5 Things You Need to Know Today, 5/14

1) Today we'll have patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, it will be cloudy, with a high near 60. Tonight will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.

2) The SmarterCape Summit 2 will be held today and tomorrow at the to pull people together and brainstorm innovative ideas for the Cape’s economy. The Partnership will be featuring powerful plenary sessions and seven themes for breakout sessions: environment, economy, development, education, healthcare, transportation, and government. There is no fee for the public to attend the two-day event and one lunch is included with registration; register at smartercapesummit.com. The event is organized by the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, the Cape Cod Commission, the OpenCape Corporation, the Cape Cod Technology Council and the Cape Cod Economic Development Council.

3) Do friends and family tell you that you're a good listener? Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity where you can really make a difference? Then volunteering for the Samaritans could be a great fit for you. The Samaritans of Cape Cod and the Islands group will be holding its next volunteer training this month. Volunteers are not counselors or therapists, so no experience is required; all you need is the capacity to care. The next training sessions will be held on May 14, 15, 16, 21, and 22 from 5:45-8:45pm at the office in Falmouth. Training sessions help familiarize each volunteer with some of the issues that callers to our crisis lines and seniors in our Senior Outreach program face. Trainings also set our volunteers up for success so they have the tools, resources, and confidence they'll need in order to help those in need. If you'd like to learn more about attending the May volunteer training, please call 508-548-7999 or visit CapeSamaritans.org. 

4) Did you know May 12-19 is the South Shore and Cape and Islands Beer Week? Come on out for the ever-popular beer dinner featuring Guinness at tonight. Call now to make reservations: 508-548-0285.

5) This day in history: Lewis and Clark's expedition begins (1804); the Warsaw Pact is formed (1955); and Skylab is launched (1973).