Author Archives: Olwen Logan

Jan. 21 COVID-19 Update: Cumulative Cases in Old Lyme Jump to 235, Lyme’s Up One to 69; Latest Two-Week Case Rate Up in OL, Down in Lyme

Posted on by
Reply

This map published Jan. 21 shows the average daily rate of new cases of COVID-19 by town during the past two weeks. 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.

LYME/OLD LYME — Old Lyme’s COVID-19 cumulative case numbers since the pandemic began jumped by nine to 235 over the previous day’s (226) in the report issued Thursday, Jan. 21, by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH). The two-week case rate per 100,000 population in Old Lyme announced yesterday continues to rise going from 51.4 to 58.2.

Lyme’s cumulative total increased by one to 69 over the previous day’s number of 68. The two-week case rate per 100,000 population in Lyme announced yesterday has fallen going from 78.3 to 55.0.

The state issues a COVID-19 metric report daily around 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, which includes current data up to the previous evening. The Monday reports include data for the weekend as well as the previous Friday.

The Daily Data Report for Connecticut issued Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021 by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) for data as at 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021 shows the following:

Both Lyme and Old Lyme are still in the state-identified ‘Red Zone;’ where they have been for the past several weeks.

As of the Jan. 21 report, five towns in the state — Canaan, Cornwall, Colebrook, Norfolk and Warren (see map above) — are now in the ‘Gray Zone.’

  • The red category is defined as when the Average Daily Rate of COVID-19 Cases Among Persons Living in Community Settings per 100,000 Population By Town exceeds 15.
  • The gray category is defined as when the Average Daily Rate of COVID-19 Cases Among Persons Living in Community Settings per 100,000 Population By Town is less than five or less than five reported cases.

In all cases, this rate does not include cases or tests among residents of nursing home, assisted living, or correctional facilities.

Old Lyme

Old Lyme now has a cumulative total (since the outbreak began) of 229 confirmed COVID-19 cases and SIX probable cases, making a TOTAL of 235 cases.

This represents an INCREASE of NINE in the cumulative number of confirmed cases over the number (220) reported Wednesday, Jan. 20, and NO CHANGE in the number of probable cases reported the same day.

The total number of Old Lyme residents tested is 4,275.

There have been two fatalities in Old Lyme.

CT DPH Two-Weekly Report

The Jan. 21 report issued by CT DPH shows that during the two-week reporting period from 01/03/21 through 01/16/21, Old Lyme had 33 cases in Week 1 and 27 in Week 2. This data was updated Jan. 21, 2021.

The case rate in Old Lyme for 100,000 population is 58.2, reflecting an increase from the previously reported two-week rate of 51.4. A case rate of 15 or more cases per 100,000 population places a town in the state’s ‘Red Zone.’

Lyme

Lyme has a cumulative total (since the outbreak began) of 63 confirmed cases and SIX probable cases, making a TOTAL of 69 cases.

This represents NO CHANGE in the number of confirmed cases and an INCREASE OF ONE in the number of  probable cases from the numbers reported Wednesday, Jan. 20.

There have been no fatalities in Lyme.

The total number of Lyme residents tested is 1,138.

Connecticut Hospital Occupancy

At the request of several readers, we are adding a new report today showing the respective rates of hospital occupancy at local hospitals. The data for this report is obtained from the Connecticut Hospital Occupancy Report published weekly by the CT DPH and extracted from the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) facility-level data for hospital utilization aggregated on a weekly basis (Friday to Thursday).

[table id=10 /]

CT DPH Two-Weekly Report

The Jan. 21 report issued by CT DPH shows that during the two-week reporting period from 01/03 through 01/16/21, Lyme had 14 cases in Week 1 and 4 in Week 2. This data was updated Jan. 21, 2021.

The case rate in Lyme for 100,000 population is 55.0 reflecting a decrease from the previously reported two-week-rate of 78.3. A case rate of 15 or more cases per 100,000 population places a town in the state’s ‘Red Zone.’

Editor’s Note: In light of the serious rise in Coronavirus cases, we have started a new weekday update reporting confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases in Lyme and Old Lyme. The next CT DPH Daily Data Report for Connecticut will be issued Friday, Jan. 22, 2021.

