5 Things You Need To Know Today—Monday, April 9

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1) She burns like the sun: There's a "Red Flag" warning in effect from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. for Melrose and most of Massachusetts, meaning that a combination of low humidity and strong winds raises the risk of wildfires starting and spreading rapidly. Don't go burning leaves outside in your backyard today.

Meanwhile, today's forecast: A slight chance of showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59. Breezy, with a west wind between 18 and 24 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent. Tonight, mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Breezy, with a west wind 17 to 20 mph decreasing to between 9 and 12 mph. (Forecast by the National Weather Service.)

2) Cash rules everything around me: Three aldermen's subcommittees meet tonight, including the Appropriations Committee, which will discuss a requested $250,000 bond for design and project management services for Melrose High School improvements. Also on the docket: $22,500 from free cash to the suits cand claims stabilization trust fund, and $43,000 from the contract stabilization to the Melrose Fire Department's salary and wages account.

3) My dog wears a path on the same line: As part of the Park Commission's meeting tonight at 7 p.m., there will be a .

4) I'm going through changes: Tonight is Transition Night at the middle school.

5) Woke up, got out of bed, dragged a comb across my head: Here's our lineup of weekly columns that run each Monday on Melrose Patch:

• Best of Patch Readers' Choice: We'll focus on a different area of business each week, as we're looking to help Melrosians get the best service, deals and meals in Melrose only. Vote in our polls, leave comments why you enjoy a particular establishment or business, while also posting a review of a local business. The winner is decided upon by the Patch editor, based on poll results and reviews in our Places directory.

• CANCELED—: We bid farewell to this column, which will be replaced by ...

• You Ask, Patch Answers: Each Monday, we'll take a question submitted by a reader and try to get the answers you're looking for.

• ? Our weekly mystery photo runs every Monday at 3 p.m. and asks you to guess where the photo was taken in Melrose. Guess correctly and you can win a prize.

Check our calendar for the full slate of events—and add your own!