5 Things Oct. 21: Fall Festival, Lead Poisoning Prevention and More

Five 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. Turkey Trot
The annual Turkey Trot will begin 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and noon at Borderland State Park. Come early for registration. Help raise the funds for the Personal Best Karate Turkey Brigade to feed families for Thanksgiving. The goal this year is to feed 3,000 families in need for Thanksgiving. 

2. JCS Fall Festival
Enjoy the Meadow Muffin contest, Apple Pie contest, events, games, food and more at J. C. Solmonese Elementary School 1 to 4 p.m. The Meadow Muffin Contest will begin at 1:30 p.m. and the Apple Pie Contest will begin at 2 p.m.

3. Yard sale
A yard sale will be held 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 5 Forest Road, Foxborough. The sale will include children's toys, books, clothing, jewelry, handbags, china and more.

4. National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week
National Lead Poisoning Prevention week is Oct. 21 through 27. This year’s theme is Lead-Free Kids for a Healthy Future. This year, the National Centers for Disease Control (CDC) lowered the threshold blood lead level of concern for children by half (from the former ten micrograms per deciliter to five micrograms per deciliter of blood).  The lowered threshold dramatically increases the number of Massachusetts children recognized to be at risk of detrimental health effects due to lead exposure.

The greatest risk to childhood lead poisoning is residential lead-based paint hazards which exist in pre-1978 housing stock.  While one can find other sources of lead in toys and jewelry, residential lead-based paints remain the source point of most investigations of lead-poisoned children.  Accumulated residual paint chips and dusts cause irreparable harm to children under the age of six.

Hire only a licensed Lead-Safe Renovation Contractor for your renovation, repair, or painting work on your home or child-occupied facility built prior to 1978. For a list of licensed contractors, visit www.mass.gov/leadsafe.

5. High near 63, low around 44
Today will be sunny, with a high near 63. West wind will be 5 to 11 mph. Tonight will be mostly clear, with a low around 44.