Happy Wednesday!  The newsletter is going out early this week due to the holiday tomorrow.  

This week we want to congratulate Tony Vallombroso, who has been the Old Lyme Veterans Representative, for many years.  He recently earned his Municipal Veterans Representative completed training certificate. Further congratulations to David Griswold, who also received his training certificate. David will be working with Tony as our incoming Veterans Representative. David Lahm, Lyme’s First Selectman, also received his certification. It is wonderful that our Veterans have so many good people ready to work on their behalf.

We received the attached news release late last week, announcing that Amtrak has awarded a contract for the construction of the new Connecticut River Bridge. Amtrak will hold their first public meeting on Thursday, July 18, at 6:00pm at the Vicki G. Duffy Pavilion located at 155 College Street in Old Saybrook. This meeting will offer an opportunity for the public to ask questions directly to the contractors that will be working in our community. We appreciate that Amtrak has taken this approach and hope that this will be the first meeting of many as the project progresses.  

A special shout out to our Public Works crew who saved four ducklings from a Rogers Lake drainpipe. I understand George Martin climbed into the pipe and safely returned the ducklings to their mother.  

Tax bills were mailed out last week. Please check our Tax Collector's webpage for more information regarding payment dates and options.  

This week's holiday marks two years until the country's Semiquincentennial - or 250th - anniversary. We are inviting our townspeople to be a part of the Town planning to mark the "America250" with not only festivities, but also learning about our collective heritage, history, and civic engagement. We hope you will consider applying for appointment to one of the four subcommittees that will lead us in this historic celebration. The Steering Committee will be chosen from the subcommittee appointees. You can find much more information and the application on the America250 Committee webpage.

Please remember that Town Hall is closing today at noon for a staff meeting.  We will also be closed tomorrow in observance of Independence Day. The Transfer Station will also be closing at noon today so they can join us here at Town Hall.

Have a wonderful 4^th of July!