Community News for Lyme and Old Lyme, CT
to all moms — and all those fulfilling the role of mom — everywhere! And special thoughts to all those missing their moms today ….
Editor’s Note: It seems timely to quote my late Aunt Myfanwy on this day:
“As is the mother, so is the home.
As is the home, so is the nation.”
Such is the power of the mother … and funny thing, Aunty Myfanwy was never a mother herself … but she was like a mother to us all.
Registration for Kindergarten in Lyme-Old Lyme Schools for the fall of 2020 is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 27 and 28, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lyme Consolidated School and Mile Creek School.
Children who will be five-years-old on or before Jan. 1, 2021 are eligible to register for the 2020 Kindergarten class.
While you may complete the registration process at either school, your child’s school placement will depend on District attendance zones.
Please bring to registration your child’s
If you cannot register on these days or would like additional information, call either school at these numbers to place your child’s name on the Kindergarten list and/or have your questions answered:
Lyme-Old Lyme Schools look forward to welcoming your child.
Season’s Greetings and/or Merry Christmas to all our readers! We hope you enjoy a wonderful day with friends and family.
There are two Christmas Day services this morning in Lyme and Old Lyme as follows:
LYME/OLD LYME — Churches in Lyme and Old Lyme will follow their normal schedule of services this coming Sunday.
Starting Tuesday, Dec. 24, there are numerous additional Christmas services being held in both towns. As a service to our readers, we have listed below all the services of which we are aware — please advise us of any errors or omissions.
Christ The King Church
Tuesday, Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve
4 p.m. — Vigil Mass of the Nativity with children’s pageant and youth choir
11:30 p.m. — Concert with adult choir and orchestra, followed by:
12 a.m. — Midnight Mass of the Nativity
Wednesday, Dec. 25 — Christmas Day
9 a.m. — Mass of the Nativity
First Congregational Church of Lyme
Tuesday, Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve
5 p.m. — Candlelight Celebration, which will include beloved Christmas Carols, the lighting of the Christ candle, and both a children’s sermon and regular sermon.
Sunday, Dec. 29
10 a.m. — Worship Service
First Congregational Church of Old Lyme
Tuesday, Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve
5 p.m. — Service for families with young children, with The Living Manger.
8 p.m. — Candlelight Service of Lessons & Carols
10 p.m. — Late-night Candlelight Service of Lessons & Carols
Sunday, Dec. 29
One service only at 11 a.m. in unity with the South Lyme Union Chapel — no Sunday School.
Saint Ann’s Episcopal Church
Tuesday, Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve
1 p.m. — Service at Essex Meadows with Christmas carols, sermon by Mother Anita and Communion. Open to all.
4 p.m. — Family Eucharist with Christmas Story. Music by the Choir, organ and trumpet.
10:30 p.m. — Late night Christmas Eve service. Strings, organ music, choir and traditional Christmas carols and sermon are a part of this festival communion service.
Wednesday, Dec. 25 — Christmas Day
10 a.m. — Service includes organ music, hymns, sermon and Holy Communion.
Sunday, Dec. 29
8:30 a.m. — Holy Communion.
10:30 a.m. — Traditional service of Christmas Lessons and Carols.
OLD LYME / OLD SAYBROOK — The Old Lyme Town Band, under the direction of Carolyn Whinnem, will perform three hour-long holiday concerts this season.
The first is on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 6:30 p.m., at Christ the King Church, 1 McCurdy Rd., Old Lyme. Admission is free.
The following day, Sunday, Dec. 8, at 2 p.m. they will perform at the Lymes’ Senior Center, 26 Town Woods Rd. in Old Lyme. Admission is free.
On Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m., they will perform at “The Kate,” 300 Main St., Old Saybrook Tickets for this only concert are $7 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under, and can be purchased online at this link or at the door.
Numbers for all performances may include Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”; “A Christmas Festival,” by Leroy Anderson; “And All the Bells Shall Ring”; “Merry Christmas, Darling”; “Festive Sounds of Hanukah”; and “A Tribute to Judy Garland.” The 40 band members range in age from 10 to 80+ and come from several towns along the shoreline.
The band will welcome new members without audition when rehearsals start again in January. The band rehearses at Christ the King Church Mondays from 7 to 9 p.m.
Visit the band’s website at http://www.oldlymetownband.com or speak to the band’s director, saxophonist Christine Repasy, at any concert to add your name to their mailing list.
