An Open Letter to the Residents and Taxpayers of Old Lyme:
During the past few weeks, hundreds of residents have expressed their opinions, both positive and negative, to the Board of Selectmen, the Planning Commission and the Zoning Commission regarding the Halls Road Overlay District (HROD) application.
As interest in the application has grown, so have questions about the application process.
I want to take a moment to assure all residents of two things.
First, the Town of Old Lyme is following the application process that every town in Connecticut is required to follow when it comes to potentially changing zoning regulations. The process is designed so that elected officials on all relevant boards and commissions can review the application in the context of a town’s Plan for Conservation & Development, solicit public input and then make the best decisions for the town.
Second, everyone’s opinions – whether of concern or support – have been reviewed and carefully considered by the members of the Board of Selectmen, the Planning Commission, the Zoning Commission and the Halls Road Improvement Committee. Public input and feedback are an integral part of the application process.
After the most recent Zoning Commission meeting on April 9, which was attended by some 550 residents, I have received multiple requests from opponents of the application to withdraw the application from further consideration.
I am not planning to do that for the two reasons I just mentioned. We are following the required process, and the appropriate boards and commissions are soliciting and considering everyone’s opinions.
I will also add that, in recent weeks, some of the public comments being made on social media have morphed into personal attacks against the volunteers who have served on the Halls Road Improvements Committee. These comments are unkind and do not relate to the issue.
As the application process moves forward, I would like to request that everyone be respectful of the dedicated volunteers who give their time and skills to our town, even when and if their opinions may be different from your own.
Sincerely,
Martha H. Shoemaker, Old Lyme.
Editor’s Note: The author is the First Selectwoman of Old Lyme.
Tanner T. Hunt, Jr. slipped away very peacefully on April 6, 2025, surrounded by his three children. He was 89 years old. Born in Port Arthur on March 3, 1936, Tanner lived in Beaumont for most of his life – one of the many reasons he felt lucky in life. His parents, T.T. Hunt, Sr., and Velma Welch Hunt, were hard-working, kind, and doted on their only child. After attending Averill Elementary and Dick Dowling Junior High, Tanner graduated from Beaumont High School in 1954 where he played on the basketball team (decent), and the golf team (atrocious). He then moved to Austin to attend the University of Texas. During two glorious college summers, he worked as a guide for students who were touring across Europe. Another summer, he and some high school friends moved to Greenwich Village in New York, where Tanner had a job with the New York Times as a gopher.
As an only child, Tanner was bookish and considered following in his father’s footsteps as a journalist and Editor-in-Chief of The Beaumont Enterprise. However, after graduating with a B.A. in English in 1958, Tanner went to law school at the University of Virginia instead, ultimately completing his J.D. at UT Law School in 1962. Tanner and his first wife, Anabel Stelfox, moved to Washington, DC, where Tanner worked in Robert Kennedy’s Department of Justice, and where his first child, Tanner Truett (Truett) Hunt III, was born. Also born in Washington was his love of bluegrass and folk music, which would remain a consuming enthusiasm throughout his life. And with many thousands of others, Tanner stood in the crowd as Martin Luther King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech.
He and Anabel returned to Beaumont in 1964, where again he had the luck (despite having, by his own admission, too much fun in law school) to be offered a job at Wells, Duncan and Beard, the firm where he remained for the entirety of his 57-year private practice. He respected and learned from founding partners Peter Wells, George Duncan, and Louis Beard, whom he called “fine and honorable lawyers.” Another stroke of luck occurred when Tanner became the attorney for South Park ISD, which later merged with Beaumont ISD, a client for 35 years. Other school districts followed. He felt fortunate to discover a niche early in his career and believed that school board members were often a community’s unsung and wisest leaders.
Tanner and Anabel went on to have two additional children, Faulkner and Meredith, before divorcing in 1973. More luck came his way when he reconnected with his high school sweetheart, Mary Ellen Phelan McKaughan. Marrying in 1978, Mary Ellen was and is a lovely and loving stepmother to his three children, for which he was always grateful.
