LYME/OLD LYME — Setting the Lyme-Old Lyme (LOL) Schools Building Referendum on Tuesday, Nov. 8 — the same day as the state elections — has, in Old Lyme First Selectman Timothy Griswold’s words (sent via text), been, ” … very complicated with, I believe, five lawyers working out the details.” Those details were required to be filed with the State of Connecticut today.
Griswold went on to explain, “Electors will vote on the candidates by ballot and on the school referendum question (yes/no ballot) in the same room,” but, “Qualified voters who are not electors may vote only on the referendum question in a separate room.”
Lyme Selectman John Kiker similarly confirmed by text, “… regular voting will be in [Lyme] town hall and the referendum voting will be in the [Lyme Public] library.”
Lyme-Old Lyme Schools Superintendent Ian Neviaser noted by email that Lyme-Old Lyme Schools are sending out a Fact Sheet to all Lyme and Old Lyme residents and property owners next week, which, along with additional information on the referendum, will help to clarify the difference between ‘electors’ and ‘qualified voters.’
The Fact Sheet explains that an ‘elector’ is any registered voter in either Lyme or Old Lyme.
It then goes on to state that, “A qualified voter who is not an elector is any citizen of the United States of the age of 18 years or more who, jointly or severally, is liable to the Town of Lyme or Town of Old Lyme for taxes assessed against him or her of not less than $1,000 on the last completed grand list of the Town, or who would be so liable if not entitled to an exemption under subdivision (17), (19), (22), (25) or (26) of Section 12-81 of the Connecticut General Statutes, and is not an elector (registered voter) of the Towns of Lyme or Old Lyme.”
This difference between the two is significant as qualified voters (who cannot vote in the state elections in Lyme or Old Lyme because they are registered to vote elsewhere) must by state statute physically vote at a location at least 75 ft. from that of registered voters.
Therefore, in Old Lyme:
- ‘Electors’, i.e., registered voters, will vote in both the state election and on the school building referendum in the LOL Middle School Gym.
- ‘Qualified voters’ (who are not electors) will vote solely on the LOL Schools Building Referendum in the LOL Middle School Cafeteria.
Meanwhile in Lyme:
- ‘Electors’, i.e., registered voters, will vote in both the state election and on the LOL Schools Building Referendum at Lyme Town Hall.
- ‘Qualified voters’ (who are not electors) will vote solely on the LOL Schools Building Referendum in the Lyme Public Library.
Regarding the unusual need for two polling locations in both Lyme and Old Lyme, Griswold stressed, “The Registrars must man and equip the two separate voting locations in each town,” noting, “The school will be responsible for the costs related to the school referendum.”
The ballot question for the LOL Schools Building Referendum will read as detailed below and and then ask for a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ response.
“Shall the resolution appropriating and authorizing bonds in the amount of $57,555,000, of which it is expected that an estimated $9,775,000 shall be reimbursed by the State of Connecticut, for the planning, design, demolition, construction, renovation, equipping and furnishing of Mile Creek School, Center School, Lyme Consolidated School and Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School and related costs, be approved?“
Two public meetings will be held in advance of the $57.6 million LOL Schools Building Referendum on respectively Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. at Lyme School, and Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. at Mile Creek School.
Polls will be open in both towns on Tuesday, Nov. 8, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
For more information on the referendum from LOL Schools, visit https://www.region18.org/district-information/referendumwww.region18.org, email [email protected] or call 860-434-7238.
OLD LYME — On Wednesday, Nov. 16, Old Lyme Police and Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau (LYSB) are holding the second day of their Thanksgiving Food Drive from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Old Lyme Marketplace near the Big Y. The third and final day of the Food Drive will be Saturday, Nov. 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
All food donated will be forwarded to the Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau 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 will be given to Shoreline Soup Kitchens.
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. 15 and Nov. 18.
Families in need of food should contact LYSB at www.lysb.org/holidaygiving or 860-434-7208.
OLD LYME — On Wednesday, Nov. 16, from 6 to 7 p.m., the Southeast Connecticut World Affairs Council (SECWAC) hosts Fox News Election Night Analyst Arnon Mishkin, who will discuss the 2022 Midterm results. The event will be held at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme.
