Town residents have received their postcard reminder about the 2025-2026 district budget meeting and referendum vote from Regional 18 school district both scheduled for May 5 and May 6 respectively. By means of background information on the school budgeting process, it is important to understand some of the Connecticut school laws defined by the general … [Read more...] about Op-Ed: Dip Into Region 18 ‘Rainy Day Fund’ to Dampen Debt Impact
Op-Eds
Op-Ed: Act Now to Stop Halls Rd. Overlay District
Editor's Note: We received this op-ed from Old Lyme resident Hiram E. Manville IV, who states he was, "Born and raised in Old Lyme (1972)" and is a, "Concerned parent, raising our two- and five-year-olds here in Old Lyme." The proposed Halls Road Overlay District (HROD) threatens to permanently alter Old Lyme, overwhelming our infrastructure, endangering the environment, and … [Read more...] about Op-Ed: Act Now to Stop Halls Rd. Overlay District
Op-Ed: HROD Benefits Community, Promotes Sustainable Future for Old Lyme—Helps Prevent Real Threats to OL’s Character, Future
Editor's Note: This op-ed was sent to us by Old Lyme resident Elaine Stiles. As an Old Lyme resident who cares deeply about sustainable growth and housing access, I am writing to express strong support for the proposed Halls Road Overlay District (HROD) and the development and planning principles that inform it. Old Lyme is a small town, but it is located near two … [Read more...] about Op-Ed: HROD Benefits Community, Promotes Sustainable Future for Old Lyme—Helps Prevent Real Threats to OL’s Character, Future
Op-Ed: Halls Road Overlay District—A Personal Perspective, Recommendation and Suggestion
Editor's Note: This op-ed was submitted by Nancy Hutchinson of Old Lyme. She is the Chair (U-Republican-endorsed) of Old Lyme's Zoning Board of Appeals but writes here as a private citizen. The decision being considered by the Old Lyme community and Zoning Commission (ZC) is not simply a binary choice between approving a Halls Road Overlay District or denying one. What … [Read more...] about Op-Ed: Halls Road Overlay District—A Personal Perspective, Recommendation and Suggestion
Op-Ed: Support HROD—Inevitable Halls Rd. Will Change, Optional Overlay Positions Old Lyme to Better Manage Its Future: Other Choice is Leave it to Chance
Editor's Note: This op-ed is a response by Howard Margules to the op-ed by Jill and Russell Todd, which we published Feb. 5, 2025 on LymeLine.com. Margules is an Old Lyme resident and member of the Halls Road Improvements Committee. Thank you for your interest in the Halls Road Overlay District (HROD) zoning proposal—I would like to address your concerns: Developers … [Read more...] about Op-Ed: Support HROD—Inevitable Halls Rd. Will Change, Optional Overlay Positions Old Lyme to Better Manage Its Future: Other Choice is Leave it to Chance
Op-Ed: Reject HROD—Don’t Compromise Old Lyme’s Identity: “Thoughtful, Transparent Planning” Needed
Editor's Note: This op-ed was submitted by Old Lyme residents Jill and Russell Todd. We write to express our deep concern regarding the Halls Road Overlay District (HROD) proposal recently presented to the [Old Lyme] Zoning Commission and the lack of public scrutiny and acceptance surrounding this plan. What was sold to the community as a charming, village-like vision … [Read more...] about Op-Ed: Reject HROD—Don’t Compromise Old Lyme’s Identity: “Thoughtful, Transparent Planning” Needed
Op-Ed: It’s ‘Time to Show Who We Are, as Residents of a Diverse, Welcoming State,’ so ‘Light Up the Night for IRIS’ … and for CT
Editor's Note: This op-ed was submitted by the Rev. Steven R. Jungkeit, Ph.D., who serves as Senior Minister at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme. All are welcome to attend the vigil tomorrow evening. The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme is located at 2 Ferry Rd., Old Lyme, CT 06371. In the congregation I serve (The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme), … [Read more...] about Op-Ed: It’s ‘Time to Show Who We Are, as Residents of a Diverse, Welcoming State,’ so ‘Light Up the Night for IRIS’ … and for CT
