Daily Five: High Praise For The Chief

1.     Another sunny date, with a high around 74, according to the National Weather Service. Tonight should stay clear, with a low around 57, according to the service.

2.     Over the past five days, Patch has interviewed nearly everybody involved in the town’s emergency response to Irene, and almost every one said the same thing: Police Chief Murray Pendleton (ironically the one person Patch hasn’t talked to) has done an excellent job.

Aside from being the police chief, Pendleton is also the head of emergency management and the head of harbor management, all of which are affected by the storm. Person after person, from First Selectman Dan Steward to Youth Services Director Dani Gorman to police officers, have raved about Pendleton, offering up unsolicited compliments to the chief.

The overall theme was he has stayed calm through everything, never losing his cool, and has barely taken a break. And while much of the debris cleanup and power restoration is in the hands of Connecticut Light & Power, Pendleton has remained calm and hasn't begun finger-pointing (unlike other towns), many said. Also, Pendleton has been a strong leader, with a great knowledge of emergency response, Gorman said.

Also, every time Patch has driven by the emergency management building, which has been a lot and at all kinds of hours, Pendleton’s car has been parked in front. And it is worth noting that Pendleton is paid a straight salary and will not collect any overtime for his work. 

3.     Today, the entire staff at Waterford Public Schools, around 400 people, will have a convocation at Clark Lane Middle School. Superintendent Jerome Belair will begin his first full school year as the district leader, and has said he is excited to have the entire staff together. School starts for students on Tuesday, Sept. 6.

Belair invited Patch to the event Thursday morning, and we will run pictures and a story.

Also, on the topic of schools, today is the first day of school at the Friendship School.

4.     Three new movies open today at Waterford’s Regal Cinemas. They are: "Apollo 18," a horror movie, which plays at 4, 7 and 9:40; "The Debt," a thriller, which plays at 4:10, 6:50 and 9:25; and "Shark Night," another horror picture, which plays at 4:25, and plays in 3D at 7:20 and 9:45.

5.     On this date in 1963, the CBS Evening News is extended from 15 minutes to a full half-hour, the first prime-time newscast to go that long. And on this date in 1973, “Ring” fans mourned as J.R.R. Tolkien dies at the age of 82.

Quote of the Day

"I've been learning alot about the number of line crews that have been eliminated over the last couple of decades and they left themselves completely vulnerable... What is going on in Connecticut is shameful."

- Gary Cohen, New York Mets play-by-play announcer during Thursday's game

Trivia of the Day

How short was the shortest man (ironically, he died from smoking in 1997)?

Yesterday’s Answer: The current standout athlete whose first and middle name is Carsten Charles is Yankees ace CC Sabathia.