Daily Five: The Last Day for Waterford Patch, Earth

1. Today, rain is likely in the morning and it should be windy, according to the National Weather Service. Tonight, there is a chance of showers and possibly even snow, with a low around 34, according to the service.

2. Well, today is the last day listed on the Mayan calendar. Translation: it is our last day on earth.

Enjoy it. There are thousands of end-of-the-world parties scheduled for tonight throughout America, so go to one of those. Or have Christmas early with the family.

At the very least, it is the winter solstice. Which means it is the shortest day of the year, as the sun is expected to rise at 7:11 a.m. and set at 4:22 p.m., according to weather.com. So at the very least, enjoy the 9 hours and eleven minutes of sunshine.

3. At the December 10^th meeting of the Waterford Police Commission, the group unanimously approved a $5.3 million budget for the police department for the 2013-14 fiscal year, according to meeting minutes. First Selectman Dan Steward, a member of the commission, abstained from the vote.

The $5.3 million proposal represents a $315,379 increase from this year’s $4.99 million total, or a 6.3 percent increase. The budget still needs to be approved by the Waterford Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance and the Representative Town Meeting.

4. Some new movies have arrived at Waterford’s Regal Cinemas.

Jack Reacher, starring the timeless Tom Cruise, plays at 1, 4:20, 7:20 and 10:15. Monsters, Inc, which is being rereleased in 3D, plays at 7:15 and 10:10. This Is 40, a comedy by Judd Apatow starring Leslie Mann and Paul Rudd, plays at 4:10, 7:10 and 10:05. And The Guilt Trip, which was released earlier this week and stars Seth Rogen and Barbara Steisand, plays at 4:25, 6:55 and 10:20.

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5. On this date in 1937, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – the world’s first full-length animated feature – premiered at the Carthay Circle Theater. And on this date in 1913, the world’s first crossword puzzle was published in the New York World. The puzzle was called the “word-cross.”

Quote of the Day

“Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools.”

-Napoleon Bonaparte

Trivia of the Day

Can you name the seven dwarfs from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs?

Yesterday’s Answer: President Thomas Jefferson and Napoleon Bonaparte of France were the leaders who agreed to the Louisiana Purchase.