Category Archives: Community

‘The Estuary’ Celebrates 50 Years of Service with Fundraising Gala in September

Posted on by
Reply

OLD SAYBROOK/LYME/OLD LYME—In celebration of 50 years of dedicated service to the community, The Estuary is thrilled to announce a fundraising gala to be held on Sept. 28, 2024. The event will take place at the historic Essex Steam Train Station, located at 1 Railroad Ave. in Essex, from 6 to 10 p.m. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Meals on Wheels program.

The Estuary is a regional non-profit senior center that serves nearly 2000 clients every year offering an array of social, health, and wellness services and provides over 100,000 meals through their nutrition program, which includes Meals on Wheels and Congregate Dining. The Estuary‘s region includes both Lyme and Old Lyme.

The nutrition program is supported by the Senior Resources—Agency on Aging with Title III funds made available under the Older Americans Act.

This milestone event aims to commemorate half a century of providing essential senior services to those in need while raising much-needed funds to support the Meals on Wheels program which provides vital nutrition to homebound seniors. The gala promises an evening of elegance, filled with exceptional entertainment, gourmet dining, and heartfelt reflections on our past achievements and future goals.

The Estuary is honored to welcome Reynolds’ Subaru as the Special Guest Honoree for the evening. Reynolds’ Subaru has been a steadfast supporter of Meals on Wheels, contributing significantly to its initiatives and helping The Estuary reach more individuals in the community.

Attendees can look forward to a cocktail reception with live music, gourmet dinner, silent and live auctions with exclusive items and experiences, and inspiring speeches and presentations highlighting our impact over the past 50 years.

“We are incredibly proud of the work we have done over the past five decades and are excited to celebrate this milestone with our community,” said Stan Mingione, Executive Director of The Estuary. “This gala is not only a celebration of our past but also a crucial opportunity to support our future and the amazing people we serve every day.”

Tickets for the gala are available for purchase on The Estuary‘s website www.yourestuary.org. Early registration is encouraged to secure your spot at this memorable event.

For more information, sponsorship opportunities, or to purchase tickets, contact Heather Milardo at 860-388-1611 or development@yourestuary.org.

Letter to the Editor: Old Lyme Historical Society Gives Thanks to All Who Made Hydrangea Sale a Success

Posted on by
Reply

To the Editor:

Last weekend’s Hydrangea Sale held by the Old Lyme Historical Society Inc. was an unqualified success. Photo by James Meehan.

The Old Lyme Historical Society Inc. (OLHSI) would like to thank all the OLHSI volunteers, who assisted with their Hydrangeas Galore Plant Sale last weekend, and everyone who visited the Sale.

All the plants were generously donated by the Comstock Family Nursery in Old Lyme, and 100 percent of the proceeds will benefit the Society’s Carol Noyes Winters Scholarship Fund.

Many thanks again to Mark Constock of the Comstock Family Nursery, the OLHSI volunteers, and the whole Lyme-Old Lyme community!

Sincerely,

The Old Lyme Historical Society Inc.,
Old Lyme.

Inaugural ‘StoryWalk ®’ Opens at Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center

Posted on by
Reply
The Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library’s new StoryWalk ® at the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center in Old Lyme will be opened today following a short dedication ceremony.

OLD LYME—On Friday, June 28, representatives of Old Lyme’s Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library celebrated the opening of the new StoryWalk® in memory of the late Agnes O’Connor at the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center (RTPEC)’s Sunken Garden.

The RTPEC is located on the site of the former Bee & Thistle Inn.

After a brief dedication, participants were invited to enjoy refreshments and then walk/read the trail featuring In the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming. All ages are welcome.

The Old Lyme-Phoebe Griffin StoryWalk® is provided in partnership with the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center. It is located on the RTPEC grounds and can be accessed by visitors most days between dawn and dusk.

The StoryWalk® promotes early literacy, physical activity, and family time together in nature. Stories will be updated seasonally and feature books that celebrate nature.

The StoryWalk® is dedicated to the memory of Agnes O’Connor, a beloved Old Lyme resident and volunteer, who loved reading and nature. 

Juneteenth Joyfully Celebrated at FloGris Museum with Jazz & Poetry

Posted on by
Reply
Celebrating Juneteenth at the Florence Griswold Museum on June 22 were, from left to right, poets Marilyn Nelson, Antoinette Brim-Bell, Kate Rushin, and Rhonda Ward, along with musicians James Austin Jr, Nat Reeves, Abraham Burton, and Michael Ode. All photos by Witness Stones Old Lyme.

