Author Archives: Olwen Logan

Girls Basketball Update: In a ‘Crazy’ Week, Girls Grab Two Wins, Take One Tough Loss, Play Again Tonight

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Wildcat Sophomore Ava Roth (#1) defended strongly throughout the game against Westbrook. All photos by Andrea Fenton.

OLD LYME — In what veteran Old Lyme Basketball Coach Don Bugbee described as “crazy times,” the girls have played already three games this week and have yet another this evening, which is also Senior Night, against Hale-Ray. The Wildcats lost the first game by the slimmest of margins but won the next two convincingly.

Senior Megan Loflin readies herself to receive a pass during the game against Valley.

On Monday, Feb 7, the girls played away at Valley Regional High School and after an extraordinary effort, were defeated 39-37. Senior Megan Loflin scored 15 points and took nine rebounds, while Freshman Kate Walsh notched eight points. Junior Alexis Fenton added seven points.

Senior Ali Kyle (#21) makes a lay-up in the game against Valley.

Bugbee commented after the game, “The girls played extremely hard throughout the game and gave a very good Valley Regional Team [Valley has a 13-2 record]  all they could handle.”

Junior Alexis Fenton (left) leaps to block a ball in the game against Valley.

On Tuesday, Feb 8, Old Lyme defeated Westbrook away by a score of 40-27. Junior Alexis Fenton led the scoring with 14 points, six rebounds and two steals. Senior Megan Loflin added 11 points and 13 rebounds. Senior Ali Kyle contributed eight points and four steals.

Bugbee said, “We started slow and were down at the half 19-16. Better point production and improved team defense in the second half were the differences in securing the win. The girls outscored Westbrook 24-8 in the second half.”

Junior Alexis Fenton moves toward the goal in the game against Westbrook.

Wednesday, Feb 9, saw the girls travel to Hale Ray where they crushed the opposition 53-32. Senior Megan Loflin scored a game-high 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Junior Alexis Fenton added 11 points. Sophomore Ava Roth contributed eight points and made four steals.

Senior Melanie Warren takes the ball into shooting range past the Hale-Ray defenders.

Bugbee noted, “We had the opportunity to play 10 kids in this Varsity game. That was beneficial to us because the younger kids could gain some Varsity experience. At the same time, we could experiment with some different line-ups in case they’re needed during the upcoming Tournaments.”

In the JV game against Hale Ray, which Old Lyme won 28-27 Freshman Kelly Sheehan protects the ball aided by her team’s strong defense.

In the JV game against Hale Ray, Old Lyme won 28-27 with Freshman Kelly Sheehan leading the scoring with 8 points. Sophomore Ella Curtiss-Reardon scored 6 points, including the basket that put Old Lyme ahead 28-27 with 9 seconds remaining in the game.

Old Lyme’s record is now 10-7.

Feb. 10 Daily COVID-19 Update: 97% of CT Towns Still in Red Zone for Case Rates; Three New Cases In Old Lyme Take Cumulative Case Total to 995, One New Case in Lyme Raises Total There to 248

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This map, updated Feb.10, 2022 shows the average daily rate of new cases of COVID-19 by town during the past two weeks. Both Lyme and Old Lyme remain in the Red (highest) Zone, while five towns are now in the Gray Zone. Only cases among persons living in community settings are included in this map; the map does not include cases among people who reside in nursing home, assisted living, or correctional facilities. Map: Ver 12.1.2020 Source: CT Department of Public Health Get the data Created with Datawrapper.

LYME-OLD LYME — The Daily Data Report issued Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, around 4 p.m. by the Connecticut Department of Health(CT DPH) shows three new, confirmed COVID-19 cases in Old Lyme taking the town’s cumulative case total from 992 to 995. 

There was one new case reported in Lyme taking the cumulative total of cases there from 247 to 248. .

The next Daily Data Report will be issued by the state Friday, Feb. 11, around 4 p.m.

Fatalities Due to COVID-19 in Lyme, Old Lyme

There has been one COVID-related fatality of a Lyme resident: a 57-year-old male passed away Nov. 16, 2021. On Nov. 30, the state finally included this fatality in its data

Four COVID-related fatalities have now been reported in Old Lyme. The first two fatalities from Old Lyme, which were reported in 2020, were a 61-year-old female and an 82-year-old male.

Details of the third and fourth fatalities, which were reported respectively in 2021 and on Feb. 4, 2022, have not been made available.

Statewide Data

The state’s COVID-19 Daily Positivity Rate on Thursday, Feb. 10, fell from Wednesday’s number of 5.16% to 4.45% and the number of COVID-related hospitalizations decreased by 23 to 529.

