5 Things You Need To Know Today in Framingham: January 27

1. Baker-Polito Administration awarded a total of $4 million in state grant funds to 15 police and fire departments to help these municipalities maintain their public safety and emergency response services.

Framingham received $81,133 for its police department, as part of the Massachusetts Municipal Public Safety Staffing Grant.

“Communities across the Commonwealth should feel confident that their police and fire are staffed adequately to do their job whenever the call for help comes in,” said Gov. Charlie Baker.. “These resources will support our municipalities and first responders in keeping their communities safe.”

“This is a very helpful grant,” said Framingham Town Manager Bob Halpin. “The grant “will allow the (police) department to backfill the vacancies created when he added extra support to the Framingham Public Schools to add school resource officers. It is a very, very welcome bit of help from the state.”

Click here to read more about the $81,133 grant for the Town of Framingham.

2. Author Stephen Kurkjian, a retired Boston Globe investigative reporter, will talk about the biggest theft in art history and his new book Master Thieves: The Boston Gangsters Who Pulled off the Worlds Greatest Art Heist tonight at 7 in the Blumer Community Room at the Memorial Building. The talk is free and sponsored by the Framingham Public Library.

3. During the Framingham High boys ice hockey game against the Rebels of Walpole tonight at Loring Arena, a 50-50 raffle will be held to benefit the Denna Laing Fund.

Laing, a Boston Pride hockey player, was injured during the women’s hockey game during the Winter Classic at Gillette Stadium on Dec. 31. She played for the Assabet Valley youth hockey teams growing up in Marblehead, before eventually leading the Princeton University women’s hockey teams at captain her junior and senior year. Several Framingham girls hockey players also have played for the Assabet Valley teams, and still do now. Laing’s dad Dennis coaches for Assabet Valley.

The puck drops at 7.

MORE FLYERS in action:

• Boys swim & dive team has a home meet against Reading at 7:30 p.m. at Keefe Technical’s pool. The team is coming off a loss to Needham Friday night.
• The Framingham High wrestling team lost to the Tigers of Newton North Tuesday. Click here to see a slideshow of 30 photos.
• Boys ice hockey team hosts Walpole at Loring Arena at 7.
• Girls basketball lost to Walpole Tuesday night on the road. The team is still looking for its first Conference win.
• Girls ice hockey has an away game against Walpole. Puck drops at 8 p.m.
• Boys basketball lost to Walpole Tuesday night, also. The team is now 7-6 on the season.

MUSTANGS in action: Marian High has no athletic contests scheduled today.

4. Next month, OUT MetroWest will expand its Nexus program for LGBTQ and allied middle school youth.

Nexus, is a first-in-the-Commonwealth program for middle school youth, that provides a safe space to explore questions relating to sexual orientation and gender identity. Meetings include a light dinner, group discussions, and diverse activities.

The first program was established in Framingham. The new program would be in Newton. There is a meeting about the expansion to Newton tonight at the Eliot Church in Newton from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Click here for more details.

5. PLAN AHEAD: Angry Ham’s Grill and Bar will bring back legendary comedian Lenny Clark for a second show on January 28. The AHG Comedy Series part 2 will feature Clarke and comedians Tony V and Graig Murphy.

Clarke, one of the nation’s most recognized comics, will host and perform during omorrow night’s show. Tickets are still available.