Category Archives: Towns

Old Lyme Property Transactions … Are Back!

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Editor’s Note: We are delighted to bring back publication of Old Lyme property transactions. We know that readers enjoyed these in the past and are confident they will spark the same interest today. We will publishing them every two weeks going forward and also adding Lyme’s property transactions shortly.

6/16: 3 Jadon Drive, Gregory P. Carnese, conservator for David E. Barclay of Old Lyme, to D+C 97 LLC of East Haven, $235,000. 

6/23: 7 Haywagon Drive, Paul S. Constantinou and Amy P. Constantinou to Edward Granfield, $975,000. 

6/27: 14 Avenue A, the Estate of Marie Mirliani of Boston, MA, to Adrian Scarpa, $425,000. 

6/30: 106 Neck Road, Aaron P. Sikorski of New Orleans, LA, to James S. Pawlowski of Plantation, FL, $563,000. 

7/1: 11 Bayberry Ridge Road, Nancy W. Lacasse and Joseph Lacasse of Bristol, ME, to George A. Dichario, $680,000. 

7/2: 302 Ferry Road, Elizabeth A. Huston of Guilford to Conrad Home Buyers LLC of Lyme, $374,000. 

7/3: 27 Brightwater Road, Gregory S. Simon, Trustee of the GS Family Trust of Sarasota, FL, to Jennifer Bradley of Charlotte, NC, $1,520,000. 

7/3: 8 Spruce Ave., Julia Z. DiCandio, Trustee of the Thomas R. Coty Irrevocable Trust, to SLA Homes LLC of Somers, $287,000. 

7/8: 8 Katherine Road, John Zettergren of New Britain to Katherine 8 LLC, $435,000. 

7/8: 11 Matson Ridge, Patrick R. Avelange and Natasha Taylor to Dixon P. Downey III, $1,300,111. 

7/10: 23 Columbus Ave., Charles A. Coniglio and Mary Collery-Coniglio of Naples, FL, to Matthew Ahern, $620,000. 

7/10: 22 Oakridge Drive, Susan Steady, Trustee to the Daniel M. Pennella Trust Agreement of Waterford, to Kingsley and Rachael Schroeder of West Hartford, $165,000. 

7/10: 7 Whippoorwill Road, Erin D. McAndrew, Trustee of the Dorothy McAndrew Revocable Trust of Wakefield, RI, to Mary B. McAndrew, $270,000. 

7/10: 29 Whippoorwill Road, Robert J. Santoro, Trustee of the Dolores D. Green Trust of Cheshire, to Garip Kutrolli of Old Lyme, $20,000. 

7/11: 6 Corsino Ave., Luigi Dimauro of Haddam to Susan K. Way, Trustee of the Susan K. Way Revocable Trust of Old Lyme, $655,000. 

7/15: 6 Elm St., Sharon L. Bergquist of Essex to Carl Kolb of Austin, TX, $825,000. 

7/15: 72 Lyme St., Philip Atherton Pineo and Danne Mahone Pineo of Old Lyme to Halloran Murdock of Old Lyme, $576,000.

First Congregational Church of Lyme Seeks Volunteer Parking Attendants for Hamburg Fair, Aug. 15-17

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Parking Proceeds Serve as Church’s Only Annual Fundraiser

The First Congregational Church of Lyme. LymeLine file photo.

LYME–The First Congregational Church of Lyme is looking for volunteers to assist with parking during its traditional fundraiser at the Hamburg Fair, Aug. 15-17. 

Organizers in a news release said the church operating budget relies on proceeds from those parking on the lawn during the fair, which serves as the church’s only fundraising event each year. 

Organizers said they prefer to have four or five volunteers per two-hour shift. Three people will suffice during certain shifts. 

Volunteers are needed at the church driveway entrance to collect money, and on the church lawn to monitor available spots and lead fair-goers to those spots.

To volunteer, sign up here.

Volunteers can also register by contacting Rich Clippinger at rclippinger@snet.net or 860-910-2512, or by reaching out to the church at ctlymechurch@gmail.com or 860-434-0220. 