Op-Ed: The Suburban Dilemma
Editor’s Notes: i) This op-ed was submitted by Eric Knapp, who is employed as the Town of Old Lyme’s Land Use Coordinator. He is writing here as a private citizen.ii) This is the opinion of Eric Knapp. Many years ago, in my former life as an attorney, I attended a hearing before a land use agency in Canterbury. Ahead of my matter on the agenda was a proposal for a … [Read more...] about Op-Ed: The Suburban Dilemma
Op-Ed: The Mirage of Affordable Housing
Editor’s Notes: i) This op-ed was submitted by Eric Knapp, who is employed as the Town of Old Lyme’s Land Use Coordinator. He is writing here as a private citizen.ii) This is the opinion of Eric Knapp. The Connecticut General Assembly has determined that creating more affordable housing in the State is a priority. It is hard to argue that we have sufficient housing in a … [Read more...] about Op-Ed: The Mirage of Affordable Housing
Happy 21st Birthday to Us! Looking to the Future for ‘The Cornerstone of the Community’
A reader recently described LymeLine as “The Cornerstone of the Community for News and Information." Those words made my day since they perfectly describe LymeLine's mission, and how we at LymeLine feel about the Lyme-Old Lyme community we serve.We aim to present accurate, objective coverage of Lyme and Old Lyme community news, events and information while striving at all times … [Read more...] about Happy 21st Birthday to Us! Looking to the Future for ‘The Cornerstone of the Community’
Op-Ed: Connecticut’s Absurdly High-Priced, Unregulated Utilities – A White Paper
Editor's Note: This op-ed was submitted by Joseph F. Camean, P.E. of Old Lyme and reflects his opinion. Connecticut’s purportedly regulated electric utilities have been making news of late, with articles claiming Connecticut's electricity bills are the highest in the continental U.S. and that as electric prices are set to skyrocket, there aren’t any immediate solutions. … [Read more...] about Op-Ed: Connecticut’s Absurdly High-Priced, Unregulated Utilities – A White Paper
Op-Ed: The Future of Zoning
Editor's Notes: i) This op-ed was submitted by Eric Knapp, who is employed as the Town of Old Lyme's Land Use Coordinator. He is writing here as a private citizen.ii) This is the opinion of Eric Knapp. Zoning in Connecticut is 100-years-old this year. West Hartford was the first town in the State to adopt zoning regulations in 1924. The practice did not make its way to this … [Read more...] about Op-Ed: The Future of Zoning
Op-Ed: Take Time to Listen, Tell, Learn, ‘a Better Story About Haiti’
Editor's Note: We received this op-ed from Rev. Steve Jungkeit, who serves as the Senior Minister of The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme (FCCOL.) In the winter of 2020, just before Covid stopped the world, I sat with a friend on a hillside overlooking Deschapelles, Haiti on a clear starry night. There were scarcely any lights to be seen, for few people in that … [Read more...] about Op-Ed: Take Time to Listen, Tell, Learn, ‘a Better Story About Haiti’
Op-Ed: Facing the Realities of Rising Waters in Shoreline Connecticut
Editor's Notes: i) This op-ed was submitted by Eric Knapp, who is employed as the Town of Old Lyme's Land Use Coordinator. He is writing here as a private citizen.ii) This is the opinion of Eric Knapp. I have lived in Connecticut my entire life. My career as a lawyer involved representing property owners and land use commissions across the state, but especially along the … [Read more...] about Op-Ed: Facing the Realities of Rising Waters in Shoreline Connecticut
Op-Ed: Old Lyme Needs to Do Better on Major Projects
Editor’s Note: This op-ed was submitted by Howard Margules of Old Lyme. Our town’s major projects—Halls Road, Lymes’ Senior Center, Sewers, Shoreline Gateway, and Affordable Housing—are all vital to our town’s future economic viability. They also share something else in common: they have been “works in process” for quite a while, and all remain unfinished. It … [Read more...] about Op-Ed: Old Lyme Needs to Do Better on Major Projects