GREENPORT, Mass./LYME/OLD LYME — The Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC) will host three virtual Clean-up Coffee Hour sessions leading up to their 25th annual Source to Sea Clean-up being held this fall, Sept. 24-26.
The annual Source to Sea Clean-up is a river clean-up coordinated by CRC in all four states of the 410-mile Connecticut River basin (NH, VT, MA, CT). Each fall, thousands of volunteers of all ages and abilities clean trash from the Connecticut River and its tributaries on foot or by boat.
Join CRC at these virtual Clean-up Coffee Hours to learn more about how to get involved in the Source to Sea Clean-up:
· Registration and Site Selection: Wednesday, July 14, 12 – 1 p.m.
· Trash Disposal and Tallies: Wednesday, Aug. 11, 4 – 5 p.m.
· General Q&A: Thursday, Sept. 9, 5 – 6 p.m.
Additional details and links to register for these online events can be found at www.ctriver.org/events.
“These coffee hours will be a fun, informal way to get familiar with this year’s Source to Sea Clean-up,” says Stacey Lennard, CRC’s cleanup coordinator. “Anyone can come with questions about the process, or just come to meet other group leaders and volunteers. The Source to Sea Clean-up strengthens community while cleaning up our rivers and streams. It’s an opportunity for you to make a difference.”
The Source to Sea Clean-up is one of the largest river cleanups in the country. Thousands of volunteers participate each year to remove trash along rivers, streams, parks, boat launches, trails and more.
To learn more about how you can register for the Source to Sea Clean-up, connect with a group, choose a trash site, and tally your trash, tune into any of these three Clean-up Coffee Hours.
Since 1952, Connecticut River Conservancy has been the voice for the Connecticut River watershed, from source to sea. They collaborate with partners across four states to protect and advocate for the state’s rivers and educate and engage communities. They bring people together to prevent pollution, improve habitat, and promote enjoyment of your river and its tributary streams. Healthy rivers support healthy economies.
To learn more about CRC, or to make a contribution to help protect your rivers, visit www.ctriver.org.
OLD LYME — Play Beach Blanket Bingo Wednesday evening, Aug. 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. at White Sand Beach.
This event is hosted by Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau (LYSB).
Bring your beach blanket, chairs and bug spray. No food will be served.
This event is open to all Lyme and Old Lyme families.
Check LymeLine.com or the LYSB website after 5 p.m. on the day of the event for possible weather postponement.
LYME — A very large patch of invasive European water chestnut was discovered last week in a remote location in Whalebone Cove in Lyme that can only be reached by canoe or kayak at high tide.
On Sunday, Aug. 15, the Friends of Whalebone Cove (FOWC) are organizing a ‘Paddle & Pull’ volunteer work party to remove the water chestnut starting at 3:30 p.m. Anyone who has a kayak, canoe or boat is welcome to join the work party. Bring a water bottle, life jacket/PFD and sun block.
The Paddle & Pull will last about two hours. Meet at the Chester-Hadlyme Ferry Boat Launch (east shore), Ferry Rd. (Rte. 148), Lyme, CT 06371.
In the past several years, FOWC has managed to control the spread of European water chestnut in Whalebone Cove and seeks to prevent it from becoming established, because if that should happen, it will change the Cove’s ecology and destroy its natural habitat eco-systems on which species that live in the area rely to survive.
This invasive creates a canopy on the water surface that crowds out native plants and destroys habitat for turtles, fish, birds and other animals. It decreases the oxygen in the water that fish need to survive. Its rosettes cover entire coves and ponds impeding fishing, hunting, swimming and boating, while also killing native plants that birds and marine wildlife need for survival.
Once established, European water chestnut is difficult to control. It can, however, be eradicated and prevented from spreading by removing plants before they have a chance to drop their seeds, which usually starts in late August.
This type of water chestnut has invaded and taken over many other locations in the Connecticut River.
There will be additional “paddle & pull” work parties scheduled later in the summer.
