5 Things Dec. 8: Santa, E-Waste 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. Santa to visit Wetherells
Santa is coming to Wetherells Lawn and Garden 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring a camera, pets and/or kids and they’ll do the rest.

2. Roche Bros. holiday tasting
Roche Bros. in Norton invites you to join a holiday tasting. in store Dec. 8 and 9 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be beautiful centerpieces, ham and sweet and savory desserts. You can also sample select holiday items like Sea Gold Seafood Crab Dip, Savory Strudels, Winter Wonderland Cakes and more.  

3. E-Waste collection
Miller Recycling Corporation will hold an e-waste event 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 73 Plymouth St., Mansfield. Everyone is welcome. A charge of $6 will be collected for monitors and TVs, regardless of size. All other electronics no charge. Half of proceeds will be donated to the Westside Benevolent Society. Miller Recycling Corporation will also be taking in Toys for Tots & Goods for Troops donations at this event.

4. ABCC Kicks off Operation Safe Holidays
Treasurer Steven Grossman and the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC), in conjunction with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) national Impaired Driving Crackdown, will focus enforcement efforts at bars throughout the Commonwealth during the 2012 holiday season. The operation started the night before Thanksgiving, and will continue through New Year’s Eve.

Impaired driving is a significant cause of injuries and fatalities in the United States and is estimated to cost $37 billion annually. In 2010 more than 10,000 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes – one person every 51 minutes. Sale to Intoxicated Persons (SIP) enforcement by the ABCC is considered an effective tool to stop it at the source. Well over 50 percent of impaired driving arrests originate at Massachusetts bars.

To date, in 2012 the ABCC has conducted enforcement operations in approximately 200 municipalities throughout the Commonwealth and has responded to 500 complaints relative to underage drinking and the sale of alcohol to intoxicated individuals. Approximately 250 bars and liquor stores have been charged with violations under the Liquor Control Act.

5. High near 46, low around 37
Today is a 90 percent chance of showers, mainly before 1 p.m. with patchy fog. The temperature high will be near 46. Calm wind will become northwest around 6 mph in the morning. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Tonight there is a 20 percent chance of showers before 4 a,m. with patchy fog. Otherwise, it will be cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 37. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph after midnight.