LYME—The Lyme Grange will be having its second annual Toy Tag Sale alongside the Lyme Public Hall event on Saturday, Sept. 13, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Proceeds from the sale will support the maintenance and preservation of the Grange Building and the Fairgrounds along with supporting future programs for the public.
The sale will focus solely on children’s toys and games, Since the Public Hall does not normally accept these items, the Grange will be collecting and offering these items again this year.
As with the Public Hall, the Grange relies on the participation of community members to make these sales a success. For further infromation, email Lymegrangect@gmail.com.
OLD LYME–Two local groups with a focus on children and families have partnered to help save lives on the Baldwin Bridge.
The Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau (LYSB) and Old Saybrook Youth & Family Services (OSYFS) in a press release this week announced the installation of suicide prevention and mental health resource signs on both sides of the bridge.
Organizers said the project was motivated by the actions of Connecticut State Police Sgt. Ashley Harkins and Sgt. Matthew Belz in December 2023. That’s when the troopers responded to the bridge to help a woman who had climbed from the pedestrian sidewalk over the metal safety fencing and was precariously seated on a 5-inch ledge, according to state police.
Harkins and Belz were successful in convincing the individual to come back over the railing to safety.
The signs offer resources to those who need support, including a QR code to take people directly to a website that can help them in the moment.
OSYFS Director Heather McNeil, who is a mental health professional, said it’s important to have support within reach when people feel the most distressed and vulnerable.
“The thought of taking one’s life can sometimes be an impulsive decision, and if we can interrupt that thought process with information about how to get help, it may save a life,” McNeil said.
The project was introduced to LYSB Director Mary Seidner, who was instrumental in moving this forward.
“We reached out to OSYFS, met with SERAC (Southeastern Regional Action Council), learned the steps of how to receive permission to install signage through the DOT, and things began to fall into place,” she said. “Our goal is simple but vital: to create a prevention resource where people can clearly follow steps to seek help.”
The campaign includes community events, training programs, support networks, and partnerships with mental health professionals to ensure no one faces their struggles alone.
McNeil identified connection as the primary prevention tool.
“Suicide is preventable, and with the right tools, education, and compassion, we can make a meaningful difference,” she said.
A public launch event will be held Friday, Sept. 19, at 11 a.m. on the Old Lyme side of the Baldwin Bridge sidewalk approach, featuring guest speakers and mental health resource booths. The public is encouraged to attend.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, please reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or text “HELLO” to 741741 for free, confidential support at any time.
Suisman Shapiro Attorney Kristi D. Kelly is a finalist in the collaborative leadership category of the 2025 US Women, Influence & Power in Law (WIPL) Awards.
NEW LONDON–Suisman Shapiro Attorney Kristi D. Kelly has been named a finalist in the 2025 US Women, Influence & Power in Law (WIPL) Awards.
Suisman Shapiro in a press release said Kelly is a contender in the Law Firm Collaborative Leadership category. The national award honors women attorneys who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision, and a sustained commitment to advancing the empowerment of women in the legal profession.
Suisman Shapiro lauded Kelly as a legal advisor, mentor, and advocate whose work spans labor, employment, and municipal law. A director with the firm, she represents municipalities, public agencies, and private employers in matters ranging from collective bargaining and employment investigations to compliance and discrimination claims. She regularly appears before local governments and state and federal administrative bodies, including the Connecticut State Board of Labor Relations, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration and the U.S. Department of Labor.
At Suisman Shapiro, Kelly leads the firm’s Human Resources Committee with a focus on increasing diversity and inclusion. This year, she will launch the firm’s inaugural Women in Leadership Committee, a strategic initiative designed to foster mentorship, connection, and career advancement for women at Suisman Shapiro.
Eric W. Callahan, managing director of Suisman Shapiro, said Kelly represents the values the firm strives to uphold.
“Kristi brings a thoughtful and collaborative approach to her work that has had a meaningful impact across our firm,” Callahan said.
Kelly said collaboration has always been key to how she approaches her work.
“I’m fortunate to work alongside colleagues, who value mentorship, inclusion, and supporting one another’s growth — both personally and professionally,” she said.
