Daily Five: A Public Hearing, The Police Department and Edible Books

1.  Today is Thursday, March 29.  The National Weather Service predicts cloudy skies, with gradual clearing and a high temperature of 54 degrees. The low will drop to 34 degrees tonight.

2.  The Groton Town Council's public hearing on the budget will be held at 7 p.m. today in the Groton Senior Center. The proposed $122.6 million budget for the coming fiscal year represents an increase of $4.1 million, or 3.5 percent over the current year. If adopted as proposed, the budget would result in an increase of 8.6 percent in the tax rate, from 18.89 to 20.51 mills.

3.  The police department has received complaints from Poquonnock Bridge Midway homes since a networking officer on Central Avenue left, the police department said in its February report. One person complained that they have seen drug transactions across Midway Oval, but mainly on St. Joseph’s Court, the report said. Officers have been spending more time in the area, the report said.

4.  The Groton Board of Education voted Monday to approve a draft agreement that would allow the Mystic Schooners to play in Groton for the next two seasons and start paying off debt owed for improvements to the Fitch High School ball field. The school board’s vote allows the Town Council to more forward with negotiating the draft agreement with the Bristol Collegiate Baseball Club, Inc., which runs the Schooners.

5.  The 6th Annual Edible Books Festival will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday at Groton Public Library. The event features foods created and decorated based on books or themes in a book. The event is free and open to the public.