Five Things You Need to Know Today: Dec. 28

1. The 21st annual Thomas McCosh Alumni Hockey Game will be played Friday, Dec. 28, at the Armstrong Rink in Plymouth. All of the proceeds from the game go toward the Tommy McCosh Scholarship Fund. This scholarship provides money annually for two student-athletes who will continue on to college; one from Plymouth South High School and one from Plymouth North High School. In addition, some money is put aside to help sponsor athletes at either school who might have trouble paying the athletic user fees.

The event begins with some family fun. Take your children, their skates, helmet and a camera for a family skate at 6:20 p.m. The alumni game will begin at 6:50 p.m. Dinner and refreshments will be provided for players after the game. Although donations for the scholarship are always welcome, there is no charge for admission to the game. For players, the cost is $35 each. For more information, call Mike McCosh at 508-889-0020 or Scott Palladino at 508-889-1791. You can also email mjmccosh@verizon.net.

2. Boy Scout Troops 47 of Plymouth will collect your clean Christmas tree and recycle it for a donation of $8. Tree pickup will be New Year’s Day starting at 8 a.m. This service is for Plymouth residents only. Call Simon at 508-746-7349 or send email to trees@troop47plymouth.org.

Boy Scout Troop 64 will pick up and recycle Christmas trees Jan. 5 for $8 per tree. Call or text Jonathan Edson at 508-728-5282 or email imjedson@aol.com and leave your name, address and phone number. 

For a donation of $10, Cub Scout Pack 1620 will collect and recycle your Christmas tree Saturday, Jan. 5, and plant two new trees next spring for every tree collected. To schedule a pickup, call 508-759-3457 or email Scout1620@gmail.com and provide your name and address.

3. Alternatley, you can take your tree to Balboni’s Landscape Supply and Green Waste Reprocessing which will be accepting Plymouth residents’ Christmas trees for recycling free of charge from Dec. 27 through the end of January. Drop off is at 135 Camelot Drive and proof of residency is required. Balboni’s hours of operation are from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday (closed Sunday). All ornaments, tinsel and lights must be removed from the trees; only clean trees are accepted for recycling.

The Christmas trees will be ground, producing high quality mulch, which will eventually break down and enrich the soil, giving back to the environment. By participating in the Christmas tree recycling program Plymouth residents will be given $40 worth of coupons which can be redeemed at Balboni’s for products or future disposal. Call Balboni’s at 508-746-6111.

4. From 6 to 6:45 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31, there will be free tai chi and qigong classes offered at Open Space Studio, 18 Middle St., Plymouth. Colman Fink, the instructor, has been involved with tai chi, qigong, karate and kobudo for more than 40 years. There is a class limit of 20 and all students will be required to complete and sign a registration and release form. For details, visit www.MAwC.tk or www.MartialArtsWithColman.com. The instructor can also be contacted at cfink144@yahoo.com or 508-322-1299.

5. Help to provide hope to all the children who were present and affected by the tragedy at the Sandy Hook Elementary School Dec. 14 in Newtown, Conn., by placing a new stuffed animal or new blanket in the boxes provided at New Hope Chapel, at 89 Court St., Plymouth and/or the Candy Jar, at 44 Mattakeesett St., Pembroke. These items will bring great comfort to those affected. They will be driven to Newtown to be distributed as soon as possible. Cards and letters of love and support to the families who lost a loved one are also welcome. For more information call Krystiana Watts at 339-933-1598.