5 Things You Need to Know Today: Nov. 21

Today is Wednesday, Nov. 21, and here are the five things you need to know:

1. It should be another pleasant fall day in Salem. The National Weather Service is predicting that local residents can expect it to be cloudy, with a high near 49. Tonight should be mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. (sunrise, 6:42 a.m.; low tide, 11:04 a.m.; sunset, 4:16 p.m.; high tide, 5:25 p.m.)

2. We want you to have one day when parking on Washington Street in Salem is a pleasure—no rooting around for coins in the bottom of your purse or pocket, no running outside frantic, mid-conversation, to feed the meter. Click Here for all the details about our 'Park on Patch' promotion.

3. The time to vote is now! We've received some great entries to our Salem Patch Facebook page cover photo contest.  Voting is now open, so, Click Here, scroll through our photos, pick your choice to win and tell us which in the comments section by indicating the picture number.

4. If you plan on stopping by the Walmart on Highland Avenue Friday for some holiday deals and steals, be prepared to see some protesters. Large groups of labor and community workers are preparing to hold a Black Friday protest at several Walmart locations across the state this Friday, including the Salem branch of the store, according to an announcement from Jobs with Justice. 

5. Today in History: On Nov. 21, 1877, Thomas Edison announced the invention of the phonograph, a machine that could record and play sounds.

For more things going on in Salem today, check out our events calendar.