No new driver’s license photo for 16 years?

A quirk of the Connecticut DMV’s new online license renewal protocol will let time stand still for Connecticut drivers.

You might actually like the photo on your license.

Earlier this month, Gov. Ned Lamont announced the state would allow online renewal of state-issued identification, like driver’s licenses.

What it doesn’t have was a way to update the photo.

“In theory, you could have it for a while,” DMV spokesperson Shaun Formica said.

In fact, it could be as many as 16 years. The only law that applies is a federal statute, which stipulates that ID photos must be updated every 16 years.

That means a new driver who gets her photo taken at the age of 17 might not get a new license photo until she turns 33.

The move to online renewal was in the works before the coronavirus pandemic, but it was fast-tracked “to make sure we not only

kept our residents safe, but continued our work to modernize state government,” Lamont said earlier this month.

The only thing that changed was that the process is now online. Driver’s licenses in Connecticut must be renewed every six or eight years. Older drivers can renew their licenses every two years. None of that is new.

“The situation never arose until the online renewal platform came to be,” Formica said. “This isn't necessarily new. It just feels new because people used to come into the office.”

Renewing by mail was an option in the past, though you were only allowed to renew your driver’s license by mail once, Formica said, “So you never would really run into this situation.”

But with unlimited online renewals, six- and two-year renewals and no requirement for a new photo, “I could potentially renew the photo multiple times,” Formica said.

There has been some discussion about submitting updated photos, like passport photos, but Formica said the technology isn’t there yet.

“It’s not happening right now,” she said. “It makes you super vulnerable to fraud and identity theft.”

And, of course, some drivers might prefer to have their teenage self on the licenses, as Formica joked.

“I wish I could have my photo from when I was 16,” she said.

CHESTER – Fuss & O’Neill Senior Vice President Virgil Lloyd, a Chester resident, has been named the 2021 President of the New England Water Environment Association, according to a statement.

Lloyd has more than four decades in wastewater systems engineering, and has been with Fuss & O’Neill for 20 years. He has served as past chair of NEWEA’s CSO/Wet Weather Issues Committee and is an active board member of the Connecticut Water Pollution Abatement Association. As president of NEWEA, he has identified a theme of focusing on inclusion, diversity, and equity, according to the statement.

“Let’s not be afraid of change, but embrace it,” Lloyd said in a recent speech. “There has been progress, but it is slow. Let’s work together to navigate NEWEA through the tides of change, to work together to foster diversity and to be leaders of change – in NEWEA, as well as in our own organizations and our individual lives. By making NEWEA an organization where everyone feels empowered, valued, respected, and safe, we will bring more people into the discussion, with diverse backgrounds and points of view. This will make us a stronger, more creative, more innovative, and more dynamic organization. This is how we will build a self-sustaining formula for success.”

Lloyd says he intends to work with the executive committee and the senior management team to support and promote new activities, outreach programs, and educational opportunities in the coming months. For more information about Lloyd, visit www.fando.com/author/vlloyd/. For more information about NEWEA, visit www.newea.org.

Women’s club offering scholarships

The Central CT Community Women's Club has been very busy planning some events this year.

The club is offering two $500 scholarships to graduating seniors continuing their education, who are residents of Berlin, Cromwell, Middletown, Middlefield, Newington, Rocky Hill and Wethersfield. Applications have been sent to the guidance offices at each town's high school and are also available or can be submitted online at centralctcommunitywomensclub.com/scholarship. The due date is April 1.

Club holding clothing collection drive

CROMWELL — The Central CT Community Women's Club is sponsoring a Community Clothing Collection through April.

Members are collecting any size and style of gently used clothing for men, women, and children (no undergarments or bathing suits). Donations will be used to benefit a town-wide clothing sale planned for April 24.

Donation bins are located at The Cage, 14 Alcap Ridge and FOUND Apparel, Willowbrook Plaza, both in Cromwell. CCCWC is a charitable non-profit organization, dedicated to community service and to promote common interests in education, philanthropy, public health, civic and fine arts. For more information, see Upcoming Events at centralctcommunitywomensclub.com

Nominations sought for Woman of Year

CROMWELL — Nominations from the general public are being accepted for the Cromwell Woman of the Year Award, presented by the Central CT Community Women’s Club.

This award is intended to recognize a female citizen of Cromwell who has distinguished herself through contributions to the community. Nominees should display characteristics that include but are not limited to: supporting and leading community projects, aiding those persons less fortunate, and living in a manner that inspires respect and admiration. Nominees cannot currently be serving as an elected official. In the spirit of acknowledging service to the Cromwell community, the club reinstated the award in 1982. Nominations are scored on leadership, community impact, developing others, presence, and dedication to the community. Online forms are available at centralctcommunitywomensclub. com.

Library holding ‘Bid for Brainerd’ auction

HADDAM — A wide variety of items ranging from antiques to jewelry to gift cards will be available during Brainerd Memorial Library’s online auction, “Bid for Brainerd,” located on Bidding Owl.com, starting March 19.

The 10-day-long nonprofit event will raise funds for adult and children’s programs at the library, which is undergoing a physical renovation during Covid.

More than 150 items will be available, and bidders will be able to track the status of each item. During the bidding period there will be opportunities to view items at Haddam Elementary School.

Items that have been donated for the auction include jewelry, wine, furniture, getaways, antiques, gift cards for goods and services and gift baskets.

The Taste Of Middlesex County starts Monday

MIDDLETOWN — The Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce announced that the sixth annual Taste of Middlesex County is here! Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the chamber is reinventing the Taste of Middlesex County in order to meet Connecticut Safety Guidelines and to help support our local restaurants by offering two tasty weeks in 2021: Feb. 15-21 and June 21-27.

These restaurant weeks are designed to highlight the numerous and diverse dining experiences within the greater Middlesex region. Participating restaurants have come up with ideas such as a fixed price menu ($20.21 or $30.21), meals for two, family meals, or dine-in/carry-out options.

Participating restaurants so far include: 1741 Pub & Grill in Middlefield, Eli Cannons Tap Room in Middletown, Fire at the Ridge & Ridgeside Tavern in Middlefield, Scotch Plains Tavern in Essex, and Water's Edge Resort & Spa in Westbrook.

If you love gourmet meals and scoring a bargain, the Middlesex Chamber encourages community members to save your appetite for these particular weeks!

To learn more or to register your restaurant to participate, please visit https://www.middlesexchamber.com/pages/taste-of-middlesex-county, or follow updates on social media by searching the hashtag #TasteOfMiddlesex.