The Old Lyme Land Trust hosts the 9th Annual Kayak Regatta, Sept. 14.
OLD LYME—The Old Lyme Land Trust (OLLT) Regatta will be held on Sunday, Sept. 14, starting at 1 p.m. Kayaks will be put in from Rte. 156 at the Lieutenant River Boat Launch. A guided trip down the Lieutenant River towards Duck River and Watch Rock will follow.
Kayakers of all skill levels are invited to join. The tour will return to the boat launch at approximately 3 p.m., where light refreshments will be served.
A US Coast Guard-approved life jacket or vest is required. Bring your own kayak (or canoe or stand-up paddleboard).
There is limited parking, so if you wish to join the event, REGISTER HERE.
Contact OLLandTrust@gmail.com for further information. More details will be provided upon confirmation.
OLD LYME/EAST LYME—On Saturday, Sept. 13, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Duck River Garden Club (DRGC) of Old Lyme and East Lyme will hold a Mum Sale at two locations — the Old Lyme Shopping Center at 19 Halls Rd., Old Lyme and the East Lyme Library at 39 Society Rd., Niantic.
Beautiful 9-inch mums in red, yellow, purple, orange, white and pink will be on sale for $10 apiece. Payment will be accepted by by cash or check only.
All proceeds will benefit DRGC beautification, educational programs and scholarships.
Suisman Shapiro Attorney Kristi D. Kelly is a finalist in the collaborative leadership category of the 2025 US Women, Influence & Power in Law (WIPL) Awards.
NEW LONDON–Suisman Shapiro Attorney Kristi D. Kelly has been named a finalist in the 2025 US Women, Influence & Power in Law (WIPL) Awards.
Suisman Shapiro in a press release said Kelly is a contender in the Law Firm Collaborative Leadership category. The national award honors women attorneys who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision, and a sustained commitment to advancing the empowerment of women in the legal profession.
Suisman Shapiro lauded Kelly as a legal advisor, mentor, and advocate whose work spans labor, employment, and municipal law. A director with the firm, she represents municipalities, public agencies, and private employers in matters ranging from collective bargaining and employment investigations to compliance and discrimination claims. She regularly appears before local governments and state and federal administrative bodies, including the Connecticut State Board of Labor Relations, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration and the U.S. Department of Labor.
At Suisman Shapiro, Kelly leads the firm’s Human Resources Committee with a focus on increasing diversity and inclusion. This year, she will launch the firm’s inaugural Women in Leadership Committee, a strategic initiative designed to foster mentorship, connection, and career advancement for women at Suisman Shapiro.
Eric W. Callahan, managing director of Suisman Shapiro, said Kelly represents the values the firm strives to uphold.
“Kristi brings a thoughtful and collaborative approach to her work that has had a meaningful impact across our firm,” Callahan said.
Kelly said collaboration has always been key to how she approaches her work.
“I’m fortunate to work alongside colleagues, who value mentorship, inclusion, and supporting one another’s growth — both personally and professionally,” she said.
Before joining Suisman Shapiro, Kelly served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Washington and as a civilian labor attorney for the U.S. Department of the Army in Alaska.
Kelly is a VA-accredited attorney, who donates pro bono services on behalf of disabled veterans through the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center. She was honored with the Connecticut Bar Association’s 2020 Honorable Anthony V. DeMayo Pro Bono Service Award. She also served as president of the Board of Higher Edge, a nonprofit that supports first-generation college students, and currently sits on the Board of the USS Groton Sail Foundation.
Winners of the 2025 US Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards will be announced at an awards dinner on Oct. 7 during the WIPL Conference in Washington, D.C.
The awards are presented by Corporate Counsel, a national publication of the Law.com network.
Chris Arelt displays the commissioned illustration of one of his own projects, which he received as the Grand Prize winner of a sketch challenge held at the recent AIA Conference on Architecture in Boston. Photo submitted.
