Monday Essentials: Discussion on Burlington Medical Marijuana Policy, Blood Drive

Welcome to Monday Essentials, our weekly column taking a look at the week ahead. Here are five things to know about this week:

1) Cold mid week but otherwise warmer 

Looks like a mixed bag of weather this week. According to theNational Weather Service we can expect rain on Monday but a high temperature near 48 degrees. Tuesday will be very windy cold with a temperature near 17 degrees and with gusts around 37 miles per hour and windchill values near -3. It will clear mid-week but daytime temperatures will be in the 20s. It will be back up in the 40s this weekend. 

2) Public meetings 

The Land Use Committee is meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday in the Town Hall Annex basement meeting room. The Board of Appeals is meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the main hearing room at Town Hall. The Conservation Commission is meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday in the main hearing room at Town Hall. Click here for a full list of public meetings. 

3) Marijuana policy discussion 

The Burlington Planning Board is holding a special meeting, the second in a series of discussion, on what policies Burlington should enact now that medical marijuana is legal in Massachusetts. The meeting is Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Saint Mark's Episcopal Church, Saint Mark's Road. The Planning Board is looking to get input from both residents and members of the business community.

4) Community blood drive 

The American Red Cross and the Burlington American Legion is holding a blood drive from 1:30 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the American Legion. Gift the gift of life by donating blood. 

5) Learn to Fight like a Hobbit, Dwarf or Wizard 

Guard Up Family Swordsmanship & NERF is holding a Holiday Adventures: The Hobbit program this month starting at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. You get a cloak, one foam short sword, and a month to train as a Hobbit, Mage, Ranger, or Dwarf. Click here for all starting times and price information.