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Republicans Nominate State Rep. Devin Carney for Re-Election in 23rd District; Includes Lyme, Old Lyme

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State Rep. Devin Carney (R-23rd) has been endorsed by 23rd District Republicans as their candidate to seek re-election in the November election.

OLD SAYBROOK/OLD LYME/LYME/WESTBROOK—On Thursday, May 16, State Rep. Devin Carney (R-23rd) announced his unanimous endorsement from 23rd District Republicans.

In a convention held at the Vicki Duffy Pavilion in Old Saybrook, Carney received the nod from delegates from the district’s four communities: Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook. 

Rep. Carney was first elected to serve the 23rd District in 2015. He is now seeking his sixth term in the position.

“I’ve always worked hard to put the people of the 23rd District first – above special interests and party interests,” said Carney, who in 2021 earned a national award for his bipartisan approach to legislating.

He continued, “To me, this is my responsibility as Representative. It is the honor of a lifetime to go  to Hartford to be the voice of our communities, and I look forward to spending this summer and fall to tell constituents about my work and listen to their concerns and ideas about how we can work together to make Connecticut a better state for everyone.” 

During his tenure, Rep. Carney has maintained a strong attendance record at the Capitol and has continued to be active in community events in all four towns of the 23rd district. Rep. Carney  has also been praised for his accessibility, bipartisanship, and work ethic during his tenure as State Representative.

He is also known for being a stalwart advocate for small towns and, in 2024, was given the “Town Crier Award” by the Connecticut Council of Small Towns for his legislative work. 

Rep. Carney serves in a leadership role within his caucus as the House Republican Policy Chair and also serves as the House Co-Chair of the bipartisan Future Caucus.

His committee assignments have put him at the center of many important policy debates at the Capitol. On the Transportation  Committee, he worked to improve safety on District roads and bridges and to improve operations at the DMV. On the Education Committee, Rep. Carney fought to give communities local control over education and to stop government mandates that can hurt children’s learning. 

“Our local public schools are a source of pride for our communities and the state should not be able to dictate what we teach or how we teach it,” said Carney. He added, “As long as I am State Representative, I will fight any measures that will weaken the quality and integrity of our education.”  

Serving on the Finance, Revenue, & Bonding Committee, Rep. Carney has focused on balancing the state budget, paying down debt, and growing the local economy and jobs. His involvement during the 2023 budget negotiations led to a reduction in taxes on pensions and retirement accounts.

“Improving affordability and opportunity in Connecticut and confidence in government are incredibly important to me and I will continue pushing policies to achieve these goals,” Rep. Carney concluded.

In addition to his legislative work, Rep. Carney works locally in finance and volunteers for many local organizations. He serves on the the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center Board of Trustees, on the board of Old Saybrook Senior Housing; he is a member of both the Greater Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce, and the Rotary Club of Old Saybrook.

He was also recently appointed National Caucus of Environmental Legislators Board Treasurer.

Editor’s Note: This article is based on a press release issued by State Representative Devin Carney (R-23rd).

Mastroianni Nominated by Republicans to Challenge State Sen. Martha Marx in 20th District, Includes Old Lyme

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Shaun Mastroianni is the Republican-endorsed candidate for the 20th State Senate District, which includes Old Lyme.

OLD LYME — Shaun Mastroianni has accepted the Republican nomination for the 20th State Senate District, which includes Old Lyme, along with Bozrah, East Lyme, New London, Salem, Waterford and parts of Montville and Old Saybrook.

He will challenge incumbent State Sen. Martha Marx (D-New London), who has served one term..

In a news release, Mastroianni says, “As a parent, I understand the challenges so many families are facing today. We need a Senator who will address the kitchen table issues.”

Mastroianni commits that he will, “… work to reduce sky high inflation, support greater access to affordable health care, and promote policies that expand job growth and create opportunity for all.”

He continues, “Currently, I live in Old Lyme with my husband and daughter. We own two successful businesses along the shoreline. We have always been involved in our community, giving back, serving on committees, boards, and helping local nonprofits.”