BOSTON/OLD LYME — Architect Christopher Arelt of Nautilus Architects in Old Lyme, CT took home the top prize in a design competition at this year’s American Institute of Architects (AIA) Conference on Architecture.
Arelt participated in Blueprints & Brews, a sketch challenge hosted on the conference floor, where architects were invited to illustrate spontaneous prompts drawn from a spinning wheel.
Using a white pencil on a blue napkin, participants responded to ideas ranging from “a building shaped like a lobster” to “Fenway Park as a floating structure.”
Arelt’s winning drawing, based on the prompt “a door at the edge of the world,” depicted a flying car exiting through a VertiStack® Clear-style door into a galaxy of stars and planets. His sketch was selected as the Grand Prize winner from six rounds of entries displayed on what organizers called the “Wall of Wicked Smart Design.”
“It was an exhilarating experience and accomplishment,” Arelt said. “It quickly became the highlight of my day at the convention.”
For his prize, Arelt received a commissioned illustration of one of his own projects from freelance artist Ron Schiding. He chose the firm’s Greystone residence on the Connecticut shoreline, a contemporary home inspired by New England architectural traditions.
The illustration will be displayed at Nautilus Architects’ headquarters in Old Lyme.
The Blueprints & Brews event, sponsored by Clopay® Corporation, was designed to engage architects in a playful way while spotlighting creative approaches to design. Organizers said it also served as a chance to connect architects with manufacturers.
Editor’s Notes: i) Christopher Arelt is the founder of Nautilus Architects in Old Lyme, CT. He brings a collaborative and site-driven approach to residential design. His work blends Modernist influences with regional craftsmanship, emphasizing natural light and material authenticity. For more information, visit this link.
ii) Founded in 1964, Clopay® Corporation (“Clopay”) is the largest manufacturer and marketer of garage doors and rolling steel doors in North America. Clopay is headquartered in Mason, Ohio, and operates four manufacturing facilities and 57 distribution centers. For more information, visit this link.
Children’s author Alison Mitchell is seen here at StoneRidge Senior Living in Mystic with Cappie, one of the canine companions who helped inspire her second children’s book.
Mitchell Presents Story about Canine Adventurers and Their Senior Companionsat Old Lyme Church
MYSTIC, CT/OLD LYME—Author Alison Mitchell may be 92, she but isn’t letting age slow down her writing pursuits.
That’s according to a publicist for StoneRidge Senior Living, where Mitchell, formerly of Old Lyme, just released her second book in as many years. The children’s tale was illustrated by Old Lyme resident Edie Twining and edited by Twining’s sister, Kinny Kreiswirth.
Townsend: The Positive Dog of Mystic Senior Living is a week-in-the-life tale of “Townie,” a mutt, who resides at a senior living community.
The trio last year collaborated on Letters to Papa: Summers in Old Lyme to benefit the Old Lyme Historical Society.
The adventures of Townie and his friends were inspired by the busy lives of actual canine residents of StoneRidge Senior Living in Mystic, according to the press release.
“This was a fun group effort as I had plenty of StoneRidge friends suggesting names and activities for Townie to encounter,” said Mitchell.
The book was self-published by Twining Design of Old Lyme.
All profits from the sale of the book will be donated to the StoneRidge Scholarship Fund, which recognizes full-time employees and children of full-time employees, who are pursuing a post-secondary education.
This year, the committee granted awards totaling $211,000 to 23 students who were selected on the basis of financial need, academic achievement, scholastic potential, and their commitment to career goals.
Mitchell will give a presentation of the book on Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 1 p.m. in the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, 4 Lyme Street.
A special presentation at StoneRidge Senior Living will be held at 4 p.m. on Aug. 22. Tickets are free but seating is limited and advanced reservations are required. Call 860-780-0741 for tickets.
Townsend: The Positive Dog of Mystic Senior Living is available for $16 and can be purchased at Bank Square Books (80 Stonington Road) or at the StoneRidge Country Store (186 Jerry Brown Road) in Mystic.