Through the years, Tanner enjoyed, well just about everything; playing handball at the Y, writing reviews to books no one ever read and letters to the editor that some did, playing poker at The Beaumont Club (he won some), running for State Representative (he lost decidedly), performing with local bluegrass band The Barflies and the Maids, presiding enthusiastically over a literary club with Lamar University professors he entitled “Town Meets Gown,” and, most notably, hosting a weekly bluegrass show called “Saturday Night with the Folks,” which aired on KVLU for more than 40 years. He joked that most of the listeners resided in the local prison. Tanner always stressed to his children the importance of having roots in a community, and he certainly did that. He and his family lived in Beaumont for almost 100 years.
Tanner’s greatest joy was his children and grandchildren. At times, they tested his limits (at one point, there were five teenagers living under his roof), but he took limitless pleasure in spending time with them and was interested in every single aspect of their lives. Tanner rarely gave advice, but he did share the wisdom of his experience, such as: the importance of an education, the value of broadening one’s horizons, and the freedom of being one’s own boss. Most importantly, he showed his children who he was by his genuine and heartfelt interest in other people’s lives – whether he was in a courtroom, a classroom, a party, a poker table, a late-night school board meeting, the Y, the office, the radio station, or the drive-in window at Dunkin Donuts – Tanner made many friends throughout his long life. If he liked you, you knew it.
Tanner’s family would like to express our sincerest gratitude to the many helpers who made his life better and were like family to him, especially toward the end of his life: Angela Hamilton, Debra Leblue, Jerry Phillips, Herlinda Uz, Alex Torres, the Richard family, Tracie Bullock, and Cele Stevens.
Survivors: Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Mary Ellen Hunt; his sons and daughter and their spouses (Truett & Leah Hunt, Faulkner Hunt & Ann Lightfoot, Meredith Hunt & Charlie Flatten); and his beloved grandchildren: Joab, Henry, Agatha Hunt, Beatrice Hunt, and Silas Flatten. He is also survived by Mary Ellen’s five children (Pete Musgrove, Ma’Lise Gonzalez, Richard McKaughan, Amanda McKaughan, and Tim McKaughan) and their families.
Memorial Service: A memorial service in Tanner’s honor will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at 3 p.m. at the family home in Beaumont.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to KVLU Public Radio, The Lincoln Project, or a charity of your choice.
Lyme-Old Lyme Varsity Wildcats Defeats Old Saybrook Varsity Rams On Back Of Clutch Display From Rowen Meisner (2-3, 5 RBI, 1 R, 1 HR) Lyme-Old Lyme-14 Old Saybrook-13
On Friday, April 11, Rowen Meisner drove in five runs on two hits to lead Lyme-Old Lyme past Old Saybrook. Meisner hit a grand slam to left field in the seventh inning, scoring four runs, and singled in the fourth inning, scoring one.
Lyme-Old Lyme collected seven hits and Old Saybrook tallied four in the high-scoring game.
Old Saybrook got on the board in the top of the first inning after Old Saybrook scored on a wild pitch, Lyme-Old Lyme committed an error, and Vince Bibisi (1-3, 2 R, 1 BB) scored after tagging up, each resulting in a run.
Old Saybrook added to their early lead in the top of the third inning when Noah Nygard (1-2, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB) singled, scoring one run, another error scored two runs, and a third error scored a run.
Old Saybrook scored six runs on one hit in the top of the fifth inning. Nygard drew a walk, which scored a run, Connor Barry (0-3, 1 R, 1 RBI) hit a sacrifice fly, scoring one run, James Ashe (0-3, 1 R, 1 BB) drew a walk, scoring one run, Charlie Carmichael (1-4, 2 R, 1 BB) drew a walk, scoring one run, and a fourth error scored two runs.
Lyme-Old Lyme flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the seventh, scoring 10 runs on four hits to take the lead and walk-off14-13. The biggest moment in the inning was a grand slam to left field by Meisner that drove in four.
