Things You Need to Know, Jan. 10

It looks like we dodged a repeat of the snowstorm from a few weeks ago, as Friday’s snow didn’t amount to any weekend headaches.

It’s Monday, and I’d like to officially inaugurate the Five Towns edition of “Five Things You Need to Know Today,” a daily guide to, well, the title pretty much sums it up.

1. I’m already abusing this column, with this personal note. In case you didn’t notice, which you probably didn’t due to the excellent work of fill-in editor Emily Wood, I’ve been out of the country for almost two weeks, only returning on Thursday. When I had left, it really looked like snow would bring the end of days to New York. Needless to say, my first trip out of the country to the Land of Israel was especially welcoming, with highs in the 60s and lows in the 40s. I even swam…I’m not sure you needed to know that.

2. The Woodmere Merchants Association is set to hold their tonight, after their December meeting was canceled. A topic sure to be on the agenda is parking, which association head Dr. John Santopolo in the past.

3. Did I mention I flew El Al to Israel? While that was a blatant advertisement, the exhibition, “Signs of the Times,” at the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library may not be so obvious. The creator of the display, Seymour Levy, hopes it will with its many popular logos. The exhibit will only run for a few more weeks.

4. The Village of Atlantic Beach will hold its first of the New Year tonight. Patch will have coverage of the meeting sometime this week.

5. Michael Gliner was officially installed as the new head of the Inwood Civic Association at its . Five Towns Patch will have a full story that includes his plans later today.

That wraps up the first edition of this column. If you have any ideas for what you’d like to see here every morning, let me know. I’m open to everything, whether it’s your observations, photos, breakfast or morning tips or anything else on your mind.