Top Story

Old Lyme Historical Society Hosts Plant Sale During OLVNA Flu Clinic & Wellness Fair, Saturday

October 16, 2019 by Admin Leave a Comment

The Old Lyme Historical Society will be holding its Annual Plant Sale on Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Lymes’ Senior Center, 26 Town Woods Rd., Old Lyme from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. or until inventory is sold.

This event will be held during the Old Lyme Visiting Nurse Association’s (OLVNA) Flu Clinic & Wellness Fair taking place at the Senior Center the same day.

Come by for flu shots and more, and treat yourself to a few colorful fall plants!

Beautiful, locally-grown annuals and perennials will be on sale at very competitive prices.

All proceeds benefit the Old Lyme Historical Society, Inc.

For more information, visit the Old Lyme Historical Society, Inc.’s new website at www.olhsi.org

Filed Under: Old Lyme, Top Story

Musical Masterworks Opens 29th Season in Old Lyme with Music by Mozart, Ravel & Schumann, Saturday

October 16, 2019 by Admin Leave a Comment

Filed Under: Arts, Old Lyme, Top Story

Last Day to Submit Suggested Questions for Old Lyme Board of Selectmen Debate, Deadline Midnight Tonight

October 16, 2019 by Admin Leave a Comment

Old Lyme First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder (D) who is running again for the position in November.

Former Old Lyme First Selectman and 2019 First Selectman Republican challenger, Tim Griswold.

OLD LYME — Meet the Candidates for the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. at Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School Auditorium, 53 Lyme St., Old Lyme.

First Selectman candidates Bonnie A. Reemsnyder (D, incumbent) and Timothy C. Griswold (R), and Selectmen candidates Mary Jo Nosal (D, incumbent) and Chris Kerr (R, incumbent) have been invited to offer prepared remarks and answer questions posed by Elizabeth Hamilton, Executive Editor for CT Mirror, the event moderator. Light refreshments will be served following the formal discussion.

Questions/topics for the candidates may be submitted for consideration in advance by email with subject line “Questions for Old Lyme BOS Debate” to:
editor@LymeLine.com or info@lymeoldlymechamber.com
or mailed to:
Lyme-Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce, Care of Old Lyme Wellness, 8 Davis Rd W, Old Lyme, CT 06371.

Forum questions must be received by midnight on Wednesday, Oct. 16.

The event is sponsored by LymeLine.com and the Lyme-Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce.

For further information about the event or other activities of the Chamber, contact Chamber President Rich Shriver at (203) 510-5721 or rshriver@lymeoldlymechamber.com

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Polls at Cross Lane Firehouse in Old Lyme will be open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Absentee ballots are available through the Town Clerk.

Filed Under: Old Lyme, Top Story, Town Hall

In Context of Palestine, Old Lyme Church Asks ‘Will There Really be a Morning?’ in Interfaith Program, Sunday

October 15, 2019 by Admin Leave a Comment

OLD LYME — The Tree of Life Educational Fund (TOLEF), in its longstanding mission to amplify voices of conscience in support of peace and justice, will open its 2019 Fall Speaker Series on Sunday, Oct. 20, at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme (FCCOL).

Cindy and Craig Corrie

Open to the public, with no admission charge, and interwoven with elements of the FCCOL Sunday worship services at 9 and 11 a.m., and its Adult Forum at 10 a.m., the interfaith program will feature reflections by American human rights activists and Palestinian peace advocates addressing the many challenges that confront Palestinians living under military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.

The roster of speakers, presenters, and performers will include:

Mark Braverman, a Jewish American with deep family roots in the Holy Land, who serves as executive director of Kairos USA, a movement of U.S. Christians working to end the crisis in Israel/Palestine. He will deliver the sermon at both Sunday worship services.

Mark Braverman

Palestinian youth ambassadors, university students and recent graduates, who will share their visions of a better world, one in whic

h they will enjoy the types of civil liberties enshrined in the U.S. Bill of Rights.

Cindy and Craig Corrie, founders of the Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice, dedicated to the support of grass-roots efforts in pursuit of human rights and social, economic and environmental justice. The Foundation honors the memory of their daughter Rachel, who, in 2003, was run over and killed by an Israeli military-operated bulldozer as she tried to protect a Palestinian home from demolition in Rafah, Gaza. The Corries will participate in the morning worship services and speak at the Adult Forum as well, where they will be joined by the Palestinian Youth Ambassadors.

Music during the morning services will be provided by Tamer Al-Sahouri, head of the Arabic Music department at the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music in Palestine, and his wife, singer Nadine Shomali. Their visit will be Tamar’s fifth and Nadine’s second appearance at Tree of Life programs.

N Shomali and Tal-Sahouri

At the conclusion of the morning events, program participants and attendees will be welcomed in the Fellowship Room of the FCCOL to meet and greet over refreshments, shop for Palestinian crafts and olive oil, and take in the Promised Land exhibit produced by the Jewish Museum of the Palestinian Experience.

Pausing briefly in organizing this year’s Speaker Series, the Rev. David W. Good, Minister Emeritus of the FCCOL, and Founder of the Tree of Life Educational Fund, commented, “In witnessing the harsh realities Palestinians confront every day in the occupied territories, I can’t help but recall the poignant question with which the poet Emily Dickinson opened one of her particularly haunting poems, ‘Will there really be a morning?’ ”

He continued, “Here in the U.S., we readily assume that as soon as tomorrow, there will of course be ‘a morning.’ But that easy assumption doesn’t play for those who live under military occupation in the Holy Land, believing that no one cares.

Good concluded, “At TOLEF, we do care. In programs such as this speaker series, we strive to educate others in the sincere hope that one day, Jewish, Muslim, and Christian children will play together in the Holy Land, no longer divided, no longer afraid, and no longer wondering if there will ‘really be a morning,” adding wistfully, “How I look forward to that day!”

Filed Under: Community, Old Lyme, Top Story

The Movie Man: ‘Joker’ Justifies Great Rating

October 15, 2019 by Kevin Ganey Leave a Comment

The Movie Man, Kevin Ganey

Last month I emerged from screening It: Chapter Two with great satisfaction and went on to write a review asserting that the IT movies were practically gospel for horror fans. A month has passed and in that time, I was able to see multiple variations of reviews for the film and watch the IMDb rating drop to a 7.0 out of 10, with a dip in the 6 range highly likely in the foreseeable future.

Just last night I emerged from seeing an early showing of the highly anticipated origin story for the clown prince of crime of Gotham City, and I left with the same feeling of satisfaction, particularly with the characters and their actors’ portrayals. I chatted freely with my friend about how Joaquin Phoenix could possibly win the Oscar for his performance, making this the second time in Oscars history that two separate actors have won awards for playing the same character (the first, and so far only pair has been Marlon Brando and Joker’s very own Robert de Niro for Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather and The Godfather: Part II, respectively).

