Daily Five: Police Dog Starts This Week

1.  Today is Tuesday, Jan. 17.  The National Weather Service predicts rain, a high temperature of 47 degrees and a west wind of 17 to 20 mph. The chance of precipitation is 90 percent. There's a chance of showers tonight, and the low will fall to 34 degrees.

2. Groton Town Police Officer Richard Savino and the police dog "Tek" have finished training with the North America Police Work Dog Association and begin patrolling together this week. Tek is a male German Shepherd certified in tracking, narcotics detection and patrol work. The police department also hired two new officers - Phil Fazzino and Heather McClellan - who start Jan. 27. 

3.  The Town Council is scheduled to vote tonight to authorize Town Manager Mark Oefinger to prepare and execute a purchase and sales agreement for the Spicer properties on Thomas Road. The town was awarded a $650,000 grant in Oct. 2010 to acquire the property, and additional money is available in the open space fund. The property had been appraised at $1.4 million as of November, 2010.

4.  The Groton Business Association holds its next meeting from 7:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday at the Captain Daniel Packer Inne on Water Street in Mystic.  Admission is free; Jim Bates of Edward Jones Investments is sponsoring breakfast. The association works to promote Groton-area businesses and meets on the third Thursday of each month.

5.  The Town Council is recognizing Linda Martin for 30 years of service with the Department of Public Works. Martin started with the department on Jan. 4, 1982 as a clerk typist,  then became an office clerk, administrative secretary and finally, the department's administrative assistant. She retired on Jan. 6 after 30 years. According to a proclamation to be read tonight, the town council "offers its deepest appreciation for the supportive, friendly and considerate manner that Linda Martin has maintained throughout her career..."