5 Things You Need To Know Today: Feb. 10

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. Despite the , students are still on the warpath. After contacting several media outlets, staging sit-ins and waging a letter battle, students recently painted "The Rock" on Route 85 entering Hudson. Do you think it's time to move on? Give us your opinion in the comments. 

2. President and CEO of , Will Willis, recently announced the promotion of Jim Greer from vice president of operations to executive vice president. Greer has been with the company for almost 18 years. A native of Georgia, he was responsible for moving the entire operation from Georgia to Marlborough in 2002, where they currently occupy a large facility on Cedar Hill Street.

3. The Friends of the  will present the first program in the McConnell Author/Celebrity Series in this the 2011-2012 Season of their 42nd Year. Featured on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. will be Tom Ryan, critically acclaimed author of "Following Atticus," the true story of a man and a dog embarking on the challenge of a lifetime. This is author Tom Ryan’s inspiring tale of how he and his miniature schnauzer companion, the 'Little Buddha' Atticus M. Finch, attempted to scale all forty-eight of New Hampshire’s four thousand foot White Mountains twice in the dead of winter, said a release. It is a story of love, loss, and the resilience of the human and animal spirit that’s as thrilling as "Into Thin Air" and featuring the most endearing and unforgettable canine protagonist since "Marley and Me." Tom will be appearing with Atticus.

4. A report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has identified January 2012 as the fourth-warmest January on record for the contiguous United States.

5. We are always looking for  with an interesting viewpoint at Marlborough Patch. Email josh.gray@patch.com if you are interested in joining the team!

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