Jan. 20 COVID-19 Update: Cumulative Cases in Old Lyme Climb by Four to 226; Lyme’s Hold at 68

Posted on by
1

Photo by CDC on Unsplash

LYME/OLD LYME — Old Lyme’s COVID-19 cumulative case numbers since the pandemic began rose by four to 226 over the previous day’s (222) in the report issued Wednesday, Jan. 20, by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) while Lyme’s cumulative total held at the previous day’s number of 68.

The state issues a COVID-19 metric report daily around 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, which includes current data up to the previous evening. The Monday reports include data for the weekend as well as the previous Friday.

The Daily Data Report for Connecticut issued Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021 by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) for data as at 8:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021 shows the following:

Both Lyme and Old Lyme are still in the state-identified ‘Red Zone;’ where they have been for the past several weeks.

As of the Jan. 20 report, only three towns in the state — Canaan, Cornwall and Warren — remain in the ‘Gray Zone.’

  • The red category is defined as when the Average Daily Rate of COVID-19 Cases Among Persons Living in Community Settings per 100,000 Population By Town exceeds 15.
  • The gray category is defined as when the Average Daily Rate of COVID-19 Cases Among Persons Living in Community Settings per 100,000 Population By Town is less than five or less than five reported cases.

In all cases, this rate does not include cases or tests among residents of nursing home, assisted living, or correctional facilities.

Old Lyme

Old Lyme now has a cumulative total (since the outbreak began) of 220 confirmed COVID-19 cases and SIX probable cases, making a TOTAL of 226 cases.

This represents an INCREASE of FOUR in the cumulative number of confirmed cases over the number (216) reported Monday, Jan. 18, and NO CHANGE in the number of probable cases reported the same day.

The total number of Old Lyme residents tested is 4,242.

There have been two fatalities in Old Lyme.

CT DPH Two-Weekly Report

The Jan. 20 report issued by CT DPH shows that during the two-week reporting period from 12/27/20 through 01/09/21, Old Lyme had 34 cases in Week 1 and 19 in Week 2. This data was updated Jan. 14, 2021.

The case rate in Old Lyme for 100,000 population is 51.4, reflecting an increase from the previously reported two-week rate of 29.1. A case rate of 15 or more cases per 100,000 population places a town in the state’s ‘Red Zone.’

Lyme

Lyme has a cumulative total (since the outbreak began) of 63 confirmed cases and FIVE probable cases, making a TOTAL of 68 cases.

This represents NO CHANGE in the number of confirmed or probable cases from the numbers reported Monday, Jan. 18.

There have been no fatalities in Lyme.

The total number of Lyme residents tested is 1,129.

Connecticut Hospital Occupancy

At the request of several readers, we are adding a new report today showing the respective rates of hospital occupancy at local hospitals. The data for this report is obtained from the Connecticut Hospital Occupancy Report published weekly by the CT DPH and extracted from the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) facility-level data for hospital utilization aggregated on a weekly basis (Friday to Thursday).

[table id=10 /]

CT DPH Two-Weekly Report

The Jan. 19 report issued by CT DPH shows that during the two-week reporting period from 12/27 through 01/09/21, Lyme had 13 cases in Week 1 and 11 in Week 2. This data was updated Jan. 14, 2021.

The case rate in Lyme for 100,000 population is 78.3 reflecting a increase from the previously reported two-week-rate of 36.7. A case rate of 15 or more cases per 100,000 population places a town in the state’s ‘Red Zone.’

Editor’s Note: In light of the serious rise in Coronavirus cases, we have started a new weekday update reporting confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases in Lyme and Old Lyme. The next CT DPH Daily Data Report for Connecticut will be issued Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021.

Our Top 10 (Non-COVID) Most Read Stories in 2020

Posted on by
Reply

LYME/OLD LYME — It was an interesting experience delving into our analytics for 2020 because 2020 was — for want of a better description —  an interesting year.

Usually, when we undertake our review of the previous year each January, we find stories covering a wide range of topics in our Top 10. This year was different in that every single one of our Top 10 Stories (and beyond) related directly to COVID-19 data.

Rather than publishing all those articles full of depressing details of the spread of the virus in our towns, we have chosen to publish our Top 10 non-COVID-19-related stories and these, we submit, provide a balanced overview of the remaining priorities of our community after the obvious dominance of COVID-19 as our top concern in 2020.

The most read article was — and we think this is a first —  a ‘Letter to the Editor.’