Of those hospitalized, 254 (representing 48.0%) are not fully vaccinated.

The total number of COVID-related deaths in Connecticut has risen to 10,219.

In the Feb. 10 COVID Case Rate map, the total number of towns in the Red (highest) Zone for case rates has fallen by five since last week to 164, leaving five towns in the state — Bridgewater, Canaan, Colebrook, Hartland and Warren — not in the Red Zone, but rather all in the Gray Zone.

This number of 164 is equivalent to 97.0 percent of towns in the state, which remain in the Red Zone.

All the towns in the Ledge Light Health District (LLHD) are in the Red Zone.

Old Lyme is in the Red (highest) Zone for the 12th consecutive week: prior to this, the last time Old Lyme was in the Red Zone was Sept. 30, 2021.

Lyme is in the Red Zone for the 10th week in succession.

The CT DPH will issue an updated map of the zones Thursday, Feb. 17 — the map is updated weekly on Thursdays.

Extracts from the Feb. 10, 2022 CT DPH report

As of Feb. 2, 2022: (the number in parentheses is from Jan. 26, 2022)

  • Number of cases of COVID-19 among fully vaccinated persons in Connecticut: 163,170 (150,141)
  • Number of fully vaccinated persons in Connecticut: 2,628,772 (2,569,296)
  • Percent of fully vaccinated persons, who have contracted COVID-19: 6.21% (5.84%)

For the week beginning Jan. 9, 2022: (the number in parentheses is from Jan. 16, 2022)

  • Risk of unvaccinated persons testing positive for COVID-19 as compared to fully vaccinated persons: 3.1x greater (3.1x greater)
  • Risk of unvaccinated persons dying from COVID-19 as compared to fully vaccinated persons: 15.2% (12.9x greater)

Increase in Cases in Lyme & Old Lyme Since August 2021

The cumulative total of confirmed cases for Old Lyme has now increased by 552 since Wednesday, Nov. 10, when the total stood at 443 — that number had stood unchanged for a week since the previous Thursday, Nov. 4.

On Aug. 26 — which was the day Lyme-Old Lyme Schools started the new academic year — Old Lyme’s cumulative case total stood at 372, meaning there have now been 623 new cases there since that date. Meanwhile, Lyme’s cumulative total on Aug. 26 was 114 indicating 134 new cases have also been confirmed there during the same period.

Ledge Light Health District Update

All the towns in the Ledge Light Health District (LLHD), of which both Lyme and Old Lyme are members, are in the Red Zone. In the past two weeks, Lyme has had 18 new cases while Old Lyme has reported 53.

In an email sent Thursday, Feb. 10, regarding the latest COVID-19 data, Ledge Light Health District (LLHD) Director of Health Stephen Mansfield states, “Although the number of new cases and hospitalizations continues to decrease, we are still experiencing high average daily case rates, and a continued focus on preventing transmission is important.”

He continues, “Based on the current level of community transmission, both the Connecticut Department of Public Health and the CDC continue to recommend that everyone wear a mask indoors, regardless of vaccination status.”

Finally, he states, “LLHD continues to focus our vaccination efforts on homebound populations and providing initial vaccinations and boosters to individuals who were vaccinated previously. Information about vaccination opportunities can be found at https://llhd.org/coronavirus-covid-19-situation/covid-19-vaccine/.”

COVID testing opportunities can be found at COVID-19 Testing | Ledge Light Health District (llhd.org)

The following link provides centralized access to Connecticut COVID data: https://data.ct.gov/stories/s/COVID-19-data/wa3g-tfvc/

The next Ledge Light update is due Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022.

Lyme-Old Lyme Schools Update

Under new state protocols for schools, Lyme-Old Lyme (LOL) Schools are no longer required to carry out contact tracing , but LOL Schools Superintendent Ian Neviaser said in a Jan. 4 email to the school community that he, “… will continue to notify the school community of any positive cases of COVID-19 that impact the schools.”

A full listing of all LOL Schools-related cases during 2022 is given below. On Thursday, Feb. 10, two new cases were reported in LOL Schools.

Lyme-Old Lyme Schools closed Dec. 23, 2021 and reopened Monday, Jan. 3, 2022 after the winter break meaning no new cases were reported by the schools during that period. We are no longer including positive cases impacting LOL schools between Aug 26, 2021 (the first day of the 2021-22 academic school year) and Dec. 23, 2021 (the last day of school before winter break began), in this report. During that period contact tracing was still required.

View the full listing of cases during that period (8/26/21 – 12/23/21) at this link.

The listing below is the latest information that we have with the most recent cases first — there may have been further updates, however, which we have not yet received.

