Monthly Archives: April 2023

Death Announced of Janet Anne Elizabeth “Jan” Simpson Hine, 90, of Old Lyme; Mother of Jack, OL Resident for More Than 50 Years

Posted on by
Reply
Janet Anne Elizabeth “Jan” Simpson Hine
10/15/1932 – 4/25/2023

OLD LYME — Janet Anne Elizabeth “Jan” Simpson Hine, 90, of Sill Lane, Old Lyme, died in her home Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Jan was born in Bedford (UK), Oct. 15, 1932, the daughter of Charles John Simpson and Annie Elizabeth Smith.

She attended the Bath Academy of Art in Corsham (Wiltshire) and London University, graduating in 1955. While teaching art in Wolverhampton and Peterborough, she met her husband, Jonathan, in Palma de Mallorca. Lieutenant-Commander Hine was Executive Officer of USS The Sullivans (DD-537) at the time. After two years of correspondence, they were married in the Unitarian church in Cambridge (UK). Jonathan had grown up in Cambridge, Mass., and served in World War II and Korea in submarines and surface ships. The newlyweds settled in Washington, D.C., where they had two sons, Charles (1958) and William (1960).

When Jonathan retired from active duty in 1961, they moved to Old Lyme. Jan felt at home immediately in a town with the spirit of Corsham, where she had studied art. She developed the Friends of Lyme Academy of Art and worked for many years with the Friends of the Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library in Old Lyme. Her third son, Jack, was born in 1970, as they completed the house on Sill Lane where Jan would spend the rest of her life.

Jan was active in her community with various organizations about which she felt passionate including Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, Duck River Garden Club, Library Garden Friends, the Connecticut College Arboretum, Friends of Harkness Memorial State Park, Friends of Connecticut State Parks, and All Souls Unitarian Church. For ten years, while working at the Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center, she managed a small grant for the CT Parent Training and Information Center. The manual she wrote for parents of students with disabilities on making the transition from school to work had three editions. She also edited and produced the CPAC newsletter.

After almost fifty years of marriage, she lost her husband in 2007. Jan is survived by her three sons, Charles Lanman Hine (wife Kim Farnsworth) of Wethersfield, William Thomas Hine of New London, and John Simpson (Jack) Hine (wife Allison) of Old Lyme; and grandchildren, Isabella and Leland; along with her stepsons, Jonathan Jr. of Norfolk, Va., and David (wife Sally) of Chester, N.Y., and their families.

Burial will be private. A celebration of her life will take place at 1 p.m. May 18, at All Souls Unitarian Church in New London. A garden reception will follow (rain or shine) at her home, 67 Sill Lane, in Old Lyme. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Janet A.E. Hine may be sent to: Joubert Syndrome Foundation & Related Cerebellar Disorders, PO Box #84 Spokane, WA 99210; https://jsrdf.org/ OR All Souls UU Congregation Building Fund, 19 Jay Street, New London, CT 06320; http://www.allsoulsnewlondon.org.

Old Lyme Tree Commission Celebrates Arbor Day with ‘Spring Seedling Giveaway’

Posted on by
1
Old Lyme Tree Commission members gather to pot tree seedlings in preparation for Saturday’s Spring Seedling Giveaway. From left to right are Emily Griswold, Anne Bing, chairman Joanne DiCamillo, Fred Behringer, Joan Flynn, and ‘Hydrangeas Galore ‘ owner Mark Comstock. Missing from the photo is the commission’s Clerk/Secretary Martha Hansen, who joined the event. Commission members, who were unable to attend the ‘Potting Day’, are Peter Edmonstone and Michael Gaffey. All photos by SuzanneThompson.

OLD LYME — The Old Lyme (OL) Tree Commission welcomes all town residents to come and pick up native tree seedlings to plant in their yards. The Commission’s first ‘Tree Seedling Giveaway’ will be held Saturday, April 29, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Old Lyme’s Memorial Town Hall.

Residents can select up to three trees – a choice of either White Dogwood or Eastern Redbud for a flowering tree, a choice of either Sugar Maple or Scarlet Oak, which grow well in some shade, and an evergreen.

Old Lyme Tree Commission members worked hard to pot the tree seedlings at ‘The Kingsville Grower’ ready for Saturday’s event.

The plants were purchased from the Arbor Day Foundation while the pots and soil were donated by Mark and Belkys Comstock, owners of The Kingsville Grower in Old Lyme, where commissioners potted up the seedlings earlier this week. 

“We need to start a new generation of trees,” said Joanne DiCamillo, OL Tree Commission Chair. “Over the years, diseases, insect pests, drought, climate change and roadside salt have all taken their toll. We had to take down a lot of old trees that had died.”

Old Lyme Tree Commission member Fred Behringer (left) was clearly enjoying the commission’s combined potting effort. Meanwhile, ‘Hydrangeas Galore’ Mark Comstock, center right, demonstrates potting techniques to Joanne DiCamillo (right foreground) while Emily Griswold (right, at rear) completes a potting task.

