Monthly Archives: April 2025

Death Announced of Joseph Dellaripa, Sr., of Old Lyme, Korean War Veteran, Former Miami Beach Association President

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OLD LYME — Victor Joseph Dellaripa, Sr., of Old Lyme, CT (formerly of Wethersfield, CT and Hollywood, FL) passed away on April 16, 2025 at home.

He was born on January 14, 1932, in Hartford the son of Dan and Rose (Rucci) Dellaripa.

Victor was a proud veteran of the Korean War, serving in the United States Army and was an active member of the Disabled American Veterans association …

Victor is survived by his wife, Mary (Tanasi), with whom he enjoyed 68 years of marriage; His four sons: Dan and his wife Patricia of Wallingford, Frank and his wife Basia of Wethersfield, Victor Jr. and his wife Sondra of East Lyme, and Paul and his wife Patricia of Chester. He also leaves behind eleven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews …

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Disabled American Veterans association or the Franciscan Missions.

Editor’s Note: View this link to see the full obituary published by Dignity Memorial.

Old Lyme Selectmen Place Halls Road Improvements Committee on Hold

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OLD LYME – The Old Lyme Board of Selectmen on Monday pressed pause on the Halls Road Improvements Committee (HRIC).

Selectmen at their regular meeting agreed to the move in the wake of months of controversy involving the future of a short span of road lined with outdated strip malls set between two highway interchanges. At the center of the dispute was a proposal from the Halls Road committee calling for the creation of an overlay district in the commercial zone that would allow apartments and condominiums to be built above, or behind, ground-floor businesses set close to the street. 

Months of vocal opposition to the group’s work culminated on April 14 when the committee’s vision for Halls Road was rejected in a 4-1 vote by the Zoning Commission. HRIC chairwoman Edie Twining resigned a few days later after six years at the helm. 

Many residents – more than 1,200 in an online petition and more than 500 packed into an April public hearing – did not see eye to eye with the committee.

First Selectwoman Martha Shoemaker in a phone interview Tuesday said the town’s three selectmen agreed to put the Halls Road committee on a “hiatus.”

There are currently four vacancies on the nine-member committee, according to the town website. 

“All three of us so much appreciate all the work the Halls Road Improvements Committee has done over the years, and we just want to plan for the best way forward,” she said. 

Shoemaker and HRIC member Paul Gianquinto will meet with the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) on May 5 to discuss unfinished business involving a plan for physical improvements to Halls Road. Representatives of the DEEP have been in talks with town officials about the possibility of transferring ownership of the state’s property on the east bank of the Lieutenant River to Old Lyme, as long as the town agrees to build a fishing pier and parking spaces there. 

Shoemaker said she will bring the topic back to the Board of Selectmen for discussion after she and Gianquinto meet with the state. 

As part of the HRIC plan to make the road safer and more passable for walkers and bikers, selectmen in 2023 hired AI Engineers of Middletown to come up with plans for a pedestrian bridge over the Lieutenant River and a trail system between Lyme Street and Halls Road. The designs were funded with $135,000 in federal American Rescue Plan money and a $28,500 grant through the Connecticut Recreational Trails program.

Shoemaker said selectmen on Monday concurred with a longstanding call among residents to put sidewalks on the road. 

She said she’s had preliminary talks with the town engineer about what those sidewalks might look like but did not yet have specific details. She was also exploring grant options through the state to cover construction. 

The Halls Road Improvements Committee was introduced by Democrat Bonnie Reemsnyder in 2015 with the goal of advising the Board of Selectmen on how best to develop a master plan for the area. The result evoked images of village-like storefronts and apartments, a pedestrian bridge, more greenspace and sidewalks. 

But Reemsnyder successor Tim Griswold, a Republican, called the vision too grandiose. He said at the time that he preferred to focus on building sidewalks one segment at a time before considering such broad plans. He withdrew a previous zoning proposal to create a Halls Road Village District before it could go to public hearing. 

The recently rejected overlay district application was signed by Shoemaker in November. The proposal was represented at the public hearing by William Sweeney, the attorney for the Halls Road Improvements Committee since 2022.

Shoemaker emphasized HRIC members serve at the request of the Board of Selectmen. 

“We’re going to put them on pause for a little while,” she said.

Death Announced of Charles Edward Brinley II, of Old Lyme, Retired Coal Executive Whose Career Spanned the Country

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OLD LYME — Charles Edward Brinley II, of Old Lyme, Connecticut, died peacefully on April 2, 2025, at the age of 84. 

Born on November 17, 1940, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Charlie was the beloved husband of Margaret Nicoll Cadwalader Brinley for 57 years — a partnership that exemplified love, mutual respect, and playfulness. 

Charlie grew up in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania… He attended Yale University, graduating in 1963 with a degree in History …

Charlie and his wife Nicoll met in Philadelphia … In 1970, Charlie and Nicoll welcomed their son, Charles Edward Brinley III. 

Charlie began his business career in Philadelphia at the Philadelphia National Bank … Charlie’s professional journey took him to many places … In 2009, Charlie and Nicoll moved to Old Lyme, Connecticut, where Charlie served as Secretariat (CEO) of CETOA, an international consortium of coal terminal businesses, until his retirement in 2022.

