Monthly Archives: May 2025

Plan Plods On for Two Old Lyme Affordable Houses in Partnership with Habitat for Humanity

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Hikers donned sunglasses and walking sticks for a trek through the McCulloch Family Open Space this past weekend. The ‘Hiker’s Happy Hour,’ a venture of the Old Lyme Open Space Commission and Old Lyme Land Trust, was the first of the season. Photo courtesy of the Old Lyme Land Trust.

Hikers Explore Area Earmarked for Construction, Hike Precedes ‘Happy Hour’ at Old Lyme Inn

OLD LYME–On May 7, a group of local residents gathered for the first hike of the season organized by the Old Lyme Open Space Commission and Old Lyme Land Trust. For many of the walkers, the hike through the McCulloch Family Open Space was their first time visiting the property off Flat Rock Hill Rd. in Old Lyme.

The hike preceded what the hike’s lead organizer Andrea Fenton described as, “a delightful Happy Hour at the Old Lyme Inn.” She emphasized that all are welcome to join these combination hikes and ‘Happy Hours,’ which are organized on a regular basis, stressing that you do not actually need to take the hike in order to enjoy the ‘Happy Hour!’

Affordable Homes Move Closer to Reality

The new, red path that the hikers followed loops around two Affordable Housing lots, which were designated in the original transfer of the property. The process of turning these six acres of the 300-acre McCulloch Family Open Space property into two affordable, single-family homes is moving closer to reality as part of a joint effort between the town and Habitat for Humanity of Eastern Connecticut. 

The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) on Thursday is set for a public hearing on a request from the Old Lyme Affordable Housing Commission that would allow the two proposed houses to share a driveway with two existing houses on Flat Rock Hill Road. 

The town in 2019 closed on the purchase of approximately 300 acres from the McCulloch family to be preserved in perpetuity. The sale set aside two parcels, totaling about six acres, for the construction of affordable homes. Voters last year authorized the transfer of the land from the town to Habitat for Humanity of Eastern Connecticut, which will build and manage one single-family house on each parcel.

Variance Needed Before Construction Can Begin

A variance to zoning regulations must be granted before the town can move forward with a plan to bring in Habitat for Humanity to start construction, according to Affordable Housing Commission meeting minutes.  

Old Lyme Land Use Coordinator Eric Knapp on Monday said about six acres of land at 130-1 Whippoorwill Road, which were deeded to the town by the McCulloch family for the construction of affordable homes, do not have any direct road frontage. 

“So we’re trying to subdivide them out, but can’t without a variance,” he said. 

Old Lyme Land Trust member Andrea Fenton said many of the hikers at the inaugural Hikers’ Happy Hour were visiting the property for the first time. Photo courtesy of the Old Lyme Land Trust.

The town’s zoning regulations require 25 feet of road frontage per lot to qualify for subdivision. 

The land has deeded rights to a 50-foot wide driveway off Flat Rock Hill Road, according to the ZBA application. 

“It’s kind of a unique situation, and that’s what the ZBA is there for,” Knapp said. 

State law grants the ZBA the power to grant variances if existing regulations create “exceptional difficulty or unusual hardship” when it comes to using the property. 

The other two houses that would share the driveway are on land owned by the nonprofit HOPE Partnership, according to assessor’s records. The houses that sit on the land – built in the 1990s by the Old Lyme Affordable Housing Corp before it merged with HOPE – are sold to low-income households using a community land trust model. The framework limits the profit owners can make if they decide to sell their homes. 

The town paid $500,000 for what is now the McCulloch Family Open Space, and $50,000 each for two three-acre areas off Flat Rock Hill Rd. The Affordable Housing Commission in 2022 received a $150,000 grant from the town using federal pandemic-relief funds to reimburse the town for the original purchase price. 

But the deed transfer from the town to Habitat for Humanity of Eastern Connecticut is pending the creation of a steering committee to guide the process, April Affordable Housing Commission meeting minutes stated. The committee will be formed once variance is granted by the ZBA.

New Owner of Old Lyme’s ‘Hideaway’ Believes Pizza is Recipe for His Family’s Success

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José Plasencia, the new owner of The Hideaway Restaurant Wood-Fired Pizza, has put his own spin on the place while retaining much of the original menu.

OLD LYME–José Plasencia, the new owner of The Hideaway Restaurant Wood-Fired Pizza, lives by two codes: family and pizza. 

The 33-year-old restaurateur forged his focus in Ecuador, where he grew up watching his grandfather, father and mother toss pizza dough into circles. 

It’s a tradition he and his wife, Diana, continue for their 7-year-old daughter, Sydney. 

“Kids like when we float the dough around,” he said. 

This week, Plasencia told his story from a table opposite the restaurant’s new counters built around a wood-fired pizza oven. 

