Valley Shore Animal Welfare League Seeks New Members, Supporters; has Dogs, Cats Available for Adoption

Charlie. is looking for his forever home. Can you help?

WESTBROOK—Located on Horse Hill Road in Westbrook, Valley Shore Animal Welfare League (VSAWL) is a haven for four-legged friends and those looking to adopt them. At VSAWL both cats and dogs are sheltered and provided with necessary veterinary care and companionship.

A dedicated group of staff and volunteers care for the animals’ daily needs as well as maintain the building and grounds. The VSAWL cares for local animals as well as animals from other locations—particularly animals transported from the south.

The VSAWL is a no-kill shelter and a non-profit 501(c)3 organization.

Founded in 1972 by a group of concerned animal lovers, VSAWL and its all-woman crew sought to fill a gap and care for animals, who had no place else to go. These women dedicated themselves to the animals and the mission and have been helping animals at VSAWL ever since.

The VSAWL is currently undertaking an effort to refocus its energies so that services for its animals, volunteers and the community can be improved. 

Several new board members have been elected and the search is on to find more interested and energetic individuals, who can help to carry out the organization’s mission to provide refuge, care, companionship and adoption services. If you are interested in volunteering or joining the VSAWL board, contact the organization at 860-399-7561 or valleyshoreawl@gmail.com

The VSAWL is currently housing four adorable dogs, which are all looking for forever homes.

Willow.

Willow, the coonhound, is a one-year-old wild child—she enjoys walks, play-dates with other dogs and playing fetch. She is a good girl with lots to say and is interested in everything. Looking for an active friend, who has as much energy as she does. Willow is a little anxious, but that is hardly surprising considering her previous life. She would benefit from some training and is very quick to learn new tricks like “Sit” and “Leave.” She loves stuffed toys and would make a faithful forever friend.

Alice is a funny two-year-old terrier/Frenchie mix. She is about 50 lbs and absolutely adores new toys and blankets. She gets so excited and can hardly contain herself. She is so happy to see you and wants nothing more than pets and kisses. She is very active and gets the zoomies often. She loves walks, running, car-rides and sitting by your side. She is a special girl and a cozy friend.

Zoe.

Zoe is everyone’s best friend (except other pets – she wants to be your one and only .) She is a nine-year-old lab/pit mix. She is sweet and loving and wants nothing more than to play and get pets and love. Zoe is very excited to meet you but settles with reminders and pets. She is very friendly and most polite on a leash. She will make a steady friend, a sweet companion and a loving snuggle buddy for anyone who likes to snuggle back!

Charlie, a nine-year-old boxer, has been with us for a year and a half. He came to us in terrible shape – horrible ear infections and feet that were so swollen it was hard for him to walk. But he is doing much better now and is looking for a family to share his life with. Charlie is the definition of a big baby. He is shy at first but warms up quickly. He is a sweet and loving little couch-potato, who likes walks and warm beds. He is a staff/volunteer/vet favorite.

The VSAWL also has several cats and kittens that would love to make your acquaintance.

Cinder.

Among them is Cinder, who is 16-years-old. She is a sweet and bossy cat, who wants to be queen of the castle. She is interested in everything and will greet you at the door and follow you around until you give her attention. She likes to play in her water bowl and sample from every food bowl. She is a sweetie-pie and looking for a doting family with whom to share the rest of her life.  

If you would like to share your home with any of our pets, contact the VSAWL to set up an appointment to meet your potential new best friend.  

The VSAWL is always in need of supplies. If you are considering making a donation of specific items, access the VSAWL Amazon wish list at https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1AOCDWKOX0F4K/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1.

The organization is completely funded by donors and always grateful for financial donations to help cover the cost of food, services and veterinary care for our animals. If you would like to make a monetary donation, Venmo VSAWL at @VSAWL1972 or visit their website at valleyshoreaninalwelfareleague.org to make a donation through PayPal. We also accept cash or checks at VSAWL, 64 Horse Hill Road, Westbrook, CT 06498.

To be added to the VSAWL mailing list, email Dottie Wells at drw214@gmail.com.

The VSAWL is grateful for all of the community members who are part of the VSAWL family as adopters, donors or volunteers.

