Five Things You Need to Know Today: Jan. 5

1. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth is looking for artists, or those with a creative side, to participate in this year’s annual celebration set for Friday, May 3, at the Pinehills Golf Club. Interested artists will choose an item from Habitat’s ReStore in Carver and create a work of art using that item. Artists will submit one work each, with a maximum size of 2-by-3-by-3 feet.

Habitat volunteers will be at the ReStore to register those interested from noon to 3 p.m. each Saturday in January, and from 10 a.m. to noon Fridays, Jan. 11 and 25. The ReStore is located at 72 North Main St. in Carver. Artists will be asked to finish their artwork by March 17. For more information or to learn more about Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth, visit www.hfhplymouth.org.

2. 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.

3. 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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