Five Things You Need to Know This Week: Oct. 22-28

1. School Committee meets Monday night. 

The committee will meet early on Monday -- at 6 p.m. -- so you may be able to stop by the meeting and make it home in time to watch the presidential debate at 9 p.m. 

An agenda for Monday's meeting as not been posted as of this writing, but the committee's calendar of agenda items lists discussion of the amendment to the school building/alcohol use policy as well as discussion of system-wide goals. 

Monday's meeting will be held in room 210 at the Education Center.

2. It's Newton Restaurant week.

The first-ever Newton Restaurant week will run Sunday, Oct. 21 through Thursday, Oct. 25. More than a dozen local restaurants are participating. Check out this story for a list of the restaurants and their Restaurant Week specials. 

3. Reception for Beijing Jingshan Exchange Group.

Mayor Setti Warren and Superintendent David Fleishman will hold a reception on Tuesday, Oct. 23 for the city's 2012-2013 Beijing Jingshan Exchange Group program. The reception will be held in the War Memorial Auditorium at City Hall from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

4. Land Use Committee.

After stopping by the Terry O'Reilly's ribbon cutting at 5 p.m., you can head to the Board of Aldermen's Land Use Committee working session Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in room 222 at City Hall. The committee has a number of items on its agenda, including:

• One year extension for a special permit to construct a three-story mixed-use building at 39 Herrick Road. Herrick Road Realty Trust is proposing a building that would have housing, a 75-seat restaurant and underground parking.
• Special permit application to demolish the two-story building at 429 Cherry St. and in its place, construct a three-story, multi-family structure with 13 residential units and office space on the first floor.
• Special permit application to extend a current structure and construct a two-story commercial building at 49, 55 and 71 Needham St. The permit would allow for retail space, a 150-seat restaurant and freestanding signs. 

The committee's full agenda is available online.

5. Bill's 5K. 

The seventh annual Bill's Pizzeria 5K Road Race will take place on Sunday, Oct. 28 at 9 a.m. . For more information on the race, to register or to donate, visit the Bill's 5K website.