Category Archives: Outdoors

Lyme Garden Club Hosts Monthly Meeting This Morning, Learn How to Start Plants From Seeds

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LYME — The Lyme Garden Club will hold their monthly meeting and program on Tuesday, March 8, at the Lyme Fire Company, 213 Hamburg Rd./Rte. 156. The meeting begins at 10 a.m. with the program following at 11 a.m.

The program is “Starting Plants from Seeds” presented by Gini Mita from the Wallingford (Conn.) Garden Club.  She will focus on steps the home gardener can take with seed-starting, based on her extensive experience.

Guests and potential members are welcome to attend.

Contact Sue Hessel at 860-434-3035 for more information.

Registration Opens for RTP Estuary Center Summer Camp, Limited Number of Spaces

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All the fun of the RTP Estuary Summer Camp!

OLD LYME — Join the Roger Tory Peterson (RTP) Estuary Center and spend the summer where science, nature and art combine with fun.

While each session has a natural science focus, children will be busy discovering animals and plants, conducting hands-on experiments, making new friends and enjoying outdoor activities. Each week-long session will focus on a project relevant to the week’s theme, participating in a hands-on curriculum tailored to meet each child’s interest and skills.

Camp will run from June 20 to Aug 19, 2022. Campers are organized in groups based on their ages. Each weekly session’s enrollment is limited to:

  • 12 campers for the Ecology Camp (Ages 5-7)
  • 12 campers for the Ecology Camp (Ages 8-10)
  • 8 campers for the Junior Naturalists Camp (Ages 11-13)

Adventure and discovery await all campers at the RTP Estuary Center, but space is limited so early registration is recommended.

For more information and/or registration for any of the programs listed below, visit this link.

Weekly themes for the Ecology Camp are as follows:

Week 1: Estuary Explorers
June 20 – 24
Dive into the extraordinary world of estuary life! Campers will learn about the creatures, plants and algae that live in this environment through hands-on discovery. Seine nets, magnifying glasses, microscopes and buckets will give us the up-close view of critters before they’re released. Weekly project includes building and testing their own a clean water filter.

Week 2: Art and Science Discovery
June 27- July 1
Release the artist within! Science invites inquiry, while art inspires the creative process. The two will interconnect in this explorative hands-on session.  By experimenting with a variety of materials and mediums, we will witness firsthand the intriguing, beautiful results that can happen! And for campers who wish to capture everything they learn and do, there will be daily time for journaling. Weekly project includes a large scale collaborative multimedia art piece using found and repurposed objects.

Week 3: Nature Engineers
July 5- 8 *no camp on July 4
Build, test, design and trial -STEAM in ACTION! Put your skills to the test this week as you construct, explore, problem solve, test materials and work cooperatively! Campers will explore the ways animals engineer their environments and learn about biomimicry. Based on their observations, campers will create their own tools to solve real-life problems.

Week 4: Fantastic Flyers
July 11-15
Take flight and discover the mystery of birds, bats, dragonflies, and butterflies. Campers will search for these winged creatures and their homes as we discover the outdoors! We’ll unveil the mysteries of beaks, talons, and feathers as we explore the birds’ many talents and skills. Learn to use binoculars and field guides! Campers will create a bird feeding station and each day conduct a bird count and collect data on bird behaviors.

Week 5: Wild Water Wonders
July 18- 22
Investigate the mysteries of water, mud and soil! Worms, slugs, and snails are just the beginning of what you will discover! Campers will explore what lives in the water and help take care of our classroom tanks as well as learn about the importance of taking care of our water sources. Each day will bring a new water experiment for campers to explore.

Week 6: Super Scientists
July 25 -29
Explore and venture into the ologies! Biology, ecology, ornithology, hydrology and more!    While studying all the ologies learn about plant and animal adaptations, water and soil quality and much more! From birds to bugs and soil to water, we’ll see what the natural world is all about. This week, campers will conduct a plant study of their design.

