Category Archives: News

Our Top 10 (Non-COVID) Most Read Stories in 2020

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LYME/OLD LYME — It was an interesting experience delving into our analytics for 2020 because 2020 was — for want of a better description —  an interesting year.

Usually, when we undertake our review of the previous year each January, we find stories covering a wide range of topics in our Top 10. This year was different in that every single one of our Top 10 Stories (and beyond) related directly to COVID-19 data.

Rather than publishing all those articles full of depressing details of the spread of the virus in our towns, we have chosen to publish our Top 10 non-COVID-19-related stories and these, we submit, provide a balanced overview of the remaining priorities of our community after the obvious dominance of COVID-19 as our top concern in 2020.

The most read article was — and we think this is a first —  a ‘Letter to the Editor.’

  1. In July, the Senior Ministers of the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme led by Senior Minister Stephen Jungkeit (pictured right) wrote an Open Letter to the Old Lyme community setting two challenges related to the expansion of affordable housing in the town. The letter was written in response to the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent events organized locally to address the issue of systemic racism, “… that continues to plague our country.” The letter sparked a great many comments and several more that we chose not to publish. Sadly, we lost some subscribers to our newsletter after publication of the letter, but fortunately, we gained many more. Take a look at the letter now six months on and see what you think. A great deal has happened since then with regard to affordable housing in Old Lyme.
    Letter to the Editor: An Open Letter to the Old Lyme Community … with Two Challenges

    This tree at Saint Ann’s was one of the many casualties of Tropical Storm Isaias.

     

  2. Remember Aug. 4th, 2020?  That was the day that Tropical Storm Isaias tore through our towns knocking out power to almost everyone. Our story, which focused on photos sent in by readers, was our #2 most read article.
    Trees Down, Power Out All Over Lyme, Old Lyme; Lyme Estimates at Least Three Days Before Power Restored

Julia Balfour

  1. In third place was the profoundly sad announcement of the death of the brilliant, vivacious, and remarkable creative designer Julia Balfour, who passed Nov. 30, at age 42 after a lengthy battle with cancer. She lived and worked in Lyme for many years before moving to East Haddam.
    Death of Julia Balfour Announced; Obituary Now Added

    2. Hundreds gathered on the lawn in front of the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme to hear a number of speakers after marching down Lyme Street from Memorial Town Hall.

  2. Saturday, June 6, saw hundreds turn out to “Stand Up and Kneel Down” for racial justice. Our report on the unprecedented event, which includes many of the speeches given, came in at number four.
    Hundreds Turn Out to Join Peaceful March, Rally for Racial Justice in Old Lyme

    Ready for the rush. Old Lyme Beach Rangers stand ready and waiting for the anticipated crowd when the beach reopened at Sound View.

  3. We all love our beaches so when the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen closed them down in an effort to contain the COVID-19 virus, people were very concerned. But when it was determined the beaches could reopen for Memorial Day, everyone wanted to read about it and that became our fifth most-read story.
    Old Lyme Beaches Closed Today, But Set to Open Memorial Day Weekend
  4. Teddy Anastasiou (pictured right) has been running Old Lyme Pizza Palace forever, but he doesn’t just make great pizza — he also gives back to the community in innumerable ways. When he was announced as the winner for July of the Old Lyme Kindness Award, there was an outpouring of support for the choice and the story notched sixth place in our most read list. 
    Old Lyme Committee Names OL Pizza Palace’s Teddy Anastasiou as Latest ‘Kindness Award’ Recipient

    Mary Seidner, LYSB Executive Director

  5. Similarly, when State Rep Devin Carney announced his selections for ‘Local Heroes’ in his District, there was strong support for his choices in Old Lyme. Jen Datum (pictured left) and Mary Seidner (pictured right) were the honorees for their exceptional work in the early days of the pandemic. The community agreed and made the story about their selection our seventh place story.
    State Rep. Carney Names Two Old Lyme Residents ‘Local Heroes;’ Datum, Seidner to Receive Official Citations

    The sign at Sound View Beach informs the public that the beach is closed.

