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. After a summer hiatus, the Friends of the Framingham Library book sale returns today at the main Framingham Library. Sale starts at 9:30 a.m. for members and 10 a.m. for everyone else. Sale ends at 3 p.m.

2. Lutheran Church of Framingham is holding its annual yard sale and silent auction, beginning at 8:30 a.m.

3. Volunteers are needed for the OARS 26th Annual River Cleanup. Meet at 79 Little Farms Road Landing. Volunteers will clean and haul trash, tires, bottles, car parts and whatever else is found along the river bed and in the river.After the three-hour cleanup (9 a.m. to noon), a pizza party will be held for volunteers. Cleanup takes place rain or shine. Volunteers are asked to wear long pants and shoes/sneakers that can get wet and dirty. For additional information, click here.

4. Get In Shape For Women is holding an open house today at 1 p.m.

5. Finally, today is Ashland Day. I mention it as at 3 p.m. the Ashland Democratic Town Committee and the Ashland Republican Town Committee have scheduled a bipartisan softball game. On the Democratic team is Framingham's Sen. Karen Spilka and Rep. Tom Sannicandro, both Democrats who live in Ashland. For more information, on the free game the public is invited to, click here.

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