Since 2018, the town has taken down 148 trees and the commission planted 10 trees, according to DiCamillo. So the Commission decided to enlist the community’s help to plant more trees. And then fortuitously, Mark Comstock showed up at one of their monthly meetings and offered to help with materials and to provide a spot to pot up the seedlings.

DiCamillo continued, “We need new cover in the Town of Old Lyme, with residents helping us by planting the trees of the future in their yards now. That will really be helpful.” 

It was a busy day of seedling potting for Tree Commission members.

The commission researched the best place to purchase the tree seedlings and decided on the Arbor Day Foundation. The Old Lyme Board of Selectmen then endorsed the commission’s proposal to spend $450.00 of its budget on the trees.

“We agreed that purchasing 250 seedling trees would be more practical and enable us to give them away to the Old Lyme community, as opposed to charging a fee for them,” explained DiCamillo.

She added, “Keeping in mind our primary goal to ‘Plant Native,’ we selected five native species that would be wonderful sources of food and shelter for wildlife, songbirds, bees, deer, squirrels, butterflies, and so on. We focused on trees that we thought would appeal to homeowners, and eventually provide color, beauty and shade to their property and become an asset to our town’s landscape.” 

The Tree Commission will provide written instructions with the plants at the ‘Giveaway’ on Saturday.

The Arbor Day Foundation recommends that residents, who take the potted seedlings, should get them into the ground as rapidly as possible, ideally in a garden border or bed where they can nurture it. Avoid direct sunshine areas. Gently spread out the roots, do not plant the tree too deeply, keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Mulch around the seedling is also very important so that the tree’s roots do not dry out. 

Plan to water the trees regularly throughout this summer and well into the fall. Young trees and shrubs need regular watering for at least two years after planting.

“Rain or shine, we will be there,” said DiCamillo. 

‘View across ‘The Kingsville Grower’ at146 Neck Rd., where the potting day took place. The nursery is on the border of Old Lyme and Lyme – look for the ‘Hydrangeas Galore’ sign.

The Old Lyme Tree Commission is very grateful to the Comstocks, who made their nursery available to members to pot the seedlings. Comstock also provided advice and materials. Comstock grew up in Ivoryton but subsequently moved out of state. He returned to Connecticut about 10 years ago with his wife and young son to open his current business. Comstock also is well known in the world of bonsai for growing pre-bonsai specimens.

Stop by to see Comstock’s plants at the nursery at 146 Neck Rd. and watch for more information about The Kingsville Grower/Hydrangeas Galore in future LymeLine.com coverage.

Lyme-Old Lyme, Old Saybrook Chambers Celebrate Successful Merger at ‘Bridging Businesses’ Event

Posted on by
Reply
Around 50 people turned out to celebrate the merger of the Lyme-Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce with the Old Saybrook Chamber. All photos by S.uzanneThompson.

OLD LYME — On Wednesday evening, a well-attended ‘Bridging Businesses’ reception was held at Essex Savings Bank & Sotheby’s International Realty on Halls Rd. in Old Lyme to celebrate the official merger of the Lyme-Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce (LOLCC) with the Old Saybrook Chamber.

Transition Team member Jean Wilczynski (left) welcomed guests to the event, Tammi Flynn and Emily Clark from the Florence Griswold Museum stand at right.

After 90 years operating as an independent Chamber, the LOLCC is joining forces with the Old Saybrook Chamber. to create new, regional networking opportunities for local businesses.

Old Saybrook Chamber Executive Director Judy Sullivan (second from left) stands with Essex Savings Bank & Sotheby’s International Realty hosts (from left to right) Tammy Tinnerello, Heather Gagnon and Laurie Walker.

Although the all-volunteer Lyme-Old Lyme Chamber is officially disbanding, its longstanding college scholarship program for Lyme-Old Lyme residents will continue with funds transferred to the professionally-staffed Old Saybrook Chamber.

State Rep Devin Carney (R-23rd — center) was one of the many politicians to address the guests.

The Lyme-Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce Transition Committee, comprised Old Lyme First Selectman Tim Griswold, outgoing President of the LOL Chamber Richard Shriver, and LOL Chamber Board members Suzanne Thompson, Laurie Walker and Jean Wilczynski.

The chairs of the ‘Bridging Businesses’ event were OL Economic Development Commission Chair Cheryl Poirier and LOL Chamber Board member Laurie Walker.

The event was supported by numerous local restaurants and eateries including Hadlyme Country Market, The Hangry Goose, the Old Lyme Inn, Papi’s (Mexican), Long Table Local, The Hideaway, Teddy’s Old Lyme Pizza, The Chocolate Shell, Kokomo’s, the Old Lyme Country Club, The Stumble Inne, Coffee’s Country Market and Subway. Both Chambers are indebted to these businesses for their generosity.