Phoenix would be joining said duo with the late, great Heath Ledger, who gave one of the most phenomenal performances ever in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. We parted ways for the night, and I proceeded to look up Joker on IMDb and was impressed to see that it was already on the Top 250 list at #13, but quickly saw that it holds a 62 on Metascore.

That stopped me in my tracks and made me think: “Wait a minute …”

I then proceeded to search the Rotten Tomatoes profile and saw that it held only 69 percent approval from the critics … Certified fresh, yes, but it still kept me in my spot, puzzled. I looked over to the next column to see that it holds a 92 percent rating from audiences.

This left me thinking: “Is this one of those moments when the critics don’t get what everybody loves? Or am I missing out on something?”

I will agree that there were some moments that were predictable and cliched, but that is generally the case when one is presented with an origin story for an iconic character. In this case, it is the classical fall into villainy and madness, with several rites of passage, including the first killings, that help bring Arthur Fleck to Joker, Batman’s eventual nemesis.

But I can say with pride that the movie left me satisfied when it came to finally giving the world an origin story to the Joker, whose background, until now, has been just as mysterious as it was the day he made his debut in 1940. We have been given a gritty presentation of a vulnerable man coping with mental illness clashing against a society that has so often kicked him while he was down (literally at one point).

Robert de Niro delivers, as he always does, this time as the bully talk-show host who exploits Arthur’s desperate desires to make the world smile, but while Zazie Beetz (best known from Atlanta and Deadpool 2) gave an acceptable performance, we need to acknowledge that it is because her role could have been made bigger than what she was left presented as a brief girl-next-door love interest.

So I must admit that I am hesitant to give this film a definitive, case-closed review due to my poor judgement with IT, but I can say that I would highly recommend seeing it if you have a chance. The movie may hold up, or it may very well dwindle into a disappointment, but hey, you might as well get a look while you can.

About the Author: Though no longer a resident of Lyme, Kevin knows he can never sever his roots to the tree of his identity. When not attending to his job in the elite hospitality industry of Boston, he is committed to ensuring a better grasp of current (and past) releases of cinema to his home community as he strives to leave his own mark in the same field that has always been his guide to understanding life. If you enjoy his published reviews here on LymeLine.com, why not follow him on his new website at ‘The City of Cinema‘ and read more of his unique insights into entertainment?

Filed Under: Lyme, The Movie Man, Top Story

Death on H. William “Bill” Ryan Announced; Old Lyme Resident for Almost 30 Years

October 14, 2019 by Admin Leave a Comment

Hubert William “Bill” Ryan

OLD LYME, CT / TUCSON, ARIZ. —Hubert William (“Bill”) Ryan passed away on Saturday, September 21, 2019. He was surrounded by his family, including his wife of 67 years, Emily, and his four children, Peg, Mike, Suzanne, and Pat, at his home in Tucson, Arizona.

Bill was born in New London, Connecticut to Hubert William Ryan and Marguerite Boylan Ryan in July of 1928. Bill was predeceased by his youngest sister, Mary Carlin Hall of Mystic, Connecticut and is survived by his younger sister, Sarah Mary Ryan, of New London, Connecticut. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

Bill graduated from the Bulkeley School in New London in 1946. Proud to be a “Bulkeley Boy”, he faithfully attended many of the annual school reunions on the first Friday in August until his last one in 2016.

He enlisted in the Army in 1947 and served in Okinawa, Guam and Shanghai, China. In 1949 he joined the US Air National Guard where he served on bases in the US and overseas, including Alabama, Korea, Nevada, Germany, England, and Saudi Arabia. He remained in the military until 1984 when he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel with 38 years of service.

As a young man, he worked for the family owned Redden & Ryan Insurance Company in downtown New London for 16 years starting in 1949. Emily and Bill were married in 1952, and they raised their family in Old Lyme, Connecticut where they lived for almost 30 years. In the mid-1970s, they moved to Andrews Air Force base in Maryland and eventually retired to central Florida. There, they ran a small computer consulting business and enjoyed their world travels. After 23 years in Florida, they moved to Tucson, Arizona where they found great wine tasting friends but no tornadoes, earthquakes, or hurricanes.

In retirement, Bill and Emily traveled the world and spent many happy hours together planning each trip. They helped restore a medieval village and castle, La Sabranenque, located at Saint Victor la Coste in southern France, built a home for Habitat for Humanity on the island of Vanuatu off the east coast of Australia and helped release red foxes and black footed ferrets into the wild in Montana. They visited France, Mexico, Peru (the Amazon and Machu Pichu), Greece, Ireland, Germany, England, Belgium, Italy, Austria, Portugal, China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Thailand, Honduras, Costa Rica, Belize, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Canada, New England, California, the San Juan Islands in Washington, Copper Canyon in Mexico, the Canary Islands, the Azores and Morocco. Sometimes, a selection of children and grandchildren were invited on these unforgettable journeys.

Our husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather leaves us a legacy of living up to our word and helping people in need. His word was his bond. If he said it, he would do it. We will always keep him in our hearts, and we will strive to live up to his example.

Filed Under: Obituaries, Old Lyme, Top Story

Letter to the Editor: ‘Spurious and Specious Editorial’ on Sewers in Old Lyme Presents ‘An Inconvenient Mistruth’

October 14, 2019 by Thomas D Gotowka Leave a Comment

To the Editor:

On October 12, Gregory Stroud, editor of the CT Examiner, published “A Stray Conversation About Sewering Rogers Lake and Elsewhere in Old Lyme; which was based on a conversation” with retiring Waterford First Selectman Daniel Stewart, who is presumably leaving public life. Stewart alleged first-hand knowledge that Old Lyme First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder has openly (?) discussed installation of sewers in Old Lyme beyond the current Sound View project, He then went on to question the validity of the current Intermunicipal Agreement for transport of sewage.

I followed through with Old Lyme Town Hall and could not find any evidence supporting such allegations. So, it appears to me that, without any attempt to verify these “facts”, Stroud published a spurious and specious editorial – i.e., An Inconvenient Mistruth”, and so close to the November elections, too. If WaterGate had “Deep Throat”; what should we call this, as it relates to “WasteWaterGate”? – other than an example of partisan “yellow journalism”. In Stroud’s own words: “how can we be hearing this for the first time from Waterford?” I was compelled to follow through, why didn’t you also do so, Mr. Stroud?

The CT Examiner claims to be non-partisan. However, I feel that it is important to know that J. David Kelsey, co-founder and principal source of funding for this online newspaper, is also Chairman of Old Lyme’s Republican Town Committee.

Sincerely,

Thomas D. Gotowka,
Old Lyme.

Filed Under: Letters, Old Lyme, Top Story

“Indispensable, Advocate for All” Cathy Frank Says Fond Farewell to “Perfect Job at the Perfect Place”

October 12, 2019 by Olwen Logan 1 Comment

At Friday’s celebrations of her retirement after 22 years at Old Lyme Town Hall, Cathy Frank prepares to cut the cake made in her honor. All photos by Mary Jo Nosal except where indicated.