  6. We have already mentioned how important our beaches are to this community so,’ when they were initially closed due to COVID, not everyone agreed with the decision. Old Lyme First Selectman Timothy Griswold found himself having to explain it and people wanted to read about his reasoning, causing this article to take eighth place in our ‘Most Read Stories.’
    Griswold Defends Decision to Close Old Lyme Town Beaches

    A view looking south down the Connecticut River with Watch Rock Preserve to the left. Photo by Edie Twining.

  7. There is no question that the Lyme-Old Lyme community cares passionately about the environment, so when the Old Lyme Land Trust closed down Watch Rock Preserve at weekends due to the damage being caused by humans, there was strong interest in the story. Our article on the topic came in at number nine.
    Watch Rock Preserve in Old Lyme Closed Weekends Through Labor Day Due to Environmental, Safety Violations

    In this undated photo, the Mervin E. Roberts life saving boat is shown moored at Mystic Seaport. All photos are courtesy of the Wood Island Life Saving Station Association.

  8. Our 10th-placed story was one of our favorites and has become even more so with the passing of Mr. Roberts, aged 98, at the end of the year. We are proud to have played a small part in this wonderful story since we were the initial point of contact for the Wood Island Life Saving Station Association (WILSSA) of Kittery, Maine. The WILSSA President Sam Reid reached out to us after reading our story by Michele Dickey about Mr. Roberts published in May. Mr. Roberts gave what he said would be his final homily after 50 years service as Old Lyme Fire Department Chaplain at Old Lyme’s Memorial Day ceremony since he needed to pass the torch to someone younger. Mr. Roberts’s words turned out to be true for a different reason.
    Reid had found a boat named the ‘Mervin F. Roberts’ for sale on the internet, which the WILSSA wished to acquire, and wondered if our Mervin F. Roberts of Old Lyme was the same Mervin F. Roberts after whom the boat was named. We connected Reid with First Selectman Griswold and the story really takes off from there.
    Griswold Launches Effort to Raise Funds to Purchase Unique ‘Mervin F. Roberts’ Rescue Boat for Maritime Museum in Maine

Public Hearing for Old Lyme’s Planning Commission’s Conservation, Development Plan Draws Most Comments on Town’s Housing Needs

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Old Lyme Planning Commission members and visitors participated in a virtual Public Hearing Thursday on the commission’s proposed Plan of Conservation & Development.

OLD LYME — Old Lyme Planning Commission Chairman Harold Thompson opened Thursday evening’s Public Hearing for the ‘Adoption of the 2020 Plan of Conservation & Development (POCD)’ by noting, “This has been a long road with some difficult times.” Adding that the Commission had held 15 workshops to discuss the document, which is published on the Town of Old Lyme website, he went on to detail the required timeline for gaining its approval in order to  submit it by the mandatory deadline to the state.

He then opened the virtual (the meeting was held via Webex) floor to comments from the public. First to speak was Halls Road Improvement Committee Chairman Edie Twining, who initially quoted from comments she had submitted in writing to the Commission prior to the meeting.

She stated, “The Halls Road Improvements Committee has initiated a Halls Road Plan which is currently being created by the BSC group. This is a significant, town-approved, and town-funded planning initiative that will guide any future development in the Halls Road Commercial area. The plan will include recommendations for significant capital investment by the town to create new sidewalks, bike paths, pedestrian lighting, and landscaping in the Halls Road area.”

Continuing, “It will provide studies on the market needs of this area, the infrastructure options, CT DOT constraints, and documentation of all existing conditions to provide recommendations for changes in zoning, uses, and design guidelines,” she added,  “This report will lay the groundwork to aid in maintaining our town’s commercial center with the introduction of mixed use.”

