OLD LYME—The South Lyme Union Chapel will hold a 125th anniversary celebration this Sunday, Aug. 10. All are welcome.
Visitors to the chapel at 308 Mile Creek Road are invited to enjoy hot dogs, salads, dessert and beverages from noon to 2 p.m. There will be opportunities to learn about the area as it existed when the chapel was dedicated in 1900, and for kids to participate in a rock painting activity.
The event is free, but donations will be accepted.
For more information, call 860-434-1200.
OLD LYME—The South Lyme Union Chapel will hold a 125th anniversary celebration this Sunday, Aug. 10. All are welcome.
Visitors to the chapel at 308 Mile Creek Road are invited to enjoy hot dogs, salads, dessert and beverages from noon to 2 p.m. There will be opportunities to learn about the area as it existed when the chapel was dedicated in 1900, and for kids to participate in a rock painting activity.
The event is free, but donations will be accepted.
For more information, call 860-434-1200.
OLD LYME — On Saturday, Aug. 2, from 5 to 7 pm., an Opening Reception and awards presentation will be held for the104th Elected Artist Show and a new show titled, Red Hot. All are welcome and there is no charge for admission.
The Lyme Art Association’s Elected Artists are torch-bearers for the American representational tradition. They follow in the footsteps of the Lyme Art Colony artists who hung their Tonalist and Impressionist works on the walls of the Old Lyme library in 1902 before building their own gallery where the LAA now has its home today.
The LAA once again showcases the very best work of this accomplished group.
Red Hot celebrates the power, passion, and moving nature of the color red. Long associated with love, intense emotion, heat, and revolution, the color red holds an emotional and cultural charge that artists have used to command attention and make bold statements. Whether used subtly or in full saturation, this exhibition invited artists to explore the many shades of red and to embrace the color red as a central element of expression.
Our guest exhibition is the New Haven Paint & Clay Club Select Members Exhibit. A juror selected five of its members, who exhibited in the New Haven Paint & Clay Club’s 2024 Members Exhibit to participate in the show.
The artists chosen for this year’s Select Members Show are Aspasia Anos, Jill Abele Butcher, William Butcher, Frank Bruckmann and Heidi Harrington.
The 104th Elected Artist Show and Red Hot are on view through September 11.
The New Haven Paint & Clay Club Select Members Exhibit is on view July 25 – August 16.
Founded in 1914 by the American Impressionists, the Lyme Art Association continues the tradition of exhibiting and selling representational artwork by its members and invited artists, as well as offering art instruction, lectures, and other public programs to the community.
The LAA is located at 90 Lyme St. in Old Lyme, CT, in a building designed by Lyme colony artist and architect, Charles Adams Platt, and located within the national historic district. Admission is free with contributions appreciated. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 to 5 p.m., or by appointment.
For more information on exhibits, purchase of art, art classes, or becoming a member, visit the LAA website at www.lymeartassociation.org or call (860) 434-7802.
EAST HADDAM—On Saturday, Aug. 9, I-Park, the artists-in-residence program nestled in the woods, invites the public to engage with international artists, wander over the expansive system of trails with environmental art installations and enjoy live music.
I-Park’s Open Trails & Music event takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Visitors will receive a trail map of more than 40 environmental art installations integrated into I-Park’s meadows, woodlands and waterways.
Most trails are gentle and well-marked, allowing for a relaxed, self-paced visit that can last as little as 45 minutes or stretch into several hours. Guests are welcome to bring a picnic basket and unplug in the natural haven.
The Midnight Anthem will take the stage from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Known for its soulful sound and genre-blending style, the trio music mixes country, folk, rock, punk, and Americana into a performance that resonates across generations.
Local Honey Acoustic – described as a slightly sweeter spin on the River Valley’s beloved Local Honey Project – will play from 1:30 to 3:30 pm. The duo of Erin Smith and Abe Wilson features acoustic guitar, harmonies and hand percussion.
The family-friendly outdoor event will also include a nature-themed scavenger hunt and an interactive drawing table for children and adults alike.
Advance reservations are recommended, though walk-ins may register at the Welcome Table upon arrival. A $10 per adult is suggested.
Meet the Artists:
Jonathan Newman is a talented composer blending classical forms with pop, blues and jazz influences. His dynamic compositions are performed by orchestras and ensembles from around the world. His works are renowned for their emotional accessibility and rhythmic energy.
Sophia Sobers is a visual artist integrating sound and public art in urban and natural spaces. Her practice investigates the intersection of technology and nature, creating immersive environments that invite quiet contemplation.
Emily Gui is an interdisciplinary artist focused on climate, consumerism and ethical tension. Her work spans printmaking, installation and sculpture – often using salvaged materials to underscore the complexities of environmental responsibility.
Alice Miceli is a Brazilian photographer examining landscapes shaped by trauma and environmental degradation. She is internationally recognized for long-term projects that employ experimental photographic techniques to visualize the invisible aftermath of conflict and catastrophe.
Lilliam Rivera is an award-winning author of nine books spanning young adult, middle grade and graphic fiction. Rivera’s stories often center on Latinx identity, girlhood and resilience – and she is celebrated for her ability to blend speculative fiction with deeply grounded emotional truth.
Steven Pestana is a conceptual artist creating immersive environments that challenge perception. His work combines sculpture, performance and digital media to explore themes of uncertainty, belief, and the limits of understanding.
I-Park’s community engagement initiatives this year are supported by grants from the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation and the Community Foundation of Middlesex County.
HARTFORD—The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is developing plans for the Pavement Preservation Project for the 2026 construction season in East Haddam. This project involves applying an asphalt rubber chip seal treatment on Rte. 156 through Lyme and Old Lyme, beginning in East Haddam at the intersection of Rte. 82 (Mile Point 0.00) and ending in Old Lyme at the intersection of Rte. 1 (Mile Point 8.43).
The purpose of this project is to preserve and maintain the condition of the pavement, bringing it to a good state of repair. This project will help the CTDOT achieve Transportation Asset Management Plan (TAMP) goals, through pavement preservation treatments that extend the overall pavement life and improve pavement performance.
The present schedule indicates that the design will be completed in August 2025, with construction anticipated to start in the spring of 2026, assuming acceptance of the project, availability of funding, receipt of any required right-of-way, and environmental permits. This project will be undertaken with one hundred percent (100%) State funds.
A press release issued July 31 by CTDOT states it is the CTDOT’s policy to keep the public informed and involved when such projects are undertaken and important that the community share its concerns with the CTDOT to assist in the project’s development.
If anyone has any questions or comments on this project, contact Sebastian Cannamela, Principal Engineer, at (860) 594-2698 or by email at Sebastian.Cannamela@ct.gov. Questions/comments should make reference to State Project No. 0172-0553.