal with stress, cope with life around them, and how they role model substance use. One student said “That’s what we are going to absorb and see as normal. My advice is to keep talking and to do the kinds of things that are healthy and good because kids are watching.”

Marijuana use, perception of harm, and its connection to our kids’ mental health was also discussed at the Forum  

The survey data shows the average age of first use of marijuana in LOL is 14.1, and by 12th grade, 19 percent of students reported trying marijuana, but the Youth Panel felt that number was under-reported.  

They also shared that teens acknowledge drinking and driving is very dangerous, but that “smoking weed” and driving is something that “kids do all the time.” This is another area for us to keep discussing with our kids and each other, with recent adult-use cannabis legalization and its impact on our communities.

The Lyme-Old Lyme Prevention Coalition is a DFC grant-funded community organization dedicated to prevention and supporting all youth and families. 

For more information about this survey, LOLPC campaigns and programs, or to become involved, visit www.lysb.org/prevention or contact Alli Behnke, MSW at abehnke@lysb.org

Editor’s Note: Alli Behnke, MSW is the LYSB Prevention Coordinator.

Death of Sally Ann Olson Announced, Mother of Matthew of Old Lyme

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Sally Ann Olson, 87, of Beloit, [Wis.], passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 23, 2022.  She was born October 31, 1934 to Forder and Gwendolyn (Miller) DeMuth in Columbus, Ohio. Sally attended Hicksville High School, class of 1952, and graduated from The Ohio State University, class of 1956 …

She was a devoted wife and a loving mother to her five children, whom she spoiled with delicious meals and home-made baked treats …

Sally will be missed by her husband, Stuart Olson, of Cedar Crest; her children, Douglas (Rachael) Olson of Minneapolis, MN, Peter Olson of Winnetka, IL, Kristin (Ted) Soltys of Naperville, IL, Heather (John) Palmer of Denver, CO and Matthew (Cindy) Olson of Old Lyme, CT; …

Sally’s Memorial Service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday May 7, 2022 at Redeemer Evangelical Covenant Church, 2500 Prairie Avenue, Beloit …

Visit this link to read the full obituary published on TributeArchive.com

RTP Estuary Center Hosts ‘Season of the Osprey’ Filmmaker in Free Zoom Presentation, Thursday

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Jacob Steinberg filmed an osprey nest on Great Island in the Connecticut River for seven years. The resultant, remarkable movie is titled ‘Season of the Osprey.’ Photo submitted.

OLD LYME — The Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center has announced a free, interactive Zoom presentation on Thursday, April 7, at 6 p.m., with filmmaker Jacob Steinberg, producer and director of the PBS Nature program Season of the Osprey, filmed in Old Lyme’s own Great Island Marsh over a period of several years.

Filmmaker Jacob Steinberg. Photo submitted.

This will be a unique opportunity for participants to hear Steinberg describe his experience in making the film, share behind the scenes stories and discuss his perspective on the environment it celebrates.

The program will be interactive and participants will have an opportunity to ask questions.

Steinberg will also talk about his distinctive storytelling approach to documenting the natural world, one of the reasons that Season of the Osprey is not only a stunning nature film but a compelling nature story as well.

In its introduction to the movie, PBS notes, “Season of the Osprey explores the life of these incredible raptors with a depth and intimacy never before attempted.”

PBS continues, “Filming primarily in and around [our own] Great Island Marsh, where the Connecticut River meets the Long Island Sound, Steinberg achieved unlimited access to an osprey nest and his film offers a rich look at this unique species known for its life-long partnerships, dynamic social interactions and masterful hunting prowess.”

The PBS description of the film states, “From somewhere along the east coast of South America, an osprey has just flown 4000 miles to a small saltmarsh at the delta of the Connecticut River, the place that is imprinted on his memory since birth and where he will rejoin his mate.”

It concludes, “Over the course of one summer, the reunited osprey pair fends off enemies, hunts hundreds of fish, and raises their chicks into the next generation of aquatic raptors.”

A preview of the film can be viewed at https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/season-osprey-about/26299/ There is no charge to view the presentation, but registration is required. After registering, participants will receive an opportunity to view the film.

