5 Things You Need to Know Today: Aug. 2

1.  Marlborough realtor Lyn Gorka continues to draw attention to the issue of animal abandonment on several fronts. , has now gained close to 2,000 signatures and Gorka says she is working with State Sen. Steve Levy and a representative of the MSPCA on possible legislative changes.

2. Twenty-seven …. and counting. Marlborough students return to class on Aug. 29, which means less than four weeks to get ready. Patch’s Back to School guide has deals on back to school supplies and other helpful information.

3. Mayor Arthur Vigeant, who said bringing business to Marlborough would be a top priority of his administration, got the word out about the city’s high-tech friendliness in a video interview with local information sharing comapny Wikibon that was posted on the Silicon Angle Website.

4. Municipal meetings on the agenda for Thursday include the Marlborough Cable Trust, at 2 p.m.  and the Conservation Commission at 7 p.m.

5. The beginning of August brought the start of the Atlantic hurricane season. As if on cue, a tropical depression formed. Last year's season brought Irene, which raked across New England as a tropical storm but caused signficant damage and widespread and lengthy power outages. What do you think this year will bring?