The celebration: “Rock the Phoebe’s” joyful acknowledgement of the century and a quarter anniversary of the founding of Old Lyme’s Phoebe Griffin Noyes (PGN) Library in 1898 was scheduled for the evening of June 23. The funny things: A letter, signed by 23 members of the Greater Old Lyme community was sent to the library on May 25. This was then followed … [Read more...] about A View From My Porch: Some Funny Things Happened on the Way to the Celebration
A View From My Porch: A Treatise on Electric Vehicles — Baby Boomers, ‘Beach Boys’ & Battery Benefits
After some sluggish early sales, there has been a considerable increase in the number of electric vehicles (EVs) on the roads in the United States. EVs comprised 5.8 percent of all new vehicle sales in the United States in 2022; up from 3.2 percent in 2021; and that’s more than three-quarters of a million of the roughly 14 million new cars and light trucks sold in 2022. The … [Read more...] about A View From My Porch: A Treatise on Electric Vehicles — Baby Boomers, ‘Beach Boys’ & Battery Benefits
Letter to the Editor: More Support for ‘Phoebe’s Superhero(ine)s’, Libraries Are an ‘Enormous Force for Good’
To the Editor: I read Jonathan Wilder’s brilliant letter of support for our library and its staff earlier this morning and my response was, “Why didn’t I say that?” Not having said it first, I submit this LTE [Letter to the Editor] as my own corollary to his statements. We live on Library Lane and either Christina or I will usually have some reason to stop … [Read more...] about Letter to the Editor: More Support for ‘Phoebe’s Superhero(ine)s’, Libraries Are an ‘Enormous Force for Good’
Letter to the Editor: More Thoughts on the Passing of Old Lyme’s ‘Statesman-in-Residence’
To the Editor: Last week-Old Lyme lost its statesman-in-residence, Lowell Weicker, who lived on Lyme Street near the Library Lane intersection; and even before that, in a cottage on Ball Lane, which must have barely contained his 6 foot, 6 inches. I do not want to repeat his extensive list of accomplishments, which have already been noted in several tributes, but rather … [Read more...] about Letter to the Editor: More Thoughts on the Passing of Old Lyme’s ‘Statesman-in-Residence’
A View From My Porch: Just Another Day at the Beach — A Treatise on Connecticut Beach Access
I will introduce this topic by acknowledging the courage of Ms. Kathleen Tracy and her co-plaintiffs, who have seen the most recent beach access case against the Miami Beach Association (MBA) through to its conclusion. That specific lawsuit, which really began with a fence in 2016, ultimately required more than six years of effort and anguish; and certainly, some considerable … [Read more...] about A View From My Porch: Just Another Day at the Beach — A Treatise on Connecticut Beach Access
A View From My Porch: Finding Fenway — A Feline Interest Story
Nearly a year ago, Christina and I announced in LymeLine that we were “on the lookout for two adoptable kittens; we hope to find a pair of orange tabby sisters.” Our plan was to name them Fenway and Wrigley. We had lost Finn, our pet of more than 15 years, as a result of an inoperable and inexplicable carcinoma of the lung, which appeared on a radiograph at an emergency … [Read more...] about A View From My Porch: Finding Fenway — A Feline Interest Story
Letter to the Editor: Old Lyme RTC Words on ‘Parental Rights’, Rev. Jungkeit are ‘Unfortunate’, ‘Somewhat Insulting’
To the Editor: Despite the already robust conversation on the topic, I still feel compelled to provide my bit of input on the recent letters by Mses. Thompson and Schmaus, which detailed their concerns that the Old Lyme RTC [Republican Town Committee] appears to be endorsing a “DeSantis style” of parental rights in our schools “as part of their platform and criteria for … [Read more...] about Letter to the Editor: Old Lyme RTC Words on ‘Parental Rights’, Rev. Jungkeit are ‘Unfortunate’, ‘Somewhat Insulting’
Letter to the Editor: Negative Outcome of Old Lyme Zoning Commission’s Vote on Halls Rd. Overlay District Raises Many Questions
