5 Things Dec. 7: Special Olympics Spotlight Poll, Nanotechnology and More

Things You Need to Know Today is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. Check back later for more, and let us know what you think of the feature in the comments section.

1. Meat raffle
The American Legion will be having a meat raffle at 7:30 p.m. put on by the Women's Auxiliary Unit 222.

2. Vote for Wheaton College in the Special Olympics Spotlight Poll
Earlier this week, the Wheaton College women's basketball team was chosen for this month's NCAA Division III Special Olympics Spotlight Poll. Their work with the Heller's Angels Special Olympics Team is currently being featured, along with two other schools, on the NCAA Division Special Olympics website. The winner of the Spotlight Poll will receive $500 dollars towards its next Special Olympics event while the winning story will also be recognized in the NCAA Division III Monthly Newsletter and the NCAA Division III Special Olympics website. Vote for wheaton college at http://www.ncaa.org/D3SpecialOlympics.

3. Discovery Museums to open new nanotechnology exhibit
The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton, announced the upcoming opening of their newest exhibit, Nano, based on nanoscale science, technology, and engineering. The museums will celebrate the opening of Nano during their First Friday Nights Free! event today 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. with free admission to both the Children’s Discovery Museum and Science Discovery Museum. Visitors can explore the new exhibit and participate in special programs to discover nano gold, make a DNA necklace, change the color of a butterfly’s wings, play “I Spy Nano” and more. There will be snacks, nano souvenirs to take home and a raffle drawing.

4. Patch Rebuilds
Our hearts belong to folks in the towns affected by Superstorm Sandy as they rebuild and recover. For every tweet that includes the #PatchRebuilds hashtag, Patch will donate $1 to AmeriCares Superstorm Sandy Relief Efforts, up to $125,000. Your gift will help AmeriCares respond to Superstorm Sandy with medical and humanitarian aid, grants, and programs to help support survivors across the country.

5. High near 56, low around 25
Today there is a 30 percent chance of rain, mainly after 4 p.m. There will be increasing clouds, with a high near 47. Calm wind will become southwest 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Tonight there is a 50 percent chance of showers. It will be cloudy, with a low around 38. Southwest wind will be around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.