Welcome to 5 Things You Need to Know Today, your place for useful facts. We'll provide this early morning digest each weekday to keep Salemites and Salem Patch users in-the-know.

1. Here's some news from the collegiate world — Senior at Washington College in Chestertown, Md., Victoria Leach of Salem, was recognized for academic excellence and achieving a grade point average of 3.4 or higher for the Fall 2011 semester. She is majoring in history and her parents are Mr. and Mrs. David A. Leach. Congratulations, Victoria.
2. Another congrats is in order for resident Nicholas Marfongelli. Providence College reports that the member of the class of 2014 had a successful Fall semester with a 3.55 grade point average, qualifying him for the Dean's list. Way to make Salem proud.
3. It's a day full of milestones! We learned that the Gulu Gulu Cafe family had some special news on Monday. According to the Cafe Facebook page the owners welcomed a baby girl. Best wishes to mom and baby.
4. A big thanks to reader Susan Major who captured a great photo of Friday's bonfire Christmas tree pile before fire was added to it. Check out her shot attached to this article. 
5. We made a blooper on the new address for Mighty Aphrodite the other day. The shop officially reopened yesterday at 7 Central St. For more, check the business Facebook Page.