Daily Five: Keeping An Eye on Employee Travel

1.  Today is Wednesday, Feb. 29, Leap Day! The National Weather Service predicts rain before 2 p.m., then snow. Accumulation of 1 to 2 inches is possible. The temperature will reach a high of 37 degrees. Rain and snow will continue tonight, and the low will fall to 34.

2.  Town Councilor Harry Watson said he’ll look closely at the travel policy for school board members and staff, as well as other town travel during the budget season. He told school board members Tuesday that if they can train staff without paying for travel, they should do this. Superintendent Paul Kadri said the district has reduced travel but has not put an embargo on it.

3. The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce has begun planning two of the chamber’s main yearly events: The Mystic Outdoor Art Festival and the Taste of Mystic. The 55th annual art festival, which will be held Aug. 11 and 12, attracts tens of thousands of visitors from New England, New York and other states. The Taste of Mystic, to be held Sept. 7 to 9, also draws a massive crowd to try the foods of 30 local restaurants that line Cottrell Street for three days.

The chamber is also working on Groton’s Fall Festival, which draws artists, crafts and businesses to Poquonnock Plains Park to display their work. The festival will be held on Oct. 6. Anyone interested in sponsoring one or all of the events should contact Alexa Shelton at (860) 572-9578.

4.  A group called Corporate Mailing Services started picking up Groton’s mail on Feb. 1. The town decided to try the service because it offers cheaper postage –a first class letter weighing less than one ounce costs 35 cents instead of 45 cents, according to a report by the town manager. The change would save Groton $3,000 a year if it stays with the service, the report said.

5.  The Bill Memorial Library holds its free winter StoryTime program at 10:30 a.m. for children ages 3 to 5. The program is held on Wednesdays and includes stories, songs, fingerplays, and simple crafts. For more information, call (860) 445-0392.