Lyme-Old Lyme Schools Celebrate Veterans Day with Music, Memories, Speeches and Smiles

At Lyme School, a special Town Meeting was held to honor Veterans Day. All photos courtesy of Region 18.

LYME/OLD LYME — It was a memorable day in Lyme-Old Lyme (LOL) Schools on Friday.

Rather than taking a vacation day on Veterans Day as many schools now opt to do, LOL Schools chose to celebrate Veterans Day with in-house events at each school that drove home the important messages of the day while also honoring local US Veterans and serving members of the US military.

Old Lyme First Selectman Tim Griswold attended the ceremonies at the middle and high schools, but was unable to join those at Lyme Consolidated and Mike Creek.

Expressing his disappointment at the latter situation, Griswold commented to LymeLine by email, ”Congrats to District 18 for being in session and honoring the vets!”

A member of the military addressed the students at Lyme-Old Lyme High School.
The Veterans Day Assembly was eagerly awaited by students at Mile Creek School.
The Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School Band played some stirring songs.
Serving members of the military attended the breakfast and assembly at Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School.
Patriotic colors of red, white and blue were on show everywhere!
US Army Colonel (Retd.) David Lahm speaks to students at Lyme School.
Richard Mason, Commander of VFW Post 1467, spoke to an All-School Assembly at Lyme-Old Lyme High School.

Old Lyme Freshman Chase Gilbert Places 13th in New England X-Country, Awarded 2nd Team All-New England Honors

Chase Gilbert of Old Lyme proudly displays her All-New England Second Team medal at the New England Cross-Country Championships held Saturday. All photos by Aron D’Aquila.

OLD LYME — Capping an extraordinary season, Lyme-Old Lyme High School freshman sensation Chase Gilbert finished 13th in Saturday’s New England Cross-Country Championships, in which the ‘best of the best’ compete. She was the highest-placed freshman in the whole event, which was held at Ponaganset High School in North Scituate, R.I.

The All-New England Cross-Country Championships Awards Ceremony at which Chase Gilbert was given Second Team honors.

Gilbert was subsequently awarded Second Team All-New England Honors for Cross-Country at the Awards Ceremony, pictured above, based on her performance at the Championships.

Gilbert’s time of 19:04 is a new school record as well as a best time ever for a Lyme -Old Lyme female athlete at any New England championship.

Additionally Gilbert’s winning time of 18:07 at the Shoreline Championship is the fastest high school female athlete 5K time in the state.

Gilbert is pictured left competing in her award-winning race.

Hearty congratulations from all of us at LymeLine, Chase! We are already looking forward to following your running career in future years.

State Senator-Elect Martha Marx Comments on Her Election

NEW LONDON — The open race for the 20th District State Senator, created by Paul Formica’s retirement, pitched Republican Jerry Labriola, Jr. against three-time candidate Martha Marx (D).

In Old Lyme, Marx gained 2,258 votes to Labriola’s 2,054. The 20th District does not include Lyme.

Labriola has now conceded to Marx and so we asked Marx for her reaction to her victory. She responded by email, saying, “”I am honored and humbled to have been elected the next state senator from the 20th district.”

She concluded, “I cannot wait to get to the business of making our communities thrive and bringing the voices of the 20th district to Hartford.”

State Rep. Carney Comments on His Re-election to a Fifth Term

LYME/OLD LYME — Incumbent State Representative Devin Carney (R-23rd) was convincingly re-elected to a fifth term on Tuesday.

Asked by LymeLine to comment on the result, Carney said by email, ””I want to thank the voters of the district for entrusting me as their representative for another term.”

He continued, ”Representing this district has truly been the honor of a lifetime and something I have worked hard at.”

Carney concluded, ”I look forward to getting back to Hartford next session to work on policies that will make Connecticut a better place to live, work, raise a family, and retire.”

Lyme, Old Lyme DTC Chairs Comment on Election Results

LYME/OLD LYME — Voters in Lyme and Old Lyme supported Democratic candidates over Republicans in Tuesday’s election from the top of the ballot to its foot. There was one notable exception in Old Lyme, where voters favored incumbent Republican State Representative Devin Carney over challenger Colin Heffernan.

We asked the chairs of the respective Lyme and Old Lyme Democratic Town Committees (DTCs) for their reaction to Tuesday’s results.

Mary Jo Nosal, Old Lyme DTC Chair, said by email, “On behalf of the Old Lyme Democratic Town Committee, I am pleased that the high election turn-out in Old Lyme resulted in overwhelming approval for the early voting amendment to the State Constitution, and for the Regional District 18 referendum.”

She continued, “It is especially gratifying to see that the tireless efforts of the OLDTC, through direct engagement and virtual communications with residents, generated voter support for the candidates we endorsed based on their values, relevant experience, and commitment to work diligently for our community.”

John Kiker, Lyme DTC Chair, also responded by email, saying, “We were delighted with the Democratic turnout in Lyme and to have Lyme residents play a vital, contributing role in re-electing Joe [Courtney-Representative in Congress], Norm [Needleman, State Senator-33rd] and Jeannine [Lewis -Judge of Probate] here at the local level, as well as passing the school referendum.” 

He added, “We were disappointed, of course, that our district overall wasn’t able to put Colin Heffernan into office, as we believe he would have done a much better job representing our values, especially when it comes to women’s rights, the environment and gun safety.  We’d like to thank everyone who voted Tuesday, both in person and by absentee ballot. “