Category Archives: Community

Old Lyme EDC Celebrates Official Opening of ‘Papi’s Taquiera’ With Cheerful Ribbon-Cutting

Posted on by
Reply
Ready to cut the celebratory ribbon are from left to right: Old Lyme (OL) Economic Development Commission (EDC) member Wendy Russell, OL Selectwoman Martha Shoemaker, EDC Chair Cheryl Poirier, Kate’s mother Chris Lanfair, Papi’s mother Maria Luisa “Abuela” Sanchez Espejel, Kate Lanfair holding Cruz, Addy, Adrian “Papi” Vidals, State Representative Devin Carney (R-23rd), OL Selectman Matt Ward, OL First Selectman Tim Griswold, EDC members Scott Smith, Joe Camean, Mona Colwell, Teri Lewis, and Jean Wilczynski.

OLD LYME — A ribbon-cutting to celebrate the official opening of Papi’s Taqueria was held Saturday morning, March 25. The new takeout Mexican restaurant was long awaited by local diners, who were happy to see its “Coming Soon” sign replaced by a “Now Open” sign in January.

Kate Lanfair and Adrian “Papi” Vidals, pictured below, are the owners and talent behind the newest addition to Old Lyme’s food offerings. Lanfair has been an owner of Westbrook Pizza since 2001 and sole owner since 2007. Nine years ago, Papi came in hoping to be hired, and the rest is history.

“Papi joined Westbrook Pizza and was so talented with pastas, baking, and pizza of course,” said Lanfair, “but in addition he would make Mexican food for the staff meals, dishes his mother taught him in Puebla, Mexico, and we were just blown away.”

Along the way, Lanfair and Vidals began dating. “We would go out on Tuesday and Thursday nights to the [Long Wharf] food trucks in New Haven or over to Groton for authentic Mexican food.”  Lanfair said, “I kept asking, why aren’t we selling your Mexican food?”

Now a family with two young children, who are six and two years old, Lanfair and Vidals committed in September 2021 to opening a taqueria in Old Lyme, renting space in the Old Lyme Shopping Center. Lanfair explained, “We felt it was an unserved market and it was still close enough to our home in Westbrook.” 

But September 2021 still had halting supply chain issues due to the pandemic, which greatly altered the opening plans of the taqueria.

State Representative Devin Carney (R-23rd) and Old Lyme Selectman Matt Ward were both in attendance at the opening.

“The Town of Old Lyme was great, our delays were all related to the pandemic,” Lanfair said. “We had a nine-month delay for the fabrication of an oven hood system we needed, which had to have a special grade of stainless steel.” And as the hood was in transit to Old Lyme the truck broke down on the side of a road.

She commented with a quiet chuckle, “You can’t make this stuff up, we would get over one hurdle, and then we’d face another, like our work crew all getting COVID and then construction coming to a halt for three weeks.”

But they kept their eye on the goal and continued to move closer to opening.

Adrian “Papi” Vidals hands out traditional Mexican ‘Sopes’ to guests attending the opening.

Three months before opening day, Papi’s mother “Abuela” Maria, arrived from Puebla to help with the business by way of a 10-year visa. The kitchen staff is made up of other family and friends. Opening day finally came January 17, 2023, 19 months after first leasing the property. 

The OL EDC hosted Saturday’s ribbon cutting ceremony. The event began with EDC Chairwoman Cheryl Poirier thanking Lanfair and Vidals for their patience and also, their investment in Old Lyme. She said, “Our small, family-owned businesses are part of the fabric of Old Lyme.”

State Representative Devin Carney (R-23rd) reads a General Assembly Official Citation welcoming Papi’s to Old Lyme while Old Lyme Selectman Matt Ward (right) listens attentively.

Old Lyme First Selectman Tim Griswold then welcomed the new owners. State Representative Devin Carney (R-23rd) spoke next, reading aloud a General Assembly Official Citation introduced by State Rep. Carney and State Senator Martha Marx, which offered the General Assembly’s sincerest congratulations and wished the business many years of prosperity.

Lanfair then thanked everyone for the warm welcome they had received to Old Lyme and shared they have been very happy with the response from the community. “Everyone has been so nice,” she said. “Everyone is so appreciative, so curious, and friendly. The kids that come in on their own are always well-mannered, which has really been wonderful.”

Old Lyme EDC member Joe Camean chats with Old Lyme Selectwoman Martha Shoemaker at the opening.

The couple is looking forward to their first summer serving the Old Lyme community and its visitors.

Papi’s daily specials are on their Facebook page and will soon be on their newly-launched website.They have added Shoreline Menus delivery service and will continue to add special features such as “Tamale Thursdays,” when their homemade tamales will take center stage.

Although their first few weeks were a cash-only operation, they now accept cards although they offer a discount to those paying with cash.

All the people attending the celebratory opening gathered outside the store for a photo prior to the official ribbon-cutting.

Editor’s Note: Papi’s Taqueria is located at 19 Halls Road in Old Lyme. Hours are Monday through Saturday 11am-8pm and Sundays 3pm-8pm. To phone in an order, contact them at 860-434-8226 (TACO).

