LYME— The unofficial results of today’s election in the Town of Lyme are below. These results include both Early Voting and Absentee Votes.
SHALL THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE BE AMENDED TO PERMIT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ALLOW EACH VOTER TO VOTE BY ABSENTEE BALLOT? Yes: 808 No: 468
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS Harris and Walz (D) 1,097 Trump and Vance (R) 537 Stein and Ware (G) 13 Oliver and Ter Maat (L) 13 Kennedy, Jr. and Shanahan (PC) 11 Write-In Votes 6
UNITED STATES SENATOR Christopher S. Murphy (D) & (WF) 1,063 Matthew M. Corey (R) 553 Justin C. Paglino (G) 6 Robert Finley Hyde (CGGP) 8 Write-In Votes 1
REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS Joe Courtney (D) 1,097 Mike France (R) 533 Write-In Votes 0
STATE SENATOR Norm Needleman (D) & (I) 1,048 Jeffery Duigou (R) 563 Write-In Votes 0
STATE REPRESENTATIVE Jane Wisialowski (D) & (WF) 902 Devin R. Carney (R) & (I) 727 Write-In Votes 0
In keeping with a long tradition and in the interests of increasing voter knowledge prior to next week’s critically important elections, we asked all the state candidates, whose districts include Lyme and/or Old Lyme, to send us a brief biography and photo, and answer three questions that we posed to them.
We are delighted to report that all six candidates responded to our questions by our deadline and also adhered to our strict word limits — 100 words for the biography and 350 words for each response. We would like to express our sincere thanks to the candidates for their timely cooperation.
The questions were:
What is the most serious problem currently facing the state of Connecticut? What proposal(s) would you make to alleviate the problem?
‘Book-banning’ has been a significant issue in the community—where do you stand on the matter?
Why are you running for this position?
The candidates are:
CT HOUSE DiSTRICT #23 (includes Lyme and Old Lyme)
Editor’s Note:We are delighted to welcome a guest author to our ‘Literature in the Lymes’ column today and it is none other than the talented daughter of Jennifer Petty Hilger, our regular book reviewer. Campbell Mann is a writer from Lyme, Conn. After training as an operatic mezzo-soprano at The Boston Conservatory, she has since worked as a poet and mixed-media artist. She currently lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., with her partner and a variety of indoor philodendrons.
Campbell Mann
It is difficult, perhaps impossible, to find a 21st century reader unfamiliar with Frankenstein.
Mary Shelley’s seminal novel, first published in 1818 when its author was 20, has since towered over Gothic and post-Gothic literature for more than two centuries. It is rivaled in magnitude of popular absorption perhaps only by Stoker’s Dracula (a work, which is heavy-laden in its own right with Shelley’s influence, along with that of her husband Percy and the couple’s notorious, occasional friend, the poet Lord Byron).
It has inspired endless and near-constant adaptation—practically every decade of the past century has seen its own half-dozen film and television versions. And while some of these are faithful to the novel, most are wildly extrapolated—the green-skinned, bolt-necked icon of American Halloween bears little resemblance to Shelley’s wretch.
I say this not to argue for literary purism—it is entirely to be expected for a 206-year-old story to be vastly altered in so much time—but merely to highlight our vast distance from the source. Most, while they know Frankenstein, do not know Frankenstein.
Admittedly, Frankenstein can be a difficult text. It possesses many of the qualities that often deter readers from Georgian literature at large; it is verbose, dense, confusing at times in structure and syntax. But in spite of this, it glistens with a modernity that is striking even now. It is gripping, tense, emotionally radiant, and immensely readable. It is haunting and stunningly profound.
As in many 19th century novels, Shelley places us first within the exterior of a frame narrative. We are loosely in the 18th century, as an Arctic-bound research ship finds itself trapped in the ice floes. The expedition’s leader, Captain Robert Walton, begins a series of letters to his sister, Margaret, detailing the strange occurrences of the recent days. First, an enormous figure has been seen driving a pack of sled-dogs in the distance, unnerving the captain and crew. A starving, freezing man is then pulled from the ice, who introduces himself as Victor Frankenstein. In Walton’s eyes, Victor sees a glimpse of something—passion, or obsession—and begins to warn him of its consequences with his own tale.
Born into a wealthy family from Geneva, Switzerland, Victor Frankenstein spends his youth enraptured by the potential power of alchemy and science. Shortly before he leaves to pursue his interests formally at the University of Ingolstadt, his mother dies, pushing his obsession deeper into the mysterious forces of life and death.
At Ingolstadt he excels and soon longs to further his own secret theories, body-snatching corpses and vivisecting feral animals until he has created an eight-foot-tall humanoid creature, whom Shelley calls the wretch. But naturally, Victor has not thought this through. As the wretch gurgles painfully to unnatural life, his creator abandons him and flees in terror.