  1. In July, the Senior Ministers of the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme led by Senior Minister Stephen Jungkeit (pictured right) wrote an Open Letter to the Old Lyme community setting two challenges related to the expansion of affordable housing in the town. The letter was written in response to the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent events organized locally to address the issue of systemic racism, “… that continues to plague our country.” The letter sparked a great many comments and several more that we chose not to publish. Sadly, we lost some subscribers to our newsletter after publication of the letter, but fortunately, we gained many more. Take a look at the letter now six months on and see what you think. A great deal has happened since then with regard to affordable housing in Old Lyme.
    Letter to the Editor: An Open Letter to the Old Lyme Community … with Two Challenges

    This tree at Saint Ann’s was one of the many casualties of Tropical Storm Isaias.

     

  2. Remember Aug. 4th, 2020?  That was the day that Tropical Storm Isaias tore through our towns knocking out power to almost everyone. Our story, which focused on photos sent in by readers, was our #2 most read article.
    Trees Down, Power Out All Over Lyme, Old Lyme; Lyme Estimates at Least Three Days Before Power Restored

Julia Balfour

  1. In third place was the profoundly sad announcement of the death of the brilliant, vivacious, and remarkable creative designer Julia Balfour, who passed Nov. 30, at age 42 after a lengthy battle with cancer. She lived and worked in Lyme for many years before moving to East Haddam.
    Death of Julia Balfour Announced; Obituary Now Added

    2. Hundreds gathered on the lawn in front of the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme to hear a number of speakers after marching down Lyme Street from Memorial Town Hall.

  2. Saturday, June 6, saw hundreds turn out to “Stand Up and Kneel Down” for racial justice. Our report on the unprecedented event, which includes many of the speeches given, came in at number four.
    Hundreds Turn Out to Join Peaceful March, Rally for Racial Justice in Old Lyme

    Ready for the rush. Old Lyme Beach Rangers stand ready and waiting for the anticipated crowd when the beach reopened at Sound View.

  3. We all love our beaches so when the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen closed them down in an effort to contain the COVID-19 virus, people were very concerned. But when it was determined the beaches could reopen for Memorial Day, everyone wanted to read about it and that became our fifth most-read story.
    Old Lyme Beaches Closed Today, But Set to Open Memorial Day Weekend
  4. Teddy Anastasiou (pictured right) has been running Old Lyme Pizza Palace forever, but he doesn’t just make great pizza — he also gives back to the community in innumerable ways. When he was announced as the winner for July of the Old Lyme Kindness Award, there was an outpouring of support for the choice and the story notched sixth place in our most read list. 
    Old Lyme Committee Names OL Pizza Palace’s Teddy Anastasiou as Latest ‘Kindness Award’ Recipient

    Mary Seidner, LYSB Executive Director

  5. Similarly, when State Rep Devin Carney announced his selections for ‘Local Heroes’ in his District, there was strong support for his choices in Old Lyme. Jen Datum (pictured left) and Mary Seidner (pictured right) were the honorees for their exceptional work in the early days of the pandemic. The community agreed and made the story about their selection our seventh place story.
    State Rep. Carney Names Two Old Lyme Residents ‘Local Heroes;’ Datum, Seidner to Receive Official Citations

    The sign at Sound View Beach informs the public that the beach is closed.

  6. We have already mentioned how important our beaches are to this community so,’ when they were initially closed due to COVID, not everyone agreed with the decision. Old Lyme First Selectman Timothy Griswold found himself having to explain it and people wanted to read about his reasoning, causing this article to take eighth place in our ‘Most Read Stories.’
    Griswold Defends Decision to Close Old Lyme Town Beaches

    A view looking south down the Connecticut River with Watch Rock Preserve to the left. Photo by Edie Twining.

  7. There is no question that the Lyme-Old Lyme community cares passionately about the environment, so when the Old Lyme Land Trust closed down Watch Rock Preserve at weekends due to the damage being caused by humans, there was strong interest in the story. Our article on the topic came in at number nine.
    Watch Rock Preserve in Old Lyme Closed Weekends Through Labor Day Due to Environmental, Safety Violations

    In this undated photo, the Mervin E. Roberts life saving boat is shown moored at Mystic Seaport. All photos are courtesy of the Wood Island Life Saving Station Association.

