“This sense of community – of caring – is what makes Sound View special”(Mary Daley)
Whatever the weather, we are having a parade! Photo by Debra Tulisano.
OLD LYME— Rain may have canceled Sound View’s traditional parade but Joann Lishing, who assists with organizing the parade, tells LymeLine, “Decorated people, golf carts, and so forth, showed up and had their own parade!”
Rain did not dampen the spirits of these folk, who had planned to participate in the parade. Photo by Joann Lishing.
Sound View resident and LymeLine reader Mary Daley adds, “The children, parents and residents of Sound View marched anyway during a break in the rain and completed the route in red, white and blue splendor.”
Carousel owners Dee and Jerry Vowles generously offered free rides to all the parade participants. Photo by Debra Tulisano.
She notes, “Many thanks to the Shoreline Community Center for their generosity in providing ballons and participation prizes to the children and many thanks to the Vowles Family for opening up the carousel free of charge this [Saturday] morning.”
It may have rained on our parade—but we’re having it anyway! Photo by Debra Tulisano.
Daley concludes, “This sense of community – of caring – is what makes Sound View special.”
Lyme Parks and Recreation cheerfully led the parade. All photos by Michele Dickey.
LYME — This year’s parade in Lyme celebrating our country’s 248th birthday was full of all its usual delights including music, marchers and much merriment … though missing the muskets of yesteryear. Enjoy our photo essay of the grand event.
Bernie Gigliotti was the Grand Marshal of this year’s Lyme Independence Day Parade. George Willauer drove the splendid vintage automobile.
The sign says it all …
The Grand Marshal’s car was appropriately decorated for the occasion.
Cub Scout Troop 32 was represented by these fearless youngsters.
Marchers galore walked happily down Cover Rd.
Lyme Garden Club marched proudly in the parade … as always!
Pride was perfectly positioned on this truck.
This four-legged fellow did not miss a thing from his pole position!
You never knew what would be coming next in the parade!
Candy time!
Unsurprisingly, red, white and blue were the colors of the day!
Bruce and Tammy Noyes drove their remarkable vintage army vehicle in the parade.
Emergency vehicles were appropriately decorated for the parade.
These cheery EMS volunteers proudly marched in the parade.
This Fire-Rescue vehicle was a memorable addition to the celebrations.
The winner of the trophy for the “Most Enthusiastic, Patriotic, and Best Decorated Boat” in this year’s Rogers Lake Independence Day Parade was the King Family. Photo by M. Plumleigh.
OLD LYME — Friends and neighbors joined with residents of Rogers Lake West Shores Association (RLWSA) for a (now) traditional Independence Day Boat Parade on Rogers Lake.
The winners of the trophy for the “Most Enthusiastic, Patriotic, and Best Decorated Boat” were the King family, who are residents of the RLWSA.
Seen awarding the trophy to the patriotically-decorated vessel and its owners in the photo above are Dave Evers (second from left), RLWSA President and his wife and ever-cheerful organizer, Christina, at right.
Pictured in the photo above with their currach are Maureen Plumleigh (right) and Dawn Heasley (left) with guest Matt Heasley.
Bringing up the rear of the parade was the Irish currach with rowers from the local Currach Rowers team.
The currach rowers agreed that the boat parade offered excellent rowing skills practice … but was a great deal more fun!
All aboard for the parade!
Rogers Lake West Shores Association President Dave Evers commented after the event, “Christina and I would like to thank everyone who participated and also watched [the parade], every year it’s gets bigger and better. So much fun.”
He added, “Also Ginny and Tim King won the trophy this year. The trophy gets returned before the parade and given to the new winners at the end,”
Evers explained, “The winners can have their name and year [of winning the contest] engraved on the trophy.”
A grant toEastern CT Ballet supports theNutcracker School Assembly Program.
NEW LONDON—The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut has announced recent grant awards of nearly $2.6 million to advance equity through its six focus areas as follows:
early childhood care and education
youth development and empowerment
access to affordable, safe, and inclusive housing
access to high quality and affordable health care
women’s and girls’ empowerment
environmental resilience.
