NEW LONDON—It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Gina Rivera Hernández de Perez, 55, of New London. On Tuesday, July 22, 2025, Gina passed away peacefully at Backus Hospital, surrounded by the love of her family. She faced a courageous battle with cancer, a fight defined by her incredible strength, unwavering spirit, and enduring grace.
Born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, on September 26, 1969, Gina was raised in the Barrio Cerro Gordo of Añasco. In 1979, she moved with her family to New London, Connecticut, where she graduated from New London High School in 1987. Though she built her life in Connecticut, her heart remained deeply rooted in her heritage. As she proudly declared, she was “más boricua que el coquí.”
… For many years, she was a beloved member of the staff at Lyme-Old Lyme Public Schools, where her energy and warmth were cherished by her colleagues. She cherished her work and looked forward to the day her health would allow her to return.
Gina was predeceased by her father, Efraín Rivera Valentín.
Her memory will be cherished forever by her loving husband, Manuel Perez; her beloved mother, Migdalia Hernández Nieves; and her devoted children, Yajaira Y. Vega Rivera (Juan), José J. Muñiz Rivera, and Joshian Y. Muñiz Rivera.
She was also a loving stepmother …. She adored her step-grandchildren, … Gina also leaves behind her siblings, … her twin brother, … and her stepsister, … as well as her treasured niece and nephews, … her beloved aunt,… and uncle, … along with many loving cousins and extended family members.
A celebration of life will be held on Friday, July 25, 2025 at 11a.m. at Lester Gee Funeral Home, 108 Blinman Street, New London, Connecticut. Calling hours will begin at 10a.m. until time of service. Interment will be held in Cedar Grove Cemetery, New London, Connecticut.
Calling hours will be held on Thursday, July 24, 2025 from 6p.m to 8p.m. Lester Gee Funeral Home,108 Blinman Street, New London, Connecticut.
Remember when commuting was fun because you could listen to the radio?
Earlier in my career I may have been the guy you heard, both on WHCN / Hartford and later on NBC. When I started in radio in 1967, AM Top 40 was king and FM was just getting started. But in 1961 the FCC decreed that all radios should have both AM and FM bands … and that FM should broadcast in stereo. And no longer could station owners just simulcast their AM programs on their FM stations: FM programming had to be different.
Thus was born “Progressive Album Rock” on FM, usually programmed by long-haired LP fans. That was me, again. Within years, radio listening went from predominantly AM to majority FM thanks to better audio quality and changing musical tastes.
Today the AM band is filled with syndicated political talk, foreign language shows and sports. Only a handful of stations have real news departments (think WTIC, WICC here in Connecticut.)
Then came the all-electric car. Because of their wiring Teslas and such could not have AM radios due to interference. What to do?
Well, Congress is expected to pass a law requiring AM radios in all cars. The bill has hundreds of co-sponsors, including the entire Connecticut delegation. No wonder: pols love being interviewed on AM stations.
“But AM radio is effectively aging out, with less than a 20% market share. And many news / talk stations have transitioned to FM where there are far more listeners,” (think WINS in NYC) says former station consultant Steve Goldstein of Westport.
Goldstein left radio years 10 years ago to become a podcasting consultant. He also teaches at NYU and says not one of his students listens to AM. Most don’t listen to FM, either, preferring streaming services like Pandora and Spotify or on-demand media like podcasts. “AM radio is going the way of the phone booth and fax machine”, he laments.
So why save AM radio in the car when folks aren’t listening? And what will be left on FM to tune into?
If your listening habits tend toward the NPR stations at the lower end of the FM band, you’re in for disappointment. Congress has just voted to claw back (“rescind”) $1.1 billion from funds previously allocated to CPB, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds both PBS television and NPR radio stations.
In the case of Connecticut Public Radio (WNPR) we’re talking about a 10+% budget cut. That will probably mean layoffs and less local programming for shows like “Colin McEnroe.”
At WSHU they say they’ll need to raise an additional $500,000 to make up for the loss. Elsewhere in the US it’s estimated that as many as 80 NPR stations will just go dark.
Your mail is already crowded with funding appeals, not just from public broadcasters but from other non-profits also losing federal funding. With so many hands outstretched, how will donors prioritize their gifts? Feeding the hungry or keeping the airwaves alive?
So Congress giveth (renewed life to AM radio) and taketh away (cutting PBS and NPR). The media world (and listeners) will adapt.
Now, if only I could find my old eight-track tape player.
To the contrary, there is no dispute between us and the Town about “ownership” since Tim Griswold’s Town Attorney publicly stated at a BOS meeting in August 2022 that his year-long investigation had found no evidence of ownership on the part of the Town. The Town and its counsel have since confirmed publicly and privately that they cannot and do not dispute that we own the Landing parcel in fee simple.
