Five Things to Know Today: August 24

1. Weather: Wow. Another beautiful day. The National Weather Service forecast for our area says we'll see a sunny 84 degrees today.

2. In Case You Missed It: Have you figured out where Vespa is yet?

3. A Request: Who among us has not been affected by the current ecomony? Here at Patch, we would love to of someone who has had success fighting back...maybe starting a new business after a layoff. Or, we would be happy to tell the story of someone who needs help.

4. Coming Up: How about picking up a new old language? At 7 a.m. we'll tell you where to find classes in PA German.

5. Today in History: On this day in 79, Mount Vesuvius eruptsed in southern Italy, devastating the prosperous Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum and killing thousands. The cities, buried under a thick layer of volcanic material and mud, were never rebuilt and largely forgotten in the course of history. In the 18th century, Pompeii and Herculaneum were rediscovered and excavated, providing an unprecedented archaeological record of the everyday life of an ancient civilization, startlingly preserved in sudden death.