Category Archives: Lyme

Lyme Grange Hosts Plant Sale

Posted on by
Reply
On Saturday, May 11, the Lyme Grange will host its Annual Plant Sale from 9 a.m. theough 12 p.m.

LYME, CT—Blooms and buds, shining bulbs and tasty tubers will come to springtime life at the annual plant sale of the Lyme Grange on Hamburg Road on Saturday, May 11—the day before Mother’s Day.

The sale is open to the public without charge and will be held at the historic Lyme Grange building on Rte. 156 from 9 a.m. through 12 noon. The century-old building is familiar to many as the center of the Annual Hamburg Fair in August, which, like the plant sale, supports many Grange-assisted community activities throughout the year.

Last year the Fair attracted some 5500 people of all ages for fun and educational activities over a three-day period.

A great variety of flowering plants will be available at the Lyme Grange Plant Sale.

“The May Plant Sale that’s coming up will offer both decorative horticulture and tips for practical food-grade gardening,” explained sale coordinator Nancy Beebe. “This year we plan an even greater number of plants, which show the diverse growing skills of our neighboring, talented amateurs as well as top- ranked nurseries. The flowers and vegetables are suitable for planting right at home in your garden,” she said.

“Everyone who has a garden as a productive household hobby, or keeps beloved pets or domestic animals, should join us as we build stronger and more viable towns,” added Beebe.

“Last year we had a ‘growing class’ for kids which proved popular, and I’m sure we’ll see this again. They are taught by experienced gardeners, who like to see kids learn and have fun.”

“Our Grange has been a central support for traditional community events from our founding in 1896, and our people staff and judge many events and displays here. We can all learn from, and enjoy, one another.”

For more information, contact Nancy Beebe at nbeebe46@gmail.com  or 860.304.8202.

Remembering Grace Tanguay, Former Lyme Ambulance Association Chief

Posted on by
Reply

Editor’s Note: We received the following touching tribute to the late Grace Tanguay from the Lyme Ambulance Association, who noted, “As far as we know, no obituary was published.”

Grace Tanguay

LYME—Recently our community lost someone very dear—someone whose life touched many lives in Lyme, East Haddam, and beyond.

Grace Tanguay, was known as “Mother” to other members of the Lyme Ambulance Association. No one knows how she got that name but perhaps it’s because she was one of the earliest members of the association, and also one of the most effective recruiters. 

Grace served as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in Lyme for about 20 years and East Haddam for another five. She ended her career with Lyme as Chief of Service.

Gracie was a wonderful partner—knowledgeable, dedicated, generous and warm.

She also had a great sense of humor.

Grace’s husband, Ed was also very active as a volunteer. He was the driver-trainer of all Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel.

He was head of the Lyme Fire Police and was instrumental in helping to get the Emergency Management System for the Town of Lyme.

Ed and Grace Tanguay, who gave so much to our community, are now both gone, yet we can still honor them with the spirit of volunteerism that makes Lyme so special.

Ballot Question, Two Letters to the Editor About Lymes’ Senior Center Vote in Old Lyme

Posted on by
1

OLD LYME—The ballot question on today’s vote in Old Lyme regarding the Lymes’ Senior Center reads as follows:

“Shall the Town of Old Lyme authorize the issuance of bonds and notes in an amount not to exceed $6,143,541 to finance an existing appropriation for the Old Lyme/Lyme Senior Center renovation project? Yes _____ No _____” 

Voters approving the question will vote “Yes” and voters opposing the question will vote “No.

For the full resolution and the warning, visit the Old Lyme Town Clerk’s page.

VOTE YES!

To the Editor:

I am the chair of the Old Lyme Board of Finance and a member of the Lymes’ Senior Center Building Committee.  I write in response to a letter from Tom Grant posted in LymeLine on April 26, 2024, opposing the town’s referendum seeking authorization to bond the town’s financial obligation for the Senior Center renovation and expansion project (the “Project”).

