East Lyme Board of Education member and state House candidate Catherine Steel will begin hosting a new public Zoom series beginning Wednesday, April 29.

The series will feature panels of “local experts” to address a range of issues affecting East Lyme residents, exploring the question: How are we surviving during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Steel’s first panel takes place 10 a.m. Wednesday, where she plans to interview local business owners Ketty Plaku of Rebeka’s Fresh Pasta Restaurant of East Lyme and Melissa Gainsley of Niantic florists L&J Blooms in an effort to discuss how the pandemic is affecting local businesses.

“It is important to think outside of the box to discover how we can grow at this time of a crisis,” Steel said in a news release. “To keep money coming in and services going out, business owners are developing new skill sets to meet the needs of clients and customers.”

Steel plans to make this a community dialogue and welcomes questions and suggestions for future panelists and topics, as well as participation by the public. To submit questions or feedback, contact Steel at catesteel2020@gmail.com. Zoom panel discussions will be posted on Steel’s YouTube channel, "Chat with Cate Steel 2020."

For those who want to tune in to Wednesday's Zoom, visit us02web.zoom.us/j/87885111237, Meeting ID: 878 8511 1237.