Daily Five: School Maintenance Staff Stretched To The Limit

1.  Today is Friday, July 13. The National Weather Service predicts fog before 8 a.m., then sunny skies and a high temperature of 82 degrees. The low will fall to 64 tonight.

2.  School Facilities Director Wes Greenleaf told the Town Council Thursday that maintenance staff for the schools has reached its maximum as to how much it can do on school construction.

School employees are building11 rooms in Groton’s two middle schools, including two school-based health centers, a guidance suite, an in-school suspension room, classrooms and storage areas.

Facilities staff are also removing closets, converting showers to storage, building walls and working on pluming, electrical and heating and ventilation systems. Staff are also handling other projects such as removing asbestos and installing boilers.

“To get that much work is beyond the capacity of our maintenance department,” Greenleaf said. “We are stretched to the absolute limit this year, but we are getting the work done,” he said.

3.  Groton Public Library is offering at program The program offers fun facts about lightning bugs, and is geared toward children in pre kindergarten through grade 2. Children will make a glow in the dark bug jar to use this summer, and hear the story Sam and the Firefly by P.D. Eastman. Registration is required.

4.  The opens today at 5 p.m. at the Velvet Mill on Bayview Avenue in Stonington. The exhibition is free, and includes work by ceramicists, glass makers, jewelry makers, metal artists, painters, photographers, sculptors, and weavers.

5.  The is open at noon on Sunday in Mystic to pick up local produce. Each week residents can find local fruits and vegetables, meat, honey, eggs, maple syrup, herbs, jellies and preserves, cheese and many other items. The market runs until October 28.