She then stressed, “In keeping with clearly expressed public sentiment, it will steer away from the current “strip center” aesthetic of 60’ setbacks. Instead it will promote a return to the original small town character of Old Lyme’s town center, as found on historic Lyme Street.”

Twining concluded her comments in her own words, “We feel the town’s 10-year Plan of Conservation and Development should include a reasonable discussion of the largest formal planning effort currently underway under the town’s auspices and at the town’s expense,” noting, “I have delivered an outline of specific pages where I see a need for changes in order to correctly represent the Halls Road Planning effort. I would like to request that these changes be included in your document.”

Finally she thanked the commission for their, “time and consideration of this work.”

Howard Margules, Old Lyme Economic Development Commission Chairman, then questioned whether the issue of blighted structures in the town should be included in the document. He also quoted from a general description of a strip mall, which Thompson agreed bore a strong resemblance to Halls Rd. Margules pointed out that it states in the POCD that strip malls are not permitted and therefore suggested there might be a “disconnect” in the report on that matter.

Margules further suggested the commission should confer with the new leadership at Lyme Academy to update information in the plan regarding the Academy and then concluded by saying how much he appreciated the commission’s work.

Thompson responded he had already had a lengthy phone conversation with Michael Duffy, the new board chair at the Academy.

Stephen Jungkeit, Senior Minister at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, thanked the planning commission for their work, adding, “This is a really well done report.” He said he wished to “affirm interest in [a variety of types of] housing,” which had been mentioned in the report, noting that, “from his vantage point,” this was a major issue in the town that he felt needed urgent attention. After noting that he hoped that the POCD represented, “… the beginning of a wider look at the issue,” he ended by saying simply, “I’m just saying thank you for that.”

Commission member Stephen Ross expressed the opinion, “that what would benefit the town a lot would be a broader survey of what the town needs in terms of housing.” Remarking that a house near his own on Shore Rd. had been vacant for one and a half years, he said, “We need to assess the actual demand [for housing] as opposed to the perceived demand.”

Twining responded that the HRIC was doing a “market study looking into some of those things,” and had reported that, “only one apartment was available in the whole town.”

Ross disputed that finding saying, “There’s a heck of a lot more than one apartment available,” noting that there was a need to look into all rentals.

Jungkeit suggested any survey should also include research into housing needs emanating from outside the town. Ross then stated, “It’s all about inventory.”

Margules agreed that “drilling down further into housing needs” would be beneficial, noting that, for example, the needs of seniors downsizing and young people moving into town “need to be addressed as well.”

The Public Hearing concluded with a unanimous vote to continue the hearing until Feb. 9.

 

 

Ledge Light Announces COVID Vaccine Registration Options for Individuals Age 75 & Over

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Photo by CDC on Unsplash.

LYME/OLD LYME — UPDATED JAN. 15 (see text in red below): On Thursday, Jan. 14, the State of Connecticut opened COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to individuals aged 75 and older.

Individuals aged 75 and older who wish to be vaccinated can register for a vaccination through a number of channels:

Old Lyme Emergency Services Director David Roberge contacted us this morning to emphasize that the easiest way for people aged 75 and over is to register for the vaccine via the LLHD website. Anyone registering this way should then expect to receive two emails after registering, one from the Connecticut Department of Health and the second from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

Roberge also stressed that people in this age group, who do not have access to a computer, should use the phone number given above to register.

He added that relatives, friends and neighbors of persons aged 75 and over could be very helpful in checking that the person [aged 75 and over] has successfully registered for the vaccine by any method.

In addition to these methods, some individuals may be contacted by their healthcare provider to schedule a vaccination, if their provider is participating in the vaccination program. 

All vaccinations are offered by appointment; people must first register through one of the systems listed above to secure an appointment. Vaccine supply remains limited and patience is requested. 

Although the availability of vaccine will help reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19 long term, it is only one of the tools that we have in our toolbox to fight this pandemic; it is an imperative that everyone remain diligent and continue to practice social distancing and appropriate mask protocols.

