The Daily Five: Art Awards, A Field of Dreams, and a Wee Mile

1. You'll need an umbrella today! Weather.com is predicting showers this morning that will develop into heavy rain this afternoon and this evening, up to more than an inch in total. Temperatures will be warmer, with a daily high of 51 degrees and an overnight low of 37 degrees. 

2. It's not too late to register for the Hartford Marathon's O'Niantic 5K and wee mile, which will be held on Saturday, March 16, starting at 9 a.m. in front of Niantic Bay Bicycles on Methodist Street in Niantic. Participants can walk, run, or jog, and there will be additional fun races for kids, plus the annual "restaurant relay." This event is a fundraiser for the Pajama Program (which provides sleepwear for children in need). 

3. Given Old Lyme's artistic history, it's perhaps no surprise that our area produces a number of outstanding young artists. Over the weekend, Sen. Art Linares presented state citations to outstanding high school art students from East Lyme, Old Lyme, and Lyme at the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts. Congratulations!  

4. Pioneer Athletics recently honored East Lyme Parks and Recreation Department for the outstanding job it has done on Keser Field at Peretz Park in Niantic. The town's staff won Pioneer Athletic's annual Fields of Excellence Award. East Lyme was the only Connecticut honoree from among 73 nationwide winners.  

"At Pioneer Athletics we are proud to salute the men and women who work hard to make game day a special day by producing an exceptional field of play," Pioneer Athletics said in announcing the winners. "Faced with tightened budgets and being asked to do more with less, the field crews of these schools and organizations exemplified team work and dedication in 2012." 

Parks and Recreation Director David Putnam said he couldn't be prouder of everyone for all their hard work. A good job all around!

5. Lillie B. Haynes annual pasta dinner and basket raffle was snowed out last week but it has been rescheduled for Friday, March 15 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. If you volunteered to help or to bring a dessert (or would like to!) please contact Rebecca Carpenteri at Rebecca@peck-tuneski.com. Follow this link to RSVP for this PTA fundraiser by March 14. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for kids, or $9 and $6 respectively at the door.