5 Things You Need to Know Today: May 23

1. Fasten your seat belt! Hopkinton Police and police across the state are launching a high-visibility, seat-belt enforcement blitz called Click It or Ticket. Drivers and passengers should wear seat belts or face the consequences. The crackdown begins today, May 23 and continues through June 5. This is a zero-tolerance effort. “Too many people still have the reckless attitude that a crash will never happen to them,” Hopkinton Police Chief Richard Flannery says. “These tragedies can and do happen every day, and the best way to protect yourself is by wearing a seat belt.” 

2. Did you know Hopkinton has a Treasure Room? It's in the Hopkinton Public Library and contains special collections relating to local history and genealogy.  It includes irreplaceable manuscripts, photos, newspapers, pamphlets, books, maps and artifacts of significant historical value. Researchers who wish to use the materials in the Treasure Room need to talk to Adult Services Librarian Susan Marshall, Director Rownak Hussain or a designated staff member.  

3.  NSTAR’s Walk for Children’s Hospital Boston is a 2- or 7-mile stroll along the Charles River in Boston on June 12. There will also be juggling, face painting, music, games, food, and celebrity and athlete meet-and-greets at the Hatch Shell, $20 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under. Register to walk at www.childrenshospital.org/walk. $150 adult-walker fundraising minimum. Walker registration and activities start at 9. Two-mile walk starts at 11, seven-mile walk at noon. 

4. Transgender rights will be debated by the Joint Committee on the Judiciary on June 8, 1 p.m. at the State House. The committee will discuss a bill which would add gender identity and expression to existing Massachusetts civil rights laws. A recent UCLA study said that discrimination against Massachusetts transgender residents leads to reduced income-tax revenue because of job discrimination and greater spending on public assistance and health programs. Opponents say the bill would create havoc with the use of rest rooms by people who identify as a different gender and lead to lawsuits over issues such as how transgender people would be assigned to prisons if convicted of criminal acts.

5. The Dancing Arts Center of Holliston is offering camps and workshops this summer from June 27 to Aug. 19.  There will be Family Dance Camps in the early evenings, single classes for ages 3 to adult, Choreography Workshops for emerging choreographers, and dance camps/workshops. Work-study, scholarships and family discounts are vailable. For more information go to www.dancingartscenter.com, email dancingartscenter@gmail.com or call center Director Karyn Edison at 508-429-7577.