Before joining Suisman Shapiro, Kelly served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Washington and as a civilian labor attorney for the U.S. Department of the Army in Alaska.
Kelly is a VA-accredited attorney, who donates pro bono services on behalf of disabled veterans through the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center. She was honored with the Connecticut Bar Association’s 2020 Honorable Anthony V. DeMayo Pro Bono Service Award. She also served as president of the Board of Higher Edge, a nonprofit that supports first-generation college students, and currently sits on the Board of the USS Groton Sail Foundation.
Winners of the 2025 US Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards will be announced at an awards dinner on Oct. 7 during the WIPL Conference in Washington, D.C.
The awards are presented by Corporate Counsel, a national publication of the Law.com network.
MIDDLETOWN–The Rockfall Foundation has announced the recipients of its 2025 Environmental Champion Awards, including ‘Estuary’ magazine founder and Old Lyme resident Dick Shriver.
The environmental conservation and education organization in a press release identified Shriver as a recipient of its Certificate of Environmental Achievement for promoting conservation and stewardship of the Connecticut River Watershed.
The award will be presented during Rockfall’s 90th Anniversary Celebration on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at Wadsworth Mansion in Middletown.
Shriver, a U.S. Air Force veteran who went on to an esteemed career in government and private industry, retired to Old Lyme in 2007. From the place where the Connecticut River meets the Long Island Sound, he launched estuary magazine in 2020 to focus on the vast Connecticut River watershed spanning four states.
According to the Connecticut River Conservancy, Shriver has held executive positions including assistant secretary of the US Treasury Department and Senior Vice President of Chase Manhattan Bank. In academia, he has served as professor of business finance and marketing at the International Management Institute in Kiev, Ukraine and Executive-in-Residence at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.
Also receiving Rockfall’s Certificate of Environmental Achievement is Diana Martinez, a Middletown agriculture and environmental justice advocate and creator of the Miller Street Community Farm and Pathways to Agriculture program.
The Oct. 8 event will feature a keynote address by Christine Palm, a former state representative and climate education advocate, about engaging youth in climate action and advocacy. Palm will receive Rockfall’s President’s Award, given once every ten years, recognizing her decades of leadership in environmental policy and education.
The Tom Odell Distinguished Service Award will be presented to Bruce Dodson, the Killingworth Land Conservation Trust leader who helped protect over 1,100 acres of open space; and Chet Arnold, Essex Land Trust leader and co-founder of the University of Connecticut Center for Land Use Education and Research.
The anniversary celebration and award presentation will include live music, food, and displays from 2025 Rockfall grant recipients. Tickets are $75 for members and $90 for nonmembers.
For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.
Artists will be painting ‘en plein air’ all over Old Lyme today. Their work will then be on view and for sale at a reception this evening at the Lyme Art Association. Photo courtesy of the LAA.
Artists, Prepare Your Easels to Paint ‘Plein Air’; Art Lovers, Help Celebrate
OLD LYME — On Saturday, Sept. 6, “Paint the Town: Plein Air Painting from Dawn to Dusk” celebrates a day of creation and an evening of appreciation at the Lyme Art Association (LAA.)
The event will begin with the LAA’s plein air competition as artists scatter across Lyme, Old Lyme and East Lyme to capture the region’s unique beauty. It will culminate when they bring back their work to the Association for awards, an art show, and reception.
The rain date is Sunday, Sept. 7.
All paintings must be made the day of the competition within the borders of the three towns. Prizes include $300 for first place, $200 for second place, $100 for third place, as well as three Awards of Merit and a People’s Choice Award.
An awards presentation at 5:15 p.m. will follow jurying from 4:30 to 5 p.m. by artist Eileen Eder. A registration fee of $30 includes participation in the plein air competition and tickets for the artist and one guest at the reception.
Reception and Art Sale
Artists and art lovers will converge at the Lyme Art Association on Sept. 6 for a celebration of ‘plein air’ painting.
The art show and reception, from 5 to 7 p.m., will include an exhibit of the artists’ work, hors d’oeuvres, and live music by Ramblin’ Dan Stevens. Attendees are invited to vote for their favorite piece in the People’s Choice Award. All art is available for purchase.