Ben Frazier (3-4, 5 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB) set the tone at the top of the lineup, leading Lyme-Old Lyme with three hits in four at bats including having the walk-off hit. Aidan Carpentino (0-1 2 R, 1 RBI, 4BB) led Lyme-Old Lyme with four walks. Giovanni Winters (1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB) and Frazier each stole multiple bases for Lyme-Old Lyme (Ben with 3, Gio with 2). Lyme-Old Lyme collected eight stolen bases total for the game.
Nygard led Old Saybrook with two runs batted in. Bibisi, Carmichael, Lucas Hedge-Terrei (1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI), and Nygard each collected one hit for Old Saybrook . Old Saybrook had four stolen bases for the game.
GOLF
On Thursday, Old Lyme narrowly lost to Haddam-Killingworth 187 — 89 on Lyman Orchards Player Course, which has a Par 36. The scores were as follows:
Old Lyme Jonah Scheckwitz 45 Elliot Dunn-Sims 47 Carter McGlinchey 50 Manu Geronimo 47
Haddam Killingworth Cameron Moore 47 Axel Kolcio 44 Braylon Rodriguez 43 Robert Krahn 53
GIRLS’ TENNIS
On Thursday, April 10, Old-Lyme Girls Tennis crushed Morgan High School 7-0. Full scores were as follows:
1st Singles: Katherine Zhang vs Tessa Gebauer 6-1, 6-1 2nd Singles: Emma Arelt vs Rachel Spaziano 6-7, 6-0, 6-0 3rd Singles: Mari Munster vs Paige M onty 6-1, 6-1 4th Singles: Rose Dimmock vs Fran Limauro: 6-2, 6-0
1st Doubles: Stella Young / Addy Morosky vs Kate Gardner/ Margaret Limauro: 6-0, 6-0 2nd Doubles: Katie Ferman / Ainsley Rinoski vs Giovanna Riera / Eva Morse: 6-0, 6-0 3rd Doubles: Allegra Schaedler / Caterina Wilson vs Mia Zhiminaicela / Gabby Sabatini: 6-1, 6-2
BOYS’ TENNIS
On Thursday, Old Lyme Boys’ tennis was defeated by Morgan 1-6
Singles:
1. Nate Miller (M) defeated Andy Sicuranza (OL) 6-1, 6-0 2. Micah Bass (OL) defeated Nick Vetrano (M) 6-7 (4),7-5, 10-4 3. Nate Kinser (M) defeated Rowan Hovey (OL) 6-4, 6-3 4. Andy Alvarez (M) defeated Oliver Wyman (OL) 7-6 (10), 6-4
Doubles:
1. Ryan Gray/Nick Hicks (M) defeated Chris Dagler/Gavin Gray (OL) 6-2, 6-3 2. Mekai Howard/Jude Watson (M) defeated Ryan Olsen/Ryan Miller (OL) 1-6, 6-2, 7-5 3. Hendrick Bausch/Zhen Wu (M) defeated James Dahlke/John Turick (OL) 6-4, 6-3
BOYS’ LACROSSE
On Thursday, April 10, Old Lyme trounced Cromwell 16-0
The following boys scored, assists are shown in parentheses after goals.
Hayden Grethel 2 (0) Alex Krol 3 (1) Ben Goulding 3 Quinn Sprankle 1 TJ Sousa 1 Payton Burr 1 Judah Waldo 1 Kevin Hou 1 Will Burgess 1 Brendan Landry 2 (1) TOTAL 16 (2)
OLD LYME – The Lyme-Old Lyme Schools Board of Education on Thursday voted unanimously to reinstate an elementary school music position to the district’s $39.7 million 2025-26 proposed budget while calling for harmony between the music department and district administration.
The district school board called for the special meeting amid vocal opposition from some community members after the position held by Mile Creek School music teacher Matthew Guevara was not included in the proposed budget. The school board approved the spending plan in February.
There are currently six music teachers in the district, including Guevara. He was hired in January.
Superintendent of Schools Ian Neviaser on Friday said the bottom line of the 2025-26 budget proposal will remain the same despite the added position. The cost, which he valued at $70,201 in salary and benefits, will be absorbed in the proposed budget.
It hasn’t yet been decided exactly where money will come from, according to Neviaser.