  8. Our 10th-placed story was one of our favorites and has become even more so with the passing of Mr. Roberts, aged 98, at the end of the year. We are proud to have played a small part in this wonderful story since we were the initial point of contact for the Wood Island Life Saving Station Association (WILSSA) of Kittery, Maine. The WILSSA President Sam Reid reached out to us after reading our story by Michele Dickey about Mr. Roberts published in May. Mr. Roberts gave what he said would be his final homily after 50 years service as Old Lyme Fire Department Chaplain at Old Lyme’s Memorial Day ceremony since he needed to pass the torch to someone younger. Mr. Roberts’s words turned out to be true for a different reason.
    Reid had found a boat named the ‘Mervin F. Roberts’ for sale on the internet, which the WILSSA wished to acquire, and wondered if our Mervin F. Roberts of Old Lyme was the same Mervin F. Roberts after whom the boat was named. We connected Reid with First Selectman Griswold and the story really takes off from there.
    Griswold Launches Effort to Raise Funds to Purchase Unique ‘Mervin F. Roberts’ Rescue Boat for Maritime Museum in Maine

Public Hearing for Old Lyme’s Planning Commission’s Conservation, Development Plan Draws Most Comments on Town’s Housing Needs

Posted on by
1

Old Lyme Planning Commission members and visitors participated in a virtual Public Hearing Thursday on the commission’s proposed Plan of Conservation & Development.

OLD LYME — Old Lyme Planning Commission Chairman Harold Thompson opened Thursday evening’s Public Hearing for the ‘Adoption of the 2020 Plan of Conservation & Development (POCD)’ by noting, “This has been a long road with some difficult times.” Adding that the Commission had held 15 workshops to discuss the document, which is published on the Town of Old Lyme website, he went on to detail the required timeline for gaining its approval in order to  submit it by the mandatory deadline to the state.

He then opened the virtual (the meeting was held via Webex) floor to comments from the public. First to speak was Halls Road Improvement Committee Chairman Edie Twining, who initially quoted from comments she had submitted in writing to the Commission prior to the meeting.

She stated, “The Halls Road Improvements Committee has initiated a Halls Road Plan which is currently being created by the BSC group. This is a significant, town-approved, and town-funded planning initiative that will guide any future development in the Halls Road Commercial area. The plan will include recommendations for significant capital investment by the town to create new sidewalks, bike paths, pedestrian lighting, and landscaping in the Halls Road area.”

Continuing, “It will provide studies on the market needs of this area, the infrastructure options, CT DOT constraints, and documentation of all existing conditions to provide recommendations for changes in zoning, uses, and design guidelines,” she added,  “This report will lay the groundwork to aid in maintaining our town’s commercial center with the introduction of mixed use.”

She then stressed, “In keeping with clearly expressed public sentiment, it will steer away from the current “strip center” aesthetic of 60’ setbacks. Instead it will promote a return to the original small town character of Old Lyme’s town center, as found on historic Lyme Street.”

Twining concluded her comments in her own words, “We feel the town’s 10-year Plan of Conservation and Development should include a reasonable discussion of the largest formal planning effort currently underway under the town’s auspices and at the town’s expense,” noting, “I have delivered an outline of specific pages where I see a need for changes in order to correctly represent the Halls Road Planning effort. I would like to request that these changes be included in your document.”

Finally she thanked the commission for their, “time and consideration of this work.”

Howard Margules, Old Lyme Economic Development Commission Chairman, then questioned whether the issue of blighted structures in the town should be included in the document. He also quoted from a general description of a strip mall, which Thompson agreed bore a strong resemblance to Halls Rd. Margules pointed out that it states in the POCD that strip malls are not permitted and therefore suggested there might be a “disconnect” in the report on that matter.

Margules further suggested the commission should confer with the new leadership at Lyme Academy to update information in the plan regarding the Academy and then concluded by saying how much he appreciated the commission’s work.

Thompson responded he had already had a lengthy phone conversation with Michael Duffy, the new board chair at the Academy.

Stephen Jungkeit, Senior Minister at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, thanked the planning commission for their work, adding, “This is a really well done report.” He said he wished to “affirm interest in [a variety of types of] housing,” which had been mentioned in the report, noting that, “from his vantage point,” this was a major issue in the town that he felt needed urgent attention. After noting that he hoped that the POCD represented, “… the beginning of a wider look at the issue,” he ended by saying simply, “I’m just saying thank you for that.”

