Category Archives: vnn

Old Lyme’s Midsummer Festival Begins Tonight with Art Openings, Concerts

Posted on by
Reply

Market_compressed

Old Lyme’s Midsummer Festival is a town-wide celebration of the arts, which this year will be held Friday and Saturday, July 25 and 26. Since the early 20th century Old Lyme has been known to artists and art lovers alike as a haven for the arts.

The Festival takes place in the heart of Old Lyme’s historic district, with activities spanning locations along Lyme Street.  Festival sites include the Florence Griswold Museum, Lyme Art Association, Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, the Old Lyme Inn, the Bee & Thistle Inn, Studio 80 + Sculpture Park, Center School, the Old Lyme – Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library, and a variety of Lyme Street merchants.

Visitors to the Festival enjoy art, food, performances, hands-on activities for children, a dog show, a French-styled market, artisan vendors, book signings, and so much more!  For more information visit  www.OldLymeMidsummerFestival.com

A Great Egret photographer by Diana Atwood Johnson in Orlando, Fla.

This photograph of a Great Egret by Diana Atwood Johnson taken in Orlando, Fla., is the signature work of the ‘Bird’s Eye View’ exhibition on view during the Festival at Lyme Academy College.

On Friday, July 25, the evening begins with three receptions from 5 to 7 p.m., all with free admission.  At the Lyme Art Association, enjoy a great selection of affordable art by Association members.  At Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, visitors can view the exhibition Bird’s Eye View, Photographs of the Natural World by Diana Atwood Johnson in the Sill House Gallery.  A selection of student work is on view in the Chauncey Stillman Gallery. Most works in both exhibitions is for sale with funds benefiting the College and the students.  Atwood Johnson is generously donating all proceeds from the sale of her photographs to the College.  New York Times best-selling author Luanne Rice will also be visiting the exhibitions during the evening.  Refreshments will be available at both galleries.

At the Florence Griswold Museum, visitors can view the special exhibitions Art of the Everyman: American Folk Art from the Fenimore Art Museum and Thistles and Crowns: The Painted Chests of the Connecticut Shore.

2010_concert_crowd_Marshview_500x334

The annual free concert from 7 to 9 pm at the Florence Griswold Museum is always a favorite and makes for a perfect summer evening.  This year’s band is The Mighty Soul Drivers.  Find your spot along the Lieutenant River and enjoy classic Southern Soul (think Percy Sledge, Otis Redding).  Folksinger Al Denty performs from 6-8pm. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring a picnic dinner or let Gourmet Galley prepare a delicious meal.  Reservations can be made at www.Gourmet-Galley.com.

Walk from one free concert to another.  From 9 to 11pm, the Bee & Thistle Inn hosts ***New to the Festival Down by the River Rhythm N’ Blues DJ Dance Party.  Dance under the stars on the banks of the Lieutenant River.  Specialty cocktails and late night nosh are available for purchase.

The festival continues on Saturday, July 26, with activities at many locations along Lyme Street. Festivalgoers may park at Old Lyme Marketplace, Florence Griswold Museum, Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, Lyme-Old Lyme High School, Lyme-Old Lyme Center and Middle Schools, and Old Lyme Library. A shuttle bus runs between these locations from 9am to 3pm.

At the Florence Griswold Museum, the day begins with breakfast at 8:30am.  Gourmet Galley serves breakfast in the morning and lunch in the afternoon until 3pm.  One of the highlights of the day is Market En Plein Air.  This outdoor market features Connecticut-grown flowers, fruits, vegetables, breads, fine cheeses, herbs and specialty foods in a setting modeled after outdoor markets in French villages.  Crafted-by-Hand: An Artisan Fair features noted jewelry designers and other craftsmen.  These events open at 9am and close at 3pm.

At 10am, local cultural organizations provide creative projects for children of all ages at the Hands-On, Minds-On area. Included are activities by the Old Lyme -PGN Library, Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau, and High Hopes Therapeutic Riding. This event closes at 3pm.

2010LLama_meets_dog_500x373

Four-legged friends can participate in the Parading Paws Dog Show hosted by Vista Vocational & Life Skills Center of Westbrook. Does your dog have the best smile, longest tail, biggest paws?  Registration is from 9- 10am.  Judging begins at 10:30am.  Special categories include Best Trick and Best Costume. The event is sponsored by Vista Vittles ~ 100% Natural Treats for Dogs.

