5 Things: It's Feb. Vacation Week!

1. Get out! February Vacation runs today through March 1. Looking for something fun to do? Check out this comprehensive list of local and easily accessible activities unique to this week.

2. Speaking of Feb. vaca ... The Bedford Recreation Department, this February vacation, encourages local children to collect giant cardboard boxes to make a sled. It must be completely homemade and able to travel down the sledding hill by the Town Playground. Prizes will be awarded for fastest sled, longest traveling distance and best looking sled. Advanced registration closed Feb. 18, and the derby will take place at the sledding hill on the town playground on Tuesday, Feb. 26 at 10 a.m. Cost is $5 per sled.

3. The weatherman says ... According to Weather.com, today's forecast calls for a beautiful February day to follow up a snowy weekend. The forecast today calls for generally sunny skies with light winds throughout the day and a high temperature projected at 42 degrees with a 10-percent chance of precipitation.

4. On this day ... February 25, 1964, 22-year-old Cassius Clay shocks the odds-makers by dethroning world heavyweight boxing champ Sonny Liston in a seventh-round technical knockout. The dreaded Liston, who had twice demolished former champ Floyd Patterson in one round, was an 8-to-1 favorite. However, Clay predicted victory, boasting that he would "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" and knock out Liston in the eighth round. The fleet-footed and loquacious youngster needed less time to make good on his claim--Liston, complaining of an injured shoulder, failed to answer the seventh-round bell. A few moments later, a new heavyweight champion was proclaimed.

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