The budget proposal represents an increase of $2.7 million, or 7.39 percent, over the current spending plan. It’s the highest increase among comparable schools in the shoreline area, according to a presentation given by Neviaser earlier this week.
He said $1.8 million of the $2.7 million increase is attributable to debt payments for the renovation project happening in all district buildings except the high school.
The move to reinstate the music position came after school board members heard from members of the music department about how to enhance the program using the existing ensemble of six teachers.
The school board members were receptive to the music department’s plan and surprised it was the first they were hearing of it.
School board member Chris Staab, who made the motion to add the sixth teaching position and to require the administration and music department to work together in coming up with an implementation plan, voiced concerns about the dynamic he was seeing in the district.
“The departments don’t seem to be working in conjunction with the administration, at least in this case, and that’s concerning to me,” he said.
Kristine Pekar, music department chair and Lyme-Old Lyme High School choral teacher, said members of the department have not been asked for their thoughts like this before.
“It’s the first time anybody’s hearing it because when we put ideas out there, it doesn’t feel like they are really looked at for what they can do for kids,” she said.
Neviaser has cited underenrollment, rather than cost cutting, as the reason the district could not maintain current staffing levels.
Pekar said she’s heard over and over that the cut wasn’t a financial decision.
“We’re not asking for more finances,” she said. “We’re asking for the opportunity to grow this program.”
Critics said eliminating the music teacher at Mile Creek School would have negative implications at all grade levels by spreading the five remaining teachers too thinly across the district’s five schools.
Pekar gave an hour-long presentation on the structure of the district’s music program and how it compares to area districts. She also laid out how the program could better serve students whose musical education had been interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic with lasting effects.
Some of the strategies to more fully utilize existing staff included introducing instrument lessons, band rehearsals and chorus classes earlier in elementary school; scheduling one-on-one lessons for students with disabilities at the middle school; and promoting existing music electives at the high school to make more students interested in taking them.
Key to increasing enrollment at the high school is classifying the high school’s music theory class as a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) credit students can choose from to satisfy graduation requirements, Pekar said.
She used the example of a current student planning to study music in college who signed up for marine biology as his STEM credit.
“He’s going into music education and he had to take marine bio to fulfill his STEM credits, instead of taking music history to get ready for college, or AP music theory to get ready for college. And I think that is a huge disservice to our students,” she said.
Pekar pointed to data showing 121 of Lyme-Old Lyme High School’s 368 students, or 33%, are enrolled in chorus or band ensembles. She said the number compares favorably to area districts, including 11.7% in East Lyme and 20.4% in the Region 4 school covering Chester, Deep River and Essex.
Members of the school board agreed they can still cut the music position after the proposed budget is approved by voters if the administration and music department doesn’t come forward with a compelling plan for implementing the ideas laid out at the meeting.
Neviaser on Friday remained focused on enrollment.
“We look forward to building upon the creative ideas presented by the music department last night in order to grow student enrollment in this area,” he said.
The board did not discuss a suggestion from Mary Powell-St. Louis, a former district school board member from Lyme, to offset the cost of the sixth music teacher’s salary by paying for the high school sound system and middle school lighting system out of the district’s undesignated fund balance, or rainy day fund.
She said the move would end up lowering the overall budget increase to 6.85%.
There is $3.1 million in the undesignated fund balance, according to Neviaser.
He said it is “yet to be determined” whether the district will consider Powell-St. Louis’ suggestion.
The referendum on the proposed budget will be held May 6.
The Old Lyme Zoning Commission closed the public hearing on the Halls Road Overlay District application April 9, 2025 in front of a packed auditorium at the Lyme-Old Lyme High School. All photos by E. Regan.
OLD LYME—About 550 people converged in the Lyme-Old Lyme High School auditorium Wednesday evening, many of them armed with “Vote No” signs and deeply-held ideals about preserving their small town’s character, as they fought a plan to bring apartments and condominiums to Halls Road.
The Old Lyme Zoning Commission voted unanimously to close the public hearing on the Halls Road Overlay District around 9:45 p.m. after roughly 40 people got up to speak. The subject was a highly controversial application for the creation of an overlay district on Halls Road that could allow as many as 40 housing units per acre to be built above, or behind, ground-floor businesses set close to the street in the 40-acre zone.
