Five Things You Need to Know Today: Aug. 23

1. Author talk. The  will hold a free book talk tonight with author Christopher Klein, who will discuss his book Discovering Boston Harbor Islands: A Guide to the City’s Hidden Shores. The free event begins at 7:30 p.m. and a book signing will follow the program, with books provided by the New England Mobile Book Fair. 

2. The Washington Monument May Never Be the Same. On this date just a year ago, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake occurred in Mineral, Va. It cracked the Washington Monument in D.C., and 

3. Add your photos to our community photo/video gallery. Do you have a great shot of a sunset in Newton? Snap photo of your son's soccer team or your daughter's hockey team? Catch a video of the winning goal? Upload it to our community gallery and share with your neighbors. Plus, we may just feature it on our home page!

4. Crescent Street JAPG. The joint advisory planning group (JAPG) that has come together to study the former Parks & Recreation office building on Crescent Street (see photo to the right) will meet tonight at 7 p.m. in the Planning Department conference room on the lower level of . The group will discuss potential reuse of the property. (The Parks & Recreation Dept. ).

5. More sports team practices start today. While football and cheerleading began on Monday, the majority of the varsity sports teams at and will start practice today. .