5 Things You Need To Know Today: July 8

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. Care about your Library? Have some ideas on how to improve your Library? The Framingham Library is working on its 5-year strategic plan and wants to hear your thoughts. There is one focus group meeting left, tonight July 8 at 5 at the main Framingham Library. To register for the focus group, please call Jane Peck at 508-532-5570 x4357 or email jpeck@minlib.net. If you can't attend a focus group but want to offer your vision of the libraries, answer an online survey at  www.framinghamlibrary.org.

2. The town's trio of public beaches will be open today to cool off from this heat. Saxonville Beach on Lake Road, Learneds Pond on Lower Shawmut Terrace, and Lake Waushakum on Nipmuc Road will open at 10 a.m. Beach Tags are required to use the beaches.For more information on cost and how to get beach tags, click here. Lifeguards will be on duty until 7 p.m.

3. The Senior Center has a chair yoga class at 2:30 p.m. Admission $3.

4. 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.

5.  Governor Deval L. Patrick has ordered that the Commonwealth flag be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings effective immediately until sunset tonight, July 8, 2013 in honor of Gov. Argeo Paul Cellucci who died June 8, 2013.