Five Things You Need to Know This Week, Dec. 27 – Jan. 2

1. Christmas tree pick-up begins today. On its website, the Service Department asks that trees be cleared of decorations and left out of bags. Residents should place trees on the curb near their regular trash on their usual garbage day. If the department doesn't get the tree the first time it's set out, it will in the future. In the meantime, residents should make sure trees don't freeze to the ground.

2. The American Red Cross is hosting a blood drive at the from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. today. And donors won't just be giving; they will also receive a pound of Dunkin Donuts coffee. The Red Cross's website says it is no longer taking online appointments, so call 1-800-RED-CROSS to see if there is a spot available.

3. The community meeting for the Riverview Road Sanitary Sewer Project will be held Thursday at City Hall. The meeting for that project was originally scheduled for Dec. 13, but it was cancelled because of the poor weather that day. Mike Harwood, City Council member and chair of the Utilities committee, said last week that attendees will learn more about the project and will have the chance to ask questions. 

4. If residents need to stop by any city offices soon, they should do so this week. The new city calendar notes that city offices will be closed Jan. 3 for New Year's Day.

5. Save the recycling for another week: The recycling center, which was closed this weekend for Christmas, will also be closed on Jan. 1 for New Year's Day. According to the Service Department's website, it will reopen with normal hours on Jan. 8. 

Editor's note: This story has been revised. An earlier version stated that city offices would be closed Dec. 31, 2010.