OLD LYME — It was a day filled with joyful memories and deep emotions as colleagues and friends — some who had traveled from far afield — gathered at Old Lyme’s Memorial Town Hall to say farewell to Cathy Frank at the conclusion of her more than 22 years service as Executive Assistant to the First Selectman/woman.

More than 60 people assembled in the Town Hall Meeting Room for a light lunch and to hear speeches celebrating the woman who has had her finger on the pulse of Town Hall for so many years.

Cathy Frank (left) stands with Old Lyme First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder. Photo by Patti Meyers.

Old Lyme First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder reminded the audience that back in 1997, when Frank first started working on a temporary basis at town hall, “Bill Clinton was President, John Rowland was Governor, Tim Griswold was First Selectman of Old Lyme … Hit movies from that year were Titanic, As Good as it Gets and Men in Black. Top songs were Candle in the Wind by Elton John, Foolish Games by Jewel, and Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down by Puff Daddy.”

Reemsnyder added, “As Cathy is a fan of the theater, she could probably tell you that The Lion King, 1776 and The Scarlet Pimpernel opened on Broadway that year.”

The cake says it all!

Raising ripples of laughter around the room, Reemsnyder then noted with a broad smile, “… and we were still using typewriters in Town Hall!”

Reemsnyder then went on to describe how, “In our world at Town Hall, Cathy subtly started working her way into our hearts. Beginning as a part time employee, she was as willing then, as she is now, to help anyone. Over the years, she befriended each of us, including those who are no longer here with us, Treasurer Bea Maclean, Registrar Pat McCarthy, and Town Clerk Irene Carnell. Many of us recall Cathy sitting with Bea poring over the financials and assisting in recording the information when Bea’s eyesight was a challenge.”

First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder reads from the long list of Cathy Frank’s accomplishments!

Over the years, Reemsnyder explained, Frank’s hours and duties increased, and she became, “The go-to person for so many things.” Reading from a list that unfurled to reach the floor, Reemsnyder went through some of the projects on which Frank had worked over the years including, “[being a member of] the original IT committee to bring everyone into the computer age … designing a training program that would really work … designing (along with her colleague and close friend Michele Hayes) the Selectman’s office renovations to best provide for the needs of a busy office, resulting in an efficient, functional and beautiful office space … and creating some of the most entertaining and touching tributes and proclamations to others through her renowned writing skills.”

Many Town Hall employees joined the celebrations including Town Clerk Vicki Urbowicz (center.)

Reemsnyder commented that Frank’s, “Writing skills also came in handy for newsletters, press releases and announcements, earning her another duty as Public Information Officer for Emergency Management.”

According to Reemsnyder, “Cathy embraced new technology, but empathized with others on their fear of computers, thus many staff members would go to her with their questions, and she would patiently assist them,” adding, “Cathy has willingly been trained on many topics, including FOI regulations, RFP/RFQ training, Cyber Security, Social Media in Government, and she even wrote a Guidebook for members of Boards, Commissions and Committees – keeping many of us out of trouble!”

Cathy Frank (left) shares a smile with her current boss, Old Lyme First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder.

The well-known and ever-popular candy jar on Frank’s desk even drew a mention when Reemsnyder noted, “It is a source of stress relief for all of us in Town Hall – and while you are there, you can have a seat and unload your troubles.” Moreover, Frank has advocated tirelessly for students, organizations, special needs, and every member of town hall Reemsnyder explained, “… with her favorite words being “You can do it,” “You will be alright,” and “Everything will be fine.”

All smiles! Former Old Lyme First Selectman Tim Griswold (R) and current First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder (D) stand happily together to celebrate Cathy Frank’s retirement despite the fact Griswold is challenging Reemsnyder to regain his former position in the upcoming Nov. 5 election.

Former Old Lyme First Selectman Tim Griswold, for whom Frank worked during her first 14 years in town hall spoke next and recalled with clear affection that during his tenure, Frank was his “Radar O’Reilley,” alluding, as he explained, to the TV series MASH in which, “the Colonel’s quartermaster anticipated events for the Colonel and kept him on the right path.”

He also noted to smiles that, “her desk was always a mess — just like mine,” but he felt, however, that they were “Kindred spirits” because, ” Not withstanding, we both could find things!”

Griswold also recalled as further evidence of her caring personality, “Cathy liked cats, including the town hall cats, and even helped care for them from time to time.” He concluded by wishing her, “All success in the next chapter of her life.”

Cathy Frank (center) stands with long-time colleague Michele Hayes (left) and Old Lyme First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder.

Hayes, who has worked closely with Frank throughout Frank’s time in town hall, told LymeLine that she is going to miss her dear friend endlessly. She said, “We’ve been through so much together, our kids went to Lad & Lassie [pre-school] together, she [Frank] was my daughter’s Girl Scout leader, we’ve slept in tents, on museum floors, you name it … together. When you have a problem, she just takes care of things — she’ll help anyone, she’s such a smart person.”

Hayes chuckled when she said that there was actually one good thing coming out of Frank’s retirement, which was that they would be able to have lunch together now — something they haven’t been able to do for 22 years since they have always had to cover the front desk at town hall for each other during their respective lunch-breaks!

Various members of Frank’s family were in attendance at her retirement event including her husband, Kurt Zemba, and also one of her sons, Chris, who is pictured here with his girlfriend, chatting with First Selectwoman Reemsnyder.

Reemsnyder summed up the universal feeling in the room when she said, ” The essence of Cathy Frank has never changed over the last 22 years. She is still the highly intelligent, respected, patient, kind, funny and supportive person that joined the Town Hall crew in 1997.” The change Reemsnyder did see was that Frank had “defied the saying that “No one is Indispensable” because we are all convinced that you are!”

Cathy Frank says her thank you’s and farewells. Photo by Michele Hayes.

Frank was presented with gifts, cards and a citation from the State of Connecticut declaring Oct. 11, as “Cathy Frank Day.”

By now a clearly emotional Frank started to speak but almost immediately had to request a tissue. She began again saying, “Thank you all for so much kindness over the years that I could not begin to describe. I will miss you all so much. The best thing about this job has been meeting all of you, working with all of you, doing things with all of you. It really has been a perfect job.”

She went on to explain that she thought her first job out of college at a book publisher’s — since she an English major — had been the perfect job and it “broke my heart when I had to leave.” Then she became a town reporter and concluded that was the perfect job, and again it had broken her heart when she left, but finally she had come to Old Lyme Town Hall and now, without question, found the absolute perfect job.

Frank commented to much laughter that it was “totally unexpected” because she, “… was just filling in until they hired someone,” but said it was now definitely, “the hardest to leave because it had been the longest.”

With her voice breaking and full of heartfelt emotion, she concluded, “This has been a perfect job in a perfect place … and I thank you all so much.”