Mr. Grant alleges that Old Lyme budgeted $1 million for this project.  That is false.  On June 23, 2023, town voters approved an appropriation of $5,263,541 for the project.  (This sum reflected the then-anticipated total cost of the project.  Old Lyme’s share would be reduced by Lyme’s 25% contribution and any grants received, which to date total $500,000.)  At a Town Meeting on April 15 of this year, after construction bids had been solicited and received, an appropriation increase was explained to, and approved by, town voters in the amount of $880,000.  This increased the project budget to $6,143,541, an increase over the initial budget of 16.7%, not the 88% claimed by Mr. Grant.

Mr. Grant further alleges that the town is seeking approval for a $6,143,541 bond issue.  This, too, is false.  The resolution seeking bond authorization specifies “bonds and/or notes in an amount not to exceed $6,143,541 (or so much thereof as may be necessary after deducting grants for the Project or amounts paid by the Town of Lyme as reimbursement for Lyme’s share of the total costs of the Project).”  Old Lyme has received a STEAP Grant for the project in the amount of $500,000.  Lyme’s share of the Project costs is 25% of the new budget, or $1,535,885.  Deducting those sums results in a net bonding maximum of $4,107,656. (Because Old Lyme pays the bills and is then reimbursed by Lyme and the state, it must “appropriate” the full Project cost.)

Finally, Mr. Grant urges town voters to oppose the referendum.  If it is defeated, then Old Lyme will not have the option to issue bonds for all or part of its $4,107,656 obligation. Instead, it will have to draw funds from its undesignated surplus, thereby substantially reducing the sums that would be available to mitigate the tax impact from the Region 18 renovations coming down the pike in a year or two.  This would be a serious mistake.

Sincerely,

Bennett J. Bernblum,
Old Lyme.

VOTE NO!

To the Editor:

On April 15, there was a Special Meeting of Lyme/Old Lyme residents to vote on the approval of an $880,000 increase in the cost to renovate the [Lymes’] Senior Center.  The Senior Center has been closed for months, but the planning process has never been completed!  Not only that, but a bond was also required by the Towns just to get the bids which was never acquired until January 2024.  The bids (we don’t know if it was one or several bids) came back 88% over the planned additional $1 million that the Towns budgeted!

In the April 15 meeting it was shown what the proposed improvements are, but when asked what the improvements would look like if we just spent the $1 million budgeted, Alan Sheiness responded that the committee had not looked into that.  Another question was asked how the Towns planned to pay for this increase, and incredulously Martha Shoemaker, our Town Selectwoman, said that it was being discussed.

So, our Town has been without a Senior Center for months during which planning had not been done properly and then its residents are supposed to pay for this 88% increase without knowing what the alternatives are and what the cost to the taxpayer is.

On April 24, a notice was released by the Town of Old Lyme for the voters to approve a $6,143,541 bonding issue to pay for the Senior Center.  So, we now know that the Senior Center will not cost $6,143,541 to renovate, but the interest on that debt as well.  This must go down as one of the most poorly planned and expensive renovations in the history of our town.  Vote No on May 7 and tell our elected officials to get their act together.

Sincerely,

Tom Grant,
Old Lyme.

Letter to the Editor: Old Lyme BOF Chair Counters Recent Claims About Lymes’ Senior Center Renovation Plan, Says ‘No’ Vote Would Be ‘Serious Mistake’

Posted on by

To the Editor:

I am the chair of the Old Lyme Board of Finance and a member of the Lymes’ Senior Center Building Committee.  I write in response to a letter from Tom Grant posted in LymeLine on April 26, 2024, opposing the town’s referendum seeking authorization to bond the town’s financial obligation for the Senior Center renovation and expansion project (the “Project”).

Mr. Grant alleges that Old Lyme budgeted $1 million for this project.  That is false.  On June 23, 2023, town voters approved an appropriation of $5,263,541 for the project.  (This sum reflected the then-anticipated total cost of the project.  Old Lyme’s share would be reduced by Lyme’s 25% contribution and any grants received, which to date total $500,000.)  At a Town Meeting on April 15 of this year, after construction bids had been solicited and received, an appropriation increase was explained to, and approved by, town voters in the amount of $880,000.  This increased the project budget to $6,143,541, an increase over the initial budget of 16.7%, not the 88% claimed by Mr. Grant.