For more information and to register, visit https://www.ctaudubon.org/rtp-programs-events/

Steinberg is the founder of CosmoVision Media Group, a full-service production company specializing in high-end natural history and factual entertainment.

He says, “We look to educate through inspiration, engaging audiences of all ages by opening up to them a world of drama, excitement, and magnificent beauty. Through our scientific and conservation films, we celebrate those with a passion for environmental stewardship, and a sense of ecological responsibility. Through powerful narrative film and effective outreach, we empower their cause in support of a healthier, cleaner, and richer world for our children.”

Named for the renowned artist, scientific illustrator, environmental educator, and conservation advocate, Connecticut Audubon Society’s Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center is known for its work in environmental education, conservation, research, and advocacy.

The center is dedicated to facilitating scientific research, establishing high-quality environmental education for children, teens and adults, and promoting outreach and advocacy to preserve, protect and conserve the estuary and its beauty for generations.

From its 5.25-acre site on the Lieutenant River in Old Lyme, the Center serves young people and adults across the region in person and virtually, offering small group programs like bird walks and owl prowls, a Connecticut River ecological expeditions course, citizen scientist activities, vacation and summer camp programs and a curriculum-based Science in Nature program for schools in Southeastern Connecticut.

April 5 COVID-19 Update: No New Cases in Lyme, Old Lyme Keep Cumulative Case Totals at 260, 1059 for Third Day But CT Positivity Rate Increases Again

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LYME/OLD LYME — The Daily Data Reports issued Tuesday, April 5, by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) again shows no new confirmed COVID-19 cases in either Lyme or Old Lyme on March 31, leaving their respective cumulative case totals at 260 and 1059.

On April 5, however, the state’s COVID-19 Daily Positivity Rate increased to 4.6% from 4.26% on April 4. This rate of 4.6% is the state’s highest recorded COVID-19 Daily Positivity Rate since Feb. 17, 2022 when the Rate stood at 4.71%.

The next Daily Data Report will be issued by CT DPH Tuesday, April 5, around 4 p.m.

Cases in Lyme and Old Lyme — Daily Update

April 5 is the third consecutive day on which no new cases have been reported in either town.

Prior to March 25, Lyme had gone for 23 consecutive days with no new cases being reported. Two new cases were reported in Lyme on March 25.

Prior to April 4, the most recent day on which no new cases were reported in either Lyme or Old Lyme was March 24. There were also no new cases on March 9 and 4, and Feb. 24. The previous date prior to Feb. 24 when no new cases were reported in either town was Dec. 12, 2021.

Statewide Situation – Daily Update

The March 10 COVID-19 Daily Positivity Rate of 1.79% was the most recent time the positivity rate had fallen below 2.0 since Oct. 7, 2021 according to our records, when it was 1.70%.

On April 5, the number of COVID-related hospitalizations increased to 106 from 93 on April 4. In contrast, on Jan. 12, 2022, the number of COVID-related hospitalizations was 1,939.

Of those hospitalized on April 5, 46 (representing 43.4%) are not fully vaccinated.

The total number of COVID-related deaths in Connecticut now stands at 10,793, according to the New York Times.

Statewide Situation – Weekly Update

This map, updated March 31, 2022 shows the average daily rate of new cases of COVID-19 by town during the past two weeks. Old Lyme has moved back into the Orange (second highest) Zone while Lyme remains in the Gray (lowest) Zone. Twenty towns (representing a total of 11.3% of the state) are now found in the Red 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. Map: Ver 12.1.2020 Source: CT Department of Public Health Get the data Created with Datawrapper.

On Thursday, March 31, the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) released its latest weekly COVID-19 Alert Map (pictured above), which indicates that 20 municipalities are now in the Red (highest of four) Zone for case rates.

In a worrying trend, this number has increased by 12 from eight since last week.

Although this total of Red Zone towns reflects an increase over last week’s number, it still shows a reduction in the number of Red Zone towns since late January. On Jan. 27, the total was 168 out of 169 towns and by Feb. 17, the total was 153. By Feb. 24, it had fallen to 87; on March 3, the total was 23, and and last week on March 12, it was 12.

