5 Things You Need to Know Today, July 4

1. It's Independence Day and you know what that means. It's a national holiday. The will be closed today, Monday, July 4 in honor of Independence Day. All town offices will reopen on Tuesday, July 5. The Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department patrols and dispatch and Santa Clara County Fire Department, along with other critical town services, will remain unaffected by the closure. Library will be closed. 

2. Make plans to attend the 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday, July 4, at the civic center, 110 E. Main St. Entertaining the crowd will be Zenith Ark Project, the Sizzling Seniors, the Peninsula Banjo Band and the San Jose Wind Symphony. The hometown picnic and games are scheduled for 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at the civic center. The Strike up the Band part of the festivity is set for 1:30-3:30 p.m., on the Los Gatos High School front lawn. Yankee Doodle Dancing begins at 3:30 at the civic center and the Red, White and Blue Barbecue will be 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Details: Monica Renn, 408-354-6834. No blankets allowed on the civic center lawn. 

3. Today is Save Our Shores beach cleanup. Love your country, love the ocean! Join hundreds of volunteers 1-5 p.m. today, July 4, in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties reaching out to visitors about taking their trash home with them off the beach. You'll walk designated beaches offering guests their own trash bag so they can pack their trash. Meet in Santa Cruz County at Seacliff/Rio Del Mar state beaches, Moran Lake Beach, Twin Lakes State Beach, Seabright State Beach, and Main Beach/Cowell Beach; and in Monterey at Del Monte/ Monterey Municipal Beach at Wharf #2. Details: Colleen Bednarz, 831-462-5660, ext. 2, or volunteer@saveourshores.org. 

4. Bummed about Los Gatos not having a Fourth of July parade? Head on over to San Jose at 10 a.m. today, July 4, to watch the popular Rose, White and Blue Parade, at the intersection of Shasta and Martin avenues. The event will be followed by a picnic at 11 a.m., along the Alameda near Fremont Street. Details: Larry Clark, 408-436-8581.

5. Watch some fantastic fireworks tonight during the Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular with the San Francisco Symphony set to stirring patriotic songs and marches, 8 p.m., Monday, July 4, Shoreline Amphitheatre, 1 Amphitheatre Pkwy., in Mountain View. Details: 650-962-1000.