5 Things You Need to Know Today: Nov. 21

Here is a list of 5 things you need to know today:

1. Gloomy Day: According to the National Weather Service, today will be mostly cloudy early, then becoming sunny with a high near 55 degrees. There will be a slight chance of showers throughout the day and a northeast wind around 10 mph. Tonight there will be occasional drizzle mainly after 1:00 a.m. with patchy fog and increasing clouds. The low will be around 46 degrees and there will be an east wind between 8 and 10 mph.

2. Local Fare: From the turkey to the table, Patch has you covered for Thanksgiving! With one of the few holidays almost completely centered around a delicious, traditional meal, we wanted to make sure readers had a great database of local stores and markets to peruse. Shop for fresh ingredients and cook up your own spectacular dinner, or buy scrumptious pre-made Thanksgiving food for the family. Click for some suggestions.

3. Got Jobs? Even with the state's bleak 9.1 unemployment rate, retailers gearing up for the holiday selling season -- from Christmas tree purveyors to athletic gear retailers -- say they still have jobs to fill. Patch did some investigating and it turns out that there a seasonal jobs to had, right here in Monmouth County. Click to see what we found.

4. Shop Smart: With the busiest shopping day of the year less than one week away, the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs is reminding shoppers to know their rights about rainchecks, gift cards and refunds and to check the national list of recalled toys before going online or to stores this holiday shopping season. Click to learn your rights on refunds, gift cards, layaways and more.

5. Happy Tail: Delynn Mehrlander’s life has gone to the dogs – literally – but, that suits her just fine. As the founder and owner of Jodes Happy Tail All Natural Canine Frozen Yogurt and Treats, the Two River resident enjoys putting smiles on the faces of dogs – and their masters – throughout the county. Click to learn more about her business.