OLD LYME—On Saturday, June 22, Witness Stones Old Lyme presented a celebratory event filled with jazz and poetry on the lawn of the Florence Griswold Museum. This event honored Juneteenth, a federal holiday celebrating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, and offered a vibrant fusion of music and spoken word.

Over 150 attendees experienced a powerful, moving, and joyful afternoon enriched by a harmonious blend of jazz and poetry.

Attendees at the Witness Stones Old Lyme event listen intently to the poets speaking at the Juneteenth Celebration of Jazz & Poetry at the FloGris Museum

Acclaimed Connecticut poets Marilyn Nelson, Kate Rushin, Rhonda Ward, and Antoinette Brim-Bell offered a range of work that mixed humor with poignant recollections and included tributes in verse to those once enslaved in historic Lyme. The poets’ words memorably captured forgotten voices and vividly brought to life the experience of bondage in the Lyme-Old Lyme community.

The Nat Reeves Quartet performs at the Witness Stones Old Lyme Juneteenth Celebration of Jazz & Poetry at the FloGris Museum.

The celebration showcased the Nat Reeves Quartet, with Nat Reeves on bass joined by saxophonist Abraham Burton, pianist James Austin, Jr., and percussionist Michael Ode. Both Nat Reeves—a renowned figure in the jazz world for over 40 years—and Abraham Burton have contributed significantly to the genre as performers and educators, who train and inspire new generations of jazz musicians.

The Nat Reeves Quartet was one of the highlights of the Witness Stones Old Lyme Juneteenth Celebration of Jazz & Poetry at the FloGris Museum.

The quartet’s stirring presentation combined with the poets’ voices offered attendees a reflective and uplifting experience honoring the legacy and cultural contributions of African Americans.

The Juneteenth celebration, held on a former site of enslavement, highlighted the importance of remembering and honoring the past and served as a reminder of the continuing struggle for freedom and equality.

More than 150 people turned out for the Witness Stones Old Lyme Juneteenth Celebration of Jazz & Poetry at the FloGris Museum.

Editor’s Note: Learn more about Witness Stones Old Lyme and the 46 plaques commemorating those once enslaved in Old Lyme and Lyme at this link.

Local Vets Complete Training as Veterans Representatives for Towns of Lyme, Old Lyme, Killingworth

Posted on by
Reply
Tony Vallombroso, who has been the Old Lyme Veterans Representative for many years, received his Municipal Veterans Representative completed training certificate from Ronald P. Welch, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs.

ROCKY HILL, CT/LYME/OLD LYME—On June 14, the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) conducted an annual training program for the Veterans  Representatives of each Connecticut municipality.   

The event was held at the main VA campus at Rocky Hill, Conn. 

Completed training certificates were handed out by Ronald P. Welch, Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs.

Every Connecticut municipality is required by state law to have a Veterans Representative—usually a volunteer—who is trained annually to help community veterans understand their VA benefits and handle related issues. 

Incoming Veterans Representative David Griswold proudly holds his completed training certificate.

Tony Vallombroso has been the Old Lyme Veterans Representative for many years. David Griswold of Old Lyme will be working with Vallambroso as an incoming Veterans Representative.

Lyme First Selectman David Lahm is the Veterans Representative for Lyme.

David Lahm is the Veterans Representative for Lyme, as well as serving as the Town’s First Selectman. 

Old Lyme VFW Post 1467 Commander Richard Mason serves as the Killingworth Veterans Representative.

Richard Mason is commander of Old Lyme VFW Post 1467 and also the Veterans Representative of Killingworth.  

Below is a list of dignitaries, who attended the training event:—

  • Ronald P. Welch, Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs
  • The Honorable Stephanie Thomas, Secretary of the State
  • Edward C. Payton, Interim Deputy Director, VA Connecticut Healthcare
  • Astrid Perez, Director, Veterans Benefit Administration, Hartford Regional Office
  • Stuart Topliff, Town Assessor, Town of Rocky Hill, Property Tax Exemptions
  • Heather Tweeddale, Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (Talent Solutions), Employment with the State of Connecticut
  • Nicholas Savaria, U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs (Veterans Health Administration)
  • Jessica Gagen – Military Services Coordinator, VBA Overview/Claims Trends/Automated Claims Review
  • Donna Bois – Assistant Veteran Readiness and Employment Officer (AVREO)
  • John S. Carragher, Advocacy and Assistance
  • Chuck Leone, Residential Programs and Services
  • Laura Nelson, Sgt. John Levitow Healthcare Center
  • Pam Porter, Cemetery and Memorial Services
  • Nicole Dykstra, Connecticut Department of Labor (American Job Centers)
  • Ariana Deeley, Director, Hartford Vet Center