The following abbreviations are used in the lists below: LOLHS: Lyme-Old Lyme High School, LOLMS: Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School, CS: MC: Mile Creek School, and Center School Pre-Kindergarten.

Thursday, Feb. 10
Total: 2, Lyme: 1, CS: 1

Wednesday, Feb. 9
Total: 2, LOLHS: 1, MC: 1

Tuesday, Feb. 8
Total: 0

Monday, Feb. 7
Total: 3, Lyme: 1, MC: 1, CS: 1

Sunday, Feb. 6
Total: 2, LOLMS: 1, MC: 1

Friday, Feb. 4
Total: 5, LOLHS: 2, LOLMS: 1, MC: 2

Thursday, Feb. 3
Total: 1, Lyme: 1

Wednesday, Feb. 2
Total: 3, MC: 3

Tuesday, Feb. 1
Total: 1, MC: 1

JANUARY 2022
Monday, Jan. 31: Total: 2, LOLMS: 1, Lyme: 1
Sunday, Jan. 30: Total: 1, Lyme: 1
Friday, Jan. 28: Total: 3, LOLHS: 1, LOLMS: 1, MC: 1
Thursday, Jan. 27: Total: 3, LOLHS: 1, Lyme: 2
Wednesday, Jan. 26: Total: 3, LOLHS: 1, MC: 2
Tuesday, Jan. 25: Total: 4, LOLMS: 2, MC: 2
Monday, Jan. 24: Total: 9, LOLHS: 2, LOLMS: 1, Lyme: 1, MC: 4, CS: 1
Sunday, Jan. 23: Total: 3, LOLMS: 1, Lyme: 2
Friday, Jan. 21: Total: 8, LOLHS: 4, LOLMS: 2, MC: 2
Thursday, Jan. 20: Total: 5, LOLMS: 1, MC: 1, Lyme: 3
Wednesday, Jan.19: Total: 7, LOLHS: 2, LOLMS: 4, CS: 1
Tuesday, Jan. 18: Total: 7, LOLHS: 3, LOLMS: 2, MC: 2
Monday, Jan. 17: Total: 6, Lyme: 4, MC: 2
Friday, Jan. 14: Total: 3, MC: 2, LOLHS: 1
Wednesday, Jan. 12: Total: 3, MC: 2, LOLMS: 1
Monday, Jan. 10: Total: 3, CS: 1, Lyme: 2
Sunday, Jan. 9: Total: 2, MC: 1, Lyme: 1
Friday, Jan. 7: Total: 1, MC: 1:
Thursday, Jan. 6: Total: 7, LOLHS: 5, Lyme: 1, CS: 1
Wednesday, Jan. 5: Total: 14, LOLHS: 6, MC: 1, Lyme: 3, CS: 4
Tuesday, Jan. 4:Total: 5, LOLHS: 4, CS: 1

Feb.7-9 Daily COVID Update: Two New Cases in Old Lyme Take Cumulative Total to 992, No New Cases in Lyme for Two Days Hold Total at 247

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Photo by CDC on Unsplash.

LYME-OLD LYME — The Daily Data Report issued Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, around 4 p.m. by the Connecticut Department of Health(CT DPH) shows two new, confirmed COVID-19 cases in Old Lyme taking the town’s cumulative case total from 990 to 992. Yesterday, Tuesday, Feb. 8, there were five new cases in OL and on Monday, Feb. 7, there were three, taking last Friday’s total of 982 to today’s number of 992.

There were no new cases reported in Lyme today or yesterday leaving the cumulative total of cases there at 247. On Monday, Feb. 7, three new cases were reported in Lyme taking last Friday’s total of 244 to today’s number of 247.

The next Daily Data Report will be issued by the state Thursday, Feb. 10, around 4 p.m.

Fatalities Due to COVID-19 in Lyme, Old Lyme

There has been one COVID-related fatality of a Lyme resident: a 57-year-old male passed away Nov. 16, 2021. On Nov. 30, the state finally included this fatality in its data

Four COVID-related fatalities have now been reported in Old Lyme. The first two fatalities from Old Lyme, which were reported in 2020, were a 61-year-old female and an 82-year-old male.

Details of the third and fourth fatalities, which were reported respectively in 2021 and on Feb. 4, 2022, have not been made available.

Statewide Data

The state’s COVID-19 Daily Positivity Rate on Wednesday, Feb. 9, fell from Tuesday’s number of 7.08% to 5.16%. The Daily Positivity Rate on Monday was 4.77% down from Friday’s number of 6.58%. COVID-related hospitalizations decreased by 55 to 552. Monday and Tuesday’s numbers were respectively 631 and 607.

