Daily Five: Commercial Real Estate Values Down 10.5 Percent in Groton

1.  Today is Tuesday, Feb. 21.  The National Weather Service predicts cloudy skies, a high temperature of 45 degrees and a chance of showers, mainly after 5 p.m. The low will fall to 40 degrees tonight.

2.  Commercial real estate values fell 10.5 percent and residential values dropped 6.9 percent since the 2010 grand list, according to a memo from Groton Finance Director Sal Pandolfo. Property values changed because Groton just went through a revaluation. The assessor signed the 2011 grand list on Jan. 31. The list showed some increases in values: industrial real estate went up 3.3 percent; personal property climbed 16.8 percent and motor vehicle values increased 11.3 percent.

3.  The spring and summer editions of "Discover", which lists the Groton Department of Parks and Recreation programs, will be mailed to residents this week. For more information or to register for a program, go to www.grotonrec.com.

4.  The Groton Utilities Energy Assistance Program, which helps people who have received shut off notices, has a balance of $10,569, according to a report by the town manager. The fund was down to $12 on June 30, but has received large donations from several people, civic groups and businesses. Groton Utilities matched the donations, 50 cents per dollar.

5.  The Groton Senior Center will hold its annual Community Services Fair from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 28.  More than 82 agencies and businesses will have booths at the event, and presentations on topics like getting organized and saving home energy will be held in various classrooms during the day.