5 Things You Need to Know Today: Friday, Oct. 5

Here are five pieces of information designed to get your weekend off to an early start and to help make you the smartest person on the train.

1. Your 3-Day Local Weather Forecast: According to the National Weather Service, there will be patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 80. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.

• Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 56. Light southwest wind.
• Saturday A chance of showers, mainly after noon. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 73. Light west wind becoming southwest 8 to 13 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
• Saturday Night A slight chance of showers before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. Northwest wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Sunday Rain likely, mainly after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
• Sunday Night Rain likely, mainly before 9pm. Cloudy, with a low around 40. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

2. Quote of the Day: "It's an outstanding program. Every day I was down there I was learning something new."

3. Reader Comment of the Day: "I love this new blog. I have to say it makes for great reading. I have a question for you. What do you think is an appropriate gift for my neighbor who is recovering from knee surgery? He is going to be housebound for a few weeks. His wife says he needs nothing, but I still want to get something..any advice?" Reader Dan's Friend, commenting on the new blog, "Patched In -The New Advice blog". 

4. It's Happening Today: There is a Dance Party at the Tewksbury Public Library. The event begins at 11 a.m. and is designed for children 5 and under. Come dance to the music of the Wiggles with Miss Noelle! 

5 It's Happening Today, Also: The Tewksbury High Field Hockey team is in action this afternoon. The Redmen will host Malden High at the Livingston Street field.