Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Groton Public Schools Provides Updates On Free Meals For Students
And check out 93rd Annual Meetinghouse Rocks Fair on the Groton Patch calendar

What's up Groton! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Groton schools expand free meal access for all students next year
- How much of this new Navy contract lands in Groton?
- How Mystic's balky drawbridge briefly snarled Groton-area traffic and boating
Also on today's calendar: 93rd Annual Meetinghouse Rocks Fair and 8 more events.
Today's riddle: What is full of holes but still holds water? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Friday: Not as warm with rain, with a high of 75 and low of 67 degrees.
- Saturday: Cloudy, showers around; humid, temps: high: 74, low: 68.
- Sunday: A shower and t-storm; humid, with a high of 76 and low of 65 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Groton Public Schools Provides Updates On Free Meals For Students (patch.com) — Families in Groton can look forward to free breakfast for every student across all eight public schools during the 2026–2027 year, with some schools also providing free lunch. Groton Middle, Mystic River Magnet, Thames River Magnet, and Catherine Kolnaski Elementary students will receive both meals at no cost, while all families are urged to complete the online free and reduced meal application to help secure additional resources.
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• General Dynamics Mission Systems Wins $15.6M Navy Contract for Shipset Systems Development (envzone.com) — A new $15.6 million Navy contract will send a quarter of the work to Groton, supporting software and hardware systems development and installations tied to shipset production. The project runs through August 2027 and involves multiple Navy funding streams, underscoring Groton's continuing role in major undersea defense work.
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• Two days of problems for Mystic drawbridge (theday.com) — Groton residents should know the Mystic River Bascule Bridge briefly stuck open Wednesday evening after two days of mechanical trouble, prompting bulletins from Groton and Stonington police and downtown traffic detours. Boat traffic to Mystic Seaport and local marinas was disrupted, cruises were canceled, and visiting vessels were delayed until the span finally operated again Wednesday night.
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📸 Around Groton
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Groton
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- 93rd Annual Meetinghouse Rocks Fair →
Norwichtown Green, 71 E Town St, Norwich
9:30 am - Tricycle →
Deans Mill Farm, 1189 Pequot Trail, Stonington
3:00 pm
Saturday August 22
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- CT Audubon – RTP Estuary Center: Shorebird Walk – August 22, 2026 →
Bluff Point State Park, 55 Depot Rd, Groton
9:00 am - Leprechauns on the Loose @ Bill Memorial Library →
Bill Memorial Library, 240 Monument St, Groton
10:00 am - Grill, Chill and Pour: It's Community BBQ Time! →
Outer Light Brewing Company, 266 Bridge St, Groton
2:00 pm - Groton City Farmers Market Summer 2026 →
Washington Park Playgrounds, 24 Griswold Ave, Groton
3:00 pm - Meet & Greet (Come meet your child's teacher)
Mary Morrisson School Groton, CT 06340
6:15 pm - Pours with Purpose with the Zara Manzur Foundation →
Outer Light Brewing Company, 266 Bridge St, Groton
2:00 pm - Demi Lovato →
Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd, Uncasville
7:30 pm - Trivia at Outer Light Brewing →
Outer Light Brewing Company, 266 Bridge St, Groton
6:30 pm - Commemoration of the 245th anniversary of the battle of Groton Heights →
Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park, Groton
6:00 pm
Saturday August 22
Sunday August 23
Tuesday August 25
Friday August 28
Saturday August 29
Wednesday September 2
Sunday September 6
📣 Groton Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Waterford Farmers Market →
Waterford Community Center, 24 Rope Ferry Rd, Waterford
10:00 am - Senior Citizens Commission →
Waterford, CT Calendar, Waterford Community Center, Waterford
4:00 pm - Design Review Board Meeting →
Waterford, CT Calendar Waterford, CT 06385
4:00 pm - Recreation and Parks Commission Meeting →
Waterford, CT Calendar, Community Center 24 Rope Ferry Road, Waterford
4:30 pm
Saturday August 22
Tuesday August 25
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Groton PatchAM possible:
- Werrlein Companies — (860) 785-0125
- Deans Mill Farm — (860) 245-5487
- California Closets — (203) 924-8444
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- 🚨🚨SCAM ALERT: Fake Vehicle Listings Targeting Local Groups
Neighbors, please be aware of a widespread vehicle sale scam currently being posted in local neighborhood feeds. The Script: The scammer posts an… (Nextdoor Groton Bank Thames River)
- Big Y Foods, Inc. posted a job opening for (Overnight) Night Crew Clerk in Groton. Apply here.
- Groton Public Schools posted a job opening for Math Teacher in Groton. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Groton here.
🗞 Nearby News
New London
- Commemorative Stamp for U.S. Coast Guard Academy Milestone (thetowncommon.com)
- Col. Rogers' ancestor had Revolutionary War service, Museum learns (thepetersburgobserver.com)
Waterford
- Waterford man charged with manslaughter in Montville overdose death (theday.com)
Ok Groton! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A sponge (Thank you Netty W. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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