Daily Five: Millers Pond As A Water Supply

1. Today should be partly sunny, with a high of 50, according to the National Weather Service. Tonight should be partly cloudy, with a low of 34, according to the service.

2. to prohibit stone processing and keep all excavation projects under two years, Robert Schacht raised his concerns about the proposal. Schacht owns Millers Pond, and for years has wanted to turn the pond into a public water supply.

To turn Millers Pond into a viable source of public water, the pond would have to be dug down so it would hold more water, Schacht said. Currently, the pond is about 9 feet deep, it would have to be dug down to 30 to 40 feet, he said.

The dredging project would take six to 10 years, and the stone would have to be processed at the site. The new text amendment would not allow Schacht to do that, as all excavation and stone processing would have to be completed in two years. But Town Planning Director Tom Wagner said a special exception could be made for a public water supply.

3. Recently, St. Bernard junior William Charles of Mystic was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout, according to the St. Bernard newsletter. Charles' Eagle project was to renovate a playscape at the , according to the newsletter. Charles oversaw 30 other scouts who put in more than 130 hours in renovating the park, according to the newsletter.

4. Two new movies open today at Waterford’s . New Year’s Eve, a romantic comedy starring Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Jon Bon Jovi, Robert De Niro and a host of other celebrities, plays at 4, 4:30, 6:45, 7:15, 9:25 and 9:50. The Sitter, a comedy starring Jonah Hill, plays at 4:20, 7:25 and 9:45.

5. On this date in 2008, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested for selling the senate seat vacated by Barack Obama, among other offenses. Blagojevich was just sentenced to 14 years in prison for those crimes. And on this date in 1979, the small pox virus was officially eradicated, becoming the first human disease to be completely eradicated.

Quote of the Day

“Is anybody here a marine biologist?”

-Woman in the crowd, Seinfeld

Trivia of the Day

On this date in 1851, the first ever North American YMCA is established in what city (hint: the city was also home to the 1967 World Expo, which it would name a sports team after)?

Yesterday’s Answers: Bill Clinton’s campaign message in 1992 was “It’s the economy, stupid,” George W. Bush stood in front of a banner stating “Mission Accomplished” on an air craft carrier in 2003 during the Iraq War, Harry Truman’s slogan was “The buck stops here,” George H.W. Bush said “Read my lips: no new taxes,” Franklin Roosevelt said “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” during his inauguration speech and Ronald Regan told Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to “Tear down that Wall!”