5 Things: Davin Family Benefit, FRCS Senior Awarded Scholarship, January Thaw & 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. Chance of Afternoon Rain Friday in Foxborough

Today’s weather in Foxborough, according to the National Weather Service based in Taunton, calls for a slight chance of showers after 2 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a high near 43. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent. Friday night: Showers likely, mainly between midnight and 3 a.m. Patchy fog after 1 a.m. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 33. Calm wind becoming southeast around 6 mph in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

2. Generosity for Jim, A Benefit for the Davin Family is Tonight

Generosity for Jim, A Benefit for the Davin Family will take place on Friday at Demetri’s on Route 1 from 7 p.m. to midnight. Tickets for admission are $20 each and can be purchased at the Hockomock YMCA in Foxborough, where Nicky Davin works. A limited number of Special Edition Cash Wheel tickets are also available for $100 each.

Thirty6Red and North Street DJ Steve Johnene will donate their musical talents so that guests can shake off the winter blues on the dance floor. The evening also entails a cash bar and simplified fundraising including a Cash Wheel elimination raffle with a $10,000 prize, a Wine Wall, a Scratch Ticket Raffle and a 50/50 Drawing.

Based on the number of local families that pitched in over the past year and the recent outpouring of support at Jim’s services - a large, lively crowd of over 500 is anticipated.

Jim Davin passed away on Oct. 20, 2012 at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston after a courageous battle with cancer. He had been a Foxborough resident for the past 15 years and served as General Counsel for the Suffolk County Sherriff’s Department.

For more information, click here.

3. Foxborough Regional Charter School Senior Awarded Prestigious Scholarship

Foxborough Regional Charter School senior, Reily Connaughton of Norton is the latest FRCS student to receive an outstanding recognition for his talents. 

Connaughton was selected as one of two Massachusetts students to serve in the United States Senate Youth Scholarship Program (USSYSP). The USSYSP is a national initiative designed to provide “talented young people with demonstrated leadership abilities to deepen their understanding of America’s political processes and strengthen their resolve to pursue careers in public service.”  The merit-based and highly competitive program “brings the highest-level officials from each branch of government together with an outstanding group of high-school students and the chosen delegates are consistently outstanding."  (www.USSenateYouth.org)

Established in 1962 by U.S. Senate Resolution, the United States Senate Youth Program is a unique educational experience for outstanding high school students interested in pursuing careers in public service. The annual program will be held in Washington, D.C., from March 9-16. 

Two high school juniors or seniors are selected each year from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity to serve as delegates to Washington Week. The 104 student delegates also receive a $5,000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to pursue coursework in history and political science. Public and private high school teachers and principals nominate qualified students beginning in early fall.

To qualify, students must hold student body office or another elected or appointed position in their communities and show academic interest and aptitude in government, history and politics. Many states administer a comprehensive public affairs, government and history test prepared annually for the program by a college professor of political science and states may also ask for additional essays and/or personal interviews. The chief state school officer in each state makes the final selection by Dec. 1.

Connaughton competed against over 100 other Massachusetts high school students for the honor to represent our state, as well as to embark on strengthening his already stellar leadership capacity.  After completing the requisite exam and demonstrating his commitment to service and leadership at Foxborough Regional Charter School and beyond, Connaughton was selected and achieved the extraordinary feat of being awarded this scholarship. 

4. Patriot Place Events:

• Win Playoff Tickets at Tavolino: Tavolino will raffle off two Patriots playoff tickets, exclusive reservations at Tavolino, and a $50 gift card.  Join Tavolino for lunch or dinner between now and Jan. 11th to enter to win.
• Lucky Lunch at CBS Scene - You could win playoff tickets: Join CBS Scene weekdays for lunch now through Friday, Jan. 11th between open and 4 p.m. and enter to win a pair of tickets to the Jan. 13th game including a $100 CBS Scene gift card and exclusive reservations on game day.
• Artist's Studio & Gallery features Franklin High School: The Artist's Studio & Gallery at Patriot Place hosts Franklin High School displaying pieces of student art along with other artists from around the area. Stop in and check out these great pieces.

5. January Thaw Moving in this Weekend

A "January thaw" is moving in, according to meteorologists at WHDH-TV.

"Our annual January Thaw is upon us for the next several days," Channel 7 meteorologist Jeremy Reiner posted in his blog on Tuesday.

For the past three days, the entire staff of the Channel 7 "Weather Center" has been blogging about the mild temperatures.

Typically, the January thaw happens between Jan. 20-26 and is happening slightly earlier than usual this year, Reiner said.

But it will be a thaw in what has already been a mild winter. Meteorologist Pete Bouchard said there have been only nine days with below normal temperatures since the meteorological start to winter on Dec. 1, 2012.

The National Weather Service forecasts that high temperatures in Foxborough will be in the 40s through Saturday, with the temperatures getting into the 50s on Sunday. The temperatures will again get into the 40s through at least Tuesday, the weather service said.

An even longer term forecast from Accuweather says that while temperatures will remain mild through mid-week next week, by next Friday, Jan. 18, temperatures will drop below freezing and will actually start a streak of below normal temperatures.