In the LymeLight: Historical Society Honors Decade of Service, Plus Academic Accolades

Fife-and-drum music and historic artifacts set the tone for the Old Lyme Historical Society’s annual gathering, which honored local history and the volunteers who preserve it.

Celebrating Neighbors Whose Stories Brighten Lyme and Old Lyme

From inspiring feats to everyday deeds, In the LymeLight recognizes the people with ties to our community whose dedication makes a difference.

Members of the fife and drum corps with their backs to the camera
Members of the Deep River Junior Ancients Fife & Drum Corps perform outside the Old Lyme Historical Society before the organization’s 21st annual meeting. Credit: Jim Meehan/LymeLine.

OLD LYME, CT – The Old Lyme Historical Society recently recognized longtime Treasurer Ann Marie Jewett as its Volunteer of the Year and welcomed four new trustees during its 21st annual meeting.

Jewett received the James Brewster Noyes Award for Volunteer of the Year in recognition of her decade of service as the society’s treasurer.

New trustees Katie Balocca, Mary Jo Nosal, Leslie Rawlings Slezak and Keith Urbowicz were introduced to members during the meeting.

The June 8 event began with a performance by the Deep River Junior Ancients Fife & Drum Corps outside the society’s headquarters at 55 Lyme St. A reception followed with the opportunity to meet the new trustees and view a collection of historic metal-detecting finds discovered by Urbowicz.


LYME/OLD LYME, CT – Congratulations to these scholars from Lyme and Old Lyme for recent academic achievements.

Graduates

Aidan Ward of Old Lyme received a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration during Stonehill College’s 75th Commencement exercises on May 17. Earlier in the spring, Ward was recognized with a Certificate of Achievement during the college’s 2026 Scholars Celebration.

Michael S. O’Donnell of Old Lyme earned a Bachelor of Science degree in cybercrime and homeland security from the University of Scranton.

Academic Honors

Matthew Rzeczka of Old Lyme was named to Southern New Hampshire University’s Spring 2026 President’s List. The honor is awarded to full-time undergraduate students who earn a grade point average of 3.7 or higher.

Patrick Fernald of Old Lyme was elected to membership in The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at the University of Massachusetts. Membership is by invitation and limited to students who rank among the top academic performers in their class.

Dean’s List

Margaret Rommel of Old Lyme was named to the Dean’s List at William & Mary for the spring semester.

Kylie Dishaw, an elementary education interdisciplinary major, and Alex Lee, a musical theatre major, of Old Lyme were named to the Dean’s List at Western Connecticut State University.

Aidan Ward and Emmerson Kaye of Old Lyme were named to Stonehill College’s Dean’s List.

Hoshena Gemme of Old Lyme was named to the University of Bridgeport’s Dean’s List.

Kathleen Noel Walsh of Old Lyme, a sophomore majoring in biochemistry, was named to the Dean’s List at Clarkson University.

Nola Slubowski, Paige Phaneuf, Anthony Rosario and Sean Cordock, all of Old Lyme, were named to the Dean’s List at Southern Connecticut State University.

Mackenzie Bussolotti, Patrick Flanagan and Lillian Herrera of Old Lyme were named to the Dean’s List at Quinnipiac University.

Alexa Aldi, Lauren Creagan and Abigail O’Brien of Old Lyme and Angus Griffin of Lyme were named to Fairfield University’s Dean’s List.


Do you know a neighbor worth celebrating? Awards, accomplishments, and quiet acts of kindness all belong in the LymeLight. Please share your suggestions in an email to editor@lymeline.com.