A pumpkin was catapulted into the Lyme Old Lyme Food Share Garden (LOLFSG) compost pile at last year’s inaugural event. Photo courtesy of LOLFSG.
OLD LYME–On Saturday, Nov. 8, big orange gourds will be flying at the second annual Lyme Old Lyme Food Share Garden (LOLFSG) Pumpkin Toss.
The event will run from 9 to 11 a.m. at Town Woods Park, 30 Town Woods Road.
The event offers families a fun venue to recycle their Halloween pumpkins for a good cause, according to an LOLFSG press release.
Building on the popular pumpkin chunkin’ phenomenon, garden volunteers will deploy a trebuchet to toss the pumpkins into the compost pile.
The group said pumpkins from last year’s toss broke down through the composting process into nutrient-rich soil, which helped the Foodshare garden grow over three tons of produce for donation to the Gemma Moran United Way food distribution program and the Shoreline Soup Kitchen and Pantries.
LYME — The Lyme Public Hall’s Chowder Dinner is a longstanding Lyme Public Hall tradition, served up a beautiful historic setting. The public is invited to stop by on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 5 to 7 pm, either to dine at the Hall or for take-away to enjoy at home.
The dinner features hearty homemade clam and corn chowders (free refills and vegetarian option available), special recipe coleslaw, green salad from Falls Brook Organic Farm, locally made breads, and homemade apple crisp.
Prices for the hearty meal are at the same price as last year, although local fresh clam prices have been rising dramatically in the past few years. $20 for a complete meal at the Hall; $10 for kids 7-12 and children under 7 eat for free; cash or checks accepted.
Chowder quarts to take home are available for $20, or a complete meal can be assembled to go for the same price.
Head Chef Bill Denow will hold to tradition using the best ingredients, and he promises you will not have to hunt around to find a clam in his recipe; your spoon will always find a satisfying clam bite!
This year, the Public Hall would like to help support the Shoreline Soup Kitchens at the same time that this traditional event is being enjoyed, and is asking everyone to bring a can to contribute if you are able.
The Lyme Public Hall is located at 249 Hamburg Rd. (Rte. 156) in Lyme, Conn.
Proceeds from the event benefit the Lyme Public Hall & Local History Archives.
A Message to Our Readers from the olwenonline.com/ Publisher/Editor
We are proud to say that on Dec. 3, 2025, LymeLine will celebrate 22 years of publication—that makes us one of the oldest, continuously published online community news websites in the country!
olwenonline.com/ was founded by veteran publisher Jack Turner in 2003—he engaged me as his News Editor, but after some 12 months of operation, he decided to sell the business, and my husband and I purchased it.
We have owned LymeLine since 2005 and pride ourselves on our objective, accurate and unbiased reporting through all the subsequent years. We also believe—and are frequently told—that LymeLine is recognized as an informative, vibrant and trusted resource for the community.
For almost 22 years, it has been my privilege to share local news and views with the community through LymeLine. Readership and financial support of the news site have increased dramatically over that time and I am truly grateful for the trust readers and advertisers have placed in both me and LymeLine.
Publishing LymeLine for that length of time has also been tremendously rewarding and fun (well, most of the time!) I have had the pleasure of meeting an enormous number of people along the way and forged many lifelong friendships.
But it is time for me to move on to new adventures. This has been a very hard decision but I—and my family—know it is the right one.
What ultimately made the decision easier was the knowledge that a group of local residents has formed a nonprofit organization with the intent of continuing the publication of LymeLine for the benefit of the community.
This organization, named LymeLine Inc., is fully committed to continuing our tradition of independent, accurate, unbiased local journalism covering the Lyme-Old Lyme community. It intends to be strictly non-partisan and hopes to be supported by charitable donations.
We are in discussions with LymeLine Inc. about the possibility of donating LymeLine to them, but at this point, LymeLine Inc. is not operational and LymeLine is still fully under our ownership and control.
I commit to keeping our readers updated as negotiations continue regarding the future of LymeLine. In the meantime, we will continue to publish LymeLine in the normal way with no change in the quality and objectivity of our reporting.
There was some recent speculation on social media that LymeLine has changed ownership. That is not correct—as stated above, we still fully own Shoreline Web News LLC, which publishes LymeLine.
Thank you for your continuing support—it is greatly appreciated.
Democratic Registrar of Voters Dottie Wells checks in voters during early voting in Lyme Town Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 28.
