Five Things You Need to Know Today: Jan. 5

1. Go Lions! The Newton South girls' varsity hockey team will face Waltham in a home match today at the Dexter School ice rink (20 Newton St.). The game time is 2:15 p.m. Meanwhile, the Newton South boys' varsity hockey team will face Lowell in a home match at the Ryan ice rink in Watertown (1 Paramount Pl.). That match starts at 2:15 p.m. as well. 

2. Community weekend at the Jackson Homestead. You can check out the exhibits at the Jackson Homestead & Museum today for free (the Newton museum offers free admission the first weekend of every month). Stop by between noon - 5 p.m. to learn more about the city's history. 

3. Josh & the Jamtones. Check out kid-friendly band Josh & the Jamtones today at Lasell College. The concert will be held in DeWitt Hall and starts at 10 a.m. Tickets are $10 with a max of $30 per family. Children under 2 are free. Proceeds benefit the playground fund at the Rockwell Child Study Center.

4.More free museum admission. According to a press release issued this week, Bank of America and Merrill Lynch cardholders in the area can receive free admission to a number of Boston museums this weekend including the Harvard Museum of Natural History, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MoCA), the MIT Museum, the Fuller Craft Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts. Photo ID and a valid Bank of America/Merrill Lynch credit or debit card must be presented at the time of visit. 

5. Stamp prices will soon increase. In case you missed the news, the cost of mailing a letter will increase slightly later this month.