Week 7: Eco-Adventurers
Aug 1-5
Frogs, salamanders, butterflies, and birds await! There will be a new adventure every day as we pond dip, catch insects, and explore nature. We’ll use nets, water quality testing equipment, microscopes, and much more. Captivating explorations, investigations, games, and creative activities fill the days! Weekly project includes designing and building your own mini-habitat diorama.

Week 8: Budding Scientists
Aug 8-12
Campers will catch and study insects, search for wild birds, track animals, and design their very own field journal filled with their weekly discoveries! Each day will explore a different topic as we investigate all our natural world has to offer!

Week 9: Art and Science Discovery
Aug 15-19
Science invites inquiry, while art inspires the creative process. The two will interconnect in this explorative hands-on session. By experimenting with a variety of materials and mediums, we’ll will witness firsthand the intriguing, beautiful results that can happen! Campers will participate in weekly sketching activities in their very own art sketchbook.

Weekly themes for Junior Naturalists are as follows:

River Rangers
June 27- July 1

Interested in science and ecology? Want to learn how to design your own research? Campers will collect data, conduct scientific investigations and design experiments using real scientific
equipment. Each day campers will work on their investigation as they ask and answer their own scientific questions.

Eco-Art
Aug 1-5

Be inspired by the natural world! Conduct mini science experiments and use digital microscopes to create nature – inspired works of art through sketching, painting, and mixed media. Campers will work on multi-day projects building on what they learned the day before.

‘Estuary’ Magazine of Old Lyme Celebrates Second Anniversary with Spring 2022 Edition 

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The cover of the Spring 2022 ‘estuary’ magazine.

OLD LYME — Estuary Magazine, Life of the Connecticut River, founded in 2020 by Estuary Ventures of Old Lyme, Conn., celebrates its second anniversary with the publication of its Spring 2022 issue available by subscription or at select retail venues the first week of March. 

Estuary is a unique publication and the only magazine dedicated to the watershed of the Connecticut River, an area twice the size of the state itself.

The source of the 409-mile-long river is near the Canadian border in New Hampshire; it flows down along the border between New Hampshire and Vermont, passing through western Massachusetts and central Connecticut to the estuary, below Middletown, Conn., with Old Saybrook and Essex on the west side, and Old Lyme and East Haddam on the east side. 

Estuary covers the watershed: its history, wildlife, plant life, recreation, conservation, restoration, art and culture.  The people and the future of the Connecticut River are captured in fascinating articles and award-winning photography.

A magazine has thus been created to reflect the rich diversity of the Connecticut River valley, its people, and its potential with content directed to the interests of the more than 2 million people, who live in the watershed. 

“We want our readers to enjoy the Estuary experience and learn through the stories, photographs and other images.,” says Dick Shriver, founder and publisher of the magazine.

He adds, “With regard to conservation and restoration, we believe that as more people learn about the challenges faced by the watershed in lay terms, more people will volunteer and contribute talent and other resources to the care of this special natural resource.”

Estuary’s readership now numbers in the thousands, more than double the number a year ago.  Advertising pages have also more than tripled in the past year.

“Our advertising partners understand and applaud Estuary’s mission and their support demonstrates their commitment to protect, preserve and restore the Connecticut River watershed,” explains Laura Lee Miller, Director of Advertising for estuary.

A story on the Lyme Land Trust can be found in the Spring 2022 edition of ‘estuary’ magazine.

Estuary works closely with the CT River Conservancy (CRC) in Greenfield, Mass.  Headed by Dr. Andrew Fiske, CRC and estuary collaborate to support the work of CRC and other non-profits operating for the benefit of the watershed.  

Thanks to a grant directed to help the magazine, all 700 participants in Lyme Land Trust’s May 22 event, the Tour de Lyme, will receive a free copy of the Spring 2022 issue.  

“The magazine itself is the best marketing tool we have,” notes Shriver, “and the more copies we can put in peoples’ hands, the more support we will have for Estuary and awareness of the work to be done.” 

An example of the type of articles found in estuary is this piece by the late Eleanor Robinson, titled, Meeting of the Waters.

