Five Things You Need to Know Today: Feb. 17

1) Newsbit of the Day: 

Police have reached an agreement on their contract with the town and are expected to ratify it today, Friday, Acting Town Administrator Dave Castellarin told selectmen on Wednesday. 

The Department of Public Works union is still negotiating a contract with the town, he said on Wednesday.

2) Swampscott Scholars: 

Michael F. Phelan, of Swampscott, was named to the Dean's List at Saint Anselm College in Manchester for the fall semester, 2011. He is a politics major and a member of the class of 2012.

3) Swampscott Athletics:

Word is the Swampscott High hockey team's players have dyed their hair blond. The Big Blue blonds play their final game of the season against Marblehead on Saturday then tournament play starts.

4) Weather Watch:

Partly sunny. National Weather Service forecasters predict that showers are likely, mainly before noon. Patchy fog before 9 am, then patchy fog between 10 am and 1 pm. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 46.

 5) Tide Watch:

Today's low tide at Fisherman's Beach is 1:20 pm (-.07 ft). High tide is 6:54 pm (9.71 ft). The sun will rise at 6:38 am and set at 5:17 pm.