5 Things, December 14: Stoughton Selectmen to Honor Feaster and Welcome Incoming Town Manager

"Five Things you Need to Know Today" is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance.

1. Selectmen to Honor Feaster and Welcome Incoming Town Manager at Public Meet and Greet

The Stoughton Board of Selectmen will hold an open house Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. to thank Interim Town Manager Joseph D. Feaster, Jr. for his service to the town and to welcome incoming Town Manager Michael J. Hartman.  

The Open House will be in the Great Hall on the third floor of the Town Hall and all residents are welcome.  

Please RSVP on or before Monday, Dec. 17, 2012 to the Town Manager’s Office (781) 341-1300 Ext. 9211 or by email to twnmgr@stoughton-ma.gov.

Hartman, a Canton resident, was previously Town Manager in Jaffrey, NH (2007-2012). He will start in Stoughton Dec. 17.

Feaster's contract as Interim Town Manager expires Dec. 28, with the brief overlap in the two contracts providing the new town manager an acclimation/transition period, Board of Selectmen Chair John Stagnone said.

2. Stoughton High Music Department's Annual Holiday Concert

The Stoughton High School Music Department will present their 2012 Holiday Concert on Friday, Dec. 14.

The concert will feature the SHS Concert Choir and SHS Jazz Choir under the direction of Griffin Coombs. The SHS Concert Band and SHS Tuesday Jazz Ensemble will be directed by John Mange.

The concert will be held in the high school auditorium and begin at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets will be available at the door only. Adults are $5 and seniors and children are $3, with a family maximum of $10.

Check out highlights from last year’s holiday concert by clicking here.

3. Sports on Tap

The Stoughton High boys' and girls' basketball teams start their respective seasons Friday evening, Dec. 14. The boys' travel to Attleboro, while the girls' host Attleboro at SHS. Both games start at 6:30 p.m.

Click on the links below for previews of both teams:

• Stoughton High Girls' Basketball Aims for Return Trip to Postseason

This Saturday, the Stoughton High Hockey team is in action vs. Bishop Feehan, while the indoor track team has a meet vs. Foxboro and the wrestling team has a tournament in Milford.

4. MAXX Hosting Weekend Bone Marrow Event and Jiu-Jitsu Tournament

This Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012 from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m. at MAXX Training Center (49 Rose Street in Stoughton), you can register as a bone marrow donor.

MAXX is also hosting its annual in-house Jiu-Jitsu Tournament on the 15th. Doors open at 10 a.m. for registration ($30 for participants and $5 for spectators).

5. Cookie Decorating Party for Kids

On Sunday, Dec. 16 from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m., the Panera Bread in Stoughton (1334 Park St.) will host a Christmas Tree Cookie decorating party.

Cost is $2, with 10 cents from each Christmas Tree Cookie decorated going to Boston Children's Hospital.

Click here for more information.