Ledge Light Health District (LLHD) is committed to assuring that all individuals have access to vaccinations as they become eligible, and as vaccine is available.

While LLHD is one of the vaccination providers, LLHD does not make decisions about who is eligible for vaccinations. Ledge Light Health District staff are monitoring information regarding vaccine eligibility as it is released by the State of Connecticut.

The State has indicated that certain frontline essential workers as well as individuals between the ages of 65 and 74 and those individuals ages 16 to 64 who have underlying health conditions that put them at greater risk will become eligible in the coming weeks.

Visit the LLHD’s website and social media pages frequently for up-to-date information.

Two New Shows on View at Lyme Art Association: ‘First Impressions’ & ‘New Elected Artists’

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‘September’s Sunflowers’ is one of the features works in the New Elected Artists Show opening at the Lyme Art Association, Jan. 15.

OLD LYME — On Friday, Jan. 15, two new shows open at the Lyme Art Association (LAA).

The First Impressions Exhibition is a juried exhibition of the Association’s Associate Artist members, accomplished artists who have been successfully exhibiting in selective shows at the Lyme Art Association for a number of years. This exhibit will include a variety of media and themes: landscape, portrait, and still life paintings, as well as sculpture.

The New Elected Artists show in the Goodman Gallery will present work from four new Elected Artists. This year the Elected Artists welcome Michael Centrella, Jacqueline Jones, Susan Termyn, and Len Swec into this most selective and talented group of artists. Both exhibits run through March 11, 2021.

 

‘Foxglove’ by Betsy Barry is one of the featured works in the ‘First Impressions’ exhibition opening Jan. 15, at the LAA

“The Annual Associate Artists Exhibition highlights the range, creativity, and excellence of our Associate Artist members. This exhibition includes a variety of subjects, media, and styles: paintings or sculptures that capture the range of human emotion, the beauty and grandeur of the Connecticut landscape, or the personal objects and surroundings of everyday life,” notes Jocelyn Zallinger, LAA’s Gallery Manager.

She adds, “The New Elected Artists show in the Goodman Gallery promises to be impressive; our new class of Elected Artists is very accomplished.”

First Impressions and New Elected Artists are on view through March 11, 2021. Visitors to the LAA are asked to wear a face covering when visiting and practice social distancing.

The LAA was founded in 1914 by the American Impressionists and continues the tradition of exhibiting and selling representational artwork by its members and invited artists, as well as offering art instruction and lectures to the community.

The LAA is located at 90 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, in a building designed by Charles Adams Platt and located within an historic district. Admission is free with contributions appreciated. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by appointment.

For more information on exhibitions, purchase of art, art classes, or becoming a member, call 860-434-7802 or visit www.lymeartassociation.org

Letter to the Editor: Patience, Kindness of Old Lyme Postmaster, All OL Postal Workers Much Appreciated

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To the Editor:

“Only Kindness Matters” a popular song by Jewel, is the modus operandi of Jim Swimmer, our Postmaster of the Old Lyme Post Office. Over the years, I have witnessed his patient, kind, and personal attention as a problem solver, or just as a helpful Human Being.

December was a burdensome month for all forms of delivery due to the pandemic. There were often lineups of customers at the post office mailing packages to family and friends. Kudos to all the Old Lyme Postal Workers who handled the stream of objects coming to their counters – the packages piled up high behind the counters, which had to be sorted and started on to the next transit. Every worker was courteous and patient, and I’m sure were working many more than 8 hours a day behind the scenes to keep it all moving.

Folks complained about packages that were not delivered or received in the time expected. Even Priority Mail packages and Express Mail packages were delayed. I observed and heard about several instances of parcels that were sometimes routed to the wrong post office on the way to final destination. Through it all, Patience and Kindness to all customers seemed to be the rule at the Old Lyme Post Office. Thank You to all our Postal Workers!

Sincerely,

Patricia Shippee,
Old Lyme.