Author Archives: Olwen Logan

Old Lyme’s Solid Waste & Recycling Committee Takes Important Message ‘On The Road’ at Midsummer Festival

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“No plastic bags in green bins” (Suzanne Thompson, Old Lyme Solid Waste & Recycling Committee Member)

OLD LYME — Did you read that green slip which arrived in the mail with your 2022-23 Old Lyme property tax invoice?

It notes that the Town of Old Lyme has a new waste and recycling hauling contract with CWPM Inc. but perhaps more significantly, it emphasizes the need for residents to be vigilant regarding what they place in their green recycling bin.

The green slip was the work of Old Lyme’s Solid Waste & Recycling Committee, which has recently been reconstituted under co-chairs Maryellen Basham and Jim Ward, with members including Leslie O’Connor, Karen Taylor, Fred Behringer, and Suzanne Thompson.

We asked Thompson why the committee had conceived the idea of sending out the green slip to all property owners. She explained, “Old Lyme residents have an opportunity to hold down our waste handling costs and  reduce our impact on the environment by putting the correct items in their green recycling bins.”

She stressed that this means quite simply and unambiguously, “No plastic bags in green bins.”

Thompson adds, “The committee also encourages residents to home compost their vegetable peelings instead of tossing them into the blue trash bin.”

In an effort to expand their message further, Thompson notes that the committee is taking their message “out on the road,” with a stand at the Midsummer Festival on Saturday (July 30.)  The committee will be one of the participant organizations in the Hands On-M!nds On feature along the Artist’s Trail at the Florence Griswold Museum, which is anticipated to draw many visitors.

The committee will offer a variety of games and activities to educate and inform Festival-goers of all ages about recycling and solid waste management.

Committee member Behringer and his daughter are currently hard at work designing an interactive quiz game related to ‘Going Green’ with regard to recycling and more, which will be available for people to play when they stop by at the stand.

Thompson says enthusiastically, “Come and see us on the Trail, have some fun … and learn a lot!”

She adds that more tips and methods to reduce waste will be coming soon from the committee and the Town of Old Lyme. LymeLine.com will continue to support the committee’s efforts by publishing this information as it becomes available.
Editor’s Note: Visit this link to read updated Old Lyme Transfer Station information, which includes a valuable recycling guide titled, ‘What’s In, What’s Out.’ 

COVID-19 Update: 14 Confirmed Cases in Old Lyme This Week, Three in Lyme

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Old Lyme’s Total Cumulative COVID-19 Cases Now 1402, Lyme’s Equivalent Number is 339

LYME/OLD LYME — The latest CT DPH COVID-19 case count (dated July 28) shows 1402 cases for Old Lyme and 339 for Lyme. These numbers have increased from our last report on Monday, July 25, by 14 and three cases respectively.

Connecticut’s Positivity Rate was 11.09% on July 25 but has now risen to 11.79% as the increased infection rates of Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 make their mark.

Visit this link to view additional historical data and detailed graphics on COVID-19 vaccination levels and positive cases in Lyme and Old Lyme. The site is updated by Old Lyme resident William Fitzgerald.

COVID-19 Update: 52 Cases Confirmed in Past 28 Days in Old Lyme, Eight in Lyme Over Same Period

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This map shows the distribution of COVID-19 cases by town for the past seven days. To protect confidentially, the data in towns with fewer than five (5) cases or five (5) positive NAAT tests in the past seven (7) days are suppressed. Map from CT DPH — see details regarding how to access the map in the text below.

Old Lyme’s Total Cumulative COVID-19 Cases Now 1388, Lyme’s Equivalent Number is 336

LYME/OLD LYME — We have not issued a COVID-19 update since June 29, 2022, which coincided with the Connecticut Department of Health (CT DPH) significantly changing its COVID reporting structure on June 27, which included no longer issuing details of towns in the established red, orange, yellow and gray zones.

The CT DPH stated that in its efforts to “update and streamline the reporting of COVID-19 cases, deaths, and testing data … As of 6/27/2022, the data will be published in four tables instead of 12.” At that time, it seemed case numbers were falling but, in fact, the state’s Positivity Rate had already begun to rise from its 2022 low of 7.52% on June 20 to 8.67% on June 27.

On June 27, Old Lyme reported a cumulative total of 1336 cases while Lyme’s total was 328.

Today (Monday, July 25), Old Lyme’s total has risen to 1388 reflecting an increase of 52 cases in 28 days whereas Lyme’s total has only increased to 336, showing eight new cases in the same period.

