State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) was sworn in at the State Capitol Jan. 4 for his third term as the State Senator representing the 33rd Senate District, which includes Lyme.
HARTFORD/LYME — On Wednesday, Jan. 4, State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) was sworn in at the State Capitol for his third term as the State Senator representing the 33rd Senate District, which includes Lyme along with Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Old Saybrook, Portland and Westbrook.
“It is an honor to hold this seat and represent our communities for another term, and I’m grateful for my constituents’ support,” saidSen. Needleman.
He continued, “As we begin the legislative session today, with work ongoing through June, I know there is much to do to make Connecticut a better place to live. Rising costs, especially energy costs, will draw my attention through my work as Senate Chair of the Energy & Technology Committee, as just one of many important and pressing issues. I’m looking forward to rolling my sleeves up for the hard work ahead.”
Sen. Needleman was initially elected to the Senate in November 2018, and has since played an important role in providing oversight of state electric companies through the “Take Back Our Grid Act,” in addition to supporting important state programs benefitting workers and children’s education.
He will serve as Senate Chair of the Energy and Technology Committee, Vice Chair of the Planning and Development Committee and as a member of the Commerce, Finance and Transportation Committees.
Editor’s Note: This article is based on a press release issued by Sen. Needleman’s office.
Old Lyme Town Clerk Vicki Urbowicz (left) swears in Jennifer Datum as the new Old Lyme Democratic Registrar of Voters. Photos by MJ Nosal.
OLD LYME — On Tuesday, Jan. 3, Jennifer Datum was sworn in as the new Old Lyme Democratic Registrar of Voters. The ceremony was officiated by Old Lyme Town Clerk Vicki Urbowicz in the town hall vault and others in attendance included outgoing registrar Marylin Clarke, former Old Lyme Selectwoman Mary Jo Nosal, and Katie Balocca, the new Executive Assistant to the Old Lyme First Selectman.
Outgoing Old Lyme Democratic Registrar Marylin Clarke congratulates the incoming registrar, Jennifer Datum, after Datum was officially sworn in to the position.
Clarke had served as the registrar for six years until her retirement on Dec. 31, 2022. State Statute stipulates that the Democratic Deputy Registrar becomes the new Registrar. Clarke had previously served as the Old Lyme Town Attorney for 31 years.
Datum was previously employed as the Old Lyme Social Services Coordinator.
Joshua Campbell Torrance of Wethersfield has been appointed the new Executive Director of the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme.
OLD LYME — The Trustees of the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, Conn. announced today that Joshua Campbell Torrance of Wethersfield will take the reins of the 75-year-old cultural institution beginning Feb. 6, 2023.
After former Director Rebekah Beaulieu left the Museum in August to become the President and CEO of the Taft Museum of Art in Cincinnati, Ohio, a nationwide search was launched by the recruitment firm Museum Search & Reference.
The perfect candidate was found in the Museum’s home state. Torrance brings over 22 years of experience as an executive director to his new post.
“I’d like to thank the Museum’s Search Committee for moving the process along to a quick completion and in particular Kay Knight Clarke, chair of the committee, for her knowledge, expertise, and steadfast leadership,” states Deborah Moore, Florence Griswold Museum Board of Trustees Chairman.
Moore continues, “On behalf of the board and staff, we are delighted to welcome Joshua. His commitment to community-centered projects aligns perfectly with our strategic plan.”
As Executive Director of the Webb Deane Stevens Museum in Wethersfield, Torrance oversaw the opening of the site’s 9,300 sq. ft. education and visitor center, increased contributed income, managed the rebranding of the museum, and deepened its connection to the greater Hartford region.
Prior to coming to Connecticut, Torrance helmed the Bennington Museum in Vermont through the COVID-19 pandemic.
For nearly 20 years he guided the Woodlawn Museum, Gardens & Park in Ellsworth, Maine. During this time Torrance transformed the all-volunteer historic house and 180-acre public park into a thriving, community-centered institution.
The chair of the Museum’s search committee Kay Knight Clarke notes, “Joshua understands what the FloGris needs to do to achieve its plans and has the tools to lead us there.”
Torrance, a native of Ohio, received his Bachelor of Arts in History from Elmira College in New York and carries two Masters degrees, a Master of Arts in history with a public history concentration, from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Arts in history museum studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program.
He and his wife Jennifer have two teenage children, Sophie Eliza 17, and Noah Campbell 16.