Help is needed in these time slots to support Hamburg Fair hours:

Friday, August 15

4:30 PM-6:30 PM (four volunteers)

6:30 PM-8:30 PM (four volunteers)

8:30 PM-10:30 PM (four volunteers)

Saturday, August 16

8:30 AM-10:30 AM (three volunteers)

10:30 AM-12:30 PM (four volunteers)

12:30 PM-2:30 PM (four volunteers)

2:30 PM-4:30 PM (five volunteers)

4:30 PM-6:30 PM (five volunteers)

6:30 PM-8:30 PM (four volunteers)

8:30 PM-10:30 PM (four volunteers)

Sunday, August 17

8:30 AM-10:30 AM (four volunteers)

10:30 AM-12:30 PM (four volunteers)

12:30 PM-2:30 PM (four volunteers)

2:30 PM-4:30 PM (four volunteers)

TOP STORY: Artistic Spotlight Shines on Old Lyme’s Marvelous Midsummer Festival

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Old Lyme’s Midsummer Festival saw thousands of visitors exploring arts and crafts galore at a variety of locations. The photo above features the lawn at the side of the Old Lyme Inn.

OLD LYME—UPDATED WITH MORE PHOTOS 7/28: The Old Lyme Midsummer Festival on Saturday turned part of the town’s historic district into a vibrant celebration of the arts. Visitors enjoyed a view of Americana set in the same estuarine light that lured Impressionist painters more than a century ago.

Visitors of all ages enjoyed viewing the artwork on display.

Tents featuring individual artists with works in a vast range of media, local non-profits explaining their mission, culinary delights from nearby farms, and refreshments for immediate consumption were spread across five locations.

These latter comprised the Lyme Art Association, FloGris Museum, Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center, Old Lyme Inn and Lyme Academy of Fine Arts..

The Lyme-Old Lyme Lions hosted their 20th Annual Classic Car Show at the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center.

On the shaded grounds of the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center, George Willauer took home a first place trophy for the Packard convertible his father bought new for $3,400 back in 1935. He attributed the vehicle’s pristine condition to Vintage Motorcars of Westbrook, the local shop with an international reputation that undertook a partial restoration after the car was damaged in a crash several years ago.

The 90-year-old Packard came into the world the same year Willauer did. He learned to drive on the three-speed manual transmission he still shifts today.

“It’s a part of me,” he said.

George Willauer, of Lyme, drove his 1935 Packard convertible to victory in Class B (1930- 1942) of the 20th Annual Lyme-Old Lyme Lions Club Classic Car Show.

Inside the Kelsey Family Children’s Innovation Discovery Center at the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center, conservation and education coordinator Joe Attwater helped 6-year-old Nova Berman examine a feather through a digital microscope. As Attwater described the “incredible” properties that make feathers such ideal insulation for comforters and coats, Nova magnified the fluffy down beneath her scope.

“There’s nothing warmer in the world than a feather,” Attwater said.

Nova Berman, 6, uses a digital microscope in the Kelsey Family Children’s Innovation Discovery Center at Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center.

The festival is a destination not only for locals, but for visitors. This year marked the first Midsummer outing for Christine Mestler of Cincinnati, Ohio, who was in town to visit her sister, Ross Higgins. The women both went home with prints from the “Fence Artists” displayed on the grounds of the Old Lyme Inn.

Ross Higgins, of Old Lyme, and her sister Christine Mestler of Cincinnati, Ohio, survey the artwork outside the Old Lyme Inn.

The Lyme Artisans Guild began in 2023 when Carol Hunts Stanland, a textile artist, forged the crafts collective of jewelry makers, potters, sculptors, weavers and woodturners. Stanland said shoppers can also find their wares at the Guilford Art Center Holiday Expo and Light Up Old Lyme later this year.

Paul Maulucci, a woodturner from Coventry who belongs to the Lyme Artisans Guild, shows his wares at the Midsummer Festival.

Starting off with a 5K race to benefit the Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau and ending with fireworks set off from behind the Lyme-Old Lyme High School, each year brings enough active artistry to keep attendees coming back for more.

