5 Things You Need to Know Today: March 16

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

1. Sunny Skies Ahead: Although you may need your umbrella in the morning, the clouds are expected to part by 3:00 p.m. and turn into a sunny afternoon. Take advantage of the weather by going for a run in Meadow Ridge Park or Fair Haven Fields. With spring just around the corner, there are plenty of ways to get fit outdoors in Rumson and Fair Haven. Click here to learn more about what our boroughs have to offer in outdoor fitness. The best part of exercising outside: no gym membership fees!

2. Life's a Beach: Although spring is not quite here, many already have their mind set on summer. For the fourth year, the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium and the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey Coastal Research Center are asking the public to pick their on the Jersey Shore. Voting is now open online at the New Jersey Top 10 Beaches website.

3. Got Your Ducks in a Row? Fair Haven resident Dawn Stover and her daughter Nicole went before the borough council Monday night seeking an exception to the non-domestic animals ordinance. The family hatched and raised in their backyard. The family says that the ducks are like puppies and have become a big part of their lives, but neighbors say that they want the ducks to go. Complaints about the ducks include sanitation, the structure where they live and the "quacking". The council decided to table the issue until April 9th. In the meantime, council members plan to visit neighbors homes to assess the noise level and the mayor has asked the family to come up with a mitigation plan in response to the complaints.

4. 99 Years of Fair Haven: There are 3 days left to register for Fair Haven's which will take place on Saturday, March 26th from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Raven and the Peach. Cocktail party will raise money for the Centennial Celebration next year. The price of $99.00 per couple ($50.00 individual or $250.00 sponsors) will include passed Hors d ‘Oeuvres, Charcuterie Board, Artisanal Cheeses, Carving Stations, Pasta Bar, Seafood Station and Desserts. Adult beverages will be available for purchase, including a “VIP Wine Room”. There will also be a silent auction and entertainment. The invitation can be downloaded from the Borough Web site or picked up at Borough Hall.

5. Growing Future Environmentalists: Rumson Garden Club has a scholarship up for grabs for a student who has shown interest in any area of horticulture, landscape design, or environmental studies including conservation, marine sciences, or earth science. The club will award its annual scholarship in memory of Rita Morgan Boyle, a past president and dedicated member of the club. In order to be eligible for the scholarship, you must be a Rumson resident who is or will be a student at an accredited college. To apply, students are asked to write an essay outlining their interests and accomplishments which may include academic studies or extracurricular activities. Essays must be mailed to the Rumson Garden Club, Attn.: Scholarship Chairman, P. O. Box 121, Rumson, NJ 07760. The deadline for applications is April 1, 2011.