Author Archives: Olwen Logan

Nov. 4 COVID-19 Update: Two New Cases in Old Lyme Take Cumulative Total to 443; Lyme Steady at 131

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LYME/OLD LYME — The Daily Data Report issued Thursday, Nov. 4, at 4 p.m. by the Connecticut Department of Health (CT DPH) shows  two new cases in Old Lyme taking that town’s cumulative total of COVID-19 to 443.

No new cases were reported in Lyme leaving the cumulative total of cases there at 131. This is the 18th day in succession that no new cases have been reported in Lyme.

The state does not issue reports over the weekend nor on public holidays. The next report from CT DPH will be Friday, Nov. 5, at around 4 p.m.

On Aug. 26, Old Lyme’s cumulative case total stood at 372, meaning there have been 71 new cases there since that date. Meanwhile, Lyme’s cumulative total on Aug. 26 was 114 indicating 17 new cases have also been confirmed there during the same period.

Lyme-Old Lyme Schools started the new academic year Aug. 26.

COVID-19 Cases in Lyme-Old Lyme Schools

This 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.

On Wednesday, Oct. 20, Lyme-Old Lyme Schools Superintendent Ian Neviaser informed the school community that a positive case of COVID-19 impacting Lyme-Old Lyme High School had been reported.

On Wednesday, Oct. 5, Neviaser informed the school community that a positive case of COVID-19 impacting Lyme-Old Lyme High School had been reported the previous evening.

On Thursday, Sept. 16, Neviaser informed the school community that a previously reported positive case of COVID-19 is now impacting Mile Creek School and Center School.

On Monday, Sept. 13, a positive case of COVID-19 impacting Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School, which had been reported the previous day, was announced.

On Wednesday, Sept. 1,  a positive case of COVID-19 impacting Mile Creek School was announced.

On Tuesday, Aug. 31, Neviaser informed the school community that late on Monday, Aug. 30, a positive case of COVID-19 impacting Lyme-Old Lyme High School had been reported.

On Saturday, Aug. 28, Neviaser informed the school community that late on Friday, Aug. 27, a positive case of COVID-19 impacting Lyme School had been reported.

In all cases, contact tracing was completed and those individuals who needed to quarantine were notified. They will be able to return to school following their quarantine period. All other students and staff will continue to attend school as scheduled.

Fatalities Due to COVID-19 in Lyme, Old Lyme

There is no change in the number of fatalities reported in either Lyme (0) or Old Lyme (3).

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, which was reported in 2021, have not been made available.

Election Reaction From Both Parties in Old Lyme

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Anna Reiter

OLD LYME — UPDATED 11/5 with the Old Lyme Democratic Campaign Manager’s comments: Asked her reaction to Tuesday’s results, Anna Reiter, who served as the Old Lyme Democratic Campaign Manager, responded to our question by email saying, “I am thrilled that voters elected 10 very qualified and dedicated democrats Tuesday. We are of course disappointed that we didn’t win a few more, but 2023 will be here before we know it.”

Victoria Lanier (File photo)

We also asked Victoria Lanier, who served as the Old Lyme Republican Campaign Manager, for her thoughts on the election results and she replied to our question by email saying, “I am grateful that the voters of Old Lyme agreed that the Republican slate truly represented the best choice for Old Lyme.”

Noting, “Our slate of candidates, including unaffiliated candidates, Matt Ward (selectman), and Laura Dean-Frazier (BOE) are looking forward to serving all of the voters of Old Lyme, she concluded, “Certainly,  the results demonstrate that our positive message resonated with Old Lyme voters.”

Martha Shoemaker (File photo)

Responding to the same question as Lanier and Reiter, incoming Democrat Old Lyme Selectwoman and re-elected member of Region 18 Board of Education Martha Shoemaker told LymeLine by email, “During the past three months I have had the opportunity to work with an amazing team of people on our campaign. We ran a great race. Thank you to everyone who came out to support the Row A team.”

She continued, “Congratulations to Jason Kemp, Kim Russell Thompson, Katherine Plazza Thuma, George Finley, Rob McCarthy, Kip Kotzan, Kathleen Tracy, Russell Fogg, and Mary Jo Kelly Nosal for winning their elections.”

Adding, “I especially want to thank Jim Lampos for being my running mate,” she noted, “Although he will not be serving with me on the Board of Selectman, I know that he will always have the best interests of Old Lyme foremost on his mind.”

Shoemaker concluded, “I look forward to serving on the Board of Selectman with Tim Griswold and Matt Ward. I will do my best to represent the interests of Old Lyme during my term. I look forward to my continued service on the Board of Education as well.”
We also asked Timothy Griswold, who was re-elected as Old Lyme First Selectman in Tuesday’s election, for his thoughts on the outcome of the election. We have not yet received a response.

Nov. 2 COVID-19 Update: No New Cases in Lyme, Old Lyme Leave Cumulative Totals Respectively at 131, 440

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LYME/OLD LYME — The Daily Data Report issued Tuesday, Nov. 2, at 4 p.m. by the Connecticut Department of Health (CT DPH) shows no new cases in Lyme or Old Lyme leaving the respective cumulative totals of COVID-19 cases at 131 for Lyme and 440 for Old Lyme.

This is the 16th day in succession that no new cases have been reported in Lyme.

The state does not issue reports over the weekend nor on public holidays. The next report from CT DPH will be Wednesday, Nov. , at around 4 p.m.