Of those hospitalized, 272 (representing 49.3%) are not fully vaccinated.

The total number of COVID-related deaths in Connecticut has risen to 10,158. (Source: NYTimes.com)

In the Feb. 3 COVID Case Rate map published in our Feb. 3 Daily COVID-19 Update, the total number of towns in the Red (highest) Zone for case rates has fallen by one since last week to 167, leaving two towns in the state — Canaan and Norfolk — not in the Red Zone. This number of 167 is equivalent to 98.8 percent of towns in the state.

All the towns in the Ledge Light Health District (LLHD) are in the Red Zone.

Old Lyme is in the Red (highest) Zone for the 11th consecutive week: prior to this, the last time Old Lyme was in the Red Zone was Sept. 30, 2021.

Lyme is in the Red Zone for the 9th week in succession.

The CT DPH will issue an updated map of the zones Thursday, Feb. 10 — the map is updated weekly on Thursdays.

Extracts from the Feb. 3, 2022 CT DPH report

As of Jan. 26, 2022: (the number in parentheses is from Jan. 19, 2022)

  • Number of cases of COVID-19 among fully vaccinated persons in Connecticut: 150,141 (115,021)
  • Number of fully vaccinated persons in Connecticut: 2,569,296 (2,540,829)
  • Percent of fully vaccinated persons, who have contracted COVID-19: 5.84% (4.53%)

For the week beginning Jan. 16, 2022: (the number in parentheses is from Jan. 9, 2021)

  • Risk of unvaccinated persons testing positive for COVID-19 as compared to fully vaccinated persons: 3.1x greater (3.4x greater)
  • Risk of unvaccinated persons dying from COVID-19 as compared to fully vaccinated persons: 12.9x greater (18.6x greater)

Increase in Cases in Lyme & Old Lyme Since August 2021

The cumulative total of confirmed cases for Old Lyme has now increased by 549 since Wednesday, Nov. 10, when the total stood at 443 — that number had stood unchanged for a week since the previous Thursday, Nov. 4.

On Aug. 26 — which was the day Lyme-Old Lyme Schools started the new academic year — Old Lyme’s cumulative case total stood at 372, meaning there have now been 620 new cases there since that date. Meanwhile, Lyme’s cumulative total on Aug. 26 was 114 indicating 133 new cases have also been confirmed there during the same period.

Ledge Light Health District Update

All the towns in the Ledge Light Health District (LLHD), of which both Lyme and Old Lyme are members, are in the Red Zone.

In an email sent Thursday, Feb. 3, regarding the latest COVID-19 data, Ledge Light Health District (LLHD) Director of Health Stephen Mansfield states, “Although the number of new cases and hospitalizations continues to decrease, we are still experiencing high average daily case rates and a continued focus on preventing transmission is important.

He continues, “Ledge Light Health District advises all businesses and community members take direct steps to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in your business, home, and place of work. We encourage all businesses within our communities to adopt masking policies for employees and customers, regardless of vaccination status.”

Finally, he states, “LLHD continues to focus our vaccination efforts on homebound populations and providing initial vaccinations and boosters to individuals who were vaccinated previously. Information about vaccination opportunities can be found at https://llhd.org/coronavirus-covid-19-situation/covid-19-vaccine/.”

COVID testing opportunities can be found at COVID-19 Testing | Ledge Light Health District (llhd.org)

The following link provides centralized access to Connecticut COVID data: https://data.ct.gov/stories/s/COVID-19-data/wa3g-tfvc/

The next Ledge Light update is due Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022.

Lyme-Old Lyme Schools Update

Under new state protocols for schools, Lyme-Old Lyme (LOL) Schools are no longer required to carry out contact tracing , but LOL Schools Superintendent Ian Neviaser said in a Jan. 4 email to the school community that he, “… will continue to notify the school community of any positive cases of COVID-19 that impact the schools.”

A full listing of all LOL Schools-related cases during 2022 is given below. On Tuesday, Feb. 8, no new cases were reported in LOL Schools.

Lyme-Old Lyme Schools closed Dec. 23, 2021 and reopened Monday, Jan. 3, 2022 after the winter break meaning no new cases were reported by the schools during that period. We are no longer including positive cases impacting LOL schools between Aug 26, 2021 (the first day of the 2021-22 academic school year) and Dec. 23, 2021 (the last day of school before winter break began), in this report. During that period contact tracing was still required.

View the full listing of cases during that period (8/26/21 – 12/23/21) at this link.

The listing below is the latest information that we have with the most recent cases first — there may have been further updates, however, which we have not yet received.

