Letter to the Editor: Gravel Pit Situation on Mile Creek Rd. is a ‘Travesty’, ‘Cannot be Allowed to Continue’

Posted on March 18, 2025 by George E. Ryan

To the Editor:

This letter is in response to the letter sent to the Old Lyme Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission (IWWC) from Old Lyme resident Olaf Bertram-Nothnagel, signed by 52 others, and published on LymeLine.com at this link.

The letter is an excellent summation of the travesty taking place at 304 & 308-1 Mile Creek Road. This situation cannot be allowed to continue. The IWWC has the authority to direct a cease-and desist order and request remediation of the environmental damages to this wetlands area.

The [IWWC] Commission, or its agent, shall enforce the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act and shall issue with terms, conditions, limitations or modifications, or deny permits for all regulated activities in the Town of Old Lyme pursuant to Sections 22a-36 to 22a-45, inclusive, of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended.

The Old Lyme Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission (IWWC) was established by an ordinance adopted October 21, 1963, and tasked with the responsibility of protecting the indispensable, irreplaceable, and fragile natural resources in and around Old Lyme’s wetlands. This Commission oversees and grants permits for activities within wetlands, watercourses, and their Upland Review Areas (defined as the lateral 100-foot area around a wetland or watercourse, or the lateral 400-foot area around a vernal pool), or any activity altering the hydrology of a site and impacting a wetland or watercourse.

The IWWC’s mission is to protect natural resources within and around wetlands and watercourses for current and future Old Lyme residents.

Many inland wetlands and watercourses have been destroyed or are in danger of destruction because of unregulated use by reason of the deposition, filling or removal of material, the diversion or obstruction of water flow, the erection of structures and other uses, all of which have despoiled, polluted and eliminated wetlands and watercourses.

Such unregulated activity has had, and will continue to have, a significant, adverse impact on the environment and ecology of the state of Connecticut and has imperiled and will continue to imperil the quality of the environment thus adversely affecting the ecological, scenic, historic, and recreational values and benefits of the state for its citizens now and forever more.

The preservation and protection of the wetlands and watercourses from random, unnecessary, undesirable, and unregulated uses, disturbance or destruction is in the public interest and is essential to the health, welfare and safety of the citizens of the state.

Sincerely,

George E. Ryan,
Old Lyme.

Editor’s Note: The author serves as the vice chairman of the Old Lyme Conservation Commission but writes here solely in his capacity as a citizen of Old Lyme.

Death Announced of Rino Vitali, ‘Well-known Resident of Old Lyme’

Posted on March 18, 2025 by Admin

OLD LYME—Rino Vitali, a well-known resident of Old Lyme, CT peacefully passed away at the age of 88 on the morning of Wednesday, March 12, 2025. Rino, the sixth of eight children, was born on April 8,1936 to Achille and Rosina Vitari Vitali …

… Rino and Judith settled in Old Lyme where they built their dream house overlooking the picturesque Black Hall River. In their later years, they wintered in Saint Augustine, FL.

… Throughout the Old Lyme community, Rino was especially known for his work with children. He was a Little League Coach and umpire for over twenty years, winning several town championships, calling strikes with dramatic flair, and sending many a disruptive parent to their car. In addition, Rino was the Scoutmaster for Troop 26 for over a decade, growing the program from a handful of boys to several dozen at its peak. Rino was also fond of singing. He was a member of Saint Ann’s Episcopal Choir for almost 50 years, and spent many seasons singing with various local choral groups: the Eastern CT Symphony Chorus, Capella Cantorum, and Con Brio.

… He has been a continuous member of Black Hall Country Club since 1978 …

Rino is survived by his three sons, Sean, Kevin, and Keith, two daughters-in-law Denise Mock and Alexis Lury Vitali, longtime companion of Kevin Vitali, Lindsay Malloy, four grandchildren, Ethan, Luke, Rowan, and Shane, sister Sofy, two sisters-in-law, Janice Modon and Margaret Hotchkiss, and countless nieces and nephews, including Elizabeth Comstock.

A celebration of life ceremony will be held at Saint Ann’s memorial garden on Saturday, April 5th at 2PM at St. Ann’s Episcopal Church, 82 Shore Road, Old Lyme, CT. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Boy Scout Troop 26 of Old Lyme, The Lyme/Old Lyme Little League, or Saint Ann’s Episcopal Church music program.

Visit this link to read the full obituary published March 18 by DignityMemorial.com.

Old Lyme Puts Up Brave Fight in Div. V State Championship, But Shepaug Completes Perfect Season With 58-46 Win

Posted on March 16, 2025 by Olwen Logan

Sophomore Eddie Fiske Jr. (#34) was the Wildcats top-scorer in their championship game against Shepaug Valley with 15 points. All photos by Warner Swain.

MOHEGAN SUN–Top-seeded Shepaug Valley completed their unbeaten season Saturday, capping it with victory in the CIAC Division V State Championship when they soundly defeated Old Lyme 58-46. This was a first-time state tournament win for Shepaug Valley.

Old Lyme coach Brady Sheffield gives instructions to his team during a time-out in the game against Shepaug Valley.

