Five Things To Know Today

1.  Today is Thursday, June 30. It’ll be sunny and warm. The National Weather Service predicts clear skies, a high temperature of 79 degrees and a low of 59 tonight.

2. A local partnership aimed at improving the lives of children in military families earned an exemplary partnership award last week at the 13th Annual Conference of The Military Child Education Coalition in Nashville, Tenn. The Southeastern Connecticut’s Military Superintendents Liaison Committee, which includes local school Superintendents, military leaders at Naval Submarine Base New London and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, will also receive a $3,000 gift to support its programs. 

3.  Connecticut reported a 32 percent increase in beach closings from 2009 to 2010, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council’s 2011 Testing the Waters report. This study looked at water quality and beach closings nationally, then broke down the data by state and beach. It reported 143 beach closings and advisories in Connecticut 2010, according to a news release. Most beach closures and advisories nationally were caused by storm water runoff contaminating the water, the release said.  

4.  Charter Oak Federal Credit Union has given $30,000 to local community groups and non-profit organizations during its second-quarter community giving program. Recipients of money include Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeastern Connecticut, The Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, United Way of Southeastern Connecticut, Waterford Country School  and New London's Homeless to Hopeful Benefit Dance, among others.

5.  Brian Jud, founder and president of the Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association, will speak at the next meeting of the southeast chapter of the group at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, July 18, in East Lyme. Jud will discuss how to get on radio and television and do well in these types of media. Jud is the author of “Beyond the Bookstore,” “How to Make Real Money Selling Books,” and five other books on changing careers.  For more information about the event, call Tom Santos at (860) 599-5067.