Five Things You Need To Know: Jan. 24

Today is Thursday, January 24th. Here are five things you need to know.

U12 Girls Softball: The Shamrocks U12 girls softball team reports that it’s looking for players from both Wakefield and Lynnfield. Birthdates 2000 and after are eligible. This is a tournament team forming immediately. If interested email woody45792@comcast.net or mrizz7717@gmail.com for more information.

A Note From Alison Simcox And Douglas Heath: On Friday, Jan. 25 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Breakeart Visitors Center (177 Forest Street, Saugus) local authors, Alison Simcox and Douglas Heath will trace the natural and cultural history of Breakheart Reservation from its glacial origins and use by Paleo-Indians to modern times.  Their book reveals how this square-mile of forest has remained virtually undeveloped since colonial times.  This story includes tales of early settlers to dreams of wealthy businessmen, and culminates with the brutal murder in 1900 of the forest's first caretaker, a crime that rocked the Boston area for months. Three decades later, the land was sold to the state and became a camp for the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps, who transformed the forest into a recreation area. Today, Breakheart is one the finest gems in the state's park system. Their first book, "Lake Quannapowitt" came out in 2011.  Both books are published by Arcadia Publishing, a leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States.

Taste of Metro North: On Wednesday, Feb. 27 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. the North Reading and Reading Rotary Clubs are having the Taste of Metro North Event – and Wakefield’s Dockside Restaurant is among the participating area businesses. Tickets are $30 ($35 at the door) or $50 for a family ($55 at the door).  They can be purchased on the Taste’s website www.tasteofmetronorth or from committee members and at the following locations: Reading Municipal Light Department, Reading Cooperative Bank in Reading and North Reading, The Savings Bank in North Reading, Wakefield and Andover and at the Superintendent’s office at Reading Memorial High School.

Linden Tree Coffeehouse: The next Linden Tree Coffeehouse event at the Unitarian Universalist Church in downtown Wakefield is on February 2 at 8 p.m. featuring Mark Erelli and Chris LaVancher. Tickets are $16. Click here for more.

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