Lyme’s Hometown Parade Offers Traditional Delights on July 4th—More Photos Added

Lyme Parks and Recreation cheerfully led the parade. All photos by Michele Dickey.

LYME — This year’s parade in Lyme celebrating our country’s 248th birthday was full of all its usual delights including music, marchers and much merriment … though missing the muskets of yesteryear. Enjoy our photo essay of the grand event.

Bernie Gigliotti was the Grand Marshal of this year’s Lyme Independence Day Parade. George Willauer drove the splendid vintage automobile.
The sign says it all …
The Grand Marshal’s car was appropriately decorated for the occasion.
Cub Scout Troop 32 was represented by these fearless youngsters.
Marchers galore walked happily down Cover Rd.
Lyme Garden Club marched proudly in the parade … as always!
Pride was perfectly positioned on this truck.
This four-legged fellow did not miss a thing from his pole position!
You never knew what would be coming next in the parade!
Candy time!
Unsurprisingly, red, white and blue were the colors of the day!
Bruce and Tammy Noyes drove their remarkable vintage army vehicle in the parade.
Emergency vehicles were appropriately decorated for the parade.
These cheery EMS volunteers proudly marched in the parade.
This Fire-Rescue vehicle was a memorable addition to the celebrations.
Uncle Sam says, “See you next year!”

Independence Day Boat Parade Sails to Success on Rogers Lake

The winner of the trophy for the “Most Enthusiastic, Patriotic, and Best Decorated Boat”  in this year’s Rogers Lake Independence Day Parade was the King Family. Photo by M. Plumleigh.

OLD LYME — Friends and neighbors joined with residents of Rogers Lake West Shores Association (RLWSA) for a (now) traditional Independence Day Boat Parade on Rogers Lake. 

The winners of the trophy for the “Most Enthusiastic, Patriotic, and Best Decorated Boat” were the King family, who are residents of the RLWSA. 

Seen awarding the trophy to the patriotically-decorated vessel and its owners in the photo above are Dave Evers (second from left), RLWSA President and his wife and ever-cheerful organizer, Christina, at right.

Pictured in the photo above with their currach are Maureen Plumleigh (right) and Dawn Heasley (left) with guest Matt Heasley.

Bringing up the rear of the parade was the Irish currach with rowers from the local Currach Rowers team.

The currach rowers agreed that the boat parade offered excellent rowing skills practice … but was a great deal more fun! 

All aboard for the parade!

Rogers Lake West Shores Association President Dave Evers commented after the event, “Christina and I would like to thank everyone who participated and also watched [the parade], every year it’s gets bigger and better.  So much fun.”

He added, “Also Ginny and Tim King won the trophy this year. The trophy gets returned before the parade and given to the new winners at the end,”

Evers explained, “The winners can have their name and year [of winning the contest] engraved on the trophy.”

Community Foundation Grants of Almost $2.6 Million Address Inequities in Eastern CT, Grantmaking in Lyme/Old Lyme Totals Over $67K

A grant to Eastern CT Ballet supports theNutcracker School Assembly Program.

NEW LONDON—The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut has announced recent grant awards of nearly $2.6 million to advance equity through its six focus areas as follows:

  • early childhood care and education
  • youth development and empowerment
  • access to affordable, safe, and inclusive housing
  • access to high quality and affordable health care
  • women’s and girls’ empowerment
  • environmental resilience.

Between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024, the Community Foundation’s Total grantmaking to organizations based in Lyme or Old Lyme was $67,617. The recipients were:

Connecticut Audubon Society (RTPEC)
Crosby Fund for Haitian Education
Florence Griswold Museum
High Hopes Therapeutic Riding
Lyme Academy of Fine Arts
Lyme Art Association
Lyme Fire Company
Lyme Land Conservation Trust
Lyme Public Library
Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau
MacCurdy-Salisbury Education Foundation
Musical Masterworks
Old Lyme Children’s Learning Center
Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library
Old Lyme Social Services
Town of Lyme
Tree of Life Educational Fund

Community Foundation President and CEO Maryam Elahi reported, “For these grants, we were thrilled to receive donations of $385,765 from two anonymous funders, enabling us to issue our first-ever systems change grants and substantially increase our youth empowerment grantmaking in communities with limited resources. This is a terrific example of the impact of thoughtful collaboration and partnering for greater impact.”

