5 Things You Need To Know Today: July 8

Five Things You Need to Know Today is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. Check back later for more, and let us know what you think of the new feature in the comments section. 

1. The senior book discussion group will meet at 11 a.m. to discuss "The Glimpses of the Moon," by Edith Wharton at the , 266 Beech St.

2. More than 660 children have signed up for One World Many Stories Summer Reading program in the Children's Room of the and it's not too late to start and join the fun and win prizes. Groups include pre-readers (ages 3-6) and seven year olds and up to 6th graders. Two raffle winners from each age group will be drawn every Friday from July 1 through Aug. 19. Prizes are provided by the Friends of the Belmont Public Library, with generous support from Belmont Toys. Find out more at the Children's Room or call 617-489-2000.

3.  now offers a great opportunity for anyone who's interested in getting started in beading. Every Friday at 11:30 a.m., the store will be offering a free beginner beader class. Learn the difference between different beads, stringing materials, findings, etc. And of course, learn how to crimp. At the store at 404 Trapelo Rd. Phone 617-489-7222.

4. This day in history: 

On this date in 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry, representing the U.S. government, sails into Tokyo Bay, Japan, with a squadron of four vessels. The United States is the first Western nation to establish relations with Japan since it had been declared closed to foreigners two centuries before. This is the beginning of the end of the shogunate and ultimately the modernization of Japan. (Thanks, History.com)

5. Quote of the day:

An impressive display of the heavy artillery, guns and rockets on his warships would "do more to command (the Japanese) fears, and secure their friendship, than all the diplomatic missions have accomplished in the last one hundred years."

Matthew Perry