5 Things You Need to Know Today: Nov. 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. Meet Shrewsbury Patch Editor Jennifer Lucarelli. She will be teaching at the at 9 a.m., 98 Maple Ave.

2. Flowers always brighten someone's day. Take advantage of the Patch Deal and get half off from 1-800-flowers.

3. Today is the perfect day to quit smoking as it's the Great American Smokeout. The American Cancer Society began this day in 1977 as a way to encourage people to quit smoking.

4. Submit your favorite Thanksgiving recipes to Jennifer.Lucarelli@patch.com—we'll feature them along with our favorites. My grandmother made Italian stuffing with egg, bread, parmesan cheese, salami and ham. There was never any Stove Top for my family.

5. Stay in the know by liking our Facebook page. You'll see when we post new stories, events, or just comments on what's going on in town. It just takes a second and you can even recommend the page to your Facebook friends.