Five Things You Need to Know Today: March 18

1. Panel on Democratic women stars. Sen. Cindy Creem (D-Newton) will host a discussion today with four women who are rising Democratic stars in Massachusetts. Creem will chat with Mara Dolan, Senator Karen Spilka's District Director Pujha Mehta, Fitchburg Mayor Lisa Wong and activist Harmony Wu. The free event will be held at 7 p.m. at 72 Columbus St. in Newton Highlands. 

2. Vote for a hometown favorite! Watertown Middle School students have set out to find the tastiest, most delectable dish in the area, and they want you to help them choose it. The staff at Watertown Splash, the middle school's newspaper, selected 20 dishes to choose from in the Splash of Flavor contest. Newton's is up for best pancakes! The complete list of restaurants can be found in the story on the Splash website. Voting will be open until tomorrow, March 19. If you want to cast your vote, you can go do so here.

3. Sacred Trash. Adina Cole and Peter Hoffman will discuss their new book today at . The event starts at 10 a.m. and is free.

4. Free concert. Vocal/guitar duo Roberto and Kathryn will give a free concert today at the . The duo will perform classics by Duke Ellington, George Gershwin and Richard Rodgers as well as arrangements of Beatles, The Stylistics, The Carpenters and Bob Dylan. The concert starts at 2 p.m.

5. McDonald's on Needham Street. Newton Patch writer reports that the on Needham Street is currently closed for renovations. We're not certain as to when it will reopen, but we'll let you know when it does!