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High Hopes’ Community Mission Grows With More Ways for Horses to Help Humans

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High Hopes Therapeutic Riding engages people of all ages through programs like Shared Strides, which introduces older adults to barn life, gentle movement, and the connection between humans and horses. Photo courtesy of High Hopes.

OLD LYME–High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc. has announced new and expanded initatives to meet the need for calm, connection and community with the help of horses.

The nonprofit organization in a press release said it is expanding its mission to serve people “across the lifespan, from children and teens to adults, seniors, and veterans.”

High Hopes has provided therapeutic riding experiences for more than a half century.

Marci Bender, Education and Impact Director at High Hopes and a certified instructor, said the offerings reflect a focus on how horses can help the community’s evolving needs. she explained, “These programs create safe, meaningful spaces for participants to learn, heal, and connect with themselves, others, and their equine partners.”

The organization said the “horse-human connection” can help someone with PTSD stay grounded in the present moment, or offer a calm equine companion to someone coping with anxiety or grief.

Among the new and expanded offerings are:

  • Women’s Wellness Initiative
    This program serves women across the community, including survivors of trauma and veterans, through equine-assisted services that build trust, reduce stress, and foster resilience.
  • Minis On The Move
    High Hopes’ miniature horses travel to schools, senior centers, and care facilities to bring joy and comfort to those who cannot visit the farm.
  • Shared Strides
    Designed for adults ages 60 and older, this program invites participants to experience the peaceful rhythm of barn life, gentle movement, and meaningful social connection.
  • Youth Empowerment Program
    Serving children and teens ages 9 to 16 who have experienced trauma, this program helps participants build confidence, emotional regulation, and self-esteem through hands-on equine activities.
  • Veterans’ Program
    Small group sessions provide a calm, judgment-free environment where veterans can reconnect, find grounding, and practice mindfulness with horses.
  • Individualized Wellness Program
    One-on-one sessions, led by a certified grief educator and recreation therapist, provide space to reflect, reset, and find healing through equine-facilitated learning.

High Hopes continues to offer its core therapeutic riding and horsemanship programs, the group said.

For more information, to volunteer or to register for programs, visit www.highhopestr.org or contact the Program Office at 860-434-1974.

Alliance for American Leadership Honors Former Congressman Gejdenson with Lifetime Achievement Award

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Former Congressman Sam Gejdenson received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Alliance for American Leadership (A4AL) at an event held in Old Lyme. Photo credit: A4AL

OLD LYME — On Oct. 5, the Alliance for American Leadership (A4AL) joined Old Lyme resident Andrea Fenton, formerly of USAID and the Peace Corps, and Mark Miller, a nurse practitioner and public health advocate, to honor former Congressman Sam Gejdenson with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades of service to the United States and the world. 

The award ceremony, hosted in Old Lyme, marked the official Connecticut launch of the Alliance and drew more than 70 supporters committed to restoring America’s global leadership through effective international assistance. The event raised over $7,000 to support A4AL’s programs aimed at renewing, restoring, and reimagining U.S. foreign aid.

While the launch introduced A4AL to the state, its central purpose was to recognize Congressman Gejdenson’s lasting impact. Born in a displaced persons camp in Allied-occupied Germany, Gejdenson represented Connecticut’s 2nd District from 1981 to 2001.

During his tenure, he championed causes that strengthened America’s global reach and moral standing—restoring funding to the United Nations Population Fund, advancing anti-trafficking legislation, and initiating U.S. support for UNAIDS, a program that has helped save more than 26 million lives worldwide. 

Speakers throughout the evening reflected on leadership, American values, and the power of compassion-driven service. 

“Leadership is about trust,” said Mark Miller, a nurse practitioner and health advocate. “In healthcare, trust isn’t a slogan—it’s the difference between chaos and coordination, between fear and recovery. It’s built one decision, one conversation, one act of integrity at a time. That same trust is what’s missing in public life today. That’s why I believe in the Alliance for American Leadership—because it stands for principled, informed, and service-minded leadership.” 

Asher Moss, Executive Director of A4AL, contrasted that leadership with recent policy changes. 