State Pledges to Help Old Lyme Fund Possible $17M Sewer Shortfall

Posted on by
Reply

OLD LYME — State officials trying to fix environmental problems that have plagued the town’s beach communities for more than a decade are now saying there could be $17 million in state and federal grants for the work.

Graham Stevens, chief of water protection and land reuse for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) said in a Monday phone interview [with The Day] that the agency is “committed to trying to find a solution” to …

Visit this link to read the full article by Elizabeth Regan and published March 14, 2023 in ‘The Day.‘

‘Solstice Stone’ Placed to Mark Old Lyme’s New Transit Hub, Holds 800 Million Years of Geological History

Posted on by
5
The Solstice Stone is sited at the New transit hub on Shore Rd. in Old Lyme.

“Gorgeous Bedrock” Donated and Delivered by Jason Jacaruso, “a Very Generous and Civic-minded Gesture,” ‘Solstice Stone’ envisioned as “Being Used as a Teaching Device” (Jim Lampos, Old Lyme’s Community Connectivity Grant Committee member)

OLD LYME — What is it? Why is it there? Where is it pointing?

Questions galore are being raised by people driving or walking along Shore Rd. in the Sound View area of Old Lyme, when they spot the massive piece of granite placed last week at the new transit hub there.

We asked Jim Lampos, who is a member of Old Lyme’s Community Connectivity Grant Committee (CCGC), for some answers to these questions and more, and he kindly shared the whole story of ‘The Solstice Stone.’

He began by explaining that, “In the design process for the new sidewalks and transit hub at Sound View, the CCGC was discussing the possibility of a “place-making” element to define the new pocket park on Shore Road that is part of the transit hub,” adding, “We had been discussing possible artwork or signage.”

Jason Jacaruso (left) watches as the stone is delivered to the transit hub location.

But things took a different turn one day when Lampos was driving past the construction site of a new home being built about a quarter mile away from the transit hub on Shore Rd.

He picked up the story again, saying, “I saw this gorgeous bedrock that was being unearthed and suggested to the committee that if we could get one of those pieces it would be perfect.” 

Lampos commented, “Not only is it a beautiful stone, but it tells the complete story of Old Lyme’s unique geological history.”

Standing beside ‘The Solstice Stone’ on Shore Rd. are its former owner Jason Jacaruso and Community Connectivity Grant Committee Chair Mary Jo Nosal

Former Old Lyme Selectwoman and CCGC Chair Mary Jo Nosal contacted the homeowner, Jason Jacaruso to open the conversation about acquiring a piece of the granite and Lampos subsequently met with him on several occasions to develop a plan and work out all the details.  

Noting, “We selected a beautiful example [of granite], perfectly proportioned and dramatic,” Lampos said, “Jason offered us the stone for free.” 

That generous gesture by Jacaruso solved the problem of finding funds to pay for the stone but immediately opened up another one.

How was the committee going to move the giant rock, which measures 2 ft. deep by 10 ft wide and weighs upwards of 14,000 pounds, to the transit hub?  It was simply too big a job for Old Lyme Public Works.  

Jim Lampos, who is a longtime member of the Community Connectivity Grant Committee stands proudly beside ‘The Solstice Stone.’

The problem was solved when, in Lampos’s words, “To our amazement and delight, Jason offered to deliver it himself, free of charge.”

Delivery day was Monday, March 6. Jacaruso and his assistant arrived at about 2 p.m., and expertly placed the stone pointing towards the exact place on the horizon where the sun rises at Sound View on the morning of the summer solstice, June 21 — the first day of summer. 

The rock’s official name is therefore ‘The Solstice Stone’ but Lampos explained that its nickname is ‘Summer Rock,’ which embodies the spirit of the popular Sound View beach neighborhood.

A 9 Town Transit bus stops at the transit hub. The bus driver shared that he admires the bicycle repair station installed at the transit hub and noted that other towns do not include this feature for bicyclists. 

Asked if there were any specific plans for explaining the history of ‘The Solstice Stone,’ Lampos responded, “We envision the stone being used as a teaching device. School children could arrive by bus and be safely discharged at the transit hub, and then shown the dramatic stone, which is layered with 800 million years of geological history.”

He continued, “The story of continental collisions, plate tectonics, and more can be told with just this one piece of bedrock.” Nosal added, “The committee hopes that, in the future, it will be possible to develop educational information on the Sound View Gateway.”

“Starting from ‘The Solstice Stone,’ Lampos noted, “Students can be escorted on a short walk down to the beach, in safety on the new sidewalks, where the lesson can continue. In fact, the sidewalks extend to Mile Creek school, so it is now possible to bring small groups of our own Old Lyme students on a walk to the new landmark.”

View from ‘The Solstice Stone’ looking across Shore Rd. towards Hartford Ave. in Sound View.

Asked her reaction to the new installation, Nosal said, “The arrival of the Solstice Rock is the culmination of the planning and execution of the plan by the CCGC, the Town of Old Lyme, the Connecticut Department of Transportation, the River COG (Council of Governments), and the project engineering and contracting partners.”

