Each morning, Westborough Patch presents “5 Things You Need to Know,” a collection of announcements, events, reminders and odd little ditties to help you organize your day. What will you be doing today?

1. As an energy saving tip, National Grid suggests planting a deciduous tree on the west or south side of a house to provide shade that will help keep it cool in the summer. When the leaves fall, it will let more light and warmth through in the colder months, helping keep the house warmer and brighter. Plant away from power lines and call before you dig by dialing 811.

2. Now that the kids are home for the summer, the temptation to watch TV is near. Do you have rules about screen time? Newly released data from the TV Parental Guidelines Monitoring Board shows:

• 72 percent of parents report having rules about TV use
• 68 percent of parents say they use the TV ratings system
• 88 percent of parents are aware that the TV ratings system provides guidance based on the age of the child
• 36 percent of parents use either a V-Chip or cable/satellite-provided parental controls
• 95 percent of parents who use the ratings most often find them helpful

3. Insurance company Plymouth Rock Assurance announced its 4th of July Get Home SafeSM Contest. The winner will get two tickets to the Independence Day Gala at Top of the Hub Restaurant & Bar in Boston, along with chauffeured transportation. The contest is open to all Massachusetts residents who are 18 years of age or older.  You must enter by Sunday, June 24.  Full rules can be found here.

4. Firefighters get half-price admission to Old Sturbridge Village on Saturday, July 14 for an old-fashioned fireman's muster. Antique fire trucks will be on display and there will be bucket brigades and pumping contests. For more information, call 800-SEE-1830 or visit www.osv.org.

5. AAA projects 42.3 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Independence Day holiday period, a 4.9 percent increase over the 40.3 million people who traveled last year. The expected 2012 Independence Day travel volume will tie the past decade’s previous high mark set in 2007. 

Is there something that you would like others to know today? Go ahead and post it in the comments!

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