The event is free to members and $20 to non-members in person or remote with Zoom access.
A reception will be held from 5:30 to 6 p.m. and a post-event dinner for members only at the Old Lyme Country Club.
Mishkin will lead an analytical discussion about the Nov 2022 midterms, what happened, what does the data tell us and where might we be heading.
Mishkin has led the Fox News election night decision team since 2008, leveraging election day voter polling, sample precincts, and actual vote results to estimate results of all statewide and congressional contests. He has worked as part of the team since 1998 and directed its coverage in the historic 2020 presidential election.
Earlier in his career, Mishkin worked on election night coverage at NBC News, and as a political consultant for the late David Garth, the well-known New York-based political consultant.
Apart from his work at Fox, Mishkin is an independent strategy consultant, and was formerly a partner of The Boston Consulting Group and Mitchell Madison.
Mishkin holds a BA in Mathematics from Yale and an MBA, with distinction, from Harvard.
Visit the SEWAC website for registration details for this event, more information about the SECWAC organization and membership.
OLD LYME — On Thursday, Nov. 17, from 4 to 6 p.m., the Old Lyme Historical Society, Inc., (OLHSI) will be celebrating the release of its new 2023 ‘Then’ & Now’ Old Lyme Community Calendar at a free After Hours Launch Event at the OLHS building at 55 Lyme St. in Old Lyme. All are welcome.
Wine, beer and soft drinks, along with light refreshments, will be offered. A raffle will also be held to benefit the OLHSI.
Calendars will be available for sale at $12 each.
All are welcome to attend.
This is the 11th year that the OLHSI has published this popular calendar, which incorporates a different set of photographs from the organization’s archives juxtaposing the historical images with contemporary ones of the same scene.
The images included in the calendar are a small sampling of the many interesting, archived photographs of Old Lyme establishments, landscapes, and scenes dating back to the beginning of the 20th century.
Each calendar month is sponsored by a different community organization and includes the dates of their events throughout the year. The intent is to highlight and assist in marketing activities occurring in Old Lyme in 2022 as well as remembering the past.
The 2023 ‘Then’ & Now ‘ Old Lyme Community Calendar was designed by James Meehan and edited by Alison Mitchell. Michaelle Pearson served as copy editor.
The mission of the OLHSI is to “collect, preserve, interpret and promote the rich history” of Old Lyme.
To learn more about the OLHSI and its activities, visit www.oldlymehistoricalsociety.org or stop by the OLHSI office at 55 Lyme St. in Old Lyme.
OLD LYME — On Friday, Nov. 18, the Old Lyme-Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library hosts a Musical Bingo Night starting at 8 p.m.
All are welcome to come enjoy four ‘spirited’ rounds of Bingo as SeaSide Wine & Spirits provides a taste of Connecticut with local brews and vintages.
Seating is limited. Use the QR code at left to pre-register and reserve your seat. You must be 21 or over to attend. A valid ID must be shown to enter.
The suggested donation is $15 at the door.
For more information, call 860-434-1684 or visit oldlymelibrary.or
OLD LYME — On Wednesday, Nov. 16, Old Lyme Police and Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau (LYSB) are holding the second day of their Thanksgiving Food Drive from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Old Lyme Marketplace near the Big Y. The third and final day of the Food Drive will be Saturday, Nov. 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
All food donated will be forwarded to the Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau 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 will be given to Shoreline Soup Kitchens.
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. 15 and Nov. 18.
Families in need of food should contact LYSB at www.lysb.org/holidaygiving or 860-434-7208.
LYME — On Sunday, Nov. 20, the First Congregational Church of Lyme presents a worship service at 5 p.m. Susan Olson will preach and the Lyme Church Gospel Band will provide music. All are welcome.
The service will be followed by an appetizer coffee hour.
The featured, local jazz musicians, who will lead the music during the evening service are Megan Weikleenget, vocalist; Scott Konrad, keyboards; Bob Boska, saxophone; Adam Anderson, bass; and Rolf Wolfswinkel on drums.
DEEP RIVER, CT. — Cappella Cantorum will return to John Winthrop Middle School (JWMS, Deep River, CT) for the 2022-2023 season after a two-year absence. Rehearsals are in full swing for the upcoming winter concert, Vivaldi’s Gloria and Other Holiday Favorites, to be performed Sunday, Dec 4, at 3 p.m. at JWMS. Mark your calendar to join this musical celebration of the holidays.
