Category Archives: Politics

Old Lyme Republicans Meet Tonight to Select Candidates for Nov. Election; Griswold Not Seeking Re-election in Top Job, Mulling Run in Different Position

Posted on by
Reply
Old Lyme First Selectman Timothy Griswold is not seeking re-election as Old Lyme First Selectman in November’s election. File photo.

OLD LYME — Members of the Old Lyme (OL) Republican Town Committee (RTC) will gather this evening at 6 p.m. in Old Lyme’s Memorial Town Hall to caucus and determine their endorsements for the upcoming November election.

Last Friday, John Mesham and Judith Read announced they will be seeking Republican endorsements as OL First Selectman and Second Selectman respectively at tonight’s caucus.

On June 20, we sat down with incumbent First Selectman Tim Griswold in his Memorial Town Hall office and asked him if he was planning to run again. He replied, “I don’t anticipate running again,” noting, “There are undoubtedly good people that can do the job.”

Griswold, who served as Old Lyme’s leader from 1997 through 2011 and then again from 2019 through the present, commented, “I think Old Lyme is fortunate to have … a good sense of community involvement … We seem to be able to fill positions … We’re in good shape, particularly with the Fire Department and Ambulance [where there are] a lot of younger members.”

Asked which Republicans would be running for the Old Lyme Selectmen positions, which was prior to the Mesham/Read announcement, Griswold was coy, saying only, “It’s being discussed …”

Since Griswold is not running for First Selectman, we inquired if perhaps, he is going to run for another position? He responded immediately, saying, “I don’t know,” but pointed out that he has served as both the Town Treasurer and on the OL Board of Finance in the past, noting he was the former during what he described as “the interim” eight years when he was not First Selectman.

Griswold added, “The Treasurer position is not that tough,” following up with, “It might be a good time to be of counsel.”

Mentioning his involvement with the Old Lyme Cemetery Association, Griswold noted he also currently serves as Treasurer of that organization.

Editor’s Note: We will publish the Republican slate of endorsed candidates for the November election as soon as we receive it from the OL RTC.

John Mesham, Judith Read to Seek Republican Nominations for Old Lyme First Selectman, Selectman

Posted on by
Reply

OLD LYME – Former Marine, law enforcement officer, and community advocate John Mesham has formally announced his intention to seek the Republican nomination for First Selectman. 

Mesham, father of three, recently retired from a distinguished 29-year career in law enforcement in which he oversaw the daily operations at two of the largest state police barracks, managed police personnel in Old Lyme, developed community programs with municipal governments, and negotiated collective bargaining agreements.

Prior to his career in law enforcement, Mesham was deployed as a Marine infantryman on the USS Iwo Jima and served at Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C. He holds a BS in Criminal Justice from Charter Oak State College.

In addition to managing police personnel in Old Lyme, Mesham, father of Owen, Anna, and Emily, served as a Scoutmaster for 10 years for Troop 26 Lyme & Old Lyme Boy Scouts. He has been married to his wife Nancy for 29 years. Mesham currently serves on the Inland Wetland and Watercourse Commission and was instrumental in the 36-1 Buttonball Committee recommendations to the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen.

In conjunction with Mesham’s announcement, Judith Read, a dedicated public servant, has also announced her intention to seek the Republican nomination for Second Selectman. Read, a small business owner, has nearly two decades of experience serving on the Old Lyme Board of Finance. She also served one term on the Region 18 Board of Education. 

Mother of Megan Overdurff Read and Will (Sloan) Danenhower, Read has lived in Old Lyme for over 40 years, volunteering as a Girl Scout leader and as the Treasurer for the MacCurdy Salisbury Educational Foundation. She currently is a business management consultant, with a specialization in business organization.

Read attended Central Connecticut State College where she studied Business Administration. She has been married to Sloan Danenhower for 40 years.

The prospective Mesham-Read team is focused on continuing fiscal responsibility, supporting Old Lyme senior citizens, maintaining excellence in Region 18 school system, and protecting the natural beauty of Old Lyme.

The Old Lyme Republican Town Committee will caucus on Tuesday, July 18, at 6 p.m. At that meeting, members will select the candidates they wish to endorse for the November 2023 election.

