The Daily Five: A Blue Moon and the First Man to Walk on it

1. We're in for another glorious day to kick start the holiday weekend. Weather.com predicts a high of 88 degrees under mostly sunny skies with an overnight low of 69 degrees. Tonight will be clear, which will make it easy to see the full moon for the second time this month. 

2. too, but though the term "blue moon" is commonly used to refer to a rare event, according to astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, blue moons actually occur about every 30 months.

"A month's second full Moon is the Blue Moon. Not rare. More frequent than Presidential elections, yet nobody calls them rare," he wrote on Twitter. 

3. What is undeniably rare, however, are the people who have actually set foot on the moon and, rather appropriately, today flags in Connecticut will be flying at half-staff from sunrise to sunset in memory of astonaut .

“Commander Armstrong and his contemporaries united this nation in exploration and discovery. The world watched as he stepped onto the moon and, in doing so, reinvigorated pride in our national space program and U.S. innovation,” said Governor Dannel P. Malloy. “Commander Armstrong leaves an extraordinary legacy of service to the country. Beginning with his duty in the Navy and culminating with his post-space flight work in higher education, he was committed to American progress. We stand with his family and friends in mourning the loss of an American hero.”

4. September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month and the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen have officially recognized it as a month to promote awareness and raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. 

Fundraising for the cause is already well underway. The 2012 Connecticut Leukemia Cup Regatta was held last weekend in Westbrook and Old Saybrook. More than 60 boats participated, their skippers and crews helping raise over $100,000. The total raised in 12 years the Regatta has been held in Connecticut adds up to a whopping $915,000, all of which goes to research and patient services. 

5. Looking for something to do this weekend? The East Lyme Historical Society will hold its annual Labor Day Flea Market this Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Thomas Lee House. Some of the society's favorite vendors will be returning again this year and bringing all kinds of treasures with them. 

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