5 Things for Nov. 20: Local Bars Face Liquor License Violations, Teacher of the Year Program Announced 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 Partly Sunny Tuesday with a High Near 49 in Foxborough

Today’s weather in Foxborough, according to the National Weather Service based in Taunton, calls for Partly sunny, with a high near 49. Calm wind becoming northeast around 6 mph in the morning. Tuesday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. North wind 3 to 5 mph.

2. Board of Selectmen to Hold 3 Liquor License Violation Hearings

The Foxborough Board of Selectmen will meet Tuesday in the Andrew Gala Meeting Room of Town Hall to discuss the following town business:

• Open the public hearing for Waxy O’Connor’s alleged liquor license violation at 7 p.m. Selectmen are expected to continue the public hearing to Jan. 8, 2013 at the request of Waxy O’Connor’s and Town Manger Kevin Paicos.

• An update and presentation of the proposed turf field project with members of the school department.

• Open the public hearing for CBS Scene’s alleged liquor license violation at 8 p.m.

• Continue the public hearing for Foxboro Mandarin regarding the establishment’s alleged liquor license violation.

• Open the public hearing for Blue Fin Lounge’s alleged liquor license violation.

3. Follow Foxborough High football on Thanksgiving LIVE

The Foxborough High football team (7-3) travels to Mansfield (7-3) Thursday at 10 a.m. in the annual Thanksgiving Day football game between the two rivals.

Can't make it to the game? Traveling for the holiday? Need to make last-minute preparations for Thanksgiving dinner?

Why wait until the following day or the following week to find out who won?  Why even wait until after the game?

You can follow all the action, as it happens, with our live blog, which will be posted on the site in time for Thursday's Thanksgiving game. You will also be able to keep tabs on the other teams in the Hockomock League, so be sure to join us Thanksgiving morning.

4. The Hall at Patriot Place Presents by Raytheon Announces STEM Teacher of the Year Program

The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon has announced that it will honor a Massachusetts STEM teacher (science, technology, engineering, math) next spring as its first STEM Teacher of the Year.

Robert Kraft, Chairman and CEO of The Kraft Group, which owns and operates The Hall at Patriot Place, revealed the plan last month at the Massachusetts STEM Summit at Gillette Stadium.

“No one knows better than our friends at Raytheon how important STEM education is to the future of this region and the country,” said Kraft. “We want to do our part to foster a new generation of scientists, engineers and mathematicians.”

The STEM Teacher of the Year Program will recognize a Massachusetts STEM teacher who is making significant contributions to education by providing a $5,000 grant to the teacher’s school to be used for STEM education, as well as honoring the teacher at The Hall at Patriot Place and in a pregame ceremony at a New England Patriots game.

“I've often heard Mr. Kraft speak of his affinity for teachers, and, with his direction, we have implemented a very real and relevant STEM program here at The Hall,” said executive director Bryan Morry. “Together with our partner, Raytheon, we have set out to impact students and help make them aware that STEM is a part of so many parts of their life, including many of the things they enjoy most. In our case, we use football and sports-related elements as part of hands-on modules that engage students in fun STEM activities.”

All full-time, active and certified K-12 classroom STEM teachers in a state-accredited Massachusetts public or private school are eligible for STEM Teacher of the Year. Nominations must be submitted by someone with direct knowledge of the teacher’s impact in his or her school. The nomination deadline is Feb. 15, 2013. A nomination form is available for download at www.thehallatpatriotplace.com and can be submitted by mail or e-mail. A committee comprised of STEM professionals and staff from The Hall, the Patriots and Raytheon will select five finalists. The finalists will be interviewed individually by the committee, after which the committee will select the STEM Teacher of the Year.

Since opening in 2008, The Hall has hosted more than 60,000 students on field trips through its education program. In 2011 alone, The Hall had 16,000 field trip visits.

“The feedback from educators has been spectacular. But while we try to do our part, we recognize that it's teachers that have daily contact with our young people and their classroom skills have the biggest impact on young minds outside of their home,” said Morry. “We want to recognize excellence in that area and we are excited to do so through The Hall's new Massachusetts STEM Teacher of the Year program."

5. Patriot Place Events:

• Santa's Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops: Enjoy a free photo with Santa, games crafts and more at Santa’s Wonderland.
• 11 a.m. - Storytime at Showcase Cinema de Lux: Meet Barney at Kids Club Storytime Tuesday.