
LYME — On Saturday, Aug. 20 from 4 to 6 p.m., the Lyme and Old Lyme Democratic Town Committees (DTCs) host their 2022 Summer Picnic at Lyme Public Hall, a short walk from the Hamburg Fair. All Democrats and Democratic supporters are welcome.
Senator Richard Blumenthal will be attending as the honored guest.
There will be picnic goodies galore to enjoy, as well as opportunities to mingle with friends, neighbors and local DTC members.
Parking for the event will be available in the parking lot of the Lyme First Congregational Church or the Subaru dealership (the $6 fee benefits the church and the local Boy Scouts.)
A $25.00 donation for the picnic is suggested. Find donation information to the Lyme DTC and Old Lyme DTC at these links.

OLD LYME — Old Lyme First Selectman Timothy Griswold gave LymeLine.com an update Wednesday via e-mail on the presentation scheduled Saturday on the Old Lyme Regional Wastewater System. The event will be held at 10 a.m. in the Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School.
Griswold advised that it will be hosted by the heads of the three private beach associations and Sound View Beach Association, and the chairs of the respective Water Pollution Control Authorities (WPCA).
Griswold stressed that this informational meeting is, “an update for beach residents and others.”
He added, “We think an update before seasonal residents head back home is a wise thing.”
Griswold also clarified that, “A number of distinguished guests [Senator Richard Blumenthal, Senator Chris Murphy, State Senator Paul Formica (R-20th), State Rep. Devin Carney (R-23rd)] have been invited but only State Sen. Formica has responded – he will attend via phone. The US Senators have worked on trying to secure funding.”
Griswold reported previously in his Aug. 19 newsletter to residents that State Rep. Devin Carney (R-23rd) is unable to attend.
Questions regarding the project can be submitted in advance to [email protected] for review by the committee. A panel will then select questions to be answered at the meeting and at the end of the presentation, the selected questions will be answered.
There will be no open Q&A after the presentation.
Griswold commented, “This is a very complex and expensive project. It includes not only sewers but storm water drainage and road repaving. The sewer shared assets went out to bid twice and, due to the very high cost, had to be rejected. We believe additional outside funding must become available for the entire project to be viable.”
The meeting will start with the introduction of the four WPCA entities involved with the project.
Then the following guests will make comments:
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- State Senator Paul Formica (R-20th) — by phone
- Old Lyme First Selectman Timothy Griswold (R)
The next agenda item will be a PowerPoint presentation regarding the project.
The final item will be a review of the selected questions regarding the project, which were submitted in advance. questions.
To attend this session virtually, visit https://oldlymect.webex.com/oldlymect/j.php?MTID=m7bb8ab96d52e54ddb27ed079eb689dfc or dial +1-408-418-9388 and enter access code: 2343 721 4416.
OLD LYME — On Wednesday, Aug. 31, the Lyme-Old Lyme Prevention Coalition (LOLPC) is collaborating with Ledge Light Health District, Alliance for Living, NLC CARES Team, and the Old Lyme Ambulance Company to recognize Overdose Awareness Day.
At 11 a.m. in front of the Old Lyme Town Hall, LOLPC volunteers will be on hand to teach residents how to recognize and respond to an overdose, obtain a free Naloxone kit, and learn more about community resources, including an important new initiative launching in Old Lyme.
Data has proven that overdose is rising dramatically every year.
According to the CDC, deaths from fentanyl poisoning are fastest growing among 14- to 23-year-olds. The presence of fentanyl both in counterfeit pills and in illicit street drugs poses a grave threat to the safety of teens and adults alike.
Editor’s Note: The ‘Partnership to End Addiction’ launched this new Fentanyl Resource Hub recently: https://drugfree.org/fentanyl-poisoning

OLD LYME — On Sunday, Sept. 11, Saint Ann’s Episcopal Church at 82 Shore Rd. in Old Lyme welcomes one and all to a joyful Welcome Back Breakfast at 9:30 a.m. in the Griswold Room.
The event will be held after the 8:30 a.m. service and before the 10:30 a.m. one.
Congregants will gather in fellowship for an Old-fashioned Church Breakfast, as they look forward to helping friends and neighbors during the coming year.

Lyme Public Hall. Photo submitted.
LYME — The George House Tag Sale will be held at the Lyme Public Hall on Saturday, Sept. 17, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The sale will feature housewares, furniture, tools, jewelry, and unexpected treasures. Proceeds will benefit the maintenance of the Lyme Public Hall, the Lyme Local History Archives, and programs for the public.
The final intake for tag sale item donation drop-off at the Lyme Public Hall will be held this evening (Tuesday, Sept. 13) from 5 to 8 p.m.
The Hall will gladly welcome good quality items such as solid wood furniture, tools, antiques, jewelry, housewares, fine china and linens, sporting goods, musical instruments and gift items.
The Hall is unable to accept large appliances, upholstered or particle board furniture, consumer electronics (TVs, computers, fax machines, etc.) or large exercise equipment. In addition, no clothing, books or toys will be accepted for sale.
For a complete list of accepted items, visit lymepublichall.org.
The Lyme Public Hall is located at 249 Hamburg Rd. (Rte. 156) in Lyme, Conn.
For more information on the Lyme Public Hall Tag Sale, email [email protected]
OLD LYME, CT – The Southeast Connecticut World Affairs Council (SECWAC) opens the 2022-2023 speakers’ series on Wednesday, Sept. 21, with an informative talk about the coronavirus pandemic and its global implications.
The featured speaker will be award-winning science writer Carl Zimmer (pictured at left) presenting “Science and Research During the Pandemic: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.” The talk will take place at 6 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme.
Attendees will also be able to join us via Zoom. Learn more and register at secwac.org.
A columnist for The New York Times and the author of 14 books and countless magazine articles for publications such as National Geographic, The Atlantic, and Discover, Zimmer earned a B.A. in English from Yale, where he currently serves as an adjunct professor in the Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry and teaches writing.
The recipient of the 2016 Stephen Jay Gould Prize, awarded for the Study of Evolution, Zimmer has also won awards from the National Academy of Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
His 2018 book, She Has Her Mother’s Laugh: The Powers, Perversions, and Potential of Heredity (the subject of a fascinating SECWAC talk a few years ago), was named a Notable Book of the Year by the New York Times Book Review and the best science book of 2018 by The Guardian.
Zimmer’s presentation on Sept. 21 will explore lessons from the influenza of 1918. What did we learn a century ago and what has science and research in the age of coronavirus taught us about controlling the spread, testing, and reporting of disease? What have we learned about the role of multinational cooperation in stemming the spread of a disease that recognizes no borders? How can those lessons prepare us for future pandemics in our interconnected world?
For more than 20 years, SECWAC has been inviting leading global voices to our region to foster a deeper understanding of the world, our country’s international role and diplomatic history, and the policies and actions that impact individuals and communities at home and abroad.
A nonprofit dedicated to discussing issues of global importance, SECWAC presents up to a dozen speakers each year. Events are free for members, students, and educators and $20 for non-members.
Visit secwac.org for registration and membership details and to learn about other upcoming speakers.

