5 Things You Need to Know Today: May 24

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. The Memorial Day Parade in Milford will begin at 10 a.m. Monday, led by Grand Marshal Ralph Steeves, a World War II veteran. The parade will move up Main Street to Draper Memorial Park. Master of ceremonies for the event will be Joseph Lopes, retired Army Colonel. Eric Miller, a Milford High School student, will read Logan's Address.

2. The state Department of Transportation warns motorists that the heaviest travel this holiday weekend will be Friday and Monday afternoons, and early evenings. Drivers are encouraged to make travel plans accordingly and if possible avoid traveling between 1 and 7 p.m. on those days. The worst spots are at the I-84 interchange, Exit 9, on the Mass Pike and Exit 11A on I-495, which takes people to Cape Cod or New Hampshire and Maine..

3. If you have a Kindergartener entering school this coming year, and he or she is a little nervous, a week-long program will be offered in August by Milford Community School Use Program, designed to ease them into the new routine. Kinderstory is from Aug. 5 to Aug. 9, offered at two times at Shining Star Early Childhood Center. The cost is $100 for Milford residents.

4. State Sen. Richard Moore (D-Uxbridge) has received recognition for his efforts on behalf of hearing impaired children. The Massachusetts Hearing Aids for Children Coalition presented Moore with its Distinguished Legislator Award, in recognition of his role in the passage of legislation enacted last session that requires insurance coverage for child hearing aids.

5. Flags in the state will be lowered to half-staff on Tuesday in honor of U.S. Army SPC Mitchell K. Daehling, of Dalton, who died May 14 in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.