To the Editor: I am writing as a follow-up to Mark Terwilliger’s Op Ed in LymeLine on the Zoning Commission’s vote against the Halls Road Overlay District proposal. Elizabeth Regan, who covers Old Lyme for the “New London Day”, also reviewed the action in an article published in that newspaper on March 29th. Because the proposal had not been endorsed by our … [Read more...] about Letter to the Editor: Negative Outcome of Old Lyme Zoning Commission’s Vote on Halls Rd. Overlay District Raises Many Questions
A View from My Porch: Connecticut Adopts FDA Food Code — A Primer for the Curious
The Connecticut (CT) General Assembly passed the adoption of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Code into law in 2018; and it finally went into full effect on the 17th of February. The law requires some changes for both the food service establishments (FSEs) operating in the state, and for the inspection and permitting processes conducted by the local health … [Read more...] about A View from My Porch: Connecticut Adopts FDA Food Code — A Primer for the Curious
A View From My Porch: Still Talking About the Generations*
*With apologies to Messrs. Daltrey, Townshend, Entwistle, and Moon. (Who?) In my last “View” I explored reports that suggested that Americans’ attitudes about the workplace had changed “remarkably” and reviewed some of the factors that affected work expectations for both the baby boomer and millennial generations. In drafting that essay, I became curious about who … [Read more...] about A View From My Porch: Still Talking About the Generations*
A View From My Porch: Baby Boomers, Millennials … Who They Are, How They Differ, ‘Acting Their Wage’ & More
Behavioral economists report that Americans’ attitudes about work and the workplace have gone through some remarkable changes. News reports on CBS, both national and local, have presented several stories on one aspect of this change, “the rise of the side hustle”. Another aspect, “quiet quitting”, was addressed on 12/06/2022 in the comic pages in “Hi and Lois”, by Mort … [Read more...] about A View From My Porch: Baby Boomers, Millennials … Who They Are, How They Differ, ‘Acting Their Wage’ & More
A View from My Porch: Tatts & Piercings; A Primer for the Curious
In January 2023, Ledge Light Health District (LLHD) will enact regulations for the oversight of the tattoo and piercing establishments and their respective practitioners and operators in the nine communities in LLHD’s SE CT service area. Background: Connecticut had passed legislation requiring some oversight several years ago, but an organized monitoring and inspection … [Read more...] about A View from My Porch: Tatts & Piercings; A Primer for the Curious
A View from My Porch: Brendan and the Pirates — Securing Passage of Crude Oil to The West
I reported a few “Views” ago that my son had landed in Bahrain on an extended mission with the United States (US) Navy. Brendan is attached to the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC). This is a multinational consortium that was established to provide order and security for trade and shipping in the Arabian Gulf region of the Middle East, with particular focus on … [Read more...] about A View from My Porch: Brendan and the Pirates — Securing Passage of Crude Oil to The West
A View from My Porch: 50 Years — A Retrospective
Editor's Note: We send warmest congratulations to our longtime contributor Tom Gotowka and his wife Christina on their Golden Wedding anniversary. Christina and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary this past July 22nd, and that’s gold. In preparation for the event, I spent some time reminiscing about those years, and I am sharing some of my thoughts in this “View,” … [Read more...] about A View from My Porch: 50 Years — A Retrospective
A Special ‘View From My Porch’ in Recognition of Independence Day: CT’s General Israel Putnam was a ‘Man of Legendary Courage’, a Brooklyn ‘Rock Star’
Prelude: The June 9 edition of The Day reported that the team of Tessa Grethel and Sophia D’Amico — both Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School seventh graders — took first place in Connecticut in the junior group exhibit category of the National History Day Contest with their project titled “Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: The Origins of Atomic Diplomacy.” Phil Rizzuto would … [Read more...] about A Special ‘View From My Porch’ in Recognition of Independence Day: CT’s General Israel Putnam was a ‘Man of Legendary Courage’, a Brooklyn ‘Rock Star’