Editor’s Note: The article above is based on a press release issued this morning by the Mesham & Read 2023 campaign.

Death Announced of Former CT Governor, Old Lyme Resident Lowell Weicker; New Tributes Added From Local Retired Minister, Politicians

Posted on by
1

OLD LYME — UPDATED 6/29 with tributes from Rev. David W. Good, State Sen. Martha Marx and State Rep. Devin Carney: The death has been announced of former Connecticut Governor and Senator Lowell P. Weicker, Jr. at the age of 92.

His family released a statement yesterday morning with the sad news.

The Weickers maintained a home on Lyme Street in Old Lyme.

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has ordered US and state flags to be lowered in honor of former Governor Weicker until the date of interment, which has not yet been determined.

We asked Reverend David W. Good, Minister Emeritus at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, to share his thoughts on the passing of former Governor Weicker.

Rev. Good responded by email saying, “I was very sorry to learn of the death of our former Governor, Senator and neighbor, Lowell Weicker. Lowell was a good friend and mentor for many years in my ministry at The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, and I so appreciated his help and guidance as we engaged in various human rights issues.”

Good continued, “Long before I had the honor of knowing him as a friend; when I first came to Old Lyme in the summer of 1973, Lowell was very much in the news in the Watergate hearings. The integrity and courage he exemplified then as a young Republican senator impressed me greatly, and subsequently, I’ve always thought of him as one of the wisdom keepers of our society, and by his example, helping us all to have the courage of our convictions.”

He then said, “When so many other political leaders and church leaders shied away from the issue of Apartheid in South Africa, I’m grateful for how Lowell was arrested for his opposition to apartheid.”

Good pointed out that, “Throughout his life and career, Lowell could be counted on for his advocacy for racial justice, a health care system that is fair and equitable and a Civil Body Politic in which Republicans and Democrats and those of different religious persuasions could cross boundaries and work together for common cause.”  

He concluded, “In his honor, I hope and pray we all might endeavor to be “mavericks” in our efforts to make this a more “perfect Union.””

Today State Senator Martha Marx (D-New London), whose district includes Old Lyme, released the following statement on the passing of Governor Lowell Weicker.

“Former Governor Weicker was such a strong force in our community. I looked up to him as he was someone I admired and respected for his dedication to our constituents. When I was campaigning for my seat in the Senate, he was so very kind to me. I will never forget his compassion for others and his commitment toward making Connecticut a better community for everyone. Lowell Weicker will be missed greatly. My thoughts are with his family.”

State Representative Devin Carney (R-23rd), whose district includes both Lyme and Old Lyme, posted the following statement regarding Governor Lowell Weicker on his Facebook page,:”Gov. Lowell Weicker was a dedicated public servant, from his start in politics in Greenwich to the U.S. Senate and, finally, to the governor’s mansion. He was a member of the Old Lyme community and someone with whom I had the unique opportunity to meet and discuss public service.

He will be remembered for his stature, locally, statewide, and nationally. He was unafraid to stake out a position and fiercely defend it, even if it was unpopular. You may not have always agreed with him, but he always did what he believed was right.

My sympathies go out to his wife, Claudia, and the entire Weicker family.”

A Special Memorial Day ‘View from Our Porch’: Town Budget Meeting Reflections

Posted on by
4

By Christina J. & Thomas D. Gotowka

This “View” was supposed to be “Electric Vehicles: Can Elon overcome the legacy of the Beach Boys?”, but Christina encouraged me to ignore the plan and provide some follow-up on last week’s annual town budget meeting. 

We were troubled by the article by Elizabeth Regan and published on May 16 in The Day, which characterized the meeting and the residents’ interactions with the BOS as disorderly, e.g., “the room erupted”; “Moderator Vicki Lanier called for calm; let’s try to keep some order in this meeting”; and “lengthy debate about what constitutes an ‘assault weapon’ turned Monday night’s meeting into a fight about guns”. 

This essay begins with our reflections on what we thought were the key issues and concerns raised by residents that Monday evening; but as the topic developed, it became clear that this ‘View” was something that was appropriate for consideration on Memorial Day.