She commented, “The Committee is very grateful to Old Lyme resident Jason Jacaruso, his family, and his business colleague for providing and delivering this beautiful granite for placemaking at the Sound View Gateway Transit Hub.” 

Lampos agreed, saying, “Donating the stone, along with his time, labor, and use of heavy machinery was a very generous and civic-minded gesture by Jason.” 

Asked whether the committee still had work to do, Nosal replied, “The project goal, to provide safer access and connections to Sound View and local businesses for pedestrians and bicyclists, has been successfully met with this significant piece of local geology at the transit hub in time for the Summer Solstice.”  

She noted, “The CCGC project will not only conclude this Spring following some reseeding at the transit hub but will also come in under budget.”

Editor’s Note: All photos are by Jim Lampos and Mary Jo Nosal.

Neighborhood Food Waste Pilot Program Launched in Old Lyme

Posted on by
3
The new bin on the corner of Dunns Ln. and Library Ln. into which local residents can now deposit plant-based food waste. The waste is subsequently incorporated into the Lyme-Old Lyme Food Share Garden’s compost system at Town Woods Park.  Photos by J. Ward.

OLD LYME — Did you know that the average Old Lyme resident produces 891lbs of household waste a year, the equivalent of 2.5lbs of waste per person, per day and that studies indicate that up to 20 percent of that waste is compostable? Take a look at this link for more information.

The Old Lyme Solid Waste and Recycling Committee (OLSW&RC) is studying food waste and partnering with the Lyme-Old Lyme Food Share Garden (LOLFSG) to pilot a project to reduce food waste in one neighborhood. 

Jim Ward, co-chair of OLSW&RC, president of the LOLFSG, and a resident of Library Lane, has offered his neighborhood and yard for the pilot. He notes, “Both organizations encourage everyone to compost in some manner, so we are offering a simple, viable option for households, which are not already managing food waste in their backyard.”

An almost-full bin from the Library Ln./Dunns Ln. composting center

Library Lane area residents can now separate their plant-based food waste and deposit it in a bin on the corner of Library Ln. and Dunns Ln. Plant-based waste includes items such as remnants from fruits, coffee grounds or stale bread. Donated scraps, either fresh or frozen, will be incorporated into the LOLFSG’s compost system at Town Woods Park. 

Compost will be used onsite to support production of vegetables that are donated to local food pantries. 

Initial data is promising. In the first week of the pilot, approximately 15 pounds of food waste were collected. Additionally, multiple residents responded to share that they are already managing food waste in a variety of ways, from compost bins to chickens. 

DEEP composting information can be found at this link and more will follow on the OLSW&RC website. 

Inaugural ‘Pop-up Clothes Closet’ Hailed a Success, ‘Impressive’ Effort

Posted on by
Reply
The array of well-organized clothes and accessories — all donated — on offer at the Pop-up Closet held Saturday at the Rogers Lake Clubhouse was remarkable. All photos by S. Thompson.

OLD LYME — The Pop-Up Closet held last Saturday, March 4, at the Rogers Lake Clubhouse was a major success in many ways. 

Lyme-Old Lyme High School (LOLHS) senior Maddie McCulloch organized the event as part of her LOLHS Senior Project, but it was really a much broader reflection of her ongoing commitment to environmental and sustainability efforts.

The organizer of the event, Maddie McCulloch (right) stands with some of the friends who helped make it happen.

McCulloch had previously developed a community service project called Small Efforts, Big Impact, which, she explains, “I have been doing since 2019 as a way to try and keep Lyme and Old Lyme a bit cleaner by picking up trash on the side of the road.”

The free Pop-up Closet involved people donating clothes and fashion accessories, which were then offered at no charge to those who attended the event. Attendees were free to take whatever items they wanted provided they committed not to re-sell them.

Customers look closely at clothing donations at the Pop-up Closet.

How did the event go? McCulloch told LymeLine, “Overall, I felt like the event went really well. We had a variety of people come and check it out. I would say about 75 percent of the clothing donated got taken and the other 25 percent we were able to pass on to Free Treasures Den.”

She was extremely appreciative of all the people, who had helped her make the project a reality, saying, “I want to thank all of my family and friends who helped set everything up — the event wouldn’t have been possible with out them. I also want to thank everyone who stopped by and made the event the success it was.”

A contented customer poses with her bag of “new” clothes.

Suzanne Thompson, who was at the event in a personal capacity, but is a member of both the Region 18 Board of Education and the Old Lyme Solid Waste & Recycling Committee, commented that it was an, “Impressive” effort. She added, ” It’s great to see our students embracing sustainability and coming up with creative solutions.” 

Thompson noted that she not only donated clothes to the Pop-up Closet, but also was a customer, commenting that she had happily, “Picked out a free vest for myself!”

More of Maddie McCulloch’s helpers joined her for this photo.

Demonstrating her firm commitment to environmental ideals, McCulloch said, “And although this event started out as my senior project, I think it would be an incredible idea to continue a free community closet event such as this each year.”

Editor’s Note: What a great idea, Maddie!  Do we have any readers willing to answer her call?!