Between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024, the Community Foundation’s Total grantmaking to organizations based in Lyme or Old Lyme was $67,617. The recipients were:
Connecticut Audubon Society (RTPEC) Crosby Fund for Haitian Education Florence Griswold Museum High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Lyme Academy of Fine Arts Lyme Art Association Lyme Fire Company Lyme Land Conservation Trust Lyme Public Library Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau MacCurdy-Salisbury Education Foundation Musical Masterworks Old Lyme Children’s Learning Center Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library Old Lyme Social Services Town of Lyme Tree of Life Educational Fund
Community Foundation President and CEO Maryam Elahi reported, “For these grants, we were thrilled to receive donations of $385,765 from two anonymous funders, enabling us to issue our first-ever systems change grants and substantially increase our youth empowerment grantmaking in communities with limited resources. This is a terrific example of the impact of thoughtful collaboration and partnering for greater impact.”
The Community Foundation funded more than $200,000 to address housing insecurity in Eastern Connecticut including: support for financial literacy for home seekers; homelessness prevention; civil rights enforcement for communities of color; and creation of new deed-restricted affordable housing.
Grantees addressing these issues include CT Fair Housing, Eastern CT Housing Opportunities (ECHO), Habitat for Humanity, HOPE Partnership, Always Home, Martin House, New London Homeless Hospitality, and Holy Family Home and Shelter in Willimantic.
“Lack of housing that families can afford has become a major crisis in Eastern Connecticut. The Community Foundation is committed to supporting multiple avenues to reduce the burden on local residents,” stated Jennifer O’Brien, program officer at the Community Foundation.
A grant to Project Oceanology supports Seventh Grade at Sea for students in Norwich.
Other highlights of the 2024 grants include:
$200,000 over two years to Access Community Action Agency to re-imagine pathways to homeownership for families in Northeastern Connecticut through partnerships that will bring homeownership counseling services, education and support to Windham County.
$105,765 over two years to the Partnership for Strong Communities to engage with youth and traditionally underserved families to conduct a comprehensive analysis of community housing needs and support the advocacy of families facing housing insecurity in Norwich.
$80,000 to Audubon Connecticut for Increasing Diversity in Conservation to provide paid employment in environmental conservation for youth, while enhancing forest and coastal habitats to benefit threatened bird species.
$10,000 to 2-4-1 CARE, in partnership with Norwich Public Schools, for two 8-week afterschool sessions of 2-4-1 TOP Self Sports, a sports enrichment program for kindergarten to grade five students.
Editor’s Notes: Serving 42 towns and comprised of over 600 charitable funds, the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut’s vision is a healthy, thriving, sustainable Eastern Connecticut with greater equity for all. We collaborate with partners to put philanthropy into action to address the needs, rights and interests of our community in Eastern Connecticut. The Community Foundation manages a permanent community endowment and has awarded over $100 million in grants and scholarships to nonprofits and students since its founding in 1983. To learn more, visit cfect.org.
Both motorized and non-motorized boats are invited to participate but all must be festively/patriotically decorated. In order to achieve a timely start, participants should arrive around 12:45 p.m.
Maureen Plumleigh (left) and friends enjoyed participating in Rogers Lake’s Second Annual Boat Parade on Independence Day 2021. Photo submitted.
A trophy will be awarded for the most enthusiastic, patriotic, and best-decorated boat in the parade.
Follow the designated lead boat or join in at your location. The route is one counter-clockwise lap around the lake.
Once the parade has begin, all boats should follow the designated lead boat or join at your respective location. Boats should stay within 100 ft. of the shore at ‘No Wake’ speed and no swimming in or near the parade is permitted.
All participants are requested to be respectful and mindful of everyone’s safety.
Will Lady Liberty be at the Rogers Lake Boat Parade this year? File photo.
Additional information is as follows:
Space out and enjoy the shoreline
Follow Rogers Lake laws and safety regulations
This is a family-friendly event (be kind)
Participate at your own risk
Do not throw anything off a boat and no trash is to be discarded in the lake
