Community Bulletin Board
Niantic River Railroad Bridge & Channel Closure Update(s)
June 20, 2010 to October 15, 2010 (Summer Boating Season)
This planned closures will be on Sunday nights (beginning at 2200 hrs) till Monday mornings (ending at 0430hrs) and Monday nights (beginning at 2200 hrs) till Tuesday mornings (ending at 0430hrs) with two exceptions: (1) the channel will remain open during the four days on either side of a full moon to accommodate fishing charters that depart at night and (2) there will be a scheduled opening between 0130hrs to 0200hrs from August 1 to October 15 to accommodate nighttime tuna charters. Amtrak occasionally could also request a waterway closure on Wednesday mornings from 0030hrs to 0430hrs.
October 16, 2010 to December 15, 2010 (Fall Season)
This planned closures will be on Sunday through Thursday from 2100hrs to 0500hrs.
December 16, 2010 through March 15, 2011 (Winter Season)
This planned period will have closures on Sunday through Thursday from 0900hrs to 1700hrs and from 2100hrs to 0500hrs. Two closures each day.
March 16, 2011 through May 15, 2011 (Spring Season)
This planned period will have closures on Sunday through Wednesday from 2200hrs to 0430hrs.
Obviously during the run of the construction project there will be certain tasks that will require additional channel closures from 12 to 24 hours and even a 7 day closure for floating in the new bridge structure.
The above information has been provided by the CMTA.
Note: As many boaters to the area know, Amtrak has begun construction on the replacement of the aging Niantic River Railroad Bridge. As part of this construction, there will be times Amtrak will need to close the channel and/or railroad bridge to boater traffic. As a result, we will post bridge and channel closure information from the US Coast Guard and the CMTA (Connecticut Marina Trades Association) as it is made available. However, changes to closure dates/times may be made without notice; therefore, the above information is subject to change without notice, and is only being provided as a courtesy to visitors of DiscoverEastLyme.com.
For additional information regarding the Niantic River Bridge Replacement Project, call 1-800-288-1310 or visit:
Amtrak Niantic River Bridge Replacement ProjectBeach Passes to McCook's & Hole-in-the-Wall Beaches & Park
Beach passes are required in the summer to access McCook's Beach and Park and the Hole-in-the-Wall Beach in Niantic, East Lyme.
Seasonal Permits and/or Day Passes can be purchased Monday thru Friday at the EL Parks & Recreation Department located at
41 Society Rd. (860) 739-5828. Passes usually go on sale the 1st Monday in May.
Beach Passes can also be purchased on Saturday's, Sunday's and on holiday's at the new Hole-in-the-Wall Support Building located at the end of Baptist Lane.
Enjoy the beach, the beautiful comminuty of East Lyme, and please help keep them clean!McCook Point Park ~ Pavilion Rentals
The Pavilion at McCook Point Park is available to rent for private functions. Interested individuals should contact the Town of East Lyme's Parks and Recreation Department at (860) 739-5828 for additional information. The Parks and Recreation Department is located at 41 Society Rd., Niantic, CT. 06357.
Parking in Downtown Niantic
Whether you’re coming to town for the East Lyme / Niantic Light Parade in December or the Celebrate East Lyme Festival in July, there is always plenty of FREE Parking available in the Municipal Parking lot on Hope St.
(one block behind Main St. and off Pennsylvania Ave. or Rt. 161).Food Pantry Donations
Care & Share of East Lyme accepts food pantry donations on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of every month at their 11 Hope St. location (across from Rings End Lumber). For more information, call 739-8502
or visit: Care & Share of East LymeNiantic Boardwalk - UPDATE
As Amtrack begins work on the replacement of the Niantic River Railroad Bridge, we will try to keep you informed of their progress, and impacts the work may have on the Niantic Boardwalk.
March 1, 2010 - Amtrack begin work on the Niantic River Bridge, and as a result closed the east end (the wooden portion) of the Boardwalk. Limited public access to the Boardwalk will continue to be available throughout the project via the Hole-in-the-Wall Beach (via Baptist Lane entrance).Money Magazine Names East Lyme a Top 100 Place to Live!
Money Magazine recently named East Lyme as one of their top 100 Places to Live noting that East Lyme was as "quaint as a New England seaside town can be." East Lyme's “strong school system” helped it land the No. 75 spot in Money magazine's 2009 list of Best Places to Live. The magazine also cited East Lyme's small downtown, community beach and proximity to rail service, median family income of more than $95,000, and median home prices of $281,250 being factors in being selected.
For additional information, visit: Money Magazine ArticleCommunity Emergency Response Team
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a group of volunteers that can be activated to provide assistance to their neighbors and the town during large-scale disasters, such a major hurricane. We are currently working in conjunction with surrounding area CERT teams to act as a regional resource. Our regional efforts have resulted in a new website (www.cert-sect.org), where those interested can find information about our CERT activities and about the CERT program in general.
We need all the volunteers we can get! Hope you can help.
For additional information, please contact Pearl I. Rathbun, Emergency Management Director for the Town of East Lyme at (860) 739-4434 or visit: www.cert-sect.orgCongratulations ~ East Lyme High School
Congratulations to everyone at East Lyme High School on being named one of “America’s Best High Schools” by U.S. News & World Report. East Lyme earned a “silver medal” in a survey of 18,790 public high schools around the country. For a complete list of those high schools making the list from Connecticut, visit: America’s Best High Schools
East Lyme Newcomers Club
The East Lyme Newcomers Club meets the first Thursday each month at Niantic Community Church, 170 Pennslylvania Avenue from 09.30 - 11.30 a.m. Creche available. Club activities include mom and kids, food and friends, lunch bunch, book group and more. For more information, please contact Janet Banks at (860) 739-2891 or e-mail her at: janbanks@hotmail.co.uk
Niantic Toastmasters Club
The Niantic Community Toastmasters Club meets the first and third Mondays of the month from 7:00 p.m. 'til 8:30 p.m. at the Niantic Community Church; 170 Pennsylvania Avenue. The purpose of the club is to: provide mutual support; develop communication & leadership skills; foster self-confidence & attain personal growth. Guests are welcome!
For additional information, please contact Catherine Steel at (860) 691-1223 or e-mail her at: csteel@ct.metrocast.netAmerican Legion (Post # 128) ~ Monthly Meeting Notice
The American Legion Post # 128 holds its monthly meetings the second Thursday of each month beginning at 7:30 PM at their 16 York Ave Niantic CT 06357 location. All Veterans are welcomed and encouraged to attend.