The Daily Five: Windy Weather, Washing Cars for Dogs, and Thanks to Phil Trowbridge

1. The National Weather Service has issued a high wind alert for today, starting at 12 p.m. until 6 a.m. on Wednesday. (How they know that this far in advance amazes me!) 

Expect the weather to be very windy and wet. There's a 50 percent chance of rain during the day and 100 percent chance for rain tonight, according to Weather.com. The high temperature is likely to top out at 74 degrees and drop to 64 degrees this evening. We might also see some thunderstorms tonight and rain could be heavy at times.  

2. Phil Trowbridge is the kind of neighbor everyone wants. Need to borrow some tools, a fork lift truck perhaps? Trowbridge, who owns Trowbridge Stone Masonry on Machnik Drive, is always ready to lend a hand and, as it happens, his neighbor is the Town of Old Lyme's Public Works Department.  

Now Trowbridge is about to be on the receiving end for a change. Old Lyme First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder said she's sending off a certificate of appreciation from the town to thank him "for his many acts of kindness and generosity to the town."

Trowbridge is currently helping a local veterans organization install a stone base for a new flag pole. "Phil will install it for no cost," said Reemsnyder. "That's the kind of guy he is."  

3. Fundraising for Waterford-East Lyme's new animal shelter continues, one car wash at a time. Over the weekend, the roller derby ladies lent a hand with a car wash and bake sale to benefit the Waterford-East Lyme Animal Shelter Saturday.

The volunteer effort raised $934 for the animal shelter, with some people just driving by and giving the group money for the shelter, according to the Waterford-East Lyme Animal Shelter’s Facebook page. One woman paid $150 to have her car washed, when the asking price was $10, according to the Facebook page.

4. If it's a town meeting in Old Lyme, you know sewers are going to be on the agenda somewhere. The Old Lyme Board of Selectmen remains pretty excited about a proposal from Lombardo Associates Inc. that suggests using a smaller pipe system to pump sewage from septic systems to a treatment facility that could be located in Old Lyme, where the wastewater could be recycled for use at the local golf course and driving range. 

First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsynder is meeting today with officials from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to discuss the pros and cons of such a proposal. The board is trying to find an alternative to having all the beach communities hook up to New London's sewage system. 

Old Lyme Shores Beach Association and Old Colony Beach Association, meanwhile, are moving forward with their plans to install sewers and connect to New London's water treatment plant.

"DEEP has not changed its position on the need to install sewers and convey it off site," said Old Colony Beach Association President Doug Whelan. "Community sewer systems are still sewer systems and we don't want a treatment facility in Old Lyme. That's why we at Old Colony have decided to have sewers to New London." 

5. Jim Crawford, Democratic candidate for the open 33rd District State Senate seat (which includes Lyme), will hold a press conference at 1 p.m. today to announce "multiple major endorsements that could change the dynamic of the race." The event will be held at Essex Town Dock on the shore of the Connecticut River.

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