This evening, Thursday, Jan. 14, at 7 p.m., the Friends of the Lyme Public Library present “Climate Change & You,” a Zoom presentation by Climate Reality Leadership Corps member Patricia Sisson.
The presentation will address some of the many specific threats posed by climate change, identify societal approaches for dealing with them and highlight the most powerful actions individuals can take.
To register for this free program and receive the Zoom invitation, email [email protected].
The First Congregational Church of Lyme will join the National Lighting Ceremony, Tuesday, Jan. 19, at 5:30 p.m. when all are welcome to gather on the church lawn for candle lighting in memory of those lost to COVID-19, and conclude with prayers for peace during the Presidential Inauguration being held the following day.
This will be a very short event and held only if the weather permits.
Attendees are requested to wear masks, and households should distance from other households.
Even if the weather does not allow the gathering, local residents should listen for the church bells, which will toll at 5:30 p.m. in concert with churches all over the country celebrating the National Lighting Ceremony.
LYME/OLD LYME — Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau (LYSB) and two other organizations* host an interactive online workshop via Zoom, Tuesday, Jan. 19, at 7 p.m. for parents, caregivers, and adults who work with youth.
This presentation is extremely important because:
- One in five Lyme-Old Lyme (LOL) youth in grades 7-12 report vaping.
- By 12th grade, over 40 percent of LOL youth report vaping.
- Data says that youth are at risk for developing nicotine addiction that becomes a gateway to other substances, and physical harm from vaping.
Titled, Hidden in Plain Sight, participants are invited to browse a mock bedroom that is filled with items that can be easily used to hide drugs and paraphernalia.
This will be followed by a drug education workshop on ways to:
- Understand the types of inexpensive, easily accessible products available.
- Recognize warning signs of drug use, both obvious and hidden.
- Determine what to do if a problem is suspected.
- Practice skills for having tough conversations with young people in your life.
- Learn about resources available in your community.
This program is free and open to the public. Register at this link.
For more information, contact Alli Behnke, MSW, Prevention Coordinator at abehnke@lysb.org.
*This program is presented by Connecticut Association of Prevention Professionals, Lyme-Old Lyme Prevention Coalition and LYSB.
OLD LYME — The Town of Old Lyme Public Works Department will pick up Christmas trees in Old Lyme from Tuesday, Jan. 19, through Friday, Jan. 22.
If you would like the Town to pick up your tree, you are requested to have it curbside by 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 19.
There will be no return trips for curbside pick-up.
OLD LYME — The Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library hosts a Mindfulness Workshop, Wednesday, Jan. 20, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Explore different meditation forms with Dr. Julie Liefeld, RN, LMFT, Phd, ERYT 500. Liefeld is an experienced registered yoga teacher with over 500 hours of training at the Yoga Shop and Certified Yin Instructor through Josh Summers and North End Yoga Boston Mass.
Experience the numerous benefits the world of meditation has to offer in this series featuring Yoga Nidra and more.
Set up for success with comfortable clothing, a pillow, blanket and space to lie down on your back. No experience necessary and all abilities welcome. Attend one or all sessions. This workshop is virtual (via Zoom), select the date above to register and receive a link to this program.
To receive a link to this program, register here or email: [email protected]
LYME — Lyme Land Trust and the Friends of Lyme Public Library co-host a fascinating program about birds of prey with teacher/naturalist Joe Attwater, who leads many of the bird-related educational programs for the Connecticut Audubon Society.
Attwater will identify which species of raptors are common to Connecticut, how to identify them and what makes these birds such incredible hunters.
It is free and open to all, made possible with funding from the Friends of the Lyme Public Library.
To register for this program and receive the Zoom invitation, email [email protected].
For more information, call the library at 860-434-2272.
MADISON, CT – The Country School (TCS) is hosting a Virtual Open House on Monday, Jan. 25, at 6:30 p.m.
Hear from the admission team, current parents, students, faculty and administration.
