Standing with the New London Currach Rowers’ hand-built seagoing currach are (from left to right) Pauline Wyatt, Nancy Harney, Karissa Williams and Maureen Plumleigh.
Old Lyme–Four New London Currach Rowers recently took out the team currach for a trip from Old Lyme’s Black Hall Outfitters to Great Island to celebrate and support breast cancer survivors.
New London Currach Rowers in a press release identified the “lady rowers” as Old Lyme resident Maureen Plumleigh; her daughter, Karissa Williams, of Westport; Nancy Harney of Westbrook and Pauline Wyatt of Waterford.
Plumleigh and Williams are breast cancer survivors.
The Sept. 6 event was presented by Black Hall Outfitters and the Middlesex Health Cancer Center. The health center on social media said the event drew nearly 60 cancer survivors, family members, friends and staff members for the opportunity to connect, enjoy nature and exercise. The event was free to each survivor and a guest thanks to sponsorship from the Connecticut-based After the Storm organization, whichassists in the aftermath of breast cancer diagnosis and treatments.
While the event was billed as a kayaking excursion, Plumleigh said her group rowed a currach to bring attention to Irish rowing as well as breast cancer survivors.
The currach is a hand-built craft of Ireland, originally designed 2,000 years ago for the rough waters of the Irish Seas. The team competes against other member teams of the North American Currach Association.
Editor’s Note: This op-ed was submitted to us by Maryam Elahi, President & CEO of the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut
Maryam Elahi, President & CEO, Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut.
At this moment, when all eyes are on the impact of federal budget cuts on our communities, it is important to highlight one of the most successful accomplishments of this last legislative session here in CT – the Early Childhood Education Endowment. We thank Governor Lamont for listening to advocates and residents who testified, and for demonstrating leadership, compassion and wisdom.
This was no small feat. Our state is now a national model. By supporting the Endowment Fund, our elected leaders put their arms around our youngest residents and their families. Working families won’t have to make a Hobson’s Choice between caring for their children (and not making a living wage) or working to earn a living (just to spend it all on childcare).
This is the role of responsible and responsive government – to use resources and revenue wisely, ensuring all residents can thrive and contribute back to their communities. Those of us in philanthropy have traditionally played a partnering role by providing grants and other support to the nonprofits that are the backbones of our communities. We are prepared to step up today, as we did during the pandemic. We aspire to do our best in these times to ensure that every one of our residents is supported.
The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut has led a campaign to “End Child Poverty Now” in our state for the last two years, with about 120 partners ranging from universities and nonprofit organizations to think tanks and municipal partners. We embarked on this campaign believing that we could do so much better in our wealthy state. We believe that every child should have what they need to reach their utmost potential.
Providing childcare for families who can’t afford it is an essential step in creating strong communities. But we need to do more. All school children should be provided with healthy school meals. Best practices in the United States and other nations demonstrate that providing nutritious meals for children and youth, especially those in struggling households, enhances their performance and reduces stress on families and teachers. Investing in school meals is a smart investment in our future generation.
As our elected leaders head into the Special Session this Fall, we ask that they build on the success of the last session and invest in structures that can protect those who are vulnerable and promote the basic rights of all our residents. We know that the federal cuts to Medicaid, SNAP and other programs will be devastating.
Difficult choices must be made. Strategic choices should be made.
Investing in school meals will ensure that children perform well in school. It will support families’ economic stability. No child should suffer from hunger and malnutrition on account of their parent’s economic status. After all, we are one of the wealthiest states in this nation. Let’s ensure that our children are well fed so that they and their families have the opportunity to thrive in this great state.
As if our roads weren’t dangerous enough already, there’s a new generation of “personal mobility vehicles” (PMV) silently swishing around our streets for us to worry about — electric scooters and skateboards.
The scooters (about $1400) can go 30 mph. The skateboards (about $700) top out at 32 mph. But following simple instructions on the web, the speed governor can be disabled allowing even faster speeds … up to 60 mph. That modification is illegal in Connecticut.
Many adults and kids use this new gear responsibly. Parents love them as it gives their kids mobility (meaning less chauffeuring.) But even at slower speeds these vehicles are dangerous, their riders unprotected in the event of a fall or collision.
In July, a 15-year-old in Trumbull was killed on his e-bike when he was hit by a car.
That’s why new laws are coming in Connecticut October 1 regulating these devices.