Visitors enjoy a reduced admission of $5 to the Museum from 10am to 5pm, including the historic Florence Griswold House and the special exhibitions Art of the Everyman: American Folk Art from the Fenimore Art Museum and Thistles and Crowns: The Painted Chests of the Connecticut Shore.

At 11am and 1pm enjoy an interactive, energetic concert by Dave Fry, guaranteed to make all ages smile.

Next door to the Museum, at the Lyme Art Association, activities begin at 8am with the Lyme Garden Club’s exhibition of flowers and design.  Many items are for sale.  This event closes at 4pm.  From 9am to 5pm visitors can enjoy a great selection of affordable art by Association members.

LymeArtAssociation_bull&girls_compressed

Once again this year, the Lyme Art Association presents a festival favorite, the Oxen of Cranberry Meadow Farm, from 10am to 2pm. Learn more about these gentle giants, whose ancestors appeared in many original Lyme Art Colony paintings! ***New to the Festival, Tea at the Gallery from 10am to 4pm. Enjoy a respite from the heat of midsummer with tea or lemonade and light fare in our air-conditioned galleries.

At Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, visitors can enjoy two gallery exhibitions, the best current work by students in all the College’s major programs and Bird’s Eye View, Photographs of the Natural World by Diana Atwood Johnson.  For lunch, there is LobsterCraft’s fresh, hot-buttered lobster rolls, lobster kielbasa, macaroni and cheese, and lobster bisque and the College Café will provide a variety of delicious summer salads, along with orange iced tea, ginger lemonade and coffee. Specialty vendors entice visitors with jewelry, art, linens, and more. These events take place from 10am to 3pm.

NYT best-selling author Luanne Rice will discuss her 31st novel, "The Lemon Orchard," and sign copies at Lyme Academy College starting at 11 am.

NYT best-selling author Luanne Rice will discuss her 31st novel, “The Lemon Orchard,” and then sign copies at Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts starting at 11 am.

At 11am, New York Times bestselling author of 31 novels, Luanne Rice shares her latest book The Lemon Orchard, an unexpected love story of two people from different worlds.  People Magazine calls the book “Entrancing” while Kirkus Reviews calls it “Lovely and compelling, with quiet yet brave social commentary.”  Books will be sold by R.J. Julia Booksellers and Rice will be signing copies.

From 11am to 3pm, the Midsummer Festival Music Stage offers continuous music on the lawn.  Don’t miss the music stage with a variety of bands provided by Bring Our Music Back, Inc.  At 11am, A Moment of Fearless (Soulful Blues duo), at noon, St. Albans (Youth Folk/Rock), and from 1 to 3pm, School of Rock (Youth All-Star House Band, all genres).

Band_at_LACFA_598

***New this year, live music by Musicnow Foundation, Inc. from 11am to 3pm at Nightingale’s Cafe and the Bee & Thistle Inn.

Located next to Lyme Academy College, visitors can explore Studio 80 + Sculpture Grounds from 9am to 5pm.  Stop in to meet the sculptors and learn about their work.  The outdoor sculpture collection is exhibited on beautifully landscaped grounds adjacent to the Lieutenant River.  Enjoy lectures, music, dance, and refreshments.

From 11am to dark, visit the Old Lyme Inn for Light Bites and Live Music.  Cool your heels and tap your toes to the sounds of funk band, Mass-Conn-Fusion under the big tent on the Old Lyme Inn front lawn.  Light bites and refreshing drinks available for purchase.

Fence_paintings_2_500

From 9am to 4pm on the Center School lawn, meet the Plein Air Fence Show Artists.  Thirty-six of some of the area’s most accomplished local artists display their works for sale.  All mediums, styles, and prices are available.

From 10am to 5pm, the Lyme Street Merchants feature a sidewalk sale.  Follow the yellow balloons down Lyme Street to discover unique shops and galleries.  A musical cafe, designer linens on sale, homemade ice cream, exotic gems and designer jewelry, eclectic mix of galleries and an art studio, topped off with decadent chocolates and confections.

***New this year, offerings at the Old Lyme – Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library.  From 10am to 2pm, half price children’s and adult’s books in the Bookceller.  From 10am to 3pm, all ages are welcome to make a paper bag puppet!  Materials provided.  From 11:30 to 2pm, indulge in some delectable mini-cupcakes by Cupcakes and Flying Hearts.

