Five Things You Need to Know This Week: Jan. 23-29

1. Lets Talk about the Weather! After a few days of rain, meteorologists say the storm will let up this week. Rain is forecast for Monday. The rest of the week, the weather will be mostly cloudy, with temperatures ranging from the 30s to the upper 60s. Get your full seven-day forecast from the National Weather Service here.

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

3. This Week's Events:

• We have great programs at the Rohnert Park-Cotati Regional Library for the little ones all this week! On Tuesday, come out for Wiggle Time at 10:30 a.m., for the 1 to 2 year olds. Older kids can practice reading to a dog on Wednesday from 3:30 till 4:30 p.m. And Friday the library is hosting a pre-school storytime beginning at 10:30 a.m. for the 3 to 5 year olds.
• The New Shanghai Circus will perform at the Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday, Jan. 24. The show features experienced acrobats and amazing feats stemming from 2000 years of tradition. Tickets are $16 for kids and $21 for adults. The show starts at 6:30 p.m.
• Home Energy Workshop: This Wednesday, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., come out for a free event at the Rohnert Park-Cotati Regional Library in the Flores Meeting Room. A state energy program will provide homeowners with information to help reduce waste and increase efficiency.
• A real estate recovery seminar Thursday night from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Doubletree in Rohnert Park, and will discuss what to expect in the 2012 market. The seminar costs $20.

4. Upcoming Events:

• Saturday is the 6th Annual Bucket Brigade Blood Drive. Help the Rohnert Park firefighters compete against other cities by coming down to the Country Club Drive station between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. and donate blood to help your local community!

5.  Patch Tip of the Week: With the wet weather around now is the best time to check your tires and wipers. Bald tires can reduce traction and cause issues stopping on wet pavement. Worn wipers cause a lack of visibility. Making sure both are in good condition will help keep you safer on the roads!

"And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow."

            ~Gilbert K. Chesterton