The Daily Five: Don't Panic—It's Only a Drill!

1. After a drenching weekend, we're looking at a mostly sunny day with a high temperature of 76 degrees and an overnight low of 64 degrees. Weather.com predicts just a 20 percent chance of rain, although it might be cloudier this evening. 

2. In case you missed it: was as hot as the Jambalaya served by Gourmet Galley on July 27 and wetter than an oil painting on July 28, but a !

The wet weather didn't seem to keep anyone away from the third annual at Niantic's Harbor Hill Marina on July 28 either, with as many if not more people signing up to participate this year. Organizers had hoped to raise at least $20,000, which is about as much as was raised last year, but by the end of the event they were optimistic that they'd raised about $25,000. 

3. Niantic had water woes with and a boater who called 911 to say his vessel was sinking not far from the Niantic River Bridge on July 28.

It took three patrol boats and a host of emergency responders with binoculars to find it but in the end, all ended well. The boat was located over by Black Point in Niantic, still afloat but without power, and was safely towed to shore.

Sadly, the same cannot be said for everyone on the water this weekend. The in Groton on July 28. 

4. You'll be seeing a lot more emergency vehicles racing around town in the next couple of days. Don't panic, it's only a drill!

The state began a four-day test of its emergency preparedness response team over the weekend. As that coincided with Old Lyme's Midsummer Festival, locally the drill will be held over the next two days. Today is designed to see how well local and state emergency responders would prepare for landfall of a Category 3 hurricane and tomorrow will test the post-landfall response.  

Towns that volunteered to participate in the drill, which include East Lyme and Old Lyme, received a $1,200 stipend to help offset costs from the state Department Energy and Environmental Protection through a U.S. Department of Energy Grant as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

5. Got any items in good nick that you don't want any more? The Lyme Public Hall is seeking donations for its Annual Tag and Bake Sale, which will be held August 4 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Furniture, tools, small appliances, linens, housewares, toys, and decorative items would be particularly welcome.

You can drop off donations today until August 2 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and Thursday night, August 2 from 6 to 9 p.m. Sale organizers kindly request that you don't drop off large appliances, sofas, clothing, records, books, computers or large exercise equipment.

Do you have news you'd like to share? You can reach me anytime at www.jayne.keedle@patch.com