Five Things To Know Today, Sept. 16

1.  Today is Friday, Sept. 16.  The National Weather Service predicts sunny skies, and a high temperature of 66 degrees. The low will fall to 44 tonight.

2.  Enrollment is up in the Groton Public Schools. As of Wednesday, Superintendent Paul Kadri said enrollment had reached 5,135 students, or 150 more students than last year and 100 more than the district expected. Kadri told Representative Town Meeting Wednesday that the district will need to add a first grade class, possibly a half-day kindergarten class and may need some additional staff. He said he believes the increase is due to growth in the Navy population.

3.  Panera Bread is going forward with plans to open in the former Hollywood Video store in the shopping plaza that houses Kohl's and Stop & Shop. Panera filed an administrative site plan with the town Sept. 2 to install sidewalks and has posted a sign that the business is now hiring.

4.  River Road, part of which had to be rebuilt after the March 2010 floods, has been reconstructed. The road was passable during tropical storm Irene even though it had not yet been paved, Town Manger Mark Oefinger told Representative Town Meeting. The road was paved the following Monday and Tuesday, he said.

5.  The Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center will hold its 10^th annual Wild Mushroom Festival from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 25 at the center.  Area chefs including those from Heritage Trail Vineyards, Mystic Soup Company and Puritan & Genesta will make wild mushroom dishes at the event, a local brewer will offer beer and area bands will perform bluegrass music. Tickets are $12.50 for center members and $15 for non-members.