The Hideaway, a Halls Road fixture since 1990, had built its reputation on an extensive menu of American fare. But Plasencia knew right away he had to put his own spin on the place. So he added Wood-Fired Pizza to the restaurant name, which now boasts a menu featuring the savory pies as well as more than half of the traditional Hideaway options. 

One neat pile of wood can bring the temperature in the oven to 950 degrees, according to Plasencia. That’s hot enough to cook a pizza in three minutes. 

They churn out as many as 280 pies on a busy weekend night. 

“That’s my thing,” he said. “Pizza.” 

Plasencia recalled coming to this country when he was 16 years old because Ecuador was not safe. He said the decision to leave his homeland was as much about protecting his mother and sisters from harm as it was about building a prosperous future. 

“It’s all about family,” he said. “That’s one of the codes I have.”

José Plasencia and his wife Diana take a brief break from work.

Plasencia got his first job working for then-Hideway owner Jim Caramante before following his passion for pizza to Mango’s Wood-Fired Pizza Company in Mystic. His brother-in-law, José Luis Marin, worked in the kitchen at The Hideaway for 16 years. 

Now Plasencia is at the helm of Hideaway, while Marin owns The Stumble Inne across Halls Road. 

Both men purchased the businesses from Caramante in March. Caramante ran the Hideaway, which opened in 1990, for over two decades after buying it from original owners Carl and Lois Lutender. He opened The Stumble Inne in 2022. 

“What a small world,” Plasencia said. “After 13 years I’m coming back to the Hideaway, but as the owner.” 

Penny Smyth, a Lyme resident and one of the earliest customers at the new Hideaway, said she heard Plasencia’s story from a coworker in the real estate business, who happened to be the daughter of the original owners. 

She said it touched her heart to hear about Plasencia’s transition from teenaged cook to owner.

But it was the new pizza menu, with its fresh ingredients, that whet her appetite. 

“The wood-fired pizza is really a distinguishing factor that caught my attention after many years of not going to the restaurant,” she said. 

She ordered a Funky Fungi Festa pizza and a vegetarian pizza on her first visit, she said. The first delivered a base layer of mushroom puree made with garlic, mushrooms and wine topped with mozzarella cheese, spinach and blue oyster mushrooms. She upgraded the second pizza to include bacon. 

“I was floored,” she said. “I was so delighted with everything about it.”

She said she began posting about the restaurant on her Facebook page right from the table. 

“I think it’s a personal value of mine to try to support local businesses,” she said. 

José Luis Marin (left) and father-in-law Ruben Plasencia help out at The Hideaway Restaurant Wood-Fired Pizza owned by José Plasencia. Marin, who is José Plasencia’s brother-in-law, is the owner of The Stumble Inne across Halls Road.

Plasencia, who said he works about 70 hours per week at the restaurant, gets help from family members including his father, his mother and Marin. 

“Now, because I own the place, I’ve got to be here seven days a week,” he said. “Trying to spend time with my daughter is a little hard right now.”

But he ekes out time for Sydney while looking toward a future at the restaurant he hopes will feed his family and the Old Lyme community for decades to come. 

“This is my dream,” Plasencia said. “I always want to be a success in the country. I always work hard, hard, hard, doing nothing bad. Just trying to prove myself for the people.”

Plasencia said it was important to him to retain all the staff members employed by Caramante. 

“I want to make sure they have a job for their families,” he said. “The only thing we add is our family.” 

Editor’s Note: The Hideaway Restaurant Wood-Fired Pizza at 19 Halls Road is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

‘Bookworm Bash’ Starts a New Chapter at Old Lyme Library

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OLD LYME—Calling all book lovers, partygoers, and library supporters — the former Bookworm Ball is back under a new name as The Bookworm Bash … and it’s going to be the celebration of the season! On Saturday, May 17, from 7 to 11 p.m., the Old Lyme-Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library will be transformed into a lively celebration of stories, style, and community.

Enjoy delicious fare from Hospitality Architecture, featuring a Mediterranean station, charcuterie galore along with dips and bites, and wonderful desserts. Pair your plate with a drink from the cash bar, offering beer, wine, and two signature cocktails crafted just for the occasion.

Snap great memories at the green screen photo booth with custom Bookworm Bash backgrounds. Whether you channel your inner Jane Austen, Harry Potter, or just break out your favorite party outfit—literary-themed or not—your look will be sure to shine!

Music in Motion will keep the energy high and the dance floor full, playing terrific tunes during the whole event.

The silent auction is stacked with getaways and one-of-a-kind experiences, including:

  • A tropical vacation package
  • A NYC weekend escape
  • A Connecticut River Cocktail Cruise
  • A private nature photography class
  • Native pollinator plants from Judges Farm
  • Art, books, curated baskets, and more!

Try your luck with Read Between the Wines, a mystery wine grab that’s full of surprises — will you uncork a hidden gem?

