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. The budget process for the next fiscal year is under way. The town's Finance Committee has asked town departments to cap any requested increases at 2 percent. 2. Health insurance rates will increase for town employees this year. The town's health provider, Harvard Pilgrim, will require a 3.75 percent increase for family and individual rates. Rates quoted by Blue Cross, Tufts and Fallon were even higher, with Tufts …

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. Milford's School Committee meets at 7 p.m. tonight, and the agenda includes an update on special education services in the district, and a report on the Woodland School Building project. 2. The Learning Experience in Milford will hold an open house on Friday, featuring tours and information. The business provides childcare from ages 6 weeks to 6 years old. The open house will begin at 6:30 a.m. and ends at 6:30 p.m. 3…

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. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission, which is reviewing all applications for casino and slots parlor licenses in Massachusetts, has a new website with new features, including more visible displays of current topics before the commission. The commission meets on Thursday, and will continue discussion of the application deadlines, reviews of applications, and definition of "surrounding communities." 2. Looking for a way …

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. Correction: The Dunkin' Donuts on East Main Street is re-opening following a renovation of the restaurant. It has not changed owners. 1. Milford Selectmen have accepted the recommendation of Town Clerk Amy Hennessy Neves and agreed to combine the town election with the upcoming special state election primary. The move will save about $12,000. The elections, which feature separate ballots, will be April 30. The state …

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. The Milford Board of Selectmen meet on Monday and the agenda includes discussion and a potential vote on selection of a town administrator. The board has finished interviews with five finalists. 2. A CPR class, intended for the rescue of family and friends, not for certification, is being offered at Milford Regional Medical Center on Wednesday. The course includes instruction for adult, infant and child CPR. …

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. The third time will not be the charm for Sean Bielat. Bielat has decided to not run for the U.S. Senate seat left open by the confirmation of John Kerry as Secretary of State. Bielat has twice before run for Congress, most recently in November, against now-Rep. Joseph Kennedy III. Bielat, a Norfolk Republican, said while he thought he could run a strong campaign, the timing wasn't right this time, according to an …

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. The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for the upcoming weekend, when there is a "high probability for a strong coastal storm to impact southern New England." The timeframe for the heavy, wet snow is Saturday night into Sunday, far enough out that the Weather Service is not yet projecting specifics. Stay tuned. 2. The deadline for applying for the town engineer position is today. The …

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. The Milford Planning Board approved a site plan waiver request on Tuesday for Eaton Apothecary, which plans to operate a pharmacy distribution business out of existing space at 23 Maple St. Eaton operates pharmacies in several Massachusetts locations, including in Boston. 2. The Planning Board meetings are now televised live on Milford TV, the community access cable station that recently started operating in Milford. 3…

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. Registration for the Milford Town Library Spring Storytime begins today and will end with a lottery on March 1. Parents and caregivers may register their children in person, by phone at (508) 473–2145 ext. 216 or online at www.milfordtownlibrary.org. When registering online, please fill out the registration form on the Children’s page and e-mail the information to the Children’s Room by clicking on this registration …

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. Garbage and recycling will be collected on time and on schedule Monday, despite the President's Day holiday. 2. A new laundromat is preparing to open in downtown Milford, across the street from 7-Eleven. 3. Children Across America, a Milford-based nonprofit, is looking for volunteers who could work in a variety of positions. See the announcement posted by the group for more information. 4. Teens who are interested in …

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. The "Dressed Up, Not Messed Up" Fashion Show will be held Saturday night, a rescheduled time due to the Blizzard of 2013. The show will be at the Milford Youth Center, and will feature teens and preteens modeling fashion choices from TJ Maxx. 2. Milford Police Chief Thomas O'Loughlin is asking the town's Personnel Board to create a new title of police employee, "student officer," which would cover new hires who are …

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. Happy Valentines's Day! The red rose is a powerful symbol and bouquets will be delivered all across town today. But sometimes, you may get another color. What does it mean? Check here... 2. Interested in learning how to dance? Dance instructors will offer Latin and Ballroom dance classes at the Milford Youth Center starting on Feb. 23. Group classes are available for students who want to be introduced to basic steps, …

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. Do you have a child entering kindergarten next fall? Pre-registration and an information session is at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Milford High School. This is for parents only, and child care will not be provided. 2. Beginning today, the Milford Youth Center will be open from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays for people who want to walk indoors, in its gymnasium. Heavy snowfall and ice have covered many outdoor routes, including …

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. Milford has two contested races for the April 2 ballot: for treasurer and Board of Library Trustees. Jonathan Bruce, Michael Soares and Barbara Auger are running for treasurer. John Byrnes, Ron Auger and Scott Vecchiolla are running for two available spots for library trustee. 2. Healthy Futures Milford Coalition is a local organization that is committed to promoting healthy eating and movement — Make the Healthy …

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. The Milford Youth Center will remain closed on Monday. 2. The Milford Town Library will have a delayed opening today, at 11 a.m., giving town workers some time to better clear the walkway and entrance and prepare the library after being closed. 3. U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III, who represents Milford and the 4th District, will speak today at a luncheon at Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, and then tour the Seven Hills center …

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. A reminder that Milford streets need to be cleared of cars overnight to allow plows to do their jobs. The parking ban is in effect. Police have had cars that blocked plows towed in lesser storms. Move all cars off-road. 2. Did you know this blizzard has a name? The Weather Channel is calling it NEMO, leading to many jokes on Twitter and Facebook about finding it. 3. Speaking of social media, the Milford Police …

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. The first three candidates for Town Administrator in Milford — Noel Bon Tempo, John D'Agostino and William E. Kingkade Jr. — were interviewed Wednesday by Milford Selectmen. The final three candidates will be interviewed Tuesday, beginning at 6 p.m. The second wave was rescheduled because of a medical appointment for one of the selectmen. If you want to watch at home: Milford TV is covering the interviews live. 2. …

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. Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death in women? As part of a month long awareness campaign, Wear Red for Women Day was observed across the country Friday. Employees at Milford National Bank on South Main Street took part, as you can see from their choice of sweaters, and socks, in the photo attached to this story. 2. If you enjoy Swing and Sinatra ballads, or just need to get out of the house …

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. The Milford Planning Board tonight will hold a public hearing on a proposed requirement that would restrict medical marijuana dispensaries to industrial zones, and require them to be at least 200 feet from structures including churches and daycare centers. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at Milford Town Hall. 2. The Friends of the Milford Upper Charles Trail gather at 7 p.m. Tuesday, too, for their monthly meeting, at the…

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. Milford Selectmen will meet on Wednesday and Thursday nights this week, beginning at 6 p.m., to interview the six candidates for Milford Town Administrator selected for initial interviews. The candidates are: Barbara A. Auger, Milford town treasurer for the past 15 years; Noel G. Bon Tempo, an attorney, and a social studies teacher with Milford High School; John D'Agostino, the town manager in Abington, on the South …