The Daily Five: An East Lyme Officer Remembered, a Bridge Gone Far, Ice Rink Hearing Part 2, and a Night With Poe

1. Expect a mix of clouds and sunshine today. There's a 20 percent chance of rain but it will most likely arrive in the form of late afternoon showers, according to Weather.com. Temperatures won't be much warmer than 63 degrees and will drop to 45 degrees overnight. 

2. East Lyme Police Department was quieter than usual yesterday morning as many members of the police department went to pay their final respects to William J. Stazick.

Although the younger officers didn't have the opportunity to work with him, Stazick served on the East Lyme Police Force for 37 years before retiring in 1993. He also served in the U.S. Navy aboard a minesweeper during World War II and was part of the invasion of Normandy. Stazick died earlier this week at the age of 92.

The family is requesting that those who wish to honor his memory kindly do so with donations to the Policeman's Benevolent Association of Niantic or to the VFW Kari Hill Post #5849 in Niantic.

3. The Old Lyme Zoning Commission will continue the public hearing that began at its last meeting on a request for a special use permit to allow the construction and operation of an indoor recreation facility in a light industrial zone at the end of Machnik Drive.

Old Lyme residents Kasie Munson and Patrick Pryor would like to build a year-round facility that would house a National Hockey League regulation-sized ice rink and an artificial turf playing field for soccer and lacrosse. 

residents of the Chestnut Hill neighborhood turned out in force to voice their objections to the proposal, which they fear would create traffic and noise problems. The discussion will resume at Old Lyme Memorial Town Hall at 7:30 p.m.   

4. The old Niantic Railroad Bridge was on the move yesterday. Loaded on two very long flat-bed trucks, two very large sections of steel girders were given a police escort through Niantic at noon on Tuesday. The two-truck procession attracted little attention but it was definitely an "oversized load."  

5. If you're looking for something chilling to do tonight, spend an evening at Old Lyme's Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library with the original master of mystery, Edgar Allan Poe.

Actor Campbell Harmon will be playing the role of Poe tonight at 7 pm. in an hour-long performance of dramatic readings of The Tell-Tale Heart and The Raven. The presentation includes biographical information and a discussion of Poe's place in American literature, and will be followed by an "in-character" Q&A session with the audience. Don't miss this chance to hear Poe quote "The Raven"!   

This Day in History

On October 10, 1865, the billiard ball was patented by John Hyatts.

Daily Trivia

What is the main difference between Pool and Billiards?

Yesterday's Answer: Costa Rica means "Rich Coast" 

(This Day and Daily Trivia compiled by John Carroll.)