LYME/OLD LYME —The Old Lyme (OL) Board of Selectmen and the OL Board of Finance approved the Lymes’ Senior Center Building Committee’s request for an additional $660K of funding at their respective regular meetings Monday (March 18) and Tuesday (March 19) evening. Both votes were unanimous.
On Monday, March 25, the BOS will host a Public Information Session at 6:30 p.m.in the Old Lyme Town Hall Meeting Room to discuss the additional funding.
On Monday, April 15, a Town Meeting will be held at which residents will vote on the additional funding. Details of the time and location of that meeting have not yet been confirmed.
The exterior of the Lymes’ Senior Center on Town Woods Rd. in Old Lyme. The Center is currently closed pending its renovation.
Lyme BOS has Already Approved its $220K Shareof Additional Funding
OLD LYME —3/16: Lymes’ Senior Center (LSC) Building Committee Chair Jeri Baker was at pains to stress in a phone conversation with LymeLine last Thursday (March 7) that the committee had agreed some, “Really good savings,” during its deliberations at its Special Committee Meeting held the previous day without reducing space in the renovated Center or compromising its integrity.
She explained that the initial $1.337 million overrun had been reduced through approximately $602,000 in construction savings.
Meanwhile, contingency funds for the project have been increased by nearly $65,000 to cover any unforeseen circumstances.Those two moves reduced the $1.337 million overage to $800,000.
She added, “We are also requesting an appropriation of $80,000 to cover the kitchen upgrades the towns requested in February 2024.”
This means the LSC Building Committee will be requesting a total of $880,000 to continue the renovation project with the amount to be divided between the two towns. Using the 75:25 ratio between Old Lyme (OL) and Lyme, which has been employed consistently throughout the life of the Center, the amounts to be requested from each Town respectively are $660,000 (75%) from Old Lyme and $220,000 (25%) from Lyme.
Significantly, the current bids, which were opened Feb. 6 in the OL Town Hall, expire May 6. The LSC Building Committee is therefore anxious to advance their requests for additional funding in a timely manner so that the bids remain current.
In order to achieve that, OL First Selectwoman Martha Shoemaker explained in a text to LymeLine, “The [OL] BOS will hear from the [Lymes’ Senior Center] Renovation Committee on 3/18.”
Baker told LymeLine that she would be presenting the LSC Building Committee’s request to the OL BOS at this evening’s meeting, which is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. in the OL Town Hall.
Shoemaker noted, “I would hope the [OL] BOF (Board of Finance) would add it to their agenda for the 19th.”
Assuming those two meetings go as expected a Public Information Session would be held in OL on March 25, and then a Town Meeting on April 15 at which OL residents will be able to vote on the additional funding request. The locations and start times for both these meetings are yet to be determined.
Lyme Selectman John Kiker told LymeLine via text that the situation is slightly different in Lyme, where the Town’s BOS and BOF, “… have already approved the additional fundraising needed for the Senior Center.”
Kiker continued, “Our informational meeting is Wednesday, March 27, time TBD. The Town Vote is Thursday, April 18th, start time [also] TBD.”
Old Lyme First Selectwoman Martha Shoemaker (third from left) stands with Eversource Community Relations Specialist Teresa Jackman (fourth from left) to celebrate the presentation by Eversource of a Community Impact Grant to the Old Lyme Fire Department (OLFD). Also pictured from left to right are OLFD members 1st Assistant Chief James Oldfield, Chief of Department Stephen Super, Deputy Chief Mike McCarthy Jr, Lt. Jared Flagg, Capt. Ken Swaney, and Lt. Matt Merrill. Not pictured but present at the ceremony were 2nd Assistant Chief James Caramante, Capt. John Duddy, Captain Matt Kakos and Lt. Jessica Rand. Photo by Troy Christopher.
OLD LYME – On Tuesday, March 12, Eversource presented the Old Lyme Fire Department with a $1500 Community Impact Grant. Eversource is a leading energy company committed to supporting local communities.
The presentation was held at the Old Lyme Fire Headquarters at 69 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT.
The grant presentation signified Eversource’s dedication to fostering community safety and resilience. This grant aims to enhance the capabilities of the Old Lyme Fire Department (OLFD) in serving and protecting the residents of Old Lyme and its surrounding areas.
Eversource Community Relations Specialist Teresa Jackman presents OLFD Chief of Department Stephen Super with the $1500 Community Impact Grant.
Asked by LymeLine what his response was to the OLFD receiving the award, OLFD Lt. Jared Flagg said in an email, “With the continued support from First Selectwoman Shoemaker for constant professional development of our members, Old Lyme Fire Department was able request and receive grant funding to put some of our members through Swiftwater Technician training provided by Water Training Resources.”
He added, “With the ever changing marine environment and the need for specialized training, we can’t thank Eversource Energy enough for recognizing this need and helping us take some of the financial burden from our residents.”
Flagg concluded, “Thank you again to First Selectwoman Shoemaker, Eversource Energy and all the Old Lyme officers for their hard work.”
Rev. Dr. Anita Schell of St. Ann’s Episcopal Church presents Jim Ward, LOLFSG President, with a check to cover the costs of the garage.
OLD LYME—At its recent board meeting, the Lyme-Old Lyme Food Share Garden (LOLFSG)celebrated a donation from St. Ann’s Episcopal Church of Old Lyme, who generously funded the purchase of a garage for the LOLFSG.
The Rev .Anita Schell of St. Ann’s noted, “It’s all about partnerships.”
The garage donated by Saint Ann’s arrives at the LOLFSG field on Town Woods Rd.
The structure will house the garden’s tractor and other materials necessary to support the newly-expanded garden.
The LOLFSG expressed enormous gratitude to Saint Ann’s Church for the donation.
Carolyn Kilroy, St. Ann’s Outreach Director, added that both the LOLFSG and the St. Ann’s community have a “shared vision” in their commitment to address local food insecurity.
In 2023, LOLFSG volunteers donated more than 1000 hours,delivered more than 2500 pounds of food to local food pantries, installed a pollinator pathwayat the garden, composted more than 1500 pounds of donated food waste, and yet still made time to expand the garden.
An increase in size also necessitates increased help. LymeLine readers are invited to consider joining the LOLFSG community in 2024. Volunteers and donations are always needed.
LYME/OLD LYME — The Lyme / Old Lyme (LOL) Lions Club will again this year be awarding scholarships to Lyme / Old Lyme High School graduating seniors and/or currently enrolled college, university, technical or vocational school students.
Eligibility Criteria and critical dates for the program are indicated on the application and cover letter.
The scholarship applications and instructions are available through the LOL High School Guidance office or the LOL Lions website.
Scholarships will be awarded by the end June 2024.
For further Information, contact Karen Geisler (LOL Lions President) at 860-434-5321
