5 Things You Need to Know Today, 5/6

1) Today will be sunny, with a high near 59. Tonight will be clear, with a low around 49. 

2) Join the 300 Committee in a celebration of open space in Falmouth at its "Open Space, Open House" event today from 1-4pm at the following sites: 1) Peterson Farm: Off Woods Hole Road at McCallum Drive. This 88-acre farm was bought by the town in 1998 with the help of The 300 Committee. There will be a sign at the entrance, and guides with maps and information. 2) Teaticket Park: The address is 205 Teaticket Highway. The sign still says "Joe's Driving Range," but soon these 11 acres will be transformed by the 300 Committee into a public park. Walk the site and see the plans with people who know the story. 3) Bartolomei Conservation Area: The address is 667 Sandwich Road, just northeast of the Turner Road intersection. The 300 Committee helped the town purchase this property in 2009. It now features both a loop trail in the woods through a hidden valley and a handicapped-accessible trail along the edge of Pond 14. 4) Cardoza Farm: This 45-acre town parcel can be reached either by car (entrance between #850 and #866 West Falmouth Highway) or by the bike path (at approximately mile 8.3)—an earth-friendly way to arrive. A lovely trail traverses the field and winds through the woods. Maps are available online at 300committee.org. 

3) The Falmouth Dog Park invites everyone to come celebrate its first year milestone birthday at its location on Brick Kiln Road today at 1pm. The park will be closed in the morning from 9:30–11:30am for clean-up and preparation. Voting to name the park’s symbolic mascot (featured in the park’s logo) is currently underway through May 4 at 8pm on the website (falmouthdogpark.com) and Facebook. The celebration will include the unveiling of a new bench, placed in the shade and made possible by funding from CapeK9 Cardio and the Cape Cod Foundation’s Thomas C. McGowan Fund for Animals, supporting animal protection and welfare on the Cape through a gift from the late Thomas McGowan. Members of the Falmouth Dog Park Committee will be present to answer questions and to sell dog park merchandise, and the event will include a public acknowledgment of the park’s numerous in-kind contributors and supporters, and, of course, a special cake featuring the park mascot’s face. Come join the fun and bring your canine friend on a leash for the ceremony and enjoy the park afterwards.

4) Today at 4pm,  will host "The Music of Gershwin and Bernstein: Who Could Ask for Anything More?" with vocalist Stephanie Miele and pianist Lucy Banner. George Gershwin is best known for his work in the musical theater and Leonard Bernstein is most renowned for his instrumental and choral compositions. But there was a great deal of crossover, as evidenced by Gershwin’s orchestral piece “Rhapsody in Blue” and Bernstein’s musical theater piece, “West Side Story.” This performance will highlight the music each wrote for musical theater and for films. Admission is $15 at the door, and will include a raffle ticket for a beautiful floral arrangement made by floralreactions.com. Proceeds will be donated to the All Cape Piano Fund, which works to provide pianos as well as piano and organ lessons to adults and children who would not otherwise have the opportunity.

5) This day in history: FDR creates the Works Progress Administration (1933); the Hindenburg explodes in New Jersey (1937); and the English "Chunnel" opens (1994).