Daily Five: Auditing Election Results

1.  Today is Thursday, Nov. 17.  The National Weather Service predicts cloudy skies, a chance of showers and a high temperature of 50 degrees. The temperature will fall to 31 tonight.

2.  Two Groton polling places are among the 73 chosen by Secretary of the State Denise Merrill to audit following the Nov. 8 municipal elections.  The audits will be done of votes cast at the Town Hall Annex and S.B Butler Elementary. Groton's school board administration building was chosen among the alternate polling places to audit. The audit includes counting votes cast by hand to make sure voting machines scanned them correctly. The work must be done between Nov. 23 and Dec. 6.

3.  Groton is among six cities identified as central to a plan to boost economic development in the region. Five agenicies are working on the plan to create sustainable development in Eastern Connecticut, and will target areas including transportation, housing, workforce development and economic development. The plan is being paid for with a $225,000 grant from the Department of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Other towns identified as central include New London and Norwich.

4.  The last of three forums on middle school consolidation is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. today at Cutler Middle School. The forums don't include presentations but are brainstorming sessions to gather input from parents, teachers and others about their major concerns about closing a middle school in Groton. The school board will use the data gathered to develop a survey, which will then be available to all residents. Survey results will be compiled by the December break.

5.  The Groton Business Association's monthly meeting will be held from 7:30 a.m. until 9 a.m. today at Groton Inn & Suites. The meeting is organized to network and promote local businesses and is free.