Five Things: Insects and Dinosaurs

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

1. Science: Thursday is the final day to sign up for the Community House’s upcoming program “Fun Science for Preschoolers.” The program is for 3-5 year olds and runs for six weeks at 10 a.m. on Saturdays - stating this weekend - with topics such as Insects and Dinosaurs. The cost is $75 and you must sign up for all six weeks.

2. Unemployment: We’ll hear the statewide unemployment numbers on Thursday. The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development will make an announcement about the September unemployment rate at some point during the day. In August, the rate was 6.3 percent, an increase of 0.2 of a percentage point over the July and down 1.1 percentage points from August 2011.

3. Luncheon: The Women's Fund of Essex County will welcome singer Miranda Russell to its grants awards luncheon on Thursday. One of the organizer’s of the 10th annual event is Cathy Ebling of Wenham. The luncheon, which will be held at the Peabody Marriott, is where the 2012 grants will be awarded to non-profit agencies in the county that fund programs supporting women and girls in need.

4. Debate: The two candidates for the Sixth Congressional District seat met for a debate on Wednesday night in North Andover, and they’ll debate again on Thursday evening. This time it will be broadcast across New England live from the NECN studios in Newton at 6 p.m. on the “Broadside with Jim Braude” show.

5. Rape Aggression Defense: Thursday marks the start of a RAD, or Rape Aggression Defense, class hosted by the Hamilton Police Department. Sgt. Karen Wallace puts on the class, which runs for four sessions. It starts tonight and teaches women self-defense techniques.

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