OLD LYME — The annual ‘Elephants in Winter’ Christmas Sale in the Fellowship Hall at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme (FCCOL) at 2 Ferry Rd. will be held Saturday, Dec.7, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 8, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is the Christmas version of the extremely popular White Elephant Sale hosted annually by the church in July.
The Sale features Christmas decorations, artificial trees, garlands and wreaths,lights,window candles, holiday china and glassware, baskets and cookie tins, tree ornaments, stuffed animals and toys,gently used, all at bargain prices.
Find new unique gifts for your Christmas list – original works of art from Haiti and lovingly sewn or knitted creations from our Ladies Who Stitch: beautiful mittens, hats, scarves, shawls, throws, totes and more.
Items will also be on sale from several more of the FCCOL mission partnerships such as the Lakota Reservation at Green Grass on the Cheyenne River in South Dakota, and from Palestine.
Coffee and doughnuts will be available.
Enjoy some holiday shopping for a great cause at this event.
Santa will be in Old Lyme on Saturday.
OLD LYME — Take ‘Pictures with Santa’ this morning in the Old Lyme Town Hall between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
Santa is even bringing some of his elves with him, who will help little ones write their own letters to the North Pole.
Don’t miss him … he has a hectic schedule and won’t be able to stay past noon!
Donations to the Lyme Youth Service Bureau’s Youth Advisory Council scholarship fund will be gratefully accepted.
OLD LYME — Join the faith communities of Lyme and Old Lyme in an ecumenical Thanksgiving Service of prayer and song at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 26, at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme.
All are welcome to attend this ecumenical service sponsored by the churches of Lyme and Old Lyme, which will feature music by the choirs of First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, St. Ann’s Episcopal Church, and Christ the King Church. Clergy from the various faith communities will participate, as will lay members and community leaders.
A free-will offering will be taken up during the service to benefit the New London Homeless Hospitality Center and the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries. Donations of nonperishable foods would also be appreciated to help our neighbors in need.
Everyone, regardless of religious affiliation, is welcome to attend the Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service.
Sorting the food donated during the Food Drive is a Herculean task organized by LYSB Director Mary Seidner (center) in photo and assisted by Leslie Massa (right) and Arleen Sharp (left). File photo by B. Groth.
Old Lyme Police Officers will hold their annual Thanksgiving Food Drive on three dates starting today at the Old Lyme Marketplace near the Big Y. The dates and times are as follows:
Saturday, Nov. 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 20, from 3 to 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
All food donated will be forwarded to the Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau (LYSB) for distribution to families in need.
Food will also be given to stock the mini-pantries at Lymes’ Senior Center and the Town of Old Lyme Social Services.
After local needs are met, all remaining food is given to Shoreline Soup Kitchens.
Arleen Sharp (left) and Leslie Massa continue their sorting efforts. File photo by B. Groth.
Donations of non-perishable food can be taken directly to the Old Lyme Police Department at 294 Shore Rd., or to LYSB at 59 Lyme St. between Nov. 16 and Nov. 23.
Families in need of food should contact LYSB at www.lysb.org/holidaygiving or 860-434-7208.
LYME/OLD LYME — Our Inbox is overflowing with Letters to the Editor relating to the upcoming election so we thought it would be helpful to clarify our publication policy.
Letters and op-ed’s must respectively observe 350- and 1,000-word limits.
Letter and op-ed writers must supply their name, address and telephone number for verification purposes. They also should note any political memberships/affiliations.
We will publish letters and op-ed’s related to the Nov. 5 election through midnight Sunday, Nov. 3. The only letters and op-ed’s published Monday, Nov. 4, will be those directly related to letters previously published.
No letters or op-ed’s related to the election will be published on Nov. 5.
We will publish bios and responses to our questions by the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen candidates Tuesday, Oct. 29.
We will publish bios and responses to our questions by the Lyme-Old Lyme Schools Board of Education candidates Wednesday, Oct. 30.
On Saturday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lyme Street Fire House, 69 Lyme St., Old Lyme, Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau (LYSB) and the Lyme-Old Lyme (LOL) Prevention Coalition will give residents another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
This event is free and anonymous — no questions asked.
Since the first Lyme-Old Lyme ‘Drug Take Back’ event in 2011, citizens have returned more than 500 pounds of medications to prevent misuse. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinets. Sadly, prescription drug abuse is on the rise among adults and youth, so this is a great opportunity to dispose of your unwanted medications.
