5 Things You Need to Know Today: March 8

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. March Madness is beginning soon at the Milford Youth Center, which is seeking high school or adult volunteers to help referee the youth games for its 4th annual March Madness Tourney. Youth players can sign up to participate throughout March. Draft will be 4 p.m. on March 18. Games will run Tuesday through Friday, and playoffs will be March 25 to 27. The championship game, three point contest, and dunk contest will be held on March 28. For more information, or to volunteer, call 508-473-1756.

2. The Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra will present "A Night at the Opera" on Saturday, a selection of popular arias and overtures from operas. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are still available.

3. State Police will hold a sobriety checkpoint on a Worcester County public way on Saturday, March 16 into Sunday, March 17.

4. Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center and Milford Regional Medical Center held a reception recently to celebrate the five-year anniversary of the cancer center’s founding at Milford. The two-story, 54,000-square-foot cancer center opened in 2008. Patients have access to medical and radiation oncology treatment and support services, including genetic screening and counseling, and nutrition counseling.

5. A pancake breakfast will benefit Middle School East student programs this month, at Applebee's Neighborhood Grill in Milford. The date is 8 to 10 a.m., Sunday, March 17. Tickets are $8 at the door, and include all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausages, coffee and juice.