5 Things Dec. 15: Yuletide at Winslow Farm, Polar Express Pajama Party and More

Things You Need to Know Today is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. Check back later for more, and let us know what you think of the feature in the comments section.

1. Yuletide event at Winslow Farm
Winslow Farm Animal Sanctuary will be holding a yuletide event noon to 3 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Visitors can take a tour of the farm and meet the animals who live there, then stop to meet Father Christmas, who has arrived especially for this event. Later, sit by a roaring fire and enjoy the beautiful scenery. From 6 to 8 p.m., there will be a candlelight walk through the barns at Winslow Farm, where one can take a few moments to appreciate the beauty and peacefulness of the season. This is an outdoor event; we suggest appropriate winter weather dress. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children and kids under 2 are admitted free. Hot chocolate will be available for sale.

2. Polar Express pajama party
1 Step Closer 2 Home , a ministry of New Testament Baptist Church, is hosting a Polar Express pajama party-movie night for the entire family. The donation cost is $5 per person or $10 per family.  Hot chocolate and movie snacks will be served. Bring your favorite stuffed animal along with your pillow.

3. “The Velveteen Rabbit” performance
The Benjamin Franklin Institute, 41 Berkeley St., Boston, will perform “The Velveteen Rabbit” on Saturdays and Sundays Dec. 15, 16, 22 and 23. All performances are at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by visiting the BCT website at www.bostonchildrenstheatre.org or calling the BCT Box Office at 617-424-6634, extension 222. School groups can also reserve tickets for weekday performances by contacting the BCT Box Office.

4. NOAA releases Sandy assessment team details
An official commissioned team will assess the performance of the NWS during Hurricane/Post-tropical Cyclone Sandy. The team is slated to meet this month and begin its fieldwork Jan. 6, 2013.

The team will be multi-disciplinary, including two social scientists and 10 experts from across NOAA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Team members whom are employed by NOAA have been selected from around the country and were not involved in forecasting Sandy to allow for impartial review. The team leader will be a scientist with NOAA's Marine Fisheries Service.

The newly commissioned assessment team will have three areas of focus: the philosophies and policies behind the forecast and the weather watch and warning products and how they are communicated; how storm surge products are produced and issued from multiple NOAA line offices; and the web presence as a tool for communicating with the public.

The team will conclude the assessment with a report identifying facts, findings, and best practices and will make recommendations for process changes and service improvements that can be made within six months.

5. High near 41, low around 27
Today will be sunny, with a high near 41. North wind will be 3 to 7 mph. Tonight there is a 20 percent chance of snow after 3 a.m. Otherwise, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 27 and calm wind.