Editor’s Note: We would like to take the opportunity to echo much of what was said today about Cathy and add our own good wishes to her on her retirement. She has been one of the strongest advocates and supporters of LymeLine.com over the past 16 years and we thank her most sincerely for that.

On a personal note, I must thank Cathy for her unfailing support during so many projects and ventures (and adventures!) in which we found ourselves working together under the various umbrellas of the Lyme-Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce, Lyme-Old Lyme Schools, the Old Lyme Midsummer Festival, and Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts, to name but a few. As others have said, she was always there, always pitching in, always encouraging and just a wonderful friend and confidante to have at all times. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Cathy, and enjoy your retirement … you deserve it!

Filed Under: Old Lyme, Top Story, Town Hall

See Salt Marsh Opera’s ‘Pagliacci’ in Westerly, RI, Saturday and Sunday

October 11, 2019 by Admin Leave a Comment

OLD SAYBROOK — Salt Marsh Opera presents Ruggero Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci Saturday, Oct 19, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 20, at 3 p.m. at the George Kent Performance Hall, Westerly, R.I. starting at 7 p.m.

Based on a case of true crime, Pagliacci tells the riveting tale of a man swallowed by feelings of love, betrayal and jealousy. Set in the late 19th century, actor Canio and his wife Nedda lead a band of traveling carnival players across Southern Italy. Canio may play a clown on stage, but when he discovers evidence of his wife’s affair, it’s only a matter of time before his ferocious anger boils to the surface.

Pagliacci features one of the greatest tenor arias of all time, “Vesti la giubba,” so although you may not know the opera, you’ll definitely recognize that song!

A few tickets are still available at $20 (balcony) or $50 (table seating.) To purchase or reserve tickets, call 860.535.0753.

Filed Under: Arts, Old Saybrook, Top Story

Lyme-Old Lyme, Eastern Chambers Host ‘State of the Shoreline: Old Lyme, East Lyme, Waterford,’ Oct. 18

October 11, 2019 by Admin Leave a Comment

Speakers at Friday’s ‘State of the Shoreline’ are (from left to right) Dan Steward, Waterford First Selectman, Bonnie Reemsnyder, Old Lyme First Selectwoman, and Mark Nickerson, East Lyme First Selectman. Also pictured at right is Tony Sheridan, Eastern CT Chamber President.

OLD LYME/EAST LYME — The Lyme-Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut host “State of the Shoreline: Old Lyme, East Lyme, Waterford,” Friday, Oct. 18, from 7:45 to 9:15 a.m. at Flanders Fish Market & Restaurant, 22 Chesterfield Road, East Lyme.

The evet will comprise a regional “state of” address by town leaders with a discussion of the successes and challenges of the past year as well as current issues that affect the business community.

The speakers are:

Mark Nickerson, East Lyme First Selectman
Bonnie Reemsnyder, Old Lyme First Selectwoman
Dan Steward, Waterford First Selectman

Entry for Chamber members is $12 and $20 for non-members. All admissions includes coffee and continental breakfast by Flanders Fish Market and Restaurant.

This event is supported by Charter Oak Federal Credit Union.

Filed Under: Business, Lyme, Old Lyme, Top Story, Town Hall

Save The Date, Submit Your Questions for ‘Meet The Candidates for D18 Board of Education,’ Oct. 29

October 9, 2019 by Admin Leave a Comment

Attorney John A. Collins III will be the Event Moderator at the ‘Meet The Candidates for Board of Education Night’ slated for Oct. 29.

LYME-OLD LYME — Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau (LYSB) and the Lyme-Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce are hosting a ‘Meet the Candidates for Board of Education’ event on Tuesday, Oct. 29, starting at 7 p.m. at Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School. The six candidates running for the Region 18 Board of Education will answer questions posed by Event Moderator, Attorney John A. Collins III of Suisman Shapiro.

The six candidates running for the three open Old Lyme seats on the board of education are:

Democrats: Sarah Bowman, Lorianne Panzara Griswold, and Jason Kemp

Republicans: Jennifer Miller, Suzanne Thompson, and Steve Wilson

Incumbent Mary Powell St. Louis (R) is running uncontested for the open Lyme seat.

Readers are invited to submit questions for possible inclusion in the debate by one of these options:

emailing them to Editor@LymeLine.com with the subject line, “Questions for the BOE Debate“
mailing them (snail-mail) to: Questions for the BOE Debate, PO Box 589, Old Lyme, CT 06371.

All questions will be treated anonymously in terms of the name of the sender and also maintained confidential, i.e., they will not be shared with the candidates in advance.

The event planning committee will be solely responsible for selecting the questions asked at the event. There will not be any questions taken from the floor.

Light refreshments will be served after the event when there will be an opportunity to mingle informally with the candidates.

LymeLine.com is proud to sponsor this event.

For further information, contact Mary Seidner at mseidner@lysb.org or 869-434-7208.

Filed Under: Lyme, Old Lyme, Schools, Top Story

The Movie Man: No Decisions to Make: You Have To See ‘IT: Chapter Two’ AND Follow Kevin’s New Website!

October 8, 2019 by Kevin Ganey Leave a Comment

Kevin Ganey

Amazing.

Just amazing.

That is the simplest description I can give for IT: Chapter Two. Although I had never read the whopping 1,000+ page novel, I could tell throughout the screening that this adaptation was just what Stephen King, Pennywise, and the Losers deserved.

IT: Chapter Two follows up on the events of Chapter One, set 27 years further. We come back on the group of outcast pre-teens, who have aptly labeled themselves “the Losers,” who return to their hometown of Derry, Maine upon learning that the mysterious entity that they refer to as “IT” has returned, commonly portraying itself as Pennywise the Dancing Clown, in one last attempt to defeat It for good.

The film is incredibly layered, so my review will not cover much of the events and the portrayals. But I can say that this was done incredibly well. Throughout the movie, I had a clear understanding of whom the characters were through and through.

That is one of King’s talents: he creates phenomenal characters. Every actor gave a stellar performance, and our attention will always be drawn towards Bill Hader as comic relief Richie (who has conveniently grown up to become a comedian.) But make no mistake: Hader nails it with the fear and desperation aspects. Not only that, the movie contains fantastic scares (if you are into such things) that had me saying to myself in a shaken and impressed manner: “Damn!”

I have seen the 1990 miniseries with Tim Curry as Pennywise, so I knew what to expect as the movie progressed, but I feel I would have enjoyed it even more had I read King’s novel. I worry about attempting to read It now, as I believe I will not be able to shake the actors from my mind as I delve into the original story.

This is a must see if you love a good movie of any genre. It is an even further necessity if you are a horror fan, almost as if it were canonical in a Horror Bible. Even if you shy away from scary movies, I definitely encourage you to find the bravery to sit through the entire two hours and 49 minutes.

