1. State Sen. Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, will be donating colorful new sackpacks, containing essential school supplies, to the United Way of Tri-County's Pearl Street Cupboard & Cafe, 10 Pearl St. The legislator partnered with the Office Depot Foundation to distribute the sackpacks to local children in need.

The donation is part of the Office Depot Foundation's 2012 National Backpack Program in partnership with the National Foundation for Women Legislators.

"It is critical that we make sure all children have the support and materials they need to be successful inside the classroom and these sackpacks will provide deserving students with the basic school supplies, which many of us take for granted," said Spilka in a press release.

The formal presentation of the sackpacks is at 6 tonight at the Pearl Street Cafe.

2. We constantly receive emails asking us to post news releases and events on the site. Did you know, though, that you can post this information yourself, in practically the same amount of time it takes to send an email? Click here and bookmark an article that explains how you can use Patch to your advantage.

3. Did you notice that flags were flown at half-staff yesterday? Gov. Deval Patrick ordered the United States and Massachusetts flags lowered at all state buildings from sunrise to sunset yesterday, in honor of U.S.M.C. Private 1st Class Brendon P. Carey of Rehoboth. Carey died Aug. 5 at home while on leave.

4. Rhythm and Pearls: "Salute to the Girl Groups" and Adult Summer Reading Finale will be held at 7 p.m. tomorrow at the library. "Join us for a festive evening featuring the female vocal trio, Rhythm and Pearls as they salute the wonderful girl groups from the past, The Andrew Sisters, The McGuire Sisters and The Supremes and more," a press release read.

The Summer Reading Raffle will be drawn from raffle tickets entered by Adult Summer Reading participants. Ice Cream donated by Ben& Jerry's Natick Scoop Shop will be served. It is Sponsored in part by TD Bank, The Framingham Cultural Council and The Friends of the Framingham Library.

5. It's the last week to choose the best of Framingham. We've kept our main voting story (to which all the individual voting articles are attached) on the homepage; click through to vote for your favorite spots in town. Today, we highlight landscapers. Click here to vote on the best landscaper in Framingham.