Learn about the school’s admission process; rigorous academic program; Signature Programs of STEAM, Elmore Leadership, Global Citizenship, Outdoor Education, and Public Speaking; rich offerings in the arts and athletics; and TCS’s Merit Scholarship opportunity for students entering Grades 4-8.
The Country School honors students’ creativity, sense of wonder, and intellectual curiosity. The school’s integrated curriculum aligns academics with a commitment to character and leadership development.
Founded in 1955, The Country School serves students in Pre-School through Grade 8 on its 23-acre campus in Madison, Conn.
Register for the Open House at this link. You will be sent the Zoom link for the event after registering.
For more information about The Country School, visit www.thecountryschool.org.
OLD LYME — A new initiative, Pollinate Old Lyme!, will have its public launch on Tuesday, Jan. 26, via Zoom presentations at 12 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Interested participants will learn about Old Lyme’s new initiative and simple ways to be a part of a growing “pollinator pathway” where birds, butterflies, and insects are attracted to native plants and trees in yards or gardens.
Pollinate Old Lyme! is an initiative of Sustainable Old Lyme and includes over a dozen Old Lyme partner organizations hosting anchor gardens and providing educational opportunities during 2021.
Email [email protected] with your name and location to register for one of the two Zoom presentations and obtain the log-in information by return.
OLD LYME — A new initiative, Pollinate Old Lyme!, will have its public launch on Tuesday, Jan. 26, via Zoom presentations at 12 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Interested participants will learn about Old Lyme’s new initiative and simple ways to be a part of a growing “pollinator pathway” where birds, butterflies, and insects are attracted to native plants and trees in yards or gardens.
Pollinate Old Lyme! is an initiative of Sustainable Old Lyme and includes over a dozen Old Lyme partner organizations hosting anchor gardens and providing educational opportunities during 2021.
Email [email protected] with your name and location to register for one of the two Zoom presentations and obtain the log-in information by return.
LYME/OLD LYME — Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau hosts a virtual screening of the compelling new documentary LIKE, Tuesday, Jan. 26, at 7 p.m. The event is free of charge and all are welcome.
Parents, educators and community members interested in attending must pre-register for the Zoom link either here or by visiting www.lsyb.org.
More than 2 billion people have smartphones today … and we check our phones on average 150 times every day. Technology makes our lives easier in so many ways – but what is the cost of our dependence, and our children’s reliance, on screens?
LIKE is a new documentary exploring the impact of social media on our lives. It reveals the true effects of technology on the brain and uncovers the impact social media can have on our lives. The film’s mission is to educate, inform and inspire people to effectively self-regulate their screen time.
Social media is a tool and social platforms are a place to connect, share and care… but is that what is really happening? When social media users chase “likes” or seek followers, they lose sight of the fact that their devices are now using them. The goal of the screening is to raise awareness about the hidden costs of social media as well as start a conversation about how to ensure our own, and our children’s, healthy use of technology.
The LIKE screening will be followed by an informative panel discussion featuring experts from the film.
The following day, Wednesday, Jan. 27, the film will be viewed by all students at Lyme-Old Lyme Middle and High Schools. This is a great opportunity to start conversation with your children about a real issue in their every day lives.
The film features interviews with experts including Max Stossel, Head of Education & Content at Center for Humane Technology; Leah Pearlman, Co-Creator of the Facebook “Like” button; Dr. Jerry Bubrick, Senior Psychologist at Child Mind Institute; Professor Jevin West, DataLab, iSchool, University of Washington; John Borthwick, CEO, Betaworks; and Professor Katie Davis, author of The App Generation.
To learn more about LIKE, visit http://thelikemovie.com
Editor’s Note: IndieFlix Group Inc is a global screening and streaming service that promotes and supports social impact films to create positive change in the world. IndieFlix screening service books offline community screenings in schools and corporations around the world while IndieFlix online streaming offers a monthly subscription based service to access thousands of high-quality shorts, features, documentaries, and series from around the world.