While the Griswold administration continued to claim there might have been a “public highway” along that spit of land based on a 1701 right of way, we discovered and published more than two years ago official Town records establishing that this right of way never went down what is now our back driveway, wasn’t even being used and indeed couldn’t be found in 1712, was replaced by another right of way in 1713 (which traces the current Tantummaheag Road and never touched our property), and by contract with the then-landowner Richard Lord (who became First Selectman in 1720) the Town surrendered all rights to any and all Town rights-of-ways on his property in 1727.
The Republican candidate for Old Lyme First Selectman is John Mesham. His running mate is incumbent Selectwoman Jude Danenhower Read (R), who is running again for the same position. Photo submitted.
OLD LYME–This year’s race for Old Lyme First Selectman will be a rematch between incumbent Democrat Martha Shoemaker and Republican John Mesham.
The Republican Town Committee this week announced Mesham’s candidacy as part of a slate of candidates endorsed Tuesday at their new headquarters on Halls Road.
John Mesham
Mesham, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, retired from the Connecticut State Police in 2020 as a master sergeant after 29 years in law enforcement. He is a member of the Inland Wetlands Commission and a deputy registrar of voters.
The Republicans in a press release described Mesham as an experienced leader with “impeccable integrity” and proven management skills.
“John will also bring much needed ethical standards and transparency back to leadership in Town Hall,” the party said.
The victory in 2023 went to Shoemaker with 51.8% majority. She brought in 1,820 votes compared to Mesham’s 1,697.
Along with Mesham, incumbent Republican Jude Danenhower Read will run for reelection to the three-member Board of Selectmen as they work to reverse the current Democratic majority.
The Republicans said Mesham and Read were instrumental in resisting unpopular initiatives during Shoemaker’s term, including a plan from the Halls Road Improvements Committee to reenvision the commercial strip as a mix of apartments and businesses.
Selectmen late last year voted 2-1, with Read opposed, to send the plan for the Halls Road Overlay District (HROD) to the Zoning Commission. It was rejected in a 4-1 vote by the commission after hours of testimony at a public hearing in front of 550 people, with more waiting in the wings of the Lyme-Old Lyme High School auditorium.
“Together, John and Jude have forged relationships across partisan lines in Old Lyme including open and collaborative relationships with Democrats and unaffiliated voters in our town,” the party said.
Jude Danenhower Read
The Republicans credited Mesham and Read with spearheading opposition “to back door land deals on access to Tantummaheag Landing” as part of a years-long dispute over the ownership of a spit of land bisecting a Tantummaheag Road property. The town going back to previous First Selectman Tim Griswold’s tenure has claimed ownership of the landing amid opposition from the owner, a prominent lawyer and government official with more than a half century of experience, who has signaled his intent to take the case to federal court.
Republican Town Committee Chairman Randy Nixon in an email said a majority of committee members voted to endorse the slate of candidates, which was recommended by its nomination committee.
In response to a request for an interview with Mesham, Nixon said he would have the candidate reach out next week.
The party’s platform includes maintaining the semi-rural character of Old Lyme; fiscal prudence; control over land use decisions in town; resident access to water through town land; high quality education; environmental protection and transparency in town government.
The press release, which directed questions to campaign manager Shaun Mastroianni, emphasized the slate includes Republican and unaffiliated candidates, who were selected based on qualifications rather than party – “all of whom stood firmly and actively against HROD and are concerned about key issues affecting the public.”
Mastroianni moved to Old Lyme in 2023 from Stonington, where he was active in local politics. He ran unsuccessfully last year for the state Senate seat held by Martha Marx, D-New London.
The following candidates were endorsed with Mesham and Read for the November election: (*incumbent)
Town Clerk – Vicki Urbowicz*
Board of Assessment Appeals – Timothy C. Griswold*
Planning Commission – Harold Thompson*, Todd Machnik*
Board of Education – Jarod Bushey, Shaun Mastroianni, Brandy Campbell, Frank Pappalardo
Board of Finance – Matthew Olson*, J. David Kelsey*, John Flick
Board of Finance Alternate – Michael Presti, Maria Corrao Marchant, Bob Antoniac
Zoning Commission – Sloan Danenhower (U), Jane Marsh*
Zoning Board of Appeals – Stephen P. Dix (U)*
Zoning Board of Appeals Alternate – James T. Scott, Jill Pilgrim, Nicholas Fulton
Editor’s Note: The article was updated to correct the vote at the Halls Road zoning meeting and to clarify Nixon’s statement regarding a possible interview with the candidate.
Old Lyme’s Midsummer Festival takes place July 26, with one of the venues being the Florence Griswold Museum. The antiques car in the foreground of this photo is a reminder that the Lyme-Old Lyme Lions host their Classic Car Show next door at the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center during the Festival from 9:30am to 1:30pm
OLD LYME—The Old Lyme Arts District has announced two of the town’s premier summer celebrations: the Midsummer Kickoff Concert on Friday, July 25 and the Old Lyme Midsummer Festival on Saturday, July 26.
The Arts District in a press release said the family-friendly events showcase the town’s rich artistic heritage and welcoming community spirit in a weekend of art, music, and family fun.
Midsummer Kickoff Concert at the FloGris Museum, July 25
Come enjoy a free concert by the Mighty Soul Drivers on the lawn in this beautiful venue along the Lieutenant River.
