5 Things You Need to Know Today: May 17

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. It's so frustrating to find a hole in your pool when you go to open it for the season. . I'm not really sure how you patch that.

2. Scavengers who go through trash and recycling in town are on two annual town meeting warrants for this Monday's meeting. . One warrant article (which was submitted by petition) wants to ban scavengers from town altogether while another town meeting warrant asks for people who want to go through curbside trash and recycling to register with the .

3. This week we ask you Click the link, take our poll, review your favorite local liquor store and let us know in the comments of the article which is your favorite. is in the lead right now, but voting continues until Friday morning at 9 a.m.

4. . He ran the electrical and paint department and served in the U.S. Marine Corps.

5. It's Pack Rat Day, so take some time to remember that you are not alone if you let things pile up. And this is the best time of year to clear out those closets, counter tops or the basement that houses all those things that have been long-forgotten. There are some great local places that take donations like , the (for food) and Savers in Worcester on Lincoln Street.

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