For more information, visit https://www.indieflix.com/
Join SECWAC virtually on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021 at 6 p.m. for a presentation by Peter Baker and Susan Glasser, New York Times and The New Yorker journalists, to speak on their book, ‘The Man Who Ran Washington: The Life and Times of James A. Baker III.’ Register in advance.
More information at http://secwac.org.
OLD LYME — This meeting was rescheduled from Jan. 20, when the meeting had to be cancelled due to loss of internet connection.
LYME — Lyme Public Library will host a Valentine’s Day Workshop, presented by Lori Neumann, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2 p.m.
Embellish your own treasured keepsake set of Valentine Heart tins in this fun and simple project. The kit includes three vintage style heart tins, Dresden foil borders, Valentine scraps, stickers and an Italian Coccoina specialty Glue Stick. You need only have a pair of scissors available and your imagination.
Space is limited to 15 participants and there is a $15 materials fee.
Email [email protected] to receive the Zoom link for this event.
For more information, call the library at 860-434-2272.
LYME/OLD LYME — Connecticut Audubon hosts Superb Owl Sunday on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 7, at 2 p.m.
This popular live owl event is being held virtually this year. All are welcome.
Join Mary-Beth Kaeser from Horizon Wings as she introduces these local owl species: Great-horned, Eastern Screech, Northern Saw-whet, Barred and Barn owls.
The fee for this fun hour of owls is $5.
Register at this link and you will receive your Zoom link in your registration confirmation.
All proceeds benefit CT Audubon’s education and conservation programs in the Greater Hartford Region.
HARTFORD – On Tuesday, Feb. 9, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., State Rep. Devin Carney (R-23) will join Bi-partisan Women’s Legislative Caucus Members State Rep’s Donna Veach (R-30) and Christie Carpino to host an informational webinar to discuss resources available to women- and minority-owned businesses.
Register for the forum using this link.
The webinar will feature Fran Pastore, CEO of the Connecticut Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) and is expected to cover the WBDC’s Equity Match Grant Program.
The Equity Match Grant Program provides grants to women-owned/minority-owned businesses to help businesses pivot, expand or restructure during the pandemic and beyond. Grants range from $2,500 to $10,000 for clearly defined projects that will have a measurable impact on business.
“The funding businesses receive through grants provided by the WBDC and other organizations is crucial to getting some of these businesses over the hump and to continue thriving, without them many would be forced to not just close temporarily, but forever,” Rep. Veach said. “It’s important that businesses know the type of funding is available to them in order to prevent that from happening.”
“Outreach to local businesses, especially those owned by women and minorities, is so important right now,” said Rep. Carpino. “I am excited to partner with WBDC to bring this information into the community.”
“The grants from Women’s Business Development Council are a good opportunity to women and minority-owned businesses if they need extra resources due to the coronavirus pandemic,” said Rep. Carney. “The Council is always there to assist business owners and those considering starting a business with training, education, and funding opportunities.”
Trita Parsi presents, “A New US Paradigm for the Middle East”
OLD LYME — The PGN Library hosts commuter advocate Jim Cameron, who will answer questions and offer a status update on CT transportation crisis addressing topics like:
•Will riders return to commuter rail?
•Who will pay to keep the trains running, and where will money be found for our highways?
•How will new residential / workplace trends affect CT’s economy?
Click here to register and receive a link for this virtual program.
Exploring the Importance of Pollinator Pathways
To register for this Zoom program, email [email protected]
You will receive a zoom link several days before the presentation.
Learn about Pollinator Pathways with eco-friendly gardening experts Jim Sirch and Mary Ellen Lemay.
Jim Sirch is Education Coordinator for the Yale Peabody Museum for Natural History. Mary Ellen LeMay owns a company that specializes in the use of natural systems for habitat restoration.
The presentation is free and open to all, brought to you by the Friends of the Lyme Public Library. For more information call the library: 860 434-2272.
