Tag Archives: Old Lyme

Old Lyme Conservation, Open Space Commissions Host Free Talk on Benefits of Beavers, Thursday

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American beaver. Photo by Steve from Washington, DC, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

OLD LYME — The Old Lyme Conservation and Open Space Commissions are sponsoring an informative talk about beavers at the Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library on Thursday, Nov. 20, at 6:30 p.m.  Admission is free.

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Master Wildlife Conservationist Ginny Apple will illustrate how eager beavers re-shape our landscapes and create wildlife-rich ecosystems that protect aquifers and combat erosion.   

After being hunted and trapped to near local extinction, beavers are returning to favorable locales in Old Lyme and across Connecticut. Their activity can unfortunately cause serious flooding problems, but conflict-resolving options exist.

Apple presents over 100 talks a year on Connecticut’s wildlife and has enjoyed a long career in communication.  She is the current chair of Barkhamsted’s Conservation Commission, and serves on various environmental boards, including the Farmington River Watershed Association, the Litchfield Hills Audubon Society and the Northwoods Land Conservancy.

Death Announced of Judith “Judy” Richardson Beers of Old Lyme, Wife of Tom Beers

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OLD LYME — Judith “Judy” Richardson Beers, age 91, died in peace at home, Oct. 28, 2025, surrounded by her loving husband, Thomas Whitney Beers and children, David Richardson Beers and Lynne Beers Walters, leaving behind a legacy of love, laughter, friendship and inspiration …

They subsequently moved to Old Lyme, where they broadened their line of wooden accessories for needlework … She actively worked there [at the family’s business] alongside her son, David, well into her 80s.

… She embraced the role of “Dede” for her three grandchildren, Allison, Christopher and Maya …

She leaves behind her husband, Tom; her children, David Beers and Lynne Walters (Jeff); three grandchildren: Christopher Walters (fiancée Isabella Garza), Allison Walters, and Maya Beers; her niece Cindy Ryan (Doug); and her nephew Jim Richardson (Maria). She was predeceased by her brother and his wife, Jim and Barbara Richardson …

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Nature Conservancy or First Congregational Church of Old Lyme. To honor Judy’s wishes, services were held privately. Please visit www.fultontherouxoldlyme.com for tributes.

Editor’s Note: Visit this link to read the full obituary published by ‘The Day’ on Nov. 2, 2025.

Another Happy Halloween on Lyme Street

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These bony fellows welcomed trick-or-treaters to a house on Lyme Street. All photos by Michele Dickey.

OLD LYME—It was a great Halloween night on Lyme Street yesterday. The weather cooperated and smiling, sometimes scary, faces were everywhere. Community spirit filled the air and all the tension and tribulations of next Tuesday’s election were left at home.

Enjoy our photo essay of the evening. Huge thanks to our in-town photographer Michele Dickey for being there on the street to capture the fun.

We will add more of her terrific photos later today.

Tombstones greeted visitors to the Old Lyme Historical Society.
Not someone you really wanted to meet in the dark on a scary night!
Sitting on the steps and ready with candy.
Thing 1, aka Old Lyme First Selectman candidate John Mesham, (R) stood alert while …
… Thing 2, aka incumbent Selectman candidate Jude Read (R), handed out treats.
A chicken strutted his stuff …
… while others, despite looking slightly scary, smiled cheerfully.
And it all happened under this beautiful night sky.

Letter to the Editor: Attendance Records for Old Lyme Board of Finance Candidates Thompson, Kelsey Differ Sharply

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To the Editor:

We live in a representative democracy and this November you are being charged with electing fellow Old Lyme residents to be your representatives on local boards and commissions. One of the most basic things you should expect from your representatives is that they show up, at least most of the time, so that they can understand the issues and represent your interests. We do have alternates for many of our boards who step in when a regular member is ill or has some other unavoidable conflict. However, there are issues that carry over multiple meetings and repeated absences can lead to representatives making decisions without having all important information.

This is extremely relevant in this year’s Board of Finance race. Kimberly Thompson, the Democratic candidate, has served on this board since November 2021. Since being sworn in to her seat, Kim has only missed one meeting. Since January 2024, one of her opponents, J. David Kelsey, has missed 12 meetings, constituting about 35% of the total.  Five of these missed meetings have been in 2025 and, as of this writing, David has not been seen at the Board of Finance since June. To earn your vote, members should show up for Old Lyme. Please join me in voting for Kimberly Thompson on November 4 for a full Board of Finance seat.

Sincerely,

Leanne Viola,
Old Lyme.

Letter to the Editor: Former First Selectman Griswold Endorses Mesham, Read for Old Lyme Board of Selectmen

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To the Editor:

Having served as your First Selectman for 18 years, as member of the Board of Finance for 15 years and currently as a member of the Board of Assessment Appeals for 12 years, I am proud to whole heartedly endorse John Mesham to be our next First Selectman and Jude Read to continue as our Selectwoman. Both John and Jude are extremely well qualified to lead our Town.

John has been deeply involved in our community for decades as a State Police Officer, a Boy Scout Leader, a member of the Inland Wetlands Commission and a Deputy Registrar of Voters.  He and his wife Nancy have resided in Old Lyme for 31 years and their three children have graduated from our outstanding Lyme/Old Lyme schools. John is a proven leader and manager and he is a person of impeccable integrity. John has been a key leader in supporting the Town’s right to access our Tantummaheag Landing, a leader in the fight to stop the HROD debacle, and played a vital role in bringing Town commissions together to oversee the Horseneck Creek Open Space parcel. John has significant supervisory and management experience of multiple state police barracks and personnel. His responsibilities included day-to-day management and oversight of over 100 people. This included scheduling, performance reviews, facilities management, vehicle assignments and upkeep, and a multitude of reporting requirements.  John was also a local police union president with collective bargaining and negotiating experience. John knows how to manage people and is dedicated to supporting the needs and wishes of the majority of Old Lyme’s citizens.  These skills and attributes make John the ideal First Selectman choice for Old Lyme in November.

Jude has resided in Old Lyme for 43 years, along with her husband, Sloan Danenhower, and both of their children graduated from our Lyme/Old Lyme schools.  Jude has owned several small business and she is currently a business management consultant.  She is deeply involved in Old Lyme, both politically and with local non-profits.  She currently serves as one of the three members of the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen.  She also served on the Board of Finance and the Lyme/Old Lyme Board of Education. She is a member and past Treasurer of the MacCurdy Salisbury Educational Foundation and has been a Board member of the Old Lyme Historical Society.  She has been affiliated with the Girl Scouts and the Lymes’ Senior Center Meals on Wheels program.

John and Jude are willing and able to serve as our First Selectman and Selectwoman and they have excellent credentials to do so.

Please join me in voting for John Mesham as our First Selectman and Jude Read as our Selectwoman in the upcoming municipal election and please encourage your family and friends to do the same.

Sincerely,

Timothy Griswold,
Old Lyme.

Editor’s Note: The author is a candidate for the Old Lyme Board of Assessment Appeals in the upcoming election.