Five Things You Need to Know Today, Dec. 9

1) We should enjoy more sun today and the temperature could reach 43 degrees. So it’s a good day to re-stand, adjust and re-hang any holiday decorations that wind gusts took for a ride yesterday. The National Weather Service is forecasting a sunny weekend, with the temperature falling a few degrees over the next two days.

 2) Wind gusts toppled the Christmas tree decorated in memory of Woburn Police Officer John “Jack” Maguire, who was killed just over a year ago in the line of duty. The tree stands at the edge of the parking lot across Washington Street from the post office. Scott Lauder of the Burlington PD stood the tree back up and added some supports. Neighbor Pedro Rey of Woburn is providing electrical power for the blue tree lights, which replace battery-operated ones.

3) Need some holiday decorating inspiration?  Or a break from your own house trimming? The Woburn Historical Society will open its home, the Burdett Mansion, for self-guided tours tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to noon, and again on Dec. 17, same hours. The mansion will also be open on Tuesday, Dec. 13 and 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., so visitors can see the holiday decorations inside. The society decked the house for the holiday house tour this past Sunday. 

4) In case you missed it:  The city has a new attorney, or city solicitor:  Ellen Callahan Doucette. She will start the job in January, according to a press release from Mayor Scott Galvin, who appointed her. Doucette, a Woburn native, attended school here, received her law degree from Suffolk University Law School and served as assistant city solicitor from 1986 to 2002.

5)  Sign of the times -- ”I Am Woman,” written and sung by Helen Reddy, hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 list on this day in 1972.  Few, if any other songs of the time described women as “strong” and “invincible.”

To find out what's going on today in Woburn, check out our events listings.