OLD LYME — Old Lyme’s Duck River Garden Club (DRGC) continues to hold virtual presentations and meetings on Zoom while COVID restrictions are in place. These DRGC presentations are open to the public and require advance registration.
Virtual socials take place at 6:30 p.m., presentations at 7 p.m., followed by a business meeting for members.
Join DRGC on Monday, Feb. 22, via Zoom to hear Katherine Dugas, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) research technician, discuss current insect and plant disease conditions in Connecticut, including latest known migration of invasive Spotted Lanternfly, Emerald Ash Borer and Southern Pine Beetle.
Brush up on your insect ID skills, learn about the latest threats to our environment and what you can do to help.
Katherine is daughter of Albert and Denise Dugas of Old Lyme.
Dugas earned her Bachelors Degree from Connecticut College in 2005 and Master’s Degree from URI in 2008. She works in the Insect Information and Plant Disease Information Offices of CAES.
To register for this free program, call or email Karen Geisler, DRGC president, 860-434-5321, karen
Check DRGC’s website and the club’s public Duck River Garden Club of Old Lyme Facebook page for any changes to planned programs.
DRGC welcomes new members, who can join via the membership form on the website. For further information on membership, contact Karen Geisler. Attendance at DRGC virtual programs counts toward the required two meetings for prospective club members.
LYME — Lyme Public Library hosts an Eco-Safari of the Connecticut Watershed presented by Jim Arrigoni on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2 p.m.
The Connecticut River is recognized as one of the most ecologically and culturally important rivers on the East Coast. In this interactive webinar, conservation biologist Jim Arrigoni will take you on a virtual tour of the watershed, highlighting the flora and fauna and unique aspects of its natural and human history.
Email [email protected] to receive the Zoom link for this event.
Date: Saturday, February 20, 2021
Time: 4:00-6:00 pm
Place: Thach Preserve, 131 Brush Hill Rd., Lyme CT
To register: e[email protected]
You are invited to a walk guided by photographer Joe Standart, to experience light before and after the sun sets.
Reservations are required. Space is limited to 10 people including the leaders. Please be safe- wear a mask when meeting in the parking lot. Social distancing guidelines will be followed.
The walk is part of the Lyme Land Trust amateur photography program: Imagining Lyme – A Visual Exploration of Lyme’s Preserves, which encourages people to expand their visual awareness while highlighting the beauty of Lyme Preserves through photographs.
The deadline for submission of photos for the fall/winter season using the category “Light” is March 19, 2021. Three photos of distinction will be chosen.
Animal Tracking presented by the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center
Saturday, March 6, 2pm
In this Zoom presentation sponsored with the Lyme Land Trust, you will learn to identify the tracks of local wildlife as well as how to interpret the stories they tell. In addition, you will also meet an owl who leaves telltale tracks behind from a hunt.
Presented by the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center in Mystic, CT. Founded in 1946, DPNC provides environmental education programming for all ages on a wide variety of natural history and environmental science topics.
This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Lyme Public Library for March 2021.
Email [email protected] to register for this Zoom program.
- Science related to public health and our youth
- Marijuana industry right now
- Status of legalization of marijuana in Connecticut
Wednesday, March 10, 6:30 p.m.
The Old Lyme-PGN Library hosts a free Zoom lecture titled, “Your Carbon Footprint,” by Old Lyme resident Alan Poirier.
This event is promoted by Sustainable Old Lyme.
Sign up for the Zoom link at http://oldlymelibrary.org.
Asian Fusion Cooking Demonstration with Chef James Martell
Thursday, March 11, 5 p.m.
James Martell, the head chef at On the Rocks Restaurant at the Fox Hopyard Golf Club in East Haddam, will demonstrate how to prepare an Asian Fusion dinner as well as mocktails and cocktails to complement the dish. Learn how he makes tuna rolls, quick kimchi, and Buffalo Chicken Rangoon.
Email [email protected] to register for this virtual program and obtain the Zoom link.