The following abbreviations are used in the list below: LOLHS: Lyme-Old Lyme High School, LOLMS: Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School, CS: MC: Mile Creek School, and Center School Pre-Kindergarten.

Tuesday, Feb. 8
Total: 0

Monday, Feb. 7
Total: 3, Lyme: 1, MC: 1, CS: 1

Sunday, Feb. 6
Total: 2, LOLMS: 1, MC: 1

Friday, Feb. 4
Total: 5, LOLHS: 2, LOLMS: 1, MC: 2

Thursday, Feb. 3
Total: 1, Lyme: 1

Wednesday, Feb. 2
Total: 3, MC: 3

Tuesday, Feb. 1
Total: 1, MC: 1

Monday, Jan. 31
Total: 2, LOLMS: 1, Lyme: 1

Sunday, Jan. 30
Total: 1, Lyme: 1

Friday, Jan. 28
Total: 3, LOLHS: 1, LOLMS: 1, MC: 1

Thursday, Jan. 27
Total: 3, LOLHS: 1, Lyme: 2

Wednesday, Jan. 26
Total: 3, LOLHS: 1, MC: 2

Tuesday, Jan. 25
Total: 4, LOLMS: 2, MC: 2

Monday, Jan. 24
Total: 9, LOLHS: 2, LOLMS: 1, Lyme: 1, MC: 4, CS: 1

Sunday, Jan. 23
Total: 3, LOLMS: 1, Lyme: 2

Friday, Jan. 21
Total: 8, LOLHS: 4, LOLMS: 2, MC: 2

Thursday, Jan. 20
Total: 5, LOLMS: 1, MC: 1, Lyme: 3

Wednesday, Jan.19
Total: 7, LOLHS: 2, LOLMS: 4, CS: 1

Tuesday, Jan. 18
Total: 7, LOLHS: 3, LOLMS: 2, MC: 2

Monday, Jan. 17
Total: 6, Lyme: 4, MC: 2

Friday, Jan. 14
Total: 3, MC: 2, LOLHS: 1

Wednesday, Jan. 12
Total: 3, MC: 2, LOLMS: 1

Monday, Jan. 10
Total: 3, CS: 1, Lyme: 2

Sunday, Jan. 9
Total: 2, MC: 1, Lyme: 1

Friday, Jan. 7
Total: 1, MC: 1

Thursday, Jan. 6
Total: 7, LOLHS: 5, Lyme: 1, CS: 1

Wednesday, Jan. 5
Total: 14, LOLHS: 6, MC: 1, Lyme: 3, CS: 4

Tuesday, Jan. 4
Total: 5, LOLHS: 4, CS: 1

Griswold, Ward Vote to Appoint Colwell to Old Lyme EDC Against Recommendations of Commission Chair

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OLD LYME — UPDATED June 15. We incorrectly quoted the number of votes by which Mona Colwell lost the Region 18 BOE election in our original article. We apologize for the error. The article has now been corrected. At Monday evening’s Old Lyme (OL) Board of Selectmen (BOS)’s Special Meeting in a somewhat unexpected move, both First Selectman Timothy Griswold (R) and Selectman Matthew Ward voted to appoint Mona Colwell to the OL Economic Development Commission (EDC). Incumbent EDC member Candace Fuchs, a Democrat, was not reappointed.

Both Ward and Colwell are unaffiliated but were endorsed by the Republicans in the Nov. 2021 election for, respectively, the board of selectmen and the Region 18 Board of Education (BOE). Ward was elected but Colwell failed in her bid for a BOE seat.

The board was considering which of three candidates to appoint to two open seats on the EDC. Fuchs was the incumbent for the position with the five-year-term ending Jan. 31, 2027. The other candidate, apart from Colwell, was Republican Wendy Russell.

Colwell stated in her application to serve on the EDC that she has, “Been very active as a volunteer in numerous capacities for the Region 18 School District,” and, “Worked as a small business promoter for over twenty years.” In her application, Russell noted she is a Regional Director of Sales and Marketing for the Waterford Hotel Group and has been appointed to numerous boards related to tourism.

The matter had been discussed at the previous BOS meeting on Jan. 18, but was tabled pending a request by Selectwoman Martha Shoemaker that, prior to any vote being taken on the candidates, Griswold should seek the opinion of the EDC Chair regarding whom she would like to see appointed.

Griswold concurred and duly asked EDC Chair Cheryl Poirier for her input regarding the appointments. Poirier responded saying by email, “[Fuchs] is a strong advocate for the EDC working in alignment with the recommendations outlined in the Town’s 2020 POCD. She has been a very responsible and needed contributor to the EDC. I support her reappointment.” Regarding Russell, Poirier stated, “I believe Wendy could provide positive impact to the EDC … I encourage her appointment.”

