Daily Five: A Girl Helping Women

1. Isolated showers are expected after 1 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. Tonight, the service says showers are likely. The high today is 73, with a  low of 62, according to the service.

2. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, 14-year-old Natalie Anderson will hold her fifth annual community yard sale at Veterans Field, which raises money for the New London Woman’s Center. Anderson will also be accepting donations of new children’s pajamas for the shelter.

Anderson has raised more than $16,000 for the shelter in five years.

3. Patch caught up with Republican Town Committee chairwoman Kathleen McCarty recently and asked her if there was a central theme for the Republicans this election.

McCarty said there was not single platform all the Republicans would endorse, although she did say Republicans in general are more fiscally conservative. She also said while there is no single issue, there would be a theme.

“Our theme is progress through cooperation,” McCarty said. “Trying to work well on all the boards; working together for the betterment of the entire town.”

McCarty, who is on the board of education and is not up for re-election, said she was personally going to push for private-partnerships at the school. Before, the board has resisted that, but with money harder to come by, it's becoming more and more necessary, she said.

She would be open to companies giving money for certain items, such as Dominion or Pfizer giving money for a lab, and then a plaque acknowledging their contribution.

4. Some quick hits:

-Tonight is back to school night at Quaker Hill Elementary School.

-Tonight is also another chance to register for preteen basketball, from 5:30 to 7:30 at the community center. Children between grades 3 and 7 are eligible.

-Today is picture day at Oswegatchie Elementary School.

5. On this date in 1981, Sandra Day O’Connor is unanimously approved by the Senate, and becomes the first female Supreme Court Justice. And on this date in 1780, Norwich’s own Benedict Arnold gives the British plans to West Point. Arnold was in command of the fort at West Point and planned to give it to the British, but was discovered.

Quote of the Day

“It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.”

-Upton Sinclair

Trivia of the Day

What was the title of book Sinclair wrote in 1906 about the food industry, leading to the creation of the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act?

Yesterday’s Answer: Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in 1973 in “The Battle of the Sexes” tennis match.