Five Things You Need to Know Today: Jan. 3

1. Plymouth County Sheriff Department’s K-9 Lieutenant Patrick Charette can be seen in a K-9 SWAT response scenario in March of the Massachusetts Vest-a-Dog 2013 Calendar, now available for a $10 donation, online and at select locations, including including Doggie Fun and Fitness Center at 47 Marion St., Kingston (across from the Kingston commuter rail). Proceeds from the calendars will support Massachusetts police dogs, by helping provide bulletproof vests, essential equipment, and funding for training and the purchase of dogs for K-9 work. Preview the calendar and see the complete list of businesses where the calendar is available on the organization’s website, www.mavestadog.org.

2. String Academy, a division of Arts for All in Plymouth, announced its inaugural program, to begin Jan. 4. There will be one-hour group lessons in violin, viola and cello, for $5 per class, instrument included. Teaching the classes will be Donna Hovey, string teacher and co-director of Arts for All. The lessons will be taught at the John Robinson Center in downtown Plymouth (8 Town Square). Level I classes will take place Thursdays at 5 or 6 p.m. As students advance, the Level II class will be at 4.

Registration will be limited to 40 students only. Email artsforall@ymail.com to reserve a space. Write “String Academy Registration” in the subject line. Provide names of student and guardian, phone numbers, address and age of student, if a child. If you need a partial or full scholarship, explain your need in the registration email. You will receive a confirmation email stating “enrolled” or “waitlist” status.

Visit www.artsforall-plymouth.org for more information or call 781-588-4150.

3. 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.

4. Alternately, 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.

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