The Daily Five: Flags at Half-Staff and Increased Police Patrols in Lyme

1. Today will start out sunny but will become increasingly cloudy as the day progresses and will be mostly cloudy tonight. Weather.com is forecasting a high temperature of 82 degrees and an overnight low of 68 degrees. There's just a 10 percent chance of rain. 

2. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy ordered all U.S. and state flags be lowered to half-staff until August 10 in response to a proclamation issued by President Barack Obama following the senseless in suburban Milwaukee on August 5.   

“Our hearts go out to the victims and their families as they cope with this terrible event,” said Governor Malloy. “Connecticut stands with the rest of the nation in mourning this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Wisconsin.” 

3. Lyme Board of Selectmen agreed to begin the process of seeking a Historic Designation for the Town Hall building at yesterday's meeting. They're pretty sure the building will qualify. The church, which is the oldest part of the Town Hall, was built in the 1870s.

The official designation will allow the town to apply for grants to the tune of about $200,000 to help pay for the planned Town Campus rennovation. As the design for the new Town Hall is geared to preserving the original church structure, the Board of Selectmen see this as a win-win.  

4. As the , local residents are being extra cautious. Lyme has always offered the option of additional police patrols at residents' requests but more people than usual have been taking the town up on the offer.

Since the burglaries, about half a dozen people have filled in requests for beefed up patrols in their neighborhood during periods when they know they will be away and their houses vacant, said Lyme First Selectmen Ralph Eno. The request forms are available at the Town Clerk's office or online. 

5. What's on the agenda tonight? The Darrow Pond Committee meets to discuss planned improvements to East Lyme's newest preservation project at 5:30 p.m. and East Lyme's Planning Commission meets at East Lyme Town Hall at 7 p.m.