State Senator Norm Needleman (right) offered words of support to the new, expanded organization.
From left to right, Old Lyme EDC member John Stratton, David Kelsey, Lyme First Selectman David Lahm and Frank Pappalardo listened as State Senator Martha Marx (right) addressed the audience.
Old Lyme First Selectman Tim Griswold drew applause during his remarks.
It was clearly a cheerful occasion with much to celebrate.
Joining the festivities were (from left to right) Rich Shriver, Russ Gomes, George Ryan and Charlie DeLinks.

Recommendations for Management, Use of 36-1 Buttonball Property Accepted by Old Lyme Board of Selectmen

Posted on by
1
View of Horseneck Creek from the Buttonball Open Space near its confluence with the Black Hall River. Photo taken April 18, 2023 and submitted by the 36-1 Buttonball Road Property Committee.

Editor’s Note: The following statement has been agreed by the members of the 36-1 Buttonball Rd. Property Committee in order to let the Old Lyme community know the positive outcomes from the committee’s efforts. The committee itself has now been dissolved.

OLD LYME — At the April 3 Old Lyme Board of Selectmen’s meeting, the board voted unanimously to accept the 36-1 Buttonball Rd. Property Committee’s recommendations for the Buttonball Rd property.

This set of recommendations was a result of the committee’s extensive work since last July to understand the issues involved in the Old Lyme Harbor Management Commission’s desire to install a dock for access to the Black Hall River for small watercraft.

On March 14, the 36-1 Buttonball Rd. Property Committee voted unanimously to forward their detailed recommendations to the board of selectmen.

A key point of the recommendation is that the Harbor Management and Open Space Commissions work together to manage the property. With the acceptance of the recommendation by the board of selectmen, the Harbor Management Commission has now been given the go-ahead to pursue installation of a dock.

Preliminary view of proposed dock for access to Horseneck Creek. Image furnished by Old Lyme Harbor Management Commission.

There were concerns about whether there was sufficient depth for watercraft in both Horseneck Creek and the Black Hall River. A hydrographic survey indicated that the waters are navigable except during extreme low tides. Signs will be posted to warn boaters to pay attention to the tides.

This summer, the Open Space Commission’s goal is to establish a trail at the edge of the marsh, along with protection for the marsh.The property is already open to the public with both parking and temporary signage in place.

As this is a small and relatively fragile area, visitors are asked to be mindful of the natural environment, stay on existing trails and observe posted signs.

Asked how he felt the efforts of the 36-1 Buttonball Rd. Property Committee had worked out, Committee Chairman Fred Behringer said, “Involving the expertise and capabilities of both commissions will provide the best possible outcome for the community.”

Old Lyme Tennis Girls Win Shoreline Championship for Third Year in Succession

Posted on by
Reply
Old Lyme Number One Singles player Samantha Tan stands with her proud parents after her win over Valley Regional.

OLD LYME — The Old Lyme girls varsity tennis team continued its extraordinary run of unbeaten games Monday with a 7-0 victory over previously unbeaten Valley Regional High School. Not only did this win extend the team’s record to 52-0, but also secured the team its third Shoreline Conference in a row.

Old Lyme then continued their undefeated run with a 7-0 victory over Cromwell on Wednesday.

Old Lyme Number One Doubles pair Alexis Fenton ( left) and Livie Bass were interviewed by Vickie Fulkerson from ‘The Day’ after the team’s 7-0 victory over Valley Regional, who were also undefeated up until playing OL.

The full results of Monday’s game are as follows (Old Lyme players are listed first in each case)

1st Singles:
Sam Tan vs Joanna Petrone 6-2, 6-3

2nd Singles: 
Elaina Morosky vs Natalie Novak 6-3, 6-0

3rd Singles: 
Callie Bass vs Hannah Schwartzman 6-0, 6-0

4th Singles: 
Katherine Zhang vs Sophia Bonamo 6-0, 6-0

Old Lyme’s #2 Doubles pair Aggie and Beatrice Hunt (at left) stand smiling with Alexis Fenton and Livie Bass, the #1 Doubles pair, after the team’s 7-0 team victory over Cromwell on Wednesday, which officially clinched the Shoreline Championship for Old Lyme.

1st Doubles: 
Livie Bass / Alexis Fenton vs. Samara Shankar / Clara Shea 6-0, 6-0

2nd Doubles:  
Aggie Hunt/ Beatrice Hunt vs. Regan Grow / Alessia Pisanzio 6-4, 6-1

3rd Doubles:
Izzy Reynolds/Natalie Buckley vs. Ashley Cap / Fallyn Belisle 6-2, 6-2

Lyme-Old Lyme High School Girl’s Tennis Coach Lauren Rahr celebrates her team’s continuing success in this file photo with her father, Dave Rahr. He serves as the team’s Junior Varsity Coach. Photo submitted.