Our daily column, 5 Things You Need to Know Today, will help you to get your day started and offer you some fodder for water cooler conversation.

1. Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has ordered the United States & Commonwealth flags lowered to half-staff on state buildings from sunrise till sunset on today, Jan. 24 in honor of Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Squillaci of Uxbridge who died Jan. 16, 2013.

2. With David Williams headed to Sherborn to be its Town Administrator, the Town of Framingham Wednesday began advertising for a new Assistant Town Manager. The Assistant Town Manager position pays between $96,559 to $116,625 annually. For additional information and job description, click here.

3. The Framingham History Center will host Dennison Roundtable: The New Discoveries! tonight at 7. at Edgell Memorial Library. Admission $5. RSVP suggested.

4. After more than 50 years, the Natick Friends of the Fourth have announced Wednesday there will be no 4th of July parade in Natick this year. They cited a lack of volunteers and time to prepare as the reasons. Click here to read more.

5. The Vineyard Gazette newspaper is reporting that Framingham Town Planner John W. (Jay) Grande is one of three finalists for the Town Administrator position for Tisbury on Martha's Vineyard.

The other finalists are Peter Graczykowski, city manager of East Providence, R.I. and Sally Rizzo, project manager at the Massachusetts State Retirement Board. There were 38 applicants and public interviews are scheduled for Feb. 2 at 1 p.m. in the Vineyard Haven library.