The March 31 total of 20 is equivalent to 11.3% of towns in the state, which remain in the Red Zone.

By way of contrast, the map below shows the COVID-19 Case Rate Map from one year ago.

This map, updated March 25, 2021 shows the average daily rate of new cases of COVID-19 by town during the past two weeks. The Town of Old Lyme had moved up into the (highest) Red Zone, while Lyme remained 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.)

As of March 31, 2022 there are no towns in the Ledge Light Health District (LLHD) remaining in the Red Zone. Three, including Old Lyme, are in the Orange (second highest) Zone:- the other two are East Lyme and Waterford. Last week, Old Lyme was in the Yellow Zone and so this represents another trend of concern.

Four are in the Yellow (second lowest) Zone, namely Groton, New London, Ledyard and Stonington, while Lyme and North Stonington remain in the Gray (lowest) Zone.

The LLHD is no longer issuing reports with updated Case Rates and other metrics.

The CT DPH will issue an updated map of the zones Thursday, April 7 — the map is updated weekly on Thursdays.

The color-coded zones are:

Red: Indicates case rates over the last two weeks of greater than 15 per 100,000 population
Orange: Indicates case rates between 10 to 14 cases per 100,000 population
Yellow: Indicates case rates between 5 and 9 per 100,000 population
Gray: Indicates case rates lower than five per 100,000 population

Increase in Cases in Lyme & Old Lyme Since August 2021

The cumulative total of confirmed cases for Old Lyme has now increased by 616 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 687 new cases there since that date. Meanwhile, Lyme’s cumulative total on Aug. 26 was 114 indicating 146 new cases have also been confirmed there during the same period.

Ledge Light Health District Update

There are no towns in the Ledge Light Health District (LLHD), of which both Lyme and Old Lyme are members, in the Red (highest case rate) Zone.

The LLHD has announced that there will be no further weekly LLHD reports unless there are “any significant change in case rates, hospitalizations, etc.” The following details are therefore from the final LLHD update on March 24.

In an email sent Thursday, March 24, regarding the latest COVID-19 data, Ledge Light Health District (LLHD) Director of Health Stephen Mansfield states, “Based on surveillance data available in a new tool created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) called COVID-19 Community Levels, the municipalities within Ledge Light Health District (and all of New London County) are currently classified as low, the “best” classification available based on these new metrics.”

He continues, “Community Levels can be low, medium, or high and are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID cases in a specific geographical area. CDC recommends taking precautions to protect yourself and others from COVID based on Community Levels in your area.”

He adds, “In New London County, residents are advised to:

  • Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines
  • Get tested if you have symptoms

View the new tool by following this link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html.

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/.”

An explanation of the new tool by Thomas Gotowka can be found at this link.

COVID testing opportunities can be found at COVID-19 Testing | Ledge Light Health District (llhd.org)

The following link provides centralized access to Connecticut COVID data: https://data.ct.gov/stories/s/COVID-19-data/wa3g-tfvc/

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

Four COVID-related fatalities have now 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 and fourth fatalities, which were reported respectively in 2021 and on Feb. 4, 2022, have not been made available.

Lyme-Old Lyme Schools Update

Under new state protocols for schools, Lyme-Old Lyme (LOL) Schools are no longer required to carry out contact tracing.

LOL Schools Superintendent Ian Neviaser explained the latest developments in LOL Schools COVID protocols in an April 1 email to the school community, saying, “As noted in my email of February 17, 2022, beginning April 1, 2022 we will no longer report daily COVID-19 cases in the schools.  For the remainder of this school year, that information will be complied on a weekly basis and will be available on our website at the following link: https://www.region18.org/parents/covid-data.”

He added, “In light of the significant reduction in cases since our return from February vacation, we have slowly discontinued most COVID-19 mitigation strategies excluding required quarantine/isolation for those that test positive and enhanced building ventilation.  We are in the process of removing all remaining plastic shields from schools, students and staff no longer need to practice physical distancing, and large group gatherings are not limited in number.  Mask use still remains optional and handwashing will continue to be encouraged.”