Filed Under: Lyme, The Movie Man, Top Story

Both Wildcat Soccer Teams Continue Their Winning Ways Under Gleason Duo

October 8, 2019 by Admin Leave a Comment

In this file photo, Lyme-Old Lyme (LOL) High School Girls’ Varsity Soccer Coach Paul Gleason shares a smile with his daughter Allyson Gleason, who is now the coach of the LOL High School Boys’ Varsity Soccer team.

OLD LYME — The father-daughter duo of Paul and Ally Gleason are both enjoying successful seasons as coaches respectively of the girls’ and boys’ Old Lyme soccer teams. This is a scenario with which dad, Paul, has become familiar over the previous four years, which included an equal number of state titles, but was not necessarily expected with daughter Ally in her rookie year as coach of the Wildcat boys.

Maybe it shouldn’t have been anticipated for Paul this year either since his team had benefited from an exceptional cluster of talent in the form of the seniors, including the legendary Mya Johnson, who graduated last year.

But at this almost mid-point of the season, both teams have remarkable records showing only one loss each and six victories in the case of the girls and five for the boys.

So at this time, we say simply, keep going, Wildcats!

Yesterday the girls defeated Montville 2-0 away at Montville High School.

Kaylee Armenia scored both goals unassisted. Sam Gray was in goal for the Wildcats and made three saves, while Olivia Beaupre was in goal for Montville with four saves

The girls are now 6-1-1 overall and 4-1-1 in the Shoreline Conference.

The Old Lyme boys, also playing away, defeated Westbrook 4-2.

Avery Welch had a hat-trick with two assists from Micheal Milazzo and one from Angus Tresnan. Michael Milazzo scored the additional goal for Old Lyme with an assist from Jesper Selberberg.

Noslin Antunez scored both goals for Westbrook with one assisted by Sidney Levine.

Ryan Tetreault was in goal for Old Lyme with nine saves, while Zach Boardman defended in goal for Westbrook making a total of eight saves.

The boys are now 5-1-2 overall and 3-1-2 in the Shoreline Conference.

Filed Under: Lyme, Old Lyme, Sport, Top Story

Explore, Enjoy ‘Supertopia’ Wee Faerie Village at FloGris in October, Host of Associated Events During Month Will Also Delight Visitors

October 7, 2019 by Admin Leave a Comment

‘Faerie Thor’s Viking Realm’ by Lori and Rich Lenz from Deep River is one of the 29 Faerie Houses on display in ‘Supertopia’ at the Florence Griswold museum during October.

OLD LYME – The Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme presents Supertopia– Wee Faerie Superheroes’ Headquarters and Hideaways on the grounds of museum’s 12-acre campus currently through Oct. 27. Visitors follow a map of Supertopia to explore where superhero faeries live (when they’re not saving the universe) in 29 hand-crafted, faerie-sized hideouts. This annual event has come to signify an enriching, not-to-be-missed outing for visitors of all ages. Last year over 15,000 visitors enjoyed the month-long event.

This year’s Wee Faerie Village is the 11th anniversary of the Museum’s annual outdoor creative installations. In keeping with the superhero theme, visitors will travel to Silver Surfer Faerie’s Surfboard Beach Bungalow, Blank Panther Faerie’s Futuristic Utopia, the Woodland Hideaway of Black Widow Faerie, and even Notorious RBG’s Supreme Faerie Court, among a host of others.

Artists, designers, and faerie-aficionados are selected from across Connecticut and a few from outside the state. Challenged to create their scenes using natural materials, most artists work for months on their creations. The artists based in Connecticut are from Amston, Branford, Broad Brook, Chester, Cromwell, Danbury, Deep River, Essex, Hamden, Hebron, Ivoryton, Killingworth, Mystic, Niantic, Old Lyme, Salem, Stratford, Voluntown, Waterford, West Hartford, and the Windsor area.

‘Captain America’s Lighthouse’ by Steve Rodgers of Hamden will delight all visitors to ‘Supertopia’ at the Florence Griswold Museum.

“It took me a few weeks to figure out how to intertwine my love of building natural material fairy houses with a superhero theme,” notes Steve Rodgers (yes, that’s right, like Captain America but spelled differently) of Hamden, Conn. “I gather most materials that I use while hiking with family and friends. I hope all who see it will be transported into the wonderful, magical world of the fairy realm.”

As part of its Wee Faerie Village exhibition, adults and families with children can enjoy a month of faerie-themed activities. Events include, parties, performances, book discussions, and craft activities. Many events are included in Museum admission.

Find details of many of the events below. Visit www.FlorenceGriswoldMuseum.org for a complete list.

Every Sunday through Oct. 27
11 am to 4 pm
Free with Museum admission
Superhero Crafts
Museum Educators present a superhero or faerie-inspired hands-on project for families to enjoy during their visit. A different project each Sunday.

Tuesdays, Oct. 8, 15, and 22
3:30-5 pm
$10 Fee
Make a Wee Faerie House
Dress in your faerie best for an afternoon immersed in imagination. Decorate your very own wee faerie house with an assortment of creative supplies. For makers aged 8 and up.

Sunday, Oct. 13
1 to 3 pm
Free with Museum admission
Caped A Cappella Super Singers
Singing is their super power. Enjoy the captivating voices of the caped Co Co Beaux, Connecticut College’s all-male a cappella group. These talented superhero singers will wander the grounds, serenading all with their super-power voices.

Monday, Oct. 15
Museum open 10 am to 5 pm, activities from 11 am to 4 pm
All events are free with Museum admission and kids 12 and under are always free.
Columbus Day Fun
Behold the sculpture of mighty Thor, frozen in place until “danced” alive by wee faeries and little superheroes. L’Ana Burton leads faerie/superhero dance lessons at 11:30am. Then, join our fun parade featuring the Sailing Masters of 1812 at noon. Cosplay enthusiast encourage to join in the fun. All are welcome to wear masks, capes, tiaras, and wing. Hands-on crafts.

Thursday, Oct. 17
5:30 to 7:30 pm
Fee: $25
Art•Bar Happy Hour: Wee Faerie Houses
The Museum’s Art•Bar combines creativity with light fare and libations. Join the Museum’s educator for a fun and creative night of making a wee faerie house filled with faerie furniture. All materials included.

Saturday, Oct. 19
11 am to 4 pm
Free with Museum admission
Pirates! The Supervillians of Yesteryear
Ahoy Mateys! The pirates have come ashore and set up camp at the Museum. Come meet the Free Men of the Sea, re-enactors who bring the myths and history of pirates and privateers to life. Pirate crafts.

Saturday, Oct.26
11 am to 4 pm
Free with Museum admission
Heroic Halloween Fun
Halloween fun lasts all day with treats and hands-on crafts. Dress up as goblins, faeries, or superheroes to march in our costume parade which begins at noon. Craft-bag prizes for all participants.

