On Saturday, Nov. 8, Chad Fisher, who is the Charlotte Colby Danly Sculpture Chair at the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, will speak on “Once Upon a Pedestal: Figural Sculpture–Then, Now, Next.” His talk is the Annual Samuel Thorne Memorial Lecture and open to all at no charge with prior registration. Photo courtesy of Florence Griswold Museum.
Speaker is Chad Fisher—the Charlotte Colby Danly Sculpture Chair at Lyme Academy—with “Once Upon a Pedestal: Figural Sculpture–Then, Now, Next”
OLD LYME—On Saturday, Nov. 8, at 5 p.m., the Florence Griswold Museum will host the Annual Samuel Thorne Memorial Lecture at the Meeting House, First Congregational Church of Old Lyme at 2 Ferry Road, Old Lyme, CT.
This year the speaker will be Chad Fisher, who is the Charlotte Colby Danly Sculpture Chair at the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts. His talk is titled, “Once Upon a Pedestal: Figural Sculpture–Then, Now, Next.” Fisher will present an exploration of the rich history of the figural sculpture beginning with the Egyptians and highlighting the French academic traditions with artists such as Duret, Rodin, and Carpeaux.
During his presentation, Fisher will explore the role of American sculptors including Charles Grafly, John Rogers, Paul Manship, and Lyme’s own Bessie Potter Vonnoh. As both a sculptor and sculpture instructor, Fisher shares his holistic approach to both the creation and exhibition of sculpture and its potential impact in both private and public spaces.
Thorne Lecture is an endowed lecture series that allows the Museum to invite distinguished speakers and thinkers to share their work with the FloGris family. It is named in memory of Samuel Thorne, who served as the Museum’s President in the 1950s. Mr. Thorne’s widow and son established this signature program in 1995.
LYME/OLD LYME–The deadline to receive election-related letters to be considered for publication is noonon Wednesday, Oct. 29. Letters received before that deadline, which are selected for publication, will be published on or before midnight on Saturday, Nov. 1, assuming we can obtain timely confirmation of the letters authenticity.
Letters received after noon on Wednesday, Oct. 29, will not be considered for publication, unless they are in direct response to a letter published on or before noon on Oct. 29. The letter to which the response is being made must be cited. Response letters selected for publication will be published by midnight on Saturday, Nov. 1, again assuming we can obtain timely confirmation of the letters authenticity.
No new letters will be published on Sunday, Nov. 2, or Monday, Nov. 3.
It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as the First Selectwoman in Old Lyme. During my term I have listened to your concerns, acted on the issues under my authority, and made a conscientious effort to deliver results that matter. Together, we have made meaningful progress toward a more transparent, resilient, and responsive town government. I want to share our accomplishments and my goals for next term.
What We’ve Accomplished Together:
Modernized the budget process for transparency and inclusivity. Boards, commissions, departments, and nonprofits now present their budget requests in public meetings, giving residents full visibility into how our town allocates resources.
Achieved an AAA bond rating, allowing Old Lyme to borrow at more favorable rates and maintain strong financial health.
Instituted full compliance with our Bid Policy, ensuring projects over $20K are now competitively bid for quality and value.
Reestablished the dormant Flood and Erosion Control Board. The new board is actively pursuing projects to reduce flood insurance costs and improve shoreline resilience.
Solved long-standing flooding issues on Cross Lane which restored emergency access.
Rebuilt the sluiceway at Hawks Nest Beach to protect homes and roads, and decrease flooding.
Utilized federal grants for the expansion and upgrading of the Emergency Operations Center. This new space enables efficient management during emergencies and additional training space for emergency personnel.
Created the Road and Public Safety Committee to address road safety through community-driven solutions. Their actions have made drivers more aware of their speed by placing electronic speed signs on roads.
Improved access to town meetings by implementing virtual options and ensuring reliable communication in all Town Hall meeting rooms.
Completed capital projects including ADA-compliant parking at Soundview, the installation of key-card entryways for town buildings, and the installation of cameras at Town Hall doorways.
Collaborated with Lyme and the Senior Center building committee to complete the renovation of the Lymes’ Senior Center; delivered under budget, including the kitchen upgrade.
Collaborated with the Old Lyme Visiting Nurse Association when Yale New Haven Health cancelled the Town Nurse program, by providing resources for the hiring process of a Town Nurse.
Published a weekly newsletter, keeping residents informed of town hall news, town events, and special recognitions.
Recruited police officers, to build our department toward full staffing levels.
Instituted annual town government “Spring into Action” collaborative training; bringing all boards, commissions, and committees together to align efforts and share updates.
Goals for the Next Two Years:
Provide channels for community engagement in the Planning and Zoning Committees’ zoning regulation rewrite to ensure residents have a voice in shaping Old Lyme’s future.
Increase virtual opportunities for meetings of all boards and commissions to ensure accessibility and transparency.
Develop a policy for the undesignated fund balance, establishing guidelines for how large it should be and to return tax dollars to residents when the fund reaches a sustainable level.
Host workshops to create formal long term capital plans, guiding infrastructure and investment decisions.
Maintain open communication with Region 18 school district, ensuring alignment between town and school priorities.
Advance resiliency and sustainability planning, preparing Old Lyme for future environmental and infrastructure challenges.
