Category Archives: Community

‘The Estuary’ Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary With Special Celebration, March 22; All Welcome

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OLD SAYBROOK—The Estuary, a pioneer in providing comprehensive senior services and a regional leader in the Meals on Wheels program, has announced Estuary Day, the first in a series of 50th Anniversary events. This significant milestone marks half a century of dedicated service, expansion, and commitment to the well-being of older adults in our community.

The celebratory event is set to take place on March 22, 2024, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at 220 Main Street, Old Saybrook, and is free and open to the public. RSVPs are required for planning purposes.

The community is invited to join in commemorating this landmark occasion. The afternoon will feature delicious food, live music, and a presentation on the history and impact of The Estuary. Heather Milardo, Director of Development and Outreach, says “This event is not only a celebration of past achievements but also an opportunity to look toward how we might impact the future of healthy aging in our area and to embrace the community we serve.”

Since its inception, The Estuary has become a beacon of hope and support for countless seniors, providing, not just meals, but a comprehensive array of wellness services designed to enhance the quality of life for our aging population. The Meals on Wheels service has been a cornerstone of The Estuary’s success, ensuring that no senior within its reach goes hungry. As a regional leader in senior services, The Estuary has continually adapted and expanded its health and wellness services to meet the evolving needs of the community.

“We are incredibly proud to celebrate 50 years of service to our community,” says Stan Mingione, Executive Director of The Estuary. “This anniversary is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our volunteers, staff, and supporters. We are excited to share this momentous occasion with the community that has been integral to our story. We look forward to many more years of service and support.”

Don’t miss this special opportunity to celebrate, reflect, and look forward to the future with The Estuary.

For more information about the 50th Anniversary or to RSVP for the Estuary Day event, contact Heather Milardo at 860-388-1611 ext. 210, or visit www.yourestuary.org.

Editor’s Note: The Estuary is a regional non-profit senior center that serves nearly 2000 clients every year and provides over 100,000 meals through their nutrition program, which includes Meals on Wheels and Congregate Dining. This program is supported by the Senior Resources – Agency on Aging with Title III funds made available under the Older Americans Act.

Snow Totals in Lyme, Old Lyme Less Than Anticipated

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Snow scene in Old Lyme. on Tuesday morning. All photos by S. Thompson.

LYME/OLD LYME—Snow duly fell yesterday in Lyme and Old Lyme but only a few inches of the sticky, wet variety not the double figures predicted. Meteorologists are now scrambling to explain why their predictions for shoreline snow from Winter Storm Birch were significantly less than forecasted—but it still made for some pretty winter scenes.

Lyme and Old Lyme Town Halls, Libraries and Schools are all open today.

Lymes’ Senior Center Bids Come in $1.2 Million Over Budget, Building Committee “Determined to Reduce” that Number

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Cost Reductions to be Made Without “Degrading Integrity or Design of Building” (Baker—Lymes’ Senior Center Renovation and Expansion Project Building Committee Chair)

OLD LYME — When the trade bids for the Lymes’ Senior Center Renovation and Expansion Project were opened last Tuesday in Old Lyme Town Hall, the numbers were not encouraging—though not entirely unexpected.

In total, the bids were $1.2 million in excess of the budgeted amount. 

Asked her reaction to the bids, the project Building Committee Chair Jeri Baker told LymeLine by phone, “We (the committee) are determined to bring the project in within the cost parameters. The $1.2 million is something we are determined to reduce.”

She explained that the architects, construction manager and building committee would, “Work very quickly and with determination,” to find, “Significant cost savings.” Baker stressed, however that these savings would be achieved without, “Degrading the integrity or design of the building,” and that, “Everything” would be still be at code while occupancy numbers and functionality were retained.

Acknowledging that a “delay is inevitable” in the planned building timeline now, Baker said that the building committee should have a, “Much better handle” on how the project will move forward after their next meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 14, at 5 p.m.

Old Lyme Board of Selectmen Welcomes Alkhalawi Syrian Refugee Family to Town

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The Old Lyme Board of Selectmen welcomed the Alkhalawi family to town during their Feb. 5 meeting. From left to right, (back roww) Selectman Jim Lampos, Fadia Alkhalawi, Mahmoud Alkhalawi, First Selectwoman Martha Shoemaker, Selectwoman Jude Read and Carol Carlson, Co -Chair of the Lyme-Old Lyme Refugee Resettlement Committee.The three Alkhalawi children are (from left to right) Mohammed, Ahmad and Ibrahim.

OLD LYME — At their regular meeting Monday evening, the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen (BOS) welcomed the recently-arrived Alkhalawi family to the town. The Alkhalawis are refugees from Syria and being assisted by the Lyme-Old Lyme Refugee Resettlement Committee in a variety of ways.

Mahmoud Alkhalawi listens attentively to Selectwoman Jude Read as she shakes hands with one of his sons.

The BOS members took time to explain their role in town government and then the audience gave the family an enthusiastic round of applause.  

Mahmoud Alkhalawi stands ready to address the audience at the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen’s meeting.

Mahmoud Alkhalawi followed up by expressing his appreciation for the warm welcome the town has given to his family.

Date of Old Lyme’s 2024 Midsummer Festival Announced

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Artwork by the ‘Plein Air’ artists iis a traditional feature of Old Lyme’s Midsummer Festival. File photo.

OLD LYME — Asked by LymeLine to confirm the date of this year’s Old Lyme Midsummer Festival, Elsbeth Dowd, who is chair of the 2024 Midsummer Festival Committee, responded by email saying, “This year’s Midsummer Festival will be on Saturday, July 27th.”

Dowd is the Executive Director of the Lyme Art Association.

She added in her email, “We will have more info (stet) soon!”

As soon as we receive further information, we will share it with our readers.