Category Archives: Old Lyme

FloGris Museum Presents Free Annual Samuel Thorne Memorial Lecture on Sculpture Through the Ages, Nov. 8

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On Saturday, Nov. 8, Chad Fisher, who is the Charlotte Colby Danly Sculpture Chair at the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, will speak on “Once Upon a Pedestal: Figural Sculpture–Then, Now, Next.” His talk is the Annual Samuel Thorne Memorial Lecture and open to all at no charge with prior registration. Photo courtesy of Florence Griswold Museum.

Speaker is Chad Fisher—the Charlotte Colby Danly Sculpture Chair at Lyme Academy—with “Once Upon a Pedestal: Figural Sculpture–Then, Now, Next”

OLD LYME—On Saturday, Nov. 8, at 5 p.m., the Florence Griswold Museum will host the Annual Samuel Thorne Memorial Lecture at the Meeting House, First Congregational Church of Old Lyme at 2 Ferry Road, Old Lyme, CT.

This year the speaker will be Chad Fisher, who is the Charlotte Colby Danly Sculpture Chair at the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts. His talk is titled, “Once Upon a Pedestal: Figural Sculpture–Then, Now, Next.” Fisher will present an exploration of the rich history of the figural sculpture beginning with the Egyptians and highlighting the French academic traditions with artists such as Duret, Rodin, and Carpeaux.

During his presentation, Fisher will explore the role of American sculptors including Charles Grafly, John Rogers, Paul Manship, and Lyme’s own Bessie Potter Vonnoh. As both a sculptor and sculpture instructor, Fisher shares his holistic approach to both the creation and exhibition of sculpture and its potential impact in both private and public spaces.

This event is free but reservations are required through this link.

Thorne Lecture is an endowed lecture series that allows the Museum to invite distinguished speakers and thinkers to share their work with the FloGris family. It is named in memory of Samuel Thorne, who served as the Museum’s President in the 1950s. Mr. Thorne’s widow and son established this signature program in 1995.

Letter to the Editor: Fogliano is ‘Fair-minded, Collaborative and Knowledgeable’ Zoning Candidate

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To the Editor: 

Our small town of Old Lyme will be tackling several serious issues in the next few years, which will shape our future in ways important to all of us. It is because of this that I am putting my full support behind Michael Fogliano for election to the Zoning Commission. He is uniquely qualified to tackle these issues, evidenced by his experience in housing and zoning, planning, and technology. 

Michael is a seasoned leader shown to be reliable, logical and reasonable. He will use those tools to ensure our town is put in the best position to make the most informed decisions. He is fair-minded, collaborative and knowledgeable in local, state and federal regulations affecting zoning as well as the proposed changes to those regulations. Michael is the kind of person I want on our Zoning Commission, and the kind of person Old Lyme needs. He will put our town first and will reflect the values and traditions we have all come to appreciate. 

In all, Michael’s experience, his nature and personality have prepared him to engage in the challenges of shifting economics, demographics and public policy that we will inevitably confront. He is a team player with know-how, and the common sense to preserve the best of Old Lyme while advocating for the careful changes that will help us meet the future together.

Please join me in voting for Mike Fogliano for the Zoning Commission. 

Sincerely,

Joe Carpentino ,
Old Lyme.

Old Lyme Property Transactions, 10/28/25

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10/22: 14 Ferry Road, Unit E1, Constance M. O’Brien of Old Saybrook to Carolyn D. Lieber, $719,000.

10/15: 25 Johnny Cake Hill Road, Susan McCall and Peter McCall of New York, NY, to Mary B. Taylor-Cooley, $1,050,000.

10/9: 51-2 Rowland Road, Jerry P. Hendrik and Lauren A. Hendrik of Lake Havasu, AZ, to Jason Ewers and Oneida Ewers, $837,000.

10/8: 18 Ferry Road, David J. Wiese and Virginia M. Wiese of Old Lyme to Christopher Seymour and Mary Brienza, $2,895,000.

10/8: 6 Old Stagecoach Road, the Estate of Richard M. Kirpas of Gales Ferry to William D. Lacourciere and Renee L. Lacourciere, $615,000.