Charlie was predeceased by his parents, William West Frazier Brinley and Dorothy Bullitt Brinley of Philadelphia. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Nicoll Cadwalader Brinley; his son, Charles Edward Brinley III (Margot Morrison Brinley); and his three beloved grandchildren, William, Reily, and Catherine. He is also survived by his three siblings, Dorothy Manou, Helen Abraham, and Frazier Brinley, as well as his beloved extended family …

A memorial service will be held in Old Lyme, Connecticut, with details to follow. In lieu of flowers, gifts in Charlie’s memory may be made to Groton School, Groton, MA 01450-0991, attention of John D. MacEachern, Director of Alumni Affairs, for support of the school’s GRAIN initiative (which makes tuition more affordable for all students of every background and financial status). Alternatively, donations may be made to the Old Lyme Ambulance Association (14 Cross Lane, Old Lyme, 06371).

Editor’s Note: Visit this link to view the obituary published by Dignity Memorial.

Lecture, Guided Walk on ‘Native American Sites in Old Lyme’ at Watch Rock Preserve with Dr. John Pfeiffer, April 27

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A view looking south down the Connecticut River with Watch Rock Preserve to the left. Photo by Edie Twining.

OLD LYME — On Sunday, April 27, take a step back into the history of Old Lyme’s Native Americans with a presentation and walking tour led by Dr. John Pfeiffer, PhD, Anthropology, SUNY Albany.

At 1 p.m., Pfeiffer will give a lecture at the Old Lyme Historical Society, 55 Lyme St. Light refreshments will be offered.

At 2:15 p.m. take a guided walk led by Pfeiffer at Old Lyme’s Land Trust Watch Rock Preserve at 7 Joel Rd.

Pfeiffer has conducted over half a century of research as an anthropologist, historian, and archaeologist with our local Schaghticoke, Mohegan, and Nehantic tribes.  

Dress comfortably for the weather. 

The event is free, but registration is requested at oldlymelandtrust.org

This event is co-sponsored by OLHSI and The Old Lyme Land Trust

Old Lyme Town Band Celebrates 50 Years with Gala Community Concert, April 26

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On Saturday, April 26, the Old Lyme Town Band celebrates its 50th anniversary with a free Community Concert at Lyme-Old Lyme High School. All photos courtesy of Old Lyme Town Band.

OLD LYME —The Old Lyme Town Band (OLTB) sounds off its 50th anniversary season with a free gala concert in the auditorium of Lyme-Old Lyme High School on Saturday, April 26, at 7 p.m. A reception will follow the concert. All are welcome and there is no charge for admission.

These four early members of the Old Lyme Town Band still play in it today. Michele Smith Dickey at right conceived the idea of re-forming the band in 1975 after a 65-year hiatus. The other three members are from left to right, Barry Weiner, Ann Lander, and Ned Perkins.

it was Michele Smith Dickey of Old Lyme—a member of the current band—who conceived the idea of re-forming the band in 1975 after a 65-year hiatus. She notes there were about 30 musicians at that time and the first volunteer conductor was Donald Janse. That was, in Dickey’s words, when, “We started making music and making friends a half century ago”. “

The original incarnation of the Old Lyme Town Band (OLTB) spanned 1886-1910. It was re-formed by Dickey in anticipation of the US Bicentennial coming a year later in 1976.

This photo shows the band in 1910 shortly before it took a 65-year break.

“The group has played continually for half a century,” she noted, continuing, “It’s great to have a musical outlet for people of all ages where friendships are forged.”

A series of 15 conductors followed Janse through the years. Under the direction of its current conductor, Richard Chiappetta, the band entertains audiences with a variety of music including movie medleys, traditional marches, showtune favorites, and Americana selections. 

Dickey commented that the band has grown to more than 50 members since 1975 and continues to provide summer and holiday concerts to shoreline and river valley communities. 

The April 26 concert will feature a commissioned piece by composer Anthony Susi titled, “Impressions of Old Lyme.” It was inspired by three Lyme Art Colony painters in summer residence at the home of Florence Griswold, where the new school of painting became the center of American impressionistic art. Susi hopes “Impressions of Old Lyme,” expresses the rich art history of the community. “The French impressionists often painted scenes around Paris; the American impressionists in Old Lyme painted the rural landscapes of New England.”

This famous work,“Kalmia” by Willard Metcalf, is one of the paintings that inspired Anthony Susi’s original work, “Impressions of Old Lyme,” which will be given its premier by the Old Lyme Town Band at their celebratory concert on April 26.

They used a technique of high-key colors and broken brush strokes seen in the paintings “The Ledges” by Childe Hassam, “Peonies” by Matilda Browne, and “Kalmia” by Willard Metcalf. The works reflect the meadows, marshes, and flowers in the area known for inspiring art.

Brian Girasoli, OLTB President, said that the show will feature debut compositions as well as old favorites as the group celebrates 50 years of musicianship. 

“Since 1975, we  have been fortunate to not only have nearly a thousand people from the surrounding area provide his or her musical acumen, but also the support of the community to put on more than a dozen concerts each year,” he continued. 

Concert dates can be found at oldlymetownband.net/oltb and by visiting Old Lyme Town Band on Facebook. Regular annual events include a concert preceding the fireworks display at the Midsummer Festival, a summer concert on the Town Green, and a winter holiday concert at Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook.  New this summer will be a concert at Water’s Edge in Westbrook.

The OLTB welcomes players of all ages, students to retirees. No audition is necessary. Rehearsals are held Monday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. at Christ the King Church in Old Lyme.

For more information contact oldlymetownband@gmail.com.