Torrance is eager to connect with his new community and engage further with statewide artistic and cultural organizations.
Regarding his new position, Torrance states, “I am honored that the search committee and board have placed their trust in me. The Florence Griswold Museum has a stellar reputation and an outstanding team. I am eager to continue the great progress that has been made over the years and help to advance the Museum’s next chapter.”
The Florence Griswold Museum, located in the heart of historic Old Lyme, Conn., has been called a “Giverny in Connecticut” by the Wall Street Journal, and a “must-see” by the Boston Globe. In addition to the restored Florence Griswold House, the Museum features a gallery for changing art exhibitions, education and landscape centers, a restored artist’s studio, 12 acres along the Lieutenant River, the Robert F. Schumann Artists’ Trail, and extensive gardens.
Its seasonal Café Flo was recognized as “best outdoor dining” by Connecticut Magazine. The Museum offers a full slate of exhibitions, programs, virtual tours, and online resources.
The Old Lyme Zoning Commission is scheduled to meet on January 9 to finally vote on the Halls Road Overlay District plan.
As a citizen of Old Lyme for nearly two decades, and a former member of the Economic Development Commission, I would like to voice my support for the excellent proposal from the Halls Road Improvement Committee.
Enhancement of our commercial district has been called out in the POCDs of 2010 and 2020. In addition, during my tenure on the Economic Development Commission we finalized the report from AdvanceCT, which specifically called out the need for a walkable, attractive commercial district to support a viable economic future for Old Lyme. In several places, the report highlighted the dearth of housing suitable for young couples and seniors. The need for multi-family housing (also called out by the Affordable Housing Committee) is crucial for the economic sustainability of our town, and this need can be addressed by the Halls Road Overlay District plan.
Many small towns in our region such as Chester, Old Saybrook, Essex and Mystic, offer attractive, walkable village districts for their residents. Niantic is actively developing their streetscape with the addition of Sift (a bakery), Five Churches by the Bay (a brewery) and other businesses to the Morton House complex. Further afield, Westerly has been transformed into a destination for eating and music, and Wakefield hosted a street fair this summer featuring local restaurants, and music on the river that runs through town. If Old Lyme is to continue to attract new residents, it would be necessary to offer amenities comparable to our neighbors.
Finally, I would like to commend the Halls Road Village District Commission for their tireless persistence and the high quality of their thorough work. It behooves the town to reward its work with support, and act on the call for development described in the three documents referenced here.
The COVID-19 Community Levels map above, produced by the CDC and dated Jan. 2, 2023, shows New London County in the Medium/Yellow category.
HARTFORD/LYME/OLD LYME, Conn.—The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has listed four Connecticut Counties—Fairfield, Litchfield, Middlesex and New Haven Counties—in the High/Orange category in its most recent COVID-19 Community Levels Map.
New London along with Hartford, Tolland and Windham Counties are listed in the Medium/Yellow category.
The COVID-19 Community Levels map —which was launched earlier this year—informs CDC recommendations on prevention measures, such as masking and testing. The guidelines include a color-coded system available on the CDC website of “Low,” “Medium,” and “High.” This approach focuses on preventing hospitals and health care systems from being overwhelmed and directing prevention efforts toward protecting people at high risk for severe illness.
To protect the most vulnerable residents and preserve capacity in our health care system, people living in the counties designated in the High/Orange category are advised to wear a mask indoors in public, stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, and get tested if they have symptoms. Additional precautions may be needed for residents who are at high risk for severe illness.
“We are now witnessing the long-anticipated winter COVID-19 surge. With 2023 right around the corner, we are in a far better place with this pandemic then we were in 2020,” said Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani, MD. “We have many more tools at our disposal to deal effectively with COVID-19, including vaccines and updated boosters, Test to Treat locations, the mobile van clinics, and the wide availability of COVID-19 self-test kits.”
Commissioner Juthani added that links to all these resources can be found in the DPH COVID-19 toolbox at www.ct.gov/coronavirus. Additionally, the Federal Government has now made available four (4) free self-test kits per household. These free self-test kits can be ordered by visiting www.covid.org/tests.
Residents living in the counties designated the Yellow/Medium Category, who are at high risk for severe illness, should talk to their health care providers about when they should consider wearing a mask and any other precautions they should consider taking. These residents should also stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and get tested if they have symptoms.
Editor’s Note: This article is based on a news release issued Dec. 30, 2022 by the Connecticut Department of Public Health and sent to LymeLine by Ledge Light Health District.
