UPDATED: 5 Things You Need to Know Today: Jan. 16 [VIDEO]

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. Plan some extra time getting to work or getting the kids to school, as our Patch partner WHDH-TV says to expect a wintery mix for the morning commute. Snow and or sleet is expected to start falling around 5 a.m. and when it is done Framingham could see 2-4 inches of snow.

2. Framingham Town Manager Bob Halpin has hired a new building commissioner.

3. Performing Arts Center of MetroWest (PAC) begins classes for its spring Children's Chorus tomorrow, Jan. 17. Students in grades 2-6 can participate. Classes run for 10 weeks and cost $160 from 4:30 to 5:30 on Thursdays. Register by calling the PAC office. Video and photos from a trial class held last week are uploaded with today's column.

4. Framingham Public School Department will host a budget forum this afternoon from 3 to 5  in the King Building in the Desmarais Room. Luc Schuster, senior policy analyst at the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center will be the guest speaker. Schuster will speak about trends in Massachusetts and school district funding. Framingham Superintendent of Schools Stacy Scott will discuss issues that will impact Framingham School System’s budget next year. It will not focus on the specific details of the budget for next year.

5. A new device will be distributed to conductors on MBTA conductors that will give them real-time information about trains all across the rail system.