If your e-scooter has no pedals (so it’s not a moped) and a motor over 750 watts (allowing speeds over 30 mph), you’ll need a driver’s license.
E-bikes with motors over 3,500 watts (meaning speeds over 50 mph) must be registered and insured like a motorcycle, and a motorcycle endorsement is required on your license to ride them.
Unless the scooter is built for two seats, passengers are not allowed. And e-bikes of all types are not allowed on sidewalks.
It is illegal to operate any motorized vehicle with a seat lower than 26 inches on public roads. That includes many of the smaller scooters and mini-motorbikes that are often marketed toward children.
Everyone on an e-bike or skateboard under the age of 18 must wear a helmet.
E-skateboards are not allowed to drive faster than 20 mph. Riders must be at least 15 years old but the vehicles do not need to be registered if under that speed limit. Local laws may be stricter for safety. Best to ask your Police Department.
If all of these new regulations seem confusing or overly restrictive, read the recent Op-Ed by State Rep Tracy Marra which started with the eye-catching headline… “I saw your kid almost die today”.
Increased mobility is great. But safety must always come first.
If you’re a driver you already know how disconcerting it can be when these e-devices come hurtling along, almost silently and without notice. But you’re the one driving a ton of steel, so give them their space.
Can law enforcement keep up with all this? Should they be responsible?
As one First Selectman said the other day: “It’s not a good thing to have police chasing after ten, eleven and 12 year olds on bikes and ticketing them. I’m not anxious to take a police officer away from other enforcement operations.”
What’s the answer, if not enforcement? Education and parental responsibility.
There’s no way teens can afford these e-bikes on their allowance money. They’re obviously being purchased by parents, happy to get out of squiring them around from school to dance class to the Y. Those parents should be responsible for making sure their kids are safe … and legal.
We all love our kids, right?
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.
OLD LYME—On Friday, Sept. 12, the Old Lyme boys faced Westbrook and came away with a 3-0 victory.
Wildcat goals were scored by Colman Curtiss-Reardon, Rowan McCormick, and Evan Coffee with assists coming from John Morosky and Charlie McEwan.
Sam Edmed made two saves and Liam McCormick one in goal for the ‘Cats
Jameson McCarthy notched 11 saves for Westbrook.
Old Lyme are now 3-2-0 overall and 2-1-0 in the Shoreline Conference.
On Saturday, Sept. 13, the Old Lyme girls played Waterford in a non-conference game. The game was played at Old Lyme and resulted in a 1-1 draw. Vivian Boller scored for the ‘Cats off an assist from Anna Bussman.
LYME, CT – John Allan Bysko, Jr. of Lyme, CT passed away on August 31, 2025. He was born in New London, CT on November 28, 1978 to John and Jane Bysko.
He graduated from Lyme-Old Lyme High School in 1997. He was a member of the National Honor Society, ran cross country, rowed crew and loved spending time with his group of friends skiing, snowboarding, jet skiing and boating.
He became a Junior member of the Old Lyme Fire Department when he was 15 years old, a Senior member in 1997 as well as becoming an Emergency Medical Technician when he was 17. He volunteered and worked for Old Lyme Ambulance for over 20 years.
After high school, John went on to spend one year at the Coast Guard Academy before quickly realizing that wasn’t for him. From there he went to UCONN, getting a degree in Health Care Management from the School of Business and realized that this wasn’t quite what he wanted to do.
He became a Paramedic and worked at the Shoreline Clinic in Westbrook as well as for AMR in New Haven. He enrolled in the Connecticut Fire Academy and graduated in 2011 with class #48 and began his career, his real true calling, with the North Haven Fire Department where he served for 14 years. Someone from his Fire Department family wrote the following: “His sudden death left the firehouse silent in a way no alarm ever could, leaving behind a team that relied on his calm during chaos and his humor during long shifts. Bysko earned trust not just through skill but through kindness. His colleagues described him as someone who brought warmth to the station and steadiness to the field.”
John leaves behind his mother, Jane, his sister, Jennifer, sister, Jillian and brother-in-law Glen Bobowicz as well as his nephews and niece, Brody, Ella, Noah, Elias and Owen. He was predeceased by his father, John A. Bysko, Sr., in October 2024.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2025 at 11:00 at Christ the King Church, 1 McCurdy Road, Old Lyme, CT. Burial will follow in Duck River Cemetery, Old Lyme with a reception to follow at his favorite restaurant, Sapore Pizzeria.