We felt that the gathering was nothing more than a typical New England town meeting, which historian Frank Bryan describes in Real Democracy as a public forum that enables residents to share their opinions on issues; “while engaging in deliberation and democratic decision-making” regarding laws and budgets. The residents of Old Lyme seemed very serious about their participation; and there were appropriate questions and comments when information appeared incomplete or absent.

Many were shocked that the proposed FY23/24 budget included expenditures of $29,500 for 7 patrol rifles,10 Glock 45s, and ammunition; listed under “Public Safety”. Those expenditures generated discussion and questions about exactly what comprised the “7 patrol rifles”, and why do we need them? Some expressed alarm that the patrol rifles might be AR-15s. 

Old Lyme is not immune to School Violence:

Selectman Matt Ward, who was a Connecticut (CT) State Trooper for 20 years, and a part-time police officer in Old Lyme; and Resident Trooper Matt Weber justified the expenditures as essential because our schools are vulnerable; — “shootings happen everywhere, including close to home”. Mr.  Weber’s comments were in The Day, not in person at the meeting. 

Surely, none of us living in Connecticut can be indifferent to the terrible school shootings that have impacted our confidence in the safety of our children while in school. 

Just in the past decade, they have included, Sandy Hook Elementary School in Dec. 2012, where 20 children and 6 adults were murdered; Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., in 2018, where 14 students and 3 staff members were murdered, and 17 seriously injured.

Just last year, we witnessed a mass shooting at a supermarket in Buffalo where 10 people, all of whom were African-Americans, were murdered and three seriously injured; and another at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 children and two teachers were murdered. The slow response by Uvalde Police Department, which cost lives, remains under investigation

A few months ago, on March 27, three children and three adults were murdered at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tenn.

The Numbers:

The data are daunting and gut-wrenching. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released the most current national mortality data and reported 45,222 firearm-related deaths in the United States in 2020, which is a new peak.

Worse yet, the previous analysis, which examined data through 2016, showed that firearm-related injuries were second only to motor vehicle accidents, both traffic-related and non-traffic-related, as the leading cause of death among children and adolescents. That gap narrowed; and in 2020, firearm-related injuries became the leading cause of death in that age group

Further, the United States has far higher rates of firearm death than any of the two-dozen other high-income countries that were studied, which included Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Spain, and the United Kingdom. We kill each other with firearms 25 times as often as the study group. 

Finally, according to the Gun Violence Archive (GVA), the rate of mass shootings escalated during COVID and has persisted since; and 2021 became the worst year for mass shootings since tracking began in 2013 with 690 across 44 states and Washington, DC.

Incredibly, by May 1, of this year, there were already 235 mass shootings in the United States; which puts us on track to pass 700, which would be a new peak. 

There is no doubt in our minds that we have a problem in this country with gun violence. 

M-4s, Not AR-15s:

Our elected officials initially seemed unwilling to specify the exact rifle model that was to be purchased, and that led to concerns from residents. 

Eventually, Selectman Ward informed us that Old Lyme Police Department’s (OLPD) patrol rifles would be M4s. He emphasized that the rifles would not be routinely carried by officers on patrol, and would remain locked and secured in police vehicles and only deployed with authorization from a supervisor. This was corroborated by two members of OLPD who attended the meeting in uniform.

An advantage of the M4 is that it is also used by CT state police, with whom we already have a close working relationship. 

As we understand, equipping the OLPD with M4s in this manner will enable more rapid deployment of armed officers for containment of an active incident. The Resident Trooper stated, “It’s going to be my Old Lyme officer that’s the first one in that door.”

After some additional discussion and a motion to remove the firearms from the budget failed to achieve the required two-thirds majority, those in attendance voted to approve the proposed budget with no change. 

Through the Looking Glass:

These expenditures were presented as having been endorsed by the Old Lyme (OL) Board of Selectmen and approved by the OL Board of Finance (BOF). However, a BOF member said at the meeting that the board received no information from the OLPD describing the purchase, nor did they respond to a request to explain the need for the weapons.