Residents and vocal project critics Ron and Julie Malloy said they had about 500 of the “Vote No” signs printed. By the start of the meeting, only a few were left in their stack. There were also up to 100 people waiting in the hall because Old Lyme Fire Marshal Dave Roberge, per state fire code, could let no more people inside the room.
The intent of the proposal, which has evolved over multiple years under the guidance of the Halls Road Improvements Committee (HRIC) and its chairwoman Edie Twining, is to create over time a vibrant, walkable neighborhood where strip malls now stand.
The overlay district proposal, created by the HRIC, was approved by the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen in a 2-1 vote in November. The application to the Zoning Commission was signed by First Selectwoman Martha Shoemaker.
The HRIC was represented at the hearing by Attorney William Sweeney, who told the commission he’s been working with the group since 2022.
The long-awaited meeting was the culmination of a process that had invited public input since January. No new information can be presented now that the hearing has concluded. The commission has 65 days to consider the evidence and reach a decision.
While demands for a town wide referendum on the issue have been a popular refrain on social media and in public meetings, Land Use Coordinator Eric Knapp said that’s simply not possible.
Once a town creates a zoning commission, according to Knapp, state law is clear that only the zoning commission has the power to make or amend regulations.
“You can’t call a referendum on this. The only choice you have at this point is abolish the zoning commission, abolish zoning regulations and start over,” he said, adding, “Which I don’t recommend.”
Opposition Arguments
Differing interpretations of the overlay proposal estimate there could be anywhere from 200 to 1,200 apartments built if the plan goes into effect. But even on the low end, opponents decried what they characterized as a disastrous effect on the environment, school enrollment, traffic and their overall quality of life in the rural community of 7,628 year-round residents.
The lack of sewer service in the area was also cited as a roadblock by many residents.
Proponents argued the proposed district would bolster the local economy and meet a vital need in a state where demand for housing exceeds the supply — and in a town where a vast majority of places to live are single-family homes. They said young adults, who grew up here, can’t afford to come back and older people looking to downsize, can’t stay.
The arguments in favor of the overlay district didn’t sway an immigrant from Argentina, a young adult living with her grandmother, and a San Diego transplant who each called for Old Lyme not to change.
Elizabeth Rex said she couldn’t afford to live in California again—even if she wanted to.
“I couldn’t even afford a studio apartment there now. But I’m not going to go home and demand that housing is built to accommodate me because I want to move back,” she said. “No! I moved to glorious Connecticut, which I love. I love this small town. It’s stunning. I love the farms nearby. I love the rivers. It’s gorgeous. Keep it this way.”
Maddie Sylvestri came to Old Lyme to live with her grandmother after growing up in Pittsburgh. She said the component of the overlay plan, which calls for 10% of the housing units to be rented out at rates considered affordable by state standards, won’t make a dent in the housing problem.
“Only 10% affordable living is just not going to meet the needs of young people in this economy,” Silvestri said.
Under the affordable housing provisions of the proposed overlay district, a single person making $69,840 a year would qualify for a rent of $1,746 per month for a studio apartment, according to the most recent rent limits set by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Resident Russell Todd, a member of the Historic District Commission who said he was speaking only for himself and his wife, said the proposal, “Represents a significant shift toward urbanization.”
He said the amount of housing, the size of the buildings and the lack of attractive green space threaten Old Lyme’s small-town identity that drew the couple to Old Lyme in the first place.
Robin Breeding, a familiar name on social media in posts bringing attention to the overlay district proposal, said the plan is full of contradictions.
“On one hand, advocates of the overlay say their plan calls for only a couple of hundred new apartments on Halls Road. On the other hand, they insist again, against the advice of this commission, to include parking garages,” she said. “That would only make economic sense if they build over a thousand units.”
She also argued against the contention that the overlay district would prevent construction of new gas stations and highway services. That’s because the underlying commercial district is still in place as an avenue for those who don’t want to build mixed-use developments on Halls Road.