The map above shows CT DPH’s new map reporting COVID-19 cases in the past seven days, which is now updated daily on a rolling basis. On the map above dated July 22, Old Lyme is shown as having 11 cases in the past seven days while Lyme’s number is suppressed as it is less than five. The original of the map is at this link (scroll down to reach section titled COVID-19 Cases and Tests by Town) and is interactive in that one can click on each town to view that town’s data, but be aware it will change later today when new data is issued.

As previously stated, Connecticut’s Positivity Rate was 8.67% on June 27, but now that has risen to 11.09% with the rising dominance of Omicron BA.4 and BA.5.

Visit this link to view additional historical data and detailed graphics on COVID-19 vaccination levels and positive cases in Lyme and Old Lyme. The site is updated by Old Lyme resident William Fitzgerald.

There have been no additional fatalities in Lyme or Old Lyme since Feb. 4, 2022, when the death of an Old Lyme resident was reported. No details of the individual’s age or gender were made available.

On Nov. 21, 2021, the death of a Lyme resident — a 57-year-old male — was reported

A total of three COVID-related fatalities were reported in Old Lyme in 2020 and 2021. The first two, which were reported in 2020, were a 61-year-old female and an 82-year-old male. The third fatality also occurred in 2021, but no details were made available.

After Two-Year Absence, Long-Awaited White Elephant Sale Opens TODAY at 9am

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The annual White Elephant Sale starts opens today on the first strike of the church bell at 9 a.m.

OLD LYME — After a two-year hiatus due to COVID, the perennially popular White Elephant Sale (WES) opens TODAY, Friday, July 8, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and continues Saturday, July 9, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Most departments offer items at half-price on the second day. There may be some mask restrictions on inside shopping.

The Sale is hosted by the Ladies Benevolent Society of the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme.

For those new to the town or folk who have never participated, this sale is one of the main events on both the town and church calendars.

Garage, tag and rummage sales may be everyday affairs, but few, if any, can match the size and color of this one. The sale items are organized into some 20 departments that fill the church buildings as well as every available space on the lawn.

The WES has grown so large that it has become a true “community event” since many of the donations are from non-church members and quite a number of volunteers are also from outside the church.

The sale raises a significant amount of money for missions and good works both locally and throughout the world. Some of the beneficiaries include food pantries, health organizations, family support centers, children’s programs, literacy volunteers, affordable housing, and disaster relief worldwide.

For more information about the sale or if you would like to volunteer to help in any capacity, whether with the sale itself or clean-up, call the church office at 860.434.8686 and/or visit www.fccol.org/wes.

See you at ‘The Sale’!

Friends of Lymes’ Senior Center Make $25,000 Donation to Support Activities, Programs at the Center

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Pictured holding the check at the presentation of a check for $25,000 to the Lymes’ Senior Center Board of Directors (BOD) by the Friends of the Center are Lymes’ Senior Center Director Stephanie Gould (right in black top) and Chair of the Center’s BOD, Jeri Baker (left, cream top.) Also in attendance at the presentation are (from left to right, seated), Joanie Bonvicin, Susan Campbell and Recording Secretary Paula Emery, and (from left to right, standing) Kim Hale and Diane Blackwell, who are both Friends of the Center, and Center BOD members Diana Seckla, Kathy Lockwood, Jane Folland, Christina Gotowka, Doris Hungerford, David Griswold, and Jeremy Crisp. Photo submitted.

OLD LYME — UPDATED 1:30pm with names of everyone in the photo: The Friends of the Lymes’ Senior Center presented a check for $25,000 to the center at the June 21 Board of Directors meeting.  As a 501(c)3 organization, the Friends have conducted several fundraising efforts over recent years in order to contribute to the programs and activities of the center.

A spokesperson for the Friends said, ”We are grateful to the communities of Lyme and Old Lyme and also to the Center’s members for meeting our request for financial support with enthusiasm.”

The spokesperson added, “The programs are so rich and diverse and it is rewarding to see so many seniors taking part,” while posing the question to the community at large, “Have you attended an education talk or an exercise or art class?  If not, go see what you’ve been missing!”

Jeri Baker, who serves as chair of the Senior Center’s Board of Directors commented after the presentation had been made, “The Center benefits immensely from the fundraising efforts of the dedicated members of this group, who represent residents of both the towns of Lyme and Old Lyme.”

She continued, “Through their efforts to fund our programs we are able to plan for both the present offerings of the center and the future.  Since the towns do not subsidize any programs, it is vital that such efforts are not only necessary but a remarkable reflection of how important this Center is to the community.”