From 1 to 2pm, meet Tony Award winner, trainer, actor and author, Bill Berloni.  Bill will sign his book Broadway Tails and share heartfelt stories of rescue dogs that became showbiz superstars.  Bill was a 20-year-old apprentice at the Goodspeed Opera House when a producer offered him his big break: a chance to act professionally and gain his Equity Card. In return, all Bill had to do was find and train a dog to play Sandy in the original production of Annie.

fireworks_500x346

The Old Lyme Town Band will strike up at 7:30 pm on the Middle School lawn and then to round off the evening, there will be the usual fabulous fireworks display visible from the same lawn.

“Talking Transportation: Is It Safe To Ride Metro-North?

Posted on by
Reply

logoIt has been seven months since a drowsy engineer drove a speeding Metro-North train off the tracks at Spuyten Duyvil, killing four and injuring 59.

Months earlier a derailment and collision near Bridgeport sent 70 to the hospital. Ever since, the railroad has promised that improving safety is its top priority.  So does that mean the railroad is now “safe”?

Aside from taking the word of management, how are we to know?  Just because we haven’t had another accident doesn’t mean the railroad is safe.  Nobody suspected it was unsafe until those two accidents last year showed us just how dangerous our daily commute had become.

In April this year The Commuter Action Group surveyed 642 commuters and asked them, “Do you feel safe riding Metro-North?” and 56% said yes, 15% said no and 29% said they “weren’t sure”. Neither am I, but I ride those trains regularly, hoping for the best.  And so far, so good.

I take the railroad at its word when it says safety is its top priority, but I have no way of telling it that’s true.  As Donald Rumsfeld famously said, “We don’t know what we don’t know.” Waiting on a station platform, how can the average commuter look at the tracks, the overhead wires or signals and know that Metro-North is safe?  We can’t even see the engineers because they hide in their control booth behind jerry-rigged cardboard curtains ‘lest riders should watch them at work. Here’s what we do know.

The trains are running slower (on-time performance was only 79% in May).  And last week we also learned that an entire class of conductor trainees had been dismissed because they were caught cheating on a safety exam.  Good for the MTA for catching and disciplining them.  But the worry is whether this kind of cheating has been going on for years.

Reassuring?  The only way to be sure that Metro-North is safe is better federal oversight by the FRA, the Federal Railroad Administration.  That agency still hasn’t issued its final report on the May 2013 derailment… and only fined the railroad $5,000 following a Metro-North trainee’s mistake, which killed one of their own track foremen.

As US Senator Richard Blumenthal put it, “The watchdogs were asleep.  The FRA has been lax and sluggish.” That’s why commuters should be reassured that Senator Blumenthal will soon introduce a bill to give the FRA some real teeth:  increasing civil penalties for railroad mistakes, strengthening railroad oversight, mandating new safety gear, introduction of a fatigue management plan for personnel, requiring anonymous reporting systems for whistle-blowers, installation of cameras, alerters and redundant safety systems for track workers.

Further, the bill would also require stronger safety standards for crude oil rail-tankers, the “pipelines on wheels” carrying crude oil and petroleum products on US railroads. The only thing missing?  Mandatory transparency.  I’d hope that the FRA would be required to explain its oversight and reassure all railroad riders of their safety in a simple, understandable manner.

That would make me feel safe.

Jim Cameron

Jim Cameron

Jim Cameron has been a Darien resident for 23 years.  He is the founder of the Commuter Action Group and also serves on the Darien RTM.  The opinions expressed in this column are his own.  You can reach him at CommuterActionGroup@gmail.com

Nibbles: Chicken and Wine with Capers Perfect for Boules Bash

Posted on by
Reply

Inn-607x401When Linnea [Rufo – the owner of and executive chef at the Bee & Thistle in Old Lyme] and I talked about what she would make for her boules party, she thought about Lasagna Bolognese.  This can be made ahead of time and baked just before dinner time, usually around 7 pm.  A big salad (we usually have somewhere around 45 people for dinner), maybe Charlie van Over’s bread. I would do a bar dessert while Linnea would get ice cream and fruit.

A couple of weeks later, we talked again. I said I would make the Bolognese sauce and the salad, too, if she would like.  “No, I’m not doing lasagna. I’m going to do chicken in wine with capers.”  The Bee & Thistle doesn’t even have a walk-in freezer and here she is choosing chicken with wine and capers, and she wanted to play boules, too. I thought she was nuts.