The Pros
Proponents of the plan outlined a vision for a Main Street-type feel that was characteristic of nearby Lyme Street before most commercial offerings were pushed off the historic, tree-lined expanse and onto Rte. 1. They said the proposed regulation includes more modern requirements to protect the environment and relies on design guidelines that go further to enhance the town’s rural feel than the existing commercial zone.
In similar fashion to Breeding—but this time, supporting the proposal—Kimberly Thompson, chairwoman of the Old Lyme Democratic Town Committee, spoke of contradictory information from those against the plan.
She cited concerns from opponents about the lack of space for septic systems, proximity to the river and ensuring that open space remains protected.
“By definition, those things are going to limit the development in this area,” she said. “And I support the overlay district because those things exist, because there’s going to be review of septic and wastewater plans, because The Lieutenant River is governed by the Gateway Commission, and they are going to have input on what can go there. And because the land trust owns spaces here and their mission is to preserve that space.”
Alex Twining, a successful real estate developer and brother of the Halls Road Improvements Committee Chairwoman, said Halls Road is currently functional but not inviting.
“Imagine a better vision: A tree-lined Halls Road with sidewalks, bike paths, and shops you can stroll between, park once, stop in a few stores, meet your friend at a cafe, and maybe keep walking to the river or boat landing. Less driving, less hassle, and more pleasant,” he said.
This vision won’t happen overnight, and places like Big Y will be there for a long time. But with time, new shops and restaurants can begin to open along the street,” he added.
The businessman invoked the ire of the raucous crowd, which was again reprimanded by Zoning Commission Chairman Paul Orzel, to be respectful.
Edie Twining has been the subject of speculation on social media by those, who accuse her of seeking financial gain for her family, by advocating for the overlay district.
Nell Twining stood up to defend her husband and sister-in-law against what she described as, “Paranoid speculation, conspiracy theories, and repulsive accusations.”
“Neither Alex nor I own property nor have any financial interest on Halls Road or in the proposed overlay district,” Nell Twining said.
“And to those who express suspicions of why my sister-in-law has worked so hard as a volunteer on the Halls Road Committee: Volunteer community service has been important in the Twining family for generations,” she added.
The 550-person capacity of Lyme-Old Lyme High School ‘s auditorium was reached Wednesday night before the Old Lyme Zoning Commission’s Public Hearing on the Halls Road Improvements Committee Overlay District proposal began.
Being Heard
The public hearing had been open almost three times as long as the 35 days authorized in state statute. The commission was forced to close it when an extension already granted by the applicant was not renewed Wednesday.
Multiple people had called for the hearing to remain open so those who had been turned away would have time to hear and be heard.
Knapp, the land use coordinator, explained early in the meeting that technological limitations at the high school made it impossible to broadcast the meeting remotely.
The move to close the hearing came after Zoning Chairman Orzel, at the request of member Michael Miller, asked if the applicant would be willing to extend the public hearing. State statute specifies all extensions must be approved by the applicant.
Sweeney said his client was “not interested in extending” the hearing.
Edie Twining could not be reached for comment Thursday, and Sweeney said he was not authorized to speak for the committee.
Shoemaker, Old Lyme’s First Selectwoman, on Thursday acknowledged calls by residents like Shaun Mastroianni for her to withdraw the application she’d signed in November.
Mastroianni ran an unsuccessful campaign for state Senate as the Republican candidate in the 20th District race against Democrat Martha Marx.
Mastroianni used his two minutes at the microphone during the public hearing to emphasize he does not want to see Old Lyme become another Mystic and to ask residents to reach out to the Board of Selectmen to get them to withdraw the application.
“I urge you, tonight, tomorrow, to write to your first selectwoman that is sitting – hiding – in the back,” he said.
Shoemaker said she was in the first row of the balcony.
“I wasn’t hiding,” she said. “I was listening.”
Shoemaker said she would hold off on making any decisions on rescinding the proposal until Thursday’s 7 p.m. meeting of the Halls Road Improvement Committee was over.
“I’m waiting to hear their thoughts,” she said. “And I think that because they had put so much time and effort into it, I owe them the time for discussion.”