Mastroianni concludes, “I have had a successful career in the senior living industry and serve as Connecticut Baptist Homes, Inc’s Chief Operating Officer. When we are not working or volunteering you can find us enjoying the outdoors in our yard or garden.”

Death Announced of Richard Hopkins Miller Jr., 62, Brother of Cynthia Miller Aird of Old Lyme

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Richard Hopkins Miller, Jr. A magnetic leader in the U.S. property industry and beloved family man, dies at age 62

Richard Hopkins Miller, Jr.

HINGHAM, MA—Richard Hopkins Miller Jr. of Hingham, MA, a man admired for his unwavering spirit, dedication to family and professional success, passed away peacefully on April 24, 2024, at the age of sixty-two. He fought a short but valiant battle with kidney cancer, leaving behind a legacy of love and accomplishment.

Rick was born on January 25, 1962 in Hartford, CT and was a graduate of Conard High School in West Hartford, CT. He was a proud Boston College Eagle (1984), where he met his wife, Jennifer; and was a devoted father to Amanda and Richard.

His storied career in the insurance business began at Industrial Risk Insurers and Alexander & Alexander in New York, before flourishing at AON for the past 20 years. Rick’s exceptional leadership at AON, culminating in his role as U.S. Property Leader, was characterized by his rare blend of sharp business acumen and his uncanny ability to forge genuine connections. Never one to seek the spotlight, he used his position to empower others, celebrate their successes and treated everyone with respect, from CEOs to interns.

An avid golfer with a single-digit handicap, Rick found joy, camaraderie and friendship at the Boston Golf Club, his “happy place.” It was there that he enjoyed countless hours in the company of friends that he adored and who loved him beyond measure.

A true outdoorsman, Rick, Jen and their children loved exploring the walking trails near his Hingham, MA home with their beloved dog, where his sibling passions, hiking and birds, could be enjoyed boundlessly.

Rick was a Renaissance man – a history buff, an enthusiastic gardener and an accomplished skier.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife of 36 years Jennifer; his wonderful children, Amanda and Richard; his Australian Shepherd, Ollie; his mother, Mary Gilmore Miller; sister, Cynthia Miller Aird and her husband, Stephen of Old Lyme, CT; and many nieces and nephews.

It is with great sadness he says good-bye to his wide circle of friends and colleagues, all who mourn his loss deeply. In the words he often shared, “Keep the Faith.”

A Memorial Mass to Celebrate Rick’s Life and spirit will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that gifts be made to support the Brigham Cancer Fund/Brigham and Women’s Hospital in memory of Rick Miller and/or the First Tee as a tribute gift in memory of Rick Miller.

View the online memorial for Richard Jr. HOPKINS MILLER

Student/Faculty ‘Beyond the Figure’ Exhibition on View at Lyme Academy Through Sept. 1

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OLD LYME – The Lyme Academy of Fine Arts announces the opening on May 19 of Beyond the Figure: A Student and Faculty Exhibition. The exhibition will be on view to the public until Sept. 1, 2024. 

‘Study of Alama-Tadema’s ‘Between Hope and Fear’ by first-year Core Drawing student Jude Dutton is the signature work for the upcoming ‘Beyond the Figure’ exhibition at Lyme Academy.

In 2021, with fresh leadership at its helm, the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts reopened its doors to students and welcomed a new generation of artists to its Core Programs. Beyond the Figure: A  Student and Faculty Exhibition is the first opportunity to witness the results of this rebirth,  through the work of its faculty and their students. 

Lyme Academy is quickly being recognized nationally and internationally for its innovative arts curriculum and as an epicenter for drawing, painting, and sculpture in the figurative tradition. This exhibition is an invitation to learn more about the Lyme Academy’s uniqueness and impact today, as it trains the success stories of tomorrow. 

The Academy’s Co-Artistic Director Jordan Sokol comments, “The Lyme Academy of Fine Arts is forging a new educational model, one that bucks the current trend of deskilling in art education. We’re thrilled to see such a surge of interest among aspiring artists in our mission to reintroduce time-honored traditions in a modern idiom. This exhibition is an exciting opportunity to learn more about the students, who are coming from all over the country to study here, as well as the world-renowned faculty that is instructing them.” 