On Aug. 26, Old Lyme’s cumulative case total stood at 372, meaning there have been 68 new cases there since that date. Meanwhile, Lyme’s cumulative total on Aug. 26 was 114 indicating 17 new cases have also been confirmed there during the same period.

Lyme-Old Lyme Schools started the new academic year Aug. 26.

COVID-19 Cases in Lyme-Old Lyme Schools

This 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.

On Wednesday, Oct. 20, Lyme-Old Lyme Schools Superintendent Ian Neviaser informed the school community that a positive case of COVID-19 impacting Lyme-Old Lyme High School had been reported.

On Wednesday, Oct. 5, Neviaser informed the school community that a positive case of COVID-19 impacting Lyme-Old Lyme High School had been reported the previous evening.

On Thursday, Sept. 16, Neviaser informed the school community that a previously reported positive case of COVID-19 is now impacting Mile Creek School and Center School.

On Monday, Sept. 13, a positive case of COVID-19 impacting Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School, which had been reported the previous day, was announced.

On Wednesday, Sept. 1,  a positive case of COVID-19 impacting Mile Creek School was announced.

On Tuesday, Aug. 31, Neviaser informed the school community that late on Monday, Aug. 30, a positive case of COVID-19 impacting Lyme-Old Lyme High School had been reported.

On Saturday, Aug. 28, Neviaser informed the school community that late on Friday, Aug. 27, a positive case of COVID-19 impacting Lyme School had been reported.

In all cases, contact tracing was completed and those individuals who needed to quarantine were notified. They will be able to return to school following their quarantine period. All other students and staff will continue to attend school as scheduled.

Fatalities Due to COVID-19 in Lyme, Old Lyme

There is no change in the number of fatalities reported in either Lyme (0) or Old Lyme (3).

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, which was reported in 2021, have not been made available.

Visit this link for our Oct. 14 update, which includes statewide data.

Democrats Retain Top Spot in Lyme Uncontested, Make Other Gains Notably on Board of Finance

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First Selectman Steve Mattson (right) and  Selectman John Kiker, both Democrats, retain their respective seats on the Lyme Board of Selectmen.

LYME – The only real race in Lyme saw Democrats Bob House and Alan Sheiness edge out Republican Bruce Anderson for seats on the board of finance.

All other races in Lyme were uncontested so Democrat Steve Mattson remains as First Selectman with fellow Democrat John Kiker as Second Selectman. David Lahm joins the board as the minority Republican.

On learning the results of today’s municipal election, Lyme Democratic Town Committee (DTC) Chairman John Kiker issued the following statement: “On the behalf of everyone at the Lyme DTC, I would like to thank the residents of Lyme for electing a full slate of highly qualified Democratic candidates whose experience and expertise will benefit our town boards and commissions. We are particularly excited about our additions to the Board of Finance and the Planning & Zoning Commission, who will help ensure these important boards are balanced with Democratic values.”

He continued, “All of the newly elected Democratic officials love our town and want Lyme to stay the beautiful, historic town that it is; and they are grateful to have the opportunity to serve the residents of our town.”

Kiker added, “I would also like to thank all the volunteers who helped run our campaign this year – in particular, the members of our Nominating Committee, who did such an excellent job of recruiting some of Lyme’s best and brightest to run for public office.”

Noting, “The Lyme DTC’s mission is to support and strengthen the Democratic Party in the Town of Lyme and the State of Connecticut. The committee meets on the fourth Thursday of every month at 7:30 p.m. in the Lyme Town Hall (barring holidays or other necessary schedule changes),” Kiker concluded, “These meetings are open to the public and all registered Democrats are encouraged to attend.”

‘Debate’ Held With Republicans, No Democrats; Eric Parker Served as Question Master

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OLD LYME — Monday night’s planned debate was reformatted to an event featuring only the Republican candidates after a major misunderstanding occurred as to whether or not the debate had been cancelled.

Ann Reiter, campaign manager for the Democrats, stated in an email sent Monday at 11:52 a.m., “… unfortunately our (the Democrats) understanding yesterday [Sunday] at 2pm was that the debate was cancelled because of several reasons, the main being that we did not have a moderator and neither Vicki [Lanier] or I had any prospects for a moderator.  At that point we (the Democrats) notified our supporters and candidates that the debate was cancelled.  I was not available last night and did not receive news about Eric Parker’s possible participation until very late last night. We were disappointed to cancel the event and Vicki and I both agreed that if we are the campaign managers for the town committees again in two years, we would work together starting in September to create a fair and well-planned event.”

Victoria Lanier, campaign manager for the Republicans, countered in an email sent Monday at 11:57 a.m., “Anna Reiter … confirmed that the Democratic candidates will not be attending the scheduled debate this [Monday] evening at the LOLMS.  Her reasoning was that she claimed to me that “we agreed to cancel the debate”.  To be perfectly clear – there was never an agreement to cancel the debate.  Rather, she informed me yesterday [Sunday] via telephone (rather than email) at about 2pm that her candidates wouldn’t be at the debate because we didn’t have a confirmed moderator.
The Republican candidates will go forward. Eric Parker [of Channel 3 News*] will ask questions of the Republican candidates that will be supplied to him in a sealed envelope when he arrives at Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School.”

Parker took the role of question master in a personal capacity not as a representative of Channel 3 News.

The questions were a combination of those submitted to CT Examiner and LymeLine.

Visit this link for a recording of the event. The recording was supplied by the Old Lyme Republicans.