The narrative’s long remainder details the ways in which Victor and the wretch relate to the world and one another. Of course, it is far more complicated than that, but that is the most broad stroke of it. There is violence, loss, and pain on all fronts.
Shelley tells us, over and over in endless ways, that these two beings are inextricably bound to one another. What do we owe to our children? What do we owe to each other, and to ourselves? What if our actions are not the whim of a moment but profound and material choices, with consequences borne not by us alone?
LYME—On October 2, 2024, the birds, squirrels, possums, and other creatures bowed their heads in sorrow as Roberta “Bobbie” Elizabeth Kenyon, the partner and best friend of Ron Denman for over 40 years, passed away peacefully at her home in Lyme, CT.
Bobbie was born on Thursday, August 7, 1952, in Amityville, Long Island, NY, to Phoebe Ruth Dartnall Kenyon and David Eccleston Kenyon. The family later moved to Essex, CT. After graduating from Amityville Memorial High School, Bobbie attended Mitchell College for two years and took art classes intermittently at Middlesex Community College.
Her lifelong friendship with Ron began on a cliff overlooking the Connecticut River during a Kenyon Labs Christmas party on a cold, moonlit December night. They talked and laughed together until sunrise, enjoying each other’s company.
An accomplished artist, Bobbie dedicated herself to various commercial projects, which she cherished. She eventually ventured into glass etching and started her own business, Frost Paintings, initially using M.E.K. (Methyl Ethyl Ketone) before transitioning to sandblasting. Bobbie sold her work at Renaissance Faires and art shows throughout New York and New England, often selling out. While she excelled in glass etching, her true passion was in oil and watercolor painting.
Bobbie was also an avid horse enthusiast, raising and training her horse, Kalamac. She loved riding around Essex and Lyme, often amusing neighbors by riding at night—sometimes in just a bikini.
A lover of all animals, Bobbie fed birds, squirrels, raccoons, and possums, and she planted flowers everywhere. Anyone she cherished received a cup of tiger lily seeds to plant. Her vehicles were always stocked with cat food, plants, and sunflower seeds, reflecting her deep affection for cats. Throughout her life, she had many cats, all of whom adored her.
Bobbie designed and built a post-and-beam barn for her horse on her property in Lyme. Later, she and Ron transformed it into a cozy post-and-beam home, where they lived together for over 40 years and where she ultimately passed away.
An avid photographer, Bobbie initially focused on weddings but later documented significant projects. One notable project was Ron’s restoration of the Catboat Dolphin, which continues to charter passengers for daysails in Edgartown. Another was the restoration of Scovil Mills, now known as Scovil Forge in Higganum, CT, which houses various businesses, primarily Kenyon Labs.
During this time, both Bobbie and Ron worked at Kenyon Laboratories. Bobbie excelled at trade shows, and eventually, they purchased Kenyon Labs, turning it into a successful international company.
Bobbie had an incredibly big heart; she was one of the kindest and sweetest people one could ever meet. She dedicated her life to helping others, even during her illness. She was smart, personable, beautiful and exceptionally kind. Bobbie took the time to enjoy life, always stopping to smell the roses and living as a free spirit to the fullest.
She leaves behind her lifelong friend Ron Denman, her brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Joanne Kenyon of Bridport, Vermont, and her cousin Rachel Reid of Shootash, Hampshire. UK.
A celebration of her life will be held soon at the Scovil Forge properties in Higganum, CT. Please contact Ron for more information.
LYME, CT—Designer Peter F. Carlson, age 70, died unexpectedly at his home in Old Lyme, Aug. 14, 2024. Originally hailing from Boston, Mass., Peter resided in various locations before establishing himself in a drafty but charming barn he imported from New Hampshire and transformed into a remarkable home. While it may lack a sunroom – a feature he often wished he could add – Peter took the absence in stride, always making light of it as he dreamed up plans for a future renovation.
Peter was a paradox. Generally warm and affable, he could occasionally display a short temper and cantankerous disposition. His partner Larry would sometimes refer to him as “Ebenezer,” while close friends and helpers playfully called him “My Liege,” both nicknames affectionately acknowledging his more challenging traits. Comparisons were drawn on more than one occasion between Peter and Hugh Laurie’s titular character on “House, M.D.,” as they both shared a sharp intellect and a flair for unconventional problem-solving.
Despite this, Peter often took more quickly to humor than he did to anger. Few topics were considered off-limits, and he navigated life’s ups and downs with kindness, self-assurance, and an irreverent wit. He found joy in life’s simple pleasures – his beloved dog Jack, his garden, Fortuny fabric, and an eclectic collection of small obelisks. He loved simple things from childhood like Lipton Noodle Soup packets and that ghastly New England brown bread sold in a can.