David Rubino, a current member of the EDC, had also commented by email to the BOS on Colwell’s potential appointment, saying that he encouraged the BOS, “to reappoint Ms. Fuchs to the EDC.”

When discussion began, Shoemaker made a motion to, “Reappoint Fuchs to a five-year term ending January 31st, 2027.” Ward seconded it but when Griswold called for a vote, Ward did not support it. Griswold also voted no, and so the motion failed.

The phone lines were not fully muted and both a shocked, “Wow” and separately, an expletive could be clearly heard.

Ward then made a motion to appoint Colwell to fill the open five-year term ending Jan. 31, 2024.

Shoemaker opened the discussion with a statement, saying, ” I believe as town leaders we are here to set a good example. A person’s character or personality traits should not be a topic of discussion at any town meetings.” She added that she felt the board of selectmen should not be perpetuating that type of behavior but rather doing their best to stop it.”

Shoemaker’s statement sparked an animated discussion as Ward set out to distance himself from Griswold’s comment in the previous meeting that Fuchs was “abrasive,” saying it was “inappropriate.” He continued that theme, however, saying he felt the email Rubino sent to the BOS was similarly inappropriate, as were comments made about Colwell in the November 2021 election.

In his email to the BOS, Rubino had called out Colwell’s outspoken position against COVID vaccinations and also her Tweet that “Those restaurants in Boston that have complied with the Boston mayor’s vaccine mandate should be “boycotted and bankrupted”.”

Ward asked, “Do I agree with everything she says?” then responded firmly to his own question, “No I don’t.” But he maintained Colwell has a right to her opinions and “Berating her in public is inappropriate. She is never going to want to volunteer for anything ever again.”

Shoemaker pointed out that there is a difference between Colwell’s opinions and facts, but moreover, the board has asked the opinion of the EDC Chair and now seemed ready to ignore it.

Griswold joined the discussion saying, “I think we should look at Mona … she has skills here. We have to give her a chance.”

Regarding any assumption that an incumbent has an automatic right to be re-elected, Griswold stated, “I don’t think you have a monopoly on a position.”

Griswold concluded, “I think having Mona on there would be a distinct asset.”

Griswold called for a vote: Ward supported the motion and Shoemaker voted against. Griswold used his vote to break the tie and thus pass the motion to appoint Colwell.

Ward made a second motion to appoint Wendy Russell, a Republican, to the open five-year term ending Jan. 31, 2027. Both Ward and Shoemaker supported the motion, which duly passed.

Asked Tuesday for her opinion on the decision to appoint Colwell, Poirier told LymeLine by email , “I provided the board of selectmen the reasons why Candace Fuchs was a collaborative, productive EDC member that deserved reappointment. I am disappointed that my input did not weigh more heavily in Tim and Matt’s choice.”

She continued in a positive vein, “Now my focus as EDC Chair is keeping the commission moving forward with new initiatives we have started such as a ribbon-cutting program, the new ExploreOldLyme.com website, and the Shoreline Gateway Committee, which the board of selectmen approved last night.”

Responding to the same question on Tuesday regarding Colwell’s appointment, Shoemaker said by phone, “I am disappointed that we took the time to ask a [commission] chairman for their recommendation and then did not follow hat recommendation.”

We also messaged a similar question to Griswold but had not received a reply by press time.

Editor’s Note: Visit this link to read our previous article: Appointments to Old Lyme EDC Tabled After Absence of Input from Commission Identified, One Candidate Described as ‘Abrasive’; Discussion to be Continued at Tonight’s BOS Meeting This article includes the full text of both Poirier and Rubino’s emails mentioned above, and also generated additional comments

Appointments to Old Lyme EDC Tabled After Absence of Input from Commission Identified, One Candidate Described as ‘Abrasive’; Discussion to be Continued at Tonight’s BOS Meeting

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Emails Sent by EDC Member Rubino, EDC Chair Poirier in Response to Comments at BOS Meeting Printed in Full Below

Old Lyme First Selectman Timothy Griswold (File photo)

OLD LYME — At their last meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 18, the three members of the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen (BOS) were running systematically through the annual round of appointments and reappointments to town boards and commissions when the question of whom to appoint to the Old Lyme Economic Development Commission (EDC) arose.

The normally uncontroversial process was halted by a variety of searching questions and unexpected comments, and ended up being tabled for the next BOS meeting scheduled for Monday, Feb. 7, at 5:30 p.m. .

There was some confusion in the meeting initially about the details of the terms available and the number of candidates applying for them. After a short discussion, Selectwoman Martha Shoemaker (D) summed up the situation saying, “Basically, we have to pick among the three [names] for two spots.”

