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. Today is election day in Massachusetts, including Framingham. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information on the election, read the Framingham Patch primer, here.

2. MassDOT and the MWRA is lowering the level in Framingham Reservoir #1. The MWRA started lowering the levels last week and increased the rate earlier this week. For additional information on the project, click here.

3. A Framingham woman, 32, struck a 5-year-old girl Tuesday afternoon, according to Framingham Police. Witnesses told police the girl ran out into the street without looking, said Framingham Police Lt. Ron Brandolini. As Framingham Patch reported Tuesday, the incident happened at the corner of Kendall Ave. and Alla St. near the Wilson Elementary School neighborhood.

4. Barbieri Elementary School is holding a back-to-school social at 6:30 p.m. followed by its first PTO meeting of the school year at 7.

5. It's Thursday, so the Framingham Farmer's Market will be open from noon to 5:30 p.m. on the Framingham Centre Common.