Category Archives: Letters

Letter to the Editor: Griswold Offers Experienced Leadership, Keeps Steady Hand at Helm

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To the Editor:

As a young Naval Officer, Tim Griswold helped guide large aircraft carriers through storms in the Pacific.  It was an invaluable learning experience for the role he was destined to fill, our First Selectman.

Tim learned to work with others from diverse backgrounds, races, religions, and educations.  Perhaps even more important, he learned not to overreact to dangers.  He developed a steady approach to any problem that came his way.  He would gather facts, listen to others, seek out advice, and then decide on a course of action.  All the while being respectful to those who may have offered differing viewpoints.

Like the aircraft carrier, Tim has guided our town through the stormy waters of building a new high school, implementing the new sewer system, addressing commercial growth, managing town government through COVID, and keeping costs under control.

This is no time to change course.  Vote for experienced leadership and keep a steady hand at the helm.

Vote for Tim Griswold First Selectman on November 2nd.

Sincerely,

Rod Clingman,
Old Lyme.

Letter to the Editor: Old Lyme Selectwoman Nosal Endorses Shoemaker, Lampos for BOS; Both Will Place Needs, Concerns of OL Residents First

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To the Editor:

I am writing to endorse Martha Shoemaker for Old Lyme First Selectwoman and Jim Lampos for Selectman. I have worked with each of them for years and can say two things without hesitation: they are extremely talented and they always put the needs and concerns of Old Lyme residents first. Martha’s professional career as a teacher for 35 years, union negotiator and project manager, and her tireless commitments as a volunteer on school committees, the Library and LYSB, have prepared her well to be the CEO of our town. We have all benefited from Martha’s long history of collaborative, can-do support for local education and non-profit organizations. She has the requisite skills and good judgment to make thoughtful, fair and sound decisions on behalf of Old Lyme. Illustrative of her civic-minded, generous character is the example she and her family set in hosting Coast Guard cadets for eight years and providing them a home away from home.

For the last 10 years Jim has contributed as a volunteer to valuable, cost-effective, Sound View improvement projects. The sidewalk installations enjoyed grants saving Old Lyme taxpayers over $800,000. Jim’s pragmatic approach to solving community problems and his insightful appreciation of the history of Sound View reflect his careful approach to addressing community concerns and his strong advocacy for local engagement.

Martha and Jim will protect our assets and the quality of life we treasure in Old Lyme. They will engage the community and seek input on town matters. They will actively pursue grants and effectively budget for important projects, like safety improvements on Halls Road. They will assure that budgets are respected, our bills are paid on time, our local police have the resources needed to protect the community, and that Town Hall is responsive to all residents.

Please join me in voting on November 2 for the team that Old Lyme needs: Martha Shoemaker and Jim Lampos.

Sincerely,

Mary Jo Nosal,
Old Lyme.

Editor’s Note: The author has served as Old Lyme Selectwoman since 2011. She is a candidate in the upcoming election for the Old Lyme Zoning Commission

 

Letter to the Editor: BOE Members Should be ‘Smart, Empathetic, Focused’: Democratic Slate Meets That Need

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To the Editor:

Reflecting back on my nearly eight years of service on the Region 18 Board of Education, I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished with the support and encouragement of the broader Old Lyme and Lyme community.

As I approach my final month on the Board, I am optimistic and excited to support four candidates with exactly the backgrounds needed as the Board engages in strategic planning and a review of potential facility upgrades to four schools that were last substantially updated nearly two decades ago:  educational credentials and a focus on children.  Life-long educators Martha Shoemaker (retired teacher), Marisa Calvi-Rogers (doctorate in education, retired principal) and Alexander Lowry (current teacher), along with Jason Kemp (family relations counselor, CT Judicial Branch), will bring over 90 years of collective public service in support of children to the Board.  Alexander and Jason are also the parents of current R18 students.

We need smart, empathetic, and focused leaders who view challenges as opportunities and can widen the realm of possible solutions through creative problem-solving.  Our small town needs Board of Education members who understand public education and the needs of children and families, as well as the importance of incorporating into their decisions the wide variety of viewpoints held by our community members.

I strongly encourage you to elect these four Democratic candidates to represent our Old Lyme community on the Region 18 Board of Education.

Sincerely,

Jean Wilczynski, CFP®,
Old Lyme.

Editor’s Note: The author currently serves as treasurer of the Regional School District 18 Board of Education.

Letter to the Editor: Colwell’s Beliefs, Her Endorsement by Old Lyme RTC, Raise Serious Questions

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Editor’s Note: Commenting on this letter is now closed. Thank you all for a lively debate on this letter.

To the Editor:

The candidates chosen by a town’s political committee to run in an election must be assumed to reflect the beliefs and platform of that committee.  For example, Old Lyme’s Republican Town Committee has endorsed Mona Colwell for election to the Board of Education.  According to her Facebook page, Mona questions what brought down the World Trade Center, regarding which she wrote, “Will we ever know the truth?  Does it even matter?”  Another example is our 2018 gubernatorial election, which Ned Lamont won by 44,372 votes.  Not so, says Mona: “I do believe the election was rigged when thousands of UConn students were bussed in and through other means.”

To illustrate Mona’s logic of thinking, she asks on Facebook: “. . . someone PLEASE explain to me . . . how is a non-vaccinated person a threat to a vaccinated person? . . . What am I missing here, other than tyranny?”  Is she unaware that unvaccinated, infected people infect others, whether vaccinated or not, and that the spread of infections throughout the country provides the breeding ground for serious mutations?

Mona should not be making decisions for our children, and the RTC’s judgment in endorsing candidates should not be trusted.
Sincerely,
Aaron Emma,
Old Lyme.

Letter to the Editor: Unaffiliated Matt Ward Endorsed for Selectman by Old Lyme Republicans Due to His Integrity, Community Involvement

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To the Editor:

The members of the RTC of Old Lyme have enthusiastically endorsed Matt Ward, an unaffiliated voter, as our candidate for Second Selectman in November’s municipal election. This choice was made because we felt Matt’s values of integrity and community involvement closely matched the needs of the town. Matt’s history as a resident of Old Lyme is replete with examples of his commitment to the town. He served 3 years on the Board of Directors of the LYSB, 10 years on the LOL Little League, and many other town activities. In addition, Matt is a Planning Commission Alternate. 

Matt has recently retired after 20 years as a State Police Officer. Matt and his wife Tara, well known in the community, have five children in the school system. He is a man of great energy, integrity, and commitment to our town. I ask you to elect Matt Ward as our Second Selectman on November 2nd.

Sincerely,

David Griswold,
Old Lyme.