Five Things You Need to Know This Week: Nov. 12-18

1. Veterans Day (observed). 

The city of Newton and the Newton Public Schools will observe Veterans Day on Monday, Nov. 12. This means City Hall, the Newton Senior Center, Newton Free Library and Newton Public Schools will all be closed Monday.

2. State volleyball semi-finals.

After winning the Central-East Div. 1 championship Saturday, the Newton North girls' varsity volleyball team will face Andover, the North Div. 1 champions, on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m.

The game is a semi-final match for the Div. 1 state championship. It will take place at Lawrence High School, 70-71 North Parish Road, Lawrence.

3. High school arts events. 

The Newton North music ensembles will host Harvestfest this week, the first concert of the year. The two-night event will include performances from Newton North's many music ensembles.

According to The Newtonite, the Harvestfest I concert -- which takes place Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium -- will include performances by the jazz ensemble, wind ensemble, symphonic band and Jubilee Singers. Harvestfest II -- which takes place on Thursday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. -- includes performances from the concert choir, orchestra, Family Singers and Tiger BeBop.

Over at Newton South, the Newton South Lab Theatre group will present "Self-Portrait", a night of 10-minute plays. The show runs Nov. 15-17 and starts at 7:30 p.m. each night. Tickets are $8 and available online. 

4. Board of Aldermen Committee of the Whole. 

The Newton Board of Aldermen will meet in a Committee of the Whole on Wednesday, Nov. 14 to hold a public hearing on the mayor's fiscal 2014-fiscal 2018 Capital Improvement Plan. The aldermen will also hold a discussion on the mayor's proposed override package.

The meeting starts at 7:45 p.m. and will be held in the Aldermanic Chamber at City Hall.

5. Newton Inspires: An Evening of Ideas and Community. 

The Newton Schools Foundation will present "Newton Inspires: An Evening of Ideas and Community" on Wednesday, Nov. 14 from 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. at Newton South High School. 

The evening includes a list of speakers from many fields and interest areas who will talk on topics that inspire them, including business, education, science and medicine, journalism, the environment, sports, literature, arts and entertainment. 

Those who are interested can sign up for three, 30-minute speakers sessions. Register now, as several speaker sessions are already sold out or have limited seats available. 

Correction: Lawrence High School is located at 70-71 North Parish Road, Lawrence.