Faculty members that are represented in the exhibition include: Todd Casey, Hollis Dunlap,  Chad Fisher, Michael Grimaldi, Amaya Gurpide, Zachary Kainz, Rick Lacey, Thomas Lapine, Mina Mohtasham, Alicia Ponzio, Edmond Rochat, Alex Venezia, Gary Weisman, and Treacy  Ziegler.

The events begin at 4 p.m. with In Conversation with the WSJ’s Lance Esplund, which will take place in the Academy’s Cole Studio. This will be followed by an exhibition preview and reception in the Academy’s Chauncey-Stillman Gallery from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Note that select artworks from this exhibition will be offered for sale throughout the evening. 

Lance Esplund writes about art forThe Wall Street Journal. Previously, he was US art critic for Bloomberg News and chief art critic for the New York Sun.

He has taught studio art and art history at the Parsons School of Design and Rider University, and has served as visiting MFA critic at the New York Studio School. His essays have appeared in Art in America, Harper’s, Modern Painters, and The New Republic, among others.

Esplund lives in Brooklyn, New York. 

Emily Weeks received her Ph.D. from the Department of the History of Art at Yale University in December 2004. Currently she is an independent art historian and consultant for museums,  academic institutions, auction houses, private collectors, and multimedia organizations in America, Britain, Europe, and the Middle East.

She also serves as Principal Lecturer in the Histories of Art at Lyme Academy of Fine Arts in Old Lyme, Conn. Dr. Weeks is a leading expert on Orientalism and 19th-century British and European visual culture; she is also  the acknowledged expert on the artist Jean-Léon Gérôme, about whom she is curating a major exhibition in Doha, Qatar.

William Pitt-Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s Closes Highest-Ever Home Sale in Old Lyme

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On May 14, the property at 5-1 Pilgrim Landing (pictured above) closed for $4,019,500—the highest ever home sale in Old Lyme. Photo by Frank DiNardi.

OLD LYME — On Tuesday, May 14, William Pitt-Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty announced today the closing of the highest-ever residential real estate sale in Old Lyme, Conn. The Connecticut River-front estate located at 5-1 Pilgrim Landing Rd, listed with Colette Harron and Beth Cote, sold for $4,019,500.

“We are honored to have the highest sale in Old Lyme with this beautiful property, and so pleased that the sale makes such a significant statement about the desirability of this area,” said Harron. “Exuding classic Americana charm, this estate is one of the most remarkable homes on the Connecticut Shoreline. It sits on 48 private acres at the edge of the Connecticut River, offering incredible views and rich architectural heritage.”

Known as Quarry House, the property overlooks Pilgrims Landing, the Connecticut River, and Goose and Calves Island, with more than 1,000 feet of linear water frontage, a deep water dock and a boat launch. The home was built in 1930 by architect Dudley St. Clair Donnelly, who is known for Renaissance and Colonial Revival designs, and modified in 1972 by Thomas Greer Coles to add a master suite, office and guest house.  

The 5,158 sq. ft. Colonial main home offers a spacious and open floor plan with elegant dental moldings and built-ins, custom millwork, arched top doors and hardwood floors throughout the living spaces. Adjacent to the main home, the guest house features a kitchenette, bedroom, full bath and water views from every room. The expansive property includes a fishing pond, granite ledges, hiking trails, a private beach and a gunite swimming pool with a bluestone patio and elevated spa.

“This is a classic and elegant home that brings together the best of past and present,” Cote said. “We are thrilled to complete this sale and find new owners who will have a chance to preserve its legacy.”

Editor’s Note Founded in 1949, William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty and Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty manages a $5.8 billion portfolio with more than 1,100 sales associates in 29 brokerages spanning Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York. The company is one of the largest Sotheby’s International Realty(R) affiliates globally and the 35th-largest real estate company by sales volume in the United States. For more information, visit the website at williampitt.com.