Hello OS Chamber!
Welcome to the new Chamber Chatbook – a bimonthly digital magazine used to share news, events, happenings, member information and more! I think you’ll find this very helpful and yet another way to share your business/organization information with hundreds of other business and community members. If you would like to utilize the Chatbook to advertise or share information in the future please contact the Chamber office.
2022 continued to be a year of recovery with a hopeful eye on the future. We saw the in-person return of our monthly “Business Connections Hours” –now referred to as First Thursday Business Connection. With this catchy name – you know that the meeting is always the 1st Thursday of the month! They are held at 8am at the Vicky
Duffy Pavilion at the end of Main Street. Attend! It’s a great way to start the day –sharing business information – making connections –forming collaborations. Ed Tessman, Associate Dean of Campus Operations, Middlesex Community College, shared with us “this is the best Chamber meeting I’ve ever been to!” How can you beat that? This meeting has generated many successful business partnerships – you don’t want to miss this opportunity. Use the Chamber’s website to register online.
Looking forward to 2023, we are proud to announce the “President’s Circle.” The President’s Circle consists of a group of members that generously invest in the Old Saybrook Chamber over and above their Chamber Dues. Year-long marketing and custom-designed
packages will round out the benefits of the President’s Circle. For more information, see page 5.
Don’t forget to purchase your Great Restaurant Raffle Ticket! Such a wild group of prizes! Imagine winning a $100 Gift Card to EVERY Old Saybrook and Old Saybrook Chamber restaurant?? That’s 46 Gift Cards! All for a modest ticket price of $20. Don’t delay – this will be a sell out!
With much gratitude for all your continued support of the Old Saybrook Chamber, I wish you a very happy holiday season.
Cheers to you!
Judy
“We joined the Chamber of Commerce to meet new people. Get out of our bubble. The Chamber is giving us a lot of exposure.”
The Chamber of Commerce is here to help YOU! Advertise, sponsor, or join the newly formed President’s Circle for maximum exposure. Use the Chamber website, bi-monthly digital magazine, or weekly e-news to advertise. Sponsor one of our annual Chamber programs such as First Thursday Business Connections, Nonprofit Resource Council, or Women In Business. Community events can be sponsored a-la-carte, or let us design a custom package that works for you and your budget through our eight largest annual events.
Your Chamber membership provides exclusive opportunities for your business to be seen on multiple different platforms. There is something for everyone! From the Chamber website, Chamber E-Newsletter, and this magazine.
Using Chamber Master, you can personalize a page in our website’s business directory and share updates, deals, and discounts at any time, anywhere. Not only is it included in your membership, but it is also so easy. For more information on marketing, visit oldsaybrookchamber.com/marketing
In our continuing efforts to provide value and relevance to each and every one of you, we are launching our new digital magazine, Chamber Chatbook. The Chamber of Commerce has certainly evolved since the days in 1939 in a small corner of the then Town Hall, now the Kate. It has been wonderful to see the development of the Chamber and the collaborative partnering with other community focused organizations as well as the entire town of Old Saybrook and surrounding towns. The benefits of joining the Chamber and being an active member are countless. Friendships, partnerships and relationships have been forged through membership. This Chatbook will be just one more component to bring focus to our community and members. We hope that you enjoy the content and will encourage you to be a part of it as well.
In a recent letter to the residents of Old Saybrook, Amy Hollis, Executive Director of Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries (SSKP), shared a message from a guest at a pantry, who wrote, “Thank you for all your hard work and kindness. The food pantry has been a huge blessing to us!” Expressing her thanks for the huge outpouring of community support during the pandemic, she added, “When the pandemic began, it was “all hands on deck.” The shoreline community jumped into action with an immediate response. Increased numbers of people in need were matched by gifts of food, donations, and many hardworking volunteers. This caring and generosity lifted us up as the waters were rising and made all the difference as we weathered the last few years.”
Last year SSKP registered 58% more guests at their five local food pantries that in pre-pandemic times; a total of 11,337 individuals. Many families in Old Saybrook continue to depend on their weekly distributions of groceries. Last year 1,062 Old Saybrook residents registered at an SSKP pantry. By July of this year, that number was already at 1,005, indicating that the number of those in need in Old Saybrook continues to be high. But the pandemic is not the only reason some families are struggling. A new concern is the rising price of food and fuel. “We are all feeling the economic pinch,” Hollis continued, “but the most vulnerable are often hit the hardest.”
Founded 33 years ago, SSKP provides groceries through 5 weekly pantry distributions, and offers daily prepared meals at eight local meal sites, sharing food with any resident of Old Saybrook in need of assistance. SSKP also serves the towns of Essex, Old Lyme, East Lyme, Lyme, Chester, Clinton, Madison, Killingworth, Westbrook, and Deep River.
The Old Saybrook Pantry, hosted at First Church of Christ in Saybrook, distributes food every Tuesday from 2-4pm, and distributed over 315,000 pounds of food last year, with the hard work of many dedicated volunteers, who met guests outside at their cars with bags of food for safety reasons.
Every Wednesday from noon to 1pm in Old Saybrook, rotating teams of volunteer cooks share grab-and-go lunches at Grace Episcopal Church, and last year served 2,930 meals, each prepared and served with care. To find out more about the mission of Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries please visit www. shorelinesoupkitchens.org.
By: Claire Bellerjeau, Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries Director of Development
Use it as a side dish or as a base for a protein. Cabbage has anti-inflammatory properties and a surprisingly great source of Vitamin C.
