Daily Five: Upcoming Breaksfast On The 2012 Economic Forecast

1.  Today is Thursday, Dec. 29.  The National Weather Service predicts increasing clouds, a high temperature of 37 degrees and a west wind of 15 to 17 mph. Tonight will be mostly cloudy with a low of 35 degrees, and a slight chance of rain after midnight.

2.  U.S. Rep. Joseph Courtney and economist Peter Gioia, of the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, will speak about the economic forecast for 2012 during a business breakfast from 7:45 a.m. until 9 a.m. on Jan. 20 at the Hilton Mystic. The cost is $17 for Chamber of Commerce Eastern Connecticut members and $25 for non-members.

3.  Two employees of have been recognized as leaders in the industry, according to a company news release. The Connecticut Banker’s Association named Jessica Todd, assistant vice president/comptroller and Alex Masse, vice president/assistant director of retail banking, as “New Leaders in Banking” for 2011.  To qualify for the honor, employees must be younger than 50, work at a Connecticut bank and be "making a significant contribution to their institution or community," the news release said.

4.  The City Cabaret's next concert will be held at 3 p.m. on Jan. 8 in the Groton Municipal Building, if you haven't seen one yet. Andy Sherwood's Dixieland Jazz Quartet will perform. The concerts are free; for more information, call (860) 446-4129.

5.  The Friends at Electric Boat US Troop Support Group sent 5,000 care packages oversees to local troops this holiday season, The Day newspaper reported. Engineer Bill Dodge is founder of the group, and the packages weighed 48,000 pounds and cost almost $32,000 to ship, the newspaper reported.