5 Things You Need To Know Today: July 5

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. The Tom Dutile Big Band will perform at Bowditch Field tonight at 6:30 as part of Framingham's Summer concert series. The 2-hour concert is free. Stop by the Framingham Lions concession stand or bring a picnic dinner with a blanket or some chairs. The concert is sponsored by Framingham Parks & Recreation. 

Framingham Patch will have a slideshow of photo on our site on Monday.

2. The main Framingham Library will have a free screening of the movie Ant Bully (rated PG for rude humor and action) at 2 p.m.

3. Gilad Waldman, 14, of Framingham, has big plans for this summer. He has been selected by JDRF (formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) to join other children from around the country in Washington, D.C. to remind their Members of Congress of the vital need to continue supporting research that aims to reduce the burden of type 1 diabetes until a cure becomes available.

4. There were no Independence Day activities scheduled in Framingham on July 4. This was not always the case in Framingham, but this is how it has been for a while. 

Yesterday, Framingham Patch started a discussion on what activities should the Town of Framingham bring back or start to celebrate Independence Day Join the conversation on our main site and on our Facebook page.

5. United Way of Tri-County is offering free lunch at the Pearl Street Cupboard and Café from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for children age 18 or younger. Click here for more details.