First Selectman Timothy Griswold (R) confirmed that the five-year term of incumbent Candace Fuchs ended Jan. 31, 2022 and that there was a vacancy ending Jan. 31, 2024. This latter opening had been created by Edie Twining’s resignation.

After further discussion, it became clear that Fuchs was seeking reappointment, but two other people had submitted applications for appointment also, namely Mona Colwell (U) and Wendy Russell (R).

Colwell states in her application to serve on the EDC that she has, “Been very active as a volunteer in numerous capacities for the Region 18 School District,” and, “Worked as a small business promoter for over twenty years.” Colwell run unsuccessfully for a seat on the Region 18 Board of Education in November 2021.

In her application, Russell notes she is a Regional Director of Sales and Marketing for the Waterford Hotel Group and has been appointed to numerous boards related to tourism.

Shoemaker then made a motion to, “Reappoint Fuchs to a five-year term ending January 31st, 2027, and to appoint Wendy Russell to fill the open five-year term ending January 31st, 2024.” Shoemaker stated she was supporting Russell’s appointment, “due to her (Russell’s) extensive background in [Eastern] Chamber tourism and the Mystic Coastal Council,” which Shoemaker said would be, ” … useful as we move forward with economic development.”

Selectman Matthew Ward seconded the motion.

Griswold agreed regarding Russell’s appointment saying, “I think Wendy has good strengths,” but indicated he supported Colwell for the second vacancy saying, “Personally, I think Mona would be a good candidate for the other seat simply because she has been very interested in school matters and having some new blood on there would be a help.”

He continued, “I think, candidly, Candace can be a bit abrasive at times.”

Shoemaker pointed out that, “Some of these applications came in just a day or two ago,” and “Normally you’d talk to the chair of the [EDC] committee” to solicit their opinions. She asked pointedly, “Has anyone had the opportunity to talk to the chair of the EDC?”

Griswold replied, “I personally have not.”

Shoemaker then proposed that nothing further should happen until that conversation had taken place, saying that the EDC, “Should be able to pick the people they want for their team,” noting, “… there’s a lot going on [in terms of the commission’s work.]”

Griswold countered, “It’s our decision [regarding who is appointed] in the end,” with which Shoemaker concurred.

Shoemaker then proposed the motion should be tabled to the next meeting stressing, ” … so long as you [Griswold] check in with the chair [of the EDC]” before that meeting.

Griswold agreed to do that, Ward seconded the motion to table the matter and the meeting continued to the next item of business.

On Friday, we received a copy of an email from David Rubino, which he had sent to the Old Lyme BOS regarding the potential appointment of Colwell to the EDC. Rubino, a Democrat, is a member of the EDC and ran unsuccessfully against State Rep Devin Carney (R-23rd) in November 2020.

Today we received a copy of an email from Cheryl Poirier, also addressed to the BOS, which details her response as chair of the EDC to the proposed candidates.

Both emails are reprinted verbatim in their entirety below.

Dear Board of Selectmen:

My name is Dave Rubino.  I purchased my home in Old Lyme in 2016, and I am the owner of a law office on Halls Road.  I am the father of two children in the Region 18 public school system.  I am also on the Economic Development Commission which is why I write. 

I listened to the discussion at last month’s Board of Selectmen meeting regarding the vacant or potentially vacant seats on our commission, and as a member of the EDC I thought it would be helpful to the Board of Selectmen if I weighed in.

I joined the EDC about two years ago because the economic health and well-being of our town is of particular importance to me. As a business owner, homeowner, and father, I, like many of us, am interested in ensuring that Old Lyme remains an economically sustainable community while maintaining the obvious charms which have drawn many of us to the town.

One of the things I really enjoy about being a member of the EDC is that it has been largely, if not wholly, apolitical.  We have membership from both sides of the aisle, but we all share a common goal – to provide fact-based and quantifiable guidance to this Board about which economic ideas are in the town’s best interest.  The Board rarely has disagreements, and when and if we do they are discussed respectfully and thoughtfully.

I was surprised, therefore, that Mr. Griswold suggested that he was not inclined to reappoint Candace Fuchs to the EDC (who he himself voted onto the commission) because he finds her “abrasive”.   Whatever personal experience Mr. Griswold may have in that regard is certainly not reflective of any interactions I have noticed on the EDC.  To the contrary, I would describe Candace as somewhat reserved.  She generally volunteers to serve as notetaker and creates the minutes almost every month.

