Five Things You Need to Know Today: Oct. 22

1. The South Shore Polar Express will ride the rails once again this year. The popular train ride will depart the Kingston MBTA station Saturday, Dec. 8, with readings of the Christmas story written by Chris Van Allsburg, a visit from Santa and fun for kids of all ages. Tickets are now on sale for this one-hour train ride on double-decker passenger cars from Kingston to Halifax and back on the MBTA’s Old Colony Line. There are four time slots: 11:45 a.m., and 1:45, 4 and 7:15 p.m. Kids are encouraged to wear their jammies over their clothes for the train ride. Elves will read The Polar Express story and present gift bags to each child. Santa Claus will also be present on the train to greet children and adults.

2. Rejuvenations Salon & Day Spa is collecting clean, gently used coats and jackets as part of the One Warm Coat community service project. Take your clean, gently used coats and jackets to the salon at 5 Manomet Point Road, Plymouth, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. between Oct. 22 and Nov. 30. All donated coats will be given to the Plymouth Area Coalition for the Homeless for distribution to local people in need. As an added incentive, anyone that donates a coat will be eligible to enter a raffle for a $100 gift certificate to Rejuvenations.

3. Plymouth Seniors are invited to an educational forum regarding Plymouth's plan to move to curbside trash pickup. The forum is hosted by the Plymouth Council on Aging at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 24, at the Aging Senior Center.

4. The Plymouth Area Coalition seeks donations of Stop & Shop and Shaw’s $10 gift certificates to provide low-income South Shore families with holiday turkeys. Deliver or mail them to 149 Bishops Highway in Kingston. For more information, call Helen at 781-582-2010.

5. Do you have an opinion or a passion you'd like to share? Learn how you can blog on Patch.