The Daily Five: Marathon Runners, Jobs for Vets, Neighbors in Need, and Cops on a Hot Tin Roof

1. Today should be lovely, just a few clouds with a high temperature of 72 degrees, according to Weather.com, and a cool, mostly clear night with lows of 55 degrees. There's a 20 percent chance of rain during the day with a 10 percent chance of rain tonight. 

2. If you're stuck in the roadwork traffic along Route 1 at Flanders Four Corners today, don't be alarmed if you see people waving for help from the roof of Tri-Town Foods at 15 Chesterfield Road. They don't need rescuing but they could use some assistance.

Local police and corrections officers are participating in a Cops on Top fundraiser for Special Olympics. They'll be stuck on Tri-Town Food's roof from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m. today and from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. tomorrow and they can't come down until they've raised at least $5,000 for Special Olympics! So instead of sitting in traffic, why not stop by and give them a couple of bucks so they can at least hit the restroom once in a while!

3. The Niantic Bay Half Marathon will be happening on September 23. As the largest running event this side of the Connecticut River, it's expected to draw at least 200 people from out of state, so you might see a few more cars on the road on Sunday than usual for this time of year. Traffic impact should be minimal, however, as the race is contained to Giants Neck and Rocky Neck State Park.

On Sunday, the northbound land of Giants Neck Road will be open to alternating traffic, which will be directed by East Lyme Police Department. Traffic on Giants Neck Road south of Dell Lane will be directed to Griswold Drive, Dell Lane, and Edge Hill Road.

4. If you're a veteran or know someone who is, there's an event today that would probably be worth the drive to Rocky Hill. an annual event that offers veterans assistance in job placement, housing, and medical benefits. The free event runs from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on grounds of the State Veterans Home, located at 287 West Street, in Rocky Hill. If you need a ride, you can catch one from New London. 

5. Lyme Social Services Coordinator Kathy Tisdale is experiencing new, record levels of requests for assistance with necessities such as home heating oil, utility bills, and food. The town of Lyme doesn't have a budget line item for this so Tisdale depends on donations to help local folks who don't qualify for state or federal programs for one reason or another. And with the economy being the way it is, there are a lot of people who fall into that category. 

If you'd like to help your neighbors in need, please send donations to Kathy Tisdale at the Lyme Town Hall, 480 Hamburg Rd., Lyme, CT 06371. Checks should be made payable to the Emergency Assistance Fund.