This event is co-sponsored by LYSB, LOL Prevention Coalition, Old Lyme Police Department, Troop F State Police, and Old Lyme Fire Department.
For more information about the Drug Take Back event or the LOL Prevention Coalition, contact LYSB at 860-434-7208 or visit www.lysb.org
Old Lyme Fire Department members will demonstrate the ‘Jaws of Life’ at their Open House on Wednesday. File photo.
The Old Lyme Fire Department will host its annual Open House this evening, Wednesday, Oct. 9, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event will be held at the main firehouse located on 69 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, Conn.
Activities will include
Learn how to prevent this!
State of the art firefighting apparatus and equipment will also be demonstrated and on display.
Information pertinent to preventing fire-related incidents and home evacuation will be available for all ages.
Complimentary refreshments will be served.
Fire Department and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) personnel will be on hand to answer any questions the public may have to ensure a safer environment for children and adults.
Admission is free and all are welcome.
The Lyme-Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce will host a Dinner Meeting at The Hideaway on Wednesday, Sept. 25. Cocktail hour starts at 6 p.m. and dinner is served at 7 p.m.
The guest speaker will be Matthew Strekel, Director of Development, Florence Griswold Museum, and Lyme resident, who will discuss the importance to the business community of Lyme and Old Lyme of the vast number of visitors that the Museum draws to the area. Upcoming Chamber events and activities, including the Old Lyme Selectmen’s Candidate Debate to be hosted by the Chamber in October, future Business After Hours evenings, and news from members, will all be on the agenda too.
All are welcome including non-members, who may be interested in finding out more about the Chamber. Admission is $25.
For further information or to register, visit this link or send an email to email@lolcc.com.
The Red Satin Band will perform at Sound View on Thursday, Aug. 7.
The Town of Old Lyme and the Sound View Commission are sponsoring a family-friendly concert series at Sound View Beach this summer.
The next event in the 2019 series will be held tomorrow evening, Thursday, Aug. 7, starting at 7 p.m. and will feature the Red Satin Band with vocalist Valerie Rogers playing the best of swing, jazz, Big Band along with some R&B, classic rock, and funk — in a nutshell, the greatest hits from a lifetime of music.
The 12-piece Red Satin Band has played to great reviews throughout the northeast to audiences of all ages.
The free, outdoor concerts will take place from 7 through 8.30 p.m., near the flag pole at the end of Hartford Avenue by Sound View Beach.
Bring your lawn chair and enjoy a great evening of music!
For more information, visit www.redsatinband.com
The final concert will be held Thursday, Aug. 22, and feature the Silver Cornet Band.
Featured annually at the Norwich “Taste of Italy” the Silver Cornet Band will present an enjoyable evening of all your favorite Italian songs and more. This concert is presented by arrangement with the American Federation of Musicians LOCAL #: 285-403
For more information about both concerts, contact the Sound View Commission at www.oldlyme-ct.gov
UPDATE 4:20pm: DUE TO THE THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS, TONIGHT’S ‘BINGO ON THE BEACH’ HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
Play Beach Blanket Bingo Wednesday evening, Aug. 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. at White Sand Beach.
Hosted by Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau (LYSB), the price for this fun, family evening is $5 per person or $20 per family. All are welcome.
A pizza dinner is included and prizes will be awarded to Bingo! winners.
Bring your beach blanket, bug spray … and your appetite!
This event is open to all Lyme and Old Lyme families.
Check the LYSB website or Facebook page after 5 p.m. for possible weather postponements.
The Corvettes Doo Wop Revue will preform at Lymes’ Senior Center, Thursday
The Corvettes Doo Wop Revue will be performing at the Lymes’ Senior Center, Thursday, July 11, in a free concert starting at 7 p.m., which will be held rain or shine. All are welcome. Bring your chairs, blankets, dinner, etc. — the performances will be held out on the lawn (weather permitting) or inside if the weather is inclement.
The Corvettes Doo Wop Revue is dedicated to preserving and performing the music of the 1950s Doo Wop era. From New Hampshire to New Orleans and Virginia to Vegas, The Corvettes perform the great music of the Doo Wop era with a fresh new energy. Their entertaining show and stage antics have entertained many a happy audience.
