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. Expect to see construction on your morning and evening commute all week. Construction is scheduled on Edgell, Concord, Speen, Grant, Prospect, Old Conn Path, and more. For additional details, click here.

2. Due to Veterans Day observation on Monday, trash collection is on a holiday schedule this week.

Also this week, Framingham Department of Public Works will hold a special curbside collection of yard waste as a result of Hurricane Sandy. Brush, branches, and limbs must be neatly piled curbside by Tuesday, Nov. 13. Framingham Department of Public Works will make one pass through the Town, beginning on Tuesday, picking up the debris and will not be able to return to a residence should items not be left out on time. For this one time collection only, it will not be necessary to tie the materials up.  However, please keep the area free of vehicles between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. so that our equipment can pick it up. 

3. Two big shows this weekend in Framingham. Framingham High School Drama Company will stage Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and the 5th grade show at Hemenway Elementary is Disney's Beauty & the Beast. Tickets are on sale for both shows, but selling fast!

For tickets to the high school's shows, click here.

For tickets to Hemenway's shows, click here.

4. Did you get a free ride yesterday on the MWRTA? Well, you can get one today if you bring a canned good or non-perishable food item. Click here to find out how.

5. The West Suburban Chapter Massachusetts Mothers of Twins Association, with generous assistance from New England POD, Framingham Self Storage and Carmel Movers are sending donations to Sandy victims in New York and New Jersey. Organizer Julia Russ-Neff and others sort and packed donations this past weekend.

Donations can be dropped off at: Framingham Self Storage, 160 Fountain St. Monday to Friday: a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m., closed on holidays. (The storage company is located across from Loring Arena.) Donations must be dropped off no later than Nov. 18 and should be limited to the items on this list.