Five Things to Know on Jan. 18: Recognize a Community Hero

Today is Friday, Jan. 18. Here are five things you need to know in Hamilton and Wenham: 

1. Colder: While the sun is forecasted to return on Friday, it will be a whole lot colder. The high temperature is not expected to get above freezing and the wind will be gusting to 30 miles per hour out of the west.

2. Heroes: If you know a local hero, Friday is the final day to nominate that person for this year’s Community Heroes Awards. The Northeast Massachusetts chapter of the Red Cross will be presenting its hero awards in six categories during the annual Community Heroes Breakfast, which will be held March 21 from 7:30-9 a.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Boston North Shore hotel.

3. 50 Books: If you are taking part in Hamilton-Wenham Library’s 50 Books Reading challenge, Friday is the final day to turn in your log.

4. Stars: Are you a singer? The Beverly Rotary Club and North Shore Music Theatre are co-sponsoring a gala fundraiser to showcase local singing talent and benefit local scholarships and community aid, and auditions are coming up. The event is scheduled for March 1, but auditions are scheduled for Jan. 21 at North Shore Music Theatre from 6-9 p.m.

5. Foreclosures: Friday is the final day to file a claim for a one-time payment as part of a $25 billion settlement reached between five major lenders and 49 states' attorneys general, including Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, for unlawful foreclosures, including robo-signing of documents. If you lost your home to bank foreclosure anytime from 2008 to 2011, all of the paperwork must be submitted by Friday.

To find out what is going on today in Hamilton and Wenham, check out our events listings.