OLD LYME — At their meeting held Tuesday evening, the Old Lyme-Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library Board of Trustees determined that the two books, which have recently been the subject of heated debate in both Lyme and Old Lyme, should be retained in the Library’s Teen/Tween collection.
The Library had previously received a similar request to reconsider the inclusion of You Know, Sex: Bodies, Gender, Puberty, and Other Things by Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth in Teen/Tween collection.
Following the meeting, Library Director Katie Huffman issued a statement on behalf of the board of trustees, which stated, “After careful consideration, the Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library Board of Trustees has determined that the books [mentioned above] meet the selection criteria as stated in The Library’s Collection Development Policy for inclusion in the Library’s Teen/Tween collection.”
The board’s statement continues, “In regards to these books, The Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library recognizes that many materials are controversial and that any given item may offend some patrons.”
It then notes, “The Board has affirmed its policy that selection of materials will not be made on the basis of anticipated approval or disapproval, but solely on the basis of the principles stated in the policy. Library materials will not be marked or identified to show approval or disapproval of their contents, and no material will be sequestered, except to protect it from injury or theft.”
The board’s statement continues, “Young people must be middle school age to visit the Library unaccompanied. Parents should assume unaccompanied youth have full access to the Library and all its collections – including the adult collections. Limiting access to content is the responsibility of the parent.”
It then advises parents and caregivers, “If you feel you need to accompany your child to the library or any particular collection, we welcome and encourage your presence.”
The statement concludes emphatically with the words, “The Board of Trustees fully supports each member of its staff and condemns wholeheartedly the inappropriate and unwarranted censure of professionals we believe are doing their jobs with the utmost professionalism.”
Mary Dunn, of Essex, CT and Vero Beach, FL died on July 5th after suffering complications from a massive seizure. She was 76 years old.
Mary was born and raised in Camden, S.C., the daughter of Roderick H. Cantey and Barbara (Zemp) Cantey. She attended high school at Ashley Hall in Charleston, S.C. She adored her time there, and credited the school for fostering her avid interest in theater. She scored 1600 on her SATs and in 1964 was accepted to Radcliffe, but her father insisted on Virginia’s Sweet Briar College instead. She majored in military and diplomatic history there and appeared in a number of theatrical productions – most notably Antigone. But she was rocketed into the fourth dimension when she traveled to the Sorbonne in Paris for her junior year abroad. Food, fashion, beauty and art were hers for the devouring. She pranced around in mini dresses and false eyelashes, emulating Twiggy, smoking Gauloises cigarettes and having the time of her life. She was even briefly engaged to an Englishman.
After graduating from Sweet Briar, she settled in Manhattan landing her first job as an ad trafficker for NBC. It was this job that introduced her to her husband of 53 years, an ad executive for Grey Advertising at the time – Toby Dunn.
She left NBC to join TIME magazine as a picture researcher and from there went onto become one of the founding staff members of PEOPLE magazine. In fact she got to PEOPLE before there was a PEOPLE, and was there when the first 35 cent issue came out, dated March 4, 1974.
Her role as picture editor for the magazine was crucial to its success. With her colleagues in the photo department, she attracted the world’s best photographers and practically invented a unique style of story-telling in black and white photography (and later color). She was smart, tough, funny, creative, a good negotiator, worthy of respect and trust, and serious when she had to be. She had fresh ideas for photos even after 14 shoots with Farrah Fawcett. She had the patience and knowledge to get a good cover out of difficult subjects. She’s also credited with PEOPLE’s “Sexiest Man Alive” issue, as it was she who exclaimed it humorously in the layout room looking at a picture of Mel Gibson in 1985.
When Mary left PEOPLE to become the Director of Photography for ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY in 1994, PEOPLE was one of the most successful magazines in the world. Her contribution was inestimable. In addition to dedicating the last decade of her 30-year-TIME INC. career to ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, Mary covered Olympics ceremonies in Lake Placid and Tokyo. Upon her retirement, Jess Cagle, EW’s then Editorial Director, described her as an elegant, southern spitfire who spoke her mind freely.