1 Head of Cabbage 2 Tsp Garlic Powder 2 Tsp Smoked Paprika Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper to Taste
1. Preheat your oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Wash and trim the ends off your cabbage head. Cut cabbage into half inch round slices. The number you end up with depends on the size of the cabbage.
3. Line them up on your baking sheet and brush with a generous amount of olive oil, and then sprinkle on your seasoning. Flip them over and repeat on the other side with the olive oil and seasoning.
4. Bake for about 25 minutes or until the center is tender and the outer leaves are browned. Nutritionist
“It’s a simple recipe, but it packs a ton of flavor!”
Experience the joy of art this holiday season in Old Lyme! Starting November 18, the Lyme Art Association’s most festive exhibition, Deck the Walls goes on view. This seasonal show celebrates the wondrous beauty and traditions of Winter! See original works in all themes, sizes and mediums created by member artists and priced to sell as holiday gifts.
Running concurrently are solo exhibitions for John Traynor and Christopher Zhang. John Traynor is a skillful painter of landscape, still life and portraiture. His unique blend of realism and atmospheric Impressionism sets his work apart and many recognize a “Traynor painting” by its brush strokes and unique feeling. Christopher Zhang’s portraits and landscapes combine Impressionist colors with the big and rough brushstrokes of Russian realism. Christopher believes a painting should speak better than words, and is not just composition, perspective, colors and values, but is the interaction of all visual and performing arts.
The shows are on view from November 18, 2022 – January 1, 2023 with an opening reception on November 27 from 2 – 4 pm and are displayed in our lovely building designed by Lyme colony artist and architect, Charles Adams Platt.
Founded in 1914 by the American Impressionists, the Lyme Art Association continues the tradition of exhibiting and selling representational artwork of its members and invited artists, as well as offering art instruction, lectures, and other public programs to the community. With sky lights that let in the light, the building houses four galleries and a studio classroom. Lyme Art Association is located at 90 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, Connecticut, and we welcome visitors of all ages. Admission is free with contributions appreciated. The gallery is open from 10 am to 5 pm, Wednesday through Sunday, and by appointment. For more information, visit our website www. lymeartassociation.org or call (860) 434-7802.
Progressive Leaders of Today is a dynamic group of young leaders ages 21-40 who live or work in the Shoreline area. Offers opportunities to engage with the Chamber and community, build professional networks and friendships, advocate for local businesses, and volunteer to make a difference. Meetings are held virtually on the second Thursday of the month.
This business after hours is hosted by a member and held the third Thursday of every month throughout the year - check the calendar! Bring your business cards and be prepared to meet members new and ‘old’. The host will have the opportunity to showcase their business, whether it’s a new product or service, or even a new location.
Time: 5:30 - 7:00 pm
The Women In Business Council creates a supportive learning environment where women inspire women, promote the spirit of cooperation and collaboration, grow professionally, and strengthen their positive impact in the business community. Meetings are scheduled monthly - check the website for details. $25 members; $35 non-members, hosted at Penny Lane Pub, includes lunch.
Monthly morning meeting via zoom with relevant speakers. Join fellow non profit individulas for an hour to learn, share, and grow! Free to attend at 9:00 am.
Held the 1st Thursday of the month, this networking event provides members the opportunity to introduce their business, its offerings and products, and ask questions. One member commented that “the meeting was the equivalent of knocking on 40 doors in one hour.”
Meetings are moderated as attendees briefly explain their business. By reservation, a small number of attendees will have a longer time to discuss their business. Free to attend! Members only.
Time: 8:00 - 9:00 am
“Being a member of the Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce has opened me to many opportunities to help better our community and has allowed me to rapidly make many friends and business connections through my involvement.”
Look no further! This magazine will be viewed by many on multple different platforms. An everlasting way to market any event, special deal, or your business! There are three size options to choose from: half page, business card, and banner.
Looking for something specific? Let us know! The Chamber Chatbook is here to provide you with information. We are open to hear any suggestions on what you want to see or read about. With a publication date on the 15th of every other month, the deadline to submit advertisements or articles is the first of that month.
Because January 1 is a holiday, the advertisement deadline is extended to January 3, 2023 for the next issue. Publication date is January 15, 2023. For more information, please email hannah@oldsaybrookchamber.com
One Main Street, Old Saybrook, CT 06475 860 338 3266 www.oldsaybrookchamber.com
President: Bob Bradley, Wm. Raveis Real Estate
1st Vice President: Leigh-Bette Maynard, Liberty Bank
2nd Vice President: Dan King, Lahan and King
Secretary: Kara Pachniuk, Nourish + Nosh Nutrition
Treasurer: Dave Carswell, Guilford Savings Bank
Chris Bird, Saybrook Point Resort & Marina
Brett Elliot, Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center
Kevin Kennedy, Kennedy Real Estate Solutions
Chantal Lawrence, Total Design Source
Sally Ann Lee, Middlesex Health Sharon Lewis, AdviCoach
Tony Marino, The Rockfall Foundation
Heather Milardo, The Estuary Brittni Oxendine, National Financial Network
Michael Robidoux, ID Shield
Susan Taylor, Susan Taylor Agency, Farmers Insurance
Judy Sullivan, Executive Director Christa Maynard, Member Services Manager
Hannah Stella, Marketing Coordinator
Mike DeLisa, Bookkeeper