5 Things You Need to Know Today: April 15

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. This morning the Boston Marathon begins in neighboring Hopkinton. , because Hopkinton and State Police will start closing off access to the town's center.

2. Today is Patriots Day, a holiday in Massachusetts for state offices and local offices, including Milford Town Hall. The holiday commemorates the Battle of Lexington and Concord, fought in 1775.

3. Despite the holiday, trash collection will be on schedule today and for the rest of the week in Milford.

4. If you lost power Sunday afternoon into evening, you can blame Corvus brachyrhynchos, the common American Crow. A bird stepped on two power lines above Congress Street, knocking out power to 1,000.

5. Despite the holiday, most retailers and banks will be open today.