Five Things: White House Honors BMC Program

1. A last glimpse of sun this morning before a rainy weekend, courtesy of Irene. Chance of showers in the morning and humid with highs in the mid 80s.

2. A local program known as MASBIRT was honored by the White House for its innovative approach to screening patients for substance abuse. The White House website featured a video of BU Medical School Assistant Professor and Boston Medical Center staff-member Dr. Daniel Alford speaking about the program, which has screened over 130,000 patients for unhealthy substance use in the greater Boston area, and has helped more than 22,500 patients who required and received a brief intervention for substance abuse between 2007 and 2010.

3. It’s that time already: school starts up in just a few short weeks. To celebrate, the Mayor and Superintendent Carol Johnson are hosting a jamboree at City Hall Plaza this Saturday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. The event will feature live performances, health screenings, community resources, activities prizes and more. Click here for more info.

4. Are you a beer lover? Then you might want to stop by the Mass Brewers Guild's second annual Mass Brewers Fest next Friday at the World Trade Center on the Boston Waterfront. More than 80 different beers from 20 breweries will be available for you to sample while listening to live music and taking in the Boston skyline. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased here.

5. The Municipal Primary election is coming up next month on September 27 and the deadline to register is fast approaching. If you are a U.S. Citizen, a resident of Boston, and 18 or older, sign up to vote by September 7 and make your vote count. Click here for details on registering to vote and requesting an absentee ballot.