Aggressively pursue state and federal grants, bringing your tax dollars back to Old Lyme.
Continue my open-door policy, listening to residents and acting on their concerns.
Thank you for allowing me to serve these past two years. I hope that I have earned your support on November 4th.
Sincerely,
Martha H. Shoemaker, Old Lyme.
Editor’s Note: The author is the incumbent First Selectwoman of Old Lyme.
Former Congressman Sam Gejdenson received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Alliance for American Leadership (A4AL) at an event held in Old Lyme. Photo credit: A4AL
OLD LYME — On Oct. 5, the Alliance for American Leadership (A4AL) joined Old Lyme resident Andrea Fenton, formerly of USAID and the Peace Corps, and Mark Miller, a nurse practitioner and public health advocate, to honor former Congressman Sam Gejdenson with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades of service to the United States and the world.
The award ceremony, hosted in Old Lyme, marked the official Connecticut launch of the Alliance and drew more than 70 supporters committed to restoring America’s global leadership through effective international assistance. The event raised over $7,000 to support A4AL’s programs aimed at renewing, restoring, and reimagining U.S. foreign aid.
While the launch introduced A4AL to the state, its central purpose was to recognize Congressman Gejdenson’s lasting impact. Born in a displaced persons camp in Allied-occupied Germany, Gejdenson represented Connecticut’s 2nd District from 1981 to 2001.
During his tenure, he championed causes that strengthened America’s global reach and moral standing—restoring funding to the United Nations Population Fund, advancing anti-trafficking legislation, and initiating U.S. support for UNAIDS, a program that has helped save more than 26 million lives worldwide.
Speakers throughout the evening reflected on leadership, American values, and the power of compassion-driven service.
“Leadership is about trust,” said Mark Miller, a nurse practitioner and health advocate. “In healthcare, trust isn’t a slogan—it’s the difference between chaos and coordination, between fear and recovery. It’s built one decision, one conversation, one act of integrity at a time. That same trust is what’s missing in public life today. That’s why I believe in the Alliance for American Leadership—because it stands for principled, informed, and service-minded leadership.”
Asher Moss, Executive Director of A4AL, contrasted that leadership with recent policy changes.
“As a nation, we made a conscious decision to shut down USAID this year,” said Asher Moss, Executive Director of A4AL. “That meant cutting off food, medicine, and life-saving care to 120 million people. It meant allowing 500 tons of American crops to be destroyed instead of feeding families in Yemen and Sudan.”
He continued, “That’s not American leadership — it’s a moral failure. If we do nothing, 14 million people could die over the next five years. That’s why we’re here — to act, to lead, and to remind the world what America stands for.”
Victoria Ayer, who once served on Gejdenson’s staff, recalled his enduring belief in service: “Sam believes in the best of what America can be. We worked on Medicare for All, we helped build the East Coast Greenway, and we restored funding to the UN Population Fund. What truly makes this country great is our empathy and compassion for others.”
Former Congressman Sam Gejdenson addressed the capacity audience at the event. Photo credit: A4AL
When it came time for Congressman Gejdenson to speak, he shared a story that captured the ripple effect of American generosity.
“In Ghana, a woman borrowed about $100 through a microloan program we started,” Gejdenson said. “She bought a sewing machine, then a stove, then plastic flowers — and before long, she had 50 employees making flowers for weddings and funerals. The U.S. investment was under $300. That’s what American assistance can do — it transforms lives.”
He continued: “It’s hard to get people to see why we should help others. Forget that it’s the right thing to do—it’s also smart. Disease anywhere becomes disease everywhere. Hunger abroad breeds instability at home. We need to remind Americans that compassion is not weakness; it’s strength. And rebuilding that understanding starts at the grassroots level—it starts with groups like A4AL.”
A press release from the A4AL noted it was honored to recognize Congressman Gejdenson’s decades of service and his commitment to a more compassionate, secure, and principled America.
Editor’s Note: Formed after the shutdown of USAID, the Alliance for American Leadership is a nonpartisan coalition dedicated to restoring American leadership through smart, strategic, and effective international assistance. For more information on the organization, visit https://A4AL.org.
On Sunday, Nov. 2, Ramzi Aburedwan & The Dal’Ouna Ensemble will perform a concert at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme honoring the late Rev. David Good.
Premier of New Violin Suite Dedicated to the late Rev. Good to be Played, Palestinian Dinner Precedes Concert
OLD LYME—On Sunday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m., Ramzi Aburedwan & The Dal’Ouna Ensemble, with guest violinist Michael Dabroski, will present a concert in celebration of Tree of Life’s late founder, Rev. David W. Good. The concert will be held in the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme and all are welcome.
The late Rev. David W. Good.
Dabroski will premier his Violin Suite No. 5 – A Prayer for David as a tribute to a man who inspired many with his passionate pursuit of peace and justice for all.
Dal’Ouna blends Palestinian and Arab heritage with contemporary and jazzy accents, weaving stories of love, freedom, and daily life through music and poetry.
The concert will be preceded at 5:30 pm by a Palestinian Dinner. Reservations are required for the dinner.
Suggested donation for the dinner and concert is $30. For the concert only $10, no reservations needed. Donations will be collected at the event.
If you are unable to attend but would like to support Tree of Life’s mission,visit this link.