Deadline for Receipt of Election-Related ‘Letters to the Editor’ Has Passed

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LYME/OLD LYME–The deadline to receive election-related letters to be considered for publication is noon on Wednesday, Oct. 29. Letters received before that deadline, which are selected for publication, will be published on or before midnight on Saturday, Nov. 1, assuming we can obtain timely confirmation of the letters authenticity.

Letters received after noon on Wednesday, Oct. 29, will not be considered for publication, unless they are in direct response to a letter published on or before noon on Oct. 29. The letter to which the response is being made must be cited. Response letters selected for publication will be published by midnight on Saturday, Nov. 1, again assuming we can obtain timely confirmation of the letters authenticity.

No new letters will be published on Sunday, Nov. 2, or Monday, Nov. 3.

Here is a reminder of our Policy on Letters to the Editor.

Editor’s Note: The deadlines have been changed to allow us to publish a full summary of all election-related articles, letters and op-eds next Sunday.

Letter to the Editor: An Open Letter to the Residents of Old Lyme from First Selectwoman Shoemaker

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To the Editor:

Dear Neighbors:

It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as the First Selectwoman in Old Lyme. During my term I have listened to your concerns, acted on the issues under my authority, and made a conscientious effort to deliver results that matter. Together, we have made meaningful progress toward a more transparent, resilient, and responsive town government. I want to share our accomplishments and my goals for next term.

What We’ve Accomplished Together:

  • Modernized the budget process for transparency and inclusivity. Boards, commissions, departments, and nonprofits now present their budget requests in public meetings, giving residents full visibility into how our town allocates resources.
  • Achieved an AAA bond rating, allowing Old Lyme to borrow at more favorable rates and maintain strong financial health.
  • Instituted full compliance with our Bid Policy, ensuring projects over $20K are now competitively bid for quality and value.
  • Reestablished the dormant Flood and Erosion Control Board. The new board is actively pursuing projects to reduce flood insurance costs and improve shoreline resilience.
  • Solved long-standing flooding issues on Cross Lane which restored emergency access.
  • Rebuilt the sluiceway at Hawks Nest Beach to protect homes and roads, and decrease flooding.
  • Utilized federal grants for the expansion and upgrading of the Emergency Operations Center. This new space enables efficient management during emergencies and additional training space for emergency personnel. 
  • Created the Road and Public Safety Committee to address road safety through community-driven solutions. Their actions have made drivers more aware of their speed by placing electronic speed signs on roads. 
  • Improved access to town meetings by implementing virtual options and ensuring reliable communication in all Town Hall meeting rooms. 
  • Completed capital projects including ADA-compliant parking at Soundview, the installation of key-card entryways for town buildings, and the installation of cameras at Town Hall doorways.
  • Collaborated with Lyme and the Senior Center building committee to complete the renovation of the Lymes’ Senior Center; delivered under budget, including the kitchen upgrade.
  • Collaborated with the Old Lyme Visiting Nurse Association when Yale New Haven Health cancelled the Town Nurse program, by providing resources for the hiring process of a Town Nurse. 
  • Published a weekly newsletter, keeping residents informed of town hall news, town events, and special recognitions.
  • Recruited police officers, to build our department toward full staffing levels.
  • Instituted annual town government “Spring into Action” collaborative training; bringing all boards, commissions, and committees together to align efforts and share updates.

Goals for the Next Two Years:

  • Provide channels for community engagement in the Planning and Zoning Committees’ zoning regulation rewrite to ensure residents have a voice in shaping Old Lyme’s future. 
  • Increase virtual opportunities for meetings of all boards and commissions to ensure accessibility and transparency.
  • Develop a policy for the undesignated fund balance, establishing guidelines for how large it should be and to return tax dollars to residents when the fund reaches a sustainable level.
  • Host workshops to create formal long term capital plans, guiding infrastructure and investment decisions.
  • Maintain open communication with Region 18 school district, ensuring alignment between town and school priorities.
  • Advance resiliency and sustainability planning, preparing Old Lyme for future environmental and infrastructure challenges.
  • Aggressively pursue state and federal grants, bringing your tax dollars back to Old Lyme. 
  • Continue my open-door policy, listening to residents and acting on their concerns.

Thank you for allowing me to serve these past two years. I hope that I have earned your support on November 4th.

Sincerely,

Martha H. Shoemaker,
Old Lyme.

Editor’s Note: The author is the incumbent First Selectwoman of Old Lyme.