Five Things You Need to Know This Week: Feb. 6-12

1. Lets Talk about the Weather! Meteorologists are forecasting rain and cloudy skies for Monday and Tuesday this week. The forecast calls for a 30 percent chance of rain tonight an 80 percent on Tuesday. Expect partly cloudy conditions most of the week as well. with rain on Tuesday. High temperatures through the week are expected to be in the 60s, while the lows anticipated in the 40s. Get your full seven-day weather outlook from the National Weather Service.

2. Top Stories recap from last week, in case you missed it: , ,, and .

3. This Week's Events:

• In honor of Black History Month, keynote speaker Dr. Marc Lamont Hill will speak about one of the pressing issues today in a lecture titled "First Class Jails, Second Class Schools" at Sonoma State University. The talk begins ta 7:30 p.m. in the Cooperage. Cost is $10. 
• Santa Rosa Junior College is hosing speaker Thursday — Dr. Leonard Mlodinow who will present about "How Randomness Rules our Lives." This lecture starts at 7 p.m. at the Newman Auditorium at SRJC in Santa Rosa.
• Interested in plant identification and the outdoors? This Thursday, come out to the Cotati Room in the Ray Miller Community Center for "Native Plants for Streamside and Backyard Gardens." The presentation is free! - 

4. Upcoming Events:

• 24-Hour Fitness opens this weekend. The Rohnert Park Chamber of Commerce is hosting a ribbon cutting for the gym, located at 6345 Commerce Blvd. from 11 a.m. to noon. Come out to get information on 24-Hour and for a mini-health fair. 
• Sunday come support Rohnert Park's VEM Dance Academy this Sunday for a Valentine's Day breakfast fundraiser. Simply eat out at Applebee's, beginning at 8 a.m. 

5. Patch Tip of the Week: February is a great month to start a budget for your household (or person). With the holidays gone by and tax season upon us, now is a great time to get your finances in order for the rest of the year. provides a good starting point.

"Don't be fooled by the calendar. There are only as many days in the year as you make use of."

            ~Charles Richards