The Florence Griswold Museum is located at 96 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, exit 70 off I-95. The Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 5pm. The Museum will open on Columbus Day, Monday, October 14 from 10am to 5pm. Admission during the exhibition is $15 for adults, $14 for seniors, $13 for students, $5 for members. Children 12 and under are free thanks to the support of an anonymous donor. Admission includes the outdoor walking tour of the faerie village as well as the Florence Griswold House, Chadwick Studio, Rafal Landscape Center and the Krieble Gallery special exhibition.

Filed Under: Arts, Old Lyme, Top Story

Talking Transportation: Commuting Can Make You Sick

October 7, 2019 by Admin Leave a Comment

Jim Cameron

It shouldn’t come as much surprise to learn that commuting, especially by car, is hazardous to your health.

Research now shows that the longer your drive, the greater the risk of obesity, heart attacks and even low birth-weight babies for moms-to-be. At fault are a number of factors:

STRESS:
Being stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic increases your cortisol and adrenaline levels, increasing your risk of a heart attack during your drive and for an hour after. Getting angry when someone cuts you off only makes things worse. Increased blood pressure also leads to lack of sleep, leaving you tired even as you leave the house each morning.

OBESITY:
The longer your commute, by car or mass transit, the more sedentary your life and the less exercise you get. Couple that commute with fast food (and its sugar, salt and fat) and you’re at even greater risk.

BACK & NECK PAIN:
A 2010 Gallup poll shows that a third of all people who commute more than 90 minutes a day complain of pain due to poor posture and uncomfortable seating.

POLLUTION:
The longer you’re stuck in traffic the more bad air you breathe. A 2007 study of Los Angeles residents showed that half of their exposure to harmful air happened during their drive time.

LOW BIRTH-WEIGHT:
Researchers at Lehigh University, studied New Jersey birth records. They found that for pregnant women commuting 50 miles each day, there was a 1 percent increase in the chance of having a low birth-weight baby for every 10 miles they traveled. Not only was “chronic maternal stress” a factor, but so too were missed doctor visits due to lack of free time.

The average commute time for Connecticut residents is 26 minutes each way, and climbing. For Fairfield County residents going to jobs in New York City, it’s more than an hour. And as traffic worsens and trains run slower, those commute times are climbing.

For those who bike or walk to work, the risks are lessened, but not eliminated. The physical exertion is better for your heart, but bikers and pedestrians are still prone to collisions and accidents en route.

Just 20 years ago up to 70 percent of kids walked to school. Now it’s only about 20 percent as the others take the school bus or are driven by Mom. We’re turning our kids into local commuters at a very young age.

What can you do if you must commute long distances? Plenty:

Try not to get stressed out while driving. Leave a bit earlier than usual so you’re not grinding your teeth fearing you’ll be late. Listen to books on tape, podcasts or something fun … not the news, which will only contribute to anxiety. Try varying your route. A change of scenery will keep you engaged.

On mass transit, don’t isolate yourself. Socialize by talking to your fellow commuters (but not in The Quiet Car!)

In your automobile, keep the windows up and the air recirculating to avoid auto exhausts. Make up for the sedentary (though stressful) drive by taking a walk at lunch.

Acknowledge the lack of control in your commute when traffic or train delays happen. Just know that you’re doing the best you can with the things you can control … that you’re going to get there eventually and most of all that you’re trying to get their safely.

Posted with permission of Hearst CT Media

About the author: Jim Cameron is founder of The Commuter Action Group, and a member of the Darien RTM. The opinions expressed in this column are only his own. You can reach him at CommuterActionGroup@gmail.com For a full collection of “Talking Transportation” columns, visit www.talkingtransportation.blogspot.com

Filed Under: Old Lyme, Talking Transportation, Top Story

Another Update on EEE From Old Lyme First Selectwoman Reemsnyder

October 6, 2019 by Admin Leave a Comment

This update was posted by the Old Lyme First Selectwoman’s office on Oct. 3 at 6 p.m.

As was announced on Friday by Ledge Light Health District, the Dept. of Agriculture trapped mosquitoes in Lyme and Old Lyme which ultimately tested positive for the Triple E virus. Many of the mosquitoes were the bird-biting mosquitoes, but some were mammalian-biting mosquitoes – thus the risk to humans.

This week, on a conference call with the Dept. of Public Health (DPH), the Dept. of Agriculture, local officials, and state legislators, the experts who are dealing with this crisis provided some additional information on the timeline of the cases that have been confirmed, which now numbers four in the State of CT, three of which have been fatal.

Each of these cases are believed to be from mosquito bites in early September or late August, as the onset of the symptoms takes up to 10 days, and the delay in confirmation adds to that time.

The DPH still believes that ground spraying is not effective considering the time of year, as the population of mosquitos is declining due to the cool nights.

With that said, some of the state legislators on the call requested that DPH work with the Governor’s office to identify resources for spraying, should it become necessary, as not all towns have resources to provide spraying. There was discussion about the need for spraying next year, in case there are more positive results on mosquitos at that time.

Considering the recommendation, the Town of Old Lyme will not be doing any spraying, but will stay informed on this issue.

As recommended by Ledge Light Health District, here are best practices for avoiding mosquito bites:

Be sure door and window screens are tight fitting and in good repair.
While outdoors, wear shoes, socks, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts. Clothing material should be tightly woven.
Use mosquito netting if sleeping outdoors.
Consider using mosquito repellent when it is necessary to be outdoors and always use them according to label instructions. The most effective repellents contain DEET or Picaridin. Oil of lemon eucalyptus is also effective for brief periods of exposure.
When using DEET, use the lowest concentration effective for the time spent outdoors (for example, 6% lasts approximately 2 hours and 20% for 4 hours) and wash treated skin when returning indoors. Do not apply under clothing, to wounds or irritated skin, the hands of children, or to infants less than 2 months.

Measures to reduce mosquitoes around the home include:

Dispose of water-holding containers, such as ceramic pots, used tires, and tire swings, clogged gutters.
Drill holes in the bottom of containers such as those used for recycling.
Change water in bird baths on a weekly basis.
Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, and cover pools when not in use.
Use landscaping to eliminate areas where water can collect on your property.

Additional resources for information on EEE and mosquito management can be found at [ http://www.ct.gov/mosquito/site/default.asp ]http://www.ct.gov/mosquito…

Filed Under: Old Lyme, Top Story, Town Hall

Soccer Boys Win, Girls Draw Against Valley

October 6, 2019 by Admin Leave a Comment

OLD LYME —Ally Gleason’s Old Lyme boys pulled off a great win against Valley Regional Friday claiming a 2-1 victory at Lyme-Old Lyme High School.

Jake Burdick claimed the lone goal for Valley unassisted in the first half.

Then in the second half, Wildcat Richard Damiano tied up the game with an assist from Jesper Silberberg, followed by Avery Welch scoring the winning goal off a corner kick with an assist from Jesper Silberberg.