“As a nation, we made a conscious decision to shut down USAID this year,” said Asher Moss, Executive Director of A4AL. “That meant cutting off food, medicine, and life-saving care to 120 million people. It meant allowing 500 tons of American crops to be destroyed instead of feeding families in Yemen and Sudan.”

He continued, “That’s not American leadership — it’s a moral failure. If we do nothing, 14 million people could die over the next five years. That’s why we’re here — to act, to lead, and to remind the world what America stands for.” 

Victoria Ayer, who once served on Gejdenson’s staff, recalled his enduring belief in service: “Sam believes in the best of what America can be. We worked on Medicare for All, we helped build the East Coast Greenway, and we restored funding to the UN Population Fund. What truly makes this country great is our empathy and compassion for others.” 

Former Congressman Sam Gejdenson addressed the capacity audience at the event. Photo credit: A4AL

When it came time for Congressman Gejdenson to speak, he shared a story that captured the ripple effect of American generosity. 

“In Ghana, a woman borrowed about $100 through a microloan program we started,” Gejdenson said. “She bought a sewing machine, then a stove, then plastic flowers — and before long, she had 50 employees making flowers for weddings and funerals. The U.S. investment was under $300. That’s what American assistance can do — it transforms lives.” 

He continued: “It’s hard to get people to see why we should help others. Forget that it’s the right thing to do—it’s also smart. Disease anywhere becomes disease everywhere. Hunger abroad breeds instability at home. We need to remind Americans that compassion is not weakness; it’s strength. And rebuilding that understanding starts at the grassroots level—it starts with groups like A4AL.”

A press release from the A4AL noted it was honored to recognize Congressman Gejdenson’s decades of service and his commitment to a more compassionate, secure, and principled America. 

Editor’s Note: Formed after the shutdown of USAID, the Alliance for American Leadership is a nonpartisan coalition dedicated to restoring American leadership through smart, strategic, and effective international assistance. For more information on the organization, visit https://A4AL.org.

Letter to the Editor: Veteran Old Lyme Board of Finance (BOF) Member Endorses ‘Capable … Deeply Committed’ Republican Slate of BOF Candidates

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To the Editor:

As a resident of Old Lyme and member of the Board of Finance for almost 22 years, I am writing to express my thoughts on the upcoming 2025 Board of Finance election, a pivotal event that will shape the financial stewardship of our community for years to come. The Board of Finance plays a crucial role in ensuring fiscal responsibility, transparency, and the wise allocation of our town’s resources. With the challenges of maintaining essential services, improving infrastructure, and balancing the town’s budget, it is more important than ever that we elect individuals who are not only capable, but also deeply committed to the well-being and future of Old Lyme.

This election is an opportunity for us to reaffirm our values as a town — values that include prudent financial management, open communication with residents, and a focus on both present needs and long-term sustainability. We have three candidates up for election that have experience in the business world that will do our town well in having them on the Board of Finance. David Kelsey and Matt Olson have been members of the Board for many years; John Flick is a newcomer that brings to the table years of business experience and a passion for our town being run as efficiently as possible. I encourage my fellow citizens to learn about the candidates and consider everyone’s experience and vision for Old Lyme. Our Board of Finance needs members who are collaborative, knowledgeable, and willing to advocate for the entire community.

There has been a great deal of conversation about the town’s undesignated funds.  In my years on the board, we have asked our auditors what percentage of surplus our town should have. That number fluctuated between 20-30% depending on the auditor.  This is higher than most communities because of the possible loss of tax revenue if a catastrophic storm hit our beach communities. Long term if we had significant property loss along the shoreline, we could face loss of tax revenue for a period of time while homes were re-built.  

This past budget season there was conversation about how much we should take from surplus. There were several proposals that did not pass. We stepped away for a week and had another meeting where David Kelsey made a motion, and I seconded the amount of $800,000 to be taken from surplus for this current budget year. That motion passed 5-1.  Our reason for this number was to help in the short term with the higher than usual town budget increase and the Region 18 building project debt payments starting. Why not more? There will be Region 18 debt payment increases in the coming years that most likely will have to use more money from the undesignated fund to keep the tax bills as flat as possible. We also have town projects that are coming down the pike like the Grassy Hill Road Bridge, road maintenance and the unknown of what the town may have to contribute to the sewer project.  