A free ice cream social will follow all concerts.
The remaining concerts in the Summer Sounds series are:
July 18 at 7 p.m.- The Cartells
(The Lyme-Old Lyme Lions Club will be selling hotdogs, hamburgers and drinks before the concert starting at 5:30 p.m. with proceeds benefitting their scholarship fund.)
July 25 at 7 p.m.- Rock Solid Alibi (50’s, 60’s, & 70’s)
Aug. 1 at 7 p.m.- Ticket to Ride (Beatles Tribute Band)
The concert series is sponsored by the following companies and organizations:
Signature Sponsors
Essex Printing (Centerbrook CT.)
Homecare Services of CT. (Niantic CT)
LymeLine.com
Gold Sponsors
All Pro Automotive (Old Lyme CT)
Audiology Concierge (Old Saybrook CT)
VNA of Southeastern CT (Waterford CT)
Reynolds Subaru and Reynolds Boats (Lyme CT)
Old Lyme Visiting Nurses Association, INC (Old Lyme CT)
Senior Health Insurance (Clinton CT)
Stone Ridge Active Retirement Living (Mystic CT)
Friends of the Lymes’ Senior Center (Old Lyme CT)
Silver Sponsors
Care Partners of CT (Wethersfield CT)
The Ice Cream Social Sponsors are:
Old Lyme Republican Town Committee (two Concerts)
Old Lyme Democratic Town Committee
Friends of the Lymes’ Senior Center
‘Four Barrel Billy’ will perform at Sound View Thursday evening.
The next concert of the 2019 series will be held Thursday, July 11, and features the ‘Four Barrel Billy’ band. Described as an American Roots Rock n’ Roll band, this group offers, “Hot-rod rockabilly, reverb drenched surf, old school 50’s rock ‘n roll, edgy 60’s pop, swing and honky-tonk” The sound combines, “fat guitar, thumpin’ upright bass and tight vocal harmonies.”
Stop by Sound View Thursday evening and enjoy this free outdoor concert. It will take place from 7 through 8.30 p.m., near the flag pole at the end of Hartford Avenue at Sound View Beach.
Bring a blanket or a lawn chair, and settle in for a great evening of sunset music.
Everyone is welcome to attend these family-friendly events.
In case of rain, the concert will be held in the Shoreline Community Center on Hartford Ave.
Cheerfully leading last year’s parade was the ever-smiling Joann Lishing.
The Sound View Beach Association (SVBA) hosts its traditional Independence Day parade this morning, Saturday, July 6, starting at 10 a.m. from the Shoreline Community Center on Hartford Ave. in Old Lyme. Described as a true “home town” community parade, children, adults, and civic groups are invited to march or spectate and enjoy this special experience.
The organizers suggest residents should decorate their bikes and wagons, build a float, or wear a patriotic costume. Pets are also welcome to march. There will be a VFW Honor Guard, child marchers, decorated bikes, floats, balloons, a marching band, police, fire and ambulance trucks, which will all contribute to a unique, small town experience.
Awards are given in categories such as best-decorated bike or wagon, most patriotic outfit, best float, funniest outfit, and even possibly best-dressed pet. Assembly time for the parade is 9:45 a.m. at the Shoreline Community Center and step-off is 10 a.m. The parade route includes Hartford, Swan, and Portland Avenues.
Entries in the Parade must be in good taste and in conformance with the mission and family atmosphere of the SVBA. The decision of the board of directors is final. The SVBA is an all-volunteer, non-profit civic organization. It owns and manages the Shoreline Community Center and also provides the flags in the Sound View area.
Everyone is invited to join or help. Frank Pappalardo, who serves on the SVBA Board of Directors, says, “We’re always accepting new members, volunteers and donations. All donations are tax deductible and we are registered for “matching gift” grants with many companies.
For more information, call Gail Fuller at 860-434-6426, email info@soundviewbeach.com or visit www.soundviewbeach.com
The American Red Cross is hosting a Blood Drive Friday, July 5, at Old Lyme’s Memorial Town Hall, 52 Lyme St., from 12:45 to 6 p.m. There is currently a critical need for blood donations — please help if you are able.
A shortage of blood donations can lead to delays in urgent medical care to vulnerable patients.
Remember the “The need is constant. The gratification instant.” Walk-ins are welcome.
To make an appointment to donate your blood, call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit http://www.redcrossblood.org.