It turns out she wasn’t crazy. She had done most of the work ahead of time and the final roasting would take place in a big, big oven (it is a restaurant, after all) along with roasted zucchini. Everything was delicious and I, who can’t find a word for how boring zucchini is to me, loved this zucchini. Here are her recipes:

Chicken and Wine with Capers

From Linnea Rufo, executive chef of Bee & Thistle inn

Yield: serves 6

6 very large skinless boneless chicken breasts

Flour, salt and pepper to taste, for dredging

2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil

1 cup of a nice white wine

1 large chopped shallot

2 cups low-salt chicken stock

One-half cup fresh lemon juice

1 cup capers, rinsed

One-half cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Garnish:

3 large lemons, halved (optional)

Cut each chicken breast horizontally so each opens like a book.

Chicken with white wine and capers

Chicken and wine with capers

Heat oil in a large high-sided skillet or a small roasting pan. Dredge the chicken in the flour, salt and pepper mixture, shaking excess and sear chicken until brown on each side. Do this in batches so you don’t cook them to the point where they will steam. If you are serving later, cool chicken and wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until just before dinner.

Before ready to serve, in the same skillet with all the browned pieces, heat and deglaze with shallots and wine. Add stock and lemon juice. Place chicken pieces in the broth and roast until chicken is done. Add capers and cook another few minutes. Place chicken and sauce in a platter and sauce with the juice. Sprinkle with parsley.

Optional: If garnishing, place half lemons on a grill until brown and serve each on top of each chicken.

Roasted Zucchini

Also from Linnea Rufo

Here is a zucchini that is truly memorable. And easy to make. So if a neighbor rang your doorbell and ran away and you open the door and see 10 pounds of zucchini, call him and thank him.

Small zucchini

Fresh chives

Extra-virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Wash and dry the zucchini. Cut the bottoms and tops off, cut them into thin strips and place in a large bowl. Mince the chives and add to the zucchini. Top with olive oil and salt and pepper, to taste. With your hands (or with a big spoon), toss together. Leave them to macerate on the counter for a few minutes or in an hour or so. Set the oven at 350 degrees. But the mixture in a baking sheet and roast for 15 to 20 minutes, tossing once or twice during the roasting. Serve hot, warm or at room temperature.

headshot_LeeAbout the author: Lee White (left) has been writing about restaurants and cooking since 1976 and has been extensively published in the Worcester (Mass.) Magazine, The Day, Norwich Bulletin, and Hartford Courant.  She currently writes Nibbles and a cooking column called A La Carte for LymeLine.com and the Shore Publishing newspapers, and Elan, a quarterly magazine, all of which are now owned by The Day. 

Camp Claire Receives Donation Of Automated External Defibrillator Machine

Posted on by
Reply
Surrounded by Camp Claire campers, Russell Sage, center, Michael Sage's father and Director of the MVSDF, stands with James P. Berryman (left in photo in blue shirt), a Director at Suisman Shapiro, which is a major sponsor of MVSDF, after the presentation of an AED to Camp Claire's Director, Beth Owen-Mishou.

Surrounded by Camp Claire campers, Russell Sage, center, Michael Sage’s father and Director of the Michael Vincent Sage Dragonheart Foundation, Inc. (MVSDF), stands with James P. Berryman (left in blue shirt) — a Director at Suisman Shapiro, which is a major sponsor of MVSDF — after the presentation of an AED to Camp Claire’s Director, Beth Owen-Mishou.

Representatives of the Michael Vincent Sage Dragonheart Foundation, Inc. (MVSDF) donated a new automated external defibrillator (AED) machine to Camp Claire last Thursday, July 10, at a group meeting for staff and campers.

An AED is a lightweight, portable device that delivers an electric shock through the chest to the heart. The shock can stop an irregular rhythm and allow a normal rhythm to resume in a heart that is experiencing sudden cardiac arrest.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the leading cause of cardiac related death in the United States; it strikes without warning, and if not treated within minutes, quickly leads to death.

There are 1,900 to 14,200 cases of out-of-hospital SCA in children each year. Early defibrillation with an AED and CPR can more than double chances of survival. The American Heart Association estimates that 20,000 to 100,000 Sudden Cardiac Arrest deaths could be prevented if defibrillation was readily available.

The MVSDF was established in memory of Michael Vincent Sage, who died on February 5, 2010 at the age of 29 from a sudden cardiac arrhythmia (SCA). He was active in sports for most of his life and never exhibited any of the warning signs associated with SCA, such as episodes of dizziness, fainting, or seizures. He arrived at work at the New London offices of Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law on a beautiful February morning, had a cup of coffee with his colleagues, then collapsed and died.

People on the scene attempted to revive Michael using CPR, but there was no AED available, and by the time the paramedics arrived, Michael could not be saved. In a matter of moments, Michael was gone.

