5 Things: Town Meeting Tonight, Winter Skate at Patriot Place Starts Friday, and More!

1. Today's Weather From the National Weather Service

• Today: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a temperature falling to around 47 by 5pm. Southwest wind 9 to 11 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Tonight: A chance of showers, mainly before 8pm. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 31. North wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

2. Special Town Meeting Tonight

The Town of Wrentham will have the second Special Town Meeting of the year tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the King Philip High School auditorium.

Some of the articles that will be voted on include an artilcle to create an adult entertainment zone and whether the Wrentham Police Department shoud obtain the fingerprint of temperary residents, door to door salesmen, ice cream truck vendors and others.

3. Winter Skate at Patriot Place to Open on Friday

Starting on November 16, Winter Skate at Patriot Place will be open to the pubic.

The 60-by-140-foot, professionally-maintained ice surface is specifically designed for recreational skating and features an observation deck for non-skaters. The surface is large enough to accommodate recreational skating, hockey and private events.

Winter Skate will be open 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 4:00 to 11:00 p.m. on Fridays, 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Saturdays and all school holidays, and 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Sundays. Winter Skate will be open until late February. Parking is free and concessions and bathrooms are available.

Standard skating price is $8 for adults and $6 for children 12 and under and seniors 65 and over. Harvard Pilgrim members receive a $2 off admission by showing their membership card. On-site skate rentals are $4. Full season passes for families are $100.

Individual season passes are $75 for adults and $60 for children and seniors. Individual admission and season passes do not include skate rentals. 

For more information, visit http://www.patriot-place.com/winterskate.aspx.

4. Legend's Ball Tonight

Dick and Rick Hoyt will receive the 2012 Legends Award at the Hockomock Area YMCA’s Legend Ball at Lake Pearl Luciano's. The event includes cocktail reception, both a silent and live auction and offers local sports fans the opportunity to “dine with Legends” with each table featuring exclusive seating with one of New England’s sports celebrities.

Proceeds from the Legends Ball benefit the Hockomock Area YMCA’s Integration Initiative, provides children with special needs an opportunity to participate with their typically developing peers in all the programs, services and activities offered at the Y. The program aims to improve social skills build self-esteem, increase physical activity and independence and to enhance mutual respect among people of all abilities.

5. Eat Healthier at Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving a little over two weeks away, the American Heart Association would like to pass along some tips for eating healthy this holiday season.

• Be Sweet on Sweet Potatoes – Skip the white mashed potatoes and go sweet! Sweet potatoes are a source of vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber that can make a tasty side dish or dessert.
• Stuff with more veggies and less bread - Opt for less bread in your stuffing and add more onions, celery, vegetables, or fruits such as dried cranberries or apples to make a lower calorie version of the old stand by. Try using whole wheat bread in order to make it an even healthier option.
• Sacrifice fat, not flavor - Use low-fat buttermilk or low-sodium chicken stock in place of cream or whole milk in dishes like mashed potatoes and whipped sweet potatoes. You’ll achieve a creamy consistency and loads a flavor, minus the unnecessary fat and calories.
• Be Fresh – Most sodium in the diet comes from packaged, processed foods.  Go with fresh fruits and vegetables instead of canned and limit the amount of salt while you cook. If you are using packaged foods, look for the Heart Check mark and you’ll instantly know that food has been certified by the American Heart Association to meet guidelines for heart-healthy foods.
• Steam and mash - Try sneaking in more, low calorie vegetables by mashing or pureeing steamed or boiled cauliflower with fat-free milk. It’s a flavorful substitute for mashed potatoes and can help balance an otherwise potato rich meal.