5 Things You Need to Know Today: Feb. 17

Our weekday morning column, 5 Things You Need to Know, provides you with information that can help you plan your day and give you some fodder for water cooler conversations.

1. Come to the Shrewsbury Senior Center at 9 a.m. today and learn more about the Shrewsbury for Responsible Taxation, 98 Maple Ave.

2. It's almost February vacation week. What will you be doing with your kids? Do you know of an event? Add it to our calendar or post it in the calendar. And if you attend a local event, email photos to Jennifer.Lucarelli@patch.com.

3. It's National PTA Founder's Day, and although Shrewsbury calls their parent teacher organization the PTO now, it's a great day to homage to those parent volunteers who help make field trips, supplemental funding, fundraisers and class parties and events possible. Since 1897, parents around the country have been helping students have fun and get more enrichment in and out of the classroom. Say thank you or give your child's PTO a gift for the classroom or the school—they do so much and school children and their families benefit from it. It's also never too late to get involved. Call your child's school and volunteer an hour, an afternoon or weekly to help out—every little bit helps.

4. It's Random Acts of Kindness Day, so take some time today to do something unexpectedly nice to someone you know or don't know. It can be as simple as holding the door for someone at a store, bringing in the mail for a friend or neighbor or volunteering time to a local organization.

5. Is there a business that you love in town? Or one you wish could be better? Take some time and review a local business on our places page. This week, we solicited reviews for Lakeside Bar & Grill. One reader gave it 5 stars. What do you think? If you're a business owner, take a minute and check out your business listing on Patch and you can claim it for free. If you have questions, email Jennifer.Lucarelli@patch.com.