Music Director Simon Holt will conduct, and the featured soloists are mezzo-soprano Rachel Abrams and bass-baritone Christopher Grundy. The chorus will be accompanied by pianist Patrice Newman and the Cappella Cantorum Orchestra.
Ticket prices are $15 for students, $30 for adults and $35 at the door. Tickets may be purchased in advance through any chorus member, on the Cappella Cantorum website through the link below, or by calling 860-532-0454.
This year marks the 53rd season of Cappella Cantorum, which was founded in Jan. 1970. The group has built a close partnership with the Region 4 School District for more than 30 years where Cappella can be found rehearsing at JWMS on Monday evenings and performing in the school district’s auditoria. Cappella has also donated acoustic sound shells to enhance the JWMS auditorium stage.
When COVID hit Connecticut in early 2020, Cappella Cantorum halted rehearsals that were already underway at JWMS and canceled its May concert. From Sept. 2020 to April 2021, the group hosted a popular Zoom series to help singers stayed connected and continue learning about music-related topics.
With the availability of COVID vaccines and improved treatments, the group began to plan its return to in-person singing for Fall 2021. However, changing state COVID guidelines made it difficult for Region 4 to allow community groups in school facilities, so Cappella rehearsals were moved to Trinity Lutheran Church in Centerbrook for the 2021-2022 season.
“We were so pleased to be coming back to JWMS for our rehearsals,” said Carol Cherry, President of Cappella Cantorum.“ Returning to John Winthrop is one step closer to normal for all of us.”
Cappella Cantorum is the premiere, non-auditioned, community choral group of the Connecticut Shoreline and Lower Connecticut River Valley. Its primary purpose is to give singers of all ages the opportunity to learn, perform, share, and enjoy great choral music. In addition to twice yearly concerts, the group promotes music education and appreciation through summer singing programs, vocal training workshops, Messiah Sing & Listen events, and other events open to the public.
Cappella Cantorum has no audition requirement and welcomes people of all ages who like to sing and want to expand their music knowledge and skills. This opportunity renews again on Monday, Jan 9, 2023, when you can register and join Cappella for their first rehearsal as the singers and administration prepare for their spring concert scheduled for Sunday, April 4, 2023, 3pm, at JWMS. Rehearsals are generally held at 7 p.m. on Monday nights in JWMS.
For more information, visit cappellacantorum.org or call 860-532-0454.
MADISON, CT – On Friday, Dec. 9, from 2 to 6 p.m., Connecticut’s COVID-19 Vaccination Van will be at The Country School to provide free vaccinations. No appointment, health insurance, or a state-issued ID is required. No one will be turned away.
Children aged 6 months to 11 years are eligible for the Pediatric Moderna or Pfizer vaccine for their first and second doses. Third and booster doses are available only to children 5 years- to 11-years-old. Children 12 years and older and adults may receive the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for first, second, third and booster doses.
The highly visible yellow Vaccination Vans, provided by the CT Department of Public Health and run by Griffin Health, can administer 100-125 shots per day in a six-hour window of time.
“As a private school, we are keenly aware of our public purpose,” said John Fixx, Head of School. “We are thankful to give back to the shoreline community that has supported The Country School for the past 67 years.”
The following forms need to be completed and are available at the Clinic: PreVaccination CDC Screening Form, Pediatric Intake Form, and the COVID Vaccine Intake Form. For more information on vaccinations and COVID-19 visit ct.gov/covidvaccine.
Founded in 1955, The Country School is a coeducational, independent day school serving over 215 students in PreSchool through Grade 8. To schedule a tour, visit www.thecountryschool.org.
LYME — Santa is dropping by the Lyme Fire Company’s Hamburg Station Sunday, Dec. 11, from 8 a.m. to11 a.m., for breakfast!
All are welcome to join him.
Make sure your children remember their lists for Santa!
Breakfast will include pancakes, bacon, French toast, eggs, fruit, toast, sausage, milk, coffee, and juice.
Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12.
Hamburg Fire Station is located at 23 Hamburg Rd.in Lyme.