5 Things You Need to Know Today: May 9

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. A group of students from Milford joined nearly 200 other youth this week at the Massachusetts State House, taking part in the SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions)-sponsored event to talk with lawmakers about the impact of prevention work on alcohol and substance abuse.

2. Patricia Kelley, a fifth grade reading teacher at Stacy Middle School, is the recipient of the Nobscot Reading Council’s Celebrate Literacy award, presented at the Nobscot Spring Dinner on Wednesday at the Doubletree Hotel. She received the award based on exemplary accomplishments in areas including teaching, organizing local literacy programs and promoting support for literacy initiatives.

3. The Vernon Street railroad crossing in Milford will begin today. Look for detour signs if your travels take you down there Thursday. The schedule for the Grafton & Upton Railroad crossing installations is explained here.

4. Planet Fitness is donating $10 enrollment fees for the next week to breast cancer research, in honor of Mother's Day. See the details here.

5. The Milford Water Company is now conducting its fourth week of hydrant flushing. The pace has slowed, due to brush fires, and complaints about sediment and brown water have increased, which is causing the company to flush additional lines, according to manager David Condrey. See the attached PDF for information about what streets have been done to date, and which ones remain this week.