"Five Things You Need to Know Today" is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. You can also sign-up for the West Roxbury Patch.com daily or weekly newsletter that will come straight to your inbox with everything Patch.

1. Boston Mayor Menino declared a public health emergency yesterday in Boston due to the flu outbreak.
2. Click here to find where you can get a flu shot in West Roxbury.
3. Fiction writer Erin Thorne will be signing copies of her latest book "Behind the Wheel" this Saturday, Jan. 12 at Seek Books. 1-4 p.m. Read a Q&A with Thorne here.
4. Interested in learning Arabic or French at the West Roxbury Library on Wednesdays? Call 617-319-8892. $20. Lessons for all ages.
5. The city of Boston will pick up Christmas trees from Jan. 7-18. Click here for more info.

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