A full listing of all LOL Schools-related cases during 2022 is given below.

View the full listing of cases between 8/26/21 – 12/23/21 at this link.

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

The following abbreviations are used in the lists below: LOLHS: Lyme-Old Lyme High School, LOLMS: Lyme-Old Lyme
Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School, MC: Mile Creek School, and CS: Center School Pre-Kindergarten

MARCH 2022
Wednesday, March 30 Total: LOLHS: 2, Lyme: 1
Monday, March 28Total: LOLHS: 2
Thursday, March 24Total: LOLMS: 1
Wednesday, March 23Total: LOLHS: 1, CS: 1
Tuesday, March 22 Total: Lyme: 1
Sunday, March 20Total: LOLHS: 1
Wednesday, March 16Total: LOLHS: 1
Monday, March 14 Total: CS: 1
Sunday, March 13Total: LOLHS: 1
Thursday, March 3 Total: LOLHS: 1
Wednesday, March 2Total: LOLHS: 1

FEBRUARY 2022
Friday, Feb. 18: Total: LOLMS: 1, MC: 1
Thursday, Feb. 17: Total: 1,  MC: 1
Wednesday, Feb. 16: Total: 6, LOLMS: 3
Monday, Feb. 14: Total: 6, LOLMS: 2, MC: 3, Lyme: 1
Sunday, Feb. 13: Total: 3, LOLMS: 2, MC: 1
Friday, Feb. 11: Total: 2, LOLHS: 1, CS: 1
Thursday, Feb. 10: Total: 2, Lyme: 1, CS: 1
Wednesday, Feb. 9: Total: 2, LOLHS: 1, MC: 1
Tuesday, Feb. 8: Total: 0
Monday, Feb. 7: Total: 3, Lyme: 1, MC: 1, CS: 1
Sunday, Feb. 6:Total: 2, LOLMS: 1, MC: 1
Friday, Feb. 4: Total: 5, LOLHS: 2, LOLMS: 1, MC: 2
Thursday, Feb. 3: Total: 1, Lyme: 1
Wednesday, Feb. 2: Total: 3, MC: 3
Tuesday, Feb. 1: Total: 1, MC: 1

JANUARY 2022
Monday, 1/31: Total: 2, LOLMS: 1, Lyme: 1
Sunday, 1/30: Total: 1, Lyme: 1
Friday, 1/28: Total: 3, LOLHS: 1, LOLMS: 1, MC: 1
Thursday, 1/27: Total: 3, LOLHS: 1, Lyme: 2
Wednesday, 1/26: Total: 3, LOLHS: 1, MC: 2
Tuesday, 1/25: Total: 4, LOLMS: 2, MC: 2
Monday, 1/24:Total: 9, LOLHS: 2, LOLMS: 1, Lyme: 1, MC: 4, CS: 1
Sunday, 1/23:Total: 3, LOLMS: 1, Lyme: 2
Friday, 1/21:Total: 8, LOLHS: 4, LOLMS: 2, MC: 2
Thursday, 1/20: Total: 5, LOLMS: 1, MC: 1, Lyme: 3
Wednesday, 1/19: Total: 7, LOLHS: 2, LOLMS: 4, CS: 1
Tuesday, 1/18: Total: 7, LOLHS: 3, LOLMS: 2, MC: 2
Monday, 1/17: Total: 6, Lyme: 4, MC: 2
Friday, 1/14: Total: 3, MC: 2, LOLHS: 1
Wednesday, 1/12: Total: 3, MC: 2, LOLMS: 1
Monday, 1/10: Total: 3, CS: 1, Lyme: 2
Sunday, 1/9: Total: 2, MC: 1, Lyme: 1
Friday, 1/7: Total: 1, MC: 1:
Thursday, 1/6: Total: 7, LOLHS: 5, Lyme: 1, CS: 1
Wednesday, 1/5: Total: 14, LOLHS: 6, MC: 1, Lyme: 3, CS: 4
Tuesday, 1/4: Total: 5, LOLHS: 4, CS: 1