In goal for Old Lyme was Ryan Tetreault with six saves and Jonah Lathrop, who did not make any saves.

In net for Valley was Ian Silva with five saves.

The Old Lyme buys are now 4-1-2 overall and 2-1-1 in the Shoreline Conference.

Paul Gleason’s Old Lyme girls tied Valley Regional 2-2 Friday at Valley Regional High School.

Sam Calaman scored first for Valley with an assist from Maddie Costello. Costello went on to score the second goal for Valley with an assist from Ava Duval

Abby Manthous and Hannah Britt scored for Old Lyme with both goals assisted by Ali Kyle.

In goal for the Wildcats was Sam Gray who had six saves while Lexi Della Rocco made five saves for Valley.

Filed Under: Lyme, Old Lyme, Sport, Top Story

Old Lyme’s Bourque Brings Home Top Brewing Honors in Hartford Beer Festival

October 1, 2019 by Admin Leave a Comment

Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society Executive Director Jennifer Matos stands with cask champion and Old Lyme resident Shane Bourque of Stony Creek Brewery at the fifth annual Noah Webster Real Ale Harvest Fest. held Sept. 7. Photo credit: Ben Scott. (Courtesy photo submitted)

Shane Bourque is seen here selecting the plants and herbs, which would go on to become key ingredients in his award-winning brew. Photo by C. Bourque.

OLD LYME — Each year, the Noah Webster Real Ale Festival is held at the Noah Webster House in West Hartford, and entrants are supposed to make each signature ale in a cask using only a base ale and whatever ingredients can be found in the garden of the home. In other words, they can only use ingredients that would have been available in the 1800s.

Breweries from across Connecticut come to show off their home brewed creations, and this year’s festival winner was presented to a watermelon sour craft beer brewed by Old Lyme resident Shane Bourque.

Bourque has been a resident of Old Lyme for 27 years. He went to school at Central Connecticut State University, where he studied criminology and history, and has been in the beer industry for about four or five years.

Starting out as a beer manager at …

Read the full article titled, Old Lyme resident brews success at ale festival at the link given. The article was written by Paul Garrett and published Sept. 30, on TheDay.com.

Editor’s Note: Shane Bourque is the son of David and Carey Bourque of Old Lyme.

Filed Under: News, Old Lyme, Top Story

I See Great Things in Baseball – Part 2

September 29, 2019 by Thomas D Gotowka Leave a Comment

Photo by Jose Morales on Unsplash

Editor’s Note: We are delighted to continue publication of a three-part essay on the literature of baseball written by Old Lyme resident Tom Gotowka. This is the second part, find the first one at this link, and look for the third in the coming weeks.

As I noted in my first essay, baseball fans have been blessed with a remarkably rich – and often thoughtful – literature describing the sport. In this second essay, I’ll review several baseball novels and biographies that provided me with a better understanding of the sport.

This is not an exhaustive study of the genre. Rather, they’re the written works that were meaningful to me and helped me endure the winter months.

“The Glory of Their Times: The Story of the Early Days of Baseball Told by the Men Who Played It”, by Lawrence Ritter, is a collection of player memories told by the players themselves. This oral history is a positive account of what was then a very different style of play. It is suitable for little leaguers.

In” The Boys of Summer”, Roger Kahn, a Brooklyn native, and journalist for the New York HeraldTribune, follows the careers of players on the Brooklyn Dodgers team that won the 1955 World Series, beating the New York Yankees. It was the Dodgers’ first and only World Series championship won while located at Ebbetts Field in Brooklyn. That team is often cited as one of the most exciting Major League ball clubs ever fielded; it is the team that broke the color barrier with Jackie Robinson.

Kahn tracks the lives of the key players on that team, including Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese, Carl Furillo, Gil Hodges, Roy Campanella, and Duke Snider (and others) when their glory days were behind them. Kahn writes with sincerity and really demonstrates exactly what it means to be a passionate fan.

In “Don’t Look Back: Satchel Paige in the Shadows of Baseball”, Mark Ribowsky chronicles the life and times of Satchel Paige, the first Negro League star to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Ribowsky covers both Paige, the player, and the environment in which he played.

He describes life for such gifted players before the major league color barrier was broken. Paige, who was a contemporary of both Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb, pitched in the “parallel” Negro Leagues for over 20 years before he joined the Cleveland Indians at age 42 for their 1948 pennant-winning season (where he went a very respectable six wins and one loss). He had played to huge crowds in Pittsburgh, and Newark in the Negro Leagues and pitched about – so it is thought – 1,000 games. Paige, like the later Yogi Berra, was known for his colorful remarks and expressions.

In “Ball Four”, Jim Bouton describes the then hidden side of Major League Baseball: the rampant drug use among players and the routine use of amphetamines. He reveals the pervasive drinking and drunken behavior of some players, including Mickey Mantle. Highly controversial at the time of publication, the book is largely now considered an important and true perspective of the game as observed during Bouton’s own playing days in the 1960s and early 1970s. Bouton’s book was written before the steroids’ disaster and the advent of asterisks in player record books.

In “Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game”, Michael Lewis describes the then unusual analytic method used by the Oakland Athletics in assembling a competitive, but low cost (i.e., by Major League standards) team. Lewis focuses on the Athletics’ General Manager’s “analytical, evidence-based, “sabermetric” approach to player selection. Note that, like “gonfalon bubble” first used by Franklin Pierce Adams, Lewis was also able to introduce new jargon to the game.

Canadian author, W. P. Kinsella, wrote several baseball novels and short stories. I read two of his novels after seeing the movie, “Field of Dreams”, which was adapted from his novel “Shoeless Joe”.

In “Shoeless Joe”, an Iowa corn farmer (Ray) hears a voice in his cornfield saying “If you build it, he will come”. So, Ray then proceeds to start a multi-year project to build a baseball park in his front yard. However, important peripheral tasks appear with each phase of the completed construction.

I’m not going to do a play-by- play on this work, but one of the tasks leads Ray to meet J.D. Salinger, the author of “Catcher in the Rye”, who then joined him for a baseball game at Fenway Park. The eight baseball players, who were banned from playing in the Majors for their role in the Black Sox Scandal, also make appearances on Ray’s field. Kinsella mixes fantasy, and mysticism with historical facts to demonstrate the importance of baseball in America’s collective memory.

In the second novel, “The Iowa Baseball Confederacy”, Kinsella tells the tale of Gideon Clarke, whose goal is to prove to the world — as his father tried to do before him — that the world-champion Chicago Cubs traveled to Onamata, Iowa in the summer of 1908 for an exhibition game against all-stars from the Iowa Baseball Confederacy, an amateur league. The game turned into an epic battle of over 2,000 innings, played mostly in the pouring rain.

