"Five Things You Need to Know Today" is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. Check back later for more, and let us know what you think of the five things in the comments section.

1. Happy Halloween! Please be safe, DO NOT feed your pets candy. And Kids' Fun Stop is hosting a Halloween Open House at 9:30 a.m. $5. Dress your kids up in their scariest, cutest, funniest halloweencostume and come enjoy a few hours of play time and give aways (sorry, no candy) all-day long.
2. The Ted D'Amato Chess Club with Charlie Cleary the Chess Master is for free at the West Roxbury Library today from 3:30-5:30 p.m. This is for youth ages 6-18.
3. On Tuesday the Boston Ward 20 Republican Committee is holding its general monthly meeting. Tom Weaver and Ralph Zazula, co-founders of Show ID to Vote, will be providing an update about the “Show ID to Vote” ballot initiative signature gathering. The Show ID to Vote ballot initiative, if approved by Massachusetts voters, would require voters to show government-issued photo identification at the polls every time they vote. 7:30 p.m. Free and open to all. District E-5 Police Station.
4. Fall Story Time at the West Roxbury Library is on Tuesday at 11 a.m. Free. For preschoolers ages 3-5. There will be fun stories, songs and crafts.
5. You may have heard to shop the perimeter of a supermarket to find the most naturally nutritious foods. But let’s face it, many of us spend most of our time in the center aisles with the packaged items, trying to decipher food labels to make the best possible choices. Join Nancy Oliveira at Faulkner Hospital, 1153 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, for this informative, practical talk to learn a Dietitian’s Top 11 Food Finds in your local supermarket. The hospital will be offering free health food tastings from 6:30 –7 p.m prior to the lecture. Free parking will also be provided. To register, call 617-983-7500.