The Florence Griswold Museum, 90 Lyme St., is once again hosting the kickoff concert the night before the Midsummer Festival. This year the Mighty Soul Drivers will entertain. Bring your chairs or blanket and get ready for this favorite party and dance band. Bring a picnic or enjoy food vendor fare.
5 to 7 p.m. Free admission to exhibitions Nancy Friese: Living Landscapes and Cow Tales, plus early access to the FloGris Shop’s Midsummer Super Sale.
7 to 9 p.m. Midsummer Concert on the Lawn featuring The Mighty Soul Drivers—a high-energy Memphis-style soul band. Bring a picnic or grab food from local vendors. Free and open to the public.
38th Annual Old Lyme Midsummer Festival, July 26
Find art, music, food, and family fun at the 38th Annual Old Lyme Midsummer Festival. The day’s events begin with a 5K road race and then continue with festivities at the Lyme Art Association, Florence Griswold Museum, Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center, Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, and the Old Lyme Inn. More information can be found at ExploreOldLyme.com/MidsummerFestival2025.
Midsummer 5K Run hosted by Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau, 59 Lyme Street
A raised hand held the starting horn for the Kids’ Race at last year’s 5K Midsummer Run.
5K Run/Walk (8 a.m. start): A morning run that winds through the beautiful streets of the village. Pre-registration online or onsite beginning at begins at 6:45 a.m.
Kid K (9 a.m. start): Takes place on the high school running track. Check in at LYSB.
Lyme Art Association, 90 Lyme St.
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Outdoor Activities (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.): Meet local artists, enjoy craft-making, get refreshments from Del’s Lemonade, and explore booths from garden clubs and community groups.
Live Music: The Wandering Fiddlers (9 a.m. to noon) and Kipp Sturgeon (12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.)
Gallery Exhibitions: 104th Elected Artists Exhibition, Red Hot Members Show, and New Haven Paint & Clay Club Select Members Exhibit
Florence Griswold Museum, 96 Lyme Street
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Free Admission: Explore exhibitions and the historic Griswold Boardinghouse for artists, c. 1910
Food Truck Court (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.): Delicious offerings for all ages
Dog Show (10 a.m. to noon): Parading Paws returns—every dog’s a winner!
Gallery Tour (2 p.m.) and hands-on crafts. Face painting, fairy hair, and more throughout the day
Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center, 100 Lyme Street
9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Kelsey Family Discovery Center: Science experiments, crafts, and wildlife watching
Special Appearances:
10 a.m. Michele Urban Music Show—a whimsical interactive concert for families made possible by the Phoebe Griffin Noyes Old Lyme Library
CT River Museum rope-making demos
Great Island Foundation oyster & mussel touch tank
Environmental presentations by the Old Lyme Land Trust, Old Lyme Open Space Commission and Old Lyme Harbor Management Commission
Lions Club Classic Car Show (9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.): Enjoy antique, exotic, and hot rod vehicles. Entrance fee of $5 gives attendees the chance to judge entrants. Trophies awarded after 1pm. The Lyme-Old Lyme Lions Club will also be offering its popular grill items onsite.
Peterson Collection on View: Artist proofs and signed prints in the Eleanor Robinson Center
Old Lyme Inn, 85 Lyme Street
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Browse fine arts and crafts from theFence Show Artists, Lyme Artisans Guild, and other vendors.
Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, 84 Lyme Street
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
De Gerenday’s Fine Art Materials & Curiosities (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.): Offering the finest art materials hand selected by our renowned faculty of professional artists and exquisite giftable objects from around the globe.
Chauncey-Stillman Gallery On view: (12 to 4 p.m.): Annual Student and Faculty Exhibition.
*There is also an exhibition of Jac Lahav’s paintings of iconic record covers at Nautilus Architects at 9 Halls Rd. Admission is free and light refreshments will be offered. There will be live music between by Eggshell between 2:30 and 4:30pm*
There will be a concert by the Old Lyme Town Band starting at 7:30 p.m. on the lawn behind Center School, which will be followed by the traditional fireworks display.
Mark your calendars, bring your friends and family, and make memories this summer in Old Lyme!
The Midsummer Festival is generously supported by Connecticut’s Eastern Regional Tourism District, Pasta Vita, Essex Savings Bank/Essex Financial Services, the Herb Chambers Charitable Foundation, Inc, Bluewater Millwork & Construction Inc, Mercer Advisors, the Nancy Mesham Team at Coldwell Banker Realty, and LymeLine.com.
About the Old Lyme Arts District Located in the heart of Old Lyme, Connecticut, the Old Lyme Arts District is a collaborative cultural community that celebrates the town’s artistic legacy through exhibitions, events, and partnerships. Anchored by the Florence Griswold Museum, Lyme Art Association, Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, Cooley Gallery, Side Door Jazz Club, Nightingale’s Acoustic Café, Musical Masterworks, Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library, Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau, and Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center, the District offers year-round programming that inspires creativity and fosters community.
