No Joke. It's Opening Day for the Red Sox!

1. Play ball! Coming off their most disappointing season in decades, the Boston Red Sox open their 2013 campaign against the dreaded New York Yankees in the Bronx. Game time is 1:05 p.m. and BoSox lefty Jon Lester looks to bounce back from a horrid 2012 against New York's own left-handed ace, CC Sabathia. Oh, and in case you didn't hear. Jackie Bradley, Jr. is on the Opening Day roster.

2. Never fear. The Bedford Memorial Road Race is almost here. On Saturday, May 18, the 39th running of the Bedford Rotary Races will take place at Bedford High School. Register online for the 5K or 12K run through www.rotarybedfordnh.com, or print the application and mail it in. Tees for the first 400 registrants, and walkers are welcome in the 5K. For more information, click here.

3. Bedford PTG offers Student Safety Night this week. Bedford parents and caregivers are invited to a student safety night, which is scheduled for Wednesday, April 3 at 6:30 p.m. at McKelvie Intermediate School. The event includes guest speakers from Bedford Police and Bedford Fire Departments, in addition to representatives from the Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) of Hillsborough County, for an event centered on your child's safety. Topics will include public, fire, and Internet safety, as well as many other recommended safety measures to speak about with your children. Education regarding how to recognize when help may be needed will also be addressed. Registration is not required, but due to some of the subject matter, it is NOT recommended that children under 17 years attend the presentation.

4. So close, yet so far away. We picked up more than 30 new Facebook 'likes' this week and we're closing the gap. Still, Bedford Patch is losing the race to 1,000 Facebook 'Likes' by 86 right now. In fact, Windham Patch enters the day with 974 Facebook followers to Bedford Patch's 888. I don't know about you, but Bedford doesn't lose at anything (just as the high school sports teams). Help me get to 1,000 by the end of the month by spreading the word and/or click here to 'like' Bedford Patch on Facebook. Thank you for your help! - Ryan

5. Library Lowdown. Drop-in story time for children ages 3 & up takes place in the Children's Castle from 10-10:45 a.m. today. Then, from 1-2:30 p.m., the Richmond Room hosts Ebooks at the Library. And tonight, from 7:30-9, the Manchester Artists Association meets in the McAllaster Room.

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