The Daily Five: Mental Health, Time to Plant, And Go Fish!

1. Today's forecast is pretty dreary. Weather.com is predicting wind and rain with a high of just 45 degrees and an overnight low of 39 degrees. Fortunately, the weekend looks more promising: mostly sunny with a high of 56 degrees on Saturday and 52 degrees on Sunday. 

2. Here's another sign of spring: Scott's Yankee Farmer is opening up the farmer's market for the season this Saturday! Scott's is inviting anyone who would like to plant impatiens to bring in their own containers from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. up to the greenhouse at the store on 436 Boston Post Road, East Lyme to plant their planters.

The cost is $5.00 for 50 impatiens plug plants and Scott's will care for the plants until May when it is safe to bring them outdoors. You'll find more information on the farm's Facebook page or you can call (860) 739-5209.

3. A steady stream of people have been coming to local town halls to get fishing licenses. Just in the nick of time, DEEP has released its popular A Fisheries Guide to Lakes and Ponds of Connecticut. It is available from the DEEP Store in paperback only for $24.95, and can be purchased online at www.ct.gov/deep/store or you can order it by calling (860) 424-3555.

4. Can't wait to go fishing? Saturday morning is Waterford Recreation and Parks' fishing derby at Stenger Farm Park. This annual event is designed to appeal to families and children of all ages are welcome. Registration is at 7:30 a.m. The event runs from 8 to 10 a.m. Waterford Recreation and Parks will supply the bait but you'll have to bring your own tackle.

5. Many people, including Rep. Marilyn Giuliano, have said that the legislature's focus on gun control missed an opportunity to address the root cause of inexplicable acts of violence: mental health. But there may still be time to address the issue. 

Today, the Sandy Hook Advisory Commission meets at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, where they will hear from behavioral health professionals on the services available for children and youths. The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. in hearing room 2D. 

The Sandy Hook Advisory Commission is a 16-member panel of experts created by Governor Malloy to review current policy and make specific recommendations in the areas of public safety, with particular attention paid to school safety, mental health, and gun violence prevention. 

Additional information on the group, including details on how to contact its members and documents from each of their meetings, can be found online at www.ct.gov/SHAC.