Aidan Kerrigan gave a stirring rendition of the national anthem immediately before the race began.
And they’re off! Serious runners were called to the front of the pack before the race began..
Around 500 runners and walkers competed in the Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau 5K race.
Some runners even wore tutus!
The Parading Paws dog parade at the FloGris Museum was delightful … as always.
Alfie went through his paces capably led by Quinn Ressler before walking away with the “Sweetest” dog.
Ed Shyloski (left) and Greg Symonds, longtime members of VFW Post 1467 continued their service by engaging with many of the visitors and explaining their important work.
A wonderful display of hydrangeas from ‘Hydrangeas Galore’ by Mark Comstock greeted festival-goers as they arrived at the Lyme Art Association.
The Duck River Garden Club—complete with little duckies—was offering beautiful bouquets for sale.
The Old Lyme Town Band gave a rousing concert as a perfect prelude to the fireworks display.
A fabulous fireworks display rounded off another marvelous Midsummer Festival.

So, until next year …

Play ‘Beach Blanket Bingo’ at White Sand Beach in Old Lyme, Wednesday

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OLD LYME — On Wednesday, Aug. 6, play Beach Blanket Bingo from 6 to 8 p.m. at White Sand Beach.

This event is hosted by Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau (LYSB).

Prizes will be awarded to winners. Bring your beach blanket, chairs and bug spray. No food will be served.

This event is open to all Lyme and Old Lyme families.

Check the LYSB website at 5 p.m. for possible weather cancellation.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Plagiarism is No Way to Start a Campaign

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To the Editor:

I have been a professor for nearly a quarter of a century, and I have seen truly remarkable attempts at cheating from people who opted to be unethical rather than to do their own work. But I have never seen a novice politician cheat on their introductory statement until now.

In her first public remarks—her announcement to run for First Selectwoman of Lyme—Democratic-endorsed candidate Christy Zelek pledged: “I’m running for office because I love this town. My priorities will include keeping our town the beautiful, historic place it is.” (LymeLine, July 24)

This is straight, ugly plagiarism. And it’s not even a close call. Witness the evidence from Lyme Matters, the newsletter of the Lyme DTC:

  1. “He’s running because he loves Lyme and wants to help ensure it stays the beautiful gem of a town that it is.” (John Kiker, Fall 2017, page 2)
  2. “We know people love our town and want Lyme to stay the way it is – beautiful, historic and sparsely developed.” (John Kiker and Steven Mattson, Fall 2017, page 3)
  3. “They want Lyme to stay the beautiful, historic place that it is.” (John Kiker, Fall 2019, page 1)
  4. “Our candidates love Lyme, value the importance of open space and want our Town to stay the beautiful, historic place that it is.” (John Kiker, Fall 2021, page 1)
  5. “They want Lyme to stay the beautiful, historic place that it is.” (John Kiker, Fall 2021, page 3)

I think there are few things that should immediately disqualify a candidate to lead a town, but the absurdity of plagiarizing why they want to do so seems a reasonable cause for concern. If a candidate is willing to cheat on a statement of their own beliefs, what would they not cheat on?

The only defense Zelek could offer is to admit she’s simply the mouthpiece for DTC Chair and Second Selectman John Kiker, which then begs a very serious question of who would actually run the town. I hope local journalists and others concerned with the potential dishonesty of public officials investigate.

The problem is made even worse given that Zelek has no substantial governmental or business executive experience. By the DTC’s account, she deserves this important public trust and authority because she “has held leadership positions in parent-teacher groups at the high school, middle school and elementary school level and in the local Boy Scouts organization.”

As an educator, I shudder to think what a message someone who is willing to plagiarize in such a way conveys to young people. But it may help explain the crisis of cheating I see among students.

I write these lines as a lifelong Democrat who is profoundly concerned about the health of democratic society. As I have noted on other occasions, I believe it is essential that we hold elected officials in our own parties to the highest standards of accountability and honesty.

No one whose first act as a candidate is blatant cheating should be entrusted with public money, civic responsibilities, or the welfare of others. And for the sake of our children and their future, I hope that’s a message to which we can all agree, regardless of political party.

Sincerely,

Stephen Olbrys Gencarella, Ph.D.
Lyme, CT.

Editor’s Note: Commenting is now closed. Comments are closed 48 hours after publication of an article or letter.