In contrast, The Day reported that the Resident Trooper told them in March that his department, “… is requesting Colt M4 carbine semiautomatic rifles.”

All in all, and borrowing from Lewis Carroll’s Alice, the situation becomes, ‘curiouser and curiouser.’

Perhaps more eloquently stated, former Old Lyme Selectwoman Mary Jo Nosal, in a response to The Day, stated, “The crux of the issue is not whether these arms are necessary but the lack of transparency and justification for the need for what would be a new purchase for the town.”

America’s Rifle?

The shooters in Uvalde and Buffalo used AR-15 style weapons. The CT State Police reported that Adam Lanza used a similar .223-caliber Bushmaster XM-15 E2S semi-automatic rifle at Sandy Hook.

In 2020, the National Shooting Sports Foundation estimated that 19.8 million AR-15 style rifles were in circulation in the United States; surging from about. 8.5 million since a federal assault weapons ban expired in 2004.

In 1993, and again after Sandy Hook, the CT General Assembly passed laws prohibiting the sale of certain “military-style” weapons, including the AR-15 and its many variations.

About 80,000 AR-15s purchased prior to 1993 were “grandfathered in” and then re-grandfathered” after Sandy Hook.

Governor Lamont has announced that he is seriously considering repealing the exemption. 

We Need a Plan:

The outcome of the meeting demonstrates that residents acknowledge America’s gun violence problem and the attendees now realize, “Shootings happen everywhere, including close to home.” While approving the purchase of the proposed firearms for OLPD is a step towards containment of an active shooter incident, we have not touched on prevention or deterrence.

Last June, after the Uvalde school shooting, the Region 18 Board of Education approved armed school security guards, who would be retired, trained police officers., However, the school district did not purchase firearms. 

Rather than have another Old Lyme Arms Summit in 2024, Reverend Steve Jungkeit, senior minister at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, called for a, “Wider conversation about public safety.”  He said, “I don’t feel safer as a human being by having a lot more guns out there, even carried by people that I trust because good people do make errors of judgment.”

Elections:

Per The Day, — “with little publicity”, town officials, proposed amendments to local ordinances that would have changed the Old Lyme Town Clerk and Tax Collector from elected to appointed positions; and lengthened the current respective four-year terms to six. The vote from the floor was virtually unanimous in rejecting the proposed change. 

Author’s Thoughts:

We are concerned that it appears that Old Lyme is now using an honor system rather than verification of identification in order to confirm a person’s status as an “elector or citizen eligible to vote” in important Town Meetings. 

We know that Old Lyme’s BOS have been reticent in the past to comment on social issues, but it seems that it is time to make a statement in support of developing some common-sense rules and enforceable regulations to curb gun violence and make our children safe in school.

After all, “shootings happen everywhere, including close to home”. 

Sources:

Boschma, J., Merrill, C., and Murphy-Teixidor, J. “Mass Shootings in the US”. CNN.  5/04/2023

Bryan, Frank. “Real Democracy: The New England Town Meeting and How It Works”. University of Chicago Press. 2010

Carroll, Lewis. “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” & “Through the Looking-Glass”. London: Macmillan & Company. 1865 &1872.

Goldstick, J. E., Cunningham, R.M., and Carter, P.M. “Current Causes of Death in Children and adolescents in the United States” NEJM. 05/19/2022

Lallanilla, M. “What Makes the AR-15 Rifle ‘America’s Gun’?” LiveScience. 09/17/2013

Loh, M. “America has 20 million AR-15 style rifles in circulation, and more guns than people in the country”. Business Insider. 05/30/2022

Pazniokas, M. “Lamont may go alone in seeking end to ownership of AR-15s in CT”. CT Mirror.12/09/2022

Regan, E. “Some in Old Lyme oppose arming police with semiautomatic rifles”. New London Day. 05/16/2023

South, E.C., Hemenway D., Webster, D.W. “Gun violence research is surging to inform solutions to a devastating public health crisis”. Preventive Medicine, 10/27/2022.

