Daily Five: School Open Houses, A Final Concert and Holiday Travel

1.  Today is Tuesday, Aug. 28. The National Weather Service predicts mostly cloudy skies, a high temperature of 82 degrees and a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Some storms could produce wind and heavy rain. Tonight will be clear with a low of 63 degrees.

2.  School begins in Groton Wednesday, and two schools have open houses today. Claude Chester Elementary holds a welcome back open house from 11:45 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. today, and Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School holds its welcome back open house from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m.

West Side Middle School also hold its first parent teacher organization meeting of the school year at 6 p.m. today at the school.

3.  Concerts in the Park 2012 will hold its last performance of the summer at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 2 at Washington Park. The Cartells, a local band that plays jazz, swing and blues, will perform. The concerts are free and co-sponsored by Groton Utilities and the City of Groton Parks and Recreation Department.

4.  More people will travel during Labor Day weekend than last year, according to a news release by AAA. The group predicts a 3 percent increase in regional travel and a high demand for auto travel services, the service said. AAA predicts 1.65 million in New England will travel 50 miles or more for the holiday weekend.

“People are taking full advantage of the final major travel weekend of the summer,” AAA Public Affairs Manager Aaron Kupec said in the news release. “At the Waterford and Old Saybrook offices, they’ve been handling a lot of TripTiks for people heading to destinations including Niagara Falls, Maine, and even Florida.”

5.  The in the Octagon Restaurant at the Mystic Marriott Hotel and Spa. Meetings cost $20 per person and include a buffet lunch, a featured speaker and networking opportunities.