5 Things You Need To Know Today: March 2

1. Today is the deadline for middle and high school students to submit their essay on what they love about Framingham to the Homework Center. Essay must be dropped off at the main Framingham Library by 5 p.m. today.

2. Today is National Read Across America Day. The event is a nation-wide, annual reading celebration, on what would have been Dr. Seuss’ birthday. This year’s book is the Seuss classic, Oh, The Places You’ll Go.

Framingham Schools: Framingham Patch would love to see you celebrations. Email us photos and news at susan.petroni@patch.com

3. In case you missed it: Over the weekend both the Framingham High School Drama Company and the Marian High Mainstagers earned a spot in the semifinal round of the Massachusetts Drama Festival competition. Both will compete again - but not against each other - on March 14.

4. Senator Karen Spilka, a Democrat from Ashland who represents Framingham, will continue a statewide tour of Senate districts, visiting businesses, universities and local organizations to listen to the concerns of the residents of MetroWest.

Today’s tour will begin at the Plainridge Park Casino to discuss issues impacting economic development in the region, followed by a stop at Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory to discuss collaboration between academia and the private sector in military research and development.

Later, S pilka and several other Massachusetts senators will tour the planetarium at the Christa McAuliffe Center atFramingham State University and discuss STEM education issues. The MetroWest tour will conclude with an open public forum at the Newton North High School cafeteria from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

5. Friday, Framingham Police Officers Michael Donnolly and Dolores “Dede” Coots retired from the force with a combined 69 years on the job. Click here to see a slideshow of photos.

​​BONUS: Have a new event coming up in Framingham?

Readers can post calendar listings on Framingham Patch in our Bulletin Board or post items to sell in our classified section for free. Click here for how to do that.