Mary suffered a brain aneurysm in 1999 shortly after her retirement, the after-effects of which periodically affected her. She was fortunate to spend much of her life in Manhattan – a city she adored for all of its rich offerings – and she spent the last 24 years traveling, wintering in Harbour Island in the Bahamas, and enjoying a slower, less hectic pace of life with her two cats always by her side.
She is predeceased by her brother Roderick H. Cantey Jr. (Roddy), and survived by her husband, Henry E. Dunn III (Toby), daughter Muffie Dunn, two sisters Barbara Cantey and Claudia Bell, sister-in-law Janice Cantey, son-in-law, Patrick Sweeney and three grand-stepchildren: Brooke, Caroline and Finton Sweeney.
A graveside service is scheduled at 4pm on Saturday, July 15th at Quaker Cemetery in Camden, SC followed by a reception at The Steeplechase Museum. There will be a memorial service in Old Lyme, CT later this summer. As Landon Jones, former managing editor of PEOPLE put it “We loved Mary and all she represented — smarts, charm, high spirits, and a kind heart.” She will undoubtedly be missed by all who had the good fortune to know her.
Celebrating ‘The Salty Monkey’ ribbon-cutting are, from left to right Wendy Russell (EDC), Frank Pappalardo (Sound View Commission), Mona Colwell (EDC), Teri Lewis (EDC), State Representative Devin Carney (R-23rd), OL Selectman Matthew Ward, EDC Chair Cheryl Poirier, Brandyn Garcia, Kristin Garcia, Manager Joe Day, Jordyn Garcia, behind Jordyn is Scott Smith (EDC), OL First Selectman Timothy Griswold, Jonathan Rotolo (Shoreline Gateway Committee), Paul Orzel (Shoreline Gateway Committee), and Jean Wilcynzski (EDC.) Several Salty Monkey staff are also standing in the rear. All photos by Katie Balocca.
OLD LYME — UPDATED 1pm with name corrections. The Salty Monkey in the Sound View Beach community is the latest new business to be celebrated with a ribbon-cutting by the Town of Old Lyme.
Yesterday morning, The Salty Monkey owner Kristin Garcia and her staff were joined by members of the Old Lyme Economic Development Commission (EDC) and Board of Selectmen, Sound View Beach Commission, and Shoreline Gateway Committee at the event held on site at the eatery on Hartford Ave.
Garcia has enjoyed summers in the Sound View community since 1996 when she worked at Cherrystone’s on Shore Road. She explained, “I worked there for two summers before going to school in Newport, Rhode Island. In Newport, I continued to work in restaurants and catering including at the Ocean Cliff Hotel.”
Garcia has combined her education in human resources and education with her work experience to build several businesses in the food industry. In addition to The Salty Monkey, which opened at the beginning of the summer season at Sound View, Garcia operates The Grill at Copper Hill in East Granby; “K & Co” which meets the catering needs of weddings, celebrations of life, showers, and other gatherings; and Rhode Island Pizza Company, a pizza bus business at Misquamiquat Beach in Westerly, R.I.
Garcia partners with others in several of her businesses and gives the credit for making her businesses successful to the high quality of her staff.
She also relies on family for giving her businesses longevity, “Without them I wouldn’t be successful,” she said, adding, “My focus is family, and I love including my children and my stepchildren, giving them the opportunity to learn how to be successful businesspeople. I especially love showing the young women in my family how to be a successful businesswoman.”
Family includes Garcia’s son Brandyn and daughter Jordyn, who both play a role in building her businesses. The Salty Monkey is managed on-site by Kristen’s friend Joe Day. Garcia’s stepson Xavier Gonzalez is the cook and his girlfriend Ashley Papapietro both cooks and works at the front window with a smile.
Having built friendships with neighbors while spending the summers in Sound View, Garcia looked at several possible locations to open a business. She landed on 83 Hartford Ave., noting, “I really wanted the beach vibe, somewhere you could bring the whole family and enjoy some food after the beach.”
