Tag Archives: Old Lyme

Letter to the Editor: When Voting Nov. 4, Remember Old Lyme Board of Finance D’s, R’s Disagree Deeply on Town Surplus Fund’s Use

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To the Editor:

Old Lyme’s Board of Finance (BOF) performs a critical function in setting our level of taxation. One of the determining factors is how much to withdraw annually from the town’s Undesignated Fund Balance (the Surplus), basically our “savings account” not tied to particular expenditures but available for future needs. There has developed a serious disagreement on this issue between David Kelsey and the other Republicans on the BOF on the one hand, and Kim Thompson and the other Democrats on the other. Based on the BOF’s meeting minutes from last spring, it is clear that the position of Mr. Kelsey et al. was to maintain the maximum surplus in order to save for a rainy day. Mrs. Thompson and the other Democrats believed that, with the budget increase caused by the Region 18 bonds and the tax burden imposed on many residents by the revaluation, the rainy day was here and, therefore, the town should withdraw as much from the Surplus as was prudent in order to mitigate the burden on Old Lyme’s taxpayers.

According to the BOF minutes of March 25, an accountant from the town’s auditing firm advised the board that the Surplus as of June 30, 2024 was $14,402,328, representing 35.15% of expenditures. She also stated that “bond rating agencies like to see 15% to 25% and that she typically sees 12% to 15%.”

At the BOF meeting on April 8, 2025, after the Democrats argued for a substantial withdrawal from the Surplus, Mr. Kelsey made a motion to withdraw a mere $400,000. The three Republicans on the BOF voted in favor; the three Democrats against. Additional motions followed at this meeting and the following one on April 15, when Mr. Kelsey moved to withdraw $600,000. This was approved by the Republicans and rejected by the Democrats. Mr. Bernblum recommended a withdrawal of $1 million, which would leave the estimated 2025 Surplus at 29.2% of the proposed budget. Finally, confronted with a deadlock and an upcoming Town Meeting, the BOF approved a withdrawal of $800,000. 

Given this history, there can be no doubt where Mr. Kelsey and the other Republicans stand on the Surplus: keep it as high as possible. Conversely, Mrs. Thompson and the other Democrats would like to return as much to the taxpayers as is prudent without impairing the town’s bond rating or its ability to meet future financial obligations. 

Please decide which policy you prefer when voting on November 4.

Sincerely,

Joseph ‘Gil’ Soucie,
Old Lyme.

Letter to the Editor: Shoemaker/Lampos Supporters Say ‘If it Isn’t Broken, Don’t Fix It’

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To the Editor:

We are writing to express our support for the re-election of the team of Martha Shoemaker and Jim Lampos on November 4th. 

Our Town has been in in good hands during their tenure; and Town services are operating at a high level. 

Old Lyme’s AAA bond rating “reflects the town’s financial stability and ability to manage its debt effectively, with a healthy surplus and manageable long-term liabilities.”

Martha makes herself available in the office and around town. She is willing to meet with residents and listens to their issues or concerns. 

We were very impressed with the coordination of community resources that enabled the Lymes’ Senior Center to continue their programming during the more than a year of construction of the wonderful new facility.

Martha is an educator and serving on the Region 18 BOE. She is not seeking reelection. We feel that those experiences have been essential in acting as a savvy advocate for residents in maintaining our schools’ infrastructure, operating budgets, and recognized quality of education. 

Jim is an author and local historian and is also out in the community; — sometimes acting as a trouble shooter for the more pressing issues.

We will continue to need their compassion and common sense as CT reacts to the massive cuts to Medicaid, support for education, nutrition assistance (SNAP), and school lunch programs that are resulting from Trump’s so called “One Big Beautiful Bill;” — clearly impacting our neediest. 

Governor Lamont said that “We’re going to do everything we can to protect the most vulnerable.” “I think that’s sort of a core responsibility we’ve got.”

While the actual costs will not be known for months or what impacts, if any, will be placed on Old Lyme, it is estimated that CT will be required to pay tens of millions extra in SNAP benefits, alone.

There is opposition. It seems that the local G.O.P. is featuring the defeat of the Halls Rd. project in their campaign. Current third selectwoman, Jude Danenhower Read, and her husband, Zoning Commission candidate, Sloan Danenhower, highlight their roles in spearheading the effort that led to the rejection of the vision for Halls Road, proposed by the all volunteer Halls Road Improvements Committee.

In short, Martha and Jim have served us well and we believe that it is in the Town’s best interest for them to continue in their leadership roles.

Sincerely,

Thomas D. Gotowka,
Christina J. Gotowka,
Old Lyme.

Editor’s Note: i) This letter was updated to correct the headline.
ii) This letter was updated to correct the spelling of Jude Read’s last name.

TOP STORY: Old Lyme Zoning Commission Candidates Respond to Our Questions

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Hopefuls Weigh in on Halls Road, Regulation Rewrite and Why They’re Right for the Job

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OLD LYME–With the Zoning Commission deep into the first major rewrite of its regulations in over 15 years, a seat at the five-member table carries more weight than it has in a long time. 

As planners like to say, zoning is destiny. Those three words tell a story that would otherwise take hundreds of pages of local codes—and a stack of maps—to explain: The rules about what we can build, and where we can build it, are the most powerful tool a town has to shape its future.

Recognizing the commission’s critical role in a pivotal year, we invited the candidates to answer four questions. You can find the responses here in their own words. 

