5 Things You Need to Know Today: Jan. 17

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. Be very careful on your way out of the house this morning. The mix of snow and freezing rain on the ground is slippery. You don't have to worry about the kids getting to school this morning, however, as today is an already scheduled professional development day for staff. 

2. Auditions for the Ghost Light Players’ first production, Almost, Maine, will be held today, Tuesday, Jan. 17 and Thursday, Jan. 19, from 7 to 9 p.m. at . The show calls for an ensemble cast of 10 people (5 men, 5 women) within the age range of twenties to early forties. Ghost Light Players will be performing Almost, Maine in March of 2012. For additional information on the theater company or the show, Almost, Maine, email info@ghostlightplayers.com or visit www.ghostlightplayers.com.

3. There will be a ground-breaking ceremony for the new cancer pavilion at this Thursday, Jan. 19 from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

4. On Monday, Jan. 23 the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Marlborough/Hudson will officially get underway as cancer survivors, caregivers, families, schools, companies, faith-based and civic organizations gather at in Marlborough at 6:30 p.m. for a kick-off rally to launch their fundraising efforts for the year. At Relay, teams of people camp out at a local school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events. Teams do most of their fundraising prior to the event, but some teams also hold creative fundraisers at their camp sites during Relay. Mark your calendar for the 2012 Relay For Life of Marlborough/Hudson scheduled for June 8 at Ghiloni Park. Anyone interested in forming a team, volunteering for the event, joining the planning committee, or just learning more about Relay For Life is encouraged to attend the rally. Money raised through Relay For Life events throughout Massachusetts enable the American Cancer Society to impact the lives of those touched by cancer within the community by supporting vital, cutting-edge cancer research. For more information about the Relay For Life of Marlborough/Hudson to find out how to volunteer, or to RSVP for the Relay Kick-off, please contact Julie Schlacter, 2012 Relay For Life of Marlboro/Hudson Recruitment Chair at JulieSchlacter@aol.com. More information can also be found at RelayForLife.org/marlborohudsonma.

5. As it turns out, our area has its own version of Punxsutawney Phil! Ms. G of Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm in Lincoln will be delivering her local forecast at 9:30 am on Feb. 2. Ms. G is a groundhog that was orphaned soon after her birth in the spring of 2003. She was hand raised and has a bond with humans that prevents her from being truly wild and releasable. When she's not forecasting the weather, Ms. G is still a very busy groundhog. She travels to schools, scout troops, and other organizations as part of the Mass Audubon Ark Outreach program to educate both children and adults about her species. Check back with this column on Feb. 3 and we'll let you know how she decided the rest of our winter will go. 

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