5 Things You Need to Know Today: July 19

Good morning, Potomac! Today is the 200th day of 2011; there are 165 days left in the year. Here are another five things you need to know today to stay on top of what’s going on in the community:

1. The thermometer continues to climb, along with the humidity... today will be mostly cloudy, with the scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs will be in the mid 90s. Storm chances continue into the evening, with lows falling to the lower 70s. Chances of rain are 40 percent, decreasing to 30 percent by evening.

2. The Montgomery County Council holds its weekly meeting today, at the council building in Rockville (100 Maryland Avenue), 9:30-11:00 a.m. There's likely to be added interest this week, in reaction to last week's unanimous Council vote to ban smoking in some public areas and near playgrounds.

3. in Bethesda, but you can get in on the fun (and meal deals) without leaving Potomac: Bezu Restaurant is offering lunch and dinner specials for the week right here in town. Now through through Sunday, the restaurant is offering a 2-course lunch for $15, or a 3-course dinner for $30. Visit the website or stop by to see what Chef Francis has cooked up for the week.

4. Coming up today in Moms Talk, the discussion turns to digital-age parent's dilemma (or nightmare): at what age should children be allowed to set up a Facebook page, or use other social media--and how should parents monitor and regulate that use? Add your thoughts, opinion or advice to the discussion in the "comments" section.

5. Fun history fact: On this date in 1799, during Napoleon's Egyptian campaign a French soldier discovered an ancient, inscribed black slab which came to be known as the Rosetta Stone. Named after the town near to where it was found (about 35 miles north of Alexandria, Egypt), the stone contained Greek as well as Egyptian writing and hieroglyphics. The Greek passage read that all three inscriptions told the same story--meaning the stone amazingly held the key to deciphering hieroglyphics, a language that had been "dead" for nearly 2,000 years. After defeating Napoleon in 1801, the British took took possession of the Rosetta Stone, which ever since has been housed at the British Museum in London.

Happy Tuesday!