The Wildcats were defending champions having won the Division V title last year under then-21-year-old coach Brady Sheffield, who was in his first year as coach at that time.

Old Lyme Junior Colman Curtiss-Reardon contributed nine points to the Wildcats final score.

Sophomore Edward Fiske Jr. was Old Lyme’s top scorer with 15 points while junior Colman Curtiss-Reardon and freshman William McKeever notched nine each.

Old Lyme freshman Will McKeever notched nine points for the Wildcats, including two three-pointers.

Shepaug Valley’s Andrew Konik was the game’s top-scorer with 21 points and eight steals. Reed Woerner and James Kersten added 14 and 12 points respectively.

Old Lyme Junior Oliver Wyman played a determined game for the Wildcats.

Town of Old Lyme Proclaims March 15 as ‘David Ruggles Day’

Posted on March 15, 2025 by Admin

Abolition and Civil Rights champion David Ruggles was born in Lyme, Conn. in 1810 at a time when Lyme and Old Lyme were one town.

OLD LYME—At its meeting on Monday, March 3, the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen voted to proclaim tomorrow, March 15, as ‘David Ruggles Day.’ Visit this link to see the Town’s Proclamation.

Born in Old Lyme on March 15, 1810, Ruggles was a champion of both Abolitionism and Civil Rights.

Old Lyme Selectman Jim Lampos wrote the following biography of Ruggles, which has been published on the ExploreOld Lyme.com website in the new Old Lyme Celebrates 250 section, which celebrates America’s semiquincentennial (250th) birthday next year.

Recognizing David Ruggles
By Jim Lampos

David Ruggles, a native son of our town, is an American hero deserving of recognition and honor for his work advancing the cause of liberty and civil rights.

He was the first black bookstore owner in the nation, a celebrated author and publisher of abolitionist literature, and a conductor on the underground railroad, personally helping 600 slaves, including Frederick Douglass, make their way to freedom.

Ruggles was a founder of the tactic of non-violent civil disobedience in the 1840s, deliberately violating Jim Crow laws by sitting in the “white’s only” section of passenger trains, highlighting the injustice of segregation by stoically suffering the consequences of his resistance to it.

His example set the foundation for the work of Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr. over a century later.

Born to free black parents in Lyme, Conn. on March 15, 1810 at a time when Lyme and Old Lyme were a single town, David Ruggles was educated in Norwich and moved to New York City at the age of 18 where he quickly established himself as a successful merchant. His grocery store promoted “fair trade” products such as coffee and sugar not manufactured by slave labor.

One of the nation’s early abolitionists, Ruggles also authored pamphlets and published his own magazine, The Mirror of Liberty, to oppose slavery. His writing was noted for its sharp wit and fiery rhetoric. “Rise, brethren, rise!” he wrote in 1841, adding, “Strike for freedom or die slaves!”

The greatest testament to his work perhaps came from Frederick Douglass himself, who wrote about David Ruggles in his autobiography. Douglass, a fugitive slave, made his way to New York City where he found himself in “a distressed situation” before he met Ruggles.

Douglass writes: “Mr. Ruggles sought me out and very kindly took me took me to his boarding house,” where he was “attending to a number of other fugitive slaves, devising means for their successful escape, and though watched and hemmed in on almost every side, he seemed more than a match for his enemies.”

Douglass further notes his gratitude for “the humane hand of Mr. Ruggles, whose vigilance, kindness and perseverance I can never forget. I am glad of an opportunity to express, as far as words can, the love and gratitude I bear him”.

Likewise, the Town of Old Lyme will always remember David Ruggles and his good work, and in this year of celebrating America’s 250th year of independence, we honor the contribution he has made to our national culture.

Editor’s Note: The ‘Old Lyme Celebrates 250’ section on the ExploreOld Lyme.com website has been written to expand on the countdown to ‘Old Lyme America 250’ celebrations in 2026 by considering the town’s history, and those who have lived in Old Lyme, both past and present. In this section, the ‘Old Lyme America 250’ Committee will be sharing upcoming festivities, lectures, and walking tours related to the Town’s ‘America 250’ celebrations. The section also celebrates the heritage of Old Lyme’s townspeople today.

Op-Ed: Act Now to Stop Halls Rd. Overlay District

Posted on March 14, 2025 by Hiram E. Manville IV

Editor’s Note: We received this op-ed from Old Lyme resident Hiram E. Manville IV, who states he was, “Born and raised in Old Lyme (1972)” and is a, “Concerned parent, raising our two- and five-year-olds here in Old Lyme.”

The proposed Halls Road Overlay District (HROD) threatens to permanently alter Old Lyme, overwhelming our infrastructure, endangering the environment, and destroying the character of our town. This reckless plan prioritizes large-scale urbanization over the needs of our community. We must act now to stop it, or the following can happen to our town.

1. Uncontrolled Population Surge

The plan allows up to 40 residential units per acre, potentially bringing thousands of new residents. With 40 acres of developable land, this means up to 1,600 new housing units. This will lead to a major population surge, overwhelming our schools, emergency services, traffic infrastructure, and town resources.