Whether you’re a longtime supporter of the library or just looking for a fun night out with a twist of literary flair, the Bookworm Bash is the place to be. Come celebrate, connect, and help support a beloved part of our community.

Tickets are available for purchase at three price points: $50.00, $150.00 and $250.00. Visit this link to purchase tickets or make a donation. Library Director Katie Huffman said tickets will likely be available at the door.

For more information about the event, visit this link.

Crosby Fund for Haitian Education to Hold Fundraising Annual Dinner in Old Lyme

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Proceeds from the upcoming Haitian Dinner in Old Lyme will benefit The Crosby Fund’s efforts to support the education of students like this one. All photos by The Crosby Fund.

OLD LYME – The Crosby Fund for Haitian Education will hold its Annual Haitian Dinner on Sunday, May 18, at 5:30 p.m.

The dinner will take place at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme (FCCOL), 2 Ferry Rd. 

The authentic Haitian dinner will be catered by Mommy’s Delicious Food in Norwich.

All these Haitian students have benefited from scholarships given by The Crosby Fund—it is important to remember that education is not free in Haiti.

Becky Crosby will offer a Powerpoint presentation sharing the ongoing work of the Fund in Haiti.

Haitian art will be for sale and a raffle for a Haitian painting will also be held.

All proceeds benefit The Crosby Fund. The event is sponsored by the Ladies Benevolent Society of FCCOL.

The Crosby Fund was established in 2004 by the Rev. Rebecca Crosby and her husband, Ted. It provides scholarships for students at the primary, secondary, technical and university level to prepare them for professional careers.

The education of these proud graduates has been made possible by The Crosby Fund.

A donation of $15 per person covers dinner and dessert. Seating is limited. Reservations are required. 

Email Rebecca Crosby at rtcros@ftcrosby.com or call the church office at 860.434.8686 to make reservations or for more information.

Talking Transportation: On Air Pollution and Transportation

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Jim Cameron

Our air stinks. In fact, Fairfield County ranks in the top 25 of most polluted areas in the US, mostly due to ozone levels.

And while much of those noxious gases drift our way from New Jersey and New York City,  a large part of our pollution is home-grown:  it’s due to heavy volumes of traffic, especially diesel trucks, which emit nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—key ingredients in ozone formation.

Yes:  I-95 is hazardous to your health.

And all of this gets worse in the summer due to the heat which increases ozone production, often trapping it over our heads due to temperature inversions. By one estimate, almost 200 Connecticut residents die each year due to our air quality.

We will all remember back to June of 2023 when our sky turned orange due to smoke from Canadian wildfires. That created truly hazardous conditions that literally made breathing bad for you.  With global warming, we’ll see things like this happening again.

So, what does any of this have to do with transportation? Mother nature’s pains (like the Canadian wildfires) notwithstanding, it is transportation’s pollution that is the #1 source in our state, EPA blaming it for half of all our bad air.

Trucks on I-91. Photo from CT DOT.

Trucks:
These are the vehicles responsible for most of our air pollution.  While medium to large trucks represent only 6% of traffic they cause 53% of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, 45% of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), linked to respiratory and cardiovascular health issues, and 25% of greenhouse gas emissions.

Better air filters may help as does burning biodiesel and enforcing no-idling rules. But the real solution will be electric-powered trucks.  However, the Trump administration has slashed tax credits for new buyers and frozen plans for the rollout of charging stations.

Take the Train:
Riding Metro-North is five to six times more fuel efficient than driving.  Those electric trains’ power-generation gives them the equivalent of 125-160 mpg.  And that’s improved further by the trains’ regenerative braking which means that, even when stopping, they generate more power.

Getting more folks on the train also reduces highway traffic, making those vehicles more fuel efficient because they’re not spewing exhaust in stop-and-go traffic.

But our diesel locomotives (which run on the Danbury, Waterbury and Hartford lines) are a different matter.  For their runs in Connecticut they are big polluters, just like trucks.  The World Health Organization and EPA call diesel exhaust a Class 1 carcinogen, right up there with tobacco and asbestos.  New locomotives that are on order will improve that with battery operation and improved filtration.

Ships:
Yes, both commercial and pleasure craft contribute to air (and in this case noise and water) pollution, again because of their diesel engines.  It’s not by chance that wind-powered sailors refer to powerboaters as “stink potters” and “blow boaters”.  There are some electric-powered boats under development, but they’re more expensive and don’t offer the same range.

So, whether your travels take you on the open waters or (hopefully) open roads, remember that there’s more to the cost of your trip than fuel: there’s the cost to our shared environment. 

Editor’s Notes: i) Jim Cameron is the founder of the Commuter Action Group and advocates for Connecticut rail riders. He writes a weekly column called ‘Talking Transportation,’ which is published by a number of publications in the state.
ii)”Talking Transportation” recently won first place in the general column/commentary category in the Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists Excellence in Journalism Contest.