That said, I concede that elections have consequences.  This Board has every legal right to appoint whomever it chooses to the EDC.  One would hope, however, that said appointment would be made with the best interests of the town in mind.  That is why Mr. Griswold’s suggestion to replace Ms. Fuchs with former Board of Education candidate Mona Colwell is of particular concern.  If abrasiveness is a criteria for disapproving a nomination, I would suggest that Cowell’s public statements – many of which have been widely publicized in local media – are facially disqualifying.  Her Twitter and Facebook accounts include dozens of posts hypothesizing that the pandemic is a manufactured ploy to depopulate the planet and usher in a new world order via a “great reset” designed to control humanity.  She makes regular social media statements analogizing mask and vaccine mandates to the Nazi holocaust – going so far as to refer to masks as “yellow stars” used to identify the unvaccinated.  I cannot speak for the Jewish community of Old Lyme but I would suspect that many people might find equating the inconvenience of wearing a mask into a grocery store to being herded into concentration camps for execution at least as “abrasive” as anything Mr. Griswold has heard from Ms. Fuchs. (She [Colwell] notably also re-tweets that people should “Take action.  Legal and otherwise” against those supporting vaccines in a post that depicts public hangings of doctors at Nuremburg.) Leaving aside the ridiculousness of this constant refrain, one must also consider that her views have economic consequences.  She has, for example, tweeted that those restaurants in Boston that have complied with the Boston mayor’s vaccine mandate should be “boycotted and bankrupted”.  Appointing a candidate to the EDC who supports boycotting and bankrupting small businesses that comply with the law simply cannot be in the town’s best interests.

Finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention that in addition to the above, your proposed appointee has likewise posted at least one statement that is so racially offensive it made headlines and formed the basis of dismissing a firefighter in a Republican controlled rural South Carolina town.  Her tweet, which even the reddest of states found crossed a line, states, “Black Privilege: The ability to break every law in the country yet still remain the victim.”  https://www.wistv.com/2020/07/17/georgetown-county-firefighter-fired-after-making-racially-insensitive-violent-posts/?outputType=apps

So there can be no question that this Board’s vote will necessarily take into consideration these public statements, I am attaching a small sampling of them hereto.  By any interpretation, knowingly moving forward with this candidate would amount to an endorsement of these dangerous and divisive views.  The Old Lyme I have grown to love just doesn’t look like this. 

I encourage you to reappoint Ms. Fuchs to the EDC and fill the remaining vacant slot with the third applicant, Ms. Wendy Russell.  Ms. Russell’s background and experience would be an asset to the board, and she would be a welcome addition.

The following is the text of the email from Cheryl Poirier.

Greetings Tim, Martha, and Matt:

Thank you for seeking my input on the Economic Development Commission appointments.

As you know, we have an open seat on the EDC due to Edie Twining stepping down from the Commission in the Fall.

Wendy Russell (R), has applied for this appointment. I have been familiar with Wendy’s BOS appointment to the State’s Eastern Regional Tourism District (ERTD). The ERTD is an important entity for our Old Lyme tourism attractions such as the Florence Griswold Museum and Lyme Art Association, as it creates and manages tourism grants, as well as promotes Eastern CT tourism assets to travel magazines, etc.

I spoke with Wendy via Zoom last week and we discussed the contributions she could make to the EDC, including keeping the commissioners up to date on economy-enhancing opportunities available to municipalities and their tourism assets. 

I believe Wendy could provide positive impact to the EDC. She attended the Feburary 2nd EDC meeting as a member of the public. I encourage her appointment.

Candace Fuchs (D) is up for reappointment. Candace has been a productive and reliable member of the EDC. She currently takes our minutes, which she does in a timely fashion. Candace has been the only commissioner to volunteer to take minutes. When commissioners are asked to complete tasks such as reaching out to area businesspersons for website content, Candace completes her assignments (often before others) in a timely and complete manner. She has also written an article for our new website. She is a strong advocate for the EDC working in alignment with the recommendations outlined in the Town’s 2020 POCD. She has been a very responsible and needed contributor to the EDC. I support her reappointment.

Mona Colwell (U) has also applied for appointment to the EDC; she also attended last evening’s EDC meeting. 

I would be disappointed if Candace were not reappointed, as she makes important contributions to the EDC in meeting its goals. I appreciate any opportunity to minimize disruption to the EDC’s productivity.

The EDC is a bipartisan commission that currently works together quite amicably and effectively. The current commissioners’ values — regardless of political affiliation — are in alignment with the charge of the EDC to support economic investment and revitalization of existing businesses while attracting new commerce and cultural opportunities. We support encouraging visitors from across the region to frequent our restaurants, shops, and other attractions. We encourage newcomers to purchase homes or start a new business here, thereby becoming part of our wonderful community. 

Thank you.