Five Things You Need to Know Today: Dec. 27

1. Boxing Day is finally upon us! We are finally ready to embrace this wonderful holiday celebrated by our near cousin countries of Canada and the United Kingdom. This is usually a bank or public holiday and these countries typically have huge "Boxing Day' sales much like our Black Friday sales. Celebrate by going shopping and then visiting a pub and perhaps watching the movie The Fighter.

2. It is Monday and due to budget issues the city offices are closed along with the library and Chamber of Commerce. Of course public schools and the college are on break as well. What is open? Retailers, restaurants, most businesses and mail services are running. Keep in mind it will be a bit of a short week for some places of business as New Year's Eve is this Friday.

3. The storm clouds are still swirling around Sonoma County all this week and it is a good idea to keep an umbrella near by. Monday looks to be rather mild with partly cloudy skies and temperatures flirting with 60. Some rain should stop by midweek but hopefully it will travel on for a clear New Years.

4. Were the holidays a bit stressful to you this year? Well at the Rohnert Park Senior Center they are having a Blood Pressure Clinic from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. so you can learn more about keeping track of yourself and your health. Swing on by and learn about your systolic!

5. This Day in History: In 1831 Charles Darwin embarked on his journey on the HMS Beagle (on this trip he begins to formulate the Theory of Evolution). In 1932 Radio City Music Hall opened in New York City, and in 1978 Spain becomes a democracy. Big name birthdays include: Pope Pius VI, Louis Pasteur, Charles Olson, Mick Jones, Gerard Depardieu and Davis Knopfler.

- What does not change is the will to change

            ~Charles Olson