The mission of the MVSDF is to raise awareness and support research into the early diagnosis and prevention of sudden cardiac arrest, including bystander awareness education, CPR training, and availability of automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) in schools, athletic facilities, and other public forums.

Michael Sage's father, Russell Sage, addresses campers and staff at Camp Claire.

Michael Sage’s father, Russell Sage, addresses campers and staff at Camp Claire during the presentation of an AED.

Camp Claire, a summer camp for children aged 7-14 located in Lyme, Conn., applied to the MVSDF for the donation of an AED defibrillator machine and was selected by the Board of Directors to receive the gift. Organizations must meet various criteria including the required number of CPR-trained employees; the number of persons served and their age groups; current AED status; and overall worthiness/need of the organization.

The cost of an AED defibrillator machine ranges from $1,000 to $2,500. The MVSDF has donated more than 30 machines to organizations in Connecticut over the last two years.

The mission of Camp Claire is to provide a natural community environment that encourages curiosity and creativity, and increases self-esteem, while providing a lifetime of memories that prepares children for an active place in a multicultural society. The camp began as a conference retreat for members of the First Congregational Church of Meriden in 1916. It incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1954, and relies on the support of alumni and friends to continue its mission of providing children with an enriching and memorable camping experience.

Major sponsors of the Michael Vincent Sage Dragonheart Foundation include Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law (New London), Defibtech, Inc. (Guilford, CT), The Survival Group (North Haven, CT), and The Ralph L. Rossi Foundation (Hamden, CT).

For more information about the MVSDF, visit the Foundation’s website at www.defibandlive.org

To learn more about Camp Claire, visit www.campclaire.org .

 

Help Your Rivers Celebrate Their Independence—From Trash

Posted on by
Reply

trash_on_CT_RiverThe Connecticut River Watershed Council (CRWC) encourages you to do two things while you’re out celebrating this weekend: recycle and scout trash.

By recycling what you can and keeping an eye out for trash while you are outdoors, you can help keep trash out of our rivers. You can report litter sites in need of clean-up volunteers to CRWC on their website at www.ctriver.org/source-to-sea-cleanup and click on ‘Report Trash Site’ or call their office at 860-704-0057. CRWC will direct volunteers to those sites during their 18th annual Source to Sea Cleanup on September 26 and 27. “If you see a trash site, note the location and what kind of debris is there, take a picture if you can, and then let us know,” says Jacqueline Talbot, CRWC River Steward and organizer of the Cleanup.

The annual Source to Sea Cleanup is a two-day trash clean-up event coordinated by CRWC in all four states of the 410+ mile Connecticut River watershed (NH, VT, MA, CT), home to more than 2.5 million people. “Source to Sea Cleanup volunteers have worked hard to combat litter and illegally dumped trash,” notes Talbot. “It’s a big watershed and we rely on people to let us know about the problem spots. You are one of our best sources of information.”

Each fall, thousands of volunteers of all ages and abilities head out to clean the Connecticut River and its tributaries on foot or by boat. Volunteers remove trash along rivers, streams and stream banks, parks, boat launches, trails and more. Individuals can register now to start a clean-up group, register to work solo or join an existing group by visiting www.ctriver.org/source-to-sea-cleanup. Businesses are also encouraged to get involved by starting an employee clean-up group, making a donation of supplies such as gloves and trash bags, or by becoming an event sponsor.

In 2013, more than 2,200 volunteers pulled over 45 tons of trash from river banks and waterways in NH, VT, MA and CT. Volunteers use human power and sometimes heavy equipment to pull out everything from recyclables, fishing equipment and food waste to tires, televisions, refrigerators and junk cars. To date volunteers have prevented more than 851 tons of trash from flowing downstream.

“Lead sponsors NRG Middletown and TransCanada’s generous financial support enables us to organize the thousands of volunteers who participate in the Cleanup, and to take on complex projects that require the use of heavy equipment, scuba divers and other professionals to get those really trashed places cleaned up,” says CRWC Executive Director Andrew Fisk.

Anyone with questions or trash tips may contact CRWC’s Cleanup Coordinator Jacqueline Talbot at cleanup@ctriver.org or by calling 860-704-0057.

The Connecticut River Watershed Council works to protect the watershed from source to sea. As stewards of this heritage, we celebrate our four-state treasure and collaborate, educate, organize, restore and intervene to preserve its health for generations to come. Our work informs our vision of economic and ecological abundance.

To learn more about CRWC, or to make a contribution to help protect the Connecticut River, visit www.ctriver.org or call 413-772-2020, ext. 201.