5 Things You Need to Know Today: Dec. 15, 2011

Good morning, Silver Spring! Here are five things to know this Thursday to help you keep up-to-date about what’s going on in the community:

1. There is a chance of showers, mainly after 3 p.m, according to the National Weather Service. It should be mostly cloudy throughout the day with temperatures reaching a high near 60 degrees. Later on tonight, there is a slight chance of rain with temperatures dropping to the low 40s.

2. The Silver Spring Urban District Advisory Committee meets at the Silver Spring Civic Center today at 3 p.m. The committee works to ensure that the downtown is well maintained and sponsors summer concerts including the annual jazz festival.

3. The Silver Spring Town Center Arts Salon is hosting an event that is a sure way to get your creative thoughts flowing while you network with other community artists. Poet Laura Shovan will discuss "How a Poet Uses A Mask." The conversation starts at noon inside of the Silver Spring Civic Building located at One Veterans Place.

4. County Executive Isiah Leggett is looking for three applicants to sit on the  Committee on Hate/Violence. It is comprised of 15 voting members who are County residents, and six ex-officio, non-voting members from government agencies, including Montgomery County Public Schools and Montgomery College. Members must be county residents. The deadline to apply is next Friday, December 23, 2011.

5. Coming up in Silver Spring Patch, our regular "Viewfinder" feature. Come back to see if we captured you this week.