Our weekday morning column, 5 Things You Need to Know, provides you with information that can help you plan your day and give you some fodder for water cooler conversations.

1. It’s here! The city’s new curbside collection program started over the weekend. Are you up to speed on the changes? The city offers a long list of question and answers on its Web site. Let us know how it’s going for you in the comments.

2.  Sign up is now under way for art classes that start at the Post Road Art Center between July 16th and the 26th. More information and a full list of class offerings is available online.

3. The Marlborough Public Library continues its free GED Prep and adult education sessions at 9 a.m.  

4. Our Patch live chats with Senate Candidate Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas continue to generate discussion. Have you weighed in yet?

5. They say some like it hot and those people must be very happy right now. The stretch of hot and humid weather that began last week is expected to last through Wednesday, when a round of thunderstorms should bring a respite.