LYME, CT—Resident Michael Tuccio was among a small surge of Wednesday afternoon voters, who came through the typically quiet voting area set up in Lyme Town Hall’s main meeting room since Oct. 20.
By the time he got there, election officials said voters had cast 335 ballots as part of the two-week early voting period. Combined with 31 absentee ballots, that amounts to about 19% of the town’s 1,932 registered voters.
Tuccio said casting a ballot through the early voting process, which was instituted last year to give voters two weeks to vote prior to Election Day, is not notably different from voting on Election Day.
Last year’s presidential election saw 497 early votes in total, according to data from the Office of the Secretary of the State.
“It’s just kind of normal,” he said, comparing this year to a lifetime of voting that he considers everyone’s civic duty.
The continuity is important to Tuccio, who said his preference is for things to stay the same. That’s why he said he supports candidates, who will reject residential development in the face of state efforts to promote affordable housing.
“I’m just staunchly opposed to change in general,” he said.
That’s not to say there aren’t procedural differences when it comes to voting early.
As part of the mid afternoon burst of activity, Tuccio and the other voters checked in with Democratic Registrar of Voters Dottie Wells to receive a ballot and an envelope.
The line grew to include several people at times during the two o’clock hour. It was a change from the slower and more sporadic trickle that had dominated early voting for the prior eight days.
“We’re getting a little rush here,” Wells said. “This is very exciting.”
Each voter was directed to one of the privacy booths to fill out the ballot envelope, seal it and sign it before handing it to Republican Registrar of Voters Judith Davies to be scanned into the system. Voters were instructed to drop the envelopes in the holding box, where they would remain until being transported to the town clerk’s vault at the end of the day.
Republican Registrar of Voters Judith Davies (right) and Democratic Moderator Mary Stone await the next early voter in Lyme Town Hall.
Davies described “an elaborate process” for getting the ballots to the town clerk that includes both registrars to ensure the proper chain of custody. The ballots stay in the vault until Election Day, when they will be counted by poll workers from both parties in the same process used for absentee ballots.
Davies, a 7-year registrar of voters, and Wells, who’s been in the role for 2.5 years, each work 12 of the 14-day early voting schedule. The days run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Nov. 2, except for two elongated 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. shifts. One of those extended shifts was Wednesday; the next is Thursday.
Davies said the three-person shifts include both registrars – or an assistant registrar if Wells or Davies have the day off – and one moderator. Registrars make an hourly rate of $22, while moderators and poll workers make about $17.
“It’s long hours, but we’re happy to be here because obviously voting is important,” she said.
She credited a team of 15 poll workers, including four moderators, for making the job an enjoyable experience from early voting through Election Day. The team consists of experienced workers as well as new additions this year.
Davies counted weekends as the slowest period, with 22 voters on Saturday and 16 on Sunday. She said poll workers sometimes read or knit during down time that can extend to an hour at times.
Moderator Mary Stone is scheduled for six days of early voting. She said it’s been good to see the turnout from voters, who are grateful for the opportunity to vote early – and to more easily find a place to park at the Town Hall.
“By and large, they’re overwhelmingly appreciative,” she said. “They appreciate avoiding the crowds on Election Day.”
For Tuccio, Wednesday afternoon was a convenient day to vote on his way home from work. He saw others, who found early voting convenient because the less hectic pace suits their age or level of mobility.
He said the extended calendar enhances the experience for voters.
The U.S. Marine Corps veteran counted liberty as one of his guiding principles.
It doesn’t matter who you vote for, according to Tuccio – “it matters that you vote.”
As Lyme’s representatives on the Board of Education, we are proud to endorse Christy Zelek for selectperson.
In our work representing the citizens of Lyme and supporting the students, teachers, and staff of Region 18, we know firsthand the value of thoughtful, steady leadership. Christy embodies those qualities. Though endorsed by the Lyme DTC (and we are both Democrats), Christy is a lifelong independent who consistently puts community above politics. She brings a practical, cooperative spirit that Lyme needs in its local government.
Christy’s long record of volunteerism in our schools and with local Scouts reflects her deep commitment to Lyme’s families. She understands that strong schools are the heart of a strong town, and she will continue to champion the values that make Lyme such a special place to live and learn.
Above all, Christy is a uniter. She listens carefully, builds consensus, and approaches challenges with integrity, accountability, and kindness. These are the traits that make effective public servants—and great role models for our youth.
We look forward to working with Christy to strengthen our schools, our community, and our shared future.