This year’s race for a full seat on the Zoning Commission pits current Zoning Commission alternate Michael Fogliano, an unaffiliated candidate endorsed by the Democrats, against former alternate Sloan Danenhower, an unaffiliated candidate running under the Republican banner. The term begins Nov. 18. Incumbent commission member Jane Marsh, R, is running unchallenged for a term beginning in November 2026. 

The candidates responded with a 350-word limit to four questions that we posed. We thank them for responding in a timely fashion and adhering to our rules.

Click on each name below to learn more about them in their own words. 

  1. Why are you running for the Zoning Commission, and what skills or experiences make you the right candidate for that role?
  2. Despite a decade-long effort to create a vision for Halls Road that the community can support, the goal remains out of sight. What do YOU want the future of Halls Road to look like, and what role should the Zoning Commission have in making it happen? 
  3. Old Lyme, like the other municipalities in the state, is being called upon to increase the availability of affordable housing. Do you think Old Lyme needs more diverse housing options, and what part does the Zoning Commission play in ensuring the appropriate amount of residential development in town? 
  4. In order of importance, what do you see as the top three challenges facing the commission over the next five years?

Candidates for Old Lyme Zoning Commission, term beginning 2025

Michael Fogliano (U)

Sloan Danenhower (U)

Candidate for Old Lyme Zoning Commission, term beginning 2026

Jane Marsh (R-incumbent)

Letter to the Editor: With Trump in Charge Nationally, Only Defense is to Limit Republican Role Locally, so Vote Democrat

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To the Editor:

We here in Old Lyme are not immune from the Republican Party’s efforts to radically alter American politics and culture and tear the country apart.  The resources they have at their disposal are overwhelming: billions of dollars in federal funds, virtually unlimited physical force (ICE, the National Guard and the active military), a fully-compliant Department of Justice, a subservient Congress and a stacked Supreme Court.  And Trump has assembled a rogue’s gallery of angry, vitriolic, incompetent, sycophants–Stephen Miller, Pete Hegseth, Kash Patel, Pam Bondi, Russell Vought, Robert Kennedy Jr., Marco Rubio and Kristi Noem, to name a few–to implement his authoritarian Project 2025 playbook.

We cannot afford to ignore the absolutely chilling threat to our legal system and historic norms of behavior presented by Trump’s administration:  terrorizing our minority and immigrant communities in “blue” cities in the name of border control; withholding billions of dollars of research grants from our universities under the pretext of addressing antisemitism; blackmailing major law firms by excluding their lawyers from federal courthouses; gerrymandering voting districts to maximize GOP advantage; using the DOJ to retaliate against Trump’s perceived personal enemies; granting Trump carte-blanche power, free from the risk of criminal prosecution, to take any official action he wishes (such as killing without trial alleged drug smugglers); terminating financial support to “blue” states in punishment for the Democrats’ efforts to preserve affordable health-care for millions of Americans; and firing military, DOJ, FBI and agency staff just because they are Democrats or have appeared to do something that displeased Trump.  The list goes on. 

We will soon vote in Old Lyme’s municipal election.  It would be foolish to claim that every Republican candidate for office supports every Trump policy or initiative.  It would be equally foolish to claim that none of them does; indeed, we have seen corrosive GOP policies find voice in town on more than one occasion over the past few years.  Why should we care?

With our entire country now under assault in this hostile takeover by Trump and his minions, no community is safe and we must do all we can to defend ourselves and mitigate the harm.  One way to do so is by limiting Republicans’ roles in local politics.  On November 4, this means electing the Democratic candidates, whom we know will fight against the Republican efforts to undermine our democracy.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Griffin,
Old Lyme.

A California Griswold Wedding on Griswold Point

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Editor’s Note: I have always said that one of the joys of this job is never knowing what I will open next in my overflowing Inbox! Imagine my surprise when I clicked on an email recently and it was an invitation to cover a wedding in Old Lyme—but not just any wedding but rather one being held on Griswold Point … with the bride and groom coming all the way from Los Angeles, Calif. to tie the knot! We were not able to be there in person but father of the groom David Griswold of Old Lyme kindly sent us some photos of the event and we thought it would be a pleasant distraction from all the politics of the moment to share them with our readers.

The wedding party stand in front of Griswold House. Photos by various photographers, courtesy of David Griswold.

OLD LYME — Eric Griswold, son of Elaine and David Griswold of Old Lyme, married Maddy Farkas, daughter of Lila and Danny Farkas of Los Angeles, Calif. on Griswold Point on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025.

Over 150 relatives and friends attended the event.

This adorable photo shows a wedding flower girl skipping towards the setting sun on Griswold Point.

Justin Sadle of Lexington, Ky. officiated the ceremony. Lexi Jennings from Los Angeles was the Maid of Honor and Michael Cleary, also from Los Angeles, was the Best Man.

Bridesmaids were Laura Griswold Wentz from Lexington, Ky, Laruen Boniface and Megan Gessert from Los Angeles, Calif. and Bethany Ludemann and Molly Geller from Australia.

A celebratory kiss for the new Mr. and Mrs. Griswold

Groomsmen were Jeffrey Griswold from Chelsea, Ala., Josh Wentz from Lexington, Ky. and David Beglin, Jesse Harris, and Song Pettus from Los Angeles, Calif.

Eric Griswold is a Production Supervisor with Skydance Media and Maddy Farkas is an Interior Designer with Jillian Sipkins Interiors.

The bride and groom stand on the steps of Griswold House.

The couple will live in Los Angeles, Calif.