5 Things for Dec. 6: Troop 7 Christmas Tree and Wreath Sale, Holiday Safety Tips, Live Music and More

Editor's note: Five Things You Need To Know Today is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. If you know of something happening in town that did not make our list, please add it in the comment section!

1. Expect a Sunny Thursday in Foxborough with a High Near 40

Today’s weather in Foxborough, according to the National Weather Service based in Taunton, calls for sunny, with a high near 40. North wind 5 to 9 mph becoming calm in the afternoon. Thursday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. Light south wind.

2. Decorating for the Holidays? Stay Safe with These Tips from Amica Insurance

Fresh-cut Christmas trees, candles and other holiday decorations create a festive atmosphere during the holiday season. But Amica Insurance reminds everyone that many holiday decorations also pose safety hazards.

“Decorating for the holidays is a treasured tradition for many of us,” said Mike Gillerlane, a senior assistant vice president with Amica Insurance. “But it’s important to keep safety in mind, especially when dealing with fresh trees, candles and other combustibles.”

More than 130 people die each year as a result of fires caused by Christmas trees or candles, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Those fires also result in more than $375 million worth of property damage a year, according to the CPSC study from 2006 to 2008.

“A well-watered tree, carefully placed candles and carefully checked holiday light sets will prevent the joy of the holidays from turning into a trip to the emergency room or the loss of your home,” said Inez Tenenbaum, chairman of the CPSC.

Here are some important safety reminders from Amica and the CPSC to help keep everyone safe this holiday season:

• Make sure Christmas trees are fresh before bringing them home. Fresh trees have needles that are hard to pull from branches and don’t break when bent between two fingers.
• Place the tree away from heat sources such as fireplaces and radiators. Water the tree frequently, so that it doesn’t dry out and become a fire safety risk.
• Check all Christmas tree lights for cracks, frayed wires or loose connections. Dispose of damaged lights, and don’t use electric lights on metallic trees.
• Use candles sparingly and with supervision. When leaving the room or house, or just going to bed for the night, extinguish all candles.
• Put candles on heat-resistant surfaces that are out of reach of children or pets. Make sure candles are far away from Christmas trees, other decorations and curtains, which can all ignite and burn easily.

“Remember to use these tips and take care with your trees and other decorations,” Gillerlane said. “We want everyone to have a happy and safe holiday season.”

3. Troop 7 Christmas Tree and Wreath Sales

Foxborough’s Troop 7 is selling Christmas trees and wreaths Sales the Steamer Shed on Central Street from 4 to 8 p.m. Trees begin at $15.

4. Patriot Place Events:

• Santa's Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops: Enjoy a free photo with Santa, games crafts and more at Santa’s Wonderland.
• Help the Foxborough Food Pantry at Old Navy: From now through Dec. 19 Old Navy will be collecting non-perishable food items to benefit the Foxborough Food Pantry. Help those in need this holiday season and make a donation today.
• 8 p.m. - Winger at Showcase Live: Winger is an American hard rock band from New York City. Their debut album, Winger, came out on Atlantic Record’s label in 1988 and achieved platinum status in the United States and gold in Japan and Canada.
• 9:30 p.m. - Haywire performs at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill: This high caliber country band may be new to the New England country scene but are composed of some veteran musicians’ of the Northeast.

5. The Sage School’s Parent Open House

A Parent Open House at the Sage School will be held on Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m., and will include a tour of the school, classroom visits, and a Q&A session. Tours can be scheduled at any time through the Admission Office, (508) 543-9619, or admission@sageschool.org. Visit www.sageschool.org for more information.