Commission member Stephen Ross expressed the opinion, “that what would benefit the town a lot would be a broader survey of what the town needs in terms of housing.” Remarking that a house near his own on Shore Rd. had been vacant for one and a half years, he said, “We need to assess the actual demand [for housing] as opposed to the perceived demand.”

Twining responded that the HRIC was doing a “market study looking into some of those things,” and had reported that, “only one apartment was available in the whole town.”

Ross disputed that finding saying, “There’s a heck of a lot more than one apartment available,” noting that there was a need to look into all rentals.

Jungkeit suggested any survey should also include research into housing needs emanating from outside the town. Ross then stated, “It’s all about inventory.”

Margules agreed that “drilling down further into housing needs” would be beneficial, noting that, for example, the needs of seniors downsizing and young people moving into town “need to be addressed as well.”

The Public Hearing concluded with a unanimous vote to continue the hearing until Feb. 9.

 

 

Jan. 13 COVID-19 Update: Cumulative Cases Climb by Six in Old Lyme to 203, Lyme’s Rise by Two to 66

Posted on by
Reply

This map shows the average daily rate of new cases of COVID-19 by town during the past two weeks. 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.

LYME/OLD LYME — Old Lyme’s case numbers broke the 200 mark in yesterday’s Daily Report issued by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH), which shows an increase of six cases taking the cumulative total since the pandemic began to 203.

In light of the serious rise in Coronavirus cases, we have started a new weekday update reporting confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases in Lyme and Old Lyme.

The state is now issuing a COVID-19 metric report daily around 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, which includes current data up to the previous evening. The Monday reports include data for the weekend as well as the previous Friday.

The Daily Data Report for Connecticut issued Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021 by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) for data as at 8:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021 shows the following:

Both Lyme and Old Lyme are still in the state-identified ‘Red Zone;’ where they have been for the past several weeks.

As of the Jan. 13 report (see map above), five towns in the state — Canaan, Colebrook, Kent, Union and Warren — remain in the ‘Gray Zone.’

  • The red category is defined as when the Average Daily Rate of COVID-19 Cases Among Persons Living in Community Settings per 100,000 Population By Town exceeds 15.
  • The gray category is defined as when the Average Daily Rate of COVID-19 Cases Among Persons Living in Community Settings per 100,000 Population By Town is less than five or less than five reported cases.

In all cases, this rate does not include cases or tests among residents of nursing home, assisted living, or correctional facilities.

Old Lyme

Old Lyme now has a cumulative total (since the outbreak began) of 198 confirmed COVID-19 cases and FIVE probable cases, making a TOTAL of 203 cases.

This represents an INCREASE of SEVEN in the number of confirmed cases (191) reported Tuesday, Jan. 12, and an DECREASE of ONE in the number of probable cases (6) reported the same day. 

The total number of Old Lyme residents tested is 4,089.

There have been two fatalities in Old Lyme.

CT DPH Two-Weekly Report

The Jan. 13 report issued by CT DPH shows that during the two-week reporting period from 12/20 through 01/02/21, Old Lyme had 11 cases in Week 1 and 19 in Week 2. This data was updated Jan.7, 2021.

The case rate in Old Lyme for 100,000 population is 29.1, reflecting an increase from the previously reported two-week rate of 21.3. A case rate of 15 or more cases per 100,000 population places a town in the state’s ‘Red Zone.’

Lyme

Lyme has a cumulative total (since the outbreak began) of 60 confirmed cases and six probable cases, making a TOTAL of 66 cases.

This represents an INCREASE of ONE in the number of confirmed cases and an INCREASE of ONE in the number of probable cases from the numbers reported Tuesday, Jan. 12.

There have been no fatalities in Lyme.

The total number of Lyme residents tested is 1,081.

CT DPH Two-Weekly Report

The Jan. 13 report issued by CT DPH shows that during the two-week reporting period from 12/20 through 01/02/21, Lyme had one case in Week 1 and 11 in Week 2. This data was updated Jan. 7, 2021.

The case rate in Lyme for 100,000 population is 36.7 reflecting a increase from the previously reported two-week-rate of 18.3. A case rate of 15 or more cases per 100,000 population places a town in the state’s ‘Red Zone.’

***

The next CT DPH Daily Data Report for Connecticut will be issued Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021.