A workshop to support the feasibility study of the Lymes’ Senior Center on Town Woods Rd. in Old Lyme is planned on Wednesday.

LYME/OLD LYME — The Lymes’ Senior Center Board of Directors will hold a Special Meeting Wednesday, Aug. 4, at 1 p.m. The public is welcome to join the meeting either in person at the Lymes’ Senior Center or virtually — see  instructions for the latter below.

The main purpose of the meeting is for Point One Architects to lead the second workshop related to the feasibility study for the expansion/renovations of the Center.  Workshop participants will include the board of directors and invited stakeholders.

All Covid-19 protocols will be met including social distancing and the wearing of masks.

The agenda is follows:

1. Call to order /attendance of board and public
2. Guests – Point One Architects

III. Minutes of June, 2021 meeting – tabled until next regular meeting

1. Treasurer’s report – Tabled until next regular meeting
2. Communications – Thank you note
3. Committee Reports – none

VII. Old Business – none

VIII. New Business

• Welcome Point One Architects for the second workshop for the feasibility study.  Participants include the Board of Directors and invited stakeholders to conduct this workshop agenda:

1. Review Workshop I Results
2. M.E.P. Findings (Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing)
3. Diagrams
4. Pro’s and Con’s Discussion
5. Public Comment –

X.  Adjournment – Any additional meetings needed before September 2021 will be called as special meetings.

Instructions for joining the meeting via Zoom:

Visit this link: https://zoom.us/j/93808736678?pwd=Q2tjdUJTK1V6YjB3cVVtUWNmeUN1Zz09
Meeting ID: 938 0873 6678
Passcode: 095877
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,93808736678#,,,,*095877# US (Chicago)
+19292056099,,93808736678#,,,,*095877# US (New York)
To find your local number, visit https://zoom.us/u/acVzDIdz3X

OLD LYME — Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau (LYSB) hosts a ‘Big Truck & Vehicle Fair,’ Wednesday, Aug. 4, from 5 to 7 p.m. on the Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School driveway behind LYSB. Attendees are requested to park at the high school or on Lyme Street.

This free, family event will feature emergency vehicles, construction trucks and more. It is being held in collaboration with the Old Lyme Police and Fire Departments.

There will be opportunities to meet First Responders and explore all the vehicles on display. Musical entertainment will be offered along with Del’s Lemonade.

If readers are interested in participating with their own trucks, contact lysb@lysb.org or 860-434-7208.

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 Friday, July 30, the Friends of Whalebone Cove (FOWC) are organizing a ‘Paddle & Pull’ volunteer work party to remove the water chestnut starting at 3 p.m. Anyone who has a kayak, canoe or boat is welcome to join the work party.

The Paddle & Pull will last about two hours. Meet at the Chester-Hadlyme Ferry Boat Launch (east shore),  Ferry Road (Rte. 148), Lyme, CT 06371.

Invasive European water chestnut is spreading in Whalebone Cove.

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.

OLD LYME — On Saturday, July 31, stop by the Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library patio between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and peruse Phoebe’s Bookcellar’s special sale of lawn and garden books. While there, learn more about the Library’s plans to create a pollinator meadow and garden in collaboration with the Friends of the Library.

Pollinate Old Lyme will be onsite to help you think about what native plants you can plant soon to attract pollinators to your own garden.

Pollinator Pathway lawn medallions will be available for $10 each for display in your own pollinator paradise.

Hardscape materials will also be on sale with Belgium Block (11″ x 8″)  available at $5 each and Natural Cleft Bluestone, (48″ x 24″ and other assorted sizes) available at $20 each or 6 for $100.

THURSDAY, JULY 29
6-8PM
at WHITE SANDS BEACH
Free, and open to all L/OL Families

LYME/OLD LYME — On Thursday, Aug. 19, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau (LYSB) and the Lyme/Old Lyme Prevention Coalition will be hosting a free Narcan and Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) training session.

NARCAN (naloxone) is an opiate antidote.  Opioids include heroin and prescription pain pills such as oxycodone, codeine and morphine. NARCAN is a prescription medicine that blocks the effects of opioids and reverses an overdose.

NARCAN^® Nasal Spray may counteract the life-threatening effects of an opioid overdose. Since most accidental overdoses occur in a home setting, it was developed for first responders, as well as family, friends, and caregivers—with no medical training required. Its characteristics are:

• Needle-free
• Designed for ease-of-use in the community setting
• Inhalation not required

The Narcan training from 6:30 to 7 p.m. will provide participants with knowledge about overdose prevention strategies, administering Narcan, and support information and resources. Each participant will go home with a free Narcan kit.

The QPR portion from 7 to 8 p.m. will help participants learn the three steps to help save a life, warning signs of a suicide crisis, how to respond, and where to go for resources and support.

These sessions will be held at Old Lyme’s Memorial Town Hall.  Register for one or both training sessions at this link.

Data indicates that emergency personnel are seeing a slight uptick in overdose calls in our region with state and national data showing that the pandemic has contributed to this rise.

Every week in the US, an average of 20 people die from a drug overdose, and eight by suicide. Accidental overdose is now the leading cause of death for Americans under 50, and suicide is the 10th leading cause of death.

This training is crucial if you ever find yourself in the position to save a life. It will be facilitated by staff from SERAC (Supporting and Engaging Resources for Action and Change).

For more information about the training sessions, visit this link.