The Community Foundation funded more than $200,000 to address housing insecurity in Eastern Connecticut including: support for financial literacy for home seekers; homelessness prevention; civil rights enforcement for communities of color; and creation of new deed-restricted affordable housing.

Grantees addressing these issues include CT Fair Housing, Eastern CT Housing Opportunities (ECHO), Habitat for Humanity, HOPE Partnership, Always Home, Martin House, New London Homeless Hospitality, and Holy Family Home and Shelter in Willimantic.

“Lack of housing that families can afford has become a major crisis in Eastern Connecticut. The Community Foundation is committed to supporting multiple avenues to reduce the burden on local residents,” stated Jennifer O’Brien, program officer at the Community Foundation.

A grant to Project Oceanology supports Seventh Grade at Sea for students in Norwich.

Other highlights of the 2024 grants include:

  • $200,000 over two years to Access Community Action Agency to re-imagine pathways to homeownership for families in Northeastern Connecticut through partnerships that will bring homeownership counseling services, education and support to Windham County.
  • $105,765 over two years to the Partnership for Strong Communities to engage with youth and traditionally underserved families to conduct a comprehensive analysis of community housing needs and support the advocacy of families facing housing insecurity in Norwich.
  • $80,000 to Audubon Connecticut for Increasing Diversity in Conservation to provide paid employment in environmental conservation for youth, while enhancing forest and coastal habitats to benefit threatened bird species.
  • $10,000 to 2-4-1 CARE, in partnership with Norwich Public Schools, for two 8-week afterschool sessions of 2-4-1 TOP Self Sports, a sports enrichment program for kindergarten to grade five students.

Total funding within our focus areas includes: Youth Empowerment $718,000; Basic Needs $793,165; Advocacy & Capacity $136,000; Environmental $822,225; and Animal Welfare $118,500.

Visit the Community Foundation’s website for a complete list of grantees.

Editor’s Notes: Serving 42 towns and comprised of over 600 charitable funds, the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut’s vision is a healthy, thriving, sustainable Eastern Connecticut with greater equity for all. We collaborate with partners to put philanthropy into action to address the needs, rights and interests of our community in Eastern Connecticut. The Community Foundation manages a permanent community endowment and has awarded over $100 million in grants and scholarships to nonprofits and students since its founding in 1983. To learn more, visit cfect.org.

Rogers Lake Celebrates Nation’s Birthday with July 4th Boat Parade Today, 1pm

Tereza and John Mainetti proudly display the cup they were awarded by Dave and Christina Evers in the 2022 Rogers Lake Boat Parade. Photo submitted.

LYME/OLD LYME — After the great success of the 2020 inaugural Rogers Lake Boat Parade, and the subsequent 2021, 2022 and 2023 parades, another one is planned this year on Thursday, July 4, starting at 1 p.m., from the Hains Park area.

Both motorized and non-motorized boats are invited to participate but all must be festively/patriotically decorated. In order to achieve a timely start, participants should arrive around 12:45 p.m.

Maureen Plumleigh (left) and friends enjoyed participating in Rogers Lake’s Second Annual Boat Parade on Independence Day 2021. Photo submitted.

A trophy will be awarded for the most enthusiastic, patriotic, and best-decorated boat in the parade.

Follow the designated lead boat or join in at your location. The route is one counter-clockwise lap around the lake.

Once the parade has begin, all boats should follow the designated lead boat or join at your respective location. Boats should stay within 100 ft. of the shore at ‘No Wake’ speed and no swimming in or near the parade is permitted.

All participants are requested to be respectful and mindful of everyone’s safety. 

Will Lady Liberty be at the Rogers Lake Boat Parade this year? File photo.

Additional information is as follows:

  • Space out and enjoy the shoreline 
  • Follow Rogers Lake laws and safety regulations 
  • This is a family-friendly event (be kind) 
  • Participate at your own risk 
  • Do not throw anything off a boat and no trash is to be discarded in the lake