For more details, email [email protected]
OLD LYME — In March 2021, a group of interested residents of Lyme and Old Lyme met on Zoom to plan the Lyme-Old Lyme Food Share Garden (LOLFSG), a garden dedicated to growing and donating all produce to local food pantries. As the end of summer draws near, the group is delighted to share their progress and invite readers to visit the site.
The LOLFSG will be holding two Open House/Work Sessions on two upcoming Saturdays, Sept. 18 and Sept. 25 from 8 to 11 a.m. at the garden, which is located behind the field house and playground at Town Woods Park. All are welcome.
Jim Ward, who conceived the original idea for the garden and has been the driving force behind its development, explained, “Board members are anxious and excited to share the progress we have made in establishing the garden and look forward to answering any questions concerning our vision.”
In the months following the inaugural meeting, the LOLGSF participated in a crowdsourcing fundraiser sponsored by Sustainable CT in which 82 donors helped raise $8350. With $7500 of those funds being matched, the LOLFSG was able to purchase fencing materials and broke ground at Town Woods Park in June.
Ward commented enthusiastically, “Through the dedicated efforts of volunteers, an eight-foot deer fence has been erected, the installation of an irrigation system is in progress, three raised beds have been built and additional in-ground beds have been prepared. We are on track to plant and harvest our first crops in Spring 2022!”
As the number of LOLFSG members increases, volunteers of all ages are invited to join the organization. Ward invites readers to consider volunteering, visiting the garden, or continuing to support the LOLFSG financially.
He notes, “Our next steps are to complete the installation of the irrigation system, install electricity, erect a storage shed and garden (plant, weed, water, harvest). Updates and additional photos are available through Facebook, Instagram or at the LOLFSG website.”
OLD LYME — This Clean-Up of White Sand Beach is part of International Coastal Cleanup Day, which is being celebrated worldwide Sept. 18. Volunteers are needed for this local effort, which is the fifth annual #DontTrashLISound day.
This year’s campaign, run by the Connecticut and New York Sea Grant programs with support from the Long Island Sound Study, will consist of cleanup events in both states, social media posts and giveaways of “Protect Our Wildlife” stickers for reusable water bottles and travel mugs
OLD LYME — In March 2021, a group of interested residents of Lyme and Old Lyme met on Zoom to plan the Lyme-Old Lyme Food Share Garden (LOLFSG), a garden dedicated to growing and donating all produce to local food pantries. As the end of summer draws near, the group is delighted to share their progress and invite readers to visit the site.
The LOLFSG will be holding two Open House/Work Sessions on two upcoming Saturdays, Sept. 18 and Sept. 25 from 8 to 11 a.m. at the garden, which is located behind the field house and playground at Town Woods Park. All are welcome.
Jim Ward, who conceived the original idea for the garden and has been the driving force behind its development, explained, “Board members are anxious and excited to share the progress we have made in establishing the garden and look forward to answering any questions concerning our vision.”
In the months following the inaugural meeting, the LOLGSF participated in a crowdsourcing fundraiser sponsored by Sustainable CT in which 82 donors helped raise $8350. With $7500 of those funds being matched, the LOLFSG was able to purchase fencing materials and broke ground at Town Woods Park in June.
Ward commented enthusiastically, “Through the dedicated efforts of volunteers, an eight-foot deer fence has been erected, the installation of an irrigation system is in progress, three raised beds have been built and additional in-ground beds have been prepared. We are on track to plant and harvest our first crops in Spring 2022!”
As the number of LOLFSG members increases, volunteers of all ages are invited to join the organization. Ward invites readers to consider volunteering, visiting the garden, or continuing to support the LOLFSG financially.
He notes, “Our next steps are to complete the installation of the irrigation system, install electricity, erect a storage shed and garden (plant, weed, water, harvest). Updates and additional photos are available through Facebook, Instagram or at the LOLFSG website.”