This game is not in the record books; and nobody remembers it or the Confederacy. However; Gideon Clarke “knows” it happened, and he is determined to set the record straight. His life is dominated by his desire to prove the existence of the Iowa Baseball Confederacy, and to show the world that a team from this league played against the Chicago Cubs in 1908.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a shred of evidence that the Confederacy ever existed. Like “Shoeless Joe” above, baseball is at the heart of Kinsella’s novel, and he again uses myth and mysticism to show his love of the game.

Mike Lupica is a sports journalist and former newspaper columnist for the New York Daily News. He is known for his provocative commentary. A prolific sports novelist, he frequently targets young adult readers. He handles the issues of immigration and refugees seeking a better life in two recent novels.

“Heat”, covers the life of 12-year-old Miguel (Michael) Arroyo, and his 17 year- old brother, Carlos; who live in the South Bronx near Yankee stadium. The young Cuban immigrants love baseball. Again, I’m not going to do a play-by-play on this story, but Michael is, at 12-years-old, an outstanding Little League pitcher. His fast ball has been “clocked” at eight miles per hour, and opposing coaches say that ‘he is too good to be just 12-years-old’. The brothers begin to worry when adults start asking to speak to their father about a birth certificate.

It’s not Michael’s age that’s the problem. Rather, they can’t let authorities know that their father had died of a heart attack several months earlier, leaving them orphans. They fear that foster care will separate them unless they can keep their secret until the birth certificate issue comes to some sort of resolution. With the help of an elderly neighbor, Mrs. Cora, and Carlos’ two jobs, they’ve convinced everybody that Papi is in Florida caring for his sick brother.

This story is reminiscent of the Danny Almonte age-fraud scandal in which a 14-year-old star pitcher for a Bronx Little League team passed himself off as a 12-year-old in order to be eligible to play in the 2001 Little League World Series.

Danny was born in the Dominican Republic, but achieved some notoriety on the basis of his Little League World Series performance. He pitched a no-hitter in the Mid-Atlantic Regional finals, the game that took his team to the World Series; and although his team did not go on to win the Series, he became known nationally. Several teams had actually hired private investigators to look into the ages of the entire team.

“Strike Zone” is Lupica’s recently published follow-up to “Heat” and again covers the lives of a young baseball prodigy and his immigrant family living in America. Twelve-year-old star Little League pitcher Nick Garcia has some dreams. He dreams he’ll win this season’s MVP and the chance to throw out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium. He dreams they’ll find a cure for Lupus so his sister won’t have to suffer. But mostly, he dreams that one day his family can stop living in fear of the government.

The story progresses until Nick notices a mysterious man lurking on his street corner, and senses a threat …

Clearly, Lupica is reflecting on a period when most Americans still supported the notion : “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free.”

This wraps up my own list of key baseball literature. A third essay will discuss baseball at the movies.

Filed Under: Old Lyme, Sport, Top Story

State Rep. Devin Carney Offers More Information on Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and How to Protect Yourself

September 26, 2019 by Admin Leave a Comment

We received an updated version of the following email from State Representative Devin Carney (R-23rd) at 6:53 p.m. this afternoon, and believe it is important to share it with our readers as soon as possible.

Precautions for dealing with Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)

As many of you know, two people from Southeastern CT (East Lyme & Old Lyme) have recently passed away after being diagnosed with Eastern Equine Encephalitis (“EEE”) caused by a mosquito bite from an infected mosquito. Our hearts go out to the families affected.

Due to the recent EEE cases, state and local officials are urging folks to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and their families. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station is also adding additional monitoring sites in Lyme/Old Lyme and East Lyme in light of the recent tragedies.

During a call with Stephen Mansfield of Ledge Light Health District, I was told that infected mosquitoes were found near Blood St/Avenue B in Lyme and Old Lyme. So be extra cautious in those areas. However, this is an issue is endemic to Southeastern CT, so it is important to take precautions everywhere.

Here are some responses to frequently asked questions from the State of CT Mosquito Management Program:

What is Eastern Equine Encephalitis?

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) is a rare but serious disease caused by the EEE virus.

How is Eastern Equine Encephalitis spread?

EEE is spread through contact with adult mosquitos. The virus is generally carried by an exclusive bird-biting mosquito that live in freshwater swamps called Culiseta melanura. The highest risk of getting EEE is from late July through September. It has been found in 9 others mosquito species in CT, 6 of which are known to bite.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms usually occur from 3 to 10 days. Most people who have been infected with the EEE virus do not become ill. Symptoms can range from mild fever and headache to coma. Other symptoms include high fever, fatigue, muscle aches, neck stiffness, tremors, or confusion. More severe cases can lead to death.

Is there a vaccine or/any treatment?

No. There is no cure for EEE, and 3 of every 10 people who get the disease die from it. Doctors provide supportive treatment, lower the fever, and ease the pressure on the brain and spinal cord. Some people who survive this disease will be permanently disabled and only about half recover completely. There isn’t currently any vaccine because the EEE virus occurs so infrequently in people.

How is EEE spread?

Mosquitoes spread the EEE virus. The virus is carried by birds that live in freshwater swamps and is generally found only in these birds and in mosquitoes that feed on birds but not people. In some years, however, many birds get infected and other types of mosquitoes pick up the virus that also bite people and horses. The risk of getting EEE is highest from late July through September. The virus is spread by adult mosquitoes, which are killed by frost in the fall. The EEE virus is not spread by people and horses with the disease.

Can any mosquito spread EEE to people?

No. In Connecticut, there are 52 different mosquito species. Since 1996, EEE virus has been isolated from mosquitoes in Connecticut every year except 1999, usually during September and early October. The virus is generally maintained by an exclusive bird-biting mosquito called Culiseta melanura, but has been found in 9 other mosquito species in Connecticut, 6 of which are known to bite people.

What can I do to protect myself or my family?

According to the CDC, you should do the following:

Minimize time spent outdoors around dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
Use insect repellent with one of the active ingredients below
- DEET Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and icaridin outside the US)
- IR3535
- Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)
- Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
- 2-undecanone

** Do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD) on children under 3 years old**

**Do not apply insect repellent to a child’s hands, eyes, mouth, cuts, or irritated skin**

Adults: Spray insect repellent onto your hands and then apply to a child’s face.

Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants
- Use permethrin to treat clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents) or buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear.
- Permethrin is an insecticide that kills or repels mosquitoes.
- Permethrin-treated clothing provides protection after multiple washings.
Take steps to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors
- - - Use screens on windows and doors. Repair holes in screens to keep mosquitoes outdoors.
    - Use air conditioning, if available.
    - Stop mosquitoes from laying eggs in or near water.
    - Once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that hold water, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpots, or trash containers.

For additional information on EEE, visit the following link from Ledge Light Health Center District –“Mosquitoes in Lyme and Old Lyme Test Positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis”

Editor’s Note: If you have additional questions on this topic, or would like to speak with Rep. Carney about a concern regarding state government, email him at Devin.Carney@housegop.ct.gov or call 800-842-1423.

Filed Under: Lyme, News, Old Lyme, Top Story