Vigdor, N. “State Police: All 26 Newtown victims shot with assault rifle”. CT Post. 01/24/2013

State Senators Join Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz in Old Lyme to Celebrate Receipt of Over $12 Million in Grants to Improve School Air Quality

Posted on by
Reply
State Senator Martha Marx speaks during the press conference held Tuesday in front of Center School in Old Lyme to celebrate release of over $12 million in grants from the state of Connecticut to support improved air quality. Standing alongside Sen. Marx is Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz. Also in attendance are, from left to right, State Sen Norm Needleman, LOL Middle School Principal Mark Ambruso, Old Lyme First Selectman Timothy Griswold, Lyme First Selectman David Lahm, Region 18 Schools Superintendent Ian Neviaser, Lyme School teacher (and sister of Martha Marx) Mary Dargie, and Old Lyme Selectwoman Martha Shoemaker.

OLD LYME — On Tuesday morning, April 18, State Senator Martha Marx (D-New London), whose district includes Old Lyme, and State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex), whose district includes Lyme, joined Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, Region 18 Schools Superintendent Ian Neviaser, and Lyme and Old Lyme local leaders at Center School in Old Lyme to celebrate the state’s approved release of $12.009 million in grant funding to support improved air quality in Lyme-Old Lyme (LOL) schools.

Region 18 Schools, located in Lyme and Old Lyme, will receive three grants, each supporting air quality improvements and upgrades in local schools, through the HVAC Indoor Air Quality Grant Program for Public Schools. Lyme Consolidated School will receive $3.051 million, Center School $2.719 million and LOL Middle School $6.24 million.

These funds can be used to replace, upgrade, or repair boilers and other heating and ventilation components; replacing controls and technology systems related to HVAC operations; installing or upgrading air conditioning or ventilation systems; and other similar work approved by the Department of Administrative Services.

“It is very exciting that Region 18 is one of the first districts to get this grant funding,” said Sen. Marx. “I still remember the stories of the challenges educators and parents faced and fought through during COVID, and that hard work cannot be forgotten. So let’s try and do this for a lot of schools and bring positive change to our classrooms. The kids, educators and staff deserve this; everyone deserves a safe working and learning environment,”

“We learned firsthand through the school of hard knocks the importance of air quality,” said Sen. Needleman. “It was a hard way to learn, but I’m glad we’re on track, and I think we need to upgrade all of our schools throughout the state to make sure our kids and our teachers have a safe environment to work and learn.”

“This is a major investment in school infrastructure, in the health of our children and students and in the health of our teachers and staff who work there,” said Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz. “This is a really big and important investment. It’s also an investment in job creation; Our friends in the building trades such as plumbers and pipefitters will be on site working at schools across our state. There will be a lot of folks in Lyme and Old Lyme doing this important work.”

“We hope to begin construction on this project in the next several months and complete it within the next year or two,” said Superintendent Neviaser. “It is not just for one school but for four schools, and we’re really appreciative of all the hard work already put into it. We look forward to completing this project on time and under budget.”

State Senator Norm Needleman addresses those gathered to celebrate the release of grants from the state to improve air quality in LOL Schools.

In 2022, the General Assembly voted to create the Indoor Air Quality Grant Program, as part of an effort to improve ventilation and air conditions in schools statewide. Local and regional boards of education and regional education service centers can use those funds to make valuable improvements. Municipalities are responsible to provide matching grants to fund work not covered by grants.

Eligible schools and districts are those found to have the greatest need for indoor air quality improvements; factors considered include school HVAC system age, air quality issues at the school and overall school building age and condition.

Along with creating that program, the state additionally invested in a pipeline training system for HVAC work and strict standards for inspection and evaluation of HVAC on an accelerated schedule compared to previous state law.

In November 2022, Old Lyme voters approved $57.5 million in bonding for renovations and updates to local schools, with projects including updates to HVAC, air conditioning and ventilation at four Lyme regional schools that had last been renovated roughly two decades prior.

In past interviews, Neviaser said these projects included applying for the state grant program for air quality improvements as a significant issue was their age; some Region 18 schools have systems dating back to the 1960s, he said.

Editor’s Note: This article is based on a press release issued by the Press Office of Senators Marx and Needleman.