Week In Review: Looping Programs, Penguins, Salty Dog

There was a bit of a break in the budget season this week as the Board of Finance did not meet for budget hearings. However, we learned that state aid to Stonington remains the same for the upcoming fiscal year.

The Planning and Zoning Commission met during the week and approved an application for an 11-lot open space development subdivision for North Stonington Road.

And in other town meeting news, Stonington School officials held a public forum on the middle school looping programs. What do you think of the looping programs?

We caught up with Amy Rubin, the owner of Salty Dog Barber & Shave in Mystic, and talked about her plans to expand.

The Mystic Aquarium welcomed two African Penguin chicks to the area.

Catch up on some of the blog posts we had this week: L+M RN Wednesday -- Michelle Murphy by L+M Hospital, Portal Back In Time: Early 1900's Postcards by Amanda Hopkins and Staged to Sell: Preparing Your Home For Sale in the Current Market by .

Everyday in 2013 we will share at least one photograph of a . It’s our way of making sure we take at least a moment each day to stop, look and appreciate what we have around us. We encourage you to share your tranquility photos by tweeting them to @StoningtonPatch, tagging Stonington on Facebook, and adding them to this gallery.

Thanks to James Gibbs Aia Architect, Don's Dock and Mystic Auto Center for recently claiming their directory listings on Patch. If you have a business in Stonington, Mystic or Pawcatuck that you want listed on Patch for free or want to claim email Editor Bree Shirvell.

We covered lots more this week and throughout the weekend, so search the site for other stories, follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates and check out our calendar to see what's happening next week in town.