Five Things You Need to Know Today: Nov. 21

1. Half-day for students. The Newton Public Schools will have early dismissal today for the Thanksgiving holiday. Check out this page for specifics on when your school will dismiss for the day. 

2. Open mic. Cafe Sol Azteca in Newton Centre will host another open mic/spotlight series tonight starting at 6:30 p.m.

3. Senior Center closing early. The Newton Senior Center will close at 1 p.m. today for the Thanksgiving holiday. 

4. Traveling today? Make sure you plan ahead. Thanksgiving holiday traffic is expected to be at its peak on Tuesday, Nov. 20, Wednesday, Nov. 21 and Sunday, Nov. 25, according to MassDOT. To avoid delays on busy days, drivers should consider hitting the road during the early morning or after 8 p.m.

5. Are you ready? Make sure you flip through our holiday guide for Thanksgiving tips, recipes, drink ideas and more. Plus, we even have .