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. Congratulations to Assabet Valley Vocational Technical High School metal fabrication and welding teacher Neil Mansfield, who was a semi-finalist for the 2013 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year, an honor that went to Sharon High School French teacher Kathleen Turner. As a semi-finalist, Mansfield also earned a $1,000 grant for his work. 

2. Looking for some new books to add to your summer reading list? The Marlborough Public Library is ready to help you out, hosting a Book Lover’s Book Swap that will feature some of the library staff’s favorite books. The event takes place Tuesday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and will include refreshments. While you're there, you can get informaiton on the adult summer reading program. 

3. No one knows Marlborough better than the people who live and work here, which is why we want your nominations for our "Best of Patch: Readers' Choice" contest. There are 25 new categories and voting will take place based on reader nominations.

4. The Ghost Light Players, a new community theater group based in downtown Marlborough, will hold auditions for its upcoming performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.  Auditiions begin at 7 p.m. in the First Church In Marlborough Congregational, 37 High St.

5. The summer solstice arrives Wednesday, making it the longest day of the year, in terms of daylight. Forecasters say the weather is also about to turn much more summer-like, with temperatures expected to reach the low- to mid-90s on both Wednesday and Thursday.