5 Things You Need to Know Today: Dec. 23

Our weekday morning column, 5 Things You Need to Know, provides you with information that can help you plan your day and give you some fodder for water cooler conversations.

1.  cafeteria, the site of the 2011 Immaculate Conception School “Breakfast with Santa.” Hundreds of people streamed in throughout the morning. Rob Pierce and crew were busy in the kitchen, cooking eggs, pancakes, French toast, bacon, sausage, and ham, while Jenn Murphy kept things running like clockwork in the main cafeteria. From face painting and tattoos to a cake walk and craft tables, the younger children were kept busy and laughing. The crowds enjoyed the highlight of the morning: the arrival of Santa Claus. 

2. Since Nov. 21, students have been scrounging loose change from under couch cushions, from the bottoms of pockets and purses, and from anywhere else coins turn up in order to donate funds toward Mayor Nancy Stevens' Heat and Eat Program. Every day classrooms would incorporate their day’s collections into a lesson. Then students would add up the money and cart it down to the front lobby, where an empty water jug awaited their deposits. Above the jug, a “barometer” indicated the collection’s progress based on the daily totals entered into a log by each class. On Friday, Dec. 16,—the final day of the collection—the barometer hit $966.79.

3. Most package stores in Massachusetts will be open on Monday, the day after Christmas, operating as "business as usual." But until this past Tuesday, liquor stores in Massachusetts were technically not going to be able to open the day after Christmas, according to a provision in the "blue laws" that had not been changed. Gov. Deval Patrick signed a bill that would allow package stores in Massachusetts to open on the day after Christmas, as the Boston Herald reported.

4. Mark Vital, a teacher at the , is starting a holiday venture called "Sweats for Vets." He is asking the great citizens of Marlborough to consider buying a sports related sweatshirt for a homeless veteran. Wrap the gift and drop him a message at run5kfast@yahoo.com and he will come and get it (or you could drop it off at AMSA). Donated gifts will be given to the homeless veterans of Vets, Inc. on Christmas Eve.

5.  If your kids want to keep track on Santa's travels over the next couple days, they should check out NORAD's website. 

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