Needham|News|
5 Things You Need To Know Today: Oct. 30
The Y will open late, the library will offer 'slightly scary' kids' activities, and Needham High School will host a study abroad presentation.

E-mail: Becca.Manning@patch.com
Phone: 781-217-4233
Hometown: Resident of Malden since 2013; previously resided in East Boston and Newton. Moved to Massachusetts (South Shore) in 2008. Born and raised in Troy, Ohio.
Birthday: November 6
About Me: A Massachusetts transplant, I grew up in Ohio and moved to the East Coast three years ago, spurred by a love of the ocean and a special affinity for Boston in particular. My first job in Massachusetts was working as assistant editor of a community weekly, the Pembroke Express, for the independent, family-owned Clipper Press. I had a great experience there, starting a newspaper from scratch in the town of Pembroke and watching it grow and become well received by the town. I was promoted to editor in 2009 and briefly took over as editor of two other Clipper Press weeklies, the Hanson Express and the Whitman Express, before signing on with Patch. I love community news, and I'm thrilled to be with Patch and especially excited to be covering the neighborhood of Charlestown.
Before reinventing myself as a New Englander, I worked for three years for a daily newspaper in Piqua, Ohio (just a few miles from my hometown of Troy). At the Piqua Daily Call, I started out as the education reporter and quickly added on the city government beat as well as page design and copy editing duties. Prior to that, I graduated from Ohio University's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism with a BSJ in journalism and an environmental studies certificate. During and right after college, I wrote for the independent student newspaper The Post and for magazines including Perspectives, Southeast Ohio, E/The Environmental Magazine and Bird Talk.
I have been writing for as long as I can remember, and telling stories even before that. I'm also an avid reader, and when I can combine all three of my loves — the ocean, writing and reading — with a day at a quiet beach, I am absolutely in heaven.
The Y will open late, the library will offer 'slightly scary' kids' activities, and Needham High School will host a study abroad presentation.

Trees into houses, blown transformers and downed wires were among the calls local emergency crews responded to on Monday.
Hurricane Sandy continues to cause outages around the region, according to NSTAR.
Share your images (safely) of downed tree limbs, high water and other sights around town during and after the storm.
The meeting will be held in two weeks.
A look at what's closed, postponed or canceled because of the storm.
School's out and Town Meeting may be postponed because of Hurricane Sandy.
A decision on Town Meeting will be made by noon.
A look at some of the top stories on Needham Patch last week.
The following information was supplied by the Needham Police Department. Any charges mentioned do not indicate a conviction.
The town plans to open a respite center if there are extended power outages during or after the storm, which is expected to arrive early next week.
This letter was submitted by a Needham town employee.
Resources for women fighting breast cancer that your doctor doesn't offer.
The device, donated by Hopkinton Drug and the Massachusetts Animal Coalition, will help the department scan stray animals as part of a new law taking effect in November.
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Needham will hold its 100th Anniversary fundraising gala tonight at the Newton Marriott.
Needham parents: Tell us your mobile phone rules.
Patch offers a few ideas for what to do in the area this Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 27-28.
The following information was supplied by the Needham Police Department. Any charges mentioned do not indicate a conviction.
Tour the Needham Community Center and meet the staff and volunteers during an open house.
If the measure passes in Needham on Nov. 6, selectmen will hold a public hearing on the rules later that month.