5 Things, April 25: Lori McKenna Releases New Album, "Massachusetts"

"Five Things you Need to Know Today" is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance:

1. Lori McKenna Releases New Album, "Massachusetts"

Lori McKenna's newest album, "Massachusetts," was released April 23. It is the Stoughton singer-songwriter's sixth full-length album.

After her past few recordings were done in Nashville, McKenna, who lives in Stoughton with her family, stayed in Massachusetts to record this album. 

McKenna spoke about her desire to record in Massachusetts, and her love for her home state, specifically her hometown of Stoughton. 

"I love Nashville deeply and if Stoughton, Massachusetts wasn’t embedded in my soul – I would most certainly live there," McKenna wrote on her website. "But I can’t NOT be here – in my home state – I need to walk on cobblestone every now and then and sit in traffic and look up at the Prudential Building and think of my father working for Boston Edison for 42 years.  I need to unfold a Boston Globe on Sunday morning and rejoice in the announcement of a snow day. I live on Dunkin Donuts coffee and Town Spa pizza."

One of the songs on the new CD, "Love Can Put It Back Together," was done with fellow Stoughton native Mike Viola, and is about the aging State Theatre in downtown Stoughton. McKenna's CD cover features part of downtown Stoughton (Train Station/Wyman Street area).

Read more about McKenna' new CD here.

And, visit her website for more information. 

2. Blood Drive in Honor of Boston Marathon Victims and Heroes

In honor of the victims and first responder heroes of the Boston Marathon Bombings, the Stoughton YMCA is hosting a Children's Hospital Blood Drive on Thursday, April 25 from 1-6 p.m.

Please show your support as part of this community to those who need our help. The City of Boston desperately needs blood!   

Appointments for the Stoughton drive can be made through the Children's Hospital website: www.halfpints.childrenshospital.org, or by contacting Mary Coulter-Bennett at mcoulter-bennett@oldcolonyymca.org

3. 2013 Kathleen M. Bedrosian Scholarship Volleyball Tournament

This Friday night, April 26 is the 2013 Kathleen M. Bedrosian Volleyball Scholarship Tournament, held at the Stoughton High School gymnasium, starting at 5:30 p.m.  

Teams from Stoughton High, the O'Donnell Middle School, Stoughton elementary schools, and the Stoughton Police will compete. Admission is $1 and concessions will be available.

Kathleen “Kitty” Bedrosian, a beloved teacher at the South Elementary School, passed away in the spring of 2002 after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

This tournament is named after Bedrosian to keep her memory alive in the town of Stoughton and help raise funds for the Stoughton Teachers’ Association scholarship fund.

4. School Committee Debate on TV

Stoughton Patch/Snyder's Stoughton hosted a debate between the four school committee candidates (Carol Brown, Deb Cote, Joyce Husseini and Pat MacNeil) at the Stoughton Police Station Community Room Wednesday evening.

It was taped by SMAC and will air on Verizon Channel 28 and Comcast Channel 9 at the following times: 

• 9 p.m. - Thursday, April 25
• 7:30 p.m. - Friday, April 26
• 10:30 a.m. - Saturday, April 27
• 8:30 p.m. - Sunday, April 28
• 7 p.m. - Monday, April 29
• Noon - Tuesday, April 30

Election Day is Tuesday, April 30. 

5. Reminder: Thursday is Food Pantry Day in Stoughton

Stoughton resident Peg Carbone continues her effort to curb hunger in Stoughton, personally picking up donations for the food pantries every Thursday.

Here's a note from Peg: "I pick up non perishable food and also household items every Thursday, anywhere in Stoughton and deliver them to the food pantry. Please tell your friends and neighbors. One item, one bag or several, and I will pick them up every Thursday."

Haven't called to arrange a pickup? It's not too late. Call Peg at 508-889-1385 or send an email to peg.carbone@comcast.net.