“I focus on bringing my customers a total experience,” she continued. “At The Grill at Copper Hill, I focus on how to bring the golfers the golf experience, and at The Salty Monkey, I want to make it the best beach experience someone can have.”
‘The Salty Monkey’ owner Kristin Garcia holds the certificate presented to her by Old Lyme Economic Development Commission Chairperson Cheryl Poirier (right.) Garcia is joined by ‘The Carousel Shop’ owners Jerry and Dee Vowles.
She listens to customers as to what they want. “Customers were asking for fried dough, so we decided to do a twist on that and have fried dough bites. Customers were asking for ice cream, but there’s great ice cream three doors down (at The Carousel Shop) and gelato across the street (at Vecchitto’s), so I decided to offer Del’s Frozen Lemonade, which is different. My customers can come to the window for something cool and refreshing for the whole experience. And if they want ice cream, I let them know the Carousel has ice cream down a few doors.”
A special breakfast offering is the popular Deke’s Bagels of Niantic. “I reached out to Deke and he was more than happy to have their bagels here. We offer breakfast sandwiches and bagels with butter or cream cheese.”
During the Sunday morning ribbon cutting, EDC Chairperson Cheryl Poirier shared with attendees “We love it when someone, who loves an area like Sound View and the beach community, decides they want to be a part of it as a business owner — we can’t do better than that.”
Old Lyme First Selectman Timothy Griswold continued, “We certainly want to welcome you, the place looks great. This is a wonderful spot so when people come back from the beach and they’re hungry, they’ll be ready to patronize your business. Thank you very much for being here and doing what you’re doing.”
State Representative Devin Carney (R-23rd) wished Garcia good luck and offered her congratulations on the opening. He said enthusiastically, “Everything looks wonderful. I love that you’re partnering with Deke’s Bagels, another local business. Hopefully a lot of people will come down in the morning, get their breakfast sandwiches and then come and enjoy the Sound View area.”
There were plenty of customers joining the line on Sunday morning to order food and more from ‘The Salty Monkey.’
Garcia then thanked the many friends and neighbors, who had joined the celebration, adding, “I’d like to thank my family because without them and Joe (friend and on-site manager) I wouldn’t be able to do this, they’re the backbone to everything, they’re the faces you’ll see.”
In addition to its breakfast menu, the restaurant offers tacos, wraps, hamburgers, hotdogs, and more. Window orders can be prepared for takeaway or for the outdoor seating that is available.
The outdoor seating area for ‘The Salty Monkey’ is proving to be a popular area.
The Salty Monkey is located at 83 Hartford Ave. and open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.
OLD LYME — Bruce Michael Dooley Sr., 80, of Lone Pine Trail., died peacefully Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital after a short illness surrounded by his loving family …
Dave Evers (right) presents the certificate and trophy for the most patriotic boat in the 2023 Rogers Lake Boat Parade to the Ensulo family.
LYME/OLD LYME — The fourth annual Rogers Lake Boat Parade held Tuesday, July 4, was another great success and the cup for the “Most Enthusiastic, Patriotic, and Best Decorated Boat” in the parade was won by the Ensulo family. The winners keep the trophy for 12 months and then return it to be presented to next year’s winner.
The Everses conceived the idea of the trophy to promote a unifying and positive spirit around the parade. Christina explained to LymeLine last year, “Dave grew up on this lake and wants people to enjoy and create memories just like [the ones] he has … he thought the trophy would be fun.”
During the parade, a flag was presented to 96-year-old World War II veteran Roger Wrecck (center, waving, in photo at left) by Tom and Kevin Penfield.
Maureen Plumleigh, who has participated in every boat parade since its inception, commented, “I think that the parade was a glorious and sweet statement of neighborliness and good cheer.”
She added, “Not only were the boats decorated, but the Lakeside residences also decorated their properties, noting, “In addition, all those who watched or attended decorated themselves in red, white and blue and waved American flags.”