Peter’s house was never quiet. He enjoyed the music of Al Green and Aretha Franklin, the thoughtful discourse of NPR and lately, streaming CNN all day long to keep up with the latest political rancor. He loved documentaries about fashion and the luxury homes of Babe Paley, Patti Astor and Elsa Schiaparelli. In stark contrast to this, he also inexplicably enjoyed the TV series “Snapped.” He felt kinship with the maximalist designer Tony Duquette and often signed off his elaborate emails, “With love, TONY D.” Peter also loved reading obituaries and sharing them in emails to neighbors and colleagues, even going so far as to print and file the ones he thought were particularly good in a dedicated obituaries folder.
However, more than any of these things, he deeply loved his family and his friends. He was especially proud of his partner Larry, who was an esteemed middle school teacher at Friends Seminary in New York for 45 years.
Peter was born in Boston in 1954, but his family eventually settled in Barrington, R.I., where he spent many of his formative years. A life-long music lover, he traveled to Austria as a young member of the Barrington Boys’ Choir. He later studied English and the Arts at Connecticut College in New London, from 1972 to 1976, where he participated in the American Dance Festival. In 1974, he also attended the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center.
After graduating, Carlson moved to New York, embarking on a professional journey as a struggling young actor, sustaining himself by bartending at the legendary Studio 54 and working as a part-time driver. One unforgettable client was Edie Beale, the iconic performer from Grey Gardens fame, whom he chauffeured to and from Newark during her engagement at Reno Sweeney, a celebrated Greenwich Village cabaret. A transformative moment in Peter’s career occurred when he drove a decorator’s black Rolls Royce, adorned with custom needlepoint upholstery, leading him to conclude, “This is the way to live.” With no formal training and no clientele, he established his first interior design firm, where he ultimately achieved enduring success.
In addition to offices in New York, Carlson maintained close ties to New England and had an interior design office in Stonington in 1978, where he focused on the restoration and decoration of historic properties such as the Deshon-Allyn House at the Lyman Allyn Museum, Lyme Academy of Fine Arts and the Stonington Historical Society, restoring several 18th century and Greek revival houses owned by the society. Peter often lectured on various aspects of design for art associations, museums and libraries in the area.
In the early ’80s, Peter was a rising design star in the New York metropolitan area and was a featured designer at several Kips Bay Boys Club Decorator Show houses. Artfully mixing the old and the new, Peter’s style was described by Connoisseur magazine in May 1988 as, “neoclassicism strained through surrealism.” After founding his firm in New York, Peter married fellow designer Linda Chase in 1992. The couple relocated to Los Angeles, merging their businesses and collaborating on numerous commercial projects, including the offices of Sony, Time Warner, and Disney, as well as residential designs for prominent clients such as Kevin Costner and Jerome Moss. Peter and Linda welcomed a son, Alex, before moving to Connecticut, and subsequently divorcing in 1996.
Throughout his career, Peter remained deeply engaged in the design industry. Frustrated by a dearth of suitable lighting options for his clients, he founded a decorative lighting company in 2001 named CL Sterling and Son. Partnering with a close friend and former client, CL Sterling expanded from its Niantic headquarters to include showrooms in New York, Los Angeles, Japan and Australia. Peter’s work garnered recognition in a multitude of esteemed publications, including The New York Times, NY Times Magazine, The New Yorker, Architectural Digest, Connoisseur, Dwell, House Beautiful, Vogue and Interior Design Magazine. His designs can be found today in residential and commercial spaces worldwide.
During his nearly three decades in Lyme, Peter cultivated friendships throughout the community and was renowned for his ability to engage in conversation with nearly anyone. The longevity of his relationships with employees and friends is most easily measured in decades, with many having visited his barn for drinks, dinner, or, on one particularly memorable occasion following a trip to Southeast Asia, a sarong party. His home showcased an impressive collection of works by local artists, and he was finally able to dust off his college-era SAG-AFTRA membership for a minor role he was particularly suited for as an art collector in a film directed by a friend. The film reportedly achieved critical acclaim in Eastern Europe, a fact Peter shared frequently with pride and a wry smile.
Peter was, above all, a steadfast friend to those in need, on more than one occasion giving away the shirt or jacket off his back to someone who needed it more. His kindness, humor, and quick wit will be profoundly missed. He is survived by his son Alex Carlson; his partner Larry Carter; his father’s wife Carol Carlson; and many close friends. He is preceded in death by his mother, Martha (Weir); his father, Paul Carlson; and Alex’s mother, Linda Chase.
A service will be held at1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme. All are welcome. Peter was a passionate supporter of numerous charitable causes, including support for Ukraine, the Crosby Fund for Haitian Education, and the ASPCA. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, you consider making a donation to your preferred charity.
