It was a beautiful, bright September day when something, which was started almost 20 years ago amid intense controversy, finally reached a jubilant conclusion.

The ribbon awaits …   Photo by N. Meinecke.

During those intervening years, the project traveled through an unofficial failed referendum on the visionary Option J and a bitterly-fought — also failed — referendum (remember those green ribbons?) on the five-school plan, then was separated into a four-school and a high school project, and haggled over in a multitude of building and alternative committee meetings,

A ribbon-cutting took place to celebrate the official opening of the newly-renovated Lyme-Old Lyme High School (LOLHS) ending the building project begun when Jeff Prestridge was superintendent and formed various citizen committees as a response to numerous issues bubbling in District 18.  One of those committees was a facilities committee and from that the original building committee looking at all five schools in District 18 was born.

Lyme-Old Lyme High School Principal Jim Wygonik opened the proceedings (see photo above) with a welcome speech.

Today was an opportunity not only to celebrate the completion of the project, but also to thank the numerous men and women, who have given countless hours to make the project a reality.  The entire high school body of students, staff, faculty and administration, was in attendance at the event joined by local dignitaries, board of education members, Region 18 administration and members of the community.

Region 18 Superintendent Ian Neviaser (above) addressed the assembled crowd with some stirring words …

… and then District 18 Board of Education Chairman Jim Witkins (right, above) gave a special acknowledgement to the long-serving, dedicated  Building Committee Chairman, Russ Gomes (left, above), who then gave his own speech of thanks to the vast number of people who had served with him.

As the LOLHS band of a different era had done at the ground-breaking, the current band under the direction of Jacob Wilson struck up Fanfare to a Common Man, thus closing the loop on the remarkable renovation, which has turned the building into a truly 21st century school.

Photo by N. Meinecke.

Finally the ribbon was cut,

Photo by N. Meinecke.

hands were clapped …

Photo by N. Meinecke.

and the whole community celebrated a job well done.