Mr. Grant further alleges that the town is seeking approval for a $6,143,541 bond issue.  This, too, is false.  The resolution seeking bond authorization specifies “bonds and/or notes in an amount not to exceed $6,143,541 (or so much thereof as may be necessary after deducting grants for the Project or amounts paid by the Town of Lyme as reimbursement for Lyme’s share of the total costs of the Project).”  Old Lyme has received a STEAP Grant for the project in the amount of $500,000.  Lyme’s share of the Project costs is 25% of the new budget, or $1,535,885.  Deducting those sums results in a net bonding maximum of $4,107,656. (Because Old Lyme pays the bills and is then reimbursed by Lyme and the state, it must “appropriate” the full Project cost.)

Finally, Mr. Grant urges town voters to oppose the referendum.  If it is defeated, then Old Lyme will not have the option to issue bonds for all or part of its $4,107,656 obligation. Instead, it will have to draw funds from its undesignated surplus, thereby substantially reducing the sums that would be available to mitigate the tax impact from the Region 18 renovations coming down the pike in a year or two.  This would be a serious mistake.

Sincerely,

Bennett J. Bernblum,
Old Lyme.

Three New Shows on View at Lyme Art Association Through May 19

Posted on by
Reply
‘Into the Marsh,’ in oil by Jacqueline Jones is one of the signature works in the ‘Ship to Shore’ show on view at the Lyme Art Association in Old Lyme.

OLD LYME —This spring, the Lyme Art Association (LAA) presents three new shows: Ship to Shore: A Marine Show; art by the Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club;and John Caggiano’s solo show, Then & Now.

The LAA will also welcome spring on May 3 at the Sea & Sky Soiree, an evening of fine art, music, and entertainment.

The LAA members’ show Ship to Shore is a favorite of gallery guests. This marine show, juried by Karen Blackwood, celebrates all aspects of the sea and shore with a wide array of paintings and sculptures.

‘Provincetown Summer‘ in acrylic by Morgan Brec is featured in the ‘Ship to SHore’ show.

The LAA also welcomes back the Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club (CLWAC) for its associate and members show. Founded in 1896, CLWAC is a national organization that showcases the works of professional women artists.

Finally, noted artist John Caggiano presents “Then & Now”, a solo show of his colorful Impressionistic-realism landscape paintings. 

During Ship to Shore, LAA is proud to highlight ‘Save the Sound’ in its Partner Wall Program. The non-profit ‘Save the Sound’ works to save endangered lands, protect Long Island Sound and its rivers, and restore ecosystems. Proceeds from a sale of featured art will benefit ‘Save the Sound’.

All three shows run from April 19 -May19.

Ship to Shore is made possible by the generous support of Presenting Sponsor Essex Savings Bank. 

On Friday, May 3, LAA welcomes spring with the Sea & Sky Soiree, a fun-filled cocktail party to celebrate the beauty of Old Lyme’s “American Giverny”. This special evening will feature hors d’oeuvres by Flanders Fish Market, “Dueling Painters” Howard Park & Lisa Miceli, live jazz by the JHunter Group, and a silent auction of beautiful art, exceptional items, and unique experiences.

All proceeds will benefit LAA’s educational programs and special projects. A special thank you to Gold Level event sponsor Hamilton Point Investments.

About Lyme Art Association:

Founded in 1914 by the American Impressionists, the Lyme Art Association continues the tradition of exhibiting and selling representational artwork, while offering educational art programming for the community. Lyme Art Association is located at 90 Lyme Street in Old Lyme, CT within the national historic district. Admission is free. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 – 5pm. Families are always welcome. For information, visit www.lymeartassociation.orgor call (860) 434-7802.