Co-Artistic Director Amaya Gurpide gives an introduction to portrait drawing to students at Lyme Academy. Photo by Andrew Paez.
OLD LYME — Lyme Academy of Fine Arts invites both aspiring and experienced artists of all ages to participate in a free information session on Wednesday, Sept. 21, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Interested students will have the opportunity to tour the campus and studio spaces, and to learn more about the new art class offerings for 2022-2023, including the Studio Immersion and Young Masters Afterschool Programs.
In addition, live drawing demonstrations by Academy members will provide a glimpse into the high level of instruction that students receive at the Academy.
The session will also include an opportunity to meet the faculty, including Lyme resident and acclaimed artist Rick Lacey, Director of Youth Programs, and Edmond Rochat, new Director of Continuing Education and Principal Anatomy Instructor at Lyme Academy.
A registration table will be on site to facilitate enrollment in all ongoing and upcoming classes.
De Gerenday’s Fine Art Materials and Curiosities, newly opened on the Academy campus, will be open during the event.
Registration for the Information Session is appreciated for planning purposes but not required. To register for the Information Session, visit this link.
The mission of the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts is to teach the foundational skills of drawing, painting, and sculpture in the figurative tradition. By its commitment to training students in these skills and an engagement with contemporary discourse, the Academy will empower a new generation of artists.
Through its programs and related ventures, including the opening of de Gerenday’s Fine Art Materials and Curiosities on its historic campus, the Academy is committed to enriching the cultural life of the community. Learn more by visiting www.lymeacademy.edu.

OLD LYME — On Wednesday, Sept. 21, at 7 p.m., the Old Lyme Historical Society Incorporated (OLHSI) hosts Franklin Donohue, who will give a presentation titled, Mechanical Banks of the Mid-19th and Early-20th Century.
In 1869, the J & E Stevens Company of Cromwell, Conn. began making Iron Banks that performed an action when coins were deposited into them. Mechanical banks quickly became popular with both children and adults throughout America and beyond.
Come and hear all about the fascinating history of these intriguing machines.
The event will take place at the Society’s building at 55 Lyme St. in Old Lyme. All are welcome and admission is free.
This is the third in a series of speaker events sponsored by the OLHSI.
Donations are welcome for the Carol Noyes Winters Scholarship Fund.
For more information about the OLHSI, including upcoming events and membership details, visit this link.

OLD LYME — The BookCellar at the Old Lyme-Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library is holding an ‘Entertainment Extravaganza Sale’ in the Library’s Community Room this Thursday, Sept. 22, from 12 to 4 p.m. and Friday, Sept. 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
All puzzles will be on sale for $2 each as well as overstocked DVDs and CDs will be sold at three for $1.
Claudia Condon, a volunteer at the BookCellar told LymeLine, “We are hoping folks take advantage of these fabulous prices to stock up for the fall and winter months.”
For further information, visit the library’s website.

OLD LYME — The BookCellar at the Old Lyme-Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library is holding an ‘Entertainment Extravaganza Sale’ in the Library’s Community Room this Thursday, Sept. 22, from 12 to 4 p.m. and Friday, Sept. 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
All puzzles will be on sale for $2 each as well as overstocked DVDs and CDs will be sold at three for $1.
Claudia Condon, a volunteer at the BookCellar told LymeLine, “We are hoping folks take advantage of these fabulous prices to stock up for the fall and winter months.”
Second Annual LOLFSG Open House Slated for Saturday, Sept. 24, All Welcome
OLD LYME — The Lyme-Old Lyme Food Share Garden (LOLFSG) celebrated a milestone this week!
Following a much-needed rain event, mid-week volunteers harvested kale, tomatoes, string beans, peppers, eggplants, and more. In doing so, the garden reached a total donation threshold of more than 2000 pounds of produce in its first growing season.
The LOLFSG President Jim Ward commented, “This incredible accomplishment is due to the dedication of volunteers and community support.”
Ward noted that the realistic LOLFSG goal for the 2023 season is to double production and is already looking forward to a “Two-Ton Tuesday.”
To celebrate the successful inaugural growing season and to learn more about the garden, all are invited to visit the 2nd Annual LOLFSG Open House on Saturday, Sept. 24, at the garden from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
The garden is located at Town Woods Park behind the Field House and playground.