OLD LYME — On Friday, Oct. 8, at 9 a.m., the Old Lyme Open Space Commission will offer the public an opportunity during their in-person meeting at Old Lyme Town Hall to call with questions or comments about the Town’s proposed acquisition of 41-1 and 41-4 Whippoorwill Road.
This purchase will add 35 acres to the existing Ames Open Space, with improved access to its trail system.
While the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance have approved this transaction, it still needs to go before the Planning Commission and a Town Meeting before the sale can take place.
It should be noted that the land being purchased and the roadway leading to it are still private property and not open to the public.
Readers can call into the Open Space Commission’s meeting by dialing 1-605-472-5727 and entering access code 3819718.
The full agenda for the meeting is as follows:
Hybrid Meeting, Open to the Public
- Call to Order
- Approval of Minutes from September 10, 2021
- Welcome to the Public: Open Discussion on the proposed acquisition of the Ames Open Space 35 acres
- Land Steward Report: Peter Norris
- Existing Business
- Open Space Property Updates
- Ames Open Space: Amanda Blair
- Bartholomew Open Space: Amanda Blair
- Champlain North: Steven Calcagni
- McCulloch Family Open Space: Amanda Blair
- Eklund Pond Open Space: Anne Welles
- Grant Activity
- Rockfall Foundation & Hartford Audubon Society Grants: Andrea Fenton
- Future Applications
- Community Outreach
Hikers Happy Hour - Inland Wetlands Commission Report: Evan Griswold
- Conservation Commission Report: Gary Gregory
- New Business
- 2022 Schedule of Commission Meetings
- Additional New Business?
- Public Comment
- Executive Session – As Necessary
- Adjourn
Editor’s Note: For more on this story, visit this link.
Hikers should wear comfortable walking shoes and bring insect repellent.
In the event of rain, meet at the Old Lyme Inn for Happy Hour instead of the trailhead.
OLD LYME — Learn to row Irish … remember, you don’t need to be Irish to row Irish!
Readers are invited to try out the ancient art of Irish Currach Rowing, Saturday, Oct. 16, at Hain’s Park, Rte. 1/Boston Post Rd. in Old Lyme from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
An Irish currach is a traditional vessel made of wood lathe and covered in canvas. Currachs date back several thousand years. They were used for trade among islands, between islands and mainland and along coastal mainland villages. The relatively light (for their size) fishing/trade boats, which could withstand high swells, have been streamlined in design for rowing competitions.
Veteran and newcomer rowers are all welcome. Pre-register before Oct. 15, and sign the waiver. Request the forms from [email protected]. Pre-register and also take an introductory lesson to receive a free team t-shirt.
The organizers suggest that attendees should bring gloves.
There is no obligation to join the group — simply come and try out currach rowing. Free coffee will be available to rowers and newcomers.
For more information, contact [email protected]
This event is sponsored by New London Currach Rowers with support from the Ancient Order of Hibernians of New London County and the Irish Coastal Club.
OLD LYME — After the Lyme-Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce’s efforts to organize an in-person debate between the candidates for the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen fell through, the Old Lyme Republican and Democratic Town Committees joined by Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau are now working together to try and make it happen.
The tentative date and time for the debate are currently Monday, Nov. 1, at 5 or 5:30 p.m. The location is yet to be confirmed but is likely to be either Old Lyme Town Hall or Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School.
Both LymeLine.com and the CT Examiner have been asked to solicit questions from their readers for possible inclusion in the debate. We therefore invite readers to send us their questions as soon as possible. Please send them via email to [email protected] with the subject line “Questions for BOS Debate.” Feel free to submit multiple questions if you wish.
We will update details of the debate as they are finalized, but in the meantime, send us your questions!
OLD LYME — A meeting for the Pre-K- 8 Facilities study will be held Wednesday, Nov. 17, at 6 p.m. in the LOLMS auditorium. QA+M Architecture will present recommendations based on their assessment of existing conditions, evaluation of buildings, and future cost estimation for repairs and updates to Center School, Lyme School, Mile Creek School, and Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School.