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. Have you seen a woman walking around the downtown area wearing sandwich boards? If you did, that’s Jackie Potenzone, a Hopkinton resident and business owner. Potenzone is spreading the word that there are two upcoming DISC meetings that residents can attend and receive updated information about the plans to change the look and feel of Main Street while making it safer for pedestirans and drivers alike. The first meeting is this Thursday (Feb. 9) at 10 a.m. in Town Hall, the second is next Thursday (Feb. 16) at noon and is also in Town Hall. 

2. Are you an artist by trade or hobby? The Hopkinton Center for the Arts is looking for you! The HCA is looking for artists and crafters to show and sell original artwork such as paintings, sculptures, jewelry, collages, baked goods, stained glass, home furnishings among others. The application deadline is March 5.  To find out about the artist selection process and/or download an application form, go to www.hopartscenter.org or email HCAartsfest@gmail.com with questions. 

3. If you are trying to decide if you should go to tonight’s Board of Selectmen meeting, here’s a quick rundown of what the agenda has on it: Special police officer appointment, Downtown Revitalization Committee resignation and presidential primary warrant (6:30) Youth Commission update (6:45) Liquor License transfer regarding Cornell’s (7:00) Ice arena update (7:30) Upper Charles Trail Committee discussion (7:45) Town Manager’s report on 2012 budget, 2013 budget and Hopkinton Center for the Arts (8:00).

4. Have you checked out the new Hopkinton Public Schools website? It’s been online for a couple of weeks now but just took over for the old page at the end of last week. We’ll have a full rundown of the changes later this week.

5. The high school basketball teams are playing Millis today. Both varsity games are at 6:30 p.m. with the girls playing at home and the boys in Millis.