Regardless of political affiliation, I urge everyone to participate in the upcoming election. I ask you to support David Kelsey, Matt Olson and John Flick for the Board of Finance. This group will look at spending our money wisely in the short term and planning for the future. An engaged and informed electorate is the foundation of effective local government. Together, we can ensure that Old Lyme continues to thrive, not just for current residents, but for generations to come.

Sincerely,

Andy Russell,
Old Lyme.

Letter to the Editor: Endorsing J. David Kelsey—a ‘Generous Supporter of All Things Old Lyme’—for Board of Finance

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To the Editor:

I’m inspired to write this endorsement after seeing the Democrat Town Committee’s [DTC] video ad attempting to smear Dave Kelsey. Dave does support Republican causes at the national and state level. He also supports the Old Lyme Republican Town committee of which I am a member. Most notably, yet not mentioned in the DTC ad, is Dave’s service to our community. Aside from serving the BOF [Board of Finance] for the past 17 years, Dave is a generous supporter of all things Old Lyme.

  • Dave was a lead donor for the Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library renovation.
  • Dave donated hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Lyme Art Association skylight renovation.
  • Dave and his daughters are the benefactors for the Kelsey Family Center at the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center.
  • Dave has purchased and renovated numerous apartments in town to provide local housing to the Lyme Art Academy students.
  • When Big Y attempted to build another gas station on Halls Road, Dave acquired the lot through personal finances to preserve the space (where Hydrangea Galore now is).
  • And if you notice graffiti on the Lyme St. underpass or the Mile Creek rail bridge, contact Dave — he has paint and willingness to help cover it up (and he’ll text you at 6am to go paint with him), so long as he is not already busy volunteering to pull ragweed from behind our town hall.

I could easily add another dozen or so bullet points, although I think it is clear. We are fortunate to have such a benevolent citizen here in town.

Facts, not fear.

Sincerely,

Steve Spooner,
Old Lyme.

SECWAC Hosts Talk on ‘Trump 2.0 Middle East Policy: Promise and Peril,’ Nov. 6

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EAST LYME–On Thursday, Nov. 6, the Southeast Connecticut World Affairs Council (SECWAC) will host Middle East Institute Senior Fellow Brian Katulis for a talk titled, “Trump 2.0 Middle East Policy: Promise and Peril.” 

The 6 p.m. presentation will be held at Flanders Fish Market & Restaurant, 22 Chesterfield Road, East Lyme. The talk will be preceded by a 5:30 p.m. reception and followed by a members-only dinner at 7:15 p.m. 

SECWAC in an a press release said Katulis’ presentation will assess whether President Donald Trump’s overall foreign policy approach—which he says is characterized by transactional diplomacy, selective military engagement, and attempts to use America’s economic power to gain global leverage—is likely to produce a more durable and sustainable security environment in the Middle East, amid a rapidly evolving regional landscape.

The talk comes 10 months’ into the second Trump administration, which has been marked by a noteworthy trip to the Gulf, a major policy shift on Syria, U.S. military strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, and the emergence of a 20-point plan for Gaza, which began with the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.

Katulis specializes in US foreign policy and national security at the Middle East Institute. He hosts the institute’s podcast series, “Taking the Edge Off the Middle East,” and writes a bi-weekly column on U.S. foreign policy. He has decades of experience living and working in the Middle East, where he has forged relationships with leaders in government, the private sector, media, national security and many international organizations.

Katulis co-authored The Prosperity Agenda with Nancy Soderberg to examine how America’s economic advantages can be used to shape global dynamics. He is frequently quoted in leading news publications and media outlets.

Katulis holds a master’s degree in public affairs from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs and a bachelor’s degree in history and Arab and Islamic studies from Villanova University. He was a Fulbright Scholar in Amman, Jordan from 1994-95, where he conducted a research project on the peace process between Israel and Jordan.

SECWAC members are free. Non-Member in-person attendance is $20. Non-Members may visit this link to register. A post-presentation dinner will follow at the Old Lyme Inn for members only. 

For more information on SECWAC, visit their website.