Estuary magazine, is published quarterly and is available in print and online for $40 per year (four issues).  Subscribe now or give as a gift. For either option, visit this link:  https://estuarymagazine.com/subscribe/

Letter to the Editor: Update on Tantummaheag Town Landing Situation Overdue, Required so All Residents Can Understand Outcome

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To the Editor:

I am writing all three Selectmen as I have not heard back from [Old Lyme First Selectman] Tim Griswold regarding an update to the Tantummaheag Town Landing after three emails.

It is disappointing that this issue has not been resolved and is no longer on the agenda for your board meetings.

I first notified Tim about this issue in July of 2020, we had a special town meeting in January of 2021 where it was determined that signage would be put up with clear markings as to town/private property. Nothing happened. In the meantime the adjacent property owner did a title search and claims that this property is NOT owned by the town, but is his property. Last time I was at a Board meeting Tim was supposed to arrange a meeting with some people in the neighboring Coult Lane area to meet with the property owners (who continue to make it difficult for people driving to the landing).

Has this meeting been arranged? Why are the people of Coult Lane the only ones included … this is TOWN-owned property. It seems as though that we are conceding to the Frampton’s claims and this is not on Mr. Griswold’s radar and nothing has been done – other than cost of the tax payers money for town attorney fees because of inaction.

Will this be put back on the agenda so the entire town can understand what is going on? Access to the Connecticut River is important for all of the citizens in Old Lyme.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Griffin,
Old Lyme.

Around 18 Inches of Snow Blanket Lyme, Old Lyme

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On Saturday, Jess Talerico, co-owner of the new Old Lyme Hardware (formerly Christiansen’s), took the snow in her stride. She relaxed for a few minutes outside the store on the Old Lyme Marketplace sipping a drink under a sun umbrella to give her shelter from the storm.

LYME/OLD LYME — Somewhere between 16 and 18 inches of snow fell on Lyme and Old Lyme during Saturday’s nor’easter leaving a white wonderland in its wake.

Snow measurements we have received from residents suggest between 16 and 18 inches fell in the Lymes. Photo by J. Talerico.

Roads were almost deserted in our towns at the height of the storm.

A snow plow begins the monumental task of clearing Old Lyme Marketplace. Photo by J. Talerico.

Despite the strong winds and significant amount of snow, it does not appear that any residents lost power.

More than 16 inches of snow fell in Old Lyme, where this photo was taken. Photo by L. Hautaniemi.

Crews are working diligently to clear the roads and a number of vehicular accidents have been reported.

A town-wide parking ban remains in effect in Old Lyme through 12 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 30. Move any vehicles on the street into a driveway so the streets can be safely plowed.

Both Lyme and Old Lyme Congregational Churches have moved their Sunday, Jan. 30 services to Zoom only. Saint Ann’s Episcopal Church in Old Lyme has cancelled its 8:30 a.m. Sunday service.

Here are some general rules to follow as you start to dig out from the storm:

  • Check on your neighbors. Older adults and young children are more at risk in extreme cold.
  • Reduce the risk of a heart attack. Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow.
  • Use generators outside only.
  • Stay indoors and  dress warmly.
  • Prepare for  power outages.
  • Listen for emergency information and alerts.
  • Travel will be hazardous. Stay off the roads as much as possible.
  • Your cell phone will be an important tool during this emergency — make sure it is charged.
  • Stay away from downed power lines and call 911 to report them.
  • Exposure to cold temperatures and sustained winds will contribute to hypothermia and dehydration. If you go outside, dress in layers and wear hats, scarves and gloves. Remove wet clothing as soon as you are back indoors.
  • If there is a fire hydrant on or near your property, please help by keeping it clear for emergency use.
  • Call 911 to report all emergency situations.

Snow was no problem for this dog. Photo by Beth Sullivan.

Dogs and other four-legged animals can have fun in the snow but be sure to keep a keen eye on them to prevent them from getting caught in drifting snow or staying outside in the frigid temperatures for too long

Blitz decided digging in the snow was the order of the day for him! Photo by Beth Sullivan.