Daily Five: Sub Base Coalition Meets This Week

1.  Today is Wednesday, Feb. 22.  The National Weather Service predicts increasing clouds and a high temperature of 52 degrees. There a chance of light rain tonight, and the low will fall to 41.

2.  The Subase Coalition, a group organized years ago to prevent the closure of Submarine Base New London in Groton, will meet at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday at the Fort Trumbull Conference Center in New London. The group will receive a briefing from U.S. Rep. Joseph Courtney and Bob Ross, executive director of the Connecticut Office of Military Affairs. The meeting is open to the public and was organized to talk about the possibility of another round of military base reviews.

3.  The Town Council voted 7-0 on Tuesday, with Mayor Heather Bond Somers abstaining, to appoint Mark J. Somers as an alternate member of the Historic District Commission. The mayor abstained from the vote because Somers is her husband. The council voted 7-1, with member Rita Schmidt against, not to reappoint Nancy Mitchell to the Historic District Commission. Mitchell was denied reappointment by the council's personnel committee last week, and said she was blindsided by the vote.

4.  The Steak Loft in Mystic will hold a benefit on Feb. 28 for one of its longtime waitresses whose home was damaged by fire earlier this month.  Laurie Bowers, who has two daughters in their 20s, and a 4-year-old granddaughter, lost nearly all of their belongings in a Feb. 3 in Griswold. Bowers’ daughter, Shannon, 27, is also a waitress at the Loft and daughter Kim, 24, formerly worked there. The benefit will be held from 4:30 p.m. until 9 p.m.  The pasta dinner includes a salad bar, desserts and soft drinks. The regular menu will also be served. All server tips will go to the family’s fund. Checks may be made out to Bowers Family Fire Fund, care of Citizen’s Bank.

5.  The Dog Watch Café will sponsor a charity day to benefit the Groton Animal Foundation on Feb. 29.  The Café is on Water Street in Stonington borough, and is open from 11:30 a.m. until 10 p.m.  People who have lunch or dinner that day need to tell their server they want to benefit the foundation, and 15 percent of the bill will be donated.