I can’t believe the last weekend of October is here. The fall weather is fantastic, and it was nice to have a rainy day this past week.  

Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending the Eagle Scout Ceremony for our Pack 26. This year, three Scouts earned the rank of Eagle Scout. They are Logan Landry, Ryan Ortoleva, and Carson St. Louis. The Towns of Lyme and Old Lyme should be so grateful to these Scouts who see a need in the community, design a plan, and make it happen. Their leadership skills should be celebrated.

While I was at the ceremony, I spoke to Scoutmaster John Goss who informed me that he would be stopping by to pick up the American Flags that have been left in the flag retirement bin here at Town Hall. Please feel free to drop off yours if needed. The local troops' annual Flag Retirement Ceremony is a meaningful and solemn event that reflects on the flag as a symbol of freedom.

We have had many people in this week to get transfer station stickers for their vehicles, so we know that fall clean-ups have begun. If you are in Town Hall, be sure to check out our annual gourd decorating contest on the shelf near the stairs to the lower level. We will share pictures on the website next week. We have some very creative employees! 

The Town Meeting on Wednesday night was attended by less than ten residents, and they voted unanimously to approve bonding for the Point O’ Woods Boat Basin project. This is the second phase of the project, and it will be completed this winter. Please note that the Town of Old Lyme is not liable for this bonding debt but Connecticut General Statures §7-372 requires approval at a Town Meeting. We also approved the transfer of $43,050 from Single Stream Recycling to the Transfer Station fund lines to prepare for our end of year audit.   

JJ Dibble Construction will begin the 2025 road paving project next Wednesday. They will be milling and paving the following streets in the shoreline area:

• Avenue A
• Clifton Street
• Hawks Nest Beach Road
• Hemlock Circle
• Liberty Street
• Prospect Street
• Robbin Avenue
• Washington Avenue

A Few Reminders

• The Lymes’ Youth Services Bureau will be holding their Drug Take Back event at the Lyme Street Firehouse tomorrow (10/25) from 10AM-2PM. This is a good time to clean out your medicine cabinets and bring expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medications to the event. The Old Lyme Police will be on hand to perform car seat checks for those of you who would like to ensure they are properly installed.
• The Lymes’ Youth Services Bureau is still collecting candy for the annual Halloween Trick or Treating on Lyme Street. We have a container in the Meeting Hall lobby if you would like to drop off your bags of candy here. Please drop off by October 27^th so that LYSB can distribute it to the Lyme Street residents and businesses prior to Halloween.  
• The Flood & Erosion Control Board has created a short survey. The Flood & Erosion Control Board plans to use the information gathered in this survey to make strategic plans on how to best serve the residents of Old Lyme.
• Michaelle Pearson is busy compiling reports from our Authorities, Boards, Commissions and Committees for the Town's Annual Report. Most of the Chairs have submitted their reports, noting all the hard work and accomplishments for FY 24/25. If you have not sent your reports in, please do so by early next week. The Annual Report is published and presented by the Board of Finance at the Annual Town Meeting, which will be held on January 26, 2026.
• The registrars report that Early Voting is going smoothly. Click here for voting information.

New Employee

I am pleased to announce that our new Human Resource Generalist, Jaime McLinskey, will be starting with us on Monday. Jamie’s office will be on the second floor of Town Hall. We will have her hours posted on the website once they are established.  

This past week I had the opportunity to have lunch with Lymes’ First Selectman, David Lahm. He is not running for re-election, and I wanted to have a chance to wish him well. I enjoyed my weekly meetings with him and other Lyme representatives as we worked on the Lymes’ Senior Center Building project.  

In closing, this is Police Corporal Wayne Collins' last full week with us. Wayne is retiring and we have been so lucky to have had him with us for 27+ years. Wayne has been instrumental in organizing and overseeing our summer Ranger program. If you see him around town, please be sure to wish him well.

All my best, 
Martha