OLD SAYBROOK–On Saturday, Sept. 6, the Estuary will host ‘Delivering Hope: a Party with Purpose‘—an evening of dinner, drinks and dancing to benefit its Meals on Wheels program.
The organization in a press release said the ‘Delivering Hope’ event aims to bring the community together to tackle food insecurity among seniors and ensure access to nutritious meals.
Funds raised through ticket sales, a silent auction, and donations will directly support meal preparation and delivery services.
The Estuary provides nutrition, transportation, social services, activities, and fitness programs to residents in Chester, Clinton, Essex, Deep River, Killingworth, Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook.
Gary William Mislick, 83, of Sebastian FL, Old Lyme and Deep River, CT, passed away in Florida on June 12, 2025. He was born in Deep River, CT in 1942 to Walter and Phebe (Sheffield) Mislick . Gary attended Valley Regional High School where he played basketball and was selected as his class president for several years before moving to Avon Old Farms School where he switched to the sport of baseball until his graduation …
They moved back to Deep River, CT where they built a great family life together …
Gary is preceded in death by his parents Walter and Phebe, along with his step-mother, Shirley (Sheffield) Mislick and his brother Jeffrey Mislick. He was also preceded in death by his beloved pets among which his black labrador, Koty, who truly stole his heart. He is survived by his wife Georgia, his sister Judith, his brother Randolph and wife Kelley. He was a loving father to his son, Gary Walter, son Curt and wife Jennifer Grannata , daughter Virginia “Ginny” (Mislick) King and husband Tim, and grandson Carson …
Visitation was held at Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, 34 Main Street in Centerbrook, CT on Friday, June 20, 2025 from 5-7pm. A funeral service was held at the Deep River Congregational Church, 1 Church Street in Deep River, CT on Saturday, June 21, 2025 at 1pm. Burial followed in the Winthrop Cemetery, Route 80 in Winthrop, CT. In lieu of flowers, Gary would have appreciated donations made to any of the following: Deep River Fire Dept., Old Lyme Ambulance Assoc. or Valley Shore Animal Welfare League.
A Celebration of Gary’s Life will be held in Sebastian, Florida at a time yet to be determined. To share a memory of Gary or send a condolence to his family please visit www.rwwfh.com
For more than 100 years, Visiting Nurses of the Lower Valley has been a trusted presence along the Connecticut shoreline, providing compassionate, high-quality healthcare to individuals in the comfort of their own homes. As a not-for-profit, community-based agency, our mission has always been to put people before profit—and we remain deeply committed to that mission today.
Our dedicated team of skilled nurses, physical, occupational, and speech therapists, home health aides, and social workers work tirelessly to help patients heal safely and comfortably at home. Whether you’re recovering from surgery, managing a chronic illness, or need support transitioning from hospital to home, we’re here when you need us most.
But now, we need you.
Why Community Support Matters
As a small, independently operated agency, we are facing unprecedented challenges:
Declining reimbursements from insurance companies
Rising competition from large, corporate healthcare systems
Referral limitations by hospitals and skilled nursing facilities that often direct patients only to their partnered agencies
These trends threaten the existence of independent providers like Visiting Nurses of the Lower Valley—providers who have long stood as pillars in their communities.
Despite these pressures, we refuse to compromise on what matters most: personalized, timely, and compassionate care.
What Sets Us Apart
No delays in services—we’re small, responsive, and focused on your needs
Personalized attention—you’re never a number
Local and not-for-profit—choosing us supports a community-based agency that reinvests in your neighborhood
Trusted for generations—our roots in the Lower Valley run deep
You Have the Right to Choose
Did you know that you have the legal right to choose your home healthcare provider? Under Connecticut General Statute 19a-504d, patients can request the agency they prefer. When you’re at the hospital or rehab facility and planning your return home, ask for Visiting Nurses of the Lower Valley by name—and continue with the team you already trust.
How You Can Help
Choose us and support local when you or a loved one needs homecare
Spread the word to family, friends, and neighbors
Advocate for patient choice in healthcare
Donate to support our not-for-profit mission and help us continue serving your community
To learn more about our services or how to support our work, visit www.visitingnurses.org or call 860-767-0186.
We are honored to walk beside you on your care journey—and with your support, we’ll continue to do so for the next century and beyond.
Sincerely,
Sarah Foley on behalf of The Visiting Nurses of the Lower Valley, Old Lyme
Editor’s Note: About 15% of Visiting Nurses of the Lower Valley’s clientele comes from Old Lyme. The group also serves Centerbrook, Chester, Clinton, Deep River, East Haddam, East Lyme, Essex, Haddam, Ivoryton, Killingworth, Madison, Moodus, Old Saybrook, Waterford, and Westbrook.
The Essex Winter Series has announced this family-friendly favorite as a humorous musical suite that mimics a variety of animals through 14 short movements.
ESSEX – The Essex Winter Series welcomes Orchestra New England on Sunday, April 27, for a performance of “The Carnival of Animals.”
The 2 p.m. performance will be held in the Valley Regional High School auditorium, 256 Kelsey Hill Road, Deep River. Outer doors open at 1:30 pm; Auditorium doors open at 1:45 pm.
The organization in a press release described the family-friendly favorite as a humorous musical suite by Camille Saint-Saëns, which – through 14 short movements – mimics a variety of animals.
Jacqueline Hubbard, executive director of the Ivoryton Playhouse, will narrate witty verses by Ogden Nash.
Tickets for this free concert are available at essexwinterseries.com or by calling 860.272.4572.
Families are asked to reserve tickets for young children even if it is anticipated that they will sit on an adult’s lap. Advanced reservations are highly recommended due to limited seating.
Accessible parking, entry and seating is available.
Norm Needleman (D), is the incumbent candidate for 33rd State Senate District, which includes Lyme.
The Police Officers Association of Connecticut has endorsed State Senator Norm Needleman for another term in the Connecticut State Senate.
As the First Selectman of Essex, Sen. Needleman works directly with police and first responders in his community. As a State Senator, he has taken steps to engage with local police departments, assist them where and when possible, and learn more about what they need to best succeed in their roles.
Knowing the vital importance of public safety, Sen. Needleman is committed to supporting policing strategies that benefit both officers and the public, allowing for them to safely and effectively keep our communities protected.
“Police in our communities rush toward danger while the rest of us flee. They play a direct and vital role in our communities, keeping us safe and ensuring those who break the law will meet necessary consequences,” said Sen. Needleman.
He continued, “I am honored to receive the support of the POACT, which represents approximately 5,000 police officers across the state, and will continue working to make sure our communities receive the care and service they need while the people who provide that care and service are able to go home at the end of the day with the compensation they deserve.”
In 2019 and 2023, Sen. Needleman voted for the bipartisan four-year Connecticut State Police labor union contracts providing officers with raises and bonuses as well as improved benefits. Specifically, that contract raised the pay for State Police trooper trainees, which will benefit the state’s ability to recruit and retain qualified troopers.
Sen. Needleman has also voted to support policies providing police officers with access to care for post-traumatic stress caused on the job among other significant improvements.
This latest endorsement comes after previously announced support for Norm from the Independent Party, Retired Teachers of Connecticut, Planned Parenthood, CT Realtors, Reproductive Action Now, 314 Action Fund and AFT Connecticut, among others.
Sen. Needleman was unanimously renominated this spring by the Democratic Party to represent the town of Lyme along with Colchester, Chester, Clinton, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Old Saybrook, Portland and Westbrook.
In addition to working as Senate Chair of the Energy and Technology Committee, Sen. Needleman also works as Vice Chair of the Planning and Development Committee and a member of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding, Transportation and Commerce Committees.
Sen. Needleman founded and runs a manufacturing company, Tower Laboratories in Centerbrook, and